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TWENTIETH    CENTURY    IMPRESSIONS 

OF 

HONGKONG,    SHANGHAI,    AND 

OTHER   TREATY    PORTS 

OF    CHINA. 


Cwentkri)  Centurp  Impressions 

Bonflkonfl,  SbangDait  and  otDer  Creatp 

Ports  of  Cbina: 

THEIR  HISTORY.  PEOPLE,  COMMERCE,  INDUSTRIES,  AND  RESOURCES. 


Editor-in-Chief:    ARNOLD   WRIGHT    (London). 
Assistant  Editor  :    H.  A.  CARTWRIGHT    (Hongkong  and  Shanghai). 


London,    Durban,    Perth  (W.A.),  Colombo,    Singapore,    Hongkong, 
Shanghai,   Bangkoli  (Siam),    Batavia  (Netherlands  India),  and  Cairo  : 

LLOYD'S    GREATER    BRITAIN    PUBLISHING   COMPANY,    LTD 

1908. 


DS 


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HIS    EXCELLENCY    SIR    FREDERICK    JOHN    DEALTRY    LUCARD.    K.C.M.G..   C.B„   D.S.O. 

(Governor  of  Hongkong,  Comm»nder-ln-Chlef,  and  Vice- Admiral) ,  and 
LADY    LUCARD. 


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HIS  EXCELLENCY   SIR  JOHN   N.   JORDAN.   K.C.M.G. 

(British  Minister  at  Peking) 


PREFACE. 


IHIS  xvorh  is  the  outcome  of  an  enter-prise  designed  to  give  in  an  attractive  form  full  and 
rcliatile  information  with  reference  to  the  outlying  parts  of  the  Empire.  The  value  of  a  fuller 
knowledge  of  the  " Britains  beyond  the  Sea"  and  the  great  dependencies  of  the  Crown  as 
a  means  of  tightening  the  bonds  which  unite  the  component  parts  of  the  King's  dominions 
was  insisted  upon  by  Mr.  Chamberlain  in  a  memorable  speech,  and  the  same  note  ran 
through  the  Prince  of  Wales's  impressive  Mansion  House  address  in  which  His  Royal  Highness  summed 
up  the  lessons  of  his  tour  through  the  Empire,  from  which  he  had  then  just  returned.  In  some  instances, 
notably  the  case  of  Canada,  the  local  Governments  have  done  much  to  diffuse  in  a  popular  form  infor- 
mation relative  to  the  territory  which  they  administer.  But  there  are  other  centres  in  which  official 
enterprise  in  this  direction  has  not  been  possible,  or,  at  all  events,  in  which  action  has  not  been  taken, 
and  it  is  in  this  prolific  field  that  the  publishers  are  working.  So  far  they  have  found  ample  justificalion 
for  their  labours  in  the  widespread  public  interest  taken  in  their  operations  in  the  colonies  which  have 
been  the  scene  of  their  work,  and  in  the  extremely  cordial  reception  given  by  the  Press,  both  home  and 
colonial,  to  the  completed  results. 

Briefly,  the  aim  which  the  publishers  keep  steadily  before  them  is  to  give  a  perfect  microcosm  of  the 
colony  or  dependency  treated.  As  old  Stow,  with  patient  application  and  scrupulous  regard  for  accuracy, 
set  himself  to  survey  the  London  of  his  day,  so  the  workers  employed  in  the  production  of  this  series 
endeavour  to  give  a  picture,  complete  in  every  particular,  of  the  distant  possessions  of  the  Crown.  But 
topography  is  only  one  of  the  features  treated.  Responding  to  modern  needs  and  tastes,  the  literary  investi- 
gators devote  their  attention  to  every  important  phase  of  life,  bringing  to  the  elucidation  of  the  subjects 
treated  the  powerful  aid  of  the  latest  and  best  methods  of  pictorial  illustration.  Thus  a  work  is  compiled 
which  is  not  only  of  solid  and  enduring  value  for  purposes  of  reference  and  for  practical  business  objects, 
but  is  of  unique  interest  to  all  who  are  interested  in  the  development  of  the  Empire. 

In  all  essential  features  the  present  volume  follows  closely  upon  the  lines  of  the  earlier  works  on  Western 
Australia,  Natal,  Ceylon,  and  British  Malaya,  and  deals  fully  with  the  history,  administration,  population, 
commerce,  industries,  and  potentialities  of  the  territories  to  which  it  relates.  In  one  respect,  however,  it 
differs  from  its  predecessors,  for,  while  they  have  been  devoted  exclusively  to  British  Colonies,  this  book,  as 
its  title  indicates,  deals  also  with  settlements  which  are  only  partially  British.  But  there  is  ample  excuse,  if 
excuse  he  needed,  for  this  departure  from  precedent.  More  than  one  half  the  imports  and  exports  of  China 
passes  through  the  various  Treaty  Ports,  and  it  would  have  been  a  negation  of  one  of  the  avowed  objects 
of  these  publications  if  no  attempt  had  been  made  to  show  the  present-day  tendency  of  this  trade  and 
how  the  proportion  borne  by  the  British  Empire  compares  with  that  of  its  competitors.  Nor  must  it  be 
forgotten  thai  Canton,  Amoy,  Foochow,  Ningpo,  and  Shanghai,  the  first  five  ports  in  China  to  which 
foreign  merchandise  was  admitted  without  hindrance  or  interference,  were  thrown  open  in  1842  as  the 
direct   result   of   British   influence,   which   was   also   responsible   in    i8_=;8  for  the   extension   of  this  privilege 


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PKEFACE. 

to  N*trckmamg,  Ckefoo,  Tatwan  (Fonuosa),  Svalow,  Hainan,  and  three  ports  on  the  Yangtsze-k'iang.  Tliough 
the  British  Consuls  have  long  ceased  to  be  the  only  mediums  of  communication  between  foreigners  and  the 
local  Chinese  authorities,  British  interests  are  still  very  powerful,  and  in  some  cases  the  British  communities 
are   self-governing. 

Although  tkt  whole  of  the  Treaty  Ports,  numbering  upwards  of  forty,  hare  not  been  dealt  with 
separately,  the  most  important  have  been  selected,  and  they  are  sufficient  for  our  purpose  since  tliey  receive 
the  kulh  <^  the  trade  of  the  minor  ports.  This  is  especially  true  of  Canton  in  its  relation  to  the  other 
Treaty  Ports  on  the  West  River,  and  of  Shanghai  in  relation  to  some  of  the  smaller  ports  lying  along 
tkt  banks  of  the  Yangtsze-Kiang. 

The  wide  distances  which  divide  the  ports,  and  the  peculiar  conditions  zcliich  prevail  in  them  have 
rendered  Ike  task  of  the  compilers  one  of  no  little  difficulty.  The  foreign  settlements  are  occupied  by 
representatives  of  different  nationalities  answerable  to  their  own  Consuls,  subject  to  the  laws  of  their  own 
countries,  and,  in  many  instances,  organised  into  independent  local  governing  communities,  so  that,  though 
tkty  form  collectively  one  homogeneous  whole,  they  are,  in  actual  fact,  a  congeries  of  separate  and  distinct 
units.  But  neitker  trouble  nor  expense  has  been  spared  in  the  attempt  to  cover  the  ground  adequately 
and  secure  full  and  tiustworihy  information  in  a'crx  direction.  As  in  previous  works,  the  services  of 
acknowledged  experts  have  been  enlisted  wherever  possible.  The  historical  sections  have  been  written  from 
original  materials  preserved  at  the  India  Office,  the  British  Museum,  and  other  national  institutions.  In 
Hongkong  much  valued  assistance  has  been  freely  rendered  by  the  heads  of  the  various  Government  depart- 
ments, and  the  Editor  is  especially  indebted  to  H.E.  Sir  F.  J.  D.  Lugard,  K.C.M.G.,  C.B..  D.S.O.,  the 
Goremor,  and  Ike  Hon.  Mr.  F.  H.  May,  C.M.G.,  the  Colonial  Secretary,  who  have  given  all  the  encourage- 
ment that  lay  in  their  power  to  the  enterprise.  In  Shanghai  the  Municipal  Aiithorilics  have  shown  every 
courtesy,  and  in  the  various  Treaty  Ports  the  British  Consular  Officers,  the  Customs  Officers,  and  the 
Municipal  Secretaries,  have  placed  the  compilers  under  an  obligation  which   is  gratefully  acknowledged. 

Otrviously  a  work  of  this  magnitude  cannot  be  produced  except  at  very  considerable  cost.  As  the 
publisliers  do  not  ask  for  any  Government  subsidy,  because  of  the  restrictions  which  it  might  impose 
uptm  them,  this  cost  has  to  be  met  in  part  by  receipts  from  the  sale  of  copies  and  in  part  by  revenue 
from  Ike  insertion  of  commercial  photographs.  The  publishers  venture  to  think  that  this  fact  furnishes 
no  ground  for  adverse  criticism.  The  piinciple  is  that  adopted  by  the  highest  class  of  newspapers  and 
magazines  all  oi'er  the  world.  Moreover,  it  is  claimed  that  these  photographs  add  to,  rather  than 
detract  from,  the  value  of  the  book.  They  serve  to  show  the  manifold  interests  of  the  country,  and, 
u-ilk  Ike  accompanying  descriptive  letterpress,  which  is  independently  written  by  members  of  the  staff  from 
personal  observation,  they  constitute  a  picturesque  and  useful  feature  that  is  not  without  interest  to  the 
general  reader  and  student  of  economics,  while  it  is  of  undoubted  value  to  business  men  throughout 
the  British    Empire. 

AUCL'ST,  1908. 


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CONTENTS. 


HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  AND  OTHER   TREATY    PORTS—  i'aok 

Early  History  and  Uevklopme.nt.     By  Arnold  Wright 13 

HONGKONG- 
CONSTITUTION  AND  Law — 

The  Local  Legislature 99 

The  Courts loi 

The  Laws.     By  C.  D.  Wilkinson 102 

EXECLTIVE   AND    LEGISLATIVE   COUNCILS 105 

Finance.     By  The  Hon.  Mr.  A.  M.  Thomson,  Coloiiinl  Treasurer 113 

Education.     By  G.  H.  B.ateson  Wright,  D.D.  (Oxon.),  Headmaster  of  Queen's  College, 

Hongkoiif^ 121 

Public  Works.     By  The  Hon.  Mr.  W.  Chatham,  C.M.G.,  Director  of  Public  Works    .  129 

Posts,  Cables,  and  Telephones '33 

Flora.     By  S.  T.  DuxN,  B.A.,  F.L.S.,  J. P.,  Snperinteiidcut  of  the  Botaiiicnl  and  Forestry 

Department,  Hoiiiikong 135 

Fauna — 

General.     By  J.  C.  Kershaw,  Autlior  of  "  Butterflies  of  Hongkong"       ...  138 

Butterflies.     By  J.  C.  Kershaw i39 

Birds.    By  Staff-Surgeon  Kenneth  H.  Jones,  K.\ 141 

Hongkong  (Descriptive).     By  H.  A.  Cartwright i45 

The  Sanitary  Board.     By  A.  Shelton  Hooper     .......  157 

Harbour  and  Shipping.     By  Commander  Basil  Taylor,  R.X.,  Harbour  Master  .         .  188 

Hongkong  Industries 235 

Sport,     By  J.  W.  Bains,  Sports  Editor  of  the  "  China  Mail " 250 

Health  and  Hospitals.      By  The  Hon.  Dr.  J.  M.  Atkinson,  Principal   Civil   Medical 

Officer 262 

Police.    Prisons,    and    Fire    Brigade.      By    Captain    F.  W.    Lyons,  Acting   Captain- 
Superintendent  of  Police,  Hongkong 266 

Navy,  Ar.my,  and  Volunteers 272 

The  Hongkong  Volunteer  Corps.     By  Major  Chapman,  Commandant      .        .  274 

The  Foreign  Trade  of  China 278 

The  Chinese  Imperial  Maritime  Custo.ms 282 

The  Currency  of  China 288 

The  Silk  Industry 290 

Tea.     By  H.  T.  Wade •      .        .        .        .  294 

Cotton.     By  James  Kerfoot,  M.I.M.E 302 

The  Flora  of  China 304 

Ceremonies  and  Customs  of  the  Chinese.     By  S.  W.  Tso 307 

Chinese  Characters.     By  James  B.  Wong,  B.A 319 

Ecclesiastical — 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church.     By  Father  J.  de  Moidrey,  S.J.        ...  321 

The  Anglican  Communion.     By  The  Ven.  Archdeacon  Banister       .        .        .  326 

Protestant  Missions  in  China.     By  The  Rev.  J.  Steele,  B.A 332 

The  Ancient  Faiths  of  the  Chinese.     By  The  Rev.  T.  W.  Pearce         .        .  337 


^ 


<r- 


^ 


CONTENTvS. 


SIK.1AL   LlFK 

Thk  Pkkss.     By  W.  H.  Doxai.k.  Editor  of  the  "China  Mail  "  . 
SHANOHAI- 

DksCKIKTION   (IK   THK   SETTI.KMKNT.      Hy    H.   A.   CAKTWKUiHT 

Local  Goverxsiknt  and  Law.     By  H.  A.  Cartwright 
Police.    By  K.  J.  McEiKX.  Deputy  Superintendent  of  Police 

voli'xtekrs 

Shanc-.mai  Fire  Bri<;adk 

PiBi.ic  Works.    Supplied  by  the  Pihlic  Works  Department 
Health  axd  Hosi"Itaij>.    By  Arthur  Stanley,  M.D..  B.S.Lond.,  D.P.H 

KiSASCK  axii  Baxkim; 

Shippixu.  Commerce,  and  Ci'stoms 

Education 

Posts,  Cable.s.  and  Telephones 

Sport.    By  W.  R.  Parkin 

Meteorology — 

HoNOKoNu.    By  K.  G.  Figg,  Director  of  the  Hongkong  Observatory 


,  Health  Officer 


Foochow 

Chinese  WEKiHTs,  Measures,  and  Money. 

CoxcLfDiNG  Note 

Index 


Observatory 


Shanghai.    By  The  Rev.  Father  Froc,  Director  of  Siccawei 

Leading  Re,sidents  of  Shanghai 

Prominent  Chine.se  Residents 

Industries 

The  Foreign  Commercial  Community 

The  Oriental  Commercial  Community 

The  Railways  of  China 

Mixes  axd  Mixkraus  in  Manchuria.    By  Reginald  Bate,  K.K.G.S 

IXFORMATIOX    FOR   TolKISTS 

TREATY   PORTS  AND  OTHER    FOREIGN  SETTLEMENTS— 

Hankow   

Tiextsix 

Pekix<: 

Xkwchwaxg.     By  Regixai.d  Bate,  K.R.G.S 

Chefoo 

NiNGPO 

Weihaiwei 

Naxkin<: 

Canton.    By  H.  A.  Cartwright 

Macau.    By  Pedro  Nolasco  da  Sii.va 

The  Lappa  Customs.    By  A.  H.  Wilzer,  Commissioner  of  Customs 

TSISGTAU 

Amov.     By  Cecil  A.  V.  Bowra,  Commissioner  of  Customs 
SWATOW 


.141 
Mi 

368 

399 

409 

4'.S 
429 

432 

434 
43« 
4.S2 
484 
490 
498 

509 
512 
516 
525 
573 
602 
662 
666 
682 
683 

692 
724 
755 
763 
767 

772 
773 
778 
782 
798 
805 
810 

«'3 
829 

837 
841 
842 
843 


^ 


CiDcntletD  Ccnturp  Impressions  or  1>oiidkoiid, 
SbangDai,  and  otber  Creatp  Ports : 

THEIR    EARLY    HISTORY   AND    DEVELOPMENT. 

By  Arnold  Wright. 


CHAPTER    I. 

Early  European  Trade  with  China — The  Portuguese  at  Macao — Efforts  of  EngHsh  to  Open  Trade- 
EstabHshment  of  Enghsh   Factory  in  Japan — The  English  and  the   Dutch  in  China. 


JN  the  history  of  European  Com- 
merce there  is  no  more 
interesting,  and,  in  its  influ- 
ence on  international  events, 
no  more  important  chapter 
than  that  which  relates  to 
the  opening  of  the  Chinese 
Empire  to  British  trade.  The  long  drawn 
out  struggle  which  in  its  earliest  stage  culmi- 
nated in  the  Treaty  of  Nanking  was  something 
more  than  a  contest  for  the  right  to  barter. 
It  was  a  fight  between  two  opposite,  and  to 
a  very  large  extent  antagonistic,  systems  of 
civilisation.  On  the  one  hand  was  the  East, 
self-contained,  self-absorbed,  living  its  narrow 
life  in  beatific  indifference  to,  if  not  positive 
ignorance  of,  the  remainder  of  the  world. 
What  it  did  not  know  was  not  knowledge  ; 
those  who  were  outside  its  pale  were  bar- 
barians ;  its  rulers  were  the  rulers  of  all 
things  mundane  and  of  some  things  celestial. 
On  the  other  side  was  the  West,  bustling, 
aggressive,  sometimes  arrogant,  confident  in 
itself  and  conscious  of  its  power,  infused 
with  a  spirit  of  progress  which  gained  ad- 
ditional impetus  as  every  new  discovery  of 
science  furnished  it  with  fresh  weapons  to 
use  to  batter  down  the  wall  which  racial 
prejudice  and  exclusiveness  had  reared  up 
against  it.  That  one  misunderstood  the  other 
— was  indeed  profoundly  ignorant  of  the 
motives  which  were  the  mainsprings  of  the 
otiier's  action — added  intensity  to  the  battle. 
To  the  official  Chinese  the  efforts  of  the  Euro- 
pean to  make  his  foothold  good  on  the  soil 


of  China  were  an  unwarrantable  intrusion  on 
the  part  of  a  visitor  with  many  objectionable 
characteristics.  As  for  the  European,  and 
especially  the  Britisher,  he  could  see  in  the 
determined  measures  to  keep  him  at  arm's 
length — a  suppliant  and  humble  guest  without 
the  gate — only  the  bigoted  manifestations  of 
a  diseased  egotism  added  to  a  crass  and  viru- 
lent congenital  dislike  of  the  foreigner.  And 
so  the  conflict  went  on  until  the  door  was 
violently  forced  from  without  and  the  breath 
of  a  new  commerci.il  life  was  breathed  into 
China.  Then  the  giant  stirred,  but  it  was 
only  the  stretching  of  the  sleeper  before  the 
full  awakening.  Another  half-century  or 
more  was  to  pass  and  China  was  to  see  in 
blacker  outline  the  shadow  of  irretrievable 
disaster  before  the  lessons  of  the  West  were 
received,  and  even  then  her  acceptance  was 
only  partial  and  hesitating.  It  remained  for 
the  cataclysm  of  the  Russo-Japanese  War  to 
drive  home  at  last  the  moral  taught,  if  China 
could  only  have  realised  it  by  the  first  European 
ship  that  visited  her  shores,  that  China  was  not 
the  world  and  that  if  she  would  preserve  her 
independence  and  her  self-respect  she  must 
avail  herself  of  the  advantages  of  Western 
civilisation,  not  the  least  of  which  are  those 
which  pertain  to  an  uninterrupted  commerce. 
When  Albuquerque  and  his  men  descended, 
as  Sir  George  Birdwood  picluresquely  puts 
it,  "like  a  pack  of  hungry  wolves"  upon  an 
astonished  Eastern  world,  tliey  found  trade 
flowing  in  tranquil  fashion  in  channels  which 
had    been    used    for    ages.     Vessels    hugging 


the  shore  made  their  way  from  the  Chinese 
coast  to  Singhapura  or  to  some  other  port  in 
the  straits,  from  whence  their  cargoes  were 
carried  by  Arab  craft  to  India  and  Persia. 
Overland  the  rich  fabrics  and  spices  of  the 
East  were  transmitted  to  the  Levant  for  dis- 
tribution to  the  more  populous  centres  of 
Europe.  The  trade  was  a  strictly  Oriental 
one.  An  occasional  European  traveller,  like 
Marco  Polo,  found  his  way  into  the  interior 
of  China  and  even  over  portions  of  the  sea 
route ;  but  it  had  not  entered  into  the  calcu- 
lations of  the  most  imaginative  that  from 
beyond  the  sea  would  come  in  great  ships 
bodies  of  men  of  this  strange  white  race  whose 
existence  was  a  mere  shadowy  myth  to  the 
great  mass  of  the  population.  With  wonder, 
therefore,  not  unmingled  with  awe,  the  stran- 
gers were  received  at  the  places  at  which 
they  touched.  In  the  case  of  the  Chinese  a 
feeling  of  superstitious  dread  tinged  the  lively 
apprehensions  which  the  appeaiance  of  the 
Portuguese  barques  in  the  China  Sea  excited. 
From  immemorial  times  had  come  down  a 
tradition  that  the  Chinese  Empire  would  one 
day  be  conquered  by  a  fair-haired  grey-eyed 
race.  The  legend  pointed  to  the  advent  of 
the  conquerors  in  the  north,  but  there  was 
suflicient  identity  between  the  story  and  the 
actual  facts  of  the  mysterious  appearance 
of  the  strangers  from  the  beyond  to  give 
potency  to  fears  which,  perhaps,  were  never 
absent  from  the  minds  of  the  ruling  classes 
of  China  owing  to  the  enormous  stretch  of 
frontier    and   the   difficulties    of    maintaining 


14      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


(Fraai  a  pciDi  ia  Or  Goj-tf-  and  De  Keyicr't  account  of  the  Dutch  Embassy  to  China  in  1655.) 


onier  inberent  in  the  vastness  of  the  empire. 
It  is  a  motA  point  whether  it  was  not  the 
faiBuencc  of  this  natiiMial  myth  which  dictated 
the  policy  of  etcluson  so  stubtxtrnly  enfor- 
ced ajtiinst  Kuropcaiis  (or  three  and  a  half 
ccntnncs.  Old  writers,  tike  the  authors  of 
tbe  actxmnl  of  the  Dutch  Embassy  to  China 
in  1655,  are  inclined  to  adopt  this  view,  and 
it  is  one  which  is  in  complete  harmony  with 
tbe  altitude  conxixtetitly  a^sumed  from  the 
nwaicnt  that  European  ship*  wire  seen  in 
Cbincae  waters.  Ihe  first  reception  of  the 
Portogoese  when  they  appeared  off  the  Canton 
River  in  1516  wa<,  however,  not  entirely 
Dafnendly.  The  fleet  was  one  despatched 
from  Malacca  by  Albuquerque  and  com- 
manded by  a  l»ld  and  adventurous  sailor 
named  Pcreiirclto.  The  ships  returned  to 
Malacca  witboid  entering  the  Canton  Kiver, 


but  Perestrello  had  seen  enough  to  enable  him 
to  report  very  favourably  on  tlie  prospects  of 
trade.  Stimulated  by  the  prospect  of  obtain- 
inj;  entrance  to  a  new  and  pro<luctive  market 
the  Portuguese  Viceroy  the  next  year  sent  a 
squadron  of  eight  vessels  under  the  command 
of  Perez  de  Andrade.  In  due  course  the 
ships  reached  the  Chinese  coast,  and  without 
hesitation  de  Andrade  directed  a  course  past 
the  islands  and  up  the  river.  Great  was  the 
alarm  of  the  Chinese  at  the  appearance  of 
these  strange  ships,  so  strikingly  different 
in  form  from  those  with  which  they  were 
familiar.  Fearing  an  invasion  the  authorities 
promptly  surrounded  the  intruding  ships  by 
war  junks.  De  Andrade  protested  his  peaceful 
intentions,  and  eventually,  after  considerable 
argument,  persuaded  the  authorities  to  allow 
him  to  take  two  of  his  ships  up  the  river  to 


Canton.     At     Canton    de    Andrade    had    an 
audience  with  the  Viceroy,  and  was  successful 
in  extracting  from    him  permission    to  Uade. 
His    satisfaction    at    this    excellent    stroke    of 
business  was  somewhat  moditied  when  news 
reached  him,  as  it  did  at  about  the  time  that 
the    negotiations    were    completed,    that    the 
vessels  he  had  left  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
had   been   heavily  attacked   by  piiates.     The 
damage,  however,  does  not  appear  to    have  . 
been   fatal  to    the    objects    of    de   Andradc's 
mission.     Several  of  his  vessels   returned   to 
Malacca    witli    cargoes,   and    tlie    remainder 
sailed  wilh  some  junks  belonging  to  tlie  Loo 
Choo  Islands  for  Ningyio,  on  the  east  coast  of 
China,  and  there  established  a  colony.     The 
//i</  II  Uric  thus  secured  was  turned  to  good 
advantage   in   succeeding  years,  and   a   most 
prolitable  trade  was  built  up.     But  the  gieed 
and  cruelty  of   the  Portuguese  here  as  else- 
where  raised  up  a  violent  prejudice   against 
them.     So  it  happened  tliat  when  an  embassy 
was   despatched   by  the   Portuguese   Govern- 
ment to  Peking  in  1520,  the  Ambassador,  one 
Perez,  was  treated  very  contumelioiisly.     He 
was  sent  back  practically  a  prisoner  to  Canton, 
and  was  there  robbed  of  his  property,  thrust 
into  prison,  and  finally,  it  is  supposed,  put  to 
death,   for   his   real   (ate   was   never    actually 
known.     Meanwhile  the  Portuguese  had  been 
expelled  by  imperial  decree  from  Ningpo,  and 
they  were  prohibited  from  all  trade.     Their 
star  seemed  to  have  set  as  rapidly  as  it  had 
risen.     'Ihe  early  Portuguese  explorers  were, 
however,  not  men  to  be  easily  rebuffed.    In  the 
succeeding  years  they  maintained   resolutely 
their  efforts  to  secure  a  lodgment  in   China. 
At   length  fortune    once    more    smiled    upon 
them.     A    service    rendered    to    the   Chinese 
Government  by  the  extirpation  of  a  formidable 
pirate  fleet  secured  for  them  as  a  reward  rights 
of  occupation  at  Macao,  one  of  the  group  of 
islands   lying   off  the   mouth   of   the   Canton 
River.     Their  earliest  settlement  there  dates 
back   to   1537.     It  was  a   mere  collection   nf 
Imts  for  drying  goods  which  were  introduced 
under  the  name  of  tribute,  but  by  the  middle 
of   the   sixteenth  century   out   of   tliese   small 
beginnings  a  town   of  considerable  size   had 
developed.     The  trade  of   the  port  flourished 
apace  under  the  interested  patronage   of   the 
Mandarins,  who  found  in  the  commerce  of  tlie 
adventurers   a   new   and   lucrative   source   of 
income.      Imperishably    associated    with    the 
history  of  Macao  at  this  period  is  the  name 
of  Camoens,  the  great  national  writer  of  the 
Portuguese.     It  was  here  that  the  poet  com- 
posed the  greater  part  of  "  The  Lusiad  "  the 
famous    Portuguese   epic   which    has   stirred 
the  hearts   and   fired  the  imaginations  of   so 
many  generations  of  Portuguese.      Camoens' 
period  of  residence  at  Macao  extended  from 
1553   to    1569.     On   his  returning  to   Europe 
from  China  he  was  wrecked  off  the  coast  of 
Cambodia,  and  escaped  to  shore  on  a  plank, 
tradition  says,  with   the  MS.  of   his   precious 
poem   carried   in   his   hand.      Macao,   though 
long  since  sunk  into  a  condition  of  commercial 
decrepitude  and  moral  decay,  will  ever  enjoy 
the  reflected  lustre  of  Camoens'  great  name. 

The  Spaniards,  following  in  the  track  of 
the  Portuguese,  established  themselves  in  the 
Manilas  and  at  various  other  points  in  the 
Chinese  seas.  For  the  best  part  of  a  century 
the  two  races  had  a  monopoly  of  the  trade 
of  the  Far  East.  The  defeat  of  the  Spanish 
Armada  gave  Europe  its  first  great  lesson  in 
the  value  of  sea  power,  for  with  the  destruc- 
tion of  many  of  the  great  Spanish  galleons 
in  the  English  Channel  and  the  wrecking  of 
others  off  the  Scotch  and  Irish  coasts,  the  way 
was  opened  to  the  Far  East  for  other  nations. 
The  Dutch  were  the  first  to  take  advantage  of 
the  opportunity  presented.    Towards  the  close 


AN   ANCIENT    MAP    OF    CHINA. 

(From  an  old  manuscript  of  the  date  lOoy,  preserved  in  the  Manuscript  Room  at  the  British  Museum.) 


16       TWENTIETH  CENTIHY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONUKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


ot  Ibe  aiitecuth  cenlurv  Ihey  sent  out  several 
fleet*  «rilh  the  object  m  csiaMi-hing  a  trade 
with  the  Far  Eart.  The  initial  English  ven- 
torc  was  maiie  in  I5</'.  when  Sir  K.  Dudley 
and  ottiert   fitted   out   three   ships   with    the 


the  Chcneses  to  bringe  thereof  thither,  both 
while  soweiiig  silke,  twisted  of  all  sorts  and 
sizes,  as  also  rawe  and  sleave  silke  ;  of  all 
which  we  have  gcven  Mr.  Heeling  examples  : 
the   which    silke   yf    you    can    p'cure    to    be 


V  ,•  '■.:^:^^m 


AN    ANCIENT    HAP    OF    MACAO. 
(Krocn  %  nuui»cnpt  in  the  SIo;inc  Collcctiini  :it  the  llritish  Museum.) 


intention  of  trading  to  China.  'Wood,  the  com- 
inandcr,  tMxe  with  him  a  letter  from  Queen 
Elizabeth  to  the  Emperor  of  China.  With 
the  expedition  also  went  the  warm  wishes  of 
the  commercial  community  whose  hopes  of 
calaMishing  a  trade  had  been  raised  to  a  high 
level  in  consequence  of  the  reports  which 
bad  come  in  of  the  riches  of  the  Eastern 
world.  The  enterprise,  however,  ended  in 
diaatter.  Not  a  soul  of  the  company  which 
embarked  ever  relumed  to  i^ngland  to  give 
an  account  of  the  rest.  Nothing  fuiiher  was 
attempted  in  the  direction  of  opening  up  the 
China  trade  until  Sir  James  Lancaster's  suc- 
oesiful  voyages  to  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  and 
tbe  sotMcqucnt  establishment  there  of  factories 
of  llic  newly  constituted  East  India  Company 
turned  the  thoughts  of  Ixmdon  merchants 
once  more  towards  those  rich  markets  of 
the  Far  East  which  the  Portuguese  and  the 
Spaniards  had  hitherto  monopolised  and 
which  the  Dutch  were  now  seriously  attack- 
ing. The  first  direct  reference  to  the  China 
trade  in  the  records  of  the  East  India  Com- 
pany is  to  be  found  in  the  year  1606.  On 
Ibe  occanon  of  sending  out  three  ships  to 
tbe  Eastern  factories  Ihe  Court  issued  instruc- 
tions to  "General"  Heeling,  Ihe  commander 
ol  the  little  squadron,  directing  him  to  culti- 
vate a  trade  with  the  Chinese.  "  It  is  to  be 
remembered,"  sai<l  the  direclorate,  "  thai  uui 
Factors  alt  Bantam  doe  their  best  endevors 
10  p'core  the  Chineses  lo  bring  from  Cheney 
ticave  and  sowing  silks,  that  we  may  fall 
into  some  trade  with  Ihem  ;  and  see  yf  they 
can  sell  any  r>f  our  English  cloth  to  them 
that  they  may  be  hroaghl  lo  the  use  thereof." 
At  the  same  lime  Ihe  Court  wrote  lo  the 
/acton  at  Bantam  desiring  them  to  send 
home  particular  accounts  of  all  goods  ven- 
dible, or  to  be  procured,  and  directed  that 
•yf  Cheney  silks  are  ihA  llicare  (in  Bantam) 
presentKe  to  be  had,  that    then   you  advise 


brought  thither  att  reasonable  prices  we  sup- 
pose some  good  profiitt  inay  be  had  thereby  : 
of  all  which  you  have  hitherto  left  us  ignorant ; 
whereby  we  must  conceive  you  to  be  either 
unskillful    in   merchandising   or   unwilling  to 


gress  in  the  Eastern  trade  and  were  reaping 
rich  profits  at  home  from  the  products 
brought  by  their  ships  from  the  Far  East. 
However  that  may  be,  that  the  niamifacturos 
of  China  met  with  great  favour  in  the  Eng- 
lish markets  at  this  period  is  very  evident 
from  these  additional  instructions  given  in 
160Q  to  the  Bantam  factors  :  "The  silk  called 
I-ankin  (N.inking)  is  here  (in  London)  well 
requested  :  therefore,  we  pray  you  use  yonr 
best  endeavours  to  put  off  our  English  cloth 
lor  that  commodity,  whereto  as  it  stenieth 
by  Robert  Brown's  (second  at  Bantam)  letters, 
the  Chineses  were  willing  and  desirous,  if 
you  had  been  furnished  with  any  ;  which 
givelh  us  good  hope  that  these  people  will 
tall  to  wear  our  cloth,  so  as  we  shall  find 
good  bent  for  the  same  hereafter  ;  and  have 
better  means  to  maintain  an  ample  trade 
there  ;  lor  the  better  procuring  whereof  we 
have  now  and  will  hereafter  send  such  cloth 
as  shall  be  true  both  in  substance  and  colour, 
and  so  you  may  assure  them."  In  1613-14 
we  lind  the  Court  in  despatching  four  sliips 
to  Sural  issuing  instructions  to  the  Company's 
agent  at  Agra  to  "  discover  the  trade  of 
Tartary."  He  was  told  to  find  out  "  what 
English  cloth  may  be  there  vended  ;  at  what 
distance  the  Towns  of  Trade  are  situate  ; 
how  the  passages  thither  lie,  and  whether 
secure  or  dangerous."  The  writer  added, 
"The  Court  conceive  that  much  good  might 
be  done  in  vending  our  cloth  in  that  cold 
country  Tartary,  were  it  well  discovered." 
In  this  year  the  several  transactions  of  the 
Company  were  united  in  one  joint  stock,  and 
it  was  intimated  that  on  this  basis  the  Com- 
pany intended  to  build  an  enlarged  system 
of  commercial  enterprise.  Bantam  factors  on 
being  informed  of  the  change  were  enjoined 
to  make  vigorous  efforts  to  extend  the  Com- 
pany's trade,  particularly  to  Japan  and  China. 
Meanwhile,  the  Court  asked  the  assistance  of 
their  agents  in  a  matter  of  some  importance 
affecting  the  silk  trade.  Difficulty  was  found 
in    unwinding   the    Canton    cross-reeled    silk. 


THE    OKOTTO    OF 

(From  :u) 


p'forni  thai  for  which  we  keepe  you  theare." 
The  asperity  of  the  last  remark  is  probably 
lo  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  the  Dutch 
at  this  time  were   making  considerable  pro- 


CAMOENS,    MACAO. 

and  it  was  suggested  that  one  or  two  of  the 
Chinese  or  Japanese  should  be  induced  to  visit 
England  to  give  instruction  in  the  matter 
"in    order    to    bring    the    Canton    silk    into 


TWENTIETH  CENTITEY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      17 


esteem  and  piice  at  home."  What  was  the 
outcome  of  this  suggestion  does  not  appear, 
but  it  may  be  assumed  from  an  entry  in  tlie 
Court  minutes  which  we  find  a  little  later 
that  the  early  enthusiasm  for  the  silk  trade 
was  somewhat  damped  by  the  discovery  that 
there  were  tricks  of  the  trade  in  China.  "On 
account  of  the  deceit  that  is  used  by  the 
Chinese  in  their  silks,"  the  minutes  recorded, 
"  it  is  proposed  in  Court  to  advise  Bantam 
that  no  more  be  brought  except  only  raw 
silks,  and  such  other  as  be  ascertained  to  be 
very  good  ;  also  to  forbear  the  buying  of 
sundry  drugs,  which  prove  rotten  and  naught, 
especially  China  roots  and  rhubarb."  The 
instructions  actually  given  to  the  factor  at 
Bantam,  who  was  proceeding  eastward  from 
thence  to  trade,  were  :  "  Buy  no  blacks  of 
any  kind  of  damasks  or  taffaties  but  only 
coloured :  the  colours  to  be  grass  green, 
vvatchet,  blue,  crimson,  and  carnation.  Take 
also  white,  especially  satins.  As  to  raw  silk 
it  is  not  good  to  bring  the  Canton  cross- 
reeled  sort.  But  if  you  could  obtain  any 
ready  thrown  according  to  the  sample,  so  as 
to  afford  it  to  be  sold  in  England  at  a  mark 
or  14s.  per  lb.  souie  good  may  be  done. 
Give  orders  that  it  be  first  spun  single  and 
then  twisted  two  threads  together.  Let  such 
as  be  made  up  in  skains  be  but  one  thread 
together." 

At  about  this  period  a  development  of  the 
Company's  enterprise  in  the  Far  East  resulted 
in  the  forging  of  the  tirst  link  which  connected 
Great  Britain  with  Japan.  The  association 
was  brought  about  in  a  somewhat  romantic 
fashion.  William  Adams,  a  Kent  man,  who 
in  early  life  was  apprenticed  to  a  Limehouse 
pilot,  inflamed  by  stories  of  the  wealth  of 
the  Indies,  in  1598  took  service  in  a  Dutch 
vessel,  one  of  a  fleet  bound  for  the  Far  East. 
Arrived  off  the  coast  of  Japan  after  an  adven- 
turous voyage  the  ship  in  which  Adams  was 
employed  was  boarded  by  Japanese,  and  he 
and  the  other  members  of  the  crew  were 
virtually  made  prisoners.  They  were,  how- 
ever, kindly  treated,  and  Adams  subsequently 
found  great  favour  with  the  Emperor,  who 
took  him  into  his  service  and  liestowed  a 
manor  upon  him  for  his  maintenance.  In 
161 1  Adams  heard  accidentally  from  the 
Dutch,  who  had  by  this  time  established  a  good 
trade  with  Japan,  that  the  English  had  formed 
an  establishment  at  Bantam.  Overjoyed  at 
the  discovery  of  the  comparative  proximity 
of  his  countrymen,  Adams  addressed  a  long 
letter  to  the  Company's  agent  in  the  Straits 
strongly  urging  him  to  send  ships  to  open 
up  a  commercial  connection  with  Japan.  In 
his  communication  he  furnished  valuable  de- 
tails as  to  the  character  of  the  Japanese  and 
the  prospects  of  trade  with  their  country.  He 
added  :  "  Could  our  English  merchants,  after 
settling  in  Japan,  procure  trade  with  the 
Chinese,  then  shall  our  country  make  great 
profit  here,  and  the  Company  will  not  need  to 
have  to  send  money  out  of  England  ;  for  in 
Japan  there  are  gold  and  silver  in  abundance, 
and  therefore  by  the  traffic  here  they  will  take 
in  exchange  money  enough  for  their  invest- 
ments in  the  Indies."  The  hint  conveyed  in 
this  historic  epistle  did  not  fall  on  deaf  ears. 
The  Company,  eager  to  extend  their  field  of 
enterprise  in  so  promising  a  direction,  in  1613 
sent  out  Captain  Saris  with  the  title  of 
"  Company's  General "  to  open  up  a  trade 
with  Japan.  Captain  Saris  was  met  on  his 
arrival  at  Firando  on  June  12th  in  that  year 
by  Adams.  Almost  immediately  the  two 
repaired  to  the  capital  where  they  delivered 
to  the  i^mperor  a  letter  from  James  I.  which 
Captain  Saris  had  brought  with  him.  The 
monarch,  influenced  by  his  regard  for  Adams, 
lent  a  favourable  ear  to  the  proposals  made  by 


the  Company's  agent,  and  formal  permission 
was  accorded  to  the  establishment  of  English 
factories  at  Firando  and  other  places,  Adams 
in  his  letter  to  Bantam  expressed  a  decided 
opinion  against  Firando  and  a  preference 
for  some  port  on  the  east  coast  nearer  the 
capital.  But  for  some  reason  or  other,  pro- 
bably because  objections  were  raised  to  an 
establishment  in  this  locality,  the  English 
headquarters  were  fixed  at  Firando.  For 
several  years  a  trade  was  prosecuted  from 
this  point  by  the  Company's  factors  with 
Adams  as  a  valuable  supernumerary.  But  the 
enterprise  never  realised  the  high  expecta- 
tions entertained  of  it.  Commercially  the 
times  were  somewhat  out  of  joint ;  the  Dutch 
opposition  and  rivalry  also  were  very  for- 
midable. Moreover,  as  was  explained  in  a 
letter  of  the  year  1615,  profits  were  "eaten 
up  by  great  presents  and  charges  which 
the  country  of  Japan  requires,  although  there 
are  no  customs  to  be  paid."  Adams'  death, 
which  occurred  on  May  16,  1620,  put  the 
final  seal  on  the  Company's  failure.  The 
factory  lingered  on  until  1623  and  the  estab- 


CAMOENS,  THE  PORTUGUESE  POET. 

lishment  viras  then  withdrawn.  Nor,  in  spite 
of  persistent  and  repeated  efforts  was  a 
direct  connection  again  formed  until  the 
lapse  of  more   than  two  centuries. 

While  the  Company  was  prosecuting  the 
operations  in  Japan  an  opportunity  offered 
and  was  availed  of  to  attempt  to  open  a  trade 
with  China.  The  inteimediaries  in  the  busi- 
ness were  three  influential  Chinese  merchants 
with  whom  business  had  been  done  at 
Nagasaki.  In  a  letter  from  Robert  Cock,  the 
factor  at  Firando,  to  the  Company  written 
on  November  25,  1614,  we  have  an  outline 
of  the  proposals.  Keterring  to  the  negotia- 
tors he  writes:  "The  spot  which  they  point 
out  as  desirable  for  the  seat  of  a  factory 
is  an  island  near  to  the  City  of  Languin  ;  to 
which  place  we  sale  from  Firando,  if  the 
wind  be  fair,  in  three  or  four  days.  Our 
demand  is  for  three  or  four  ships  to  come 
and  go  and  to  leave  only  factors  sufficient  to 
do  the  business.  If  we  can  procure  this  I 
doubt  not  but  in  a  short  time  we  may  get 
into  the  mainland  itself  ;  for  as  the  Chinese 
tell  me  their  Emperor  is  come  to  the  know- 
ledge how  the  Emperor  of  Japan  has  received 


us  and  what  huge  privileges  he  has  granted 
us.  But  the  Hollanders  are  ill  spoken  of  on 
each  part  by  means  of  their  continual  robbing 
and  pilfering  the  junks  of  China  :  the  odium 
of  which  they  at  first  put  upon  Englishmen, 
but  now  it  is  known  to  the  contrary."  In 
another  letter  of  a  somewhat  later  date  to  the 
Company's  agent  at  Bantam  some  additional 
details  are  given  with  an  injunction  to  "use  all 
Chynas  kindly,"  and  to  ask  other  Englishmen 
to  do  the  like,  "for,"  says  the  sanguine 
factor,  "my  hope  is  great  since  the  Chynas 
doe  complain  much  of  the  Hollanders  for 
robinge  or  pilferinge  of  their  junckes."  In 
subsequent  correspondence  we  catch  vivid 
glimpses  of  the  progress  of  the  negotiations. 
Now  we  find  an  entry  recording  a  payment 
for  two  girdles  of  silk  as  a  present  to  the 
"  China  Captain's  daughter."  Next  is  a  letter 
from  Andreas  Dittis,  "  the  China  Captain," 
reporting  that  he  had  great  hopes  of  a  suc- 
cessful issue  to  his  mission  "for  that  the 
greate  men  had  taken  3,000  pezes  (pieces  of 
eight  dollars)  presented  to  them  to  make 
way"  and  warning  his  English  friends  not  to 
let  it  be  known  that  they  came  from  Japan 
"  because  the  Chinese  were  more  averse  to 
the  Japanese  than  any  other  nation."  Again, 
we  have  this  quaint  extract  from  Robert 
Cock's  diary  throwing  some  interesting  side 
lights  on  the  business  ;  "  I  gave  my  peare 
(pair  of)  knives  to  the  China  Captain  to  send 
to  his  brother  (or  rather  kinsman)  in  China 
upon  hope  (of)  trade.  As  also  he  had  4 
Looking  Glasses  for  same  purpose  bought  of 
Dutch,  and  4  pss.  (pieces)  Chowders  of  20  Rs. 
p.  corg  with  Knyves  ;  and  is  thought  fit  to 
geve  50  Rs.  8  to  the  man  which  carrieth 
the  letter  to  pay  his  charge  per  way,  and  to 
sende  a  greate  gould  ring  of  myne  with  a 
whyte  amatist  in  it,  cost  me  5  lb.  str.  in 
France  ;  this  ring  to  be  sent  to  one  of  these 
two  men  named  Titcham  Shofno,  an 
euenecke.  God  grant  all  may  com  to  good 
effect  !     Amen,  Amen." 

The  piously  expressed  wishes  of  Ihe  good 
factor  were  not  destined  to  be  realised.  Civil 
disturbances  i[i  China,  forerunners  of  the 
downfall  of  the  Ming  dynasty,  delayed  the 
business.  The  high-handed  action  of  the 
Dutch  in  slopping  and  robbing  Chinese  junks 
also,  and  probably  to  a  larger  extent,  inter- 
posed obstacles,  for  the  authorities  were 
naturally  irate  at  the  outrages,  and  owing  to 
the  lying  stories  put  about  by  the  Dutch  were 
disposed  to  associate  the  English  with  them. 
The  Company's  agents  in  the  matter,  however, 
continued  to  push  the  request  for  facilities 
for  trade  vigorously.  In  1616-17  the  factor 
at  Firando  reported  home  that  the  affair  was 
pursued  so  hotly  that  "  the  Emperor  of  China 
has  sent  spies  into  all  ports  where  the 
Spaniards,  Portuguese,  Hollanders,  and  we 
have  trade,  to  observe  how  the  Europeans 
behave  one  toward  the  other,  and  also  how 
we  (the  English)  behave  towards  strangers, 
especially  towards  the  Chinese."  "  Some  of 
these  investigators,"  he  added,  "  have  been  in 
this  place  (Firando)  and  were  brought  by  our 
Chinese  friends  to  the  English  House,  where 
I  used  them  in  the  best  manner  I  could,  as 
I  have  recommended  to  Bantam,  Patania,  and 
Syam  to  do  the  like  to  all  Chinese."  The 
factor  was  very  anxious  that  suitable  presents 
should  be  sent  to  the  Emperor  of  China,  and 
particularly  indicated  a  coral  tree  as  a  gift 
which  would  be  acceptable,  a  similar  souvenir 
presented  many  years  before  by  the  Portuguese 
being  esteemed  by  the  Emperor  "one  of  his 
most  precious  jewels."  Before  this  the  Com- 
pany had  thoughtfully  sent  out  for  use  in  the 
negotiation  two  letters  from  James  I.  to  the 
Emperor.  One  was  amicable  in  tone,  but  the 
other  was  somewhat  "  stricter  "  in  terms,  and 


18      TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


it  was  giTcn  by  the  autlK>rities  at 
Bantam  to  Iheir  "  linguists  "  to  interpret  they 
intuiuUed  that  they  dare  not  for  their  lives 
mmftate  ibe  bold  nn^^ive.  Dittis  and  his 
brother  iiegoliator<,  when  the  con)nmnicati<ins 
were  f«rt  before  ihein,  undertook  to  translate 
ihcin  and  also  forward  them  by  a  certain 
agency.  But  they  suggested  that  the  one 
ooMched  in  a  threatening  tone  should  not  be 
teal  "for  that  xiolence  would  avail  nothing." 
They  further  urged  that  they  should  "  proceed 
in  Ibe  negotiation  in  a  pacilic  manner  and  trust 
Id  the  character  which  the  English  had  of  late 
aoqnired  o(  being  a '  peaceable  |>eoplc.' "  How 
br  this  shrewd  advice  was  entertained  we 
I  DO  means  of  knowing,  but  there  is  little 
to  think  that  James'  peppery  periods 
'  oAendcd  the  august  imperial  eye.  What- 
may  have  ticen  done  in  that  m.itter  the 
xc  against  the  success  of  the  nego- 
Tbe  a0air  dragged  on  for  several 
yean  and  was  only  brought  to  a  close  when 
the  Firando  factory  was  vacated  in  1623. 
From  first  to  last  the  negotiations  cost  the 
Company  a  great  deal  of  money.  Dittis  alone 
is  represented  to  have  disbursed  13,000  taels. 

As  has  been  iitdicated  the  unjust  implication 
of  the  English  in  the  piratical  transactions  of 
tlie  Dutch  had  a  very  injurious  influence  on 
the  coarse  ol  the  negotLitions  for  a  trade  with 
China.    That  prejudiced  feeling  was  intensified 
wlicn.  as  happened  in   1619,  the  English  en- 
tered into  a  treaty  of  defence  and  alliance  with 
the  Dutch.     This  arrangement  was  ostensibly 
designed    to    further    the    interests    of    both 
ooanlries,  their  forces  being  joined  in  a  "  joint 
endeaTonr,"  to  use  the  words  of  a  clause  of 
the  treaty,  "  to  open  and  establish  free  com- 
merce in  China  and  other  places  of  the  Indies 
by  soch   ways  and   means  as   the   Common 
Council  shall  find  expedient."     But  in  practice 
the   Hollanders    turned    the    arrangement   to 
their    exclusive    advantage.    They    used    the 
English  when  it  suited  them  to  do  so,  dragging 
the  English  ships  into  a  blockade  which  they 
instituted  against  the  Chinese  junks  proceeding 
to  the   Manilas,    and    in    other     ways    com- 
promising the  English  name  with  the  Chinese. 
Hut  when  equal  tacilitics  were  claimed  at  the 
ports    occupied    by  the    Dutch   the    demand 
was  emphatically  declined.     Ultimalcly  the  ill- 
anorted  union  came  to  an  end  as  it  was  bound 
to  do.   A  tragic  outcome  of  it  was  the  massacre 
of  Amiioyna,  an  epis<ide   which   left   a  deep 
itain    on    the    English    name    until    it    was 
wiped    out    by    Cromwell.    Another    consc- 
quciKx   which   flowed    from    the    connection 
was  the  creation  in  the  minds  of  the  Chinese 
and    the    Japanese    authorities    of    a    strong 
diatmst  of  the  English.     It  is  difficult  to  say 
to  what  extent    this    leeling    influenced    the 
coarse  of  events,  but  there  is  little  room  for 
qoestion  that  it  militated  very  seriously  against 
English  interests  for  a  long  series  of  years. 
We  may  gather  some  notion  of  the  prejudice 
eieited  from  the  successive  despatches  of  the 
Company's   agents   whose    writings    became 
iacreuingly  doleful  as  the  time  went  on  and 
Ibe  comequenccs  of  the  alliance  were  more 
dearly  revealed.     Thus,    Richard   Cfxrk,    the 
(actor    at    Kirando,    in    162 1    wrote    to    the 
Company's  agents  at  Batavia  in  these  terms : 
"  Goorockdono,  the  Governor  of  Nangasaque 
(Hagasaki),  with  all   the    merchants   of   that 
place,  Meaco  and  Kddo,  taketh  the  Spaniards' 
and    Portugals'   parts  against   us,   giving  the 
Emperor  to  understand  that  Ivjth  we  and  the 
HoUanders  are  pirates  and  thieves  and   live 
upon  nothing   but   the   tpoil  of   the  Chinese 
and  others  ;  which  is  the  utter  overthrow  of 
Ibe  trade  with  Japan,  no  one  daring  to  come 
bilber  for  fear  (A  us.    By  which  reports  the 
finpcrar  and  his  Council   are  much   moved 
a.    The  King  of   Kirando,  who  has 


married  the  Emperor's  kinswoman,  is  now 
our  only  slay."  He  added  :  "  The  Hollanders 
arc  generally  hated  throughout  all  the  Indies, 
and  we  much  the  worse  thought  of  since  we 
joined  them." 

After  the  rupture  with  the  Dutch  the  Eng- 
lish for  some  years  confined  their  operations 
largely  to  the  Indian  trade.  But  tlicy  con- 
tinued to  cast  longing  eyes  in  the  direction 
of  China  and  Japan.  The  Dutch,  who  had 
early  in  the  struggle  with  the  Chinese  seized 
and  fortified  a  position  in  the  Pescadores, 
were  able  to  establish  in  course  of  time  an 
indirect  trade  with  China  by  way  of  Tywan 
in  Formosa.  This  did  not  escape  the  notice 
of  the  English  factors  at  Batavia.  Writing 
home  they  furnished  particulars  of  the 
Hollanders'  operations,  and  at  the  same  time 
painted  a  glowing  picture  of  the  prospects 
offered  in  this  direction.  "  The  trade  of 
China  now  likely  to  settle  at  Tywan,"  they 
stated  with  a  curious  mixture  of  metaphors, 
"is  as  an  ixean  to  devour  more  than  all 
Europe  can  minister  ;    wrought  and  raw  silk 


"  Those  clothes  which  now  they  wear  is 
silk,  in  Summer  seasons  passable,  but  in  the 
Winter  are  enforced  to  bombast  or  to  wear 
ten  coats  one  over  the  otlier,  and  that  is 
useful.  Silk  being  thus  their  clothing  and  all 
growing  in  China,  a  stop  of  that  intercourse 
were  so  material  that  silk  in  China  in  one 
year  would  be  as  dust  or  dung  and  Japan 
beggard  for  want  of  clothing." 

"  iiut  such  stop  of  intercourse  and  devised 
extremity  needeth  not ;  for  the  natural  enmity 
between  those  two  nations  hath  so  framed 
all  for  our  purpose,  that  could  Japan  be 
furnished  with  any  other  clothing,  not  one 
Chinese  durst  peep  into  their  country  ;  which 
the  Chinese  well  know  ;  therefore,  though 
tolerated  by  Japan,  yet  none  conieth  but  by 
stealth,  which  would  cost  their  lives  if  known 
to  their  governors  in  China." 

The  Dutch  at  this  time  were  sharply 
antagonistic  to  the  English  at  all  points  where 
their  interests  touched.  They  resented  the 
action  of  their  rivals  in  witlulrawing  from  the 
treaty  of  defence,  professing  to  look  upon  it 


THE    ISLAND    OF    FORMOSA. 
(From  ail  ancieiU  map  in  the  Slnaiu*  Collection  at  the  IJritish  Mnscum.) 


in  abundance  and  many  necessary  com- 
modities that  all  parts  of  India  must  have. 
These  arc  to  be  purchased  with  the  pepper, 
spice,  and  sandal  wood  of  these  paits  at 
prices  as  we  please  ;  also  with  the  silver  of 
Japan  springing  from  the  said  silk  of  China, 
and  by  all  probability  with  every  sort  of 
European  commodities,  especially  woollen 
cloth,  for  the  greatest  part  of  the  Chinese 
Empire  stretcheth  into  the  cold  climate  and 
is  defended  with  infinite  troops  of  soldiers 
whose  necessities  do  require  more  than  we 
can  guess  at  until  experimented."  In  another 
communication  the  advantages  of  Far  Eastern 
trade  were  further  expounded.  "  For  these 
mighty  monarchies  Japan  and  China  abound- 
ing with  riches  and  also  civilised  peaceably 
to  res|x>nd  with  all  ;  but  in  a  climate  requir- 
ing that  which  neither  themselves  nor  their 
neighbours  enjoy  or  can  be  supplied  but  by 
the  English  which  is  clothings  answerablc 
to  the  magnificence  of  these  nations,  defen- 
sible against  the  cold  and  convenient  for  their 
employments  in  travel,  wars  and  weather." 


as  a  gross  breach  of  faith  towards  themselves. 
Their  dominant  feeling,  however,  was  one  of 
jealous  apprehension  lest  the  English  should 
sectire  a  foothold  in  a  domain  which  they 
had  marked  out  for  their  own  special  exploi- 
tation. This  policy  of  excUisiveness  was 
pursued  with  a  persistency  which  could  not 
fail  to  leave  its  marks  on  English  trade  at 
a  period  when  the  country's  influence  was 
not  at  a  particularly  high  level  in  Europe. 
Still,  the  English  factors  at  Batavia  weie  by 
no  means  disposed  to  leave  the  Dutch  with 
a  free  hand  in  the  Var  East.  In  1627  the 
Presidency  at  Batavia  sent  home  a  long 
despatch  strongly  urging  the  desirability  of 
making  another  attempt  to  open  up  trade 
with   China.     They  wrote  : — 

"  Concerning  the  trade  of  China  three 
things  are  especially  made  known  to  the 
world." 

"  The  one  is  the  abundant  trade  it  affordeth  ; 
the  second  is  that  they  admit  no  stranger 
into  their  country  ;  the  third  is  that  trade  is 
as   life    unto    the    vulgar,    which    in    remote 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPliESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       19 


parts  they  will  seek  and  accommodate  with 
hazard  of  all  they  have." 

"  In  these  three  considerations  it  is  easily 
conceived  how  and  where  intercourse  with 
that  nation  is  to  he  expected  ;  for  it  requireth 
no  more  care  than  to  plant  in  some  convenient 
place  whither  they  may  come  and  then  to 
give  them  knowledge  that  you  are  planted." 

"  This  condemneth  the  Dutch  their  long- 
continued  roaniings  upon  the  coast  of  China  ; 
where,  after  much  cliarge  and  trouble,  they 
saw  their  folly,  and  planted  upon  P'ormosa  ;  a 
place  not  inconvenient  in  respect  of  nearness, 
but  a  barred  harbour,  an  open  road  and 
inconvenient  for  shipping.  Yet  should  we 
shew  ourselves  to  trade  there  with  the  Dutch 
it  shall  be  guarded  with  those  difticulties  and 
infinite  charges  as  if  it  were  a  diamond  mine." 

"  This  hath  occasioned  us  to  be  inquisitive 
concerning  that  commerce,   how  with    most 


conveniency  it  may  be  accomplished  ;  and 
so  by  conference  with  chiefs  of  those  ports, 
especially  with  Naukadas  (captains  of  native 
craft)  lately  come  from  China,  we  under- 
stand that  none  of  their  nation  is  publicly 
tolerated  for  foreign  trade — only  some  pro- 
portioned to  trade  with  the  King  of  Siam  ; 
but  for  Cochin  China  he  that  will,  and 
with  what  they  please.  All  other  trades  are 
unlawful  ;  and  whosoever  attempteth,  doth 
it  with  the  danger  of  his  life,  be  it  for 
the  Manillas,  Japan,  Formosa,  Java,  or  where- 
soever." 

The  Presidency  then  go  on  to  observe  that 
if  hereafter  they  might  have  free  trade  with 
the  Dutch  at  Formosa  they  would  deliberate 
whether  to  use  it  or  not  ;  "  for  the  aforesaid 
Naukadas  persuade  them  rather  to  .settle  upon 
Cochin  China,  which  is  connected  with  the 
main  of  China,  but  seven  days'  journey  from 


Chin-Chew  ;  and  there  is  free  intercourse 
both  by  sea  and  land  between  these  nations, 
as  they  are  indeed  both  one  ;  for  Cochin 
China  was  a  kind  of  tributary  to  the  great 
Emperor,  but  of  late  is  free." 

"The  said  Naukadas  rejoicing  at  our  motion 
profess  that  if  we  will  settle  in  these  parts 
Ihey  will  beat  their  gongs  in  China  when 
they  hear  of  our  coming  and  we  shall  want 
no  trade,  nor  whatsoever  we  can  desire. 
Further  they  importuned  the  President's  kins- 
man to  go  with  them  to  see  all  the  accom- 
modation of  China  (Cochin  China),  promising 
to  return  him  in  safety,  and  to  leave  as  a 
pledge  for  his  return  his  own  brother  and 
son." 

The  Presidency  of  Batavia  adds  that  on 
their  own  parts  they  would  willingly  embrace 
this  motion,  did  they  know  the  inclination  of 
the  Court  to  coincide. 


CHAPTER    II. 

The  English  Ship   "  London  "  visits  China — Captain  Weddell's  Voyage  to  Canton — The  Tartar  Invasion  of  China  and 
its  Effect  on  Foreign  Trade — Opening  of   Factories  at  Formosa  and  Tonkin — Trade  Relations  with  Amoy. 


No  direct  steps  appear  to  have  been  taken 
at  the  time  to  carry  out  the  recoinmendations 
of  the  Batavia  Presidency,  set  out  in  the 
foregoing  chapter.  The  next  important  move 
was  deferred  until  1635  when,  following  upon 
the  conclusion  of  peace  with  the  Portuguese, 
the  Company's  agents  at  Surat,  at  the  invita- 
tion of  the  Viceroy  of  Goa,  despatched  the 
ship  London  to  China.  The  venture  was 
avowedly  an  experiment,  and  it  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  a  brilliant  success. 
Macao  was  visited,  and  the  vessel  remained 
some  time  there  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  the 
Portuguese,  who,  apart  from  a  feeling  of 
trade  jealousy,  were  influenced  by  a  fear  of 
the  displeasure  of  the  Chinese.  They  after- 
wards represented  that  they  were  made  to 
pay  a  smart  fine  for  opening  their  port  to 
the  London,  and  very  possibly  it  was  so  for 
the  Chinese  oft'icialdom  was  not  likely  to  let 
slip  so  favourable  an  opportunity  of  making 
money.  The  year  following  the  London's 
voyage  witnessed  a  far  more  ambitious  attempt 
to  establish  commercial  relations  with  China. 
The  enterprise  was  fathered,  not  by  the  East 
India  Company,  but  by  a  private  organisa- 
tion known  as  Courten's  Association.  A  fleet 
consisting  of  three  small  but  well  equipped 
ships — the  Driiflon,  the  Sun,  and  the  Kcithcrinc 
— and  the  pinnace  Ann,  were  sent  out  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Weddell,  an  experi- 
enced navigator.  Sailing  from  the  Downs  on 
April  14,  1636,  the  little  squadron  anchored 
of^  Macao  on  the  27th  of  June  in  the  follow- 
ing year.  The  journal  of  the  voyage  slates 
that  immediately  after  his  arrival  Weddell 
sent  a  boat  ashore  witli  a  letter  he  had  in 
his  possession  from  King  Charles  to  the 
Portuguese  Governor.  The  boat  was  met  by 
the  Captain  General,  "a  mulatta  of  a  most 
perverse  and  pevish  condition,  reported  to 
have  bin  a  tinker."  The  letter  was  duly 
delivered  to  the  Governor  and  his  Council, 
and  the  deputation  was  dismissed  with  the 
statement  that  a  reply  would  be  sent  the 
next  day.  Afterwards  the  procurator  of  the 
city  came  on  board  and  "  began  to  unfould 
a  tedious,  lamentable  discourse  (as  false  as 
prolix)   of   their   miserable   subjection   to  the 


Chinese,  which  would  be  now  (as  he  preten- 
ded) be  much  more  by  other  4  shipps  arrivall, 
they  haveing  had  experience  by  the  shipp 
London's  only  being  there  which  cost  them 
a  great  fyne.  Hee  said  wee  knew  not  the 
good  they  intended  us  (wee  believed  yt)  but 
there  were  two  main  obstacles  w^h  hin- 
dered them  from  expressing  yt,  viz.,  the 
non  consent  of  the  Chinese  (w':h  vvas  meerely 
false),  and  the  slender  quantite  of  goods 
wth  they  might  expect  ys  yeare  from  Can- 
ton for  Japan,  .  .  .  but  the  mayne  excuse 
was  that  wee  brought  noe  letters  recomen- 
datory  from  the  Old  Vice  Roye  of  Goa 
(w'h  would  have  done  us  as  much  good  as 
nothing).  In  conclusion  he  told  us  that  for 
matter    of    refreshinge    yf    we    came    neerer 


(wch  wee  did)  he  would  p'vide  for  us.  And 
this  he  verry  worshipfully  and  like  a  true 
Hebrew  indeed  p'formed  :  att  2  or  3  tymes 
the  vallew  on  shore  ;  and  to  the  end  that 
none  might  cheate  us  but  himselfe,  there  was 
a  stride  watch  of  boates  placed  about  each 
shipp,  not  p'mitting  so  much  as  a  poore 
fiisherman  to  supply  us  with  the  vallew 
of   6d." 

Captain  Weddell  determined  to  see  for  him- 
self what  the  prospects  of  trade  were,  and 
accordingly  despatched  the  pinnace  Ann  on 
a  reconnoitring  expedition  to  the  Canton 
River.  After  two  days'  sailing  they  came  in 
sight  of  the  mouth  of  the  river  "  being  a 
verry  orderlie  inlet  and  utterly  prohibited  to 
the  Portugalls  by  the  Chineses,  who  doe  not 


ANCIENT    VIEW    OF    MACAO. 
(From  a  print  .^t  the   Britisli   Museum. J 


JO      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


villinely  admitt  any  strangers  to  the  view 
ot  vt,  tKuis  >-c  passage  and  secure  harbour 
for  their  best  jounckes  h»th  of  warr  and 
■odiaaduc.  So  that  the  t'ortugall's  trailick 
to  Canton  is  only  in  small  vessclls  through 


them  as  the  inhabitants  of  Maccaw  to  exer- 
cise a  free  commerce  tliere  payinge  duties  as 
the  others."  Vy<on  this  the  admiral  became 
more  affable  and  offered  a  small  junk  to  take 
the  parly  up   the  river,  on  the  understanding 


KAOAO,   FBOM    THE    FORTS    OF    HEANQ-SHAN. 
(Krom  AUom  &  Wrinhfs  "Cliina.") 


diver*  narrow  shuald  streiglites  amongst 
many  broken  islands  adjoyning  to  the  mayne. 
To  whom  y'  was  noe  small  wonder  that 
w'k  out  any  pilolt  or  any  the  least  hcipe  of 
an  intcrprctor  our  people  should  penetrate  soe 
(far.  And,  indeed,  yi  hath  caused  dyvers  of 
the  best  uiiderstandinge  amongst  them  to 
make  publique  confession  of  their  own 
erriHir  in  refuseinge  to  afford  us  reasonable 
libcrtic  of  trade  at  our  first  cominge  to 
Maccaw,  whereby  wee  were  enforced  to  this 
attempt  »•'••  they  prognostically  (prognos- 
licate)  and  wee  hope  truly  will  in  a  few 
>-cares  bee  the  mine  of  their  vain  glorious 
pride  and  ostentacion  ;  yet  hereby  the  honest 
dealing  off  our  nacon  contrary  to  their 
slanderous  rep<jrts  is  apparently  manifested 
and  made  knowne,  as  well  to  the  principall 
GoTcrnours  of  y'  Province  as  to  the  principall 
Merchants  and  all  gortes  of   people." 

On  the  I5lh  the  party  in  the  pinnace  (which 
included  Messrs.  Mouiiteney  and  Robinson, 
supercargoes)  got  a  Chinese' boatman  to  con- 
duct them  to  Canton.  Un  the  l6th  Mounleney 
and  Robinson  went  ashore  with  a  flag  of  truce, 
were  carried  overland  a  league  to  the  harbour 
ot  Lampton  "w«^t>  is  a  station  for  their  prime 
men  of  warr  of  the  Kings  armada  as  Chaltom 
is  in  England  for  his  .Maii«->  shipps."  On  the 
ll«h,  as  they  were  going  up  the  river,  they 
•net  the  Chinese  fleet  coming  down  and  were 
requested  to  anchor.  This  they  did.  At  first 
the  Chinese  admiral  "began  somewhat  roughly 
to  czpoMolate,"  and  demanded  to  know  what 
had  induced  the  English  "  to  come  thither  and 
dlMOVCjed  p'hibited  and  concealed  pts.  and 
pMnges  of  so  great  Prince's  dominions.'" 
To  Uiis  Robinson  replied  "that  they  were 
oooie  from  a  potent  prince  of  Europe,  who 
being  in  amitye  wU"  all  his  neighbours, 
desir'd  likewise  the  friendshipp  of  ye  greate 
King  of  China,  and  to  that  end  had  his 
order  to  treate  of  such  capitulacons  as  might 
""''h'ce  to  the  good  of  both  princes  and 
•■b|eds  bopeingc  that  it  might  be  lawfull  for 


that  the  pinnace  proceeded  no  further.  The 
offer  was  accepted,  and  Messrs.  Mounteney 
and  Kobinson  and  Captain  Carter,  of  the  Ann, 
started  the  same  night  on  their  jouiiiey. 
When  within  live  leagues  of  Canton  they  were 
met  by  a  message  from  the  authorities  entreat- 


acquiescence  in  this  request  the  party  returned 
in  the  Ann  to  Macao.  Shortly  afterwards  a 
reply  was  received  from  the  Portuguese  Hatly 
declining  to  accord  permission  to  trade. 
Upon  this  Captain  Weddell  summoned  a  coun- 
cil, and  the  matter  having  been  "well  pon- 
dered," and  "the  notorious  treacheries  of  ye 
p'fidious  Portugall's  now  plainly  appeal  inge" 
it  was  agreed  that  the  whole  Meet  should,  with 
all  convenient  speed,  depart  for  Lampton.  On 
July  31st  the  vessels  set  sail  and  arrived  off  the 
mouth  of  the  river  on  August  6th.  The  Man- 
darins came  on  boaid  and  these  promised  to 
solicit  for  them  at  Canton  the  grant  of  a  right 
to  trade.  For  eight  days  the  Hect  waited  for 
the  permit, and  then  an  incident  occurred  which 
precipitated  matters.  As  one  of  the  fleet's 
boats  was  endeavouring  to  find  a  watering 
place  it  was  tired  on  from  a  "desolate  castle" 
which  had  been  hastily  fortified  by  the  Chinese 
owing  to  the  slanders  of  the  Portuguese. 
Weddell  was  not  the  man  to  sit  quietly  under 
an  act  of  treachery  of  this  description. 
Calling  his  ships  to  arms  he  ranged  them  in 
position  near  the  castle  and  poured  in  a 
succession  of  broadsides.  At  the  end  of  two 
hours  boats  were  landed  with  a  hundred  men 
and  the  English  flag  was  planted  on  the 
ramparts  of  the  now  abandoned  position. 
The  ordnance  was  brought  on  board,  and 
the  Council  House,  which  formed  a  part  of 
the  port,  was  tired.  Further  retaliation  was 
later  resorted  to  in  the  capture  of  two  junks, 
one  laden  with  timber  and  the  other  with 
salt.  After  this  overtures  for  peace  were 
made  by  the  Chinese.  Ultimately  Messrs. 
Mounteney  and  Kobinson  proceeded  to  Can- 
ton, and  on  the  l8th  attended  at  the 
Viceroy's  palace  to  present  their  petition 
to  trade.  They  were  received  with  great 
honours  and  their  request  was  granted,  the 
Mandarin  blaming  the  treachery  of  the 
Portuguese  for  all  the  troubles  that  had 
arisen.  The  party  returned  from  Canton 
"  bringinge  with  them  a  ffirma  or  pattent  for 


ANCIENT    VIEW 
(From  a  print  in  the 

ing  them  to  proceed  no  further  and  promising 
that  influence  should  be  used  with  the  "subor- 
dinate Viceroy  for  Trade"  to  obtain  permission 
to  trade  if  they  returned  to  Macao.  Deeming 
that   they   would    Ijcst   serve    their   ends   by 


OF    CANTON. 

IJritish  .Museum.) 

ffree  trade  and  liberty  to  fortifie  upon  any 
convenient  (place)  without  the  mouth  of  ye 
river."  The  Chinese  ordnance  was  landed 
from  the  fleet  and  restored  to  them,  and  the 
pinnace   was    sent   to   discover   some    island 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       21 


without  the  river  which  would  be  suitable 
for  a  settlement.  On  the  24th  of  August 
Messrs.  MouiUeney  and  Hobinson  went  up 
the  river  with  stock  and  presents,  and  after  a 
delay  of  two  days,  attired  in  Chinese  habits, 
were  conveyed  to  lodgings  in  the  suburbs 
of  Canton.  After  paying  10,000  "  rialls  of 
eight "  agreed  upon  for  duties,  they  bought 
eighty  tons  of  sugar  besides  bargaining  for 
ginger,  stuffs  and  other  merchandise  and 
provisions.  The  trade  assumed  such  a  pro- 
mising complexion  that  Mr.  Robinson  was 
despatched  to  the  fleet  for  six  additional 
chests  of  money,  and  twenty  Chinese  carpen- 
ters were  employed  in  making  chests  to 
contain  the  sugar  and  sugar  candy,  which 
we  are  told  by  the  diarist  "costs  lid.  p.  lb. 
and  is  as  white  as  snow."  Meanwhile,  "  the 
malicious  treachery  and  base  designes  of  the 
Portugalls  slept  not."  They  insidiously  poi- 
soned the  minds  of  the  authorities  against 
the  English  traders,  and  followed  up  their 
secret  machinations  with  an  open  protest 
against  any  concession  to  the  intruders. 
The  outcome  of  these  plottings  was  that 
Robinson  and  two  other  Englishmen  who 
were  accompanying  him  were  arrested  in 
the  river  on  returning  to  Canton  with  the 
additional  specie  and  stock.  At  about  the 
same  time  an  attack  was  made  on  the  fleet 
by  sending  against  it  a  number  of  lire  junks. 
Fortunately  this  manoeuvre  was  detected  in 
time  and  the  junks  were  avoided. 

The  party  at  Canton  were  left  in  close 
confinement  in  their  houses  for  several  days. 
Eventually,  on  their  threatening  to  fire  the 
town,  their  guard  was  withdrawn.  Meanwhile, 
Weddell,  not  hearing  from  the  merchants, 
cruised  with  his  vessels  about  the  mouth  of 
the  river  pillaging  and  burning.  At  last  licence 
was  given  to  the  merchants  to  write,  and  they 
did  so  asking  Weddell  to  forbear. 

On  the  61h  of  October  the  Cliumpein  at 
Canton  expressed  a  desire  to  Mounteney  to 
taste  some  meat  dressed  after  the  English 
fashion,  "  whereupon  they  played  the  cookes 
and  roasted  certain  henns  &c.  which  together 
sent  unto  him,  together  with  some  bisquett, 
a  bottle  of  Sacke,  and  some  other  things 
they  sent  unto  him,  wherewith  he  seemed 
much  content,  and  returned  them  many 
thanckes  assureing  them  of  his  friendshipp  ; 
nor  did  he  fayle  them  therein  to  his  uttmost. 
And  at  their  departure  told  them  he  was 
sorry  he  could  doe  noe  more  for  them, 
beinge  the  plaine  truth  that  the  Portugalls 
had  outbribed  tlieni,  and  had  so  far  p'vayled 
wlh  ye  great  ones,  that  he  alone  was  not 
able  to  oppose  soe  many."  He  was,  how- 
ever, he  added,  soliciting  the  new  Viceroy 
on   their   belialf. 

Then  followed  a  course  of  trading  marked 
by  repeated  intrigues  on  the  part  of  the 
Portuguese  to  nullify  the  efforts  of  the  English. 
Finally,  the  Chumpein  caused  two  "  inter- 
changeable writings,"  to  be  subscribed  by 
either  party,  and  so  dismissed  them  on  equal 
terms.  The  conditions  of  the  agreement 
arrived  at  were  that  the  Englishmen  should 
pay  a  tribute  of  20,000  "  rialls  of  eight "  yearly, 
together  with  four  pieces  of  ordnance  and  fifty 
muskets.  On  their  part  the  Chinese  authorities 
agreed  that  the  English  should  make  a  selection 
of  any  island  near  Macao,  for  the  purposes  of 
a  settlement,  that  they  should  have  liberty 
to  fortify  it,  and  that  they  should  have  the 
same  freedom  of  trade  with  Canton  as  the 
Portuguese  enjoyed.  If  Weddell's  enterprise 
had  been  vigorously  followed  up  there  is 
little  reason  to  doubt  that  the  English  might 
have  anticipated  the  founding  of  Hongkong 
by  two  centuries.  But  the  times  were  not 
propitious  for  colonial  adventures  of  any 
kind,   and    least    of    all   for   one    in    such    a 


remote  region  as  the  China  Sea.  Torn  with 
internecine  strife,  and  with  the  national 
finances  in  a  state  of  great  confusion,  Eng- 
land turned  her  face  from  the  path  by  which 
later  she  was  to  travel  to  a  dazzling  position 
of  eminence  as  a  world  power. 

The  next  few  years  were  years  of  humilia- 
tion for  the  English  in  the  Far  East.  The 
Dutch  strove,  and  with  considerable  success, 
to  drive  English  trade  from  the  China  seas. 
How  low  the  national  prestige  had  sunk  may 
be  gathered  from  the  reply  made  in  1645  by 
the  Surat  Council  to  a  proposition  emanating 
from  the  Spanish  Governor  of  the  Manilas 
that  a  commerce  should  be  opened  between 
those  islands  and  Surat.  The  Surat  factors 
confessed  their  inability  to  supply  the  Spanish 
with  the  articles  they  required  because  of  the 
vigilant  eye  the  Dutch  had  over  their  actions. 
They  went  on  to  say  that  although  they 
might  "effect  the  business  through  the  Straits 
of  Sunda,  yet  without  the  Coinpany's  positive 
order,"  they  must  decline  hazarding  the 
Company's  shipping,  but  "  rather  propound 
unto  the  Court  the  obtaining  from  the  King 
of  Spain  his  consent  and  license  for  an  open 
and  free  commerce  between  us."     Apparently 


himself  for  fear  of  falling  into  his  hands  ; 
which  disturbances  with  the  Portuguese's 
poverty  had  left  Macao  destitute  of  all  sorts 
of  commodities,  there  not  being  to  be  bought 
in  the  city  either  silks  raw  or  wrought,  (nor) 
China  roots  other  than  what  were  old  and 
rotten  ;  nor,  indeed,  anything  but  China 
ware,  which  is  the  bulk  of  the  Hindi's 
lading,  the  rest  being  brought  in  gold  ;  nor 
could  anything  at  all  during  the  ship's  stay 
there  be  procured  from  Canton."  The  dis- 
turbed state  of  China  continued  for  some 
time  to  interrupt  the  course  of  trade.  Three 
years  after  the  Hiiidc  visited  Macao  the 
Company's  agent  at  Bantam  supplied  a  very 
doleful  account  of  the  position  of  affairs  to 
his  employers  at  home.  "  The  experiment 
which  you  desire  we  should  make  with  one 
of  our  small  vessels  for  trade  into  China,"  he 
wrote,  "  we  are  certainly  informed  by  those 
that  know  the  present  state  and  condition  of 
that  country  very  well  cannot  be  undertaken 
witliout  the  inevitable  loss  both  of  ship,  men 
and  goods  ;  for  as  the  Tartars  overrun  and 
waste  all  the  inland  country  without  settling 
any  government  in  the  places  which  they 
overcome  ;  so  some   of   their   great    men   in 


MACAO,    FROM    THE    SEA. 
(From  Uorget's  "Slietches  of  Cliina.") 


the  risks  were  eventually  faced,  for  at  the 
close  of  the  year  two  of  the  Company's  ships, 
the  Hiiidc  and  the  Sea  Horse,  are  mentioned 
as  having  been  one  at  Macao  and  the  other 
at  the  Manilas.  The  voyages  were  not 
particularly  successful,  largely  owing  to  the 
anarchical  conditions  which  prevailed  in 
China  at  this  period.  The  Hiiuie,  the 
chronicler  says,  might  have  done  better  but 
for  "  the  extreme  poverty  of  the  place,  it  not 
appearing  the  saine  as  it  was  at  the  Loiulon's 
being  there."  Its  condition  was  due  "  to  the 
loss  of  their  (the  Portuguese's)  former  trades 
to  Japan  and  the  Manilas,  the  former  of 
which  they  lately  atteinpted  to  recover  by 
sending  a  pinnace  into  those  ports,  but  (they) 
had  their  people  that  voyaged  thither  all  cut 
off,  which  makes  them  more  miserable."  As 
for  China  it  was  represented  in  the  factor's 
report  on  tlie  H/iidc's  voyage  as  being 
"  wholly  embroiled  in  wars."  "  One  of  the 
chief  Mandarins  being  risen  in  rebellion  is 
grown  so  powerful  that  he  possesseth  a  great 
part  of  the  kingdom  and  is  likely  to  be 
owner  of  it,  the  king,  after  he  had  slain  his 
wife  and  two  of  his  children,  having  hanged 


China  with  a  mighty  fleet  at  sea  of  upwards 
of  1,000  sail  of  great  ships  (as  is  conlidenlly 
reported)  rob  and  spoil  all  the  sea  coasts  and 
whatsoever  vessels  they  can  meet  with  ;  and 
how  one  of  our  feeble  vessels  would  be  able 
to  defend  themselves  against  such  forces  is 
easy  to  be  supposed.  As  for  the  Portugalls 
in  Macao,  they  are  little  better  than  mere 
rebels  against  their  Vice  Roy  in  Goa  having 
lately  murdered  tlieir  Captain  General  sent 
thither  to  them  ;  and  Macao  itself  so  distracted 
amongst  themselves  that  tliey  are  daily  spill- 
ing one  another's  blood.  But  put  the  case, 
all  these  things  were  otherwise,  we  must 
needs  say  we  are  in  a  very  poor  condition  to 
seek  out  new  discoveries  ;  while  you  will  not 
allow  us  either  factors,  shipping  or  sailors, 
scarce  hall  sufficient  to  maintain  the  trade 
already  you  have  on  foot  ;  and  therefore  the 
Dutch  but  laugh  at  us  to  see  us  meddle  with 
new  undertakings,  being  hardly  able  to 
support  the  old." 

The  Tartar  invasion  of  China,  Dutch  hos- 
tility, civil  war  at  home,  and  a  general  lack 
of  means,  were  circumstances  which  com- 
bined to   circumscribe  the  operations  of  the 


22      TW"ENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Cdmpany  for  a  consklerabic  period  after  the 
inditing  of  this  gloomy  report.  In  1654  the 
Dutch  appear  to  have  sent  two  ships  to 
Canton  from  the  Pescadores  at  the  invitation 
of  the  authorities  there,  I'lut  tlie  new  Knif>eror 
who  was  greatly  incensed  against  the  Hol- 
landers and  strongly  prejudiced  against  all 
foreigners,  hearing  of  their  presence  at  the 
port  sent  orders  that  they  should  be  cut  off, 
and  cot  off  they  would  have  been  had  not 
the  friendly  Viceroy  given  thenj  a  timely 
hint  to  cut  their  cables  and  depart — advice 
which  they  promptly  acccpte<l.  About  the 
same  period  two  private  English  ships,  the 
King  Feniimimi  and  the  Richanl  ami  Altirtlia 
appear  also  to  have  visited  Canton.  They, 
too,  had  to  leave  precipitately,  and  they  de- 
parted in  anything  but  the  odour  of  sanctity 
with  the  Chinese,  for  they  omitted  to  dis- 
charge their  measureage  dues  before  leaving, 
a  circumstance  which  was  unpleasantly  re- 
called live  years  later  when  the  next  English 
ship  appeared  in  the  Canton  Kivcr.  This 
vessel  was  the  Company's  ship  Sural,  which 
in  1664  sailed  from  Bantam  with  a  cargo  of 
pepper,  indigo,  a  quantity  of  lead,  and  other 
produce,  amounting  in  value  to  Rs.  9,573. 
They  had  difficulties  as  usual  with  the  Portu- 
guese at  Macao :  "  They  are  low  and  proud," 
was  the  Company's  supercargoes'  verdict 
upon  them.  They  found  pirates  infesting 
the  mouth  of  the  Canton  River  and  exacting 
blackmail  from  all  whom  they  could  intimi- 
date ;  and,  most  discouraging  of  all,  they 
discovered  that  there  was  "  no  certainty  of 
trade  in  any  part  of  China  under  the  Tartar 
Government." 

Foiled  in  their  endeavours  to  create  a 
direct  tnide  with  China,  the  Company  sought 
to  achieve  their  end  by  indirect  means.  Their 
new  plan  was  to  establish  factories  somewhere 
in  the  vicinity  of  China  where  they  could  get 
into  touch  with  Chinese  traders.  What  seemed 
at  the  time  to  be  a  favourable  opportunity 
offered  in  consequence  of  the  capture  of  Tywan, 


Formosa,  from  the  Dutch  in  1664  by  a  venture- 
some Chinese  chief  Mandarin,  who  followed 
up  his  occupation  of  the  island  by  establishing 
something  like  a  regal  authority  over  its 
inhabitants.  This  chief  was  reported  to  be 
friendly  to  traders.  It  subsequently  appeared 
that  his  friendliness  only  consisted  in  a  desire 
to  have  in  the  foreigners'  ships  a  convenient 
milch  cow  to  supply  his  warlike  necessities. 
But  the  Company  were  too  eager  at  the  time 
to  get  a  foothold  in  the  China  seas  to  examine 
very  closely  into  the  motives  which  prompted 
the  indirect  overture  which  was  made  to  them. 
In  1670  they  despatched  two  small  ships 
to  Tywan  to  reconnoitre  the  position.  A 
friendly  reception  was  given  to  the  Company's 
representatives,  who  finally  left  with  a  signed 
permit  from  the  King  for  the  establishment 
of  a  factory.  The  next  year  two  ships, 
the  Bantam  Merchant  and  the  Crown,  were 
sent  out  to  Tywan,  but  the  results  of  the 
voyage  were  only  partially  successful  because, 
s:»ys  a  naive  coinmunication  sent  home  by 
the  factors,  "  of  some  perfidious  Chinese 
and  our  yett  inexperience  in  those  parts." 
After  this  an  effort  was  made  to  open  up  a 
trade  with  Japan  by  vessels  sent  direct  from 
England  ;  but  the  venture  was  a  complete 
failure.  One  of  the  ships  was  captured  by 
the  Dutch,  and  the  other,  after  a  circuitous 
and  protracted  voyage,  arrived  lionie  with 
little  to  its  account,  but  a  heavy  bill  of  costs. 
The  Bantam  agency  was  anxious  to  resort  to 
the  old  Dutch  method  of  capturing  junks  to 
compel  Japan  to  open  her  ports.  But  the 
Court  with  great  good  sense  wrote,  "  We 
like  not  what  ye  wrote  to  become  robbers 
or  to  attempt  to  p'cure  our  trade  with  force, 
although  they  (the  Japanese)  have  dealt  un- 
kindly with  us."  The  Court  at  the  same 
time  thought  that  much  good  might  be  done 
by  cultivating  the  friendship  of  the  King  of 
Tywan,  for  they  accounted  the  establishment 
at  Tywan  to  be  of  great  importance.  Mean- 
while,   in    opposition    to    this    view,    it    was 


(From  a  print,  o(  the  date  165$,  in  De  Goyer  and  De  Keyser's  "Embassy  to  China.'^ 


reported  from  Tywan  that  no  great  progress 
was  being  made.  The  junks  proceeding  to 
Japan  refused  to  have  anything  to  do  with 
the  English  cloths,  and  there  were  few  open- 
ings in  other  directions  for  lucrative  business. 

Simultaneously  with  the  opening  of  a  trade 
with  Formosa  the  Company  took  measures 
to  establish  a  factory  in  Tonkin.  The  Dutch 
had  long  maintained  an  agency  there,  and 
it  was  thought  tliat  the  Company  could  not 
do  better  than  follow  their  rivals'  example, 
more  especially  in  view  of  the  determination 
come  to  to  promote  a  circuitous  trade  with 
China.  To  further  the  enterprise  the  Zanl 
frigate  was  sent  out  in  1672  with  a  full 
cargo  and  a  capable  crew  commanded  by 
W.  Gyfford,  one  of  the  Company's  trusted 
servants.  'The  ship  reached  the  Tonkin 
River  on  June  25th,  and  on  the  following 
day  passed  up  the  tideway  some  14  miles. 
Then  the  frigate  was  ordered  to  stop  until 
permission  had  been  procured  for  it  to 
proceed  to  Hien,  the  capital.  A  Mandarin — 
one  Ung-ja-Thay — came  on  board  while  the 
vessel  was  lying-to,  and  the  Company's  repre- 
sentatives in  order  to  get  on  good  terms  with 
him  made  hitn  a  pi  esent  of  "  6  yards  of 
scarlet,  2  sword  blades  and  2  silver  hafted 
knives."  These  gifts  apparently  had  not  the 
desired  effect,  for  when  the  ship  was  pro- 
ceeding up  the  river  on  July  6th,  "the  Man- 
darin being  this  day  aboard,  pinioned  the 
captain  and  threatened  to  cut  off  the  chief 
mate's  head,  because  they  would  not  tow  the 
ship  against  a  violent  stream."  However,  "at 
last  they  were  forced  to  try  but  as  soon  as 
the  anchor  was  up  the  tide  or  current  carried 
down  the  ship  in  spite  of  all  help  ;  soe  he 
was  something  appeased." 

"  Were  it  not  that  we  have  respect  for  the 
Company's  affairs,"  observe  the  factors  in 
their  curious  chronicle  of  the  voyage,  "  we 
should  have  resisted  any  such  affront,  though 
we  saw  but  little  hopes  of  escaping,  being 
so  far  up  the  river  and  our  ship  so  full  of 
soldiers." 

Mr.  Gyfford  told  the  Mandarin  that  putting 
such  dishonour  upon  them  as  to  pinion  the 
captain  seemed  very  strange  to  them,  and 
therefore  they  desired  no  other  favour  from 
him  but  leave  to  go  back  again,  for  they  be- 
lieved their  honourable  employers  would  not 
trade  there  upon  such  terms.  The  Mandarin 
answered  "  that  while  we  were  out  we  might 
have  kept  out  ;  the  King  was  King  of  Tonquin 
before  we  came  there  and  would  be  after  we 
departed  ;  and  that  this  country  had  no  need 
of  any  foreign  thing  ;  but  now  we  are  within 
his  power  we  must  be  obedient  thereto  ;  com- 
paring it  to  the  condition  of  a  married  woman, 
who  can  blame  no  one  but  herself  for  being 
brought  into  bondage."  The  Mandarin,  mean- 
while, made  free  of  the  ship's  stores.  "  He 
calls  for  wine  at  his  pleasure  and  gives  it 
amongst  his  soldiers  and  secretaries,  forcing 
them  and  our  seamen  to  drink  full  cups  only 
to  devour  it."  Afterwards  the  Mandarin 
plundered  the  ship  shamelessly,  and  later 
some  of  the  Royal  house  and  leading  officials 
joined  in  the  business.  In  the  absence  of 
the  King  of  Tonkin,  who  was  away  fighting 
the  Cochin  Chinese,  letters  were  delivered  to 
his  son   asking  permission  to  build  a  factory. 

In  a  summary  of  the  proceedings  Gyfford 
stales  the  Mandarin  "  ransacked  our  ship  at 
his  pleasure  carrying  away  all  our  English 
cloth,  stuffs,  lead  and  guns  and  anything 
else  that  we  hoped  to  make  profit  by,  and 
told  us  that  the  King  would  buy  them — which 
is  true,  but  it  will  be  at  his  own  rates.  .  .  . 
With  all  our  industry  we  have  not  been  able 
to  do  more  than  to  unload  the  ship  and 
procure  a  chop  for  settling  at  Hien  and  send 
of  I  our  goods  during  the  King's  absence." 


TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      23 


In  another  report  dated,  August  7,  1672, 
the  factors  further  dilate  upon  their  troubles  : 
"  Two  voyages  were  made  up  to  the  city 
Catcliao,  first  to  procure  the  prince's  chop  to 
land  goods  and  second  to  make  prices  of  our 
goods  they  took  from  us  for  the  King's  use, 
which  was  all  we  hoped  to  gain  by  ;  but 
they  made  us  such  prices  as  the  Company 
would  lose  by,  except  the  cloth  stuff  and 
guns  ;  and  would  have  forced  upon  us  silk 
at  40  p.c.  dearer  than  might  be  procured 
abroad.  ...  It  would  be  ot  ill  conse- 
quence to  the  Company's  affairs  to  allow 
such  an  imposition,  they  at  their  own  rates 
abating  ours  and  raising  their  own  goods  ; 
and  measuring  our  cloth  by  a  false  measure 
contrary  to  custom,  which  is  barely  the  Dutch 
ell  to  which  they  added  nearly  a  2oth  part. 
They  are  the  most  deceitful,  craving  and 
thievish  people  that  ever  we  came  among. 
But  we  are  encouraged  to  hope  that  the  King 
will  hear  our  complaints  and  remedy  all  these 
things  for  us  at  his  return."  On  the  12th  of 
August  the  Zaiif  dropped  down  the  river  and 
left  on  her  return  voyage.  Afterwards  Gyfford 
occupied  himself  in  establishing  the  factory 
at  Hien.  In  letters  to  Bantam  and  the 
Court,  Gyfford,  James  and  Waite,  the  factors, 
enumerated  the  goods  that  were  likely  to  be 
most  profitable.  They  concluded  ;  "'Tis  not 
convenient  to  send  much  goods  hither.  Prin- 
cipally send  what  pieces  of  eight  you  can  ; 
for  the  life  of  this  trade  is  money,  and  unless 
the  most  part  of  the  Company's  stock  sent 
hither  be  in  money  this  factory  cannot  yield 
profit." 

"  It  had  been  far  better  to  have  seen  a 
trade  opened  northward,  before  we  engaged 
in  this  expense,  as  we  declared  at  Bantam." 

"  It  is  difficult  to  recover  money  from  the 
prince  ;  yet  he  must  not  be  denied  more 
goods  whenever  he  sends  for  them  ;  we 
understand  the  King  pays  well,  but  his  son 
conceives  it  sufficient  that  he  intends  to  do 
the  same  when  he  succeeds  to  the  throne. 
.  .  .  The  usual  way  with  the  mandarins  is 
to  take  goods  agreeing  to  pay  at  the  same 
time  and  in  the  same  manner  as  the  King  ; 
so  that  being  interested,  they  prevent  us 
paying  him  so  well  as  he  is  disposed  to  do. 
He  this  year  gave  order  to  pay  us  in  Plate  ; 
but  the  mandarins  refused  to  obey  and  would 
pay  us  only  in  bad  silk  at  a  high  price.  The 
Dutch  upon  a  like  abuse  being  unable  to  get 
their  petition  presented  to  the  King,  brought 
their  trumpet  to  the  King's  gate  and  obtained 
immediate  access  and  redress.  If  your 
Honours  continue  here  it  must  be  upon  such 
hazardous  terms  as  we  have  related ;  and 
you  cannot  blame  your  servants  who  are  in 
reality  no  better  than  slaves." 

"  It  is  the  policy  of  the  King  to  repress 
trade  lest  the  people  grow  rich  and  rebel ; 
of  which  he  is  very  fearful  by  reason  of  the 
great  population  of  the  kingdom.  He  also 
receives  four-fifths  of  the  profits  of  the  land 
and  is  very  rich  in  gold  and  silver.  The 
people  if  they  have  anything  bury  it  and 
are  afraid  of  making  any  unusual  appear- 
ance in  their  houses  or  apparel  lest  they 
should  be  thought  to  have  money  ;  therefore 
it  is  impossible  to  induce  them  to  wear 
anything  but  what  they  are  accustomed  to  ; 
neither  would  the  King  permit  it,  for  all  are 
habited  alike  according  to  their  rank,  in  the 
distinction  of  which  they  are  very  exact,  for 
not  only  a  different  title  but  also  a  different 
language  is  used  according  to  the  rank  of 
the  person  addressed.  .  .  .  The  Dutch  have 
been  settled  in  Tonquin  forty  years — for  the 
first  four  years  they  suffered  great  affronts  ; 
but  they  bore  all  and  in  all  things  endea- 
voured to  oblige  the  King  and  still  continue 
to  do  so  on  account  of  the  great  profit  they 


make  on  silk  in  Japan.  The  Dutch  bring 
very  little  goods  except  for  presents,  and 
small  quantities  of  such  gruff  goods  as  the 
King  will  not  meddle  with  ;  their  chief  profit 
is  on  what  they  buy.  Rich  curiosities, 
instruments,  or  materials  of  war,  never  escape 
the  King.  Indeed,  he  lakes  whatever  he 
fancies  at  his  own  rates.  The  Dutch  take 
care  to  supply  him  with  things  of  this 
description,  but  only  with  such  as  turn  to 
profit  ;  .  .  .  We  must  do  the  same  and 
forbear  to  furnish  him  with  lead,  for  which 
he  has  only  allowed  one-fourth  the  cost  and 
charges." 

The  factors  experienced  great  difficulty  in 
securing  payment  for  the  goods  they  sold, 
but  in  the  end  by  sheer  pertinacity  they 
obtained  some  sort  of  an  adjustment.  Des- 
pite the  discouraging  results  achieved,  the 
Court  in  1676-77  sent  out  another  ship  to 
trade  in  Tonkin.  It  was  received  in  much 
the  same  manner  as  the  Zaiit  had  been  four 
years  previously.  The  factors'  old  friend, 
Ung-ja-Thay,  was  early  on  the  scene  making 
himself  pleasant  in  his  peculiar  way.  He 
first  of  all  wanted  to  beach  the  ship  in  oider 
to  inspect  the  cargo,  but  on  receiving  a  sola- 
tium of  no  dollars  he  agreed  "to  let  the 
ship  alone  and  to  proceed  no  further  in  his 
ruinous  intent."  The  usual  presents  were 
made  to  the  King,  but  His  Majesty  proved 
fastidious  and  returned  some  of  them  as  not 
to  his  liking.  The  incident  led  to  the  des- 
patch of  a  letter  to  the  Bantam  authorities 
advising  them  how  to  proceed  in  future  in 
this  important  matter.  "  We  would  request 
you,"  says  the  communication,  "to  write  them 
(the  King  and  his  son)  letters  in  China  char- 
acters' and  English  or  Portuguese  sewed  up 
in  a  piece  of  China  gold  stuff,  and  sealed 
each  apart  ;  and  insert  (specify  ?)  your  present 
to  them  in  your  letter,  which  must  not  be 
toys,  but  substantial  things  ;  as  great  guns, 
broad  cloth,  serges,  large  pieces  rough  amber 
— the  deeper  coloured  the  better,  or  large 
pieces  of  well-polished  coral.  The  present 
of  the  Dutch  to  the  King  this  year  was  four 
pieces  of  cloth,  two  sacker  guns,  a  corge  of 
fine  cloth,  and  a  chest  of  rosewater.  So  in 
proportion  you  may  order  your  presents  there, 
and  get  them  up  handsomely  as  those  of  the 
Dutch  are."  That  these  instructions  were 
not  superfluous  was  shown  a  few  months 
after  the  letter  was  written.  About  that  time 
the  factors  were  endeavouring  to  obtain  the 
grant  of  a  site  for  a  factory  and,  in  order  to 
secure  his  goodwill,  had  made  a  present 
of  amber  to  the  King's  eldest  son.  The 
prince,  not  finding  the  tint  of  the  amber 
exactly  to  his  taste,  returned  the  presents 
without  ceremony.  He  took  care  to  let  it  be 
known  that  the  only  amber  which  would 
please  him  must  be  "as  red  as  fire."  Soon 
after  this  incident  a  mysterious  message  from 
the  King  reached  the  ship,  demanding  the 
attendance  of  the  commander,  the  gunner, 
and  the  carpenter.  The  trio  went  wonder- 
ingly,  and  on  arrival  at  the  palace  found 
that  His  Majesty  wanted  to  show  them  a 
great  gun  which  his  subjects  had  cast  to  fit 
some  shot  which  the  Company's  ships  had 
brought  out.  The  weapon  was  duly  inspected 
and  discreetly  commended.  But  it  seemed 
that  the  King  had  not  sunnnoned  them 
merely  to  survey  and  admire  his  subjects' 
handiwork.  Clever  as  the  Tonkinese  were 
they  had  not  been  able  to  devise  a  contri- 
vance for  moving  the  gun,  so  the  Englishmen 
were  commanded  to  manufacture  a  crane  for 
the  purpose,  on  the  lines  of  contrivances 
used  on  their  vessels.  The  direction  was 
obeyed  and  the  crane  duly  supplied.  "  Yet," 
as  the  factors  plaintively  remark  in  one  of 
their  reports,  "  we  had  not  so  much  as  thanks 


though  a  man  was  ordered  to  oversee  the 
work  and  did  nothing  else  for  near  three 
months  together."  The  King,  in  fact,  took 
all  that  he  could  get  and  gave  little  in  return. 
His  subjects  faithfully  copied  his  example,  in 
many  cases  indeed  improving  upon  it.  Under 
the  strain  of  an  intolerable  situation  the 
Company's  agents  became  very  despondent. 
Writing  to  Bantam  about  a  month  after  the 
delivery  of  the  crane  they  say  :  "  As  to  the 
state  of  the  Company's  affairs  here  we  know 
not  what  to  advise,  having  to  do  with  an 
unreasonable  and  untruthful  people  ;  for  the 
more  we  endeavour  to  oblige  them  the 
greater  disappointments  we  find  from  them." 
Notwithstanding  the  discouraging  conditions, 
the  negotiations  for  a  site  for  a  factory  were 
continued  until  August,  1678,  when,  by  dint 
of  bribery,  a  licence  was  obtained  from  the 
King  for  the  establishment  of  a  factory  on 
a  site  below  the  Dutch  factory.  The  plot  of 
ground  given,  the  agent  reported,  "  is  not  so 
large  as  we  desire,  but  need  hath  no  law." 
The  consideration  for  the  site  was  a  brass 
and  an  iron  gun  and  shot.  The  former  was 
returned  as  defective,  and  the  Tonkinese 
"  would  not  hear  anything  alledged  in  proof 
of  the  goodness  of  the  gun,  for  having  once 
refused  it,  no  replications  avail,  though  they 
see  the  gun  fired  a  hundred  times."  Appar- 
ently this  allegation  of  the  defectiveness  of 
the  gun  was  only  a  subterfuge  to  cover  a 
repudiation  of  the  bargain  that  had  been 
come  to.  At  all  events,  in  October  of  the 
same  year  the  report  was  made  to  Bantam 
that  the  King  would  not  grant  the  ground 
this  year  "  being  his  climacterical  year, 
wherein  he  is  so  ceremoniously  observant, 
that  no  kind  of  public  affairs  has  been  com- 
menced." The  affair  of  the  site  dragged  on 
for  some  years,  until  after  the  death  of  the 
King.  A  grant  was  ultimately  made  by  his 
successor  and  a  regular  establishment  formed 
subordinate  to  Bantam,  until  the  factory  was 
captured  by  the  Dutch  when  the  control  was 
vested  in  Surat. 

At  the  station  a  certain  amount  of  trade 
was  done  under  restrictions  peculiar  to  the 
place.  One  custom  which  proved  very 
irksome  and  expensive  was  for  the  great 
men  of  the  country  to  repair  at  odd  times 
to  the  factory  for  purposes  of  entertainment. 
They  did  not  wait  for  an  invitation,  but  with 
their  women  folk  dropped  in  just  when  the 
fancy  took  them.  Gratuities  had  to  be  given 
to  the  women  for  the  exercise  of  their  vocal 
powers,  and  there  were  other  charges  which 
had  to  be  defrayed  out  of  the  Company's 
exchequer.  We  have  an  account  of  one  of 
these  entertainments  in  the  following  entry 
in  the  factor's  journal  under  date  October  18, 
1694:  "The  Duch  Ung  came  to  ye  factory 
a  little  after  noone,  bringing  with  him  abun- 
dance of  women,  his  mother  and  severall  of 
his  wives  ;  and  presently  after  he  had  drank 
a  cupp  of  Tea  came  about  20  Bandigaes  of 
Tonqueen  fashioned  victualls  of  his  own,  he 
treating  with  them  all  ye  factory  and  his 
own  people.  A  little  before  night  wee  pre- 
sented our  entertainment  likewise.  He  ate 
not  himself,  but  ye  women  and  his  attendants 
all  participated.  They  danced  and  sung  all 
ye  afternoone,  and  ye  evening  at  their  depar- 
ture wee  gave  them  20,000  cassies."  The 
factory  lingered  on  for  some  little  time  after 
this  episode,  and  then  in  consequence  of 
heavy  defalcations  on  the  part  of  the  leading 
factor  and  the  general  unprofitableness  of  the 
business  the  establishment  was  withdrawn. 

All  the  time  that  the  Company  was  carrying 
through  this  costly  experiment  in  Tonkin 
it  was  endeavouring  by  other  means  to  ex- 
tend its  trade  in  the  China  seas.  The  capture 
of  Amoy  by  the  King  of   Formosa   in   1675 


24      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONCJKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


supplied  what  al  the  first  Mush  appeared  to 
be  a  most  promisinj;  openiiiK  lor  direct 
business  rcbtions  with  Chiiu.  The  King 
wa»  not  "Illy  willing,  but  anxious  for  foreign 
mrrcfaants  to  trade,  and   as   an    inducement 


all  expect  the  like  or  think  themselves 
slighted."  "  Wee  .is  merchants,"  Ihe  Court's 
letter  proceeded,  "  have  hitherto  only  treated 
with  them  by  our  (actors  upon  the  respective 
places,  and    shall    continue    so   to    doc    until 


r 


AXOT,    FHOM    THE    OUTER    ANCHORAGE. 
(From  .in  engraving.) 


he  held  out  an  offer  of  exemption  from 
customs  and  other  duties  for  three  years. 
The  concession  in  the  end  proved  illusory, 
but  it  served  the  intended  purpose  of  attract- 
ing traders  to  this  new  centre.  In  1676-77, 
the  Company's  (rigalc  Tyicati,  as  an  experi- 
ment, was  orclered  lo  go  to  Amoy  and  there 
take  on  hoard  a  cargo  of  silk,  and  shortly 
afterwards  a  faiiory  was  established.  In 
October,  1677,  the  head-quarters  of  the  Com- 
pany in  China  was  transferred  from  Tywan 
to  this  new  centre,  the  pros|x;cts  of  which 
seemed  at  the  time  to  he  encouraging  enough 
lo  justify  a  special  effort  on  the  part  of  the 
Oimpany.  'The  Aiik)V  establishment  thus 
organised  consisted  of  Mr.  lienjainln  Delaune 
as  chief  factor,  on  a  salary  of  £Ho  per  annum, 
a  second  factor  on  a  salary  of  £'50,  a  third 
on  one  of  £40,  and  four  writers  at  ;^lo  each 
per  annum.  'These  emoluments  appear  ridicu- 
lously small,  but  it  has  lo  be  remembered 
that  the  Company's  servants  were  allowed 
to  engage  in  private  trade,  and  there  is 
ample  evidence  that  they  freely  availed  them- 
selves of  the  privilege,  sometimes  to  the 
marked  disadvantage  of  the  Company.  The 
liopcs  entertained  of  Amoy  were  doomed  to 
speedy  disappointment.  When  the  King  of 
Tjrwan  had  got  the  factors  completely  in  his 
power  he  calmly  rescinded  the  concession 
relative  lo  exemption  from  customs'  duties. 
In  vain  Ihe  Company's  agents  protested 
ag/utat  what  they  properly  regarded  as  a 
KToas  breach  of  faith.  The  King's  officials 
blandly  made  llieir  demands  and  would 
accept  no  compromise.  It  was  suggested 
at  the  time  by  the  Company's  agent  at 
Amoy  that  g<M>d  might  t>e  done  by  the 
despatch  of  a  special  envoy  from  the  Com- 
pany to  the  King.  But  the  Court  very 
emphatically  rejected  the  proposal.  While 
they  did  not  think  that  the  least  advantage 
would  accrue  from  sending  such  a  personage, 
a  mission  they  considered  would  be  expen- 
sive and  would  "  hegett  a  greater  expcciation 
fr<i«n  the  princes   in   those  parts  who  would 


their  be  just  ground  to  make  an  alteration." 
Bantam  was  instrucled  to  expostulate  against 
the  unreasonable  terms  imposed,  but  matters 
were  "to  be  carried  fair  at  Tywan  till  a  sure 
settlement  is  formed  at  Amoy  or  some  other 
place  in  China,  where  we  design  the  chiefe  of 
our  trade."  At  about  this  period  the  Com- 
pany's operations  were  greatly  hampered   by 


advantage  of  all  the  opportunities  that  offered 
for  commercial  intercourse  with  Cliina. 
Eventually  the  Dutch  captured  the  Bantam 
factory,  and  the  direction  of  the  Company's 
interests  was,  as  has  been  stated,  transferred 
to  Sural,  a  far  too  distant  point  for  really 
effective  control.  Before  this  event  occurred, 
in  May,  i(>79,  an  invitation  was  forwarded 
home  from  the  Viceroy  of  Canton  for  a  ship 
or  ships  to  go  to  that  port.  The  Court,  in 
acknowledging  the  communication,  expressed 
thi-mselves  doubtful  as  to  the  possibilities  of 
lucrative  trade  in  view  of  the  disturbed  condi- 
tion of  Cliina.  They  added,  "  Yet  forasmuch 
as  China  may  introduce  a  very  considerable 
trade  and  sent  for  English  manufactures, 
we  hope  in  time  when  the  wars  shall 
be  ended  and  peace  restored  y'  upon  our 
application  to  the  Eniperor,  wee  may  be 
admitted  to  a  Freedome  of  Commerce 
in  that  country."  Afterwards  the  Court  re- 
considered the  determination  expressed  in 
this  letter  to  allow  matters  to  rest.  In  a 
conimunication  dated  August  12,  1681,  they 
wrote  :  "  Wee  have  had  many  conferences 
concerning  the  commencement  of  a  trade 
for  Canton,  upon  which  wee  have  thus  far 
agreed,  viz.,  that  it  is  a  very  desirable  and 
profitable  trade — that  the  China  silk  comodi- 
tyes  from  thence  are  generally  better  than 
from  Amoy — as  also  that  it  might  be  a  place 
in  lime  to  sent  a  considerable  quantity  of  our 
English  manufacture,  in  soe  much  that  wee 
should  now  have  sent  you  a  ship  and  cargo 
proper  and  purposely  for  that  trade  ;  but  wee 
are  in  doubt  of  two  things  :  First,  we  are 
not  satisfied  either  by  our  owne  letters  or 
by  discourse  with  Mr.  Marshall,  English 
Dacres,  and  Captaine  Nicholson,  or  any  other 
that  you  have  a  sul'licient  Chop  or  Phynnand, 
from  the  Vice  King  or  supream  person  in 
autiiority  at  Canton  for  the  security  of  our 
ships  estate  and  servants,  which  wee  may 
send  thither.  Our  2nd  doubt  is  lest  if  wee 
should  send  a  ship  thither  the  Chiiieeses  at 
Amoy,  being  at  a  kind   of  enmity   with   the 


ENTRANCE    INTO    THE    CITY    OF    AMOY. 
(From  Allom  &  VVriglils  "Cliina.") 


the  inefficiency  of  the  Bantam  establishment. 
The  officials  there  sf>  gravely  mismanaged 
affairs  that  the  Company's  interests  in  the 
Straits  were  imperilled  for  Ihe  time  being, 
and   meanwhile   the   Dutch   were   taking   full 


Tartars  and  people  at  Canton  and  being 
themselves  a  jealous,  suspitious  people  should 
take  such  offence  at  the  news  thereof,  as 
might  in  the  consequence  turne  to  tlie  great 
prejudice,    hazard,    or    loss    of    our    alTaiics, 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       25 


estate  and  servants  at  Amoy  ;  wtiere  you 
will  see  our  concerns  are  very  considerable 
this  year  and  like  in  our  opinion  (if  not 
interrupted)  greatly  to   increase  in   the  next." 

The  Court  nevertheless  gave  a  discretionary 
power  to  Bantam  to  send  one  of  the  Com- 
pany's ships  already  with  them  to  Canton 
with  ;^3,ooo  or  ;^'4,ooo  of  stock  to  make  a 
trial  of  trade  there.  They  further  intimated 
that  they  would  ne.xt  year  consign  a  ship 
direct  to  Canton  with  liberty  to  Bantam  to 
divert  her  to  Amoy  if  her  proceeding  to  the 
former  should  be  deemed  dangerous.  Finally 
the  Court  directed  that  if  Bantam  had  dis- 
posed of  the  ships  for  the  season  they  might 
hire  one  to  send  to  Canton. 

Before  the  instructions  could  be  carried  out 
Amoy  had  been  recaptured  from  the  King 
of  Tywan  by  the  Tartars,  and  the  Company 
temporarily  cut  off  from  its  principal  base  in 
the  Eastern  seas.  In  the  circumstances  the 
Court  proposed  that  four  vessels  which  were 
being  sent  out  to  Amoy  should  proceed  in 
company  to  Macao  and  that  a  fifth  vessel 
should  voyage  to  the  Lampeco  Islands,  where 
the  Court  were  informed  the  Dutch  had  in 
one  year  "  laden  twenty  vessels  with  goods 
of  those  parts,  especially  from  Canton,  and 
rode  there  in  safety  and  out  of  command." 
Although  the  arrangements  here  do  not  appear 
to  have  been  carried  out  in  their  integrity 
there  is  a  record  of  the  visit  of  two  of  the 
Company's  ships,  the  China  Merchant  and 
the  Tywan,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Canton  River 
in  1682.  On  their  arrival  becoming  known 
at  Canton  war  junks  came  out  to  impede 
commerce  and  they  weie  unable  to  do  more 
than  a  trifling  trade.  The  supercargoes  le- 
ported  home  the  reasons  for  their  failure  : 
'■That  which  formerly  made  the  trade  of  this 
place  to  flourish,"  they  said,  "  was  the  King 
of  Canton  hiniselfe  being  a  promoter  of  it 
and  interested  therein,"  but  being  suspected 
of  holding  a  correspondence  with  the  King 
of  Tywan  he  was  put  to  death  by  the  Em- 
peror's orders  in  1680,  and  the  most  eminent 
merchants  of  the  place  were  treated  with 
"  much  severity."  Since  then  Canton  had 
been  governed  "by  divers  great  Manderins," 
who  by  their  vast  extortions  practised  on  the 
merchants  whom  they  privately  permitted  to 
trade  to  the  Macao  Islands  had  "  much  de- 
pressed commerce  and  discouraged  merchants 
from  undertaking  great  matters." 

The  Tartar  admiral,  acting,  it  was  stated, 
at  the  instigation  of  the  Portuguese,  ordered 
the  two  ships  to  leave  their  anchorage  in 
the  river.  Subsequently  they  proceeded  to 
Lampton  or  Twa,  but  finding  a  Tartar  fleet 
there  returned  to  their  previous  anchoring 
ground  at  Tempa  Hebreda,  near  Macao. 
Here  they  landed  what  cargo  they  could  and 
left  early  in  1682-83,  fof  Batavia.  In  October 
of  the  same  year  the  ship  Carolina  was  des- 
patched from  England  with  orders  to  go  to 
Macao  and  if  they  were  not  admitted  there 
to  proceed  to  Tempa  Cabrado  "  where  ye 
merchants  of  Canton,"  the  instructions  said, 
"  will  come  over  and  deal  with  you  for  ye 
whole  ship's  loading."  The  supercargoes 
were  cautioned  to  be  very  wise  and  circum- 
spect in  negotiating  "they  (the  Canton  mer- 
chants) being  a  very  cunning,  deceitfull 
people."  "  In  standing  with  them  to  draw 
them  to  the  most  advantageous  terms,"  pro- 
ceeded the  letter  of  advice,  "pretend  that 
you  must  speedily  go  to  Amoy  or  Hock- 
shew,  and  what  other  arguments  you  can 
think  on,  to  cause  them  to  mend  their  last 
rates  on  both  sides  of  ye  account.  If  you 
cannot  do  all  your  business  to  your  content 
at  Tempa  Cabiijdo,  yet  if  it  be  possible  get 
admission  to  settle  yourselves  a  factory  at 
Canton    and    to    have    constant    residence    in 


ye  citty  upon  ye  best  terms  you  can.  The 
more  to  induce  them  to  grant  you  a  settle- 
ment in  Canton  upon  good  terms,  you  may 
propound  our  sending  them  four  or  six 
ships  of  war,  to  serve  them  in  their  wars 
against  any  but  European  nations  at  ye 
rate  of  I2d.  per  ton  p.  diem  for  twelve 
mos.  They  paying  half  of  ye  ship's  freight 
or  hire  to  you  in  hand  upon  the  ship's  first 
arrival  at  Canton.  .  .  .  The  Court  would 
rather  send  eight  ships  of  war  than  two,  as 
they  would  be  the  better  able  to  cope  with 
the  Dutch  or  any  other  that  might  obstruct 
them."  If  they  failed  at  Canton  they  were 
to  attempt  to  found  a  settlement  at  Hock- 
chew  or  Amoy. 

The  Carolina,  in  spite  of  the  obslructive- 
ness  of  the  Portuguese,  contrived,  by  bribing 
the  Mandarins  with  the  war  boats  sent  out  to 
shepherd  her,  to  do  some  business.  It  does 
not  appear  from  the  records  that  any  arrange- 


home  the  ship  China  Merchant  was  des- 
patched to  Amoy  to  prosecute  the  trade 
which  it  was  sanguinely  hoped  the  Delight 
had  opened  up.  On  arrival  at  Amoy  the 
supercargoes  were  well  received  by  the 
Mandarins,  who  doubtless  regarded  the  ship 
as  another  pigeon  to  pluck.  A  letter  left 
for  the  newcomers  by  the  supercargo  of 
the  Delight,  however,  allowed  no  room  for 
misconception  as  to  the  character  of  the 
Mandarins — "  these  rogues,"  as  the  writer 
styled  them.  "  Gentlemen,"  the  communi- 
cation said,  "  these  are  a  people  of  noe 
courtesy  ;  they  will  promise  you  mountains 
but  not  perform  a  molehill.  .  .  They  may 
chance  to  wheedle  you  to  give  a  present  to 
ye  Poke  of  HoccheAT  and  ye  Booeh  and 
likewise  ye  Chungisun  who  is  general!  of 
ye  military  affaires  here  ;  he  may  tell  ye  a 
faire  story  but  take  this  from  me,  he  has 
nothing   to   do   but   give    ye   Booeh   an   ace' 


SEELANDIA,    ISLAND    OF    TyWAN. 

(From  Caron's  "Jappati  aiul  Syani,"  published  1663.) 


ment  was  made  with  the  Chinese  to  afford 
them  help  in  their  warlike  operations,  or 
that  the  question  was  even  seriously  mooted. 
The  obstinate  determination  of  the  Chinese 
Government  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  the 
foreigner  apparently  was  proof  against  all 
representations  however  attractively  presen- 
ted. At  Amoy  in  1682  it  seemed  for  a  time 
that  the  old  conditions  of  trade  enjoyed 
under  the  rule  of  the  King  of  Tywan  might 
be  restored.  A  ship,  the  Delight,  sent  out 
by  the  Company  two  months  later  than  the 
Carolina,  put  into  the  port,  and  after  a 
lavish  distribution  of  presents  amongst  tlie 
ruling  Mandarins  obtained  permission  to 
trade.  But  before  the  loading  was  far  ad- 
vanced peiemptory  orders  were  issued  for 
the  vessel  to  leave,  and  the  captain  had  no 
alternative  but  to  obey,  although  to  do  so 
meant  heavy  loss  to  the  Company.  Before 
the    news   of    their   contretemps   could   reach 


from  whence  your  ship  is  and  j'e  like." 
After  giving  details  of  the  tortuous  dealings 
of  the  Amoy  Mandarins  the  writer  wound 
up  with  a  general  caution  telling  them  to  be 
careful  to  prevent  disputes  between  the 
sailors  and  the  natives,  not  to  sell  any  goods 
to  the  great  men  without  the  cash  in  hand  ; 
to  open  every  bundle  of  silk  before  they  paid 
for  it  and  never  to  pay  for  any  connnodity 
until  the  seller  had  settled  the  custom  dues 
thereon. 

Tlie  China  Merchant  appears  to  have  pro- 
fited by  this  good  advice.  It  got  on  passably 
well  witli  the  Mandarins,  was  actively 
patronised  by  the  merchants,  and  finally  left 
"  chock  full."  The  reason  for  the  contra- 
dictions manifested  in  the  policy  pursued 
towards  different  vessels  of  the  Company  at 
this  period  was  explained  by  "  the  great 
Padre  " — a  French  Jesuit — to  the  supercargoes 
of  a  ship  sent  out  to  Macao  in  1684.     "  He 


26      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


told  them  that  the  best  port  for  trade  was 
IJankin.  from  whence  the  finest  wrought  and 
raw  silk  came.  To  inquiries  whether  it  was 
poesihlc  to  procure  the  Emperor's  permission 
to  settle  at  Anwy,  Hockchew,  Fochin,  or 
Nankin,  he  replied  that  he  believed  that  it 
might  be  obtained  but  that  the  best  mode  of 
trade  was  by  ships  '  lo  and  again,'  for  there 
was  a  constant  change  of  Governors  and 
nothing  could  be  done  without  making  tliem 


presents,  which  retarded  the  conclusion  of 
liusiness.  The  Emperor  was  desirous  of 
ena)uraging  the  ingress  of  foreigners  to  his 
ports,  for  which  purpose  he  had  thrown  open 
the  trade  for  three  years,  half  of  whicli  was 
expired,  and  if  all  things  went  on  well  this 
freedom  was  likely  to  be  continued  ;  but  tlie 
Chinese  were  very  jealous  of  strangers  and 
did  not  like  factories  or  settlements.  The 
Padre  cautioned  the  captain  not  to  enter  any 


river  or  any  way  to  put  himself  into  the 
power  of  tlie  Chinese ;  and  instanced  their 
conduct  to  the  Dutch  last  year  at  Anioy,  who 
were  impiisoned  till  half  their  goods  were 
taken  for  nothing  and  were  then  obliged  to 
make  large  presents  lo  be  allowed  to  depart. 
The  Emperor  did  not  permit  and  was  ignorant 
of  such  conduct,  but  the  officers  knowing  their 
time  was  short  '  make  liay  while  the  sun 
shines.'  " 


CHAPTER    III. 

Efort*  lo  open  a  Trade  with  Canton — Troubles  of  the  East  India  Company  with  "  Interlopers " — A  Mission  to 
Cochin  China — First  Elnglish  E!stablishment  at  Canton — Formation  of  a  Permanent  China  Council  by  the  East 
India  Company — An    Elstablishment   formed  in  Chusan — Abandonment   of  Chusan  Factory  and  Foundation   of   an 

Establishment  at  Pulo  Condore — Affairs  at  Canton. 


Ekcodragbd  by  the  somewh.it  qualified 
success  of  the  Amoy  enterprises,  and  stimu- 
lated also  by  the  activity  of  the  Dutch,  who 
after  their  occupation  of  Bantam  made  great 
efforts  to  capture  the  China  trade,  the  East 
India  Comp.iny,  in  1687,  sent  out  several 
ships.  Two  of  them,  the  Loudon  and  the 
Worcester,  were  despatched  lo  Amoy,  and 
there,  in  August  of  the  same  year,  a  com- 
mencement was  made  with  the  establishment 
of  a  factory  by  the  hiring  of  a  house.  Some 
ciays    afterwards    the    fair    prospect    which 


Amoy  had  its  advantages,  but  there  were 
no  delusions  at  home  as  to  its  inferiority  as 
a  centre  of  trade  compared  with  Canton. 
In  1689  90  the  Court  despatched  the  ship 
Defence  out  with  special  instructions  to 
attempt  to  open  up  trade  with  that  port.  On 
September  ist  the  vessel  arrived  at  an  anchor- 
age about  "  15  leagues  to  the  fclastward  of 
Macao,"  and  tlie  supercargoes  landed  "in  a 
fair  sandy  bay  in  siglit  of  ye  Maccoa  Islands." 
At  a  town  they  came  to  they  procured  three 
bamboo     chairs    and     eleven     wheelbarrows 


CXTy    OK    .A.MUY     FltOM    THK    TOMBS, 
(From  Allom  H.  Wright's  "Cliina.') 


teemed  to  have  opened  up  was  obscured  by  a 
"regrelUble  incident. "  A  drunken  English 
sailor,  wandering  about  at  night,  found  his  way 
to  the  Custom  House,  which  he  broke  open. 
To  acc'immodate  the  matter  the  factors  went 
to  the  leading  official.  This  person  "was 
kind  and  civill  and  all  he  desired  was  a  due 
punishment  might  be  given  to  him  (the  sailor) 
by  (Mirselvcs  according  (as  in  our  opinion) 
ye  cTime  meritled  ;  w'h  was  inflicted  in 
public  view  aslKjre  by  100  stripes  with  a  call 
of  nine  lailes  and  Pickle  to  their  satisfaction." 


"  much  more  convenient  than  our  English 
ones,  but  somewhat  more  noisy,  for  twas 
easy  to  hear  them  a  league  off."  On  their 
way  to  Canton  the  trio  were  well  received 
and  strangely  enough  the  Mandarins  would 
neither  accept  presents  themselves  nor  allow 
their  followers  to  take  them.  Arrived  at 
Canton  the  supercargoes  without  difficulty 
obtained  a  chop  for  the  ship  to  proceed  up 
the  river  ;  but  to  their  mortification  the  captain 
declined  to  move  from  the  anchorage  to  which 
he  had  proceeded  about  six  leagues  off  Macao. 


His  excuse  was  that  he  had  struck  his 
topmasts  and  could  not  get  away.  But  it 
appeared  that  there  were  other  and  more 
personal  reasons  for  his  rchictance  to  accept 
instructions.  He  seems  to  have  been  busy 
doing  an  active  private  trade,  "forestalling" 
the  Company's  agents  in  several  directions. 
These  delinquencies,  however,  faded  into 
insignificance  by  the  side  of  one  indiscretion 
which  had  a  tragic  result  and  eventually 
wrecked  the  entire  enterprise.  While  ashore 
one  day  the  Captain  got  into  an  altercation 
with  the  Chinese  about  a  mast.  After  a 
scuffle  the  captain's  men  bore  away  the  trophy 
in  triumph,  but  as  they  went  off  in  the  boats 
the  natives,  irritated  at  their  discomfiture, 
pelted  them  with  stones.  Upon  this  the 
captain  gave  orders  to  his  men  to  fire, 
and  a  volley  was  directed  to  the  crowd 
on  the  shore  with  unfortunate  results,  one 
Chinaman  being  killed  outright  and  another 
wounded.  The  fire  was  returned  and  the 
native  pilot  who  stood  by  the  captain  was 
wounded.  But  this  was  not  the  worst  outcome 
of  the  business.  "  In  this  confusion,"  says 
the  account  sent  to  the  Court  by  the  super- 
cargoes, "  ye  poore  doctor  3rd  and  5th  mate 
and  7  Englishmen  on  shore  were  not  thought 
on,  or  neglected,  the  pinnice  and  long  boat 
having  cutt  loose  ye  mast  making  a  way  from 
ye  shoar,  who  had  they  stay'd  but  a  few 
minutes  longer  might  have  received  our  poor 
Doctoi-,  who  with  some  others  making  towards 
ye  boat  was  miserably  cut  down  in  their  sight. 
Later  news  was  brought  that  the  doctor 
mortally  wounded  was  drag'd  by  ye  cruell 
Tartars  into  their  Cajan  Watch  House,  where 
he  lies  on  ye  ground  chain'd  in  his  gore  most 
miserably,  with  ye  stinking  dead  corps  (after 
it  had  been  carried  around  ye  towne  ye  more 
to  irritate  ye  Chinese)  lay'd  by  him  and  none 
suffered  to  come  near  and  dress  his  wounds, 
and  all  ye  rest  of  his  people  (save  ye  two 
mates  which  (I)  believe  have  sheltered  them- 
selves amongst  ye  Portuguez)  bound  miserably 
in  ye  same  house." 

The  supercargoes  offered  2,800  taels  to 
accommodate  the  affair,  but  the  Mandarins 
demanded  S,ooo,  and  not  receiving  this 
amount  they  detained  one  of  the  super- 
cargoes to  enforce  the  payment.  The  captain, 
who  throughout  had  acted  in  a  spirit  of 
absolute  independence,  finding  the  turn  that 
events  had  taken  s-et  sail  without  the  super- 
c.ugo,  and  so  what  seemed  a  most  promising 
opening  for  securing  a  foothold  at  Canton 
ended    in    the    official    classes    being    turned 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OE  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       27 


once  more  stro[if«ly  aj;ainst  the  traders. 
Apart  from  this  unfortunate  episode  the  times 
were  not  at  this  period  propitious  for  the 
China  trade.  "Interlopers"  had  become  a 
source  of  serious  anxiety  to  the  Company. 
On  the  one  hand  they  made  things  difficult 
in  China  by  submitting  to  exactions  ;  on  tlie 
other  they  injured  sales  at  home  by  flood- 
ing the  market  with  goods  at  low  rates.  The 
Court,  writing  to  Madras  in  October,  1690, 
thus  explained  the  situation  :  "  China  goods  of 
all  sorts  are  in  very  low  esteem  here ;  we  sell 
them  cheaper  than  ever  we  did  in  times  of 
peace.  That  trade  hath  been  much  overlaid 
of  late  and  must  be  declined  for  a  while  to 
recover  its  reputation.  Lacq''  ware  of  Ton- 
quin  is  a  great  drugg  and  so  is  Thea  except 
it  be  supertine,  and  conies  in  pots,  tubs  or 
chests  that  give  it  no  ill  scent  of  the  oyl,  or 
any  other  matter.  The  custom  upon  Thea 
here  is  about  five  shillings  p.  pound,  whereas 
a  mean  sort  of  Thea  will  not  sell  for  above 
two  shillings  or  two  shillings  and  sixpence 
(p.  pound)."  In  another  communication  of  a 
somewhat  earlier  period  the  Court,  depressed 
by  the  failure  of  their  projects  in  the  Far 
East,  made  a  novel  suggestion  to  their  agents 
at  Madras :  "  We  have,"  they  wrote,  "  no 
kind  of  thoughts  of  spending  any  part  of  the 
Company's  stock  in  any  new  port  or  factory 
at  present,  except  upon  the  generalls  arrivall 
he  and  you  should  resolve  to  settle  some 
place  in  or  near  the  South  Seas,  where  the 
Chineeses  may  resort  to  and  cohabit  with  us 
(without  passing  by  Mallacca  or  Batavia) 
under  the  protection  of  our  fortificalion  and 
plant  sugars  and  Betlenut,  keep  shops,  and 
do  all  other  business  as  they  do  under  the 
Dutch  at  Batavia,  for  which  we  should  be 
content  to  allow  them  our  encouragement 
and  protection,  paying  us  one  fourth  part  in 
all  respects  of  what  they  pay  the  Dutch,  and 
we  should  order  all  our  China  ships  to  stop 
there  going  and  returning  for  encouragement 
of  the  place."  This  proposal  was  not  acted 
upon,  but  the  entry  is  interesting  as  an  indi- 
cation that  the  Company  so  far  back  as  the 
end  of  the  seventeenth  century  grasped  the 
importance  of  the  possession  of  great 
entrepots  such  as  Singapore  and  Hongkong 
afterwards  became. 

The  Company's  fight  against  trade  rivals 
at  this  period  was  of  such  a  character  as  to 
leave  it  little  energy  for  any  fresh  adventures. 
A  new  charter  was  under  consideration  by 
Parliament,  and  pending  its  issue  "  inter- 
lopers "  were  everywhere  active,  doing  their 
best  to  capture  trade  which  the  Company 
regarded  as  its  own.  How  bitterly  the 
Court  resented  these  rival  efforts  is  to  be 
seen  in  the  following  order  which  was 
issued  in  reference  to  trade  in  the  early 
part  of  1693:  "We  have  and  do  continue 
and  confirm  our  indulgence  for  all  Bengali 
and  China  goods  to  be  sent  home  by  the 
Armenians  and  all  English  merchants, 
our  owne  servants  and  all  other  persons 
whatsoever  upon  the  same  terms  of  consign- 
ment and  indulgence  as  last  yeare  ;  it  being 
of  absolute  necessity  for  us  so  to  do  untill 
our  Charter  be  thoroughly  settled  by  Act  of 
Parliament,  without  which  permission  and 
indulgence  during  the  Company's  unsettle- 
ment  it  will  be  impossible  soe  to  curb  the 
avaritious  corrupt  nature  of  mankind  but  that 
some  officers  of  our  owne  ships  or  others 
of  our  servants  will  be  tempted  secretly  at 
least  to  assist  and  countenance  interlopers  for 
the  very  end  of  sending  home  by  the  inter- 
loping ships  goods  prohibited  by  our  Charter 
Partys — notwithstanding  any  oaths  or  other 
obligations  they  have  entered  into  to  us." 

The  Company  secured  its  new  charter  in 
October,   1693.      Under  it  its  exclusive  privi- 


leges were  extended  for  a  period  of  twenty- 
one  years,  and  it  was  empowered  to  add 
;£"744,ooo  to  its  slock.  The  powers  conferred 
brought  a  welcome  addition  of  strength  to 
the  Company,  but  they  did  not  set  the  trade 
of  the  Far  East  free  from  the  baneful  in- 
fluence of  the  wicked  interloper.  When  the 
Court  was  despatching  the  ship  Tniiiiball  to 
Amoy,  in  1697,  it  gave  the  supercargo 
specific  instructions  to  hasten  the  voyage  so 
as  to  anticipate  a  Mr.  Gough  who  was 
sending  out  an  interloping  ship  or  two. 
"And  if  between  you,"  they  said,  "you  could 
secure  to  yourselves  Amo,  or  whoever  else 
you  find  the  most  considerable  merchants  on 
the  place  by  such  apt  ways,  and  means,  as 
to  hinder  his,  or  their,  assisting  the  inter- 
lopers, it  will  be  a  very  commendable  and 
dexterous  piece  of  service,  which  we  think 
should  not  be  a  very  difficult  thing  to  effect, 
if  you  can  make  him  or  them  rightly  sen- 
sible that  the  Company  are  a  permanent 
lasting  body,  likely  to  continue,  having  settle- 
ments in  diverse  parts  of  India  and  their 
fiiendship  worth  courting  and  preserving; 
whereas  the  interlopers  are  a  sort  of  licen- 
tious people  whose  interests  often  thwart 
one  another,  at  least  run  in  different  chan- 
nells,  and  are  likely  never  to  come  thither 
again,  after  having  once  made  a  voyage." 
The  interlopers  continued  to  give  trouble  for 
long  afterwards,  and  complications  were 
added  by  "country"  ships  from  India  at- 
tempting to  cut  into  the  trade.  The  latter 
class  of  rivals,  however,  burnt  their  fingers 
so  severely  over  their  enterprises,  owing  to 
the  exactions  to  which  they  were  subjected, 
that  they  speedily  dropped  out  of  the  run- 
ning. Meanwhile,  the  Court,  with  intent  to 
secure  a  new  trading  centre  in  the  China 
seas,  opened  up  negotiations  with  the  King 
of  Cochin  China,  for  the  establishment  of  a 
factory  in  his  dominions.  This  was  not  the 
first  attempt  of  the  Company  to  obtain  a 
lodgment  in  Cochin  China.  Early  in  the 
century  a  factory  had  been  established  in  the 
King's  territory,  but  its  life  was  brief  and 
its  end  tragic.  After  numerous  disputes  with 
the  native  officialdom  the  chief  agent  one 
day  openly  resented  the  extortions  practised 
upon  him.  A  fight  ensued,  which  resulted 
in  the  massacre  of  the  entire  eslablishment. 
Those  were  days  when  British  prestige  was 
at  a  very  low  ebb,  and  the  outrage  went 
unavenged.  More  than  this,  with  the  story 
staining  its  records,  the  Company,  eighty 
years  later,  on  a  hint  from  the  then  King, 
was  ready  to  cringe  for  favours  which  His 
High  Mightiness  might  be  pleased  in  his 
great  condescension  to  extend  to  it.  In 
acknowledging  a  letter  from  the  monarch 
inviting  the  Company  to  trade,  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Higginson,  the  president  at  Madras,  in  a 
strain  of  exaggerated  hyperbole,  commended 
His  Majesty  for  his  liberality.  The  King's 
ancestors,  the  letter  said,  had  forbidden  trade, 
but  their  "luster  was  confined  within  their 
own  bounds,"  but  now  His  Majesty's  fame 
"  like  the  sun  would  shine  throughout  the 
world."  Not  to  be  outdone  in  flattery,  the 
King  thus  responded  ;  "  Supreme  Governours 
and  Princely  Councillour,  who  represents 
ye  chief  person  of  ye  Western  axis,  which 
receives  its  name  from  ye  Northern  Pole 
hanging  over  it— the  English  who  perfectly 
understand  whatsoever  is  contained  in  ye 
Book  of  ye  6  Sheaths  and  ye  Three 
Orations,  so  called  among  us,  and  containing 
wholesome  doctrine — who  have  ye  strength 
and  courage  of  ye  Bear,  ye  Tigre  and  ye 
Panther — who  industriously  nourish  ye  mili- 
tary art,  and  perfectly  understand  not  only 
ye  Heavens,  but  ye  earth,  ye  wind,  ye  clouds 
and    ye    airy    regions — whose    understanding 


reaches  ye  sun,  and  whose  hands  are  able 
to  sustain  ye  firmament — who  are  so  very 
carefull  in  clioosing  governors  and  ruling 
their  subjects  ;  in  ye  protecting  of  their 
people,  in  giving  honour  to  great  and 
worthy  men,  in  kindness  to  foreigners — and 
although  ye  distance  from  us  hinders  our 
personall  conversation,  yet  our  minds  are 
never  separated  from  you  in  esteem  and 
affection."  He  proceeded  to  say  that  the 
season  was  now  past  for  trade,  but 
that  if  the  ship  returned  next  year  all 
requests  would  be  freely  granted,  and  thus 
would  be  introduced  "a  new  method  of 
trade,  that  making  use  of  ye  riches  that 
are  under  Heaven,  we  may  gain  ye  love  of 
all  ye  nations  of  ye  Northern  and  Southern 
climates." 

The  reception  accorded  to  the  Company's 
agents  was  hardly  in  accord  with  the 
unctuously  friendly  tone  of  the  letter.  On 
arrival  off  the  coast  they  landed  and  were 
entertained  at  the  hut  of  a  fisherman  "  with 
boiled  snake  and  black  rice."  After  a  con- 
siderable delay  they  were  carried  across  the 
river  to  "  ye  Barre  Towne  "  where  they 
were  received  by  a  great  company  of  armed 
men.  After  some  general  questions  they 
were  told  to  stand  up,  in  order,  says  the 
factor's  narrative,  "  that  their  men  might  feel 
us  (it  being  their  custom)  which  they  did 
examining  our  pockets  ....  as  if  they 
searched  for  diamonds,  &c.  A  Common 
Prayer  Book  and  other  of  like  bulk,  they 
must  know  what  was  writt  in  them,  and 
what  language  with  many  other  imper- 
tinences." Eventually  the  visitors  were 
allowed  to  depart,  but  an  order  was  given, 
and  had  to  be  obeyed,  for  the  unloading  of 
the  ship  in  order  that  the  cargo  might  be 
inspected.  The  King  took  what  goods  he 
wanted,  but  the  Company  was  not  much 
better  off  for  the  transactions  because  of  the 
action  of  "  certain  Japaners,"  who  priced  the 
goods  sold  low  in  their  own  interests.  Here 
for  the  moment  we  must  leave  the  Cochin 
China  enterprise.  There  was  an  interesting 
sequel,  but  before  we  come  to  that  we  must 
deal  with  a  rather  important  development  in 
the  China  trade.  This  was  the  despatch  in 
1698-99  by  the  English  East  India  Company, 
as  distinguished  from  the  London  Company, 
of  the  first  ship  sent  direct  to  China  by  them. 
This  vessel,  the  Macclesfield  galley,  arrived 
off  Macao  on  August  26,  1699.  Soon  after 
the  anchor  had  been  dropped  a  Canton 
merchant,  Sheamea  by  name,  came  on  board 
and  offered  to  take  the  entire  cargo.  It 
subsequently  proved  that  his  overtures  were 
part  of  a  conspiracy  amongst  the  Cantonese 
traders  to  keep  down  prices.  How  the  affair 
was  worked  is  described  in  this  interesting 
passage  from  the  ship's  journal;  "Sheamea 
on  his  departure  desired  us  to  try  the  market 
and  we  would  then  finde  that  his  offers  were 
the  best  ;  this  was  part  of  the  plot,  they  having 
agreed  to  bandy  us  about  from  one  party  to 
the  other,  and  that  each  should  offer  less 
than  the  other  for  our  goods,  and  advance 
the  price  of  their  own,  till  at  last  we  should 
be  glad  to  agree  with  Sheamea  who  was  to 
make  the  best  offers  and  finish  the  contract, 
in  which  each  party  was  to  have  their 
determined  shares.  The  existence  of  this 
combination  was  further  demonstrated  by  the 
following  circumstances,  viz. — Having  some 
suspicion  we  privately  marked  the  silks  and 
found  that  all  the  parties  produced  the  same 
musters — one  party  mentioning  what  another 
party  had  enjoined  as  a  secret,  and  on  our 
going  to  visit  one  of  them  we  found  them  all 
in  consultation,  which  with  other  concurring 
circumstances  left  no  doubt  of  the  combina- 
tion." 


I.      FA^AOE  of  THK  (iKKAI  Tl^UI>LI. 


VIEWS   AT   MACAO. 
2.    Gknekal  View. 


3.    Chapel  ok  the  Great  Temple. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


29 


The  Enjjlishmcii,  after  coiisultiiif;  together, 
thought    that   the    Company's    interest   would 
be  best  served  by  their  proceeding  to  Canton 
and  disposing  of  their  goods  there.     They  had 
previously  found  the  Cliinese  authorities  very 
courteous,   but    tlie    chop    given    them    only 
permitted   trade   at  Macao,   and   consequently 
a   new    permit    would    have    to   be   obtained 
before    the    ship     could     be    taken    into    the 
Canton  Kiver.     In  these  circumstances  two  of 
the  supercargoes,  Messrs.  Douglas  and  Biggs, 
were  sent  to    Canton    to    negotiate    with    the 
authorities.      They   were   kindly   received  on 
arrival   in  the  city  by  the  two  Hoppos,  and 
also    met    with    a    friendly    reception    from 
M.  Bonac,  the   P'rench   agent,  who   had   been 
a  resident  since   1698.     M.  Bonac  invited   the 
visitors  to  stay  at  his  house,  but  from  jealousy 
of    the    designs    of    the    French,    the    factors 
declined   the  offer,  though    they  accepted   an 
invitation    to    dinner.       The    full    permit    to 
trade   having   been   obtained   the  Mncdcsfwld 
galley  entered  the  river  on  October  3rd,  and 
anchored    at   Whampoa   near  a   French   ship 
from  Madras  and  a  "Moor  ship"  from  Surat. 
Six  days  later,  on  going  ashore  to  pitch   his 
lent,    the    captain    was    attacked    by   a    large 
armed   party  from  the  French  ship,  and   his 
men  were  severely  beaten.     A  complaint  was 
made  to  the  chief  Hoppo  of  the  outrage,  but 
he,  while  sympathising  with  the  English,  said 
that  as   the   French   ship   had  come  with  an 
ambassador   and  presents   it   was   beyond   his 
jurisdiction.        In    the    circumstances    as    the 
French    were    overwhelmingly    strong    there 
was    no    alternative    but    for    the    captain    of 
tlie  Macclesfield  galley  to  pocket  the  affront. 
Though  this  unpleasant  occurrence  did  much 
to  mar  the  harmony  of  the  Englishmen's  early 
days  at   Canton   there  was  compensation  for 
them  in  the  progress  which  they  made  with 
their    business.       Following    upon    the    grant 
of   a   right   to   trade   they,   on    October   9th, 
laid    the    foundations    of    an    English    factory 
at     Canton     by    occupying    a     house     which 
they   had    rented    from    a    merchant    at    the 
modest    price    of    fifty    taels    for    the    mon- 
soon  season.     Their  early  days   in   this   new 
home   are   described   in   interesting  detail    in 
the   journal    which    they   faithfully  forwarded 
home   for  the   edification  of   their  employers 
in    accordance    with    the    almost    unvarying 
practice  followed  by  the  agents  of  the  Com- 
pany's   ships.      Soon    after    the    factors    had 
settled,  the  two    Hoppos    invited   themselves 
to  dinner.     They  were  advised  by  their  mer- 
chant—  Hun-Shun-Quin — "to    bespeak    some 
tables  of  victuals  from  the  cook  shop,  for  the 
two  Hoppos  and  their  ol'licers,  and  that  we 
should     allow    their    servants,     soldiers     and 
chairmen,  about   seventy  in    number,  5   ban- 
dareeus  each   for  their   dinner."      The  chief 
factor  accordingly  ordered   eight  tables,  one 
for  each    Hoppo,  one  for  himself  and   assis- 
tants,   and     five     for    the     Hoppos'    officers. 
"  The  chiefe  Hoppo's  table  was  placed  at  ye 
upper   end    of   ye   roome,  upon   ye   left   hand 
side  and  ye  second  Hoppo's  on  ye  right  hand 
side  (ye  other  being  ye  highest  place  accord- 
ing to    ye    Chinese  and   Tartar   fashion)   our 
table  was  placed  in  ye  same  roome,  fronting 
ye   Hoppos',  with   our  faces   towards   them  : 
ye  table   for  ye   Secretarys   was   in   ye   next 
(roome)  adjoyning  to  yt  where  we  satt  ;   and 
ye  tables  for  ye  other  officers  where  below. 
Every  table  was   served  with  5  or  6   dishes, 
dressed   in  whole   joynts  Tartar  fashion   (ac- 
cording  to   ye   Europe   manner)  but   brought 
in  only  one  dish  at  a  time  ;  and  afterwards 
scverall   services  of    China  victualls,  brought 
in   after   ye   same   maimer,  but   not   removed 
untill   ye   whole   number   was   compleat,  wch 
was    16  in  all,  sett   in  a  peculiar  forme  and 
manner   and    brought   in    att   a   considerable 


distance  of  time,  drinkeing  tea,  wine  or 
cordiall  waters,  between  each  service  accord- 
ing to  ye  custome."  The  dinner  being  over 
the  Hoppos  retired  until  the  tables  were 
"  clean'd  downe,  for  they  use  no  table  cloths." 
The  dessert,  consisting  of  sixteen  sorts  of 
fruits,  sweetmeats,  and  pickles,  being  placed 
on  the  tables  the  Hoppos  returned.  The 
chief  Hoppo  "  being  an  old  man  drank 
sparingly  but  the  second  Hoppo  took  his 
cups  freely  and  urged  us  to  do  tlie  same." 

Afterwards  an  official  inspection  was  made 
of  the  goods.  "  The  chief  Hoppo  fancied  a 
pair  of  brass  blunderbusses  and  the  second 
a  pair  of  pistols  which  they  desired  to  pur- 
chase ;  this  the  linguist  told  me  was  only  a 
genteel  way  of  begging  and  advised  me  to 
give  them  as  a  present  which  I  did  and 
they  after  some  pretended  difficulty  in  taking 
them  accepted." 

Some  little  time  after  this  entertainment 
the  Chief  Hoppo  invited  the  English  factors 
to  breakfast.  The  account  given  of  the 
function  by  Mr.  Douglas,  the  chief  factor, 
furnishes  amusing  reading  :   "  Being  arrived," 


tions  to  the  Court,  thus  concludes:  "Ye 
many  troubles  and  vexations  wee  have  mett 
with  from  these  subtile  Chineese — whose 
principalis  allow  them  to  cheat  and  ye  dayly 
practise  therein  have  made  them  dextrus  at 
it — I  am  not  able  to  express  at  this  time  ; 
and  however  easie  others  may  have  repre- 
sented ye  trade  of  China,  nether  I  nor  my 
assistants  have  found  it  so,  for  every  day 
produces  new  troubles,  but  I  hope  that  a 
little  time  will  put  an  end  to  them  all."  Sub- 
sequently Mr.  Douglas  ascribed  the  delays 
and  difficulties  experienced  in  realising  the 
sales  and  investments  actually  agreed  upon  to 
the  great  fall  in  the  price  of  Europe  goods 
and  the  rise  in  that  of  Nanking  silk  after 
a  contract  for  sale  had  been  made.  Owing 
to  the  many  delays  it  was  not  until  July  18, 
1700,  that  the  Macclesfield  galley  was  able  to 
leave  Canton.  The  vessel,  after  touching  at 
various  ports  to  coinplete  her  cargo,  arrived 
off  Portsmouth  in  the  July  following  with  "a 
rich  and  full  cargo." 

Before     the    Macclesfield    galley    had     left 
Canton  the  Coiut  at  home  had  decided  upon 


A    MANDARIN    PAYING    A    VISIT    OF    CEREMONY. 

(Krora  Allom  &  Wiight's  "Cliina.") 


he  wrote,  "  we  were  obliged  to  wait  the 
coming  of  the  French,  Captain  Goosline  and 
Mr.  t'leetwood,  the  Hoppo  having  provided 
a  breakfast  for  us  and  intending  to  admit  us 
altogether.  In  the  meantime  suspecting  that 
the  French  miglit  attempt  to  take  precedence 
I  by  the  linguist  informed  the  Hoppo  of  my 
fears,  who  immediately  sent  word  that  he 
would  take  care  about  that  and  appoint  us 
our  places.  The  expected  party  being  arrived 
we  were  ushered  into  the  inner  apartment 
where  the  Hoppo  met  us  at  the  door  and 
received  us  in  the  most  courteous  manner. 
After  the  usual  compliments  he  ordered  three 
tables  to  be  prepared,  one  for  himself,  one 
for  the  French,  and  one  for  the  English  ; 
which  being  done  he  desired  us  to  be  seated, 
when  the  French  second  (the  Chief  being 
absent  from  indisposition)  either  by  design 
or  accident  took  the  place  intended  for  me 
(Douglas)  which  the  Hoppo  observing  called 
me  to  his  own  table  and  seated  me  on  his 
left  hand,  treating  me  with  great  respect." 

The  trading  transactions  of  the  factors 
were  marked  by  interminable  disputes  and 
delays.      Mr.  Douglas,  writing  of   his  opcra- 


the  formation  of  a  permanent  Council  to  over- 
look the  Company's  affairs  in  the  Far  East. 
The  Commission,  which  was  dated  November 
23,  1699,  was  to  Allen  Catchpoole,  president, 
Solomon  Lloyd,  Henry  Rowse,  John  Kidges 
and  Robert  Master.  In  order  to  give  greater 
prestige  to  the  chief  of  the  CounciJ  the 
Court  obtained  from  the  King  a  commission 
appointing  him  and  his  successors  in  the 
presidential  office  "  King's  Minister  or  Consul 
for  the  English  Nation."  With  this  appoint- 
ment may  be  said  to  begin  the  caiecr  of  the 
British  Consular  Service  in  the  Far  East, 
and  in  a  measure  the  commencement  of  the 
diplomatic  connection  of  Great  Britain  with 
China.  The  Council's  instructions  were  to 
attempt  to  form  a  settlement  at  Limpo  or 
at  some  convenient  port  near  Nanking  or  at 
Nanking  itself.  "  We  have  been  greatly 
encouraged  to  this  Northern  Settlement  from 
the  hopes  we  entertained  of  opening  a  way 
into  the  Japan  trade,"  wrote  the  Court  in 
explanation  of  this  selection  of  localities 
for  a  factory.  As  to  the  person  ticl  of  the 
establishment  thus  constituted,  the  members 
of    the    Council    were    given    the    rank    of 


30 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HON(JKONa,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


mcfchants.  It  was  directed  that  all  the 
(actors'  affairs  of  tMiying  and  selling  should 
be  managed  in  Council,  for  which  purpose 
consultations  should  be  held  once  a  week  or 
oftener  and  the  proceedings  regularly  entered 
by  a  Secretary. 

The  Cimncil  was  empowered  to  dismiss 
any  servant  who  defrauded  the  Company  or 
betrayed  their  interests,  or  who  "  should 
cmnmil  any  heinous  crime  as  murder,  theft, 
blasphemy  or  the  like, — or  should  rent  any 
farms  or  duties  of  the  Emperor  of  China  or 
his  Ministers  whereby  they  might  be  subjected 
to  their  arbitrary  powers  and  the  Company's 
estate  under  their  management  ha/arded, — or 
if  anv  Company's  servant  marry  any  Maho- 
metan, Gentoo  or  Pagan." 

To  encourage  their  servants  the  Court 
allowed  them  to  send  home  yearly  what  gold 
they  pleased  in  order  that  their  friends  might 
return  the  prixxx-ds  to  them  in  silver.  All 
salaries  in  China  were,  it  was  stipulated,  to 
be  paid  at  the  rate  of  5s.  the  "  piece  of  eight " 
or  dollar.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  presidency 
was  to  extend  over  the  whole  Empire  of  China 
and  the  adj.iceiit  islands. 

The  new  Council  sailed  from  England  in 
the  Eaton  frigate  at  the  close  of  1699,  and 
arrived  at  Banjarmassin  on  July  16,  1700. 
There  news  was  received  tliat  the  Com- 
pany's ship,  Trumbiill  galley,  had  left  in 
company  with  two  junks  on  the  15th  of 
June  previously  for  Chusan,  where  it  was 
intended  to  form  a  settlement.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  information  the  Ealoii  directed 
her  course  also  to  Chusan,  and  arrived  off 
that  island  on  the  nth  of  October.  President 
CatcIip<K)le  met  with  a  friendly  reception 
from  the  Governors,  but  he  could  not  obtain 
permission  to  form  a  settlement.  When  he 
pressed  the  matter  he  was  referred  to 
Peking.  To  approach  the  Emperor  an  em- 
bassy would  have  been  necessary,  and  as 
this  Would  have  cost  at  the  least  ;^io,ooo,  the 
recommendation  to  memorialise  the  throne 
was  not  unnaturally  disreg.irded.  President 
Catchpoole  continued  at  Chusan  in  the  hope 
that  some  change  might  be  effected  in  the 
situation  by  persistent  applications  backed  by 
gratuities  to  the  hungry  officialdom  of  the 
Government  In  this  expectation  he  was 
disappointed,  and  month  after  month  slipped 
by  without  the  Council  advancing  an  inch  in 
the  direction  in  which  it  wished  to  go. 
Meanwhile,  trouble  arose  through  the  rivalry 


concerned.  At  the  beginning  of  1701-2 
matters  reached  a  crisis.  Through  the 
machinations  of  Mr.  Cough,  the  agent  of 
the  London  Company,  an  edict  w.is  issued  by 
the  Chinese  authorities  expelling  Catchpoole 
and  his  establishment  from  the  island.  The 
terms  of  the  order  were  so  emphatically 
expressed  that  Catchpoole  had  no  allernative 
but  to  obey,  and  on  the  2iid  of  February  he 
and    his    colleagues    left    in    the    Eaton    for 


A    NATIVE    OF    PULO    CONDORE. 

(From  a  drawiiij*  in  the  Manuscript  l^ooni  of  tht 

llritisli  Museum.) 


Batavia.  In  writing  home  at  this  period, 
Catchpoole  and  his  colleagues  reverted  to 
their  troubles  and  disappointments  since 
their  arrival  in  China.  They  stated  that 
they  had  been  "  scarce  a  day  free  from 
insults,  impositions,  or  hardships  from  the 
mandarins  or  merchants  in  respect  of  trade 
or  government  ; "  but,  they  went  on  to  say, 
"nothing  thereof  have  affected  us  with  that 
concern    as   the    treachery   and    undermining 


PULO    CONDORE. 
(From  a  drawing  in  the  British  Museum.) 


o(  the  I^ondon  East  India  Company  which 
at  this  time  was  actively  competing  for  the 
China  trade,  notwithstanding  that  negotia- 
tions were  going  forward  and,  indeed,  were 
advancing  towards  a  satisfaciory  issue,  for 
the  amalgamation  of  the  two  Companies. 
There  were  constant  disputes  and  bickerings 
between  the  two  establishments,  to  their 
mutual    disadvantage    as    far    as    trade    was 


practices  of  our  own  countrymen  and  bosom 
friends  ;  who  whilst  sitting  in  Council  with  us 
have  been  privately  working  the  ruin  of  our 
footing  with  the  mandarins  and  merchants 
of  the  place  by  abetting  and  encouraging 
them  to  force  us  away  in  the  Eaton." 

After  an  absence  of  about  twelve  months 
the  Council  returned  to  Chusan,  the  way  for 
them  having  been  made  smooth  by  the  usual 


material  agencies.  But  it  was  only  lo  renew 
the  old  struggle  for  ascendency  with  obsliiiate 
and  unreasonable  colleagues.  On  this  occasion 
it  was  the  captains  of  the  Company's  ships 
who  caused  the  trouble.  These  individuals 
comported  themselves  in  iiidcpeiulent  fashion, 
showing  a  contempt  for  authority  vvhicli 
was  resented  by  President  Catchpoole  and  his 
Council.  Tiieir  worst  offence  seems  to  have 
been  to  make  themselves  at  home  at  the 
factory,  utilising  rooms  which  were  required 
by  the  establishment.  Catchpoole,  in  reporting 
their  delinquencies  at  home,  remarked  a  fro/'os 
of  an  unwelcome  visit  from  the  captains : 
"The  writers  and  factors  lay  up  and  down 
on  tables.  As  we  now  are  four  writers  lie 
in  a  room  ;  and  yet  the  Factory  rent  stands 
the  Company  in  100  taels  a  month.  We  had 
trouble  to  get  Captain  Palmer  out  of  Mr.  Hal's 
apartment  :  he  left  in  such  a  rage  that  he 
went  on  board  and  broke  open  Mr,  Carleton 
and  Mr.  Chitty's,  the  supercargoes'  apartments, 
and  has  made  the  great  cabin  less.  Should 
your  honours  think  I  act  too  little  I  must 
plead  for  myself  that  we  are  in  China,  where 
the  Governors  are  so  villainous  that  they 
einbrace  any  opportunity  to  confound  all,  and 
these  captains,  to  gratify  their  little  pride,  fear 
nothing." 

In  another  conimunicalion,  after  fuither 
dissensions,  Catchpoole  wrote  saying  that  all 
the  captains  were  unruly,  but  there  were 
distinctions  to  be  made  between  them. 

"  We  look  upon  Captain  Palmer's  as  a 
giddy  headed  boyish  distraction  ;  but  Captain 
Smith's  rudeness  grew  to  so  great  a  height, 
that  in  Council  we  unanimously  ordered  him 
not  to  come  into  the  factory  ;  yet  some  few 
days  after  he  did  come,  and  falling  into  hot 
and  quarrelsome  words,  he  challenged  the 
President  out  of  the  Factory  ;  who  did 
go  out  after  him,  and  to  avoid  the  porlerly 
dispute  of  Boxing,  threw  a  counting  board  at 
him  and  broke  his  head  ;  and  he  having  in 
this  encounter  offered  to  strike  the  President, 
the  said  Captain  was  again  brought  into  the 
Factory  and  with  abundance  of  violence  forced 
on  board  the  Liampo  (one  of  the  three  ships 
in  port).  Which  although  it  raised  a  great 
uproar  in  the  town  and  amused  the  mandarins, 
yet  it  convinced  them  that  the  English  Com- 
pany's President  has  soine  power. " 

President  Catchpoole  came  eventually  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  position  at  Chusan  was 
not  worth  maintaining.  Trade  was  irregular 
and  at  the  best  not  lucrative  and  the  otiicial 
interferences  and  exactions  made  existence 
almost  intolerable.  He  had  long  had  his  eye 
on  Pulo  Condore,  an  island  off  the  coast  of 
Cochin  China,  which  he  confidently  believed 
might  with  due  enterprise  be  made  to  become 
a  valuable  entrepot  for  the  China  trade. 
Tliitlier  he  proceeded  in  1703  and  forthwith 
commenced  to  establish  a  factory.  Apparently 
the  King  of  Cochin  China  claimed  sovereignty 
over  the  island,  and  on  hearing  of  the  occu- 
pation sent  a  letter  of  protest  through  a  local 
governor.  President  Catchpoole  acknowledged 
this  in  a  strain  of  humility  worthy  of  Uriah 
Heap.  Addressing  the  official  as  "  great  and 
noble  sir,"  he  assured  him  that  if  they  had 
been  wanting  in  respect  it  was  due  to  their 
ignorance  of  the  customs  of  Cochin  China. 
But  now  that  he  had  been  pleased  "  to  con- 
descend so  far  as  to  style  me  your  brother, 
you  shall  on  all  occasions  find  me  to  behave 
with  the  dutiftilness  of  a  younger  brother  to 
his  elder."  Referring  to  the  presence  of  two 
of  the  Company's  servants  in  the  King's 
dominions,  he  said  that  he  did  not  doubt  his 
countrymen  would  return  to  him  "  with  the 
welcome  news  of  the  conquering  King  of 
Cochin  China's  leave  for  my  settling  here 
with    my    people.      But    I    shall    find    some 


TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       31 


inconveniencing  if  you  are  not  so  bountiful 
to  me  as  to  order  about  50  carpenters 
and  bricklayers  hither  to  build  me  a  house 
and  other  conveniences  ;  for  those  already 
built  for  the  English  who  can't  work  in 
these  hot  countries,  do  keep  not  out  the  rain. 
And  it  will  be  but  like  an  elder  brother,  to 
condescend  to  order  what  pay  each  man  shall 
have."  The  King  of  Cochin  China  himself 
replied  to  this  letter  in  an  extraordinary 
effusion  dated  August  2,  1703.  The  King 
stated  tliat  his  complaint  against  them  was 
not  that  they  showed  no  civility  by  the  mak- 
ing of  presents,  but  because  of  their  illegal 
behaviour. 

"  Consider  ye,"  he  said,  "  and  examine 
seriously,  and  fear  Heaven  with  all  your  heart 
and  all  your  strength  and  you  will  presently 
become  as  if  we  were  surrounded  by  a  wall." 

"  You  are  pleased  to  say  in  your  letter  that 
upon  another  occasion  when  a  ship  comes, 
you  (will)  send  richer  presents.  How  can 
such  sort  of  things  be  precious  to  us  ? 
Would  you  know  what  it  is  we  highly 
esteem  ?  Upon  goodness  and  piety  we  put 
a  great  value  ;  friendship  and  love  we  reckon 
of  great  moment  :  what  regard  can  we  have 
to  pearls  and  rich  silks,  if  honesty  and  respect 
be  wanting  ?  But  seeing  you  are  very  expert 
in  sea  and  military  affairs  we  are  confident 
you  will  exert  your  teeth  and  hoofs  against 
our  enemies  ;  and  on  this  account  you 
will  do  a  considerable  piece  of  service 
and  worthy  of  you ;  and  so  long  as  you  stay 
and  trade  in  that  island  we  freely  forgive 
you  the  Customs  of  the  goods  and  the 
tribute  of  the  land  although  the  old  inhabi- 
tants pay  both  ..." 

"  Get  everything  in  good  order,  that  you 
may  come  to  Court  yearly,  whereby  it  will 
come  to  pass  that  we  shall  mutually,  as  in 
the  Winter  Season,  cherish  one  another,  and 
also  increase  our  fidelity  and  friendship  ; 
which  two  blessings  are  so  great  that  they 
can  never  be  exhausted." 


"  Now  the  wind  is  favourable,  the  sea  calm 
and  the  vessel  desires  to  leave  the  port  ;  and 
we  have  written  this  letter.  Although  the 
rivers  be  as  a  belt,  and  although  the  hills  be 
as  stone  to  rub  ink  upon  ;  although  also  the 
sea  be  spacious  and  the  Heavens  high  ;  never- 
theless, piety,  concord,  gratitude  and  the 
remembrance  of  favours  done,  shall  never 
have  an  end." 

The  immortal  Chadband  himself — to  select 
another  Dickensonian  illustration — could  not 
have  surpassed  the  unctuous  fervour  of  this 
communication.  The  amusing  thing  is  that 
the  King  was  a  notorious  old  reprobate  who 
worthily  ruled  over  as  thievish  a  lot  as  the 
East  India  Company  ever  had  dealings  with. 
From  beginning  to  finish  the  attempts  to 
trade  in  Cochin  China  were  failures  mainly 
for  this  reason.  The  Pulo  Condore  factory 
was  a  particularly  bad  bargain.  The  place 
was  unsuited  in  every  way  for  the  purposes 
for  which  it  was  designed,  and  the  estab- 
lishment, after  the  expenditure  of  a  consider- 
able amount  of  money  upon  the  enterprise, 
was  withdrawn.  With  it  disappears  from 
the  scene  the  pompous  figure  of  President 
Catchpoole,  "  the  King's  Consul,"  and  the 
first  official  chief  of  the  Company's  establish- 
ments in  China. 

The  chief  centre  of  interest  once  more 
shifts  to  Canton.  Relations  of  some  kind 
appear  to  have  been  maintained  with  that 
city  by  the  Company  during  the  period  of 
President  Catchpoole's  sojourn  in  Cliusan  and 
Pulo  Condore.  In  1704  an  unpleasant  new 
departure  was  made  by  the  Chinese  authorities 
by  the  appointment  of  a  functionary  known 
as  the  Emperor's  Merchant,  who  was  in- 
vested with  authority  to  monopolise  the  trade. 
This  "  new  monster,"  as  he  was  termed  by 
the  indignant  English  factors  in  their  reports 
to  the  Court,  was  a  man  "  who  formerly  sold 
salt  at  Canton  and  was  whip't  out  of  the 
province  for  being  caught  defrauding  tlie 
Emperour   of    his   dutys   on   that  commodity, 


but  not  being  whip't  out  of  all  his  money, 
he  had  found  means  to  be  introduced  to  the 
Emperour's  son  and  successor  who  for  a 
sum  of  money  reported  to  be  42,000  Taels 
had  given  him  a  patent  to  trade  with  all 
fcluropeans  in  Canton  exclusive  of  all  other 
merchants."  The  discontent  aroused  by  this 
new  and  formidable  obstacle  to  trade  took 
shape  in  a  strong  representation  to  the  Quang- 
choo-foo,  as  to  the  disastrous  results  which 
would  ensue  if  the  system  were  continued. 
This  official  set  an  inquiry  on  foot  and  found 
that  the  Emperor's  Merchant  had  literally 
no  goods,  and  that  the  other  traders  were 
debarred  from  selling  goods  in  consequence 
of  his  patent.  In  the  end  an  agreement  was 
come  to  by  which  the  Emperor's  Merchant 
allowed  others  to  participate  in  the  trade  in 
consideration  of  a  payment  to  him  of  a  duty 
of  5,000  taels  per  ship.  Besides  having  to 
bear  this  heavy  imposition  trade  about  this 
period  was  penalised  by  an  import  duty 
amounting  to  4  per  cent,  of  the  value  of 
the  goods.  In  1704  the  charge  is  spoken  of 
as  "  an  imposition  lately  crept  upon  us  by 
the  submission  of  our  predecessors  the  two 
preceding  seasons."  The  character  of  the 
duty  is  thus  explained  :  "  One  per  cent,  of 
the  four  is  what  has  been  usually  given  by 
the  Chinese  merchants  to  the  linguist  upon 
all  contracts,  and  the  linguist  was  used  to 
gratify  the  Hoppo  out  of  the  sum  for  his 
employment.  The  other  three  were  first 
squeezed  from  the  China  merchant  as  a 
gratuity  for  upholding  some  particular  men 
in  monopolising  all  the  business,  and  this 
used  to  be  given  in  a  lump,  so  that  by  under- 
valuing the  goods  and  concealing  some  part 
they  used  to  secure  half  the  charge  ;  but  to 
show  how  soon  an  ill  precedent  will  be 
improved  in  China  to  our  disadvantage,  the 
succeeding  Hoppos,  instead  of  the  persuasive 
arguments  such  as  their  predecessors  used, 
are  come  to  demand  it  as  an  established 
duty." 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Regular  Trade  at  Canton — Accession  of  the  Emperor  Kienlung — Liberal  Trade  Policy — Commodore  Anson  and 
the  Mandarins — Trade  Confined  to  Canton — Arrest  of  Mr.  Flint,  a  Supercargo — Special  Mission  despatched  to 
Canton  by  the   East   India   Company — Regrettable    Incidents — A    British    Sailor    delivered    up    to    the    Chinese   and 

executed  by  them. 


Before  the  eighteenth  century  had  far 
advanced  the  trade  with  Canton  had  as- 
sumed to  a  large  extent  a  regular  character. 
The  Company's  instructions  provided  that  the 
supercargoes  in  China  should  keep  but  one 
table,  and  should  meet  at  least  twice  a  week 
for  consultalion  upon  the  Company's  affairs. 
As  to  the  ships,  the  general  practice  was  for 
them  to  await  off  Macao  until  the  super- 
cargoes had  ascertained  whether  the  condi- 
tions at  Canton  were  favourable  to  their 
approach  to  that  city.  If  a  satisfactory  re- 
port was  made  the  vessels  were  taken  to 
Bocca  Tigris  where  the  Hoppo's  officers 
boarded  them.  Through  the  linguist  an  inti- 
mation was  conveyed  to  these  personages 
that  the  supercargoes  wished  to  wait  upon 
the  Hoppo.  Subsequently  an  interview  took 
place  with  this  high  official,  and  after  the 
exchange  of  compliments,  a  demand  was 
made   for  free   trade   under  stipulated   condi- 


tions. The  main  conditions  were  that  the 
trade  should  be  with  all  people  without  re- 
striction ;  that  the  Company's  servants  might 
entertain  in  their  service  what  Chinese  ser- 
vants they  pleased,  and  discharge  them  at 
their  pleasure  ;  that  if  their  English  servants 
committed  any  fault  deserving  punishment 
they  should  be  dealt  with  by  the  super- 
cargoes ;  that  they  should  be  at  liberty  to 
buy  all  sorts  of  provisions  for  the  factory 
and  the  ship  at  their  will  ;  that  they  should 
pay  no  custom  or  other  duties  for  any  goods 
they  should  bring  on  shore  and  not  dispose 
of  ;  that  they  should  have  liberty  to  set  up 
a  tent  ashore,  to  mend  and  fit  their  casks, 
sails,  and  rigging ;  that  their  boats  should 
have  liberty  to  pass  the  several  custom 
houses  or  boats  as  often  as  should  be 
thought  fit  without  being  called  to  or  ex- 
amined on  any  pretence  whalsoever  where 
the  British  colours  were  hoisted,  and  that  at 


no  time  should  their  seamen's  pockets  be 
searched  ;  that  the  Hoppo  should  protect 
them  "  from  all  insults  and  impositions  of 
the  common  people  and  Mandarins  who 
were  annually  laying  new  duties  and  exac- 
tions which  they  were  forbidden  to  allow 
of."  Finally,  it  was  demanded  "that  the 
four  per  cent,  be  taken  off  and  that  every 
claim  or  dem.ind  the  Hoppo  had  should  be 
demanded  and  determined  the  same  time 
with  the  measurement  of  the  ship."  It  was 
usual  for  the  Hoppo  to  signify  his  assent  to 
all  the  demands,  with  the  exception  of  the 
last,  which  he  could  not  agree  to.  The 
supercargoes  were  accustomed  to  press  the 
point,  and  on  finding  that  there  was  no 
prospect  of  concession  would  discreetly  "  let 
that  argument  drop." 

In  1720  a  new  source  of  embarrassment  to 
the  trade  arose  in  the  formation  of  a  com- 
bination  of  native   merchants    to    secure  the 


S2      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


fixing  of  prices  at  levels  which  they  approved. 
A  movcaient  o(  the  kind  was  set  on  foot 
as  \vc  have  seen  iin>re  than  twenty  years 
earlier,  but  this  was  by  no  means  so  formid- 
able a  manifestation  of  the  genius  of  the 
Chinaman  for  exclusive  dealing  as  that  with 
which  the  factors  were  now  faced.  Finding 
how  matters  stood  the  supercargoes  adopted 
a  bold  line.  They  declined  to  wait  on  the 
Mandarin  at  Whampoa  or  to  commence  the 
trade  until  the  Co-hong,  as  the  combination 
w.is  called,  was  abolished,  and  they  were 
at  liberty  as  heretofore  to  trade  without 
restraint.  The  Isontock,  hearing  of  the  dis- 
pute, summoned  the  princip;»l  native  mer- 
chants before  him  and  told  them  that  if  they 
did  not  dissolve  the  Co-hong  he  would  find 
means  to  compel  them  to  do  so.  This  plain 
speaking  had  its  effect,  and  trade  dropped 
into  its  old  channels.  But  within  a  year  a 
further  source  of  anxiety  arose  in  one  of 
those  episodes  with  which  the  history  of 
British  trade  in  China  teems.  One  of  the 
Hoppo's  officers  was  accidentally  killed  at 
Whampoa  while  engaged  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties  amongst  the  shipping.  Though 
no  blame  attached  to  any  one  the  local  oHicials 


festation.  Before  many  months  had  elapsed 
the  old  tactics  were  revived  and  practised 
with  irrit.iting  persistency.  In  1728,  following 
upon  a  series  of  disagreeable  incidents,  came 
the  levy  of  an  additional  duty  of  10  per  cent. 
on  all  goods  sold  by  the  merchants.  The 
burden  imposed  by  this  charge  was  so  serious 
that  the  European  trading  community  decided 
upon  the  somewhat  bold  course  of  making  a 
a  personal  protest  to  the  Isontock.  Assem- 
bling at  the  factories  they  proceeded  in  a 
body  to  the  Isontock's  residence.  They  were 
admitted  after  some  delay  to  the  Mandarin's 
presence,  and  delivered  their  address  to  him 
through  one  of  his  officers.  After  cursorily 
perusing  the  document  the  great  man  told 
them,  not  too  affably,  that  they  should  deal 
with  responsible  merchants  and  pay  their 
customs.  With  this  advice,  with  which  they 
could  very  well  have  dispensed,  they  were 
dismissed.  Alter  the  interview  there  was 
some  relief  from  the  more  obno.\ious  of  the 
regulations,  but  the  10  per  cent,  duty  was 
maintained  in  spite  of  repeated  protests  and 
representations  to  the  Court  of  Peking. 

A   new  and    important   era   in  the    history 
of  European  trade  in  China  was  reached  in 


A    VIEW    OF    THE    CANTON    FACTORIES    IN    THE    EIGHTEENTH    CENTURY, 
(l-'roni  u  print  engraved  in  17K4J  from  a  picture  paiiUcdiii  Cliina.) 


seized  two  mates  and  four  of  the  inferior 
officers  of  the  CadoUnn,  one  of  the  Company's 
ships,  who  were  quietly  walking  in  the  street 
near  the  factory  at  Canton.  An  indignant 
protest  was  made  to  the  Hoppo  against  this 
despotic  action,  and  a  plain  inlimation  was 
given  that  unless  redress  was  immediately 
afforded  the  Company  would  be  recom- 
mended to  transfer  their  commercial  dealings 
from  Canton  to  some  other  port.  As  usual 
when  firmly  treated  the  authorities  were 
quite  reasonable.  The  Mandarin  who  com- 
mitted the  affront  was  degraded  from  his 
office  and  a  promise  was  given  that  he  should 
be  bamtxxicd  and  rendered  incapable  of 
being  again  admitted  into  the  Emperor's 
iicrvice.  It  may  be  doubted  whether  the 
punishment  was  ever  inflicted,  or  if  inflicted, 
whether  the  right  person  suffered,  but  the 
fact  that  the  Hoppo  thought  it  worth  while 
to  give  even  formal  expression  to  his  dis- 
pleasure shows  that  the  Chinese  officials  at 
this  time  had  learned  to  value  the  privileges 
which  trade  bi  ought  in  its  train  Uto  highly  for 
them  to  part  with  them  readily.  The  sweet 
reasonablieness  shown  by  the  Mandarins  in 
this  affair  was,  however,  but  a  passing  mani- 


1736  on  the  occasion  of  the  accession  to  the 
throne  of  the  Emperor  Kicnlung.  Of  all 
the  modern  rulers  of  China  Kienluiig  de- 
serves to  be  regarded  as  by  far  the  greatest. 
He  entered  upon  his  long  and  eventful  reign 
of  more  than  sixty  years  animated  by  the 
highest  principles.  While  perfonning  the 
customary  rites  on  the  day  of  his  installation, 
the  youthful  monarch  made  a  vow  that 
"  should  he  like  his  illustrious  grandfather, 
Kang-hy,  be  permitted  to  complete  the  six- 
tieth year  of  his  reign,  he  would  show  his 
gratitude  to  heaven  by  resigning  the  crown 
to  his  heir,  as  an  acknowledgment  that  he 
had  been  f.avoured  to  the  full  extent  of  his 
wishes."  Kienlung  lived  to  redeem  this 
pledge,  and  by  so  doing  gave  a  remarkable 
example  of  royal  sincerity.  The  first  public 
act  of  the  Emperor  was  to  recall  from  exile 
all  the  members  of  the  Koyal  family  who  h:id 
been  banished  by  his  predecessor  in  conse- 
quence of  their  attachment  to  the  Christian 
religion.  Associated  with  this  tolerant  mea- 
sure was  the  issue  of  an  edict  relative  to 
foreign  trade,  the  general  tendency  of  which 
was  liberal.  The  rescript  abolished  the  10 
per  cent  duty  and  made  other  notable  con- 


cessions. On  the  other  hand  there  was  a 
provision  in  the  imperial  decree  that  all 
vessels  on  arriving  at  Whampoa  should  land 
their  armament  and  leave  it  in  the  custody 
of  the  imperial  officials.  In  due  course  the 
edict  was  prnmulgated,  and  the  opportunity 
was  availed  of  by  the  British  traders  to 
make  the  Isontock  handsome  presents,  in 
the  expectation,  afterwards  realised,  that  the 
order  in  reference  to  the  delivery  of  guns, 
&c.,  might  be  dispensed  with.  Matters  pro- 
ceeded smoothly  after  this  until  1741,  when 
the  arrival  of  Commodore  Anson,  in  His 
Majesty's  ship  Centurion,  the  first  King's 
ship  to  visit  the  Canton  River,  caused  some 
excitement  and  led  to  a  fresh  crop  of  difli- 
culties.  Under  the  Chinese  law  the  admission 
of  warships  to  the  river  was  forbidden,  and 
obstacles  were  interposed  to  the  Cenlnrion's 
passage.  Finding  how  matters  stood.  Com- 
modore Anson  hired  a  boat  with  the  intention 
of  proceeding  to  Canton  to  interview  the 
authorities.  As  he  was  embarking  the  Hoppo 
declined  to  grant  him  a  permit,  and  forbade 
the  boatmen  to  proceed.  Not  to  be  thwarted 
in  this  fashion,  Anson  told  the  Hoppo  that 
if  by  the  next  day  a  permit  was  not  forth- 
coming he  would  arm  the  Ccntiirioti's  boats 
and  force  a  passage.  This  had  the  desired 
effect  of  breaking  down  the  opposition  to  the 
famous  officer's  visit  to  Canton.  Elated  at 
his  victory,  Anson  would  have  insisted  upon 
an  interview  with  the  Viceroy  at  Canton,  but 
he  was  dissuaded  from  pressing  for  this  by 
the  British  traders,  who  feared  that  high- 
handed action  would  react  unfavourably  on 
commercial  relations.  After  refitting  and 
provisioning  his  ship,  Anson  put  to  sea  with 
the  view  of  intercepting  the  valuable  Spanish 
ship  bound  annually  from  Acapuico  and 
Manila  to  Lisbon.  He  succeeded  in  his 
venture  and  took  his  prize  into  the  Canton 
River  with  the,  to  him,  surprising  result  that 
the  Chinese  authorities  promptly  demanded 
the  customary  duties  for  both  vessels.  Anson 
emphatically  declined  to  accede  to  this  de- 
mand, and  with  a  view  to  contesting  the 
matter  with  the  high  Chinese  authorities, 
repaired  with  his  boat's  crew  in  full  dress 
to  Canton.  Actuated  by  a  desire  to  ensure 
the  safety  of  the  shipment  of  stores  for  his 
vessels,  he  refrained  from  seeking  an  inter- 
view with  the  Viceroy  for  some  days.  At 
length,  wearied  with  the  procrastinating 
policy  pursued  towards  him,  he  sent  a  letter 
by  one  of  his  ofiicers  demanding  to  see  the 
Viceroy.  This  application  would  probably 
have  met  with  but  scant  courtesy  but  for  a 
happy  incident  which  won  the  good  will  of 
the  authorities.  Two  days  after  the  letter 
was  despatched  a  serious  fire  broke  out  in 
Canton.  It  would  have  ravaged  a  consider- 
able quarter  of  the  city  but  for  the  prompt 
and  efficient  aid  rendered  by  the  Cciiliiiioit's 
men,  who,  by  arduous  work,  were  able  to 
confine  the  outbreak  within  comparatively 
narrow  limits.  In  gratitude  for  this  signal 
service  the  Viceroy  appointed  a  day  for  an 
interview.  Anson  attended  at  the  time  fixed, 
and,  with  a  sailor's  frankness,  detailed  to  the 
Viceroy  the  various  grievances  under  which 
the  British  traders  laboured.  He  concluded 
with  the  expression  of  a  hope  that  orders 
would  be  given  which  would  prevent  the 
recurrence  of  the  events  complained  of.  No 
immediate  reply  was  given  to  this  bold 
harangue.  After  a  time  the  interpreter  inti- 
mated to  Anson  that  he  did  not  believe  that 
any  reply  would  be  given.  The  audience 
closed  with  the  expression  by  the  Viceroy  of 
a  hope  that  Anson  would  have  a  prosperous 
voyage. 

The  deliberate  reticence  of  the  Viceroy  on 
this  occasion  was  doubtless  only  a  courteous 


TWJ]NTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANCmAI,  ETC.       33 


way  of  intimatinjf  that  the  policy  pursued 
hitherto  would  not  be  altered,  notwithstand- 
ing all  that  had  been  urjjed  ajjainst  it.  This, 
in  fact,  was  the  attitude  assumed  later  and 
persisted  in  in  the  face  of  the  most  strenu- 
ous representations  from  the  British  trading 
community.  One  feature  of  the  administra- 
tion, which  at  this  period  was  productive 
of  bitter  resentment,  was  the  practice  of 
naming  security  merchants  for  each  ship. 
Under  the  system  a  particular  merchant  was 
held  responsible  to  the  Government  for  the 
payment  of  all  duties  and  customs  on  goods 
imported  in  the  ship,  whether  purchased  by 
the  security  merchant  himself  or  any  one 
ebe.  In  like  manner  he  was  made  account- 
able for  the  duties  on  export  cargoes,  while 
he  was  subjected  to  heavy  financial  charges 
of  an  irregular  character  on  the  strength  of 
his  position.  The  natural  effect  of  the 
system  was  to  prejudice  the  Company's  busi- 
ness transactions  in  various  ways,  but  more 
particularly  in  enhancing  the  cost  of  com- 
modities which  its  agents  purchased.  In 
1754  the  Isontock  was  approached  with  a 
view  to  the  abolition  of  the  practice.  These 
merchants  were  received  courteously,  but  the 
Isontock  declined  to  give  them  a  written 
reply.  Afterwards  he  appointed  two  security 
merchants  to  each  ship,  in  the  illusory  hope, 
apparently,  that  the  increase  in  the  number 
ol  the  sureties  would  meet  the  objections  of 
the  merchants. 

Marked  by  some  vicissitudes,  but  on  the 
whole  showing  a  satisfactory  measure  of 
progress,  the  trade  contiimed  until  1757.  In 
that  year  a  striking  change  in  its  conditions 
was  made  by  the  issue  of  an  imperial  edict 
coniining  the  foreign  trade  of  the  Empire  to 
Canton.  Up  to  this  point,  as  the  narrative 
has  shown,  Amoy  and  Limpo  in  Chusan 
had  both  been  the  resort  of  British  ships, 
and  thougli  Canton  had  with  the  advance  of 
the  century  become  more  and  more  the  real 
centre  of  the  China  trade,  thoughts  were 
from  time  to  time  longingly  directed  by  the 
Court  of  Directors  towards  other  ports.  At 
the  very  time  that  the  edict  was  being 
promulgated  a  vessel  despatched  by  the  Com- 
pany was  on  its  way  to  Cliina  charged  with  a 
mission  to  open  up  a  more  regular  trade  with 
Chusan.  Mr.  P'lint,  who  went  as  supercargo, 
was  instructed  to  reside  if  possible  for  some 
time  at  Nanking,  and  while  there  to  direct 
attention  to  the  silk  trade  to  which  the  Com- 
pany attached  great  importance.  Mr.  Flint, 
on  arriving  at  Limpo,  found  it  impossible  to 
get  even  common  necessaries,  much  less  to 
carry  on  a  trade.  This  attempt  to  open  a 
trade  after  the  issue  of  the  edict  was  keenly 
resented  by  the  Chinese  authorities,  who 
saw  in  it  a  deliberate  defiance  of  the 
imperial  orders.  On  Mr.  Flint  proceeding  to 
Canton  in  December,  1759,  to  report  himself, 
he  was  summoned  to  the  presence  of  the 
Isontock.  The  supercargoes  deemed  it  expe- 
dient that  they  should  accompany  him,  and 
accordingly  the  entire  party  proceeded  to 
the  Isontock's  palace.  The  officials  there 
would  have  confined  admission  to  Mr.  Flint, 
but  the  supercargoes  determined  not  to  be 
excluded.  They  were  received  by  a  Mandarin 
and  proceeded  through  two  courts  with  the 
apparent  acquiescence  of  the  officials.  On 
arrival  at  the  gate  of  the  inner  court  of  the 
palace,  their  swords  were  taken  from  them 
and  they  were  hurried  into  the  Isontock's 
presence.  There  an  attempt  was  made  to 
compel  them  to  pay  homage  after  the  Chinese 
fashion,  and  on  their  resisting  they  were 
thrown  down.  The  Isontock  perceiving  that 
the  supercargoes  were  resolute  in  their 
determination  not  to  humiliate  themselves, 
ordered  the  attendants  to  desist.    Afterwards 


he  directed  Mr.  Flint  to  advance  towards 
him,  and  this  gentleman  having  separated 
himself  from  his  colleagues  he  was  told 
that  an  order  had  been  received  from  the 
Emperor  for  his  banishment  to  Macao  for 
three  years,  and  for  his  ultimate  exclusion 
from  China,  for  going  to  Limpo  after  His 
Imperial  Majesty  had  positively  ordered  that 
no  ship  should  trade  there.  It  was  further 
intimated  that  a  man,  who  had  writlen  a 
petition  which  Mr.  Flint  had  caused  to  be 
publicly  displayed  at  Tientsin  with  the  object 
of    attracting    the    notice    of    the    Emperor, 


upon  them  as  they  were  fully  persuaded  he 
was  well  disposed  to  favour  them."  The 
sanguine  belief  here  expressed  in  the  ulti- 
mate repudiation  of  the  Isontock's  despotic 
behaviour  was  not  justified  by  events.  Mr. 
Flint  was  kept  in  close  confinement  at  a 
place  near  Macao  for  nearly  three  years. 
Such  was  the  rigour  of  his  treatment  that 
even  letters  were  not  allowed  to  reach  him. 
With  a  view  to  ameliorating  the  situation 
the  Court,  in  1760,  determined  to  send  out  a 
special  mission  to  Canton.  To  represent  them 
they     appointed     Captain     Skottowe    of    the 


THE    GREAT    EMPEROR    (KIENLUNG). 
(From  Sir  Georj^c  St;iunton"s  '■  Lord  Mac;u-tnL'y's  Embnss)-.") 


was  to  be  publicly  beheaded  that  day  for 
treacherously  encouraging  such  a  step.  The 
indignation  which  this  extraordinary  episode 
excited  found  vent  at  a  united  meeting  of 
European  traders  at  the  British  factory  three 
days  later.  All  present  agreed  to  send  home 
lo  their  respective  companies  a  report  of  the 
unwarrantable  action  of  the  Isontock,  and 
they  doubted  not  that  a  method  would  be 
found  and  measures  taken  to  make  the 
facts  known  to  the  Emperor,  "  who  they 
were  convinced  would  avenge  the  affront  put 


Company's  ship  Royal  George,  and  they 
entrusted  him  with  a  letter  from  themselves 
to  the  Isontock.  Elaborate  instructions  were 
given  to  the  envoy  as  to  his  behaviour  in 
the  Far  East.  He  was  not  to  be  seen  in 
the  shops,  &c.,  purchasing  chinaware  ;  if  he 
wanted  any  goods  he  was  to  send  for  the 
merchants,  and  not  go  for  them  himself  ; 
he  was  never  to  appear  in  undress  in  the 
streets,  or  at  home  when  he  received  visits  ; 
above  all  he  was  to  be  called  Mr.  Skottowe, 
not  Cdfhiiii,  and  it  was  to  be  given  out  that 


34       TWENTIETH  CENTrRY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


he  was  llie  bri>«lier  of  His  Majesty's  I'nder 
Secretary  of  State  who  had  the  honour  to 
write  the  King's  letters.  The  Court  might 
have  spared  themselves  this  (letty  deceit. 
Captain  Skottowe's  mission  was  a  complete 
failure,  no«  a  single  point  of  the  list  of  de- 
mands he  presented  being  conceded.  There- 
after, for  some  years,  events  pursued  their 
accustomed  course.  The  only  development 
of  interest  was  the  revival  of  the  Co-hong,  in 
1760,  with  consequences  very  detrimental  to 
the  Company's  trade.  The  supercargoes  were 
instructed  to  pay  constant  attention  to  this 
conspiracy  and  to  other  restrictions  on  trade, 
but  at  the  same  lime  they  were  told  "  that 
in  all  their  proceedings  pacilic  and  ct>ncilia- 
tory  measures  only  were  to  be  observed,  and 
Uie  utmost  care  taken  not  to  give  any  just 
reason  for  umbrage  to  the  Chinese  govern- 
ment." In  I7ft4  the  visit  of  the  British 
warship  Ari<o  to  the  Canton  River  led  to 
trouble  of  a  new  kind.  The  Chinese  authori- 
ties, on  the  appe.irance  of  the  ship,  insisted 
on  measuiing  her  with  a  view  to  the  payment 


a  refusal.  After  due  deliberation  the  captain 
assented,  and  the  ship  was  measured,  to  the 
great  relief  of  the  traders,  whose  affairs  had 
been  at  almost  a  complete  standstill  during 
the  four  months  that  the  dispute  con- 
tiimed.  In  connection  with  the  Ari^o's  visit 
to  Canton  we  find,  in  a  minute  of  the  Court 
of  the  Directors  of  the  period,  one  of  the 
first  references  to  that  tral'tic  in  opium  which 
was  destined,  a  good  many  years  later,  to 
exercise  a  powerful  influence  on  the  course 
of  events  in  China.  The  Court,  adverting  to 
the  stoppage  of  trade  caused  by  the  incident 
just  narrated,  state  that  they  had  heard  that, 
besides  other  goods,  opium  had  been  shipped 
in  the  Arf^o  in  the  way  of  private  trade,  and 
they  requested  that  a  full  account  might 
be  sent  home  of  the  matter,  as  opium  was 
prohibited  and  the  importation  might  be 
most  detrimental  to  the  Company's  interests. 
The  fact  that  the  Company's  ships  were 
the  only  vessels  exempted  from  search  on 
account  of  opium  no  doubt  lent  point  to  this 
instruction. 


AN    OLD    VIEW    OF    NANKING. 
(From  a  print  at  tlic  liiilish  Muscuin.) 


o(  the  ordinary  dues.  The  captain  resented 
this  on  the  ground  that  the  officials  had  no 
power  over  a  king's  ship.  In  consequence 
of  the  attitude  he  assumed  the  merchants 
refused  to  be  responsible  for  the  Company's 
ships,  and  trade  was  stopped.  To  alleviate 
the  situation  the  supercargoes  offered  to  pay 
dues  for  the  Argo  at  the  same  rate  as  that 
charged  for  the  largest  Company's  ship  ;  but 
this  was  declined.  The  Hoppo  slated  that  he 
intended  to  proceed  to  Whampoa  to  measure 
the  ship,  and  that  if  his  request  was  refused 
she  would  have  to  leave.  The  Isontock  took 
an  even  higher  line.  He  wanted  to  know 
what  the  supercargoes  meant  by  offering  to 
pay  the  mea-sureagc  in  lieu  of  the  ship  being 
measured  ?  Such  procedure,  he  intimated, 
was  contrary  to  all  custom,  and  he  concluded 
by  sa}-ing  ll>at  if  the  ship  was  not  measured- 
the  supercargoes  would  have  to  leave  the 
country,  and  the  merchants  would  be  bam- 
booed  and  banished  Canton.  In  view  of  the 
official  attitude  the  supercargoes  strongly 
urged  the  captain  of  the  Argo  to  submit  in 
order  to  avert  the  injurious  results  which 
would,  in  their  opinion,  certainly  How  from 


By  this  time  the  Biilish  trade  in  China 
had  dropped  into  a  regular  groove,  and  it 
was  yearly  growing  in  importance.  In  order 
that  their  interests  might  be  better  safe- 
guarded the  Court,  in  1770,  ordered  that 
their  surpercargoes,  instead  of  going  back- 
wards and  forwards  with  the  ships,  should 
reside  permanently  in  China.  An  almost 
immediate  outcome  of  this  change  in  system 
was  the  dissolution  of  the  Co-hong,  which 
the  supercargoes  were  able  to  effect  through 
an  intermediary,  though  only  at  the  cost  of 
100,000  taels.  The  removal  of  this  barrier 
to  trade  had  a  beneficial  effect,  but  in  general 
the  position  of  the  British  traders  did  not 
improve  with  the  lapse  of  years  and  the 
growth  of  their  mercantile  relations.  Re- 
grettable incidents  were  still  of  frequent 
occurrence.  They  were  not  always  due  to 
faults  on  the  Chinese  side,  but  in  their 
adjustment  the  Chinese  ofiicialdom  invariably 
put  themselves  in  the  wrong  by  tlieir  arrogant 
and  unfair  attitude.  One  of  the  most  im- 
portant of  these  imbroglios  occurred  in  1784 
through  the  accidental  killing  of  two  Chinese 
by   the    firing    of    a    saluting  gun    from   the 


British  ship  Lady  Hii!;lics.  On  the  occurrence 
becoming  known  the  authorities,  accompanied 
by  the  native  merchants,  waited  on  the 
President  of  the  British  factory  to  demand 
that  the  man  who  had  fired  the  gun  should 
be  given  up  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of 
the  Empire.  The  reply  given  was  that  it 
could  not  be  ascertained  who  the  man  was, 
that  in  all  probability  the  gunner  had 
absconded,  and  that  they  (the  supercargoes) 
had  no  power  over  private  ships,  to  which 
category  this  vessel  belonged.  However,  the 
supercargo  of  the  l.aiiy  Hiifihcs  agreed,  at 
the  instance  of  the  Select  Connnittee — as  the 
Company's  governing  body  at  Canton  was 
styled — to  go  to  Canton  in  order  to  explain 
the  circumstances.  This  individual  subse- 
quently accompanied  the  Chinese  officials  to 
their  destination,  and  after  an  examination 
for  form's  sake,  he  was  decoyed  away  and 
conveyed  by  an  armed  guard  into  the  city. 
The  seriousness  of  the  turn  that  events 
had  taken  was  recognised  by  the  European 
communities  of  all  nationalities.  With  one 
accord  they  agreed  to  stand  by  the  British 
in  their  demand  for  the  release  of  the 
supercargo.  In  order  to  give  emphasis  to 
the  protest  armed  boats  of  the  several  ships 
at  anchor  at  Whampoa  were  called  up  to 
Canton. 

Notwithstanding  this  display  of  force,  the 
Chinese  resolutely  declined  to  hand  over  the 
supercargo  until  the  gunner  or  some  sub- 
stitute had  been  provided.  The  Select  Com- 
mittee ultimately  weakly  conceded  the  point 
by  delivering  over  to  the  custody  of  the 
Chinese  the  man  who  fired  the  gun  on  the 
fatal  occasion.  When  he  was  surrendered 
the  Mandarins  desired  the  Europeans  present 
"not  to  be  uneasy  as  to  his  fate."  This 
was  thought  at  the  time  to  be  reassuring. 
But  the  Select  Committee  were  reckoning 
without  the  ingrained  devotion  of  the  Cliinese 
to  the  spirit  of  their  law  of  homicide,  under 
which  the  causing  of  death  in  all  circum- 
stances, even  the  most  innocent,  is  a  serious 
crime.  On  January  8,  1785,  in  consequence 
of  an  order  received  from  the  Emperor, 
the  unfortunate  man  was  put  to  death  by 
strangling.  Afterwards  representatives  of  the 
various  European  factories  were  summoned  to 
attend  the  Mandarins,  and  were  informed  by 
them  that  the  Emperor  was  greatly  displeased 
at  their  having  so  long  delayed  giving  the 
man  up.  The  official  spokesman  commented 
on  the  extreme  moderation  of  the  Govern- 
ment in  demanding  the  life  of  only  one 
foreigner  while  the  lives  of  two  Chinese 
subjects  had  been  lost  by  the  accident. 
He  added  that  the  Government  expected  a 
readier  compliance  with  their  demands  on  any 
future  occasion  of  a  similar  character.  It 
does  not  appear  that  any  further  protest 
was  made  by  the  British  representatives 
against  the  arbitrary  action  of  the  authori- 
ties. Probably  it  was  recognised  that  such 
would  have  been  useless.  Whether  that  is 
the  true  explanation  or  not  the  episode 
cannot  be  said  to  reflect  credit  on  the 
British  representatives  of  the  period.  They 
seem  to  have  blustered  at  the  outset  and 
then  to  have  handed  this  wretched  man 
over  without  the  smallest  guarantee  as  to 
his  treatment.  They  might  have  known 
from  earlier  experiences  of  the  same  type 
that  the  surrender  in  the  circumstances  was 
tantamount  to  acquiescence  in  a  sentence  of 
death.  Reviewing  the  whole  circumstances  of 
the  deplorable  incident  later  the  Court  made 
some  sensible  remarks  on  the  general  attitude 
of  the  Chinese.  "  Experience  had  slunvn," 
they  wrote,  "  that  the  Court  of  Pekin  would  use 
its  power  to  carry  into  execution  whatever  it 
declares   to   be  the  law.      Individual   Chinese 


VIEWS    IN    AND    ABOUT    CANTON. 


I.    Tkmple  ok  Buddha. 
3.    Bridgk  near  Canton. 


Pagoda  and  Village  on  the  Caxal  near  Canton. 
On  the  Canal  between  Macao  and  Canton. 


36      TWENTIETH  CEXTUKY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


may  be,  and  often  arc,  afraid  of  Europeans, 
but  ttie  Gt>vei  nineiit  was  not  so.  Dcsiwtic 
in  itself,  iijnorant  of  the  power  of  foreij;n 
nations,  very  su|vrrior  to  tlie  divided  and  small 
Slates  tliat  surround  it,  the  Chinese  esteem 
Ihemselves  not  only  the  lirst  nation  in 
the   world    but    the    most    powerful.      Such 


circumstances  and  such  notions  had  naturally 
produced  a  high  and  imperious  spirit  in 
the  {•overnment,  but  no  fear."  The  Court 
directed  that  in  the  event  of  a  casualty 
like  the  last  unfortunate  accident  happening 
to  any  of  the  English,  the  supercargoes 
should   use  every  means   in   their    power   to 


slop  the  business  in  the  first  stage  by  apply- 
ing to  some  Chinese  mercliant  of  ability 
to  get  such  a  representation  made  to  the 
Viceroy  as  might  secure  the  life  of  the 
person.  Only  in  the  event  of  a  murder 
were  they  to  deliver  the  perpetrator  up  to 
the  Chinese. 


CHAPTER    V. 

Lord  Macartney's  Mission  to  China — Friendly  Reception  by  the  Emperor — Stately  Court  Ceremonies — Unsatisfactory 
Negotiations — Return  of  the  Mission — The  Emperor's  Letter  to  King  George — Affairs  at  Canton. 


The  cumubtive  efl'ect  of  vexatious  inter- 
ferences, the  arbitrary  displays  of  authority, 
the  unfair  exactions,  and  the  ever  present 
manifestations  of  jealous  exchisivencss  which 


went  to  make  up  the  Imperial  Chinese 
policy,  was  to  produce  in  England  a  feeling 
that  an  organised  effort  should  be  made  lo 
place   matters   on   a   better   footing.       In   the 


THE    EAKL    OF    MACARTNEY. 
(From  an  cDgravinK  by  liartolozzi  in  the  Print  Kooni,  Brilisli  MuMum.) 


view  of  influential  authorities,  the  China  trade 
was  too  important  to  be  subjected,  as  it 
often  was,  to  the  caprice  of  local  ofiicials. 
It  had  developed  in  remarkable  fashion  and 
would  develop  to  a  still  larger  extent  if  the 
heavy  restraints  put  upon  it  were  removed, 
or  even  materially  modified.  Furthermore, 
there  was  the  consideration  that  while  other 
nations,  through  missionaries  or  scientists, 
had  long  been  able  to  maintain  direct  inter- 
course with  the  Emperor,  Great  Britain, 
though  possessing  by  far  the  greatest  stake 
in  the  country,  had  never  been  represented 
at  the  Imperial  Court.  It  was  suspected  that 
the  loss  from  this  absence  of  contact  was  a 
good  deal  more  than  the  negative  one  of 
lack  of  influence.  On  the  one  hand  foreign 
intrigues  were  promoted,  there  was  reason 
to  believe,  by  the  spirit  of  aloofness  which 
was  maintained  by  the  Court,  while,  on  the 
other,  abuses  were  created  as  the  direct 
result  of  giving  local  ofiicials  practically 
unlimited  powers,  and  denying  all  right  of 
appeal  to  the  supreme  head  of  the  Govern- 
ment. In  all  tlie  circumstances  it  was  held 
that  the  time  was  ripe  for  the  despatch  of 
a  special  missioti  to  China  to  invoke  the 
imperial  protection  for  British  subjects  and 
to  attempt  to  widen  the  opportunities  for 
trade  between  the  two  countries.  The  idea 
took  definite  shape  at  the  beginning  of  1792, 
when  the  Court  of  Directors  were  informed 
by  the  Govermnent  that  tliey  contemplated 
sending  an  embassy  to  Peking  for  the  pur- 
pose of  placing  our  intercourse  with  China 
on  a  firmer  and  more  extended  footing. 
Doubts  were  expressed  by  tlie  chairman  and 
deputy  chairman,  who  were  first  consulted, 
as  to  the  probability  of  any  substantial  advan- 
tage accruing  from  the  projected  step.  But 
in  view  of  confident  expressions  of  opinion 
in  a  contrary  sense,  emanating  from  other 
quarters,  and  of  the  strong  desire  evinced  to 
make  the  experiment,  they  did  not  allow 
their  misgivings  to  go  to  the  extent  of  opposi- 
tion lo  the  proposal.  The  Court  subsequently 
took  a  very  active  part,  in  consultation  with 
Ministers,  in  perfecting  the  arrangements  for 
the  mission. 

The  choice  of  the  Govermnent  for  the 
office  of  ambassador  fell  upon  Lord  Macartney, 
a  distinguished  Ex-Governor  of  Madras,  who 
had  specially  qualified  for  diplomatic  work 
early  in  life  by  conducting  a  successful  mission 
to  the  court  of  Catherine  ol  Russia.  He  was 
an  accomplished  man  of  the  world,  tactful, 
dignified,  and  resourceful,  and  he  had  shown 
in  his  dealings  with  Orientals  in  his  Indian 
appointment  that  siuvir  fiiirc  which  of  all 
personal  qualities  is  perhaps  the  most  im- 
portant in  that  connection,  k  better  selection 
indeed  could   scarcely  have   been   made,  and 


TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONUKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       37 


it  was  approved  witli  something  like  enthu- 
siasm by  the  East  India  Company.  The 
mission  sailed  from  Spithead  on  September 
26,  1792.  Macartney  and  his  suite  of  ninety- 
five  persons  embarked  on  board  the  Lion 
man-of-war  of  sixty-four  guns,  and  the  East 
India  Company's  sliip  Hiiiitooslnii,  one  of 
tlie  finest  of  tlie  Company's  fleet,  accom- 
panied the  warship,  together  with  the  brig 
Jackall.  After  calling  at  Balavia  and  Tuion 
iBay  in  Cochin  China,  the  little  squadron 
arrived  at  Chusan.  The  Embassy  was  well 
received  here  and  at  other  ports  at  which 
the  vessels  touched,  and  abundant  supplies 
were  furnished  by  the  authorities.  On 
August  Sth  Lord  Macartney  and  his  suite, 
emiiarking  in  the  smaller  vessels  of  the 
squadron,  proceeded  up  the  Peiho  Kiver, 
where  a  yacht  was  awaiting  to  convey  them 
to  Tongsion,  tlie  landing  place  for  Peking. 
The  Ambassador  was  most  favoiUMbly  im- 
pressed, not  only  with  the  higher  officials 
who  were  assiduous  in  their  attentions,  but 
with  the  common  peojile  who  thronged  the 
shore  at  every  point.  "  I  was  so  much 
struck  with  their  appearance,"  he  writes  in 
his  diary,  "that  I  could  scarce  refrain  from 
crying  out  with  Shakespeare's  Miranda  in 
the  '  Tempest ' — 

'  Oh.  wonder  !    How  many  goodly  creatures  are 
there  here ! 
How  beauteous  mankind  is  !     Oh  !   brave  new 

world, 
That  lias  sucli  people  in  it.'  " 

On  August  6th  the  mission  landed.  They 
were  received  with  much  ceremony  and  were 
conducted  to  the  Temple  of  the  Sea  God, 
where  they  were  formally  welcomed  by  tlie 
Viceroy  of  the  province.  After  partaking  of 
tea  the  party  proceeded  to  business. 

"  The  Viceroy  began  by  many  compliments 
and  inquiries  about  our  health,  and  talked 
much  of  the  Emperor's  satisfaction  at  our 
arrival,  and  of  his  wish  to  see  us  at  Gehol, 


■ssxr-x^i^f-afsax  Sfc- 


many  persons,  and  that  the  presents  for  the 
Emperor  and  our  own  baggage  were  so 
numerous  and  took  up  so  much  room,  that 
we  should  require  very  spacious  quarters 
at    Peking.       That   as  we   found   it   was  the 


to  the  Sovereign  of  the  East  by  sending  the 
present  Embassy,  and  hoped  it  would  be 
attended  with  all  the  good  effects  expected 
from  it.  That  as  it  was  equally  my  duty 
and  inclination  to  promote  these  views  to  the 


CHINESE    BARGES  OF  THE  EMBASSY  PREPARINtJ  TO   PASS  UNDER   A   BRIDGE. 
(From  Sir  George  Staunton's  "  Lord  Macartney's  Embassy.") 


Emperor's  wish  for  us  to  proceed  to  Gehol, 
we  should  prepare  ourselves  accordingly,  but 
that  we  should  find  it  necessary  to  leave  a 
great  part  of  the  presents  at  Peking,  as  many 


CHINESE   BARGES    OF    THE    EMBASSY    PASSING    THROUGH    A    SLUICE 

ON    THE    GRAND    CANAL. 

(From  Sir  George  Staunton's  "  Lord  Macartney's  Embassy.") 


in  Tartary  (wl;ere  the  Court  always  resides 
at  this  season),  as  soon  as  possible.  To 
these  we  made  (he  proper  return  of  compli- 
ment, and  then  informed  the  Viceroy  that 
the   train   of    the   Embassy   consisted    of    so 


of  them  could  not  be  transported  by  land 
to  such  a  distance  without  being  greally 
damaged  if  not  totally  destroyed.  We  ex- 
plained to  him  the  high  compliment  inteudtd 
by  the  first  Sovereign  of  the  Western  'W^orld 


utmost  of  my  power,  I  requested  the  Viceroy 
would  be  so  kind  as  to  give  me  such  infor- 
mation and  advice  as  might  enable  me  to 
render  myself  and  my  business  as  accept- 
able to  the  Emperor  as  possible." 

The  Viceroy,  who  was  described  by  Lord 
Macartney  as  "a  line  old  man  of  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age  .  .  .  calm,  venerable, 
and  dignified,"  listened  with  perfect  politeness 
to  the  Ambassador's  representations  and  ex- 
pressed in  unaffected  manner  his  complete 
compliance  with  them.  On  August  7th  the 
mission  commenced  their  journey  to  the 
interior.  The  entire  party  were  embarked 
on  thirty-seven  yachts  or  junks,  "  each  yacht 
having  a  flag  flying  at  her  mast  head  to 
distinguish  her  rank  and  ascertain  her  station 
in  the  procession."  The  emblems  also  bore 
in  large  Chinese  characters  these  words,  "The 
English  .Ambassador  bringing  tribute  to  the 
Emperor  of  China."  Besides  the  boats  accom- 
modating the  mission  were  numerous  craft 
conveying  Mandarins  and  officers  who  were 
allotted  to  the  service  of  the  visitors.  Indeed, 
as  Sir  G.  Staunton,  the  official  historian  of 
the  Embassy,  records,  "  No  slight  magnificence 
was  displayed,  and  no  expense  seemed  to 
be  spared."  But  the  mission  had  not  got 
very  far  before  it  had  a  taste  of  the  un- 
pleasant side  of  Chinese  officialdom.  A 
Tartar  Mandarin  in  high  office,  styled  the 
Emperor's  Legate  —  one  Chin-ta-gin  —  who 
had  been  told  off  to  accompany  the  Embassy 
to  Gehol,  raised  difficulties  in  regard  to  the 
disposition  of  the  presents.  In  somewhat 
brusque  fashion  he  intimated  that  the  Em- 
peror would  expect  to  have  all  the  presents 
carried  to  Gehol  and  delivered  at  the  same 
time.  Macartney  answered  him  "  that  the 
Emperor  was  certainly  omnipotent  in  China 
and  might  dispose  of  everything  in  it  as  he 
pleased,  but  that  as  the  articles  which  I 
meant  to  leave  at  Peking  would  certainly  be 
totally  spoiled  if  managed  according  to  his 
notions,    I    requested    he    would    take    them 


88       TWKXTIKTH  CENTTTRY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


enlinly  into  hu  own  hands,  for  that  /  must 
be  ocuied  fnwn  presenting  anything  in  an 
imperfect  or  damaged  state,  as  being  un- 
worthy of  his  Britannic  Majesty  to  give  and 
o(  bis  Chinese  Majesty  to  receive."  This 
view  of  the  matter  "startled"  llie  Legate 
and    together    with    the    Viceroy's    opinion 


^S**^ 


custom.  The  reception  by  tlie  Emperor  took 
place  on  September  14th.  Macartney  gives 
an  interesting  description  of  it  in  his  diary. 
"  We  alighted  at  tlie  park  gates,"  he  wrote, 
"  from  whence  we  walked  to  the  ini|Terial 
encampment  and  were  conducted  to  a  large 
handsome  tent  prepared   for  us  on  one  side 


APPROACH    OF    THE    EMPEROR   OF   CHINA    TO    RECEIVE    LORD    MACARTNEY. 
(Comer's  •'  History  of  Clliila  .ind  India.") 


induced  him  to  recede  from  the  position  he 
had  taken  up.  But  Macartney  "  could  not 
help  feeling  great  disquiet  and  apprehension 
from  this  untoward  disposition  so  early 
manifested  by  the  Legate."  Later  the  Legate 
and  his  brother  ofticials  essayed  to  give  the 
Amb.issador  lessons  in  court  etiquette  and 
more  particularly  in  the  ceremony  known 
as  the  kototr.  This  was  done  "  with  a  degree 
of  art  address  and  insinuation  that  Macartney 
could  not  help  admiring."  They  said,  "they 
supposed  the  ceremonies  in  both  countries 
must  be  nearly  alike,  that  in  China  the  form 
was  to  kneel  down  on  both  knees  and  make 
nine  protestations  or  inclinations  of  the 
bead  to  the  ground,  and  that  it  never  had 
been  and  never  could  be  dispensed  with." 
Macartney  replied  that  the  English  form  was 
sofDewhat  different  and  that  though  he  was 
most  anxious  to  do  everything  that  might 
be  agreeable  to  the  Emperor  his  lirst  duty 
was  to  do  what  was  agreeable  to  his  own 
king.  This  ended  the  discussion  for  the 
period,  but  a  few  days  afterwards  the  subject 
was  revived.  The  Mandarins  pressed  Macart- 
ney most  earnestly  to  comply  with  it,  and 
said  it  was  a  mere  trifle.  "They  kneeled 
down  on  the  floors  and  practised  it  of  their 
own  accord  to  show  me  the  manner  of  it, 
and  begged  me  to  try  it  whether  I  could 
not  perform  it."  Macartney  remained  obdu- 
rate, but  he  subsequently  relented  to  the 
extent  of  agreeing  to  omform  to  their 
etiquette  provided  a  person  of  equal  rank 
Willi  his  were  appointed  to  perforin  the 
same  ceremony  before  his  sovereign's  picture 
as  he  should  perform  before  the  Kmperor 
himself. 

After  a  short  stiy  at  Peking  en  route,  the 
Ambatsador  entered  Gehol  in  great  state  on 
September  8th.  Here  the  old  controversy 
about  the  etiquette  of  the  reception  was 
renewed.  Finally,  it  was  decided  that  the 
English  ceremony  should  be  used,  but  that 
Macartney  should  not  kiss  the  Emperor's 
hand,  this  being  deemed  repugnant  to  Chinese 


of  the  Emperor's.  After  wailing  there  about 
an  hour  his  approach  was  announced  with 
drums  and  music  on  which  we  quitted  our 
tent  and  came  forward  upon  the  green 
carpet.     He  was  seated  in  an  open  palanquin, 


prostrations.  As  soon  as  he  had  ascended 
his  throne  I  came  to  the  entrance  of  the 
tent,  and  holding  in  both  my  hands  a  gold 
box  enriched  with  diamonds  in  which  was 
enclosed  the  King's  letter,  1  walked  de- 
liberately up  and  ascending  the  side  steps 
of  the  throne  delivered  it  into  the  Emperor's 
own  hands,  who  having  received  it,  passed 
it  to  the  minister  by  whom  it  was  placed  on 
the  cushion.  He  then  gave  me  as  the  first 
present  to  his  Majesty  the  Ju-eu-jou  or  Giou- 
giou,  as  the  symbol  of  peace  and  prosperity 
and  expressed  his  hopes  that  my  sovereign 
and  he  should  always  live  in  good  corre- 
spondence and  amity.  .  .  .  The  Emperor 
then  presented  nie  with  a  Jeu-eu-jou  of  a 
greenish  coloured  stone  of  the  same  emble- 
matic cluuacter  ;  aS.  the  same  time  he  very 
graciously  received  from  me  a  pair  of  beau- 
tiful enamelled  watches  set  with  diamonds." 
Other  presentations  were  made  and  the 
members  of  the  Embassy  then  sat  down  to 
a  most  sumptuous  banquet.  "  The  Emperor 
sent  us  several  dishes  from  his  own  table, 
together  with  some  liquors  which  the  Chinese 
call  wine,  not,  however,  expressed  from  the 
grape,  but  distilled  or  extracted  from  rice, 
lierbs,  and  honey.  In  about  half-an-hour  he 
sent  for  Sir  George  Staunton  and  me  to 
come  to  him,  and  gave  to  each  of  us  with 
his  own  hands  a  cup  of  warm  wine,  which 
we  immediately  drank  in  his  presence,  and 
found  it  very  pleasant  and  comfortable,  the 
morning  being  cold  and  raw.  Anmngst  other 
things  lie  asked  me  the  age  of  my  king  and 
being  informed  of  it,  said  he  hoped  lie  might 
live  as  many  years  as  himself,  which  are 
eighty-three.  His  manner  is  digiiilied,  but 
affable  and  condescending,  and  his  reception 
of  us  has  been  very  gracious  and  satisfactory. 
He  is  a  very  tiiie  old  gentleman,  still  healthy 
and  vigorous,  not  having  the  appearance 
of   a   man   of   more   than   sixty.      'I'lie   order 


CHINESE    MILITARY,    DRAWN    OUT    IN    COMPLIMENT    TO    THE 

BRITISH    AMBASSADOR. 

(From  Sir  George  Staunton's  "  L.ord  Macirtney's  Embassy.") 


carried  by  sixteen  bearers,  attended  by  a 
number  of  officers  bearing  flags,  standards 
and  umbrellas,  and  as  he  passed  we  paid 
liim  our  compliment  by  kneeling  on  one 
knee  whilst  all  the  Chinese  made  their  usual 


and  regularity  in  serving  and  removing  the 
dinner  was  wonderfully  exact,  and  every 
function  of  the  ceremony  performed  with 
such  silence  and  solemnity  as  in  some 
measure    to    resemble    the    celebration    of    a 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPliE8SIONS  OF  HONGKONa,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


39 


religious  mystery.  .  .  .  The  comm.inding 
feature  of  the  ceremony  was  that  cahn 
dignity,  that  sober  pomp  of  Asiatic  greatness, 
which  European  refinements  have  not  yet 
attained.  .  .  .  Thus  have  I  seen  '  King 
Solomon  in  all  his  glory.'  I  use  this  expres- 
sion as  the  scene  recalled  perfectly  to  my 
memory  a  puppet  show  of  that  name  which 
I  recollect  to  have  seen  in  my  childhood,  and 
which  made  so  strong  an  impression  on  my 
mind  that  I  then  thought  it  a  true  represen- 
tation of  the  highest  pitch  of  human  great- 
ness and  felicity." 

At  a  later  period  the  visitors  participated 
in  the  solemn  ceremonies  incidental  to  the 
celebration  of  the  Emperor's  birthday.  The 
Emperor  did  not  show  himself  on  the  occa- 
sion, but  remained  behind  a  screen  where 
he  could  see  wliat  was  taking  place  without 
inconvenience.  At  first  there  was  slow  music. 
"  On  a  sudden  the  sound  ceased  and  all  was 
still  ;  again  it  was  renewed  and  then  inter- 
mitted with  short  pauses  during  wliich  several 
persons  passed  backwards  and  forwards,  in 
the  proscenium  or  foreground  of  the  tent, 
as  if  engaged  in  preparing  some  grand  coup 
dc  thcairc.  At  length  the  great  band  struck 
up  with  all  their  powers  of  harmony,  and 
instantly  the  whole  Court  fell  flat  upon  their 
faces  before  the  invisible  Nebuchadnezzar, 
'  He  in  his  cloudy  tabernacle  sojourned  the 
while.'  The  music  was  a  sort  of  birthday 
ode  or  state  anthem,  the  burden  of  which 
was  '  Bow  down  your  heads,  all  ye  dwellers 
upon  earth,  bow  down  your  heads  before  the 
great  Kien  Lung,  the  great  Kien  Lung.'  And 
then  all  the  dwellers  upon  China  earth  there 
present,  except  ourselves,  bowed  down  their 
heads  and  prostrated  themselves  upon  the 
ground  at  every  renewal  of  the  chorus. 
Indeed,  in  no  religion,  ancient  or  modern 
has  the  Divinity  ever  been  addressed  I  believe 
with  stronger  external  marks  of  worship  and 
adoration  than  were  this  morning  paid  to 
the  plianloni  of  his  Chinese  Majesty."  On 
September  i8th  the  .Ambassador  had  another 
opportunity  of  conversing  with  the  Emperor. 
The  occasion  was  a  theatrical  performance 
in  the  palace  to  which  the  members  of  the 
mission  were  invited.  At  this  meeting  the 
Emperor  handed  to  Macartney  a  casket  which 
he  said  had  been  in  his  family  for  eight 
centuries  and  which  he  desired  should  be 
presented  to  the  King  as  a  token  of  his 
friendship.  This  and  other  imperial  cour- 
tesies showed  the  old  Emperor  in  a  most 
amiable  light.  Hut  as  far  as  the  great  objects 
of  the  mission  were  concerned  Macartney 
was  able  to  make  no  progress.  His  efforts 
to  open  up  negotiations  were  at  first  politely 
ignored,  and  when  he  became  importunate 
it  was  plainly  hinted  to  him  that  the  Em- 
peror regarded  the  mission  at  an  end.  After 
this  the  courtesies  which  had  been  paid  to 
the  Ambassador  became  less  marked.  There 
seemed  even  a  disposition  to  humiliate  him, 
as,  for  example,  in  compelling  his  attendance 
at  three  o'clock  on  a  cold  morning  to  wait 
for  hours  for  an  audience  with  the  Emperor 
who  never  put  in  an  appearance.  The  results 
of  the  mission  were  tersely  summed  up  in 
the  following  words  by  Aeneas  Anderson, 
who  accompanied  Lord  Macartney  in  a  subor- 
dinate capacity  and  wrote  an  account  of  the 
Embassy :  "  In  short,  we  entered  Peking  like 
paupers,  we  remained  in  it  like  prisoners, 
and  we  quitted  it  like  vagrants."  The 
mission  bore  home  with  it  a  letter  from  the 
Emperor  to  the  King  which  set  fortli  in 
unequivocal  terms  the  determination  of  the 
Chinese  Government  to  adhere  to  the  exclu- 
sive policy  which  it  had  hitherto  maintaijied. 
It  stated  that  the  proposals  of  the  Ambas- 
sador went  to   change   the  whole   system  of 


European  connnerce  so  long  established  at 
Canton,  and  this  could  not  be  allowed.  Nor 
could  his  consent  by  any  means  be  given  for 
resort  to  Limpo,  Cluisan,  Tientsin,  or  any 
northern  ports,  or  to  the  stationing  of  a 
British  resident  at  Peking.  He  mentioned 
that  the  Russians  now  only  traded  to  Kiatcha 
and  had  not  for  many  years  come  to  Peking  ; 
and  added  that  he  could  not  consent  "  to  any 
other  place  of  residence  for  Europeans  near 
Canton  but  Macao."  In  conclusion,  after 
remarking  that  the  requests  made  by  the 
Ambassador  militated  against  the  laws  and 
usages  of  the  Empire,  and  at  the  same  time 
were  wholly  useless  to  the  end  proposed,  he 
read  his  royal  correspondent  a  sort  of  lecture 
on  the  virtue  of  resignation  to  his  supreme 
will,  "  I  again  admonish  you,  O  King  ! "  he 
wrote,  "  to  act  conformably  to  my  intentions 
that  we  may  preserve  peace  and  amity  on 
each  side  and  thereby  contribute  to  our 
reciprocal  happiness.  After  this,  my  solemn 
warning,  should  your  Majesty,  in  pursuance 
of   your  ambassador's  demands  fit   out   ships 


a  thing  of  the  past.  A  shooting  incident 
which  occurred  in  1800  marked  very  con- 
spicuously the  change  which  had  come  over 
the  attitude  of  officialdom  since  Lord  Macart- 
ney's Embassy.  On  the  night  of  the  nth  of 
P'ebruary,  the  officer  on  watch  on  H.M.S. 
Minims  at  VVhampoa,  having  hailed  a  boat 
which  had  been  at  the  ship's  bows  for  some 
time,  and  receiving  no  answer  fired  into  her 
under  a  conviction  that  an  attempt  was  being 
made  to  cut  the  vessel's  cable.  By  the  dis- 
charge a  Chinaman  in  the  boat  was  wounded 
and  a  second  man  in  the  course  of  a  struggle 
with  one  of  the  crew  of  the  Madras  either 
jumped  or  fell  overboard.  The  Chinese 
authorities  demanded  that  the  oflicer  who 
fired  the  shot  should  be  given  up  for  exami- 
nation, and  that  the  man  who  caused  the 
man  to  fall  overboard  should  be  confronted 
with  his  accuser.  Finally  it  was  demanded 
that  a  basket  of  vegetables  stated  to  have 
been  taken  out  of  the  boat  should  be  res- 
tored. The  Captain  of  the  Madras  proceeded 
to  Canton  and  from  thence,  on  the  22nd  of 


A    SCENE    IN    AN    HISTORICAL    PLAY    EXHIBITED    ON    THE    CHINESE    STAGE. 
( From  Sir  George  Staunton's  "  Lord  Macartney's  Embassy.") 


in  order  to  attempt  to  trade  either  at  Ning 
Po,  Tehu  San,  Tien  Sing,  or  other  places,  as 
our  laws  are  exceedingly  severe,  in  such 
case  I  shall  be  under  the  necessity  of  direct- 
ing my  mandarins  to  force  your  ships  to  quit 
these  ports,  and  thus  the  increased  trouble 
and  exertions  of  your  merchants  would  at 
once  be  frustrated.  You  will  not  then,  how- 
ever, be  able  to  complain  that  I  had  not 
clearly  forewarned  you.  Let  us,  therefore, 
live  in  peace  and  friendship,  and  do  not 
make  light  of  my  words.  For  this  reason 
I  have  so  repeatedly  and  earnestly  written 
to  you  upon  this  subject." 

Regarded  in  its  main  aspect  as  an  attempt 
to  open  up  the  trade  of  China  the  Embassy 
was  beyond  cavil  a  conspicuous  failure.  But 
that  it  was  not  without  some  beneficial  effect 
is  a  fair  assumption  from  the  course  of 
events  in  the  years  following  the  reception 
of  the  mission.  The  vexatious  interferences 
of  Mandarins  in  the  conduct  of  business 
were  abandoned,  and  the  costly  and  incon- 
venient practice  of  stopping  the  whole  trade 
on  the  smallest  pretext  also  apparently  became 


February,  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Viceroy 
respecting  the  thievish  conduct  of  the  Chinese, 
and  stated  that  he  had  no  doubt  they  would 
meet  with  proper  punishment.  He  main- 
tained that  an  attempted  theft  led  to  the 
firing  of  the  shot  which  wounded  the  man, 
and  he  asserted  in  regard  to  the  second  man 
that  he  jumped  overboard  and  was  not 
pushed  into  the  water.  The  demand  for  the 
return  of  the  basket  was  treated  as  a  trifle 
but  a  promise  was  given,  nevertheless,  that 
it  should  be  returned.  To  the  Chinese  mer- 
chants who  were  asked  to  deliver  the  letter 
a  statement  was  made  that  the  captain  would 
not  give  up  the  man  without  seeing  the 
Viceroy,  and  that  he  would  not  even  be 
placed  in  the  charge  of  the  Select  Com- 
mittee. The  discussion  continued  for  some 
weeks  and  eventually  was  amicably  closed, 
a  settlement  being  greatly  facilitated  by  the 
recovery  of  the  wounded  man  and  a  confes- 
sion on  the  part  of  the  second  Chinese 
concerned  that  he  had  thrown  himself 
overboard.  Owing  to  this  occurrence,  the 
President    of    the    Select    Committee   applied 


40      TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMI'KESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHAN(JHAI,  ETC. 


for  a  a>pv  of  the  laws  of  China  with  special 
reference  to  the  crime  of  homicide.  In  reply 
they  received  a  paper  containing  extracts 
from  the  Chinese  c^xle  of  laws. 

The  priiK-ipal  clauses  cited  were  : 

1st.    A   inan   who    kills    another   on   the 

SMpicton  of  theft  shall  be  strangled,  aca)rd- 


3rd.  A  man  who  puts  to  death  a  criminal 
who  had  been  apprehended  and  made  no 
resistance  shall  be  strangled  according  to 
the  law  of  homicide  committed  in  an  affray. 

4th.  A  man  who  falsely  accuses  another 
innocent  person  of  theft  (in  cases  of  greatest 
criminality)   is  guilty  of   a  capital  offence  ; 


THE    EARL    OF   MACARTNEY. 
(FfXMn  Sir  George  Staunton's  "  Lord  Mac;irtney'8  Embassy.**) 


ing  to  the  law  against  homicide  committed 
in  an  affray. 

2nd.  A  man  who  fires  at  another  with 
a  musket  and  kills  him  thereby  shall  be 
beheaded  as  in  cases  of  wilful  murder.  If 
the  sufferer  is  wounded  (but  not  mortally) 
the  offender  shall  be  sent  into  exile. 


in  all  other  cases  the  criminals  whether 
principals  or  accessories,  shall  be  sent  into 
exile. 

5th.  A  man  who  wounds  another  unin- 
tentionally shall  be  tried  according  to  the 
law  respecting  blows  given  in  an  affray, 
and  the  punishment  rendered  more  or  less 


severe   according   to   the   degree   of    injury 
sustained. 

6th.  A  man  who,  intoxicated  with  liquor, 
commits  outrages  against  the  laws,  shall 
be  exiled  to  a  desert  country,  there  to 
remain  in  a  state  of  servitude. 

"The  foregoing  are  articles  of  the  laws 
of  the  Empire  of  China,  according  to  which 
judgment  is  passed  on  persons  offending 
against  them,  without  allowing  of  any  com- 
promise or  extenuation." 
After  a  long  period  of  immunity  from 
trouble  tlie  more  or  less  friendly  relations 
existing  between  the  British  factory  and  the 
authorities  at  Canton  were  rudely  interrupted 
by  an  incident  of  the  familiar  kind.  On 
P'ebruary  24,  1808,  some  sailors  from  tlie 
Company's  sliip  Ncpliine  got  into  an  alterca- 
tion with  a  party  of  natives  near  the  factory. 
The  men  were  promptly  withdrawn  to  the 
factory  precincts,  but  they  were  followed  by 
a  Chinese  mob  who  commenced  to  throw 
stones  at  the  factory  and  at  every  European 
passing.  Eluding  their  officers  the  men 
rushed  out  and  attacked  the  mob,  causing  the 
death  of  one  of  the  number.  The  Select 
Committee  decided  to  comply  with  every 
reasonable  demand  that  might  be  made  upon 
them  in  connection  with  the  unfortunate  inci- 
dent, but  to  resist  with  firmness  anything  of 
a  contrary  nature.  After  long  discussions 
between  the  British  and  the  authorities  it 
was  arranged  that  an  examination  ol  52 
men  of  the  Neptune  should  take  place  at 
the  factory,  where  the  Chinese  consented  to 
hold  the  court  of  inquiry.  At  the  inquiry 
the  forms  of  a  Chinese  Court  of  Justice  were 
observed,  but  seats  were  provided  for  Captain 
liolles  of  H.M.S.  Lion,  the  members  of  the 
Committee,  and  for  Sir  George  Staunton, 
wliile  two  of  Captain  Holies'  marines  with 
fixed  bayonets  were  posted  as  sentries  at  the 
door  of  the  factory  during  the  whole  of  the 
proceedings.  The  Chinese  produced  no  evi- 
dence, but  Captain  Buchanan  and  the  officers 
of  the  Ncptniic  admitted  that  eleven  men  had 
been  specially  singled  out  by  their  violence 
in  the  affray.  It  was  hoped  that  the  assign- 
ment of  some  punishment  to  these  men 
would  have  satisfied  the  Chinese,  but  the 
Cliinese  officials  made  it  clear  that  they 
would  not  be  satisfied  until  some  one  person 
had  been  named.  Eventually  the  name  of 
the  ringleader,  Edward  Sheen,  was  given, 
and  there  seemed  every  indication  that  the 
payment  of  a  sum  of  money  as  compensation 
would  now  settle  the  business.  As,  however, 
the  members  of  the  Committee  were  about 
to  leave  for  Macao  a  demand  was  made  upon 
them  for  the  custody  of  Sheen.  The  claim 
was  resisted,  and  it  was  not  until  Captain 
Rolles  was  about  to  take  the  man  with  him 
on  board  the  Lion  that  the  Mandarins  yielded. 
Ultimately  a  settlement  was  effected  on  the 
payment  of  a  pecuniary  fine.  Thereafter 
trade  which  had  been  at  a  complete  stand- 
still during  the  prolonged  discussions  was 
resumed.  The  Court  of  Directors  were  so 
gratified  with  the  ability  and  firm  conduct 
displayed  on  tlie  occasion  that  tliey  passed  a 
special  resolution  of  thanks  and  voted  a  sum 
of  ;ii,ooo  to  Captain  Rolles  for  his  part  in 
the  transaction. 


twp:ntieth  century  impressions  of  Hongkong, 


SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


41 


CHAPTER    VI. 

The  effe<5t  of  the  War  between  France  and  England — British  occupation  of  Macao— Indignation  of  the  Chinese 
Government — Peremptory  demand  for  the  evacuation  of  Macao— Stoppage  of  Trade — Withdrawal  of  the  British 
Troops — Further  Incidents  at  Canton — Outrageous  Conduct  of  the  Chinese  Officials — Sir  George  Staunton  protests 
— British  leave  Canton — Trade  resumed — Lord  Amherst's  Mission — Arrival  in  China — Ships  of  the  Mission  anchor 
in  Hongkong  Harbour — Failure  of  the  Mission — Arrogant  Policy  of  the  Chinese — Formal  Complaint  made  by 
British  Merchants  to  the  Select  Committee  of   1 832 — Appointment  of  Lord  Napier  as  Superintendent  of  Trade — 

His  ill-treatment  and  death. 


The  prolonged  state  of  war  between  France 
and  England  at  the  close  of  the  eighteenth 
and  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century 
from  time  to  time  influenced  the  China  trade. 
The  British  mercantile  ships  for  a  consider- 
able period  were  regularly  convoyed,  and  in 
1804  there  was  a  brisk  action  in  the  China 
seas  between  a  homeward  bound  fleet  of 
sixteen  sail  under  Sir  Nathaniel  Dance,  and  a 
French  squadron  under  Admiral  Linois.  The 
utmost  gallantry  was  shown  on  this  occasion 
by  the  British  ships  with  the  result  that  the 
attacking  fleet  was  beaten  off.  It  was  esti- 
mated that  the  value  of  British  property  at 
slake  on  the  occasion  reached  the  high  figure 
of  si.xteen  millions.  Consequent  upon  the 
frequent  visits  of  the  King's  ships  to  the 
China  coast  at  this  juncture  negotiations  were 
opened  up  with  the  local  Chinese  authorities 
for  the  use  of  Anson's  Bay  in  the  Canton 
River  as  an  anchorage.  The  Select  Com- 
mittee were  unable  to  obtain  avowed  sanction 
for  the  use  of  the  bay,  but  the  authorities 
permitted  supplies  of  provisions  to  be  sent 
up  from  VVhampoa,  and  having  secured  this 
material  concession  the  Committee  were  the 
less  anxious  on  the  other  points  involved  as 
they  were  convinced  that  the  anchoring  of 
the  ships  in  the  bay  would  be  tolerated,  and 
in  time  become  an  established  privilege. 

In  1808  a  serious  difference  arose  between 
the  British  and  the  Chinese  authorities  owing 
to  action  that  was  taken  in  connection  with  the 
war.  A  vague  report  having  been  transmitted 
to  the  Bengal  Government  to  the  effect  that 
the  P'rench  contemplated  the  occupation  of 
Macao  a  combined  naval  and  military  expe- 
dition was  sent  from  India  to  forestall  the 
intended  move.  A  landing  was  effected  in 
September  in  opposition  to  the  sentiments  of 
the  Portuguese  Governor  and  to  the  known 
wishes  of  the  local  Chinese.  A  formal  protest 
was  promptly  made  by  the  Hoppo  against  the 
occupation,  and  this  was  followed  by  a  more 
emphatic  remonstrance  from  the  Viceroy. 
Later,  Chinese  troops  were  ordered  to  the 
spot  to  compel  the  evacuation  of  the  port  by 
the  British  force,  and  the  threat  was  held 
out  that  in  the  event  of  the  occupation  being 
continued  the  ships  at  Whampoa  would  be 
fired.  Notwithstanding  this  hostile  attitude 
on  the  part  of  the  Chinese  a  second  detach- 
ment of  troops  was  landed  on  the  20th  of 
October.  By  this  time  trade  was  at  a  stand- 
still, and  the  usual  relations  between  the 
authorities  and  the  Select  Committee  through 
the  Chinese  merchants  had  been  broken  off. 
A  letter  was  forwarded  by  the  Committee  on 
the  5th  of  November  to  the  Viceroy  request- 
ing that  some  person  might  be  appointed 
to  receive  their  representation.  A  reply  came 
through  a  Mandarin  that  the  Viceroy  had 
seen  their  letter,  but  did  not  think  a  compli- 
ance necessary  "  as  the  troops  must  be 
removed,  their  remaining  on  shore  being 
contrary  to  the   law   of    the    Empire."     The 


Committee  intimated  that  in  view  of  the 
haughty  conduct  of  the  Isontock  the  Admiral 
could  not  remove  the  troops  as  such  action 
might  have  the  appearance  of  fear.  The 
discussion  now  waxed  warmer.  As  the  Vice- 
roy declined  to  receive  a  further  commu- 
nication the  President  stated  his  intention 
to  order  all  British  sulijects  to  quit  Canton 
in  forty-eight  hours.  To  this  threat  the 
Viceroy  replied  on  the  21st  of  November 
that  if  they  wished  to  make  war  on  China 
he  was  prepared,  but  that  he  would  not 
commence.  He  added  that  the  Committee 
might,  if  they  pleased,  remove  the  ships,  but 
that  if  they  went  they  would  not  be  permitted 
to  return.    Matters  remained  in  abeyance  until 


further  resistance  was  useless  the  President 
gave  orders  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops 
and  the  evacuation  was  completed  by  the 
2oth  of  December.  The  settlement  was  a 
distinct  triumph  for  the  Chinese  authorities. 
Having  made  a  demand  at  the  outset  they 
never  wavered  in  their  determination  to 
enforce  it,  and  in  the  end  they  completely 
carried  their  point.  There  can  be  little 
question  that  the  incident  did  much  to  lower 
British  prestige.  An  immediate  result  which 
flowed  from  it  was  that  obstacles  were 
placed  in  the  way  of  the  free  entrance  of  the 
Company's  ships  to  the  river.  The  Court  of 
Directors  recalled  the  President  and  consti- 
tuted a  new  Select  Committee  and  took  other 


HOUSE  OF  A  CHINESE  MERCHANT  NEAR  CANTON. 

(l'"i(im  an  cngraviiii;.) 


the  4th  of  December,  when  the  Select  Com- 
mittee, then  assembled  at  Macao,  received 
an  imperial  edict  for  the  withdrawal  of  the 
troops.  Instead  of  complying  with  this  the 
British  redoubled  their  preparations  for  the 
defence  of  the  positions  they  held.  As  a 
consequence  the  batteries  at  the  Bogue  forts 
fired  at  the  ships  going  up  and  down  the 
river  and  the  fire  was  returned.  Then  came 
something  in  the  nature  of  an  ultimatum 
from  the  Viceroy — a  declaration  that  while 
there  remained  a  single  soldier  in  Macao 
and  the  laws  were  disobeyed  the  British 
should  not  trade,  and  that  if  the  Admiral 
hesitated  a  moment  "  innumerable  troops 
would  be  sent  to  destroy  him."     Finding  that 


measures  to  efface  the  unpleasant  impression 
left  by  the  bungling  policy  of  the  old  Com- 
mittee. But  it  was  not  until  the  end  of 
October  that  the  Emperor's  orders  were 
received  for  the  placing  of  foreign  trade  on 
its  old  footing.  Thereafter  events  dropped 
once  more  into  their  accustomed  groove, 
though  it  was  not  long  before  new  disputes 
arose  to  interrupt  the  course  of  trade,  and 
the  maimer  in  which  these  episodes  were 
treated  by  tlie  Chinese  officials  indicated  that 
they  had  not  forgotten  their  triumph  in  the 
Macao  business. 

By  far  the  most  important  of  the  contro- 
versies raised  raged  around  the  presence  in 
Chinese    waters   of    H.M.S.  Doris   during   the 


42      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


»-ar  with  America.  In  April,  1814,  the  Dons 
arri\-ed  in  Macao  Roads  with,  as  a  prize,  the 
American  ship  Hunter,  captured  off  the 
LjKlrones.  A  communicalion  was  addressed 
to  the  President  by  the  Chinese  authorities 
pointing   out    that    the    action    taken   was   a 


Canton  to  open  up  negotiations  for  a  settle- 
ment with  tlie  Viceroy.  In  furtherance  of 
the  arrangement  Sir  George  Staunton,  on  the 
20th  of  October,  proceeded  to  Canton  accom- 
panied by  Sir  Theopliilus  Metcalfe.  At  the 
interview  which  took  place  Sir  George  stated 


A    STREET   IN    CANTON. 
(From  AlU'in  &  Wrijiht's  ''Chiiui.") 


vioblion  of  the  functions  of  the  Celestial 
Empire,  and  desiring  that  the  Doris  might 
be  directed  not  to  intercept  American  ships 
going  out  of  the  river.  Protracted  discussions 
ensued  as  to  the  legitimacy  of  the  course 
which  had  been  pursued.  As  the  American 
ship  had  l>een  taken  without  the  limits  of  the 
Chinese  jurisdiction  the  Committee  did  not 
consider  that  the  Chinese  Government  had 
any  locus  sUimii.  They  caused  it  to  be 
known  that  the  Americans  had  declared  war 
against  the  British,  and  that  the  British 
oommander  had  orders  to  capture  American 
veaiels.  The  Chinese  retort  was  that  "  if  the 
English  and  Americans  have  petty  quarrels 
let  tliem  go  to  their  own  country  and  settle 
them."  At  the  same  time  the  Select  Com- 
mittee were  required  to  order  the  Doris  away. 
While  the  war  of  words  was  at  height  the 
Viceroy  aggravated  the  situation  by  issumg 
an  order  prohibiting  the  employment  of  native 
servants  at  the  factoiy.  In  vain  the  Select 
Committee  represented  that  for  one  hundred 
years  they  had  been  allowed  to  employ  native 
servants,  and  that  a  change  in  the  custom 
now  would  cause  great  confusion.  The 
Government,  finding  that  their  edict  was  not 
obeyed  as  promptly  as  it  anticipated,  or  at 
least  wished,  sent  emissaries  into  the  factory 
with  orders  to  seize  all  native  servants  they 
might  find  there.  A  vigorous  protest  was 
ItKlgcd  by  the  Commillce  against  the  outrage, 
but  its  only  effect  appeared  to  be  to  stimulate 
the  Chinese  authorities  to  greater  insolence. 
Traffic  was  suspended,  one  of  the  Company's 
captains  on  his  way  from  Whampoa  to 
Canton,  though  travelling  with  an  ofiicial 
pa**,  was  stopped  and  forcibly  carried  to  the 
offidaJ  headquarters,  and,  finally,  the  Com- 
mittee's linguist  was  seized.  The  Select 
Committee,  after  deliberating  over  the  best 
course  to  pursue  in  the  face  of  this  outrageous 
conduct  of  tlie  Canton  officials,  decided 
ullimateiy  to  depute  Sir  George  Staunton  to 


"  that  he  was  charged  by  the  Coiiimiltee  with 
several  cominuiiitalions  of  imporlaiice,  but 
in  none  of  them  was  anything  proposed  for 
themselves  more  than  the  prosecution  of  a 
fair  and  equitable  commerce  under  the  pro- 
tection of  His  Imperial  Majesty  ;  that  they 
entertained  every  disposition  to  obey  his 
laws ;  that  they  sought  for  no  innovations, 
nor  were  desirous  of  interfering  in  any  affairs 
of  Government  in  which  they  were  not 
concerned."  After  a  series  of  meetings  tlie 
Viceroy  suddenly  broke  off  the  negotiations. 
Sir  George  Staunton  therefore  quitted  Canton, 
having  previously  desired  all  British  subjects 
to  leave  also.  The  Company's  ships  were  by 
his  directions  removed  from  Whampoa  to  a 
point  near  the  Bocca  Tigris.  Here  they 
remained  until  the  middle  of  November,  when 
deputations  of  the  hong  merchants  came  from 
Canton  to  request  that  further  movement  of 
the  ships  might  be  suspended  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  Viceroy  was  willing  to  depute 
a  Mandarin  to  discuss  the  remaining  points 
in  dispute.  Sir  George  Staunton,  responding 
to  the  representations  made  by  the  deputa- 
tions, returned  to  Canton  ;  but  he  had  no 
sooner  arrived  there  than  he  was  informed 
by  Howqua,  the  leading  merchant,  that  the 
Mandarin  would  not  be  sent  until  trade  was 
resumed.  Incensed  at  this  double  dealing. 
Sir  George  Staunton  announced  his  intention 
of  immediately  quitting  Canton  and  at  the 
same  time  took  occasion  to  point  out  "the 
unparalleled  disgrace  and  dishonour  which 
must  fall  upon  himself  (Howqua),  his  Govern- 
ment, and  his  country  if  the  promises,  upon 
the  truth  of  which  the  English  gentleman 
had  returned  to  Canton,  were  to  be  so 
shamefully  violated."  The  hong  merchants 
pleaded  that  if  the  Mandarins  retracted  it 
was  not  their  fault.  Sir  George  Staunton 
retorted  that  such  a  breach  of  national  faith 
could  not  take  place  without  infamy  and 
heavy    responsibility     attaching     somewhere. 


The  interview  ended  with  a  promise  on  the 
part  of  the  merchants  that  they  would  consult 
the  Mandarins.  They  did  so,  with  the  result 
that  a  mcetinsj  was  after  all  arranged  and 
took  place  without  the  stipulated  prior  openliij; 
of  trade.  A  series  of  proposals  bearing  upon 
recent  incidents  were  subsequently  drawn  up 
for  consideration  by  the  Chinese  autlioiilies. 
Some  days  after  they  had  been  submitted  the 
Viceroy's  reply  was  given  through  Howqua. 
Most  of  the  demands  made  were  conceded, 
though  in  one  or  two  points  the  language  of 
the  reply  seemed  to  be  deliberately  obscure. 

The  capricious  and  vexatious  action  of  the 
local  authorities  at  Canton  in  this  and  other 
cases,  combined  with  a  desire  to  establish 
the  China  trade  on  a  footing  of  permanent 
stability,  suggested  the  advisability  of  send- 
ing anotlier  mission  to  the  Emperor  of 
China.  In  the  tirst  instance  the  proposal 
emanated  from  a  gentleman  who  had  been 
a  member  of  Lord  Macartney's  suite,  and 
Lord  Liverpool's  Government  were  not 
disposed  to  think  that  there  was  sufficient  to 
justify  the  great  expense  Involved  in  the 
despatch  of  the  mission.  But  the  Court  of 
Directors  adopted  the  scheme  so  warmly 
and  brought  forward  such  strong  aigunicnls 
in  its  favour  that  the  Government  ended  by 
extending  to  the  project  their  hearty  support. 
Ixird  Amherst  was  selected  to  till  the  office 
of  ambassador.  This  nobleman  had  not  the 
great  qualifications  for  the  office  which  were 
possessed  by  his  predecessor  and  in  the 
light  of  subsequent  events  it  may  lie 
questioned  whether  the  Government  choice 
was  altogether  a  wise  one.  He  was,  how- 
ever, no  novice  In  public  affairs  and  had  had 
training  in  diplomatic  work  for  some  time 
previously  as  British  representative  in  Sicily. 
He  eml-iodled  In  his  person  the  average 
qualitications  of  a  British  diplomat  of  the 
period.  What  he  lacked  was  a  knowledge 
of  Orientals  and  their  ways — a  very  'serious 
shortcoming     in     the     circumstances.      With 


WILLIAM    PITT    AMHERST,    FIRST 

EARL    AMHERST. 

(From  a  print  in  tlie  British  Museum.) 

Lord  Amherst  went  as  chief  assistant  Mr. 
Henry  Ellis,  who  had  canled  through  some 
delicate  negotiations  with  the  Shah  of 
Persia,  and  the  Ambassador's  son,  the  Hon. 
Jeffery  Amherst,  also  accompanied  him. 
The  Alccstc,  a  frigate  of  forty-six  guns  was 
set    apart    for    the   accommodation    of    Lord 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       43 


Amiierst    and    his    suite,    and    in    attendance  subject.     At    length,    when    the    controversy 

upon    it    were    the    East    Indiaman    General  had   raged   for    three    days,  the    Ambassador 

Hewitt    and   the    brig    Lyra.     Quitting    Spit-  was   aroused   from   his   bed  one   morning  to 

head     on     February     8,     i8i6,     the     vessels  receive  a  message  from  the  Emperor  to  the 

arrived  off  tlie   Lamma  Islands  on  the   loth  effect  tliat  he  must  either  perform  the  Itotma 


ANCIENT    VIEW    OF    PEKING. 
(From  De  Goyer  &  De  Keysers  •■  Embassy  to  China.") 


of  July  and  found  awaiting  them  there  two 
of  the  East  India  Company's  ships  having 
on  board  Sir  G.  Staunton,  who  was  to  accom- 
pany the  Embassy  in  the  important  position 
of  interpreter,  and  other  gentlemen  who 
were  to  discharge  various  duties  in  con- 
nection with  it.  Two  days  subsequent  to 
the  meeting  the  squadron,  now  numbering 
five  ships,  dropped  anchor  in  Hongkong 
Harbour.  The  occasion  was  the  first  on 
which  the  position  had  been  brought  into 
prominence  by  association  with  important 
events  in  the  history  of  British  relations 
with  China,  but  the  harbour  had  often  been 
used  previously  by  merchantmen  trading  on 
the  China  coast,  and  its  advantages  were 
well  known  though  few  at  the  time  could 
have  suspected  the  great  destiny  which  was 
marked  out  for  the  island.  Soon  after  the 
squ.idron's  arrival  news  was  brought  to 
Lord  Amherst  that  the  Emperor  was  pre- 
pared to  receive  him.  The  sojourn  at 
Hongkong  was,  therefore,  cut  short,  and  the 
vessels  sailed  on  the  I2tli  of  July  for  the 
mouth  of  the  White  River  in  the  Gulf  of 
Pechili,  which  was  reached  on  the  28th  of 
July.  The  Ambassador  was  kept  waiting  on 
board  his  ship  for  some  days  pending  the 
arrival  of  the  Imperial  Legate.  When  at 
length  this  functionary  put  in  an  appearance 
the  mission  landed  at  Tientsin,  reaching  that 
port  on  August  12th.  At  the  very  outset  the 
question  of  the  kotow  was  raised.  The 
Chinese  put  the  performance  of  the 
ceremony  forward  as  an  indispensable  con- 
dition of  an  audience,  and  they  had  the 
effrontery  to  assert  that  in  complying  Lord 
Amherst  would  only  be  following  the  pre- 
cedent set  by  Lord  Macartney,  who  had 
conceded  the  point.  A  further  argument 
used  was  that  trade  at  Canton  would  suffer 
if  the  Ambassador  persisted  in  his  objection 
to  the  ceremony.  Lord  Amherst  courteously 
but  firmly  declined  to  entertain  the  proposal 
for  a  moment.  He  understood  the  immense 
importance  which  attached  to  his  maintain- 
ing an  unyielding  attitude,  and  steadily 
rejected   all   proposals   made   to   him   on  the 


or  return  to  England.  Lord  Amherst's  reply 
was  an  offer  to  perform  the  ceremony  pro- 
vided that  he  received  a  formal  engagement 
on  the  part  of  the  Emperor  that  any  subject 
of  his  deputed  to  England  should  be  ordered 
to  perform  the  same  ceremony  to  the  British 
sovereign.     The  Chinese  officials  declined  to 


But  on  the  following  morning  the  two 
Mandarins  who  acted  as  conductors  of  the 
Embassy  stated  that  two  ofticers  of  very 
high  rank  had  been  appointed  to  meet  the 
Embassy  at  Tung  Chow,  12  miles  from 
the  capital,  to  renew  the  negotiation  as  to 
ceremonial,  and  it  was  suggested  that  in  the 
meantime  a  rehearsal  of  the  ceremony 
should  take  place.  The  proposed  rehearsal 
was  declined,  but  Ihe  offer  was  made  of  a 
written  promise  to  perform  the  ceretnony 
before  the  Emperor  on  the  terms  already 
stated.  The  Mandarins  seemed  to  be 
satisfied  with  this,  and  having  obtained  from 
the  Ambassador  the  formal  document  gave 
orders  for  the  journey  to  be  continued  to 
Peking.  Four  days  subsequently  the  subject 
was  re-opened  by  the  Mandarins  with  the 
object  of  preparing  the  way  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  delegates  who  were  to  give 
instruction  in  the  ceremony.  It  was  artfully 
suggested  that  the  Ambassador  might  very 
well  yield  as  "such  report  as  he  saw  tit 
might  be  made  to  England."  The  notion 
that  the  home  authorities  should  be  deceived 
was  promptly  spurned,  and  with  renewed 
emphasis  a  statement  of  the  limits  to  which 
Lord  AiTiherst  was  prepared  to  go  was 
made.  Some  Mandarins  who  brought  the 
message  relative  to  the  conference  behaved 
very  rudely  in  the  presence  of  the  mission. 
They  treated  the  objections  raised  to  the 
performance  of  the  ceremony  with  insolent 
contempt.  Their  inental  attitude  is  well 
illustrated  by  the  remark  of  one  of  them, 
"  that  as  there  was  only  one  sun  in  the 
firmament,  so  there  was  only  one  sovereign 
in  the  universe,  the  Emperor  of  the 
Heavenly  Empire."  The  discussions  con- 
tinued until  the  mission  reached  the  palace 
of  Yuen-ming-Yuen  at  Peking  on  the  evening 
of  the  29th  of  August.  Prostrate  with  the 
fatigues    of    a    long    journey,    unnecessarily 


Pro.^iT.CT  OF  Y    INNKR    COniT    OT   TUX    EMl'moUK? 

rAIACf,  dt    TEKIN 


AN    ANCIENT  VIEW    OF    THE    PALACE    AT    PEKING. 
(From  a  print  in  the  British  Museum.) 


entertain  this  compromise  and  they  formally 
took  their  leave  while  the  heads  of  the  boats 
were  turned  down  the  river  as  if  in  pre- 
paration for  a  return.  Whether  this  was 
done  in  order  to  test  the  finnness  of  the 
Ambassador,  or  in  obedience  to  the 
Emperor's  instructions   was   not  made   plain. 


protracted  in  its  final  stage  for  some  pur- 
pose not  easy  to  define.  Lord  Amherst  was 
about  to  retire  to  rest  when  he  received  a 
peremptory  summons  into  the  presence  of 
the  Emperor.  The  Ambassador  was  con- 
siderably taken  aback  by  having  so  e.xtra- 
ordinary    a    demand    made    upon    him,    and 


44       TWENTIETH  CENTURY  I^IPHESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


cxpTxrssed  his  inlcniion  not  to  go.  One  of 
Ihc  k-Jiting  Mandarins  thereupon  took  him 
sonK-whal  roughly  by  the  arm  with  the 
object  apparently  of  compellinj;  him  to  pro- 
ceed. The  .\mbassa<lor  shakiiii!  himself  free 
stated  that  nolhin);  short  of  the  exercise  of 
violence  would  induce  him  to  wait  on  the 
Emperor  at  that  time.  Finding  that  I>ord 
Amherst  was  inHexible  in  his  determination 
the  Chinese  authorities  without  more  ado 
issued  orders  for  the  immediate  return  of 
the  mission.  The  instructions  were  carried 
out  to  the  letter.  Though  tired  and  indis- 
posed the  AmK-issador  and  his  suite  the  next 
dav  were  despatched  along  the  route  by 
which  they  had  travelled  with  a  haste  which 
can  only  l>e  descTibcd  as  indecent.  As  was 
remarked  at  the  time,  the  Chinese  treatment 
of  the  mission  '•  comported  more  with  the 
barbarity  of  a  Tartar  cmip  than  with  conduct 
which  could  have  lieen  exjHicted  even  from 
the  most  uncivilised  of  crown  heads."  The 
mis-sion  made  its  way  to  Canton  overland 
passing  down  the  Grand  Canal  and  over  the 
famous    Meling    Pass.     As    it    receded    from 


ing  hatred  towards  the  "  outer  barbarians," 
and  never  missed  an  opportunity  of  displaying 
that  dislike.  Still,  there  were  circumstances 
in  connection  with  the  arrangements  for  tlie 
mission  which  appeared  to  indicate  that  the 
inifierial  mind  might  have  been  iiiHuenced  in 
the  right  direction  if  Lord  .Amherst  had 
humoured  the  Emperor's  whim  of  summoning 
him  to  an  immediate  interview.  Kiaking  was 
so  far  complaisant  that  he  was  willing  to 
receive  the  Ambassador  with  the  English 
LX'remonial  which  had  marked  his  pre- 
decessor's reception  of  Lord  Macartney,  and 
there  is  good  reason  to  think  that  his  com- 
mand for  Lord  Amherst  to  attend  upon  him 
directly  after  his  arrival  was  due  not  so  nauch 
to  an  intention  to  show  disrespect  to  the 
mission  as  to  a  desire  to  satisfy  a  curiosity 
to  see  the  strangers.  An  opportunity  was 
undoubtedly  missed,  and  though  Lord 
Amherst's  action  was  supported  by  Sir  George 
Staunton  and  other  expert  authorities  on 
Chinese  affairs  in  his  suite,  it  is  impossible 
not  to  feel  that  the  situation  was  not  handled 
with    the    tactfulness     which     it     demanded. 


LANDING   PLACE  AND    ENTRANCE    TO    THE    TEMPLE     OF    HONAN,   CANTON. 
(From  Allum  &  Wrigtit's  "Ctiin.-!.") 


the  capital  the  bearing  of  the  Chinese 
oflfk-ials  towards  it  improved.  The  M  mdarin 
in  charge  of  it  showed  the  utmost  deference 
and  at  every  military  fort  that  the  travellers 
passed  honours  were  paid  them.  The 
Embassy  arrived  at  Canton  on  New  Year's 
Day,  1817,  and  it  embarked  for  home  on  the 
20th  of  January  following.  Misfortune 
dogged  Its  steps  to  the  end.  On  the  way 
through  the  China  Se.i,  when  off  the  island 
of  Pulo  Leal,  the  Alcestc  struck  on  a  sunken 
rock  and  foundered.  No  liven  were 
sacrificed,  but  Lord  Amherst  and  his  suite 
lost  all  their  belongings,  including  the 
presents  which  they  were  conveying  home. 
They  arrived  in  England  at  last  with  a  very 
substantial  bill  of  expenses  for  the  nation  to 
liquidate,  but  with  very  little  else  to  their 
record.  It  is  a  moot  point  whether  in  any 
circumstances  good  would  have  come  from 
the  mission.  The  Emperor  Kiaking  was  a 
different  type  of  man  to  Kienlung  who 
had  received  Lord  Macartney.  He  was  a 
despot  of  a  very  narrow  type— haughty,  cruel, 
and  capricious.    He  entertained  an  unrelent- 


Whatever  degree  of  responsibility  may  have 
attached  personally  to  the  Ambassador  for  the 
failure  of  the  mission,  the  result  was  accepted 
as  decisive  at  home.  "  It  may,  we  think,  be 
clearly  inferred,"  observed  the  Court  of 
Directors  in  their  review  of  the  mission,  "  that 
in  the  event  of  future  disagreements  with  the 
Viceroy  of  Canton,  no  dependence  can  be 
placed  on  the  efficacy  of  an  embassy,  though 
appointed  and  commissioned  by  the  Crown." 

As  the  previous  history  of  British  relations 
with  the  Chinese  authorities  must  have  led 
the  trading  community  at  Canton  to  expect, 
there  was  no  alleviation  in  the  local  situation 
as  a  result  of  the  mission.  On  the  contrary 
the  condition  of  affairs  grew  appreciably 
worse  as  the  years  passed  by  and  it 
became  clearer  that  no  effectual  bar  could  be 
opposed  to  the  high-handed  actions  of  tlie 
Mandarins.  After  a  .series  of  incidents  of  a 
familiar  character  matters  reached  some- 
thing like  a  crisis  in  1821.  On  the  I5lh  of 
December  in  that  year  some  seamen  from 
the  British  warship  Topazc  were  attacked 
while   ashore  at  Lintin   by  a   large  mob  of 


Chinese,  and  several  of  the  men  were  woun- 
ded. In  order  to  effect  the  re-embarkation 
of  the  party,  the  officer  in  command  of  the 
frigate  tired  some  round  shot  and  sent  two 
cutters  manned  and  armed  to  protect  the 
barge  conveying  tlie  seamen  from  the  shore. 
The  incident  on  being  reported  to  the 
Chinese  authorities  elicited  from  tliem  a  de- 
mand that  the  wounded  men  sliould  be  sent 
ashore  for  examination.  Very  naturally  Cap- 
tain Richardson  of  the  Topnzc  declined  to 
entertain  the  proposal,  and  he  further  em- 
phatically rejected  a  suggestion  that  was  put 
forward  tliat  the  men  who  had  fired  the 
shots  (which  had  resulted  in  the  death  of 
two  men)  should  be  handed  over  to  the 
Chinese  power.  The  Canton  authorities, 
finding  that  nothing  was  to  be  obtained  from 
Captain  Richardson,  stopped  the  trade  and 
endeavoured  by  coercing  the  Select  Com- 
mittee to  obtain  an  acceptance  of  their 
demands.  The  position  now  became  so 
threatening  that  the  Company's  treasure  was 
removed  from  Canton  to  Whampoa,  and 
preliminary  measures  were  taken  for  the 
removal  of  the  English  community  fiom  the 
city.  Before  embarking,  the  Committee,  on 
the  loth  of  Jaiuiary,  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
Viceroy  stating  that  tliey  had  no  control  over 
His  Majesty's  ships,  but  that  as  they  had 
been  held  responsible  they  had  accordingly 
determined  to  quit  China.  The  Viceroy  in 
reply  to  an  application  for  permission  to 
ship  goods,  stated  that  he  would  not  allow 
so  much  as  "  a  thread  of  silk  or  the  down 
of  a  plant"  to  be  embarked  until  the  foreign 
nuM-derers  were  delivered  up  by  the  chief. 
The  British  traders  on  leaving  Canton  pro- 
ceeded to  Chuenpee,  from  which  place  the 
negotiations  were  continued  for  some  little 
time.  On  tlie  8th  of  February  the  Topazc 
sailed  and  with  her  depaitiire  events  took  a 
more  favourable  turn.  Finally,  on  an  assur- 
ance being  given  that  the  whole  affair  would 
be  reported  by  Captain  Richardson  to  the 
Home  Government  who  would  apportion  the 
blame,  the  Viceroy,  on  February  22nd,  issued 
an  edict  re-opening  trade.  Three  days  later 
the  establishment  returned  to  Canton,  their 
arrival  there  being  followed  by  the  issue  of 
a  supplementary  edict  of  considerable  length 
containing  a  gross  travesty  of  the  facts 
bearing  upon  the  Lintin  affair.  On  a  report 
of  the  incident  reaching  England,  the 
Government  issued  orders  that  in  future 
during  peace  none  of  the  ships  of  the  navy 
should  visit  any  port  in  China,  excepting  on 
a  requisition  from  the  Governor-General  of 
India,  or  from  the  Select  Committee  of 
supercargoes  at  Canton.  The  Court,  in  for- 
warding a  copy  of  these  instructions  to 
Canton,  urged  that  only  in  a  case  of  extreme 
necessity  should  a  requisition  be  made  for 
a  warship.  They  intimated  that  they  inten- 
ded to  give  the  most  express  orders  to  the 
captains  of  their  ships  as  to  tlie  custody  of 
firearms,  with  a  view  to  rendering  impos- 
sible their  unauthorised  use  by  members  of 
the  crew.  It  was  hoped  that  with  this 
action  the  inconvenient  spectre  of  Lintin 
had  been  laid,  but  from  time  to  time  rum- 
bling echoes  of  the  affair  were  heard,  and 
in  1827,  on  the  appointment  of  a  new 
Viceroy,  the  question  was  re-opened,  and 
for  a  time  threatened  to  give  rise  to  new 
trouble.  The  firm  attitude  assumed  by  the 
Committee,  however,  had  eventually  the 
desired  effect  of  bringing  the  authorities  to 
see  that  nothing  was  to  be  gained  by  con- 
tinuing the  controversy. 

Though  for  their  own  reasons  Chinese 
ofliclals  might  allow  a  particular  incident  to 
pass  into  oblivion  nothing  apparently  could 
change  their  rooted   hostility  to  the   foreign 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       45 


traders.  Before  very  long  tlie  situation 
became  worse  tlian  ever.  A  set  of  new 
regulations  was  introduced  wliicli  placed  fresh 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  trade,  and  simul- 
taneously with  their  promulgation  there  set 
in  a  policy  of  a  deliberately  provocative 
character.  A  stoppage  of  trade  was  precipi- 
tated in  May,  1831,  by  a  series  of  acts  of 
exceptional  insolence.  Early  in  the  morning 
of  the  12th  of  the  month  the  Foo-yuen, 
one  of  the  leading  oBicials,  with  a  guard 
of  soldiers  forced  an  entrance  into  the  Com- 
pany's factory,  and  entering  the  public  hall 
directed  that  the  portraits  with  which  it  was 
adorned  should  be  uncovered.  When  that 
of  George  IV.  was  pointed  out  to  him  he 
ostentatiously  ordered  the  back  of  his  chair 
to  be  turned  to  it,  and  seated  himself  in  a 
manner  plainly  indicating  contempt.  A  more 
serious  outrage  perpetrated  by  this  oflicial 
was  the  issuing  of  orders  for  the  removal  of 
an  embankment  which  had  been  made  on 
the  river  side  of  the  factory  in  extension  of 
the  Company's  premises.  This  emliankment 
had  been  constructed  from  rubbish  removed 
from  the  factory  after  a  great  tire  in  1822 
which  consumed  most  of  the  buildings.  The 
work  had  been  carried  out  with  the  sanction 
of  the  Chinese  authorities  and  though  it 
added  a  considerable  area  to  the  factory 
enclosure  it  did  so  without  injury  to  pther 
interests.  The  arrogant  official,  without  enter- 
ing into  any  explanation,  ordered  the  removal 
of  the  rubbish  composing  tlie  embankment. 
The  excavated  material  was  loaded  into  boats 
and  conveyed  by  them  to  a  point  about  fifty 
yards  below  the  factory  where  it  was  thrown 
into  the  river,  as  if  to  show  that  the  desire 
was  not  to  remove  a  public  obstruction  but 
to  offer  a  public  insult  to  the  Company's 
representatives.  These  measures  created 
much  indignation  amongst  the  British  com- 
munity, and  they  were  regarded  even  by  the 
Chinese  mercantile  community  as  outrageous 
and  improper  in  the  highest  degree. 

In  view  of  the  increasingly  hostile  dis- 
position shown  by  the  Chinese  otiicials  to 
British  traders,  and  the  growing  difficulties 
of  carrying  on  trade  it  was  decided  to  make 
a  formal  representation  to  the  home  authori- 
ties in  order  to  secure  an  amelioration  of  the 
conditions  by  Government  action.  The 
opportunity  of  obtaining  an  effective  ventila- 
tion of  grievances  was  afforded  in  1832  by 
the  appointment  of  a  Select  Connnittee  of  the 
House  of  Commons  to  consider  the  question 
of  the  future  of  China  trade.  A  petition  em- 
bodying the  opinions  of  the  British  community 
was  drawn  up  and  in  due  course  presented. 
It  displayed  a  striking  picture  of  the  humilia- 
tions to  which  Europeans  at  that  period  were 
subjected.  The  document  referred  to  "the 
many  studied  indignities  heaped  upon  for- 
eigners by  the  acts  of  this  Government  and 
by  contumelious  edicts  placarded  on  the  walls 
of  their  very  houses,  representing  them  as 
addicted  to  the  most  revolting  crimes,  with 
no  other  object  than  to  stamp  them  in  the 
eyes  of  the  people  as  a  barbarous,  ignorant 
and  depraved  race,  every  way  inferior  to 
themselves." 

"  No  privation  or  discomfort,"  the  petition 
went  on  to  say,  "is  too  minute  to  escape  notice 
in  the  pursuit  of  this  ever  present  purpose. 
Free  air  and  exercise  are  curtailed  by  pre- 
cluding access  to  the  country  or  beyond  the 
confined  streets  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
their  habitations.  Even  the  sacred  ties  of 
domestic  life  are  disregarded  in  the  separa- 
tion of  husband  and  wife,  parent  and  child, 
rendered  unavoidable  by  a  capricious  prohibi- 
tion against  foreign  ladies  residing  in  Canton, 
for  which  there  appears  to  be  no  known  law, 
and  no  other  authority  than  the  plea  of  usage." 


The  petition  also  stated:  "They  (the  Chinese) 
subject  foreigners  to  treatment  to  which  it 
would  be  difficult  to  find  a  parallel  in  any 
part  of  the  world  "  ;  "  they  make  no  distinc- 
tion between  manslaughter  and  murder  as 
applied  to  foreigners "  ;  the  Government 
"  withholds  from  foreigners  the  protection 
of  its  laws,  and  its  power  is  felt  only  in  a 
system  of  unceasing  oppression,  pursued  on 
the  avowed  principle  of  considering  every 
other  people  as  placed  many  degrees  below 
its  own  in  the  scale  of  human  beings "  ; 
"  bribes  are  openly  demanded  by  low  and 
unprincipled  men  who  possess  an  arbitrary 
power  of  levying  the  import  duties  on 
goods"  ;  and  "the  local  authorities  at  Canton 
are  a  venal  and  corrupt  class  of  persons 
who  impose  severe  burdens  upon  commerce." 
This  tremendous  indictment  of  the  Chinese 
metliods  of  dealing  with  British  traders  had 
no  small  influence  in  bringing  about  the 
change  which  occurred  at  this  period  in 
relation  to  the  China  trade.  Hitherto  the 
East  India  Company  had  enjoyed  a  practical 


position  without  any  preliminary  inquiry  as 
to  whether  they  would  be  received.  The 
natural  consequence  was  that  their  oflicial 
character  was  completely  ignored,  and  they 
were  treated  with  a  degree  of  disrespect 
which  could  not  have  been  exceeded  if  they 
had  appeared  in  the  character  of  mere  private 
personages.  On  their  arrival  at  Canton  the 
tide  waiters  ofhcially  reported  that  "  three 
foreign  devils  "  had  landed  without  leave. 
Shortly  afterwards  the  Governor  issued  an 
edict  declaring  that  the  presence  of  the  British 
superintendents  in  Canton  was  an  infringe- 
ment of  established  laws,  and  that  "  tlie 
barbarian  eye  "  (Lord  Napier)  ought  to  have 
awaited  orders  at  Macao.  Lord  Napier,  there- 
fore, addressed  a  letter  to  the  Governor 
explaining  that  he  had  come  in  an  official 
capacity,  and  asking  an  interview.  The 
missive  was  returned  to  the  writer  unopened, 
with  a  contemptuous  message  that  it  could  not 
be  received  because  it  was  not  superscribed 
as  a  humble  petition.  In  vain  Lord  Napier 
requested    that    his    communication    might   be 


GREAT  TEMPLE  OF  HONAN,  CANTON. 

{From  Allonl  &  Wiighl's  "China.") 


monopoly  of  the  commercial  intercourse 
with  the  Far  East.  What  private  trade  there 
was  was  carried  on  witliout  official  recognition 
and  under  serious  disadvantages.  In  1833, 
on  the  expiry  of  the  Company's  charter, 
the  Government  decided  to  throw  the  trade 
open  to  all,  and  to  appoint  oflicial  superinten- 
dents to  act  as  intermediaries  between  the 
Chinese  ofticials  and  tlie  traders.  The  highly 
responsible  post  of  Chief  British  Superinten- 
dent was  entrusted  to  Lord  Napier,  and  as 
his  assistants  Mr.  (afterwards  Sir)  J.  F.  Davis, 
and  Sir  G.  B.  Robinson  were  sent  out.  Lord 
Palmerston,  who  was  Foreign  Secretary  at 
the  time,  drew  up  the  instructions  for  the 
three  representatives.  He  was  a  distinguished 
public  man,  thoroughly  versed  in  European 
diplomacy  and  statecraft,  but  he  had  a  pro- 
found ignorance  of  tlie  Oriental  character, 
and  he  made  the  glaring  mistake  of  assuming 
that  the  punctilio,  indispensable  in  the  case 
of  a  European  power,  was  not  necessary 
where  an  Oriental  government  was  concerned. 
Lord  Napier  and  his  colleagues  were  sent 
out  to  fill  what  was  practically  a  diplomatic 


accepted.  Not  a  single  person  could  be  found 
to  risk  official  displeasure  by  delivering  it. 
The  next  stage  in  the  business  was  the  issue 
(in  August)  of  an  edict  demanding  that  Lord 
Napier  should  return  to  Macao,  and  threaten- 
ing to  stop  trade  in  the  event  of  his  non- 
compliance with  the  order.  The  edict  was 
ignored  by  the  British  representatives  with 
the  result  that  trade  was  stopped  on  Sep- 
tember 2nd.  To  emphasise  their  displeasure 
the  authorities  put  a  Chinese  guard  on  the 
British  factory.  Lord  Napier's  response  to 
this  was  to  call  up  two  British  frigates  to 
protect  the  lives  and  properly  of  British 
subjects.  These  vessels,  the  Amiiomache  and 
the  Iiiiogcm;  on  passing  through  the  Bogue 
were  fired  upon  from  the  forts  and  returned 
the  fire.  In  the  enuagement  there  were 
several  casualties  on  both  sides.  The  two 
ships  forced  their  way  up  the  river  to  Canton, 
where  they  landed  a  body  of  blue  jackets  and 
marines  at  the  factory.  The  energy  shown 
had  a  salutary  effect  upon  the  Chinese  officials, 
who  dropped  their  boasting  and  insolence,  and 
sought  an  accommodation.     Unfortunately,  at 


46       TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANCJHAI,  ETC. 


this  particular  juncture.  Lord  Napier,  over- 
come by  the  heat  and  the  strain  of  the 
neiMi^tions,  t>ec.ime  seriously  ill.  The  situa- 
tion, consequently,  did  not  receive  the  amount 
of  attention  which  its  ini|x>rlance  demanded. 
The  «>utcoine  of  the  negotiations  with  the 
authorities  was  an  arrangement  which  enabled 
the  Chinese  to  completely  turn  the  tables  on 
the  British  representatives.  It  was  decided 
that  the  frig.ites  should  be  withdrawn,  and 
that  Lord  N'apier  should  go  to  M.-icao  to 
recruit  The  step,  in  any  event,  was  a 
measure  of  weakness,  but  .is  it  was  carried 
out  it  was  a  positive  humiliation.  Instead  of 
proceeding  as  he  should  have  done  to  Macao 
in  one  of  the  frigates,  Lord  Xapier  took 
passage  in  a  native  craft  provided  by  the 
Chinese  authorities.  The  Chinese,  seizing 
the  opportunity  which  the  carelessness  of  the 
British  offered,  took  good  care  to  make  the 
most  of  "the  barbarian  eye."  He  was  re- 
presented as  a  prisoner  of  oflTended  Chinese 


authority  who  was  being  sent  in  disgrace  to 
Macao.  The  journey  was  prolonged  in  every 
possible  way,  and  all  sorts  of  minor  indignities 
were  heaped  upon  Lord  Napier's  head.  Wlien 
the  British  Superintendent  did  arrive  at  Macao 
he  was  in  a  state  of  such  e.\trenie  prostration 
that  he  took  to  his  bed  and  died  within  a 
fortnight.  His  body  was  interred  with 
military  honours  in  the  Protestant  cemetery  at 
Macao,  but  the  remains  were  afterwards 
exhumed  and  taken  to  England  to  find  a 
final  resting  pl.ace  on  his  native  soil.  This 
deplorable  episode  in  British  relations  with 
China  did  not  end  with  Lord  Napier's  death. 
The  Emperor,  on  hearing  of  tlie  advance 
of  the  frigates  to  Canton,  degr.ided  the  Man- 
darins responsible  for  permitting  the  outrage 
upt>n  Chinese  authority.  Afterwards,  on 
receiving  a  report  that  Lord  Napier  had 
been  driven  out  and  tlie  British  warships 
"  dragged  over  the  shallows  and  e.vpelled " 
he    revoked     the    edict    and    restored    most 


of  the  Mandarins.  In  gratitude  for  favours 
received,  and  in  order  to  show  that  tlieir 
zeal  had  not  abated,  the  Chinese  authorities 
carried  their  crusade  against  the  British 
intruders  to  Macao.  The  Governor  of  that 
place  put  a  number  of  his  subordinates  to 
the  torture  "  to  ascertain  if  they  had  been 
guilty  of  illicit  connexion  witli  the  foreigners," 
and  on  his  instructions  several  natives  who 
had  printed  some  papers  for  Lord  Napier 
were  severely  bambooed  and  thrown  into 
prison.  Of  all  the  blunders  committed 
by  the  British  in  tlieir  dealings  witli  the 
Chinese  tlie  thrusting  of  Lord  Napier  upon 
the  Chinese  authorities,  and  the  acquies- 
cence in  his  subsequent  ignominious  treat- 
ment were  possibly  the  greatest.  The 
mismanagement  and  feebleness  shown  in  this 
connection  gave  strength  to  the  reactionary 
influences  in  China  at  this  period,  and  led 
to  a  state  of  affairs  from  which  there  was 
no  outlet  but  war. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

TTie  Opium  Traffic — Commissioner  Lin's  Campaign  at  Canton  against  the  Trade — Imprisonment  of  the  Superin- 
tendent of  Trade  and  Merchants  at  the  British  Factory — Surrender  of  Opium  and  its  destruction  by  Lin's 
orders — Withdrawal  of  the  British  to  Macao  and  subsequently  to  Hongkong — Unsuccessful  attack  by  the  Chinese 

Fleet  on  the  British  Ships  in  Hongkong  Harbour. 


Before  the  events  narrated  in  the  conclud- 
ing portion  of  the  last  chapter  had  reached 
their  tragic  consummation  a  neiv  factor  had 
come  into  prominence  to  add  bitterness  to 
the  relations  between  the  Chinese  Govern- 
ment and  the  British  trading  community. 
Tliis  disturbing  agency  was,  it  may  be  readily 
surmised,  the  opium  trade.  For  a  great 
many  years  tjefore  this  period  the  drug  had 
been  imported  into  China.  There  are  traces 
of  the  traffic  well  back  into  the  eighteenth 
century.    Until    1773   the    trafhc  was  in   the 


hands  of  the  Portuguese  who  annually  im- 
ported 200  chests  from  Goa.  Then  English 
merchants  engaged  in  the  trade  in  a  desultory 
fashion  until  1781,  when  the  East  India 
Company  took  the  sale  of  the  drug  into  their 
own  hands.  Thereafter  the  traffic  developed 
considerably.  Indeed,  the  Chinese  had  be- 
come so  addicted  to  tlie  opium  habit  by  1796 
that  the  Emperor  acting  at  the  instigation 
of  the  Canton  Viceroy,  "  an  upright,  bold 
and  rigid  minister,"  issued  a  strongly  worded 
rescript  expressive   of   his  ''deep   regret   that 


the  vile  dirt  of  foreign  countries  should  be 
received  in  exchange  for  the  commodities  and 
money  of  the  Empire,"  and  expressing  fear 
"  lest  the  practice  of  smoking  opium  should 
prevail  among  all  the  people,  to  the  waste 
of  their  time  and  the  destruction  of  their 
property."  This  denunciation  was  followed  at 
irregular  intervals  by  other  edicts  even  more 
einphatic  in  language.  But  the  trade  increased 
in  spite  of  the  imperial  fulminations.  Their 
only  perceptible  effect  was  to  drive  the 
operations  to  a  certain  extent  underground. 
The  opium  came  in  in  sufiicient  quantity  to 
satisfy  demands,  but  it  came  in  not  as  an 
ordinary  import  but  as  a  contraband  on  which 
a  corrupt  officialdom  levied  a  heavy  toll.  In 
the  first  instance  the  smuggling  transactions 
were  carried  through  at  Macao,  but  the 
rapacity  of  the  Portuguese  drove  the  trade 
to  the  island  of  Liiitin.  There  the  drug  was 
stored  in  armed  ships  and  delivered  to  the 
Chinese  runners  on  written  orders  from  the 
Canton  merchants  to  whom  the  money  for 
the  drug  had  previously  been  paid.  Such 
was  the  perfection  of  the  arrangements  that 
the  trade  was  prosecuted  with  the  utmost 
smoothness,  and  as  the  nineteenth  century 
advanced  it  underwent  a  marvellous  ex- 
pansion. The  following  figures  illustrate  the 
position  as  it  developed  in  the  period  ante- 
cedent to  Lord  Napier's  arrival  : — 


Year.  Chests.  Dollars. 

1 82 1        4,628  average  price  1,325 
1825        9,621       „  „         723 

1830  18,760      „  „         587 

1832  23,670      „  „        648 


Total 

Dollars. 

6,122,100 

6,955,983 
1 1,012,120 
15,338,160 


CHINESE    OPITm    SMOKKK8. 
(From  Allom  A  Wright's  "China.") 


Thus  in  eleven  years  the  importation  in- 
creased fivefold.  This  enormous  develop- 
ment .ittracted  anew  the  notice  of  the  Chinese 
Government  to  the  habit  which  from  the 
time  of  the  Emperor  Kicnhiiig's  edict  had 
been  fitfully  condemned.  Practical  rather 
than  moral  considerations  probably  influenced 


TWENTIETH  CENTIJKY  iMrEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       47 


their  action.  Tlie  payment  for  the  opium 
being  made  in  silver  there  was  a  constant 
and  increasing  drain  upon  the  country's 
resources.  Tlie  position  was  not  so  bad  as 
it  actually  appeared,  because  as  a  set-off  to 
the  opium  traffic  there  had  grown  up  wilh 
it  a  trade  in  tea  of  almost  equal  value.  But 
political  economy  was  and  is  not  a  strong 
point  with  the  Chinese  Mandarins,  and  they 
regarded  the  money  paid  out  at  Canton  for 
opium  and  European  goods  as  a  dead  loss 
to  the  Empire.  The  Government  strove 
furiously  to  repress  a  commerce  which 
touched  them  on  such  a  very  tender  point. 
"  Terrible  laws  and  decrees,"  says  a  well- 
known  writer,  "  were  fulminated  by  the 
Imperial  Court  against  all  smokers,  senders 
or  purchasers  of  opium.  They  were  to  be 
beaten  with  a  hundred  strokes  of  the  bamboo, 
to  stand  in  the  pillory,  and  to  receive  other 
punishments.  But  the  very  persons  charged 
with  the  execution  of  these  laws  were  them- 
selves the  most  habitual  and  inveterate 
infringers  of  them,  and  nearly  every  man  on 
the  sea  coast  was  a  smuggler  of  opium."  An 
Imperial  State  paper  gives  the  oflicial  view 
of  ihe  state  of  affairs  at  this  period  in  some 
interesting  sentences.  "  It  seems,"  said  the 
Emperor,  "  that  opium  is  almost  entirely 
imported  from  abroad  :  worthless  subor- 
dinates in  offices,  and  nefarious  traders  first 
introduced  the  abuse  :  young  persons  of 
family,  wealthy  citizens,  and  merchants 
adopted  the  custom,  until  at  last  it  reached 
the  common  people.  I  have  learnt  on  inquiry, 
from  scholars  and  official  persons,  that  opium 
smokers  exist  in  all  the  provinces,  but  the 
larger  proportion  of  these  are  to  be  found 
in  the  Government  offices :  and  that  it  would 
be  a  fallacy  to  suppose  that  there  are  not 
smokers  among  all  ranks  of  civil  and  military 
officers,  below  the  station  of  provincial 
governors  and  their  deputies.  The  magis- 
trates of  districts  issue  proclamations  inter- 
dicting the  clandestine  sale  of  opium,  at  the 
same  time  that  their  kindred  and  clerks  and 
servants  smoke  it  as  before.  Then  the 
nefarious  traders  make  a  pretext  of  interdict 
for  raising  the  price.  The  police,  influenced 
by  the  people  in  the  public  offices,  become 
the  secret  purchasers  of  opium,  instead  of 
labouring  for  its  suppression  ;  and  thus  all 
interdicts  and  regulations  become  vain."  It 
is  a  striking  picture  that  is  thus  drawn  with 
the  imperial  pen.  But  as  the  writer  already 
quoted  points  out  the  denunciation  might  have 
been  made  far  more  general.  "  The  highest 
mandarin  or  prince  of  the  blood  smoked  his 
opium  pipe,  and  so  did  the  poorest  peasant, 
when  he  could  get  it.  At  Canton  and  all  the 
frequented  seaport  towns  there  were  public 
houses  exclusively  devoted  to  opium  smoking. 
At  Peking,  in  the  very  palace,  the  ladies  of 
the  imperial  harem  and  their  emasculated 
attendants  smoked  opium,  and  would  not  be 
without  it  ;  and  if  the  Emperor  himself  had 
wholly  foregone  the  practice,  which  is  proble- 
matical, he  had  notoriously  been  an  opium 
smoker." 

The  throwing  open  of  the  China  trade  had 
a  marked  effect  in  aggravating  the  controversy 
which  arose  over  the  opium  trade.  Not  only 
was  an  impetus  given  to  the  importation  of 
the  drug,  but  a  sense  of  irresponsibility  in 
regard  to  many  phases  of  the  commerce  was 
developed  which  tended  to  increase  the 
official  irritation.  An  almost  endless  series 
of  "  incidents "  occurred  of  greater  or  less 
importance.  Captain  Elliot,  K.N.,  who  had 
attained  to  the  position  of  Chief  Superinten- 
dent of  British  trade,  did  his  utmost  to 
conciliate  the  Chinese.  By  his  exertions  the 
trade  was  practically  driven  out  of  the 
Canton  River  and  the  smuggling  of  the  drug 


was  made  a  diflicult  and  precarious  business. 
The  Chinese,  however,  were  not  to  be 
placated  by  any  measures,  however  energetic 
or  well  intenlioned.  Their  objection  was 
not  so  much  to  the  opium  trade  as  to  all 
foreign  trade,  and  they  apparently  had  come 
to  the  conclusion  at  the  time  that  they 
would  exclude  it.  Towards  this  end  they 
unceasingly  strove.  No  overt  steps,  however, 
were  taken  by  the  Chinese  authorities  until 
December  12,  1838,  when  preparations  were 
made  for  strangling  a  native  opium  dealer 
in  front  of  the  British  factory.  An  emphatic 
protest  was  made  against  this  outrage  by 
Captain  Elliot,  and  when  the  deed  had  been 
perpetrated  all  the  foreign  flags  were  struck 
as  a  mark  of  tlie  indignation  felt  at  so 
extraordinary  a  proceeding.  It  was  soon 
made  abundantly  clear  that  the  authorities 
were  in  earnest  in  their  determination  to 
push  the  opium  dispute  to  extreme  lengths. 
Early  in  March,  1839,  there  suddenly 
descended  upon  Canton  a  high  imperial 
official  charged  with  extraordinary  powers 
for  the  suppression  of  the  opium  trade.  This 
functionary,  whose  name — Lin — was  subse- 
quently to  become  a  household  word  in  Eng- 
land, announced  himself  by  a  proclamation 
dated  the  i8th  of  March,  as  a  specially  ap- 
pointed Imperial  Commissioner  with  "great 
irresponsible  authority,"  and  as  being  "sworn 
to  stand  or  fall  by  the  opium  question."  On 
the  previous  day  the  hong  merchants  had 
received  an  edict  commanding  them  to  in- 
quire into  the  state  of  the  opium  trade.  The 
manifesto  declared  that  the  utter  annihilation 
of  it  was  his  first  object  and  that,  therefore, 
"  he  had  given  commands  to  the  foreigners 
to  deliver  up  to  Government  all  the  myriad 
chests  of  opium  which  they  had  in  their 
vessels."  The  merchants  were  called  upon 
to  subscribe  to  a  bond  in  the  Chinese  and 
foreign  language  jointly  declaring  that 
thenceforth  "  they  would  never  venture  to 
bring  opium,  and  that  if  any  should  again 
be  brought,  on  discovery  thereof,  the  parties 
concerned  should  immediately  suffer  execu- 
tion of  the  laws  and  the  property  be 
confiscated  to  Government."  These  bonds, 
it  was  intimated,  were  to  be  obtained  by 
the  hong  merchants  and  the  same  reported 
to  tlie  High  Commissioner  within  three  days 
on  penalty  of  death.  On  the  19th  of  March 
the  Hoppo  issued  an  order  to  the  merchants 
directing  them  to  notify  the  foreigners  that 
pending  the  High  Commissioner's  investiga- 
tions they  were  not  at  liberty  to  proceed 
down  the  river  to  Macao  ;  in  other  words, 
that  they  were  prisoners  in  the  factories. 
With  a  view  to  making  the  order  effective, 
a  strong  land  and  water  guard  was  posted 
at  the  factories,  furnished  with  instructions 
to  allow  of  no  egress  from  them.  Captain 
Elliot,  R.N.,  who  was  at  Macao  at  the  time, 
took  a  very  serious  view  of  this  action  on 
the  part  of  the  Chinese  Government.  He 
issued  a  proclamation,  dated  the  22nd  of 
March,  to  the  following  effect : — 

"The  Chief  Superintendent  of  the  trade 
of  British  subjects  in  Canton  having  received 
information  that  Her  Majesty's  subjects  are 
detained  against  their  will  in  Canton,  and 
having  other  urgent  reasons  for  the  with- 
drawal of  all  confidence  in  the  just  and 
moderate  pretensions  of  the  Provincial 
Government,  has  now  to  require  that  all 
the  ships  of  Her  Majesty's  subjects  at  the 
outer  anchorages  should  proceed  forthwith 
to  Hong  Kong  and  hoisting  their  national 
colours  be  prepared  to  resist  any  act  of 
aggression  on  the  part  of  the  Chinese 
Government."  Tlie  next  day  he  issued 
another  proclamation  in  which,  after  referring 
to  the   Chinese   war   preparations    and   "  the 


threatening  language  of  the  High  Commis- 
sioner and  provincial  authorities  of  the  most 
general  application  and  dark  and  violent 
character,"  he  intimated  that  he  should  forth- 
with demand  passports  for  all  such  of  Her 
Majesty's  subjects  as  might  think  fit  to 
proceed  outside  within  the  space  of  ten  days. 
He  counselled  all  Her  Majesty's  subjects  to 
make  immediate  preparations  for  moving 
their  property  on  board  the  ships  Reliance, 
Orwell,  and  George  the  Fourth,  or  other 
British  vessels  at  Whampoa.  Captain  Elliot 
followed  up  his  second  proclamation  by  pro- 
ceeding to  Canton  in  person  with  a  view, 
in  his  own  words,  "  to  put  an  end  to  the 
state  of  difficulty  and  anxiety  then  existent 
by  the  faithful  fulfilment  of  the  Emperor's 
will."  On  arrival  he  respectfully  asked  that 
the  rest  of  the  foreign  community  might  be 
set  at  liberty  in  order  that  he  might  calmly 
consider  and  suggest  adequate  remedies  for 
the  great  evils  so  justly  denounced  by  His 
Imperial  Majesty.  He  was  answered  by  a 
close  imprisonment  of  more  than  seven 
weeks,  with  armed  men  by  day  and  night 
before  his  gates,  under  threats  of  privation  of 
food,  water,  and  life.  "  Was  this,"  he  asked 
in  one  of  his  remonstrances,  "becoming 
treatment  to  the  officer  of  a  friendly  nation 
recognised  by  the  Emperor,  and  who  had 
always  performed  his  duty  peaceably  and 
irreproachably,  striving  in  all  things  to  afford 
satisfaction  to  the  Provincial  Government?" 

Lin  was  not  in  the  least  moved  by  Captain 
Elliot's  earnest  representations.  If  anything, 
he  put  the  screw  on  tighter  when  he  found 
that  his  decrees  were  disregarded.  At  length 
he  caused  not  obscure  threats  to  be  conveyed 
to  the  imprisoned  merchants  that  if  they  did 
not  yield  obedience  to  his  orders  he  would 
cause  them  to  be  put  to  death.  Captain  Elliot 
now  realised  that  if  a  catastrophe  was  to  be 
prevented  the  Commissioner's  demands  must 
be  conceded.  He  therefore  demanded  of  the 
British  merchants  in  the  name  of  the  King 
that  they  should  hand  all  the  opium  in  their 
possession  over  to  the  Imperial  Commis- 
sioner. The  opium  was  at  Hongkong,  Linlin, 
and  other  places  beyond  the  port  limits, 
and  yet  twenty  thousand  chests  were  freely 
surrendered.  Notwithstanding  this  extensive 
acquiescence  in  the  ofiicial  demands,  Lin  was 
not  satisfied.  His  calculation  was  that  the 
importation  should  amount  to  20,283  chests, 
so  that  Captain  Elliot,  in  order  to  meet  him, 
had  to  make  up  the  balance  by  purchases, 
paying  with  bills  drawn  on  tlie  British 
Government.  The  operation  of  collecting  the 
opium  took  several  weeks,  and  in  the  mean- 
time Lin  had  been  in  communication  with 
Peking  as  to  the  disposal  of  his  capture. 
Orders  were  finally  received  from  the 
Emperor  to  this  effect  :  "  Lin  and  his 
colleagues  are  to  assemble  the  civil  and 
military  oliicers  and  destroy  the  opium  before 
their  eyes,  thus  manifesting  to  the  natives 
dwelling  on  the  sea  coast  and  the  foreigners 
of  the  outside  nations  an  awful  warning. 
Respect  this.  Obey  respectfully."  The  opium 
was  destroyed  at  the  rate  of  three  hundred 
chests  a  day  in  an  enclosure  near  the  tem- 
porary residence  of  the  Imperial  Commis- 
sioner. In  the  enclosure  were  three  vats  of 
about  75  by  150  feet,  each  opening  by  sluices 
into  the  river.  The  chests  of  opium,  after 
being  re-weighed  and  broken  up  in  the  pre- 
sence of  high  officers,  were  brought  down  to 
the  vats,  and  the  contents  were  crushed  ball 
by  ball  upon  platforms  and  then  pushed  by  the 
coolies  with  their  feet  into  the  receptacles 
beneath.  When  the  process  was  completed 
the  sluices  were  opened  and  the  muddy  com- 
pound was  emptied  into  the  river.  "  Every 
precaution,"    says    a    writer    who    witnessed 


48       TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONOKONO,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  operation,  "seemed  to  be  used  by  the 
officers  to  ensure  the  complete  destruction  of 
the  drug,  the  spot  t>eing  well  guarded,  the 
workmen  ticketed,  &c."  This  view  of  the 
cvMnplcte  destruction  of  the  drug  was  not 
universally  held  at  the  time.  It  was  allirmed 
that  the  whole  of  the  drug  was  not  destroyed, 
that  a  gixidly  portion  of  the  best  quality  was 
withdrawn  and  allimately  disposed  of  to  the 
great  advantage  of  the  horde  of  oAicials 
engaged  in  the  work. 

Captain  Elliot  soon  found  that  the  enor- 
mous sacrifice  which  he  had  made  to  win 
over  the  Chinese  oflicials  was  a  vain  one. 
"The  servants,"  rem.irked  the  British  Super- 
intendent in  an  indignant  remonstrance,  dated 


members  of  the  British  community  had   de- 
cided to  leave  Canton. 

He  added  :  "  The  merchants  and  ships  of 
the  English  nation  proceed  to  Macao  and 
Whampoa,  because  the  gracious  coiniuands 
of  the  Emperor  for  their  protection  aie  set 
at  nought  ;  because  the  truth  is  concealed 
from  His  Imperial  Majesty's  knowledge  ; 
because  theie  is  no  safety  for  a  handful  of 
defenceless  men  in  the  giasp  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  Canton  ;  and  because  it  would 
he  derogatory  from  the  dignity  of  their 
Sovereign  and  nation  to  forget  all  the  insults 
and  wrongs  which  have  been  perpetrated 
till  full  justice  shall  have  been  done,  and 
till    the    whole    trade    intercourse    has    been 


BAY    AND    ISLAND    OF    HONGKONG. 
(From  Borj;ets  "Sketches  of  China.") 


•June  21,  1839,  "were  not  faithfully  reslored 
when  one  fourth  of  the  opium  had  been 
delivered  up  ;  the  boats  were  not  permitted 
to  run  when  one  half  had  been  delivered 
up  ;  the  trade  was  not  really  opened  when 
ttiree  fourths  had  l>een  delivered  ;  and  the 
last  pledge,  that  things  should  go  on  as 
usual,  when  the  whole  should  have  been 
delivered,  has  been  falsified  by  the  reduction 
of  the  factories  to  a  prison,  with  one  outlet, 
the  expulsion  of  sixteen  |>ersons,  some  of 
them  who  never  dealt  in  opium  at  all,  some 
clerks  (one  a  lad),  and  the  prf>posing  of  novel 
and  intolerable  regulations,"  and  in  conse- 
quence of  this  faithlessness  and  want  of 
security  for  life,   liberty,    and    property,  the 


placed  upon  a  footing  honourable  and  secure 
to  the  Empire  and  to  England.  That  time 
is  at  hand.  The  gracious  Sovereign  of  the 
English  nation  will  can^^e  the  trulh  to  be 
made  known  to  the  wise  and  august  prince 
on  the  throne  of  this  Empire,  and  all  things 
will  be  adjusted  agreeably  to  ihe  principles 
of  the  purest  reason."  The  trade  was 
accordingly  stopped.  The  British  merchants 
repaired  in  the  first  instance  to  Macao,  but 
on  a  dispute  occurring  near  Hongkong 
between  some  English  and  American  sailors 
and  the  Chinese,  in  which  one  of  the  latter 
was  killed,  an  attempt  was  made  by  the 
Chinese  authorities  to  coinpel  the  surrender 
of    the     seamen     concerned     in     the     affair. 


Upon  this  Captain  Elliot  gave  orders  for  the 
removal  of  the  entire  fleet  to  Hongkong,  the 
splendid  harbour  of  which  had  in  years 
immediately  preceding  been  frequently  used 
by  British  vessels.  When  Lin  heard  of  this 
move  he  issued  furious  edicts  prohibiting  all 
intercourse  with  the  audacious  traders  and 
their  "  barbarian  eye."  As  these  did  not 
appear  to  intimidate  the  British  communily, 
he  took  overt  measures  to  assert  the  out- 
raged Chinese  authority.  Furious  proclama- 
tions were  issued  calling  all  loyal  Chinese  to 
assemble  and  wage  a  war  of  extermination 
against  "  the  red-bristled  foreigners."  A  ship 
supposed  to  be  British,  but  actually  Spanish, 
was  on  September  12,  1839,  seized  and 
confiscated.  Meanwhile,  preparations  were 
made  for  lauiicliing  against  the  British  all 
the  naval  might  of  this  port  of  tlie  Chinese 
Empire  as  represented  by  a  considerable 
fleet  of  war  junks.  The  bolt  was  sliot  on 
the  3rd  of  November  when  Admiral  Kwan 
sailed  through  the  Bogue  Passage  to  attack 
the  Britisli  frigates  Voltific  and  Hyaciulh 
which  were  cruising  about  the  entrance 
of  the  rivei'.  It  was  a  very  unequal  combat 
that  ensued.  With  the  greatest  ease  the 
two  war  vessels  witli  their  well-manned 
modern  guns  beat  off  the  Chinese  squadron. 
One  of  the  junks  was  blown  up,  tliree 
were  sunk,  and  the  rest  sailed  away 
badly  maimed.  The  engagement  caused  the 
greatest  consternation  in  Canton,  where  a 
confident  expectation  had  been  entertained 
of  a  brilliant  and  easy  victory  over  Ihe  bar- 
barians. So  serious  was  the  blow  that  Lin 
did  not  dare  to  send  a  true  report  of 
the  episode  to  his  imperial  master.  The 
Emperor  was  led  to  suppose  that  the 
Chinese  had  won  a  great  triumph,  and 
acting  on  this  belief,  he  bestowed  a  titular 
distinction  upon  Admiral  Kwan.  The  truth 
leaked  out  afterwards,  but  the  honour  was 
not  withdrawn  as  Admiral  Kwan  was  a 
valuable  servant  and  his  imperial  master 
was  loth  to  part  with  him.  Possibly  he  also 
had  hopes,  with  Admiral  Kwan's  assistance, 
of  being  able  to  retrieve  the  disaster  of  the 
3rd  of  Noveinber.  Whether  that  was  the 
case  or  not,  the  early  months  of  1840  were 
utilised  by  the  Chinese  in  making  great  pre- 
parations for  a  renewal  of  the  combat. 
Meanwhile,  the  Britisli  had  not  been  idle. 
In  view  of  the  serious  turn  that  events  had 
taken,  a  considerable  armament  under  Sir 
Gordon  Bremer  was  despatclied  from  India 
to  reinforce  the  squadron  already  at  Hong- 
kong. The  Ciiinese  authorities,  greatly 
alarmed  at  the  strengthening  of  the  British 
forces,  decided  to  strike  a  bold  blow  for 
victory.  They  sent  against  the  intruding 
vessels  a  great  number  of  fire  ships  with  the 
intention  of  destroying  them  utterly  by  this 
means.  This  coitp  was  even  less  successful 
than  Admiral  Kwan's  ill-starred  attack.  Most 
of  the  fireships  exploded  prematurely,  and 
those  which  did  not  were  easily  sunken 
before  they  could  do  any  damage. 


TWP:NTIETH  century  impressions  of  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       49 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

The  First  Chinese  War — Expeditionary  Force  under  Sir  Gordon  Bremer  occupies  Chusan — Operations  in  the 
Canton  River — Sir  Hugh  Cough  assumes  Command — Submission  of  the  Chinese — Temporary  Resumption  of 
Trade — Renewed  Outbreak  of  Hostilities — Canton  at  the  Mercy  of  the  Expeditionary  Force — Arrangement  of 
Terms  with  the  Chinese — Arrival  of  Sir  Henry  Pottinger  as  Sole  Plenipotentiary — Continuance  of  the  War- 
Occupation  of    Amoy — Attacks  on  Chinhai  and  Ningpo — Attack  on  Shanghai — Expedition  in  the  Yangtse  Valley 

— Conclusion   of    Peace — The  Treaty    of    Nanking. 


It  had  now  become  perfeclly  clear  that  the 
situation  had  got  beyond  the  reach  of 
diplomatic  action.  To  the  force  used  by  the 
Chinese  force  must  be  opposed  if  British 
prestige  was  not  to  be  irretrievably  com- 
promised. In  the  Queen's  speech  at  the 
opening  of  the  Parliamentary  Session  in  1840 
reference  was  made  to  the  strained  character 
of  the  relations  between  the  British  and  the 
Chinese  in  the  Far  East,  and  later  it  was 
known  that  an  expedition  was  in  preparation, 
as  Lord  John  Russell  explained  on  tjehalf  of 
the  Government,  to  obtain  reparation  for 
insults  and  injuries  offered  to  British  subjects, 
to  secure  for  British  merchants  in  China 
indemnification  for  the  loss  of  their  property 
incurred  by  threats  of  violence,  and  "  to 
obtain  a  certain  security  that  persons  and 
property  in  future  trading  with  China  shall 
be  protected  from  insult  or  injury  and  that 
their  trade  and  commerce  be  maintained 
upon  a  proper  footing."  The  expeditionary 
force,  whicli  was  mainly  drawn  from  India, 
consisted  of  fifteen  ships  of  war,  four  steam 
vessels,  and  twenly-five  transports  with  four 
thousand  troops  on  board,  tjnder  the  com- 
mand of  Sir  Gordon  Bremer  it  arrived  off 
the  mouth  of  the  Canton  River  in  June,  1840. 
Lin,  so  far  from  being  intimidated  by  this 
display  of  power,  was  only  stimulated  by  it 
to  more  outrageous  acts.  He  issued  edicts 
offering  rewards  proportioned  to  the  rank  of 
the  victims  for  the  killing  or  capture  of 
individual  Britishers,  and  holding  out  tempt- 
ing promises  to  those  who  would  prove  bold 
enough  to  seize  a  ship.  Inspired  by  the 
proclamations,  some  of  the  more  daring 
Chinese  did  capture  a  number  of  British 
subjects,  who  were  handed  over  to  the 
authorities  and  carted  about  the  country  in 
cages  as  proofs  of  the  valour  of  the  all- 
conquering  Chinese.  Amongst  the  number 
of  these  unfortunates  was  a  female  who  it 
was  at  first  proposed  should  be  dressed  up 
in  rich  clothes  and  represented  as  a  sister 
of  the  late  Queen  Victoria.  This  design  was 
not  carried  out  as  it  was  thought  that  even 
the  confiding  Chinese  would  not  accept  quite 
such  an  audacious  lie,  but  the  wretched 
woman  nevertheless  was  subjected  to  the 
indignity  of  public  exposure  in  a  cage  on 
the  ground  of  her  influential  status. 

Sir  Gordon  Bremer  instead  of  carrying  the 
war  directly  into  the  enemies'  country — the 
particular  enemy  of  the  moment  being  Lin 
installed  in  arrogant  plenitude  of  power  at 
Canton — went  with  his  expeditionary  force 
northwards  to  the  beautiful  island  of  Chusan, 
which  he  occupied  without  difficulty  on  the  5th 
of  July.  The  island  made  an  admirable  depot 
for  the  British  force,  and  from  this  point  of 
view  there  was  no  doubt  a  great  deal  to  be 
said  for  its  occupation.  But  the  need  of  the 
moment  was  for  vigorous  action  in  the 
vicinity  of  Canton,  and  tlie  fact  that  such  was 
not  undertaken  led  to  misconception  on  the 
part  of  the  Chinese  and  undoubtedly  stiffened 


their  opposition  to  all  demands.  The  idea  of 
Sir  Gordon  Bremer  seems  to  have  been  to 
open  up  communication  with  the  aulliorities 
at  Peking  at  the  earliest  possible  moment, 
the  assumption  being  that  if  this  could  be 
done  a  settlement  might  be  made  over  Lin's 
head.  In  furtherance  of  this  idea  Her 
Majesty's    ship    Blonde    was    despatched    to 


October  the  fleet  was  back  at  Chusan.  While 
the  bulk  of  the  force  had  been  engaged  in 
this  barren  attempt  to  force  the  front  door 
of  the  Chinese  Empire,  another  section  of 
the  fleet  had  been  carrying  on  active  hos- 
tilities against  the  Chinese  forces  encamped 
outside  Macao.  The  trouble  arose  owing  to 
the   capture   and   removal   to   Canton   of   Mr. 


CAPTURE    OF    TING-HAI,    CHUSAN. 
(l''roni  Allom  &  Wright's  "Chin;i.") 


Amoy,  but  on  a  boat  being  sent  ashore  with 
a  flag  of  truce  it  was  fired  on  by  the  Chinese 
and  the  inmates  narrowly  escaped  dealh.  A 
similar  contretemps  attended  a  further  effort 
to  open  communications  at  Ningpo.  Nor 
did  a  better  fate  attend  an  elaborately 
prepared  effort,  conducted  uirder  the  cover 
of  an  imposing  naval  force,  to  open  up  nego- 
tiations t^y  way  of  the  Peiho  River.  The 
squadron  arrived  off  Taku  on  the  gth  of 
August,  and  Captain  Elliot  proceeded  by 
steamer  to  Tientsin.  There  he  entered  into 
negotiation  with  Keshen,  the  Viceroy  of  the 
province,  who  had  just  been  appointed 
Imperial  High  Commissioner.  Keshen  was 
a  wily  diplomat,  who  proved  more  than  a 
match  for  the  straightforward  and  too 
confiding  British  official  by  whom  he  was 
confronted.  The  great  object  of  the  Chinese 
was  to  get  the  British  fleet  out  of  the  Peiho 
at  all  cost.  To  this  end  Keshen  beguiled 
Captain  Elliot  with  visions  of  a  possible 
settlement  if  only  the  negotiations  were 
directed  from  Canton.  The  British  nego- 
tiator  fell   into   the  trap,  and  by  the  end  of 


Vincent  Stanton,  a  British  subject.  As  no 
reply  was  made  to  repeated  demands  for 
the  release  of  this  gentleman,  it  was  decided 
to  attack  the  Chinese  camp.  The  business  was 
carried  through  in  a  workmanlike  manner  by 
Her  Majesty's  ships  Hyaciiilli  atid  I.artie. 
After  a  destructive  bomtiardment  of  the  forts 
and  war  junks,  a  force  of  four  hundred 
l>luejackets  was  landed  and  the  camp  was 
rushed.  There  were  very  few  casualties  on 
the  British  side,  and  the  Chinese  fled  too 
precipitately  to  lose  heavily.  There  was, 
iiowever,  a  considerable  capture  of  guns  and 
the  demolished  forts  constituted  a  satisfactory 
outward  and  visible  sign  of  British  prowess. 

The  return  of  the  fleet  southward  was 
followed  by  a  period  of  inaction.  Lin  had 
fallen  under  the  imperial  ban  and  been 
replaced  by  Keshen  at  Canton,  and  Mr. 
Vincent  Stanton  had  been  released,  but  other- 
wise the  position  was  unchanged.  All 
attempts  made  to  secure  an  arrangement 
proved  abortive.  Keshen  substituted  for  the 
truculence  of  Lin  an  evasiveness  which  was 
about   as   irritating,   and   as   far   as   the    end 


50       TAVENTIETH  CENTURY  niPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


icMjght— the   disconifitinK    of    the  barbarian—  foreign   factories  and   Fort    Napier.      A   pro- 

quite    as    effecti\-e.      The     patience    of    the  clamation  was  issued  on  the  6th  of  March  to 

British    representatives    was    at     length     ex-  the  people  of  Canton  promising  to  spare  the 

hansted.      Towards  the  end  of   1S40   it   was  city  from  bombardment  if  the  Chinese  authori- 

recognised   that   the  only   way   to   bring  the  ties  refrained  from  offering  opposition  to  the 


BRITISH    ENCAMPMENT    ON    CHUSAN. 
(From  Allom  &  WriiJht's  "China.") 


Chinese  to  reason  was  to  give  a  practical 
demonstration  of  British  power  in  a  quarter 
where  the  weight  of  the  blow  would  be 
felt.  On  January  7,  1841,  operations  were 
opened  by  an  attack  on  the  Bogue  (oris.  The 
outer  forts  of  Chuenpee  and  Tae-cok-tow 
were  reduced  without  difficulty,  and  the  rest 
would  have  followed  had  not  Captain  Elliot, 
with  strange  disregard  of  the  teachings  of 
Chinese  warfare,  accepted  overtures  for  a 
truce.  The  cessation  of  hostilities  was 
followed  by  numerous  excesses  on  the  part 
of  the  Chinese.  Edicts  were  issued  by  the 
Canton  authorities  putting  a  price  upon  the 
txKiies  of  Englishmen  dead  or  alive  ;  generally 
it  was  made  manifest  that  peaceful  measures 
would  not  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  situation. 
The  British  held  their  hand  until  an  oppor- 
tunity had  been  afforded  for  the  Chinese  to 
ratify  the  conditions  of  peace  which  Keshen 
had  provisionally  accepted  ;  and  which  in- 
cluded a  large  indemnity,  the  cession  of 
Hongkong,  and  direct  official  intercourse  be- 
tween the  two  Governments.  But  when  it 
became  evident  that  there  was  no  intention 
on  the  part  of  the  Chinese  Government  to 
confirm  the  arrangement,  the  attack  on  the 
Bogue  forts  was  resumed.  On  the  26th  of 
February  the  ass;iult  was  commenced,  and  by 
the  1st  of  March  the  whole  of  the  forts  were 
in  our  hands.  Admiral  Kwan  and  a  host  of 
Chinese  fell  in  the  bombardment  and  the 
satisequent  assault,  and  a  vast  quantity  of 
guns  and  war  munitions  weie  captured.  The 
British  losses  were  trivial  owing  to  the 
excellent  dispositions  made  and  the  cowardice 
displayed  by  the  Chinese  garrison.  On  the  2nd 
of  March  Sir  Hugh  (afterwards  Ixird)  Gough, 
who  had  been  sent  out  from  England  to  take. 
over  the  command  of  the  land  force?,  arrived. 
At  this  time  Canton  was  practically  at  Ihe 
mercy  of  Ihe  British  fleet,  but  yielding  to  the 
urgent  entreaties  of  Ihe  lfjc;il  officials  hostilities 
were  suspended,  the  British  commander  con- 
tenting himself   with    the  occupation   of    Ihe 


invading  force.  Meanwhile,  a  decree  arrived 
from  the  Emperor  ordering  Keshen's  return 
to  Peking  to  suffer  Ihe  extreme  penalty  of  the 
law.  He  was  subsequently  tried  and  con- 
demned to  de.il  h,  but  by  an  act  of  special 
favour  the   sentence   was   commuted,  and  he 


leading  local  officials  to  Captain  Elliot 
appeared  to  offer  a  hope  of  an  .inielioration 
of  the  diplomatic  situation.  Hut  it  soon  be- 
came evident  that  the  successes  of  the  British, 
so  far  from  bringing  conviclion  of  the 
necessity  of  the  acceptance  of  the  demands 
made  had  only  increased  the  Emperor  Taouk- 
wang's  determination  to  drive  the  hated 
foreigner  out  of  his  dominions.  The  ofticials 
who  had  waited  on  Captain  Elliot  acted,  it 
was  found,  without  any  authority  whatever 
from  Peking.  The  real  power  was  vested 
in  three  commissioners  and  a  governor 
who  had  been  specially  cliarged  by  the 
Emperor  to  inquire  into  the  position  of  affairs 
more  with  a  view  to  the  concocting  of 
measures  for  the  driving  out  of  the  liiitish 
than  the  satisfaction  of  their  claims.  It  was 
not  long  before  the  British  discovered  the 
true  position  of  affairs.  Their  suspicions 
were  aroused  when  they  found  that  the  new 
commissioners  held  studiously  aloof  from 
them  ;  and  as  Ihe  days  wore  on  they  had 
reason  for  serious  apprehensions  in  the  fact 
that  ominous  preparations  were  being  made 
all  round  them  obviously  with  the  design  of 
re-commencing  hostilities.  Captain  Elliot's 
eyes  were  completely  opened  on  the  nth  of 
May  when  he  paid  what  was  intended  to  be 
a  friendly  visit  to  the  forefeet  of  Canton. 
His  discourteous  reception  on  that  occasion, 
and  the  evidences  wliich  confronted  him  on  all 
sides  of  military  arrangements,  so  impressed 
him  that  he  proceeded  forthwith  to  Hongkong 
to  concert  measures  with  Sir  Hugh  Gougli  to 
meet  the  crisis  which  he  felt  certain  was 
impending.  The  storm  burst  on  the  night 
of  May  2 1st,  When  darkness  had  set  in 
batteries  which  had  been  erected  on  the  river 
banks  by  the  Chinese  opened  fire  on  the 
factories  and  the  ships,  and  simultaneously 
fire  rafts  were  sent  in  amongst  the  latter 
with  the  hope  and  intention  of  destroying 
them.  The  British,  who  were  prepared  for 
attack,   had    no    difticulty   in    frustrating    the 


ATTACK    AND    CAPTURE    OF 
(Krom  Allom  &  W 

was  banished    to   Tibet,   where    he   resumed 
his  official  career  as  resident  at  Lhassa. 

Commercial  relations  were  now  resumed 
at  Canton  with  eagerness  on  both  sides, 
and     some     visits     of     ceremony     paid     by 


CHUENPEE,    NEAR    CANTON, 
'rijjhl's  "Cliiiia.") 

designs  of  the  enemy.  One  ship — the  Nemesis 
— burned  upwards  of  sixty  of  the  fire  rafts, 
and  some  smaller  war  vessels  effectually 
disposed  of  the  batteries.  All  the  available 
troops  were  now  called  up  from   Hongkong, 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       51 


and  on  Ihcir  anival  at  Canton  on  the  24tli 
of  May  operations  ajjainst  the  city  commenced 
in  earnest.  The  landinj;  of  the  troops  from 
Ihe  transports  took  place  on  the  evening  of 
that  day,  and  it  says  much  for  the  military 
incapacity  of  the  Chinese  that  2,500  men 
were  conveyed  to  the  shore  in  absolute 
safety.  On  the  25th  of  May  the  force  moved 
out  in  two  columns  on  the  positions  which 
the  Chinese  had  taken  up  on  the  hills  above 
the  city.  The  troops  were  subjected  to  a 
galling  fire  from  the  walls  of  the  cily  as 
Ihey  marched  forward,  but  they  kept  steadily 
on,  their  advance  being  covered  by  Ihe 
artillery.  When  the  British  came  within 
about   rifle  range  of   Ihe   four   principal   forts 


HUGH    GOUGH,    FIRST    VISCOUNT 
GOUGH,    K.P.,    G.O.B. 

(From  a  print  in  the  Britisli  Museum.) 

which  were  the  special  object  of  attack  the 
Chinese  evacuated  a  greater  part  of  the 
position.  Only  in  one  fort  was  anything 
like  a  fight  made,  and  there  the  resistance 
was  easily  overcome  when  the  British  tars 
to  whom  the  capture  of  the  fort  was  entrusted 
came  to  close  quarters  with  the  defenders. 
After  the  occupation  of  the  inain  defences, 
Sir  Hugh  Gough,  who  personally  superin- 
tended Ihe  operations,  gave  his  attention  to 
the  outlying  positions.  These  were  soon  in 
our  possession,  and  when  night  fell  the  battle 
was  coinplctely  won,  the  British  losses 
amounting  only  to  seventy  killed  and  wounded. 
Canton  was  now  coinplelely  at  Ihe  mercy  of 
the  British,  and  inilitary  policy  as  well  as 
political  expediency  suggested  Ihe  advis- 
ability of  bombardment  as  a  ineans  of 
bringing  the  Chinese  Government  to  reason 
as  well  as  of  conveying  a  lesson  to  Ihe  local 
officials  that  treachery  did  not  pay.  But  on 
Ihe  inorning  of  the  27th  of  May  just  as  the 
gunners  stood  with  their  guns  loaded  and 
primed  ready  for  firing  the  shots  which 
would  seal  the  doom  of  the  city,  a  special 
messenger  arrived  from  Captain  Elliot  with 
Ihe  intimation  that  he  had  come  to  terms  with 
Ihe  eneiny.  The  conditions  that  he  had  made 
were  that  the  imperial  coimnissioners  and 
all  the  troops  should  within  six  days  with- 
draw to  a  position  not  less  than  60  miles 
from  the  cily,  and  that  an  indemnity  of  six 
million  dollars  should  be  paid  "  for  the  use 
of  Ihe  English  Crown."  Strong  dissatisfaction 
was  expressed  by  the  military  at  this  arrange- 
ment, which  they  regarded  as  affording 
another    example    of    Captain    B-lliot's    inca- 


pacity to  deal  with  the  Chinese  in  the 
manner  which  their  peculiar  characteristics 
demanded.  But  the  bombardment  would 
have  been  a  terrible  business  and  would  have 
resulted  in  immense  loss  to  the  very  classes 
of  Chinese  who  were  most  friendly  to 
foreigners.  In  the  circumstances  the  decision 
arrived  at  had  many  supporters  at  Ihe  time  and 
it  was  even  justified  on  military  grounds,  Ihe 
smallness  of  the  British  force  being  urged  as  a 
sound  reason  for  not  perpetrating  an  act  which 
would  have  given  the  whole  country  over  to 
anarchy.  As  things  were.  Canton  during 
this  period  was  Ihe  scene  of  the  inost  ferocious 
conflicts  between  Ihe  citizens  and  the  lawless 
soldiery  from  outside,  who  occupied  them- 
selves after  the  fighting  in  which  they  had 
played  so  poor  a  part  in  plundering  their 
fellow  countrymen.  It  was  stated  that  in  one 
conflict  alone  between  the  factions  over  a 
thousand  lives  were  lost.  Wise  or  unwise, 
the  arrangement  met  with  prompt  ratifica- 
tion at  the  hands  of  the  Chinese.  Within 
four  days  five  millions  of  the  indemnity  was 
paid,  and  though  Sir  Hugh  Gough  had  to 
resort  to  a  threat  of  bombardment  to  secure 
the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  as  stipulated, 
Ihe  entire  conditions  were  ultimately  satis- 
factorily fulfilled,  and  Ihe  British  forces  were 
withdrawn.  The  generosity  shown  to  Ihe 
C.mtonese  was  ill  requited  by  tliese  turbulent 
and  fanatical  people.  After  the  departure  of 
the  troops  there  were  repeated  outrages  on 
foreigners  traceable  to  sheer  vindictiveness. 
Though  business  was  resuined  it  was  con- 
ducted as  it  were  under  the  shadow  of  the 
sword.  In  point  of  fact  no  one  regarded 
the  Canton  Convention  as  anything  more 
than  a  temporary  provision — a  truce  and  not 
a  peace. 

A  new  turn  was  given  to  affairs  by  the 
arrival  in  the  Macao  Roads  on  August  10, 
1841,  of  Sir  Henry  Potlinger,  armed  with 
full  powers  as  sole  Plenipotentiary  to  the 
Court  of  Peking.  This  officer  found  on 
his  ai  rival  increasing  dissatisfaction  at  the 
conduct  of  the  Chinese.  Insulting  edicts 
continued  to  be  issued,  there  was  gross  ill- 
treatment  of  a  number  of  prisoners  who  were 
still  retained  in  Ihe  hands  of  Ihe  Mandarins, 
and  tile  authorities,  in  defiance  of  the  con- 
vention,  were    busily  engaged   in    re-erecting 


the  river  defences.  Sir  Henry  Potlinger  was 
not  the  man  to  allow  a  situation  to  be  com- 
promised by  lack  of  energy.  He  had  had 
long  training  in  Oriental  methods  in  that 
best   of  all   schools — the   Indian   Govenunent 


THE   RIGHT    HON.    SIR    HENRY 
POTTINGER,    BART.,  G.C.B. 

(From  .1  print  in  tlie  British  Museum.) 

— and  he  knew  that  decisiveness  was  an 
indispensable  quality  in  dealing  with  Easterns. 
His  first  step,  after  he  had  made  himself 
acquainted  with  Ihe  position,  was  to  give  a 
clear  intimation  to  Ihe  Chinese  authorities 
that  they  inust  either  accede  to  Ihe  British 
demands  or  take  Ihe  consequences.  The 
requireinenis  he  made  were  that  Ihe  opium 
destroyed  by  Lin  should  be  paid  for,  and 
that  certain  ports  in  addition  to  Canton 
should  be  opened  to  British  trade.  To  enforce 
his  demands  he  despatched  an  expedition  to 
Amoy,  Ihe  famous  trade  centre  which  figures 


ESTUARY    OF    THE    TAHEA    OR    NINGPO   RIVER. 

(From  an  eiij*ravinj^.) 


52      TWENTIETH  CEXTUKY  I3IPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


aa  conspicuously  in  Ihe  earlier  chapters  of 
this  work.  The  squadron  detailed  for  this 
work  arrived  off  the  port  on  Aujjust  2bH\. 
Immediately  after  they  had  drop|->cd  anchor 
a  boat    cainc    from    shore    with    an   inquiry 


on  the  summit  of  which  is  the  citadel,  a 
highly  imix)rtant  defensive  position,  sur- 
rounded by  a  strong  wall  supplied  with 
massive  gates.  On  two  sides  the  citadel  is 
inaccessible  excepting  at  one   point  where  a 


CITT   OF   NINGPO 

(From  Allcm  & 

from  the  leading  ^fandarin  as  fo  the  reason 
for  the  visit  of  so  many  ships,  and  a  request 
that  the  cxjmmander  should  specify  the  com- 
modities he  wanted.  The  childlike  curiosity 
of  the  functionary  was  satisfied  with  a  verbal 
statement  to  the  effect  that  Ihe  fleet  had  not 
come  to  trade ;  while  Sir  Henry  Pottinger, 
in  a  letter  addressed  to  the  chief  military 
officer  o(  the  province,  explained  that,  differ- 
ences having  arisen  between  Great  Britain 
and  China,  it  was  essential  that  he  should 
have  possession  of  the  town,  and  requesting 
its  surrender  to  avoid  bloodshed.  No  direct 
response  was  made  to  Ihe  letler,  but  that  the 
Chinese  officials  appreciated  the  character  of 
the  crisis  that  had  arisen  was  shown  by  the 
energetic  efforts  they  made  to  fortify  every 
available  position.  Finding  that  the  Chinese 
meant  to  light,  the  British  Commander  drew 
his  ships  up  in  battle  array  and  proceeded  to 
the  attack.  The  repeated  broadsides  from  the 
ships  made  little  impression  upon  the  stone 
wall  defences  which  the  Chinese  had  raised, 
but  a  landing  force  consisting  of  about  twelve 
hundred  troops  soon  put  the  defenders  to  rout. 
Many  of  them  were  killed  in  their  flight, 
and  not  a  few  officers,  overwhelmed  with  the 
disgrace  of  defeat,  committed  suicide.  The 
town  was  entered  by  our  troops,  but  was  not 
occupied  for  more  than  a  few  days.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  lime  the  occupying  force 
was  withdrawn,  and  after  posting  a  garrison 
at  Kulungsu,  a  small  r(x.-ky  island  forming 
part  of  the  fortifications  of  the  port.  Sir 
William  Parker,  the  British  commander,  took 
his  fleet  to  Chusan,  which  was  re-<x:cupied 
after  a  brief  struggle.  The  next  point  selected 
for  attack  was  Chinhai,  a  large  and  opulent 
citv  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ningpo  River. 
Thither  Sir  Hugh  Gough  and  Sir  William 
Parker,  the  joint  commanders,  proceeded, 
together  with  Sir  Henry  Pottinger,  who  was 
ready  to  take  up  the  diplomatic  threads  as 
soon  as  Ihe  opportunity  offered.  The  town 
occupies  a  position  at  Ihe  foot  of  a  lofty  hill, 


FROM    THE    RIVER. 

Wi-iuhfs  ■■  Chin.!.") 

narrow  path  winds  from  Ihe  >ea,  which 
skirts  the  base  of  the  hill.  The  town  itself 
is  encircled  by  a  wall  about  37  feet  in  thick- 
ness. It  was  a  posilion  of  immense  strength, 
and  defended  by  good  troops  would  have 
been  well-iiigh  impregnable.  When  the 
British  expedition  reached  Ihe  town  it  found 
every  prominent  point  occupied  by  batteries 
and  the  surrounding  hills  covered  with 
military  encampments.  Profiling  by  Ihe 
experience  at  Amoy,  the  British  commanders 
decided  not  to  waste  any  time  on  a  prelimi- 
nary bombardment.     On  the  morning  of  the 


loth  of  October  two  thousand  men  with 
twelve  field  pieces  and  mortars  were  landed 
to  attack  the  citadel  and  cntreiiclied  camp. 
Sir  Hugh  Gou.yh  without  loss  of  time 
divided  his  little  force  into  three  columns, 
and,  assuming  ihe  couunaiid  of  the  centre 
column,  ordered  the  advance.  The  two  Hank 
columns,  owing  to  the  irregularities  of  the 
ground,  went  forward  unobserved  from  the 
citadel,  and  the  garrison,  thinking  they  only 
had  to  deal  witli  the  small  centre  colunni, 
went  out  boldly  to  meet  them.  Before  the 
engagement  had  barely  commenced  the  Hank 
columns  opened  Hre.  So  unexpected  was  the 
attack  that  the  Chinese  broke  and  lied  in  all 
direclions.  In  their  fliyht  hundreds  were 
shot  and  bayoneted  and  lunidreds  of  olhers 
were  drowned.  To  save  useless  slaughter, 
Sir  Hugh  Gough  sent  out  a  Hag  with  an 
inscription  in  Chinese  informing  the  routed 
troops  that  their  lives  would  be  spared  if 
they  yielded,  but  not  more  than  live  hundred 
availed  themselves  of  the  offer.  Altogether 
not  fewer  than  fifteen  hundred  of  the 
Chinese  fell  in  this  one-sided  engagement. 
While  this  land  encounter  was  proceeding 
Ihe  ships  were  engaged  in  bombarding  the 
town  defences  on  the  sea  side  and  driving 
the  soldieis  out  of  the  town.  The  effect 
of  the  combined  operations  was  to  convince 
the  Chinese  commander,  Yukien,  that  the 
day  was  lost.  In  his  despair  he  attempted 
to  drown  himself,  and,  foiled  in  this  effort, 
he  fled  to  the  country,  where  he  terminated 
his  existence  in  another  manner.  His 
determination  not  to  survive  his  discom- 
fiture was  in  keeping  with  high  Chinese 
traditions,  which  regard  suicide  as  a  legitimate 
means  of  escape  from  the  dishonour  of  defeat. 
It  is  not  improbable,  liowever,  that  a  fear  of 
falling  into  the  hands  of  Ihe  British  had 
some  influence  in  bringing  about  his  decision, 
for  he  had  put  himself  beyond  the  pale  by 
his  ferocious  brutality  towards  two  foreign 
pri-soners  who  by  his  orders  had  been  done 
to  death,  one  by  Haying  and  the  other  by 
burning  alive. 

As  soon  as  the  occupation  of  Chinhai  had 
been  made  effective,  the  British  connnaiiders 
turned  their  attention  towards  Ningpo,  a 
city  of  great  counnercial  importance  12  miles 
away.       The    place    fell     williout    opposition. 


• 

2l  A 

" 

W:...^  ,^ 

m^L 

.. 

.1 

['  -^,^SM 

CLOSE    OF    THE    ATTACK    ON    SHAPOO    THE    SUBURBS    ON    FIRE. 
(From  Allom  &  Wright's  "China.") 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       53 


Indeed,  the  inhabitants  were  so  anxious  to 
avoid  giving  offence  that  they  helped  the 
British  soldiers  to  scale  the  walls,  and  when 
the  troops  entered  the  streets  they  found 
painted  on  the  doors  of  the  houses  the  words 
Slinii  mill,  meaning  "submissive  people." 
Ningpo  offered  such  advantages  that  Sir 
Hugli  Gough  determined  to  occupy  it  as  the 
winter  quarters  of  his  troops.  The  people 
continued  to  be  friendly  and  there  was  no 
difficulty  in  obtaining  supplies  for  the  large 
and  ever  increasing  British  force.  But  that 
the  townsmen  were  not  quite  happy  in  the 
presence  of  their  foreign  visitors  was  shown 
by  a  paper  which  one  day  was  thrown  over 
the  wall  addressed  to  the  British.  This 
document  adduced  many  arguments  to  show 
how  much  belter  it  would  be  for  the  invaders 
if  they  would  only  return  home,  and  wound 
up  with  this  curious  appeal  :  "  You  have  been 
away  from  your  country  long  enough  ;  your 
mothers  and  sisters  must  be  longing  for 
your  return.  Go  back  to  your  families,  for 
we  do  not  want  you  here." 

The  successive  British  victories  ought  to 
have  convinced  the  Emperor  that  the  lime 
had  come  for  concessions,  but  Taoukwang's 
obsti[iate  determination  to  rid  his  country  of 
the  detested  foreigner  was  unshaken.  At 
his  command  extensive  preparations  were 
made  all  over  the  empire  for  a  renewal  of 
the  struggle.  Meanwhile,  fresh  edicts  were 
issued  calling  for  the  extermination  of  the 
barbarians.  In  March,  1842,  desperate  efforts 
were  made  to  recover  Chinhai  and  Ningpo. 
The  attacks  were  repulsed,  but  the  Chinese 
forces  only  retired  to  establish  themselves  at 
a  point  about  Ii  miles  out  of  Ningpo, 
from  which  they  endeavoured  to  cut  off  the 
supplies  to  the  British  forces.  Their  encamp- 
ment was  promptly  attacked  and  the  imperial 
forces  were  put  to  flight  with  the  loss  of  six 
hundred  of  their  number.  At  about  this  time 
heavy  reinforcements  of  the  British  forces 
arrived  from  India.  Lord  Ellenborough,  the 
new  Governor-General,  sent  with  them  fresh 
instructions  which,  subsequently  adopted,  had 
a  marked  effect  on  the  course  of  events. 
Lord  Ellenborough's  view  was  that  attacks 
of  positions  along  the  coast  were  by  them- 
selves of  little  use,  and  that  if  the  Chinese 
authorities  were  to  be  brought  to  reason  the 
operations  must  be  extended  to  the  interior. 
The  Yangtse-Kiang,  one  of  the  noblest  of  the 
world's  great  rivers,  suggested  the  direction 
in  which  the  British  forces  should  carry 
anew  the  fiame  of  war.  Evacuating  the 
positions  at  Ningpo  and  Chinhai  the  expedi- 
tionary force,  on  the  7th  of  May,  sailed 
northwards.  The  plan  of  campaign  was  to 
proceed  to  Nanking  and  capture  that  city  as 
a  prelude  to  an  advance  on  Peking,  in  the 
event  of  the  Emperor  declining  to  come  to 
terms.  Before,  however,  the  objective  could 
be  reached  it  was  necessary  to  reduce  several 
places  cii  route.  The  first  of  these  was 
bhapoo,  the  authorised  port  and  landing-place 
for  vessels  coming  from  Japan.  Extensive 
measures  of  defence  had  been  taken  here, 
and  it  seemed  that  the  struggle  would  be  a 
severe  one,  but  under  Sir  Hugh  Gough's 
able  direction  a  landing  force  of  two 
thousand  men  made  a  completely  successful 
attack  on  the  defending  force,  driving  them 
from  their  positions  and  scattering  them  in 
all  directions.  One  body  of  desperate  men, 
three  hundred  in  number,  took  refuge  in  a 
temple,  and  under  the  mistaken  idea  that 
they  would  be  given  no  quarter  if  they  sur- 
rendered fought  determinedly  until  they  had 
all  been  killed  but  forty.  This  remnant  of 
the  gallant  b.ind  finally  surrendered,  and 
after  a  period  of  detention  were  sent  home 
to   their   families.     In   the  town,   the  women 


of  the  men  who  were  killed  in  the  temple, 
fearing  that  if  caught  they  would  be  subjected 
to  a  life  of  perpetual  slavery,  threw  their 
infants  into  the  tanks  and  wells  and  jumped 
in  after  them.  Many  of  the  poor  creatures 
were  rescued  by  the  British  troops,  but  there 
were   melancholy  evidences   all    around    that 


The  arrangements  for  the  attack,  however, 
were  so  skilfully  made  by  the  naval  com- 
mander that  the  shore  batteries  were  soon 
silenced,  and  a  landing  was  effected  on  June 
i6th  without  serious  loss.  Subsequently  the 
troops  advanced  to  the  important  native  city 
of   Shanghai  which  was   taken  after  a  slight 


LIEUT.-GBNERAL    LOKD    SALTOUN. 
(From  a  print  after  Sir  T.  I-a\vieiicc  in  the  Print  Koom,  British  Museum.) 


the   loss   of   life   from   this   cause   alone   was 
very  great. 

Leaving  Shapoo  with  its  bitter  memories 
of  disaster  behind,  the  expedition  proceeded 
to  Woosung,  the  port  of  Shanghai.  Strong 
batteries  guarded  the  approach  to  the  port, 
and  the  intricacy  of  the  channel  presented 
serious    difficulties     to    the     invading     force. 


resistance.  The  place  was  occupied  only  to 
be  evacuated.  The  more  important  work  in 
hand  claiined  the  service  of  the  troops  and 
they  marched  back  to  Woosung  and  were 
re-embarked.  Not  inany  days  later  the  fleet 
entered  the  Yangtse-Kiang— "  the  child  of 
the  ocean."  As  the  imposing  flotilla  passed 
up   the,  great   waterway  the   Chinese  flocked 


54      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG, 


SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


in  crowds  lo  the  shore  to  gaze  on  the 
then  novel  spectacle  of  steamers  progressing 
against  tlie  current.  On  the  joth  of  July  the 
Beet  diopix-d  anchor  off  Chinkiang-foo,  a 
striHigly  fiMlitied  town,  which,  havinj;  rejpird 


August  the  fleet  arrived  off  the  city,  which 
is  one  of  the  most  important  commercial 
centres  in  the  Empire.  The  place  was 
garrisoned  by  fourteen  thousand  troops,  and 
there     were     expectations     of     another     san- 


.//,    t,  /.-i //.///,  .7,/,;/  ,/  '/-,///'•.  Y  r. 
^  A/.  1  f' 


.  /{ft/zA^/t  /, //if/f^  ///  .)■'<•'* 


(From  an  old  drawing  in  the  M.-inuscript  lioom  at  the  British  Museum.) 


lo  its  commanding  position  at  the  entrance 
to  the  river,  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  keys 
of  the  empire.  A  strong  Tartar  garrison 
held  the  town,  and  the  hills  above  the  river 
were  covered  with  encampments  of  Chinese 
troops.  After  a  careful  recomiaissancc  it  was 
decided  lo  attack  the  two  sections  of 
the  opposing  Chinese  forces  simultaneously. 
The  work  of  dealing  with  the  hill  encamp- 
ments was  entrusted  to  a  brigade  under 
Lord  Saltoun,  and  the  assault  on  the  town 
was  conducted  by  the  remaining  troops 
under  Sir  Hugh  Gough's  personal  command. 
Ix>rd  Saltoun's  force  met  with  very  little 
resistance,  the  bulk  of  the  Chinese  fleeing 
immediately  they  observed  the  British  force 
approaching.  In  the  town  greater  resistance 
was  offered  by  the  sturdier  Manchu  soldiery, 
who  sold  their  lives  dearly  in  street  fighting 
which,  with  the  severe  heat  of  the  day, 
severely  tried  our  troops.  Only  as  the  day 
closed  was  the  position  completely  occupied, 
and  by  that  time  our  men  were  so  exhausted 
by  their  exertions  that  they  were  unable  to 
push  home  their  viciory.  The  defenders  on 
their  part  scorned  in  many  instances  to 
take  to  flight.  They  salved  their  wounded 
honour  by  self  destrudion.  The  method  of 
the  brave  Tartar  general's  exit  from  the 
world  was  characteristic.  When  he  found 
that  the  battle  had  gone  against  him  he 
retired  to  his  house,  and  taking  his  seat  in 
his  favourite  arm  chair  ordered  his  servants 
lo  fire  the  building.  The  next  day  his  body 
was  found  much  burned,  but  retaining  the 
sitting  posture  in  which  he  had  placed  him- 
self. The  British  dropped  a  sympathetic 
tear  over  their  g.illani  enemy,  whose  defence 
they  had  reason  to  retnembcr,  for  their  losses 
here  were  greater  than  in  any  engagement 
during  the  war.  After  a  fortnight's  interval 
to  rest  and  reiTuit  the  troops,  the  advance 
on   Nanking  was  resumed.     On  the   sth  of 


guiiiary  battle  wlien  the  ships  hove  in  sight 
of  the  far-spreading  quarters  of  the  great 
centre  of  Chinese  power  and  caught  a 
glimpse    of    the    picturesque    outlines    of   the 


was  about  to  deliver  its  attack,  letters  ar- 
rived for  the  British  commander  informing 
him  that  three  imperial  delegates  were  on 
their  way  for  the  purpose  of  negotiating  a 
peace.  Confirmation  of  tlie  satisfactory  news 
was  forthcoming  shortly  .afterwards  in  the 
arrival  of  the  members  of  the  mission. 
They  were  men  of  high  distinction  in  the 
empire.  Elepoo,  the  head,  was  a  former 
governor  of  Chekeang  ;  Keying,  the  second, 
was  an  uncle  of  the  Emperor ;  while  the 
third  delegate,  Niti  Kieu,  was  Viceroy  of  the 
Two  Kiang.  There  was  a  protracted  dis- 
cussion of  the  preliminaries  of  peace,  in 
which  Sir  Henry  Pottinger  took  up  a  very 
firm  attitude.  The  Emperor  found  it  hard 
to  swallow  the  bitter  pill  offered  him,  but 
eventually  he  was  reluctantly  persuaded  by 
irrefragable  arguments  to  assent  to  an 
arrangement  on  the  lines  set  out  by  the 
British  Plenipotentiary.  The  demands  which 
were  subsequently  incorporated  in  the  Treaty 
of  Nanking,  were  certainly  of  a  character  to 
cause  not  a  little  misgiving  and  even  con- 
sternation in  the  imperial  circle.  They 
were  the  payment  of  an  indemnity  of 
$21,000,000;  the  opening  of  the  five  ports  of 
Canton,  Amoy,  Koochow,  Shanghai,  and 
Niiigpo  to  British  trade,  with  right  of  ap- 
pointing consuls  to  reside  in  them  ;  the 
cession  of  Hongkong  ;  the  estahlislunent  of 
regular  tariffs  of  import  and  export  dtjties  ; 
the  unconditional  release  of  all  British  sub- 
jects detained  as  prisoners  ;  and  the  granting 
of  a  free  pardon  by  the  Emperor  to  all 
those  of  his  own  subjects  who  had  incurred 
penalties  by  holding  intercourse  with  the 
British  officers.  On  the  20th  of  August  the 
delegates  paid  a  formal  visit  to  the  Com- 
ti'iillis,  the  admiral's  flagship,  to  discuss  the 
terms  of  peace.  They  were  received  with 
every  mark  of  courtesy,  but  in  order  that 
they  might  be  left  in  no  doubt  as  to  the 
intentions  of  the  British  in  the  event  of  the 
failure    of    tlie    negotiations    they    were    con- 


NANKIN&    FROM    THE 
(From  Allom  &  W 

historic  Porcelain  Tower  which  was  then 
a  dominating  feature  of  the  landscape. 
Happily,  however,  these  expectations  were 
not  realised.     Just  as  the  expeditionary  force 


PORCELAIN    TOWER. 

ri(!ht's  "China,") 

fronted  with  an  iinposing  display  of  force, 
both  naval  and  military.  The  interview 
passed  off  very  satisfactorily,  and  there  was 
a  spirit  of  equal  harmony  manifested  on  the 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       55 


26tli  of  Auj^ust  when  Sir  Henry  Pottinycr 
returned  the  commissioners'  visit  and  re- 
newed asliore  the  negotiations  whicli  had 
opened  so  auspiciously  on  board  tlie  Corii- 
wnllis.  Three  days  later  the  signatures  weie 
appended  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Coriiwullis. 
The  three  commissioners  first  signed  and 
then  Sir  Henry  Pottinger  inscribed  his  name. 
The  running  up  of  the  flags  of  Great  Britain 
and  China  on  the  mast  of  the  Conncallis, 
and  the  firing  of  a  salute  of  tvventy-one  guns, 
announced  to  the  outer  world  the  comple- 
tion of  this  most  important  diplomatic  act. 
Immediately  after  the  signature  of  the  Treaty 
the  ships  began  to  leave  the  river,  and  on 
the  payment  of  the  first  instalment  of  the 
indemnity,  the  troops  were  withdrawn  from 
Chusan.  By  the  end  of  Octolier  the  expedi- 
tionary force  had  been  broken  up,  the 
various  units  having  returned  to  their  several 
stations  with  the  exception  of  a  body  of 
seventeen  hundred  troops  which  was  left  to 
garrison  Hongkong.  Several  unfortunate  in- 
cidents occurring  shortly  after  the   signature 


Keying,  the  Chinese  commissioner,  who  had 
conducted  the  elaborate  negotiations  with 
Sir  Henry  Pottinger,  that  henceforth  trade 
at  the  five  ports  named  in  the  Treaty  was 
open  to  "the  men  from  afar"  without  dis- 
tinction, and  the  hope  was  expressed  that 
"the  weapons  of  war  being  tor  ever  laid 
aside,  joy  and  profit  shall  be  the  perpetual 
lot  of  all."  There  was  one  important 
omission  in  the  settlement  which  was  thus 
completed.  No  reference  whatever  was 
made  in  the  Commercial  Treaty  to  the 
opium  trade.  Sir  Henry  Pottinger  had 
striven  to  obtain  from  the  Chinese  Govern- 
ment the  legalisation  of  the  traffic,  but  the 
Peking  authorities  had  steadily  declined  to 
entertain  any  proposal  of  the  kind,  and 
failing  this  the  British  Plenipotentiary 
deemed  it  advisable  to  leave  the  matter 
unsettled.  It  was  an  unfortunate  decision 
as  it  supplied  an  opening  for  fresh  trouble, 
and  trouble  was  not  slow  in  coming. 
Almost  before  the  ink  was  dry  on  the 
official    proclamations    announcing    the   corn- 


measures   to  prevent  the  importation   of  the 
drug. 

With  all  its  imperfections  the  Treaty  of 
Nanking  was  an  instrument  of  enormous 
importance  to  the  commercial  interests  not 
of  Gieat  Britain  alone  but  of  the  civilised 
world.  It  ushered  in  a  new  era  of  trade — 
an  era  fraught  with  great  possibilities  for 
the  West  and  the  East  alike.  No  longer 
were  merchants  transacting  business  in 
China  at  the  mercy  of  a  corrupt  and 
capricious  officialdom,  carrying  on  their 
transactions  in  daily  and  almost  hourly 
dread  of  a  crisis  which  would  inflict 
disastrous  injury  upon  their  interests. 
Thanks  to  British  pertinacity,  reinforced  by 
the  cordial  good  will  and  moral  support  of 
the  United  States  and  France,  the  com- 
mercial relations  of  China  with  the  outer 
world  were  regulaiised,  and  an  assured  and 
protected  position  was  given  to  the  foreign 
connnercial  community  at  the  five  Treaty 
ports.  These  had  been  selected  with  an  eye 
to  the  establishment  of  the  new  trading  con- 


THE    SIGNING    AND    SEALING    OF    THE    TREATY    OF    NANKING,    1842,    BY    THE    BRITISH    AND    CHINESE    PLENIPOTENTIARIES - 

SIR    HENRY   POTTINGER,    BART.,    AND    HIGH    COMMISSIONERS    KEYING    AND    ELEPOO- 

ON    BOARD    HER    BRITANNIC    MAJESTY'S    SHIP    "  CORNWALLIS." 


of  the  Treaty  imperilled  for  a  time  the 
peace  which  had  been  concluded.  In  one 
case  the  authorities  in  Formosa  massacred 
the  shipwrecked  crews  of  two  vessels 
mamied  mainly  by  British-Indian  subjects. 
Shortly  afterwards  a  Cantonese  mob  made 
an  attack  on  the  British  factory,  plundering 
it  and  setting  it  on  fire.  In  both  instances 
the  Chinese  Goverimient  showed  a  very 
commendable  spirit  in  punishing  the  offen- 
ders, and  the  episodes  were  overlooked. 
But  the  arrangements  consequential  upon 
the  Treaty  dragged  somewhat,  and  it  was 
not  until  June  4,  1843,  that  the  ratifications 
of  the  Treaty  were  exchanged  at  Hongkong, 
while  six  weeks  further  elapsed  before  Sir 
Henry  Pottinger  found  himself  in  a  position 
to  issue  a  proclamation  announcing  that  he 
had  signed  the  arrangements  for  the  conduct 
of  trade  which  were  the  moat  important 
provisions  of  the  Treaty.  Simultaneously 
with  the  publication  of  the  British  proclama- 
tion  a    formal    announcement    was    made   by 


pletion  of  the  Treaty  arrangements  an  acute 
controversy  arose  as  to  whether  opium  was 
admissible  under  the  Treaty  or  not.  The 
mercantile  class  held  that  it  could  be  im- 
ported under  the  final  clause  of  the  tariff, 
whicli  provided  that  all  articles  not  expressly 
named  should  be  admitted  at  aii  nd  vnlorcm 
duty  of  5  per  cent.,  but  this  view  was 
promptly  repudiated  by  Sir  Henry  Pottinger, 
who  issued  an  official  intimation  declaring 
in  emphatic  terms  that  such  a  construction 
was  untenable  as  "  the  traffic  in  opium  was 
illegal  and  contraband  by  the  laws  and 
imperial  edicts  of  China."  The  position 
taken  up  by  the  British  authority  was 
severely  criticised,  and  it  undoubtedly  ten- 
ded to  produce  an  unpleasant  impression 
not  only  amongst  the  British  traders,  but 
in  Chinese  official  quarters  where  there 
was  a  failure  to  comprehend  the  logic 
and  equity  of  a  policy  which  admitted 
the  illegality  of  the  opium  trade  as  far  as 
China     was     concerned,    and     yet     took     no 


ditions  on  the  broadest  foundations.  Instead 
of  being  confined  to  one  corner  of  the 
empire  trade  had  now  openings  in  five 
distinct  quarters,  each  of  considerable 
importance.  Canton  gave  access  to  the 
great  markets  of  Southern  China ;  Amoy 
was  an  historic  commercial  centre  with 
important  connections  with  an  extended 
populous  area  in  the  province  of  Fokien  ; 
P'oochow,  the  capital  of  the  province  of 
Fokien,  and  that  seated  on  the  Min,  one  of 
the  great  rivers  of  China,  was  well  placed 
for  the  tea  industry  ;  and  Shanghai  was  a 
centre  from  which  the  vast  Yangtse  trade 
could  be  tapped.  The  openings  thus  afforded 
were  calculated  to  extend  enormously  the 
operations  of  foreign  trade  provided  only  that 
the  Chinese  Government  had  accepted  the 
new  situation  in  good  faith.  Unfortunately 
it  had  not  done  so,  and  many  years  were  to 
pass  away  before  the  advantages  wrung  from 
the  Chinese  by  Sir  Hugh  Gough's  gallant 
force  reached  anything  like  their  full  fruition. 


56       TWEXTIETH  CENTTTRY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


TTie   Acquisition    of 
Free  Port— Dark    Da 


CHAPTER    IX. 

'•ing — Elarly    History  of   the    Island — The  building  of   Victoria — Hongkong  declared  a 
R.  M.  Martin's  Scathing    Denunciations   of   the  Colony — The  Select  Committee  of 
1847  and    Hongkong. 


From  llic  exclusively  British  standpoint  the 
great  central  fact  of  tlie  Nankin;;  Treaty  was 
the  fonnal  cession  of  Honj^konf*.  The  acqui- 
sition of  this  island  gave  Great  Britain  what 
no  <ither  Western  nation,  save  the  Portuguese, 
had  in  China,  a  national  //V*/  <i  tcrrc — a 
station  which  would  supply  a  tallying  centre 
for  her  trade,  and  a  strategic  point  for  her 
navy.  The  desirability  of  forming  a  settle- 
ment of  this  kind  had  long  been  contemplated. 
The  (KX'up.tlion  of  an  island  off  the  coast 
was,  as  we  have  seen  in  the  earlier  chapters, 
suggested  by  Chinese  traders  as  a  means  of 
overcoming  the  difficulties  which  in  the 
eighteenth  century  attended  the  conduct  of 
the  trade.  Coming  to  later  times.  Sir  George 
Staunton,  in  speaking  in  the  House  of  Commons 
in  1833,  expressed  the  view  that  when  the 
trade  was  thrown  open,  if  it  should  prove 
impracticable  to  give  it  the  K-nclit  of  a 
national  connection  emanating  directly  from 
the  Crown,  it  might  become  expedient  to 
withdraw  it  altogether  from  the  control  of 
the  Chinese  authorities  and  establish  it  in 
some  insular  position  upon  the  Chinese  coast. 
In  a  general  way  the  value  of  Hongkong 
harbour  as  an  anchorage  had  f>een  recog- 
nised for  a  great  many  years.  In  the  eigh- 
teenth century  ships  occisionally  visited  it, 
attracted  by  the  security  of  the  position  and 
the  admirable  facilities  offered  for  watering 
sliips  in  the  rivulet  of  purest  water — the 
"  Heang  Keang,"  or  fragrant  slieam — which 
in  old  time  was  perhaps  the  most  con- 
spicuous natural  feature  of  the  island.  These 
cisual  visits  familiarised  Briiish  commanders 
with  the  harbour,  and  during  the  prolr.icted 
war  with  France  at  the  end  of  the  eighteenth 
and  the  commencement  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  it  was  frequently  re.sorted  to  by 
vessels  of  our  squadrons.  The  place  came 
into  special  prominence  on  the  occasion  of 
Lord  Amherst's  mission  to  the  Peking  Court 
in  1816  17.  The  vessels  conveying  the 
members  of  the  mission,  as  has  been  already 
noted,  anchored  in  the  harbour  on  their 
arrival  in  China,  and  during  their  brief  stay 
a  careful  survey  was  made  of  the  harbour 
and  island-  the  former  by  the  na%'al  authori- 
ties and  the  latter  by  Dr.  Charles  Abel, 
who  accompanied  the  mission  as  medical 
officer.  When  the  mission  returned  to 
England  a  glowing  account  was  given  of 
the  great  natural  advantages  of  the  position. 
"In  all  points,  both  of  facility  of  egress 
and  ingress,  and  in  its  perfectly  land-locked 
situation,  this  harbour  can  hardly  have  a 
superior  in  the  world,"  wrote  the  olficial 
historian  of  the  mission.  These  words  of 
enthusiastic  commendation  bore  no  direct 
fruit,  perhaps  because  the  failure  of  the 
mission  did  not  tend  to  encourage  a  policy 
of  exploitation.  BuLwhen  the  opium  troubles 
occurred  at  Cantonjviongkong  harbour  be- 
came the  resort  of  all  British  shipping,  and 
ultimately  (in  1837)  a  settlement  was  formed 
on  the  rocky  shore.  And  so  when  Captain 
Klliot  got  into  difficulties  with  the  Canton 
authorities  in  1839,  and  found  the  officialism 
of  Macao  to  accord  ill  with  the  British 
constitution,  it  was  the  most  natural  thing 
in    the    world    that     he    should    withdraw 


to  Hongkong,  which,  though  remote  enough 
to  be  flee  from  Chinese  surveillance,  was 
sulTicicntly  near  Canton  to  allow  of  touch 
tx;ing  kept  with  the  authorities.  Probably  at 
lirst  the  idea  was  only  to  use  the  harbour 
temporarily,  but  when  Lin,  by  his  violent 
jMilicy,  forced  matters  to  an  issue,  the 
formation  of  a  permanent  settlement  became 
a  definite  object  of  policy.  During  the 
operations  which  cuhninatcd  in  the  attack  on 
the  Bogue  forts  in  1841,  the  island  was  only 
used  to  a  limited  extent,  Chusan  then  being 
the  principal  base  for  the  expedition  ;  but 
as  soon  as  Keshen  had  been  compelled  to 
sue  for  peace  in  the  early  weeks  of  the 
year,  the  cession  of  the  island  was  made  a 
prominent  condition  of  the  settlement,  and 
on  the  terms  put  forward  being  conceded 
by  tlie  Chinese  Connnissioner,  the  troops 
were  removed  from  that  place  to  Hongkong, 
and  its  incorporation  in  the  British  Empire 
was  formally  notified  by  Captain  Elliot  in  a 
proclamation  dated  January  29,  1841.  The 
act  of  taking  possession  occurred  four  days 
earlier.  It  is  thus  noticed  in  Sir  Edward 
Belcher's  "Voyage  of  H.M.S.  Sulphur"  :  "  We 
landed  on  Monday  the  25th  January,  l84t, 
at  fifteen  minutes  past  eight  a.m.,  and  being  the 
botiii  tide  first  possessors  Her  Majesty's  health 
was  drunk  witli  three  cheers  on  Possession 
Mount.  On  the  26tli  the  squadron  arrived  ; 
the  marines  were  landed,  the  Union  Jack 
hoisted  on  our  fort,  and  formal  possession 
taken  of  the  island  by  Commodore  Sir  J.  G. 
Bremer,  accompanied  by  the  four  officers  of 
the  squadion,  under  a  feu  dc  joic  from  the 
marines  and  the  royal  salute  from  the 
ships  of  war.  On  the  Kowloong  Peninsula 
were  situated  two  batteries,  which  nnght 
have  commanded  the  anchorage,  but  wliicli 
appeared  but  thinly  manned  ;  these  received 
due  notice  to  withdraw  their  men  and 
guns  as  agreed  by  the  late  Treaty." 
Nearly  two  years  were  to  elapse  before  the 
final  notification  of  the  Treaty  of  Nanking 
placed  the  occupation  of  the  island  on  a 
thoroughly  legal  basis,  but  practically 
January  26,  1841,  marks  the  commencement 
of  the  organised  life  of  the  settlement. 

The  important  island  which  had  thus 
become  British  territory  was  formerly  a  part 
of  the  Chinese  district  of  Sin-ngan.  It  was 
mainly  owned  by  an  ancient  family  of  the 
name  of  Tang,  whose  title  deeds  extended 
back  several  centuries.  The  representatives 
of  this  family  had  paid  the  land  tax  for  the 
island  for  two  centuries  prior  to  the  occupa- 
tion to  the  Chinese  Government,  and  they 
were  recognised  by  the  authorities  as  the 
landlords.  In  the  arrangements  for  the 
transfer,  however,  no  provision  was  made 
for  the  rights  of  these  proprietors,  and 
though  a  sum  of  eight  or  ten  thousand 
dollars  was  disbursed  amongst  the  occupants 
of  certain  fields,  the  members  of  the  Tang 
family  do  not  appear  to  have  benefited.  Be- 
fore the  advent  of  the  British  the  population 
of  the  island  was  confined  to  a  few  thousand 
souls  who  obtained  a  precarious  living  by 
fishing  or  tilling  the  rocky  soil.  In  1837  the 
site  of  the  town  of  Victoria  was  a  mere 
rugged  slope  of  rock  shelving  in  most  places 


precipitously  to  the  water's  edge,  with  a 
narrow  pathway  winding  along  the  cliff  to 
which  the  fanciful  name  Kiin-Tai-Lu,  or 
Petticoat  String  Path,  was  given  by  the  in- 
habitants. To  the  eye  the  island  was  more 
picturesque  than  pleasing.  There  was  little 
or  no  vegetation,  and  the  only  buildings 
were  a  number  of  ramshackle  habitations  on 
the  shore  constructed  out  of  old  junks.  The 
inhabitants  were  friendly,  and  they  seemed 
industrious,  but  there  were  strong  grounds 
for  believing  tliat  they  took  a  very  free 
hand  in  the  piracy  that  at  that  time  was 
rife  at  the  mouth  of  the  Canton  Kiver. 

When  Hongkong  was  formally  occupied  in 
1841,  in  the  circumstances  described,  tliere 
was  not  a  single  European  house  in  existence. 
The  buildings  scattered  about  the  foreshore 
were  either  the  quaint  improvised  huts  just 
referred  to  or  houses  of  the  usual  native 
type.  As  soon,  however,  as  it  became  evident 
tliat  the  British  had  come  to  stay  a  change 
came  over  the  aspect  of  affairs.  On  June 
14,  1841,  the  first  land  sale*  took  place,  51 
plots  being  sold  at  prices  which,  compared 
with  modern  rales,  appear  ridiculously  low. 
Thereafter  building  operations  were  prose- 
cuted with  an  energy  born  of  the  belief  that 
Victoria,  as  the  new  settlement  had  been 
christened  in  honour  of  the  Queen,  was 
destined  to  be  no  mean  city.  Dr.  Eitel 
states  in  his  book  on  the  authority  of  Mr. 
W.  Kawson  that  the  first  buildings  erected 
in  Hongkong  were  the  so-called  Albany 
Godowns  (near  Spring  Gardens)  of  Lindsay 
&  Co.  "Next  rose  up  the  buildings  at  East 
Point,  where  jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  estab- 
lished themselves.  Later  on  buildings  were 
erected  in  the  Happy  Valley  and  here  and 
there  along  the  hillside  as  far  as  the  present 
centre  of  the  town.  While  the  military  and 
naval  authorities  commenced  settling  at  West 
Point,  erecting  cantonments  on  the  hillside 
(over  the  site  of  the  present  Reformatory  and 
later  on  above  Fairlea)  and  large  naval  stores 
(near  the  shore  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
present  Gas  Company's  premises),  the  Happy 
Valley  was  at  first  intended  by  British 
merchants  for  the  principal  business  centre. 
However,  the  prejudices  of  the  Chinese 
merchants  against  the  Fungshin  (geomantic 
aspects)  of  the  Happy  Valley  and  the 
peculiarly    malignant     fever     which    emptied 


•  I^eferrinj*  to  tliis  sale,  Dr.  Eitel  says :  Tlie  purcliasers 
of  those  lots  who  may  be  considered  as  the  first  IJritish 
settlers  in  H<jn^koii'ji  were  the  following*  firms  or 
individuals,  viz.,  Jard  ne,  Matheson  &  Co. ;  tieerjeebhoy 
Rustomjee  ;  Dent  &  Co. ;  Macrica  &  Co. :  Gcmmell  &  Co. ; 
John  Smith  ;  D.  Kustomjee  :  Gribble,  HutJhes  &  Co. ; 
Lindsay  &  Co.  ;  Hooker  &  Lane  ;  Holliday  &  Co.  ;  F. 
Leijihton  &  Co.  ;  Innes,  Fletcher  &  Co. ;  Jamieson  &  How  : 
F(»x,  Kawson  &  Co.  ;  Turner  &  Co. ;  iiobcrt  Webster  ; 
\<.  Gully  :  Charles  Hart ;  Captain  Larkins  ;  1'.  F.  Robertson  ; 
Captain  Morgan  :  Dirom  &  Co. :  I'estonjee  Cowasjee, 
and  Franijee  Janisetjee.  This  sale  was  followed  by  the 
erection  of  godowns  and  houses,  and  the  building  of  a 
sea  wall,  the  road  alongside  of  which  was  thenceforth 
(in  imitation  of  Macao  parlance)  called  the  I'raya.  'I'he 
following  places  were  the  first  to  be  utilised  for  com- 
mercial tmildings  and  private  residences  of  merchants, 
vij:,,  West  Point,  the  Happy  Valley,  Spring  Gardens, 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  present  Naval  Yard  (Canton 
Ilazaar),  the  sites  now  occupied  by  Uutterfield  !k  Swire, 
the  Hongkong  Hotil,  by  the  China  Mail,  the  Hongkong 
Dispensary,  the  slope  below  Wyndham  Street,  I*<»tlinger 
Street,  Queen's  Road  Central  (the  liazaar).  etc. 


EARLY    VIEWS    OF    HONGKONG    AND    VICINITY. 
I.    Bamboo  AyiKDi'CT.  2.    Harbolk. 

3.    Houses  ok  Boats,  Bay  ok  Kowloon.  4.    Village,  Bay  ok  Hoxukokg. 


58      TWEXTIirrH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


every  Earopwn  house  in  that  nciglibourhood 
^most  as  soon  as  it  was  tenanted,  caused 
the  business  settlement  to  move  gradually 
westwards.  Hill  sites,  freely  exjxised  to- 
wards the  si>uth-west  and  south-east,  as  well 
as  to  the  north,  were  soon  discovered  as 
being  le«s  subject  to  the  worst  type  of 
malarial  fever,  and  were  accordingly  studded 
with  frail  European  houses,  mostly  covered 
at  first  with  palm  leaves.  A  number  of 
wooden  houses  were  imported  from  Singa- 
pore and  erected  on  lower  stories  of  brick 
or  stone.  But  at  first  the  only  substantial 
buildings  erected  by  private  parties  were  a 
house  and  godowns  built  at  East  Point  by 
order  of  Mr.  A.  Matheson,  who  foresaw  the 
permanency  of  the  colony  at  a  time  when 
most  people  doublet!  it.  The  native  stone- 
masons, bricklayers,  carpenters,  and  scaffold 
builders,  required  for  the  construction  of 
roads  and  txirracks  (by  the  Engineer  Corps 
of  the  Expedition)  and  for  the  erection  of 
mercantile  buildings  were  immediately  fol- 
lowed  by  a  considerable   influx    of    Chinese 


vided  and  a  cemetery  laid  out.  While  this 
infant  Hongkong  w.is  growing  up  steps  were 
taken  to  perfect  the  olVicial  organisation. 
Captain  Elliot  continued  to  discharge  tlie 
duties  of  Chief  Superintendent  of  Trade,  and 
he  added  to  them  those  of  c.v  officio  Governor 
of  the  island.  He  appointed  Captain  Caine 
Chief  Magistrate,  and  Mr.  Johnson  was  made 
Deputy  Superintendent  of  the  Colony.  On 
the  1st  of  May  appeared  for  the  first  time 
the  Goivriiiiiciit  GnzclU;  a  weekly  oriicial 
publication  which  has  continued  to  this  day. 
Its  first  number  contained  a  warrant  ap- 
pointing Captain  Caine,  and,  amongst  other 
notifications,  rules  for  shipping  frequenting 
the  port.  The  second  issue  gave  a  list  of 
the  villages  and  hamlets  on  the  island,  from 
which  it  appears  that  there  were  twenty 
places  oflicially  recognised  by  the  authoiities. 
At  the  time  of  the  ofticial  occupation  Chek-chu 
was  the  most  important  of  these  places,  and 
Wong-nei-chung  was  the  next.  Hongkong 
itself,  a  hamlet  of  only  two  hundred  inliabi- 
tants,   stood   third  on   the   list.     The   relative 


TOMBS    AND   VILLAGE    BETWEEN    THE    BAYS    OF    HONGKONG 
AND    KOWLOON. 

(From  Borget's  "Sketches  of  Cliina.") 


provision  dealers  (who  settled  near  the  site 
of  the  present  central  market,  soon  known 
as  the  Bazaar),  and  by  Chinese  furniture 
dealers,  joiners,  cibinet  makers,  and  curio 
shops,  congregating  opposite  the  present 
naval  yard,  and  along  the  present  Queen's 
Koad  East,  then  known  as  the  Canton  Bazaar. 
The  day  labourers  settled  down  in  huts  at 
Taipingshan,  at  Saiyingpan,  and  at  Tsim- 
shatsin.  But  the  largest  proportion  of  the 
Chinese  population  were  the  so-called  Tanka, 
or  boat  people,  the  pariahs  of  South  China, 
whose  intimate  connection  with  the  .social 
life  of  the  foreign  merchants  in  the  Canton 
factories  used  to  call  forth  an  annual  proc- 
lamation on  the  part  of  the  Cantonese 
authorities  warning  foreigners  against  the 
demoralising  influences  of  these  people." 

To  these  interesting  details  may  be  added 
the  facts  that  the  first  official  building  to  be 
erected  was  the  Court  H<juse,  which  came 
into  existence  within  the  first  ye:ir  of  the 
occupation,  and  that   a   gaol    was   also  pro- 


insignificance  of  the  material  inlerests  existing 
in  the  island  when  the  British  took  posses- 
sion may  be  gauged  from  the  fact  that  only 
250  acres  of  the  entire  area  was  under 
cultivation. 

By  far  the  most  important  .step  taken  in 
the  second  year  of  the  occupation  was  the 
issue  of  a  proclamation  by  Sir  H.  Potlinger 
declaring  Hongkong  a  free  port.  The 
experience  gained  at  Singapore  had  no 
doubt  suggested  the  advisability  of  this  step, 
but  even  the  most  sanguine  of  those  who 
assisted  in  the  founding  of  the  Colony  could 
not  have  foreseen  the  remarkable  results 
which  would  follow  from  the  adoption  of 
this  policy.  At  the  mo.st  they  probably  only 
hoped  to  establish  an  entrepot  which,  while 
it  would  pay  its  own  way  would  allow 
trade  to  be  conducted  without  interruption. 
However,  it  was  by  no  means  all  plain  sail- 
ing in  the  early  days  of  tlie  occupation. 
Amongst  the  thousands  of  Chinese  wiio 
flocked   across   the   channel   from    the    main- 


land as  soon  as  the  British  flag  was  hoisted 
was  a  large  proportion  of  bad  characters. 
They  came  attmctcd  by  the  hope  of  gain  or 
plunder,  and  they  were  so  protected  by 
secret  compact  as  to  defy  the  ordinary  regu- 
lations of  police  for  detection  or  prevention. 
Tlie  respectable  shopkeepers  who  did 
niigr.ate  left  the  bulk  of  their  property  and 
their  families  behind,  and  so,  while  working 
in  Hongkong,  they  were  almost  as  much 
under  the  control  of  the  Mandarins  as  if 
they  were  in  China.  These  circumstances 
all  militated  against  the  smooth  conduct  of 
the  administration  in  the  infant  days  of  the 
settlement,  and  it  did  not  tend  to  increase 
confidence  in  the  stability  of  the  occupation 
that  in  March  of  1842  a  despatch  was 
received  from  Sir  Kobert  Peel  intimating 
that  Her  Majesty's  Government  had  not 
decided  upon  the  tenure  upon  which  land 
should  be  held  in  the  island.  Hut  perhaps 
the  most  unpleasant  factor  of  the  situation 
of  all  was  the  unhealthiness  of  the  island. 
Disease  was  rife  amongst  the  troops  and  the 
mortality  reached  an  alarming  figure.  The 
outbreaks  were  attributable  to  some  extent 
to  inadequate  attention  to  sanitation,  a  not 
unnatural  result  of  the  bringing  together  of 
large  bodies  of  people,  the  vast  majority  of 
them  possessing  the  most  rudimentary  ideas 
of  hygeia.  But  tlie  trouble  was  chiefly  due 
to  local  causes  which  at  the  outset  were 
very  imperfectly  understood. 

Hongkong  beyond  doubt  acquired  a  terribly 
bad  reputation  in  its  earliest  years.  When 
the  freshness  of  the  occupation  had  worn  off, 
and  when  further  the  stream  of  Government 
money  which  had  flowed  so  generously  at 
the  outset  had  been  reduced  to  more  modest 
proportions,  the  inevitable  reaction  set  in. 
People  who  had  been  loud  in  their  commen- 
dations of  the  annexation  now  could  not  see 
anything  good  in  the  settlement.  The  land 
regulations  caused  great  discontent,  and  there 
was  much  grumbling  at  the  revenue  arrange- 
ments, which,  based  as  they  were  on  a  system 
of  licence  fees  on  salt,  opium,  bhang,  and 
other  articles  in  common  use,  were  extremely 
unpopular  with  the  Chinese,  and  tended  to 
keep  away  respectable  traders.  These  various 
complaints  found  vent  in  the  proceedings  of 
a  House  of  Commons  Select  Commillee 
which  sat  in  1847  to  consider  the  question 
of  the  Chinese  Trade.  Several  leading 
Hongkong  merchants  gave  evidence  testify- 
ing to  the  highly  unsatisfactory  condition  of 
the  settlement.  One  of  the  number  stated 
that  most  of  the  firms  which  had  purchased 
land  originally  were  thinking  of  relinquishing 
their  premises  and  returning  to  Canton. 
Another  mercantile  witness  described  the 
Colony  as  in  "a  condition  of  extreme  decay." 
But  the  blackest  picture  of  all  was  drawn  by 
an  official — Mr.  R.  Montgomery  Martin.  This 
gentleman,  who  filled  the  ollice  of  Colonial 
Treasurer,  seems  to  have  conceived  a  per- 
fectly insane  hatred  of  the  island.  He 
penned  a  report  in  which  he  piled  up  horror 
upon  horror  and  scandal  upon  scandal  in 
order  to  impress  the  home  public  with  the 
ruinous  blunder  that  had  been  perpetrated 
in  the  occupation.  The  document,  which 
was  sent  home  in  July,  1844,  described  the 
formation  of  the  island  as  of  "rotten  granite 
strata,"  and  said  that  the  material  excavated 
in  the  course  of  building  operations  "  ap- 
peared like  a  richly  prepared  compost  "  ;  it 
emitted  "  a  fcetid  odour  of  the  most  sickening 
nature,  and  at  night  must  prove  a  deadly 
poison."  He  likened  the  town  to  the  bottom 
of  a  crater,  and  stated  that  this  formation 
effectually  prevented  the  dissipation  of  the 
poisonous  gases.  The  Chinese  had  ever 
deemed  Hongkong  as  injurious  to  health  and 


TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       o9 


fatal  to  life.  As  for  the  Europeans,  those 
who  survived  a  brief  residence  in  the  climate 
"  generally  got  a  lassitude  of  frame  and  an 
irritability  of  fibre  which  destroyed  the 
spring  of  existence."      In  the   previous   year 


on  the  island.  "  The  European  inhabitants, 
independent  of  those  in  the  employ  of 
Government,  consist  of  the  members  of  about 
12  mercantile  houses  and  their  dealers, 
together  with  several   European  shopkeepers. 


EABLY   VIEW    OP   VICTORIA,    HONGKONG— FROM    A    PAINTING   BY    PIQUA. 


(1843),  though  the  troops  only  numbered 
1,526,  the  admissions  to  hospital  reached  the 
high  figure  of  7,893.  In  other  words,  on  an 
average  each  man  went  through  the  hospital 
more  than  five  times.  The  total  deaths  were 
440,  or  I  in  3i.  "  Her  Majesty's  98th  Regi- 
ment lost  at  Hong  Kong  in  21  months  257 
men  by  disease.  One  half  the  men  of  a 
company  are  frequently  unable  to  attend  the 
parade  ;  out  of  100  men  there  are  sometimes 
not  more  than  five  or  six  men  fit  for  duty. 
.  .  .  General  D'Aguliar  (in  command  of  the 
troops)  says  that  the  maintenance  of  a 
European  garrison  at  Hong-Kong  would  cost 
the  Crown  one  regiment  every  three  years." 
While  the  deadly  climate  was  creating  this 
havoc  the  commercial  prospects  of  the  island 
were  as  bad  as  they  could  be.  "There  is 
scarcely  a  firm  in  the  island,"  continued 
this  very  candid  chronicler,  "  tint  would,  I 
understand,  be  glad  to  get  back  half  the 
money  they  have  expended  in  the  colony 
and  retire  from  the  place.  A  sort  of  halluci- 
nation seems  to  have  seized  those  who  built 
houses  here  ;  they  thought  that  Hong-Kong 
would  'rapidly  outrival  Singapore  and  be- 
come the  Tyre  or  Carthage  of  the  Eastern 
hemisphere.'  Unfortunately  the  Government 
of  the  colony  fostered  the  delusion  respecting 
the  colony.  The  leading  Government  officers 
bought  land,  built  houses  or  bazaars  which 
they  rented  out  at  high  rates,  and  the  public 
money  was  lavished  in  the  most  extraordinary 
manner  in  building  up  and  pulling  down 
temporary  structures,  making  zig-zag  bridle 
paths  over  hills  and  mountains,  and  forming 
the  Queen's  Road  of  three  or  four  miles  long 
on  which  about  180,000  dollars  have  been 
expended,  but  which  is  not  passable  for  half 
the  year.  The  straggling  settlement  called 
Victoria  built  along  the  Queen's  Road  was 
dignified  with  the  name  of  city,  and  it  was 
declared  on  the  highest  authority  that  Hong 
Kong  would  contain  a  population  'equal  to 
that  of  ancient  Rome.' "  After  three  and  a 
half  years'  uninterrupted  settlement  there 
was  not  one   respectable   Chinese   inhabitant 


A  few  persons  have  arrived  here  from  New 
South  Wales  to  try  and  better  their  fortune, 
many  of  whom  would  be  glad  to  return 
thither."  p'inally  Mr.  Montgomery  Martin 
delivered  himself  of  a  confident  declaration 
that  there  did  not  appear  to  be  "  the  slightest 
probability     under     any    circumstances     that 


Martin's  survey  undoubtedly  as  a  whole  pro- 
duced upon  the  mind  an  overpowering  im- 
pression of  the  unsuitability  of  the  choice 
that  had  been  made  of  a  settlement.  In 
summing  up  their  conclusions  the  Committee 
made  this  reference  to  the  subject : — 

"  From  Hongkong  we  cannot  be  said  to 
have  derived  directly  much  commercial  ad- 
vantage, nor,  indeed,  does  it  seem  to  be 
likely  by  its  position  to  become  the  seat  of 
an  extended  commerce.  It  has  no  consider- 
able population  of  its  own  to  feed  or  clothe, 
and  has  no  right  to  expect  to  draw  away  the 
established  trade  of  the  populous  town  and 
province  of  Canton,  to  which  it  is  adjacent. 
From  (he  only  trafiic  for  which  it  is  fitted, 
that  of  a  depot  for  the  neighbouring  coasts, 
it  is  in  a  great  degree  detiarred,  except  in 
regard  to  the  five  ports,  by  treaties,  which 
stipulate  distinctly  for  the  observance  of  this 
restriction.  In  addition,  however,  to  these 
natural  and  necessary  disadvantages  it  appears 
to  have  laboured  under  others  created  by  a 
system  of  monopolies  and  forms  and  petty 
regulations,  peculiarly  unsuited  to  its  position 
and  prejudicial  to  its  progress." 

By  the  time  the  Committee's  report  reached 
China  the  condition  of  things  which  had  led 
to  the  expression  of  the  unfavourable  views 
cited  in  the  foregoing  paragraph  had  passed 
away.  The  period  of  reaction  had  spent 
itself,  and  with  the  improvement  of  trade  a 
healthier  spirit,  both  moral  and  physical, 
pervaded  the  settlement.  Sir  John  Davis,  in 
some  observations  upon  the  Committee's 
report,  penned  on  January  21,  1848,  was  able 
to  show  how  very  inadequate  a  notion  the 
Committee  had  formed  of  the  Colony's  con- 
dition and  prospects.  "  The  population,  ex- 
clusive of  troops,"  he  wrote,  "has  gradually 
increased  from  less  than  5,000  on  its  first 
occupation  in  1842  to  23,872.  This  popula- 
tion, instead  of  consisting  of  mere  vagabonds, 
comprises   in   its   number  contractors  for  ex- 


HONGKONG    FROM   KOWLOON    SIXTY   YEARS    AGO. 

(Krom  Allom  &  Wrifiht's   'China.") 


Hong-Kong    will    ever    become    a    place    of 
trade." 

It  is  not  remarkable  that  the  report  of  the 
Select  Committee  was  influenced  by  these 
gloomy  vaticinations.  The  facts  were  in 
many    instances     uncontrovertible,    and     Mr. 


pensive  works,  executed  (by  the  testimony  of 
the  engineer  officers)  as  well  as  they  would 
be  i[i  England,  and  of  numerous  owners  of 
respectable  shops,  where  almost  any  of  the 
productions  of  China  can  be  obtained.  Life 
and   property  are    now   acknowledged  to   be 


60      TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


•ecore.  The  revenue,  with  a  sitijile  tax  upon 
caoinieTcc,  has  progressively  increased  snue 
my  arrival  from  iQ,534  '»  i^'Ji.O/S  ">  "*47  ; 
and  the  civil  ex|H.-nditure  diminished  from 
;^66,ooo  Jo  i'50,()5g  in  the  same  year,  of  ihis 
;^I5,i6q  has  been  for  public  works  incidental 
lo  a  new  colony,  which  beiiij;  deducted  from 
the  total  charge  for  the  year  leaves  ;t'35,790 
for  the  fixed  expenditure,  being  only  i"4,7l2 
beyond  the  reveime.  The  shipping  return 
for  1847  amounts  to  229,465  tons  for 
European  vessels,  and  for  Chinese  junks 
840,9^0   piculs." 

Alter  the  conclusion  of  the  Treaty  of 
Nanking  steps  were  taken  by  the  Home 
Government  to  organise  a  district  Colonial 
Government  at  Hongkong  by  transferring 
the  management  of  local  affairs  from  the 
Foreign  Office  to  the  Colonial  Oflice.  The 
superintending  of  trade  and  the  direction  of 
the  new  Consular  service  in  China  were, 
howex-er,  for  the  present  combined  with  the 
office  of  Governor  and   Commander-in-Chief 


of  the  Colony.  On  this  basis  an  Order  in 
Council  was  issued  (January  4,  tS43)  eslab- 
lishing  in  Hongkong  the  Court  of  Justice 
with  criminal  and  Admiralty  jurisdiction, 
which  nominally  had  existed  since  the  time 
of  I^rd  Napier  in  Chinese  waters  under  an 
Order  of  the  Privy  Council  of  December  9, 
1833.  This  court  was  now  endowed  with 
jurisdiction  over  British  subjects  residing 
within  the  Colony  or  on  the  mainland  of 
China  or  on  the  high  seas  within  100  miles 
of  the  coast  thereof.  Three  months  later 
(.\pril  5,  1843)  the  Privy  Council  issued 
letters  patent  under  the  Great  Seal  of  tlie 
United  Kingdom  creating  the  settlement  on 
the  island  of  Hongkong  into  a  Crown 
Colony  by  charter,  and  on  the  same  day 
a  Koyal  Warrant  was  issued  under  the 
Queen's  Signet  and  Sign  Manual  appointing 
the  Chief  Superintendent  of  Trade,  Sir  Henry 
Pottinger,  Bait.,  K.C.B.,  as  Governor  and 
Commander-in-Chief.  When  the  ratitications 
of  the   Nanking  Treaty   were   exchanged   on 


June  26,  1843,  between  Sir  Henry  Pottinger 
and  the  Cliinesc  commissioners,  who  had 
come  to  Hongkong  for  the  purpose,  the 
Cliarter  of  Hongkong  and  the  Koyal  Warrant 
were  read  out  at  Government  House  before 
a  large  assembly  of  residents,  and  sub- 
sequently published  (June  29,  1843)  by 
proclamation  in  the  Gazette.  It  is  noted  by 
Dr.  Eitel  as  an  interesting  fact  that  this 
proclamation  fixed  the  name  of  the  settle- 
ment as  "the  Colony  of  Hongkong  (not 
Hong  Kong  as  previously  used)  and  the 
name  of   the  city  as  Victoria." 

The  newly  established  Legislative  Council 
was  somewhat  late  in  getting  to  work,  for 
it  was  not  until  January  II,  1844,  that  it 
assembled.  I5ut  it  fully  atoned  by  its  activity 
when  it  did  meet  for  any  lack  of  expedition 
there  may  have  been  in  bringing  it  together. 
In  the  lirst  (our  months  of  its  existence  it  com- 
piled, considered,  and  passed  no  fewer  than 
twelve  colonial  and  five  consular  ordinances, 
some  of  them  of  an  important  character. 


CHAPTER    X. 

The  Five  Treaty  Ports — Elarly  History  of  Shanghai — Growing  Trade  of  the  Settlement — First  Consular 

Appointments — Difficulties  at  Foochow  and  Amoy. 


We  may  leave  the  early  history  of  Hongkong 
at  this  point  and  turn  to  survey  the  five 
ports  thrown  open  to  trade  by  the  provisions 
of  the  Treaty.  Gmton,  the  oldest  and  at  that 
time  most  important  seat  of  European  trade 
in  Far  Eastern  seas,  demands  first  notice. 
Recalling  the   history   of  the   place   and   the 


in  an  emphatic  way  the  feelings  they  enter- 
tained on  the  subject.  F'irst  there  was  a 
serious  attack  by  a  riotous  mob  on  the 
British  factory,  culminating  in  the  plundering 
and  burning  of  the  building.  Afterwards 
there  was  an  active  agitation  set  on  foot 
by    the    secret   societies    with    the    deliberate 


SHANGHAI  -AN  EARLT  VIEW  FROM  A  PAINTING  BY  PIQUA,  PRODUCED 
SBOBTLT  AFTER  THE  OPENING  OP  THE  PORT  TO  FOREIGN  TRADE. 


unvarying  hostility  of  the  official  classes  to 
trade,  it  is  not  a  matter  for  surprise  that  the 
concessions  wrung  from  the  Govermnent 
under  the  Treaty  gave  intense  m.ortification 
to  the  ultra  patriotic  inhabitants  of  Ihis  City 
of  Unrest.    They  were  not  slow  in  showing 


aim  of  inflaming  the  populace  against  the 
foreigners.  An  outcome  of  this  movement 
was  the  issue  of  incendiary  proclamations 
calling  upon  the  inhabitants  to  wreak  their 
vengeance  on  the  insolent  barbarians.  One 
of    these   productions,   which    was    approved 


at  a  great  public  meeting  held  with  the  cog- 
nisance if  not  the  approval  of  the  Mandarins, 
after  a  reference  to  the  grealness  of  the 
empire,  said  :  "  But  there  is  that  vile  English 
nation  !  its  ruler  is  now  a  woman  and  then  a 
man,  and  then,  perhaps,  a  woman  again  ;  its 
people  are  at  one  time  like  birds,  and  then 
they  are  like  wild  beasts,  with  dispositions 
more  fierce  and  furious  tlian  the  tiger  or  wolf 
and  hearts  more  greedy  than  the  great  snake 
or  the  hog.  These  people  have  ever  stealthily 
devoured  all  the  western  barbarians  and  like 
the  demon  of  the  night  they  now  .suddenly 
exalt  themselves.  During  the  reigns  of  the 
Emperors  Kien-lung  and  Kiaking  these 
English  barbarians  humbly  besought  an 
entrance  and  permission  to  deliver  tribute 
and  presents  ;  they  afterwards  presumptu- 
ously asked  to  have  Chusan  ;  but  those  divine 
personages,  clearly  perceiving  their  traitorous 
designs,  gave  them  a  peremptory  refusal. 
From  that  time,  linking  themselves  with 
traitorous  Chinese  traders,  tliey  liave  carried 
on  a  large  trade  and  poisoned  our  brave 
people  with  opium.  Yes,  the  English  bar- 
barians murder  all  of  us  that  they  can  ;  they 
are  dogs  wliose  desires  can  never  be  satisfied  ; 
and,  therefore,  we  need  not  inquire  whether 
the  peace  they  have  now  made  be  real  or 
pretended.  Let  us  all  rise,  arm,  unite  and 
go  against  them.  Yes,  we  here  bind  ourselves 
to  vengeance  and  express  these  our  sincere 
intentions  in  order  to  exhibit  our  high  prin- 
ciples and  patriotism  !  The  gods  from  on 
high  clearly  beliold  us  :  let  us  not  lose  our 
first  and  firm  resolution  !"  A  counter  agitation 
was  attempted  by  a  body  of  merchants  and 
others  who  plainly  realised  the  folly  of  these 
violent  courses  ;  but  this  peace  parly  was  small 
in  numbers  and  it  was  soon  overwhelmed  by 
the  spread  of  the  spirit  of  fanaticism  which 
the  emissaries  of  the  secret  societies  had 
so  assiduously  fanned.  Outrages  were  of 
common  occurrence,  and  property  became 
far  less  secure  than  before  the  war.  With 
strange   unwisdom    the    British    Government 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       01 


left  the  Canton  ineicliants  for  considerable 
periods  without  the  protection  of  a  single 
man-of-war.  On  one  occasion  in  July,  1844, 
the  British  community  owed  their  safety  to 
an  American  brig  of  war  which,  on  a  riot 
occurring  at  the  factory,  promptly  went  to 
their  assistance  from  Whampoa.  At  another 
period  of  emergency  the  situation  was  saved 
by  the  accidental  arrival  of  a  Danish  man- 
of-war.  Remonstrances  were  made  by  the 
British  Cantonese  against  the  apparent  lack 
of  consideration  shown,  but  without  much 
effect.  The  mot  d'oriiye  at  the  time  was  to 
do  nothing  to  arouse  Chinese  resentment, 
and  so  the  little  society  of  Britishers  at 
Canton  were  left  for  a  period  very  much  to 
their  own  devices.  That  they  could  at  a 
pinch  very  well  take  care  of  themselves  was 


found    it    easier    to   ride    the   storm    than    to 
direct  it. 

Happily  the  turbulent  spirit  so  conspicu- 
ously manifested  at  Canton  found  little  or  no 
expression  at  other  centres  affected  by  the 
Treaty.  There  were  difiiculties,  but  they  were 
not  of  a  serious  character,  and  were  over- 
come by  the  exercise  of  tact  and  goodwill 
on  both  sides.  Next  to  Canton,  Shanghai 
was  the  port  to  which  most  importance 
was  attached  by  the  mercantile  community. 
Though  few  at  the  time  foresaw  the  great 
position  it  was  ultimately  to  reach,  traders 
were  not  slow  to  appreciate  the  splendid 
facilities  for  the  extension  of  trade  in  the 
interior  of  China  which  the  situation  offered. 
A  brief  summary  of  its  history  may  be  appro- 
priately given  here.     Shanghai,  or  Shanghae, 


Company's  ship  Lord  Amherst,  but  with  such 
unsatisfactory  results  that  when  Sir  James 
Brabazon  Urmston,  president  of  the  Company's 
factory,  in  1833  published  his  "Observations 
on  the  China  Trade  and  the  importance  of 
removing  fro;ii  Canton,"  he  made  no  reference 
to  Shanghai.  It  remained  for  Admiral  Parker 
and  Sir  Hugh  Gough  in  their  Yangtse  cam- 
paign of  1 84 1  to  discover  the  advantages  of 
the  situation.  These  officers  were  greatly 
struck  with  the  position  of  Shanghai  in  its 
relation  to  the  vast  trade  of  the  Yangtse,  and 
its  inclusion  amongst  the  ports  to  be  opened 
to  British  trade  under  the  provisions  of  the 
Treaty  of  Nanking  followed  almost  as  a 
matter  of  course.  When  the  ratifications  of 
the  Treaty  had  been  exchanged  Captain 
Balfour  was  sent  as  British  Consul  to  establish 


"5l*^l«j|^5jrei^ 


AN    OLD    CHINESE    MAP    OF    THE    SHANGHAI   DISTRICT   (1). 
(From  the  Chinese  Miscellany.) 


AN  OLD    CHINESE    MAP    OF    THE    SHANGHAI  DISTRICT    (2). 
(From  the  Chinese  Miscellany.) 


shown  on  July  8,  1846,  when  a  vigorous 
attack  was  made  by  the  mob  on  the 
factories.  The  merchants  promptly  stood  to 
their  arins,  and,  by  shooting  down  about 
twenty  of  their  assailants,  carried  terror  into 
the  ranks  of  the  attacking  party  and  saved 
the  factory  from  destruction.  But  the  policy 
of  allowing  outrages  to  continue  practically 
without  check  was  a  mistaken  one  and  bore 
its  inevitable  fruit  afterwards.  The  difticulty 
no  doubt  was  the  weakness  of  the  Chinese 
authority  at  this  period.  The  local  govern- 
ment was  powerless  against  the  wave  of 
anti-foreign  sentiment  which  under  the  stimu- 
lating influences  of  the  secret  societies  was 
sweeping  the  province.  It  probably  would 
have  wished  in  its  own  interests  to  do  nothing 
to  arouse   British    anger  ;    but   in   practice   it 


the  foreign  settlement  and  treaty  port,  is 
included  in  the  district  of  Shanghai  in  the 
province  of  Keeang-so.  For  a  long  period 
before  the  place  attracted  European  notice  it 
was  an  important  centre  of  trade.  Native 
vessels  discharged  here,  and  their  cargoes 
were  taken  inland  to  the  great  einporium  of 
Soochow,  and  were  thence  transhipped  to  the 
interior  by  way  of  the  Grand  Canal.  The 
earliest  British  notice  of  the  place  is  to  be 
found  in  a  memorandum  drawn  up  in  1756 
by  Mr.  Frederick  Pigou,  one  of  the  members 
of  the  East  India  Company's  service.  At  that 
time  the  Company  wei'e  looking  out  for  con- 
venient outlets  in  the  P'ar  East  for  their  trade, 
and  Mr.  Pigou  recommended  this  port  as  one 
well  deserving  of  attention.  A  good  inany 
years    later    the    place     was    visited   by    the 


the  new  settlement.  "  At  this  time,"  says  a 
well  known  writer,  "  the  native  city  and  its 
suburbs  lying  on  the  W.  bank  of  the  river 
were  separated  by  an  expanse  of  some  two 
miles  of  reedy  marshland,  partially  cultivated 
and  sparingly  built  upon,  froin  a  stream 
running  into  the  Hwang-fu  from  the  East, 
just  at  the  point  where  the  river  makes  an 
abrupt  curve  to  the  Eastward.  This  streain, 
known  to  foreigners  as  the  Soochow  Creek, 
was  adopted  by  the  British  Consul  as  the 
boundary  of  the  British  Settlement  which 
extended  Southward  for  three-fifths  of  a  mile 
to  a  narrow  canal  called  the  Yang-King-pang 
running  parallel  to  the  Northern  boundary 
stream.  The  river  formed  the  Eastern  limit 
of  the  Settlement,  whilst  inland  no  boundaries 
were   defined.    A    tract    of    land   within    the 


62      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


dhow  formed  bv  the  junction  of  the  Soochow 
Creek  with  the  Hwang-fu  «-as  leased  as  the 
site  of  tlie  British  i.x>nsiilatc,  whilst  British 
subjects  generally  were  authorised  to  purchase 
the  buildings  of  native  landowners  within 
the  limits  described  ;  but  for  several  ensuing 
Years  there  was  little  encouragement  for 
foreigners  to  establish  themselves  at  this  port 
and  the  number  of  residents  remained  ex- 
tremely small.  As  trade  developed  in  later 
\tars  a  French  settlement  was  established 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Yang-King-pang 
Creek,  stretching  thence  to  the  city  walls, 
whilst  titer  still,  a  consul  was  appointed  by 
the  United  States  and  a  settlement  planned 
for  I'nited  Stxites  citizens  upon  the  bank  of 
the  river  cast  of  the  Soochow  Creek. 
Several  years  elapsed,  however,  before  the 
expectations  that  had  been  formed  of  a 
prosperous  commerce  at  Shanghai  were 
fullilled.  Foreign  merchants  were  slow  to 
remove  to  so  great  a  distance  from  their 
establishments  then  centred  at  Canton  and 
Hongkong  ;  whilst  the  dull  apathetic 
character   of    the   natives   of    the   place    dis- 


such  as  the  maintenance  of  a  police  force 
and  the  formation  of  roads  and  trams,  could 
be  voluntarily  conducted  by  subscriptions 
which  the  Consul  for  Great  Britain  was  not 
empowered  to  levy  upon  subjects  of  other 
nationalities  than  his  own,  and  a  committee 
of  residents  was  elected  by  the  votes  of  all 
the  renters  of  land,  for  the  purpose  of  super- 
intending the  interests  of  the  community  in 
respect  of  the  above  mentioned  necessary 
matters.  From  this  germ  has  sprung  the 
complicjited  system  of  municipal  government 
which  now  administers  the  internal  affairs 
of  the  vast  and  heterogeneous  city  into 
which  the  British  Settlement  at  Shanghai 
has   developed." 

In  the  foregoing  description  we  have  an 
admirable  summary  of  the  history  of  the 
Treaty  Port  of  Shanghai  in  its  earliest  days. 
The  successful  and  entirely  harmonious  estab- 
lishment of  the  settlement  was,  as  we  have 
indiaited,  in  a  considerable  measure  due  to 
the  cordial  relations  which  existed  between 
the  British  and  the  Chinese  authorities.  The 
Taoutai — the    chief     Mandarin — was    a    man 


XHi.    uOi^iuiiE    AND    PREPARATION    OF    TEA. 
(From  AUom  &  Wright's   ■Chin.i") 


qualified  them  from  the  bustle  and  energy 
inseparable  from  European  commerce.  At 
the  end  of  the  first  year  of  its  history  as  an 
open  port  Shanghai  could  count  only  23 
foreign  residents  and  families,  the  consular 
flag,  II  merchants'  houses  and  2  Protestant 
missionaries.  Only  44  foreign  vessels  had 
arrived  during  the  same  period." 

"The  fac-ilities  which  the  port  offered, 
notwithstanding,  for  the  growing  trade  in 
silk  gradually  attracted  more  and  more  resi- 
dents to  the  spot,  and  the  marshy  waste 
ground  along  the  t)ank  of  the  river  was 
bought  up  at  low  prices  from  the  Chinese 
owners,  on  whose  former  holdings  of  reed 
beds,  paddy  fields  or  garden  patches,  the 
residences  of  large  British  firms  were  succes- 
sively ereticd  in  a  style  of  mingled  solidity 
and  elegance  which  has  almost  entitled 
Shanghai  to  contest  with  Calcutta  the  desig- 
nation of  the  City  of  Palaces.  The  influx 
of  foreigners  other  than  British  within  the 
limits  of  territory  officially  assigned  as  the 
British  Settlement,  led  at  an  early  date  to 
the  necessity  of  devising  some  method  by 
which    undertakings    for    the    public    good, 


of  honour  and  good  feeling.  He  frequently 
exchanged  visits  with  Captain  lialfour,  and 
his  example  was  followed  by  the  lesser 
officials.  The  native  population  also  were 
very  friendly.  The  British  occupation  of 
1842  was  conducted  with  such  tact  that  It 
left  no  resentment  behind.  Moreover,  the 
inhabitants  were  naturally  of  a  more  peace- 
ful type  than  the  turbulent  Cantonese  with 
whom  the  foreign  element  had  formerly 
mainly  had  to  deal.  The  only  interruptions 
to  peace  came  from  an  occasional  scrimmage 
between  Intoxicated  foreign  sailors  and  the 
junkmen  from  Fokeen — a  noisy  and  Irascible 
class  of  native  visitors  who  from  Iheir  readi- 
ness to  enter  a  quarrel  were  given  the  name 
of  the  Irishmen  of  China.  But  these  Incidents 
were  never  allowed  to  interfere  with  the 
general  course  of  trade  or  to  become  a  source 
of  bickering  and  strife  between  the  British 
representatives  and  the  Chinese  officials. 

Mr.  (afterwards  Sir)  Rutherford  Alcock,  who 
succeeded  Captain  Balfour  as  consul,  in  a 
report  on  the  trade  of  Shanghai  for  1847 — the 
first  of  its  kind  issued — gave  some  extremely 
interesting  details  relative  to  the   growth   of 


the  port.  The  shipping  had  increased  by 
one-fourth  since  the  previous  year,  but  It 
was  noted  as  a  rather  disquieting  feature  of 
the  trade  operations  that  there  was  the 
large  balance  of  ;£54i,i43  In  favour  of  the 
Chinese.  The  total  imports,  however,  reached 
^'1,066,172  in  value,  and  of  these,  goods 
worth  £^898,228,  were  brouglit  out  in  British 
vessels,  chiefly  sailing  direct  from  England. 
The  export  trade  amounting  in  value  to 
;ti,5i7,29g  was  also  mainly  in  British  hands. 
For  example,  of  15,863,482  lbs.  of  tea  exported 
no  less  than  13,313,519  lbs.  went  to  Great 
Britain.  The  United  States  stood  next  In  the 
order  of  importance  In  the  trade  returns. 
More  than  a  fifth  of  the  total  tonnage  entering 
the  port  sailed  under  the  American  Hag.  The 
development  of  the  settlement  showed  even 
more  than  the  trade  returns,  the  confidence 
reposed  by  the  mercantile  community  in 
Shanghai's  future.  In  the  four  years  which 
had  elapsed  since  the  opening  of  tlie  port, 
Mr.  Alcock  remarked,  a  little  town  had  .sprung 
up  on  the  banks  of  Hwang-fu  which  presented 
the  appearance  of  a  British  colony  rather 
than  the  settlement  of  foreigners  on  Chinese 
territory.  "  The  residences  of  the  principal 
merchants  extend  a  quarter  of  a  mile  along 
the  river  front  from  the  consulate  site,  and 
backwards  twice  that  distance,  with  gardens, 
burial  ground  and  racing  ground  intervening. 
There  are  now  located  at  Slianghai  twenty- 
four  mercantile  firms  within  the  British  limits 
(three  of  which  are  American),  and  twenty-five 
private  residences  have  also  been  built  on  the 
ground  ;  live  shopkeepers'  stores,  an  hotel 
and  clubhouse  have  all  been  erected  within 
the  last  year,  showing  a  degree  of  prosperity 
and  activity  which  I  trust  each  year  will 
make  more  apparent."  Mr.  Alcock  further 
mentioned  that  public  jetties  and  roads  had 
been  completed  along  tlie  whole  river  front 
and  throughout  the  settlement  by  a  committee 
of  residents  appointed  at  a  public  meeting, 
a  church  had  in  like  manner  been  built  with 
assistance  from  Her  Majesty's  Government, 
and  a  new  burial  ground  had  been  procured 
—  further  removed  from  the  residences. 
Finally,  a  beginning  had  been  made  of  the 
effective  lighting  of  the  port  by  the  erection 
of  a  beacon  on  the  most  dangerous  part  of 
the  shoal  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Yangtse- 
Kiang.  A  return  appended  to  tliis  interesting 
report  showed  that  at  the  time  British  subjects 
held  within  the  limits  of  the  settlement  140 
acres  of  land,  which  was  purchased  at  an 
average  cost  of  ;^8s  per  acre.  Upon  the 
sites  thus  acquired  buildings  had  been  erected 
to  the  estimated  value  of  ;^I3 1,836.  Title 
deeds  were  issued  In  January,  1847,  for  the 
land  thus  disposed  of.  They  were  signed  by 
the  Taoutai  and  the  British  Consul  jointly, 
and  copies  were  placed  in  the  Chinese  and 
British  archives  respectively  for  future 
reference. 

A  reference  must  be  made  in  dealing  with 
the  establishment  of  Shanghai  to  the  important 
part  that  the  tea  and  silk  trade  played  in  build- 
ing up  the  early  prosperity  of  the  settlement. 
In  1844  the  export  of  the  former  amounted 
to  1,558,453  lbs.  The  next  year  saw  an 
extraordinary  advance  to  9,338,422  lbs.  In 
1846,  owing  to  a  native  bankruptcy  which 
dislocated  business,  a  check  was  given  to  the 
trade,  but  the  export,  nevertheless,  amounted 
to  10,073,578  lbs.  Hy  1847  the  consignments 
of  the  commodity  reached,  as  we  have  already 
noted,  the  high 'figure  of  13,313,599  'bs.,  or 
about  one-fourth  of  the  total  export  of  tea. 
Such  was  the  recognition  of  the  splendid 
facilities  offered  by  the  port  for  the  trade 
that  native  merchants  at  this  time  set  up  in 
Shanghai  premises  for  the  preparation  of 
the  leaf  for  export.     Arrangements  were  also 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF 


HONGKONG, 


SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


,63 


made  for  the  sending  out  of  European 
agents  to  the  tea  districts  to  buy  teas  direct 
from  the  growers — a  remarkable  innovation 
on  the  additional  methods  of  transacting 
foreign    business  in  China.      As  regards   silk 


constituted  in  every  way  an  agreeable  con- 
trast to  the  ill-placed  building  at  first  set 
apart  for  the  Consulate.  After  the  transfer 
a  better  feeling  appears  to  have  arisen  for  a 
time   between   the    British    and    the    Chinese 


AMOY, 


AS  IT  APPEARED  SHORTLY  AFTER  THE  OPENING  OF  THE  PORT 
TO  FOREIGN  TRADE. 


striking  results  were  also  manifested  in  the 
earliest  returns  of  Shanghai  trade.  The 
shipments  increased  from  5,087  bales  in  1844 
to  18,158  bales  in  1847.  The  value  of  the 
trade  in  1847  was  upwards  of  a  million 
pounds. 

While  Shanghai  was  developing  apace  in 
the  manner  described,  the  new  system 
was  making  more  moderate  piogress  at 
other  ports.  Consular  representatives  were 
appointed  at  an  early  date.  Captain  Balfour, 
as  has  been  stated,  was  sent  to  Shanghai  ; 
Mr.  G.  T.  Lay  was  appointed  to  Canton  ; 
Mr.  Henry  Gribble  to  Amoy,  and  Mr.  Robert 
Thorn  to  Ningpo.  The  interpreters  chosen 
for  the  ports  in  the  order  given  were 
Mr.  W.  H.  Medhurst,  jun.,  Mr.  Thomas 
Meadows,  Lieut,  (afterwards  Sir)  Thomas 
Wade,  and  Mr.  Charles  Sinclair.  Mr.  (after- 
wards Sir)  Harry  S.  Parkes  was  at  the  time 
an  assistant  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Gutzlaff, 
who  filled  the  post  of  Chinese  Secretary. 
No  appointment  was  made  immediately  to 
Foochow.  It  was  not,  indeed,  until  the 
latter  part  of  1844  that  steps  were  taken  to 
introduce  the  Consular  system  there.  The 
duty  was  then  entrusted  to  Mr.  Lay,  who  as 
an  experienced  official  was  well  equipped 
for  what  was  realised  would  be  a  difficult 
and  delicate  work  owing  to  the  fact  that 
the  Emperor  had  only  with  the  greatest 
reluctance  allowed  Koochow  to  be  included 
in  the  list  of  Treaty  ports.  The  anticipa- 
tions of  trouble  were  abundantly  realised. 
Mr.  Lay,  on  landing,  found  the  officials  in- 
disposed to  grant  him  a  suitable  place  for 
residence,  and  he  noticed  symptoms  of  a 
disposition  to  slight  his  authority.  At  the 
outset  he  had  to  be  content  with  a  site  in 
the  insalubrious  vicinity  of  the  river  suburb. 
But  by  tactful  negotiations  he  was  ultimately 
able  to  acquire  the  lease  for  resident  pur- 
poses of  a  temple  on  an  eminence  known 
as  Black  Stone  Hill,  overlooking  the  city. 
This  temple  was  beautifully  situated  amid 
pleasant  groves  and  terraced  gardens  and  it 


officials.  Of  their  own  accord  the  Mandarins 
introduced  into  the  contract  for  the  execu- 
tion of  work  at  the  temple  to  fit  it  for 
residential  purposes  a  clause  prohibiting 
work   on    Sunday,    and    in    the    same    spirit. 


character  of  head  gardener,  might  be  seen 
eveiy  day  busily  superintending  the  requisite 
alterations  and  repairs.  The  Abbot,  also,  of 
an  adjoining  Taouist  temple,  with  a  remark- 
able absence  of  bigotry,  for  a  small  monthly 
sum  willingly  admitted  one  of  the  oflicers 
of  the  Consulate  as  a  tenant  of  a  portion  of 
the  sacred  building.*  There  was  a  tem- 
porary break  in  these  pleasant  relations 
towards  the  end  of  1845,  when  a  Consulate 
interpreter  was  attacked  and  pelted  with 
stones  as  he  was  walking  on  the  wall  of 
the  city  near  the  Manchu  quarter.  A  grave 
remonstrance  was  made  to  the  authorities 
in  consequence  of  the  incident,  and  the 
threat  was  held  out  that  if  satisfaction  was 
not  granted  a  man-of-war  would  be  called 
up  to  exact  reparation.  At  the  outlet  the 
Mandarins  were  disposed  to  treat  the  matter 
lightly,  but  when  they  found  that  the  Consul 
was  in  earnest  they  caused  six  Tartars  to 
be  arrested  for  the  offence,  and  had  three 
of  them  bambooed  while  the  other  three 
were  treated  to  the  degrading  punishment 
of  the  cangue  for  a  month.  The  novel  and 
unprecedented  event  of  a  Manchu  Tartar 
wearing  the  cangue,  from  which  mode  of 
punishment  they  had  hitherto  enjoyed  a 
prescriptive  immunity,  and  the  humiliating 
announcement  attached  as  usual  to  the 
wooden  plank  of  the  crime  for  which  they 
were  punished,  and  that,  too,  an  assault 
committed  on  a  newcomer  and  a  stranger 
were  doubly  mortifying  to  the  pride  of  this 
arrogant  class  of  inhabitants,  as  they  were 
also  a  subject  of  invidious  exultation  among 
the  purely  Chinese  portion  of  the  population. 
At  Amoy  there  were  also  difficulties  asso- 
ciated with  the  introduction  of  the  new 
regime.  The  troops  remained  in  occupation 
of  this  port  as  well  as  of  the  island  of 
Chusan,  pending  the  payment  of  the  in- 
demnity.    The   British    post   was   established 


COTTON    PLANTATION    AT    NINGPO. 

(From  .111  engraving.) 


before   paying  the 
to  inquire  whether 


Consul  a  visit,  they  sent 
it  was  a  Sunday  or  not. 
The  temple  authorities  also  showed  an 
agreeable  disposition  to  make  their  tenants 
comfortable.  Supplies  of  all  sorts  were 
forthcoming,   and   the    Abbot    himself,   in    the 


on  the  island  of   Kulangsu,  and  the  guns  of 
their  fort  at  the  southern  end  dominated  the 


*  Narrative  of  .in  exploratory 
Cities  of  Cliina,  bj'  the  Kcv. 
P-   3.12- 


visit    to   tile  ConsiiL-ir 
George    Smith,    M.A., 


64      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


dty.  It  proved  tu  be  a  most  unlicalthy 
position,  rather  stranjjcly  so,  because  before 
the  advent  of  the  British  the  place  had  been 
rcjil.irded  as  salubrious.  The  island  was, 
h  .wcver,  associated  with  the  early  trading 
irjii>actions  of  the  British,  and  on  that 
aivount,  as  well  as  from  its  gixxl  siratefjic 
|x)sition,  seemed  to  be  marked  out  as  the 
site  of  the  future  settlement.  But  it  un- 
fortunately tiappened  that  Kulangsu,  for 
some  reason  or  other,  was  not  mentioned 
to  the  Emperor  when  the  provisions  of  the 
treaty  were  being  discussed,  and  strong 
opptwition  was  offered  to  its  permanent 
occupation  by  the  Chinese  authorities.  The 
British  representatives,  influenced  doubtless 
by  the  insanitary  condition  of  the  place,  did 
not  strongly  press  the  point.  In  the  begin- 
ning of  1845  the  occupying  force  was  with- 
drawn. The  few  British  residents  who 
remained  at  the  time  crossed  the  straits  and 
settled  in  the  city  of  Amoy,  where  they 
found  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  suitable 
houses.  The  Chinese  authorities  subse- 
quently took  drastic  measures  to  obliterate 
every  evidence  of  the  British  occupation. 
"The  barracks,  the  forts,  the  flagstaffs,  and 
even  the  framework  of  the  windows  and 
verandahs,  were  all  speedily  demolished,  and 


the  materials  ^inverted  into  firewood.  The 
work  of  destruction  continued  till  no 
remnants  of  the  foreigners  remained  and 
the  houses  were  restored  to  their  primitive 
condition.  The  work  of  purgation  was 
vigorously  persisted  in.  The  roads  were 
dug  up  and  the  fields  had  again  begun  to 
assume  the  appearance  of  cultivation.  The 
power  of  superstition  and  the  aid  of  heathen 
priests  were  duly  invoked.  Scarcely  a  clay 
passed  without  processions  of  idols,  which 
were  to  be  seen  passing  in  boats  througli 
the  harbour  amongst  the  fleet  of  junks,  each 
of  which,  with  loudly  sounding  gongs, 
saluted  the  deity  as  it  passed  under  the 
vessel  towards  the  island  on  the  opposite 
side.  The  fearful  mortality  which  carried 
off  so  many  of  the  liritish,  had  continued 
to  prevail  to  an  alarming  extent  during 
the  previous  summer,  notwithstanding  the 
gradual  resumption  of  tillage.  In  one 
family  known  to  the  missionaries,  and 
occupying  one  house,  out  of  nine  persons 
seven  had  fallen  victims  to  the  prevailing 
fever.  Even  those  %vho  tilled  the  ground 
generally  retuined  after  the  day's  labour  to 
the  less  insalubrious  residence  of  Anioy  to 
spend  the  night.  Tlie  fears  of  tlie  ignorant 
imputed    the    common    calamity    to   tlie    evil 


spirits  of  the  English  who  had  been  buried 
on  the  island.  The  superstitions  of  the 
people  magnified  every  little  event  ;  and  the 
villagers  were  to  be  heard  expatiating  on 
the  mysterious  scenes  whicli  they  had 
witnessed  of  the  gliosis  of  barbarians 
running  up  and  down  the  hills  at  night 
and   'talking   English   fearfully.'"* 

Ningpo  at  the  outset  attracted  very  little 
trade.  In  the  official  reports  for  1847  there 
is  a  record  which  shows  that  only  six  small 
vessels  visited  the  port  during  the  year.  The 
imports  reached  but  £11,785  i6s.  in  value, 
and  the  exports  stood  at  the  paltry  figure 
of  ;t"622  i8s.  4d.  At  the  whole  of  tlie  five 
ports  in  1847  the  number  of  foreign 
residents  was  only  470.  They  were  dis- 
tributed as  follows  :  Canton  312,  Amoy  20, 
Foochow  7,  Ningpo  15,  and  Shanghai  116. 
It  is  noted  that  at  Foocliow  the  British 
community  ashore  was  reduced  to  the 
members  of  the  Consulate.  The  captains 
of  the  opium  clippers  had  dwelling  houses 
at  Nantai,  but  they  seldom  resorted  to 
them. 


*  N:irrative  of  an  exploratory  visit  to  tlie  Consular 
Cities  of  China,  by  tlie  Rev.  Georj*e  Sniitti,  M.A., 
p.  384- 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Sir  J.  F.  Davis's  Ailministration — Mob  attack  on  Englishmen  at  Fatshan — British  Troops  occupy  Canton  Defences 

— Chinese  Authorities  agree  to  admit  Foreigners  to  Canton  City — Murder  of  six  young  Englishmen  near  Canton 

— Demand  for  Reparation — Execution  of  Murderers — Assassination  of  the  Portuguese  Governor  of  Macao — Death 

of  the  Ejnperor  Taoukwang — The  Taeping  Rebellion — Alarm  at  Shanghai — Formation  of  Volunteer  Corps. 


It  will  have  been  gathered  from  the  foregoing 
chapter  that  before  the  ratifications  of  the 
Treaty  of  Nanking  had  tieen  fairly  exchanged 
the  storm  clouds  had  once  more  begun  to 
gather  in  the  quarter  in  which  most  of  the 
disturbances  of  the  peace  had  hitherto  arisen. 
In  June,  1844,  Sir  Henry  Pottinger  left 
Hongkong,  handing  his  duties  over  to  Mr. 
(afterwards  Sir)  J.  K.  Davis.  The  new  British 
Superintendent  t)f  Trade  and  Governor  of 
Hongkong  was  an  experienced  Anglo-Chinese 
ohicial  whom  we  have  met  before,  first  as 
a  member  of  Lord  Amherst's  staff  on  the 
occasion  of  his  embassy  to  Peking  in  1816, 
and  later  as  successor  for  a  brief  period  to 
Lord  Napier  as  the  head  of  the  British 
Commission.  He  was  a  ripe  Chinese  scholar, 
a  writer  of  acknowledged  authority  on 
Chinese  questions,  and  a  gifted  man  of  affairs. 
From  every  point  of  view  his  selection  for 
the  principal  appointment  in  China  appeared 
to  be  an  excellent  one.  He  had  the  advan- 
tage of  the  assistance  in  the  post  of  Colonial 
Secretary  of  Mr.  Frederick  Bruce,  whose 
distinction  it  was  in  later  years  to  be  the 
first  to  fill  the  high  office  of  resident  minister 
at  Peking.  Mr.  Davis's  administration  at  the 
outset  was  largely  occupied,  as  has  been 
indicated  in  a  previous  chapter,  with  the 
pressing  work  which  he  found  awaiting  him 
at  Hongkong.  The  settlement  was  growing 
rapidly,  and  with  its  development  problems 
were  arising  which  called  for  the  exercise 
of  judicious  st;itesmanship.  Therefore,  while 
the  new  Governor  was  not  unmindful  of  the 
larger  interests  committed  to  his  care,  he  had 
no  temptation  to  look  outside  his  immediate 


environment  for  difficult  tasks  to  discharge. 
There  was  the  less  necessity  for  him  to  do 
so  as  the  policy  of  letting  sleeping  dogs  lie 
as  far  as  possible  was  the  one  which  had 
been  deliberately  entered  upon  in  view  of 
the  great  advantages  gained  under  the  Treaty 
of  Nanking  and  the  manifest  expediency  of 
introducing  the  new  system  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment  with  a  minimum  of  fi  iction. 
It  was  in  pursuance  of  this  principle  that 
the  ebullitions  at  Canton  were  not  treated 
with  that  seriousness  which  tliey  seemed  to 
demand.  The  reinonstrances  inade,  emphatic 
enough  as  far  as  the  language  used  was 
concerned,  lacked  the  one  thing  necessary 
to  make  them  really  effective — a  display  of 
force.  As  we  have  seen,  so  far  from  making 
demonstrations,  the  British  Government  at 
this  juncture  rather  ostentatiously  refrained 
from  sending  ships  to  the  Canton  River. 
Having  annexed  Hongkong  it  felt,  and  with 
reason,  that  the  ships  of  the  navy  were  in 
their  right  places  in  the  magnificent  harbour 
there  rather  than  in  Chinese  waters.  An 
untoward  incident  in  the  Canton  River  in 
the  early  part  of  1847  aime,  however,  to 
break  down  this  policy  of  masterly  inactivity. 
A  small  party  of  Englishmen  made  an  ex- 
cursion by  boat  from  Canton  to  Fatshan,  a 
large  manufacturing  town  situated  some 
little  distance  up  the  river.  On  landing  the 
visitors  were  received  in  a  disrtinctly  hostile 
inanner.  In  their  alarm  they  proceeded  to 
the  Yamen,  or  residence  of  the  chief  official, 
for  protection,  but  this  individual  unfortunately 
was  out  at  the  time,  and  the  move  instead 
of  allaying  the  popular  excitement  added  to 


it.  The  Mandarin,  on  returning  shortly 
afterwards,  readily  gave  prompt  assistance 
to  the  strangers.  He  not  only  drove  off  the 
crowd,  but  personally  conducted  the  party 
back  to  their  boat  and  shielded  them  at 
considerable  risk  to  himself  from  the  stones 
which  were  thrown  by  a  large  mob  which 
had  gathered  by  the  riverside  in  anticipation 
of  the  embarkation.  No  one  happily  was 
seriously  injured,  but  Sir  John  Davis  (as  he 
had  now  become)  took  such  a  serious  view 
of  the  episode  that,  collecting  all  the  available 
forces  at  Hongkong,  he  descended  on  Canton 
in  person  to  demand  satisfaction  for  what 
he  regarded  as  a  gross  violation  of  the 
Treaty  of  Nanking.  The  Bogue  forts  were 
seized  without  a  shot  being  fired  and  the 
outer  defences  of  the  city  also  fell  an  easy 
prey  to  the  British  force.  By  the  3rd  of 
April  Canton  was  once  more  completely  at 
the  mercy  of  the  British.  The  advantage 
gained  did  not  have  the  expected  effect  of 
reducing  the  population  to  submission.  On 
the  contrary  their  fanatical  hatred  of  the 
barbarian  was  aroused  to  fever  pitch  by 
the  spectacle  of  British  troops  occupying 
positions  near  the  city.  Ferocious  pioclania- 
tions  were  Issued,  calling  upon  the  people  to 
attack  the  insolent  strangers  and  denouncing 
Keying,  the  Imperial  Commissioner,  as  a 
traitor.  The  Chinese  authorities  on  their 
part,  while  probably  sympathising  with  the 
mob,  realised  that  if  graver  trouble  was  to 
be  averted  they  must  make  peace.  Accord- 
ingly they  accepted  the  British  demands, 
the  chief  of  which  were  that  the  city  of 
Canton    should    be    opened    to     the     British 


TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


65 


within  two  years  from  April  6,  1847,  and 
that  the  Queen's  subjects  should  be  at  liberty 
"to  roam  for  exercise  or  amusement"  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  city,  conditionally  on 
their  returning  the  same  day.  After  this 
the  troops  were  withdrawn  to  Hongkong. 
It  was  a  well  organised,  well  conducted  little 
expedition,  but  it  did  not  commend  itself  to 
the  Government  at  home,  who  were  ex- 
ceedingly apprehensive  lest  the  country 
should  be  dragged  into  another  costly  war. 
The  official  wigging  which  Sir  John  Davis 
received  on  this  occasion  led  him  to  turn 
an  even  deafer  ear  than  hitherto  to  the 
demands  constantly  forwarded  to  him  from 
the  British  community  at  Canton  for 
protective  measures.  Apart  from  this,  he 
seems  almost  to  have  been  persuaded  at  the 
time  that  the  situation  really  had  vastly 
improved  owing  to  the  steps  taken  in  April, 
1847,  for  %ve  find  him  on  November  20th  in 
that  year,  in  a  despatch  to  Lord  Palmerston, 
the  then  Foreign  Secretary,  quoting  with 
complacent  approval  some  peaceful  sentences 
from  a  communication  he  had  received  from 
Keying.  The  wily  old  Commissioner  had 
written  :  "  The  old  habits  of  the  Canton 
populace  are  now  gradually  improving,  and 
we  also  observe  that  the  (Chinese)  guard  of 
the  foreign  factories  proves  very  effectual 
so  that  in  this  quarter  no  calamity  will  take 
place.  If  there  are  one  or  two  loose  vaga- 
bonds who,  without  cause,  create  disturbance 
I  shall  order  them  to  be  punished.  You  the 
honourable  envoy  will  feel  no  uneasiness  on 
this  point.  War  is  disastrous,  but  peace  rich 
in  blessings.  If  we  henceforth  on  both  sides 
control  our  merchants  and  people,  we  shall 
ensure  a  lasting  peace  and  the  trade  will 
daily  become  more  flourishing."  The 
Governor  of  Hongkong,  while  endorsing 
these  sentiments  very  heartily,  took  occasion 
to  refer  to  the  exaggerated  statements  which 
had  been  sent  home  concerning  the  position 
of  affairs  at  Canton  by  the  British  merchants 
resident  there.  His  letter  adds  another  to 
the  many  examples  which  the  history  of 
foreign  trade  with  China  affords  of  the 
danger  of  optimism.  Seventeen  days  later 
Sir  John  Davis  received  at  Hongkong  a 
statement  from  Mr.  Macgregor,  the  British 
Consul  at  Canton  to  the  effect  that  six  young 
EnglishEnen,  clerks  to  merchants  at  Canton, 
had  been  murdered  while  on  an  up-river 
excursion.  The  reports  showed  that  the 
young  men  landed  near  the  village  of 
Hwang-chu-ke  and  were  surrounded  and 
attacked  by  the  inhabitants.  In  the  affray 
which  ensued  two  of  the  visitors  were  killed  ; 
the  others  fled  but,  after  a  hot  pursuit  by 
villagers,  they  were  at  last  overtaken  at  a 
place  called  Hang-Kaon,  where  they  were 
overpowered  and  put  to  death  after  a  mock 
trial.  Sir  John  Davis  proceeded  immediately 
to  Canton  and  peremptorily  demanded  from 
Keying  reparation  for  the  outrage  which  he 
described  as  "  perhaps  the  most  grievous 
that  England  has  experienced  from  the 
Chinese."  Keying  promised  redress,  but  as 
after  the  lapse  of  ten  days  the  demands  of 
the  British  tor  the  punishment  of  the  villagers 
and  the  destruction  of  their  villages  had  not 
been  complied  with  he  fixed  a  further  week 
as  the  limit  beyond  which  he  could  not 
continue  the  negotiations.  Eventually  four 
of  the  principals  implicated  in  the  murders 
were  executed  in  the  presence  of  Sir  John 
Davis,  who  was  attended  by  a  strong  guard 
of  British  soldiers.  Sir  John  Davis  considered 
this  very  inadequate  reparation  for  a 
grievous  and  unprovoked  outrage,  and  con- 
tinued to  press  Keying  for  a  more  extensive 
compliance  with  his  earlier  demands.  Keying 
temporised    after    the     manner     of     Chinese 


officialdom  and  under  various  pretexts  avoided 
any  further  concessions.  Meanwhile,  the 
Canton  merchants,  greatly  incensed  and 
alarmed  at  the  outrages,  had  memorialised 
Lord  Palmerston  to  give  them  the  protection 
which  they  were  entitled  to  under  the  Treaty. 
They  reminded  the  Foreign  Secretary  of 
their  request  in  1846  for  a  warship  to  be 
permanently  stationed  at  Canton,  and  they 
recalled  the  reply  they  received  that 
"  wherever    British    subjects    are    placed    in 


memorialists  asked  his  lordship  whether 
living,  as  they  did,  "among  a  people  who 
had  achieved  their  last  bloody  triumph  in  the 
slaughter  of  our  countrymen,"  they  did  not 
require  "the  efficient,  constant,  and  present 
protection  of  Her  Majesty's  forces."  Lord 
Palmerston  replied  to  the  memorialists  that 
he  did  not  see  how  a  steam  vessel  stationed 
in  front  of  the  factories  could  have  prevented 
the  outrage,  and  expressed  his  regret  that 
the   merchants   had   not   used   their  influence 


SIR    JOHN    FRANCIS    DAVIS,    BART.,    GOVERNOR,    HONGKONG. 

(From  an  engravinjj  in  the  I'rint  l^oom,  British  Museum.) 


danger  in  a  situation  which  is  accessible  to  a 
British  ship  of  war,  thither  a  British  ship  of 
war  ought  to  be  and  will  be  ordered."  "  It 
was,"  they  proceeded,  "  with  the  utmost  sur- 
prise and  regret,  therefore,  that  we  beheld 
that  officer  shutting  his  eyes  to  the  danger 
that  menaced  us,  overlooking  all  manifesta- 
tions of  the  ill-feeling  of  the  people  .  .  . 
disregarding  the  murderous  manifestoes 
of  the  banded  ruffians  by  whom  we  are 
surrounded,  and  withholding  the  protection 
he     had     been     directed     to     afford."      The 


amongst  the  young  men  of  their  establish- 
ments to  induce  them  to  desist,  at  least  for 
a  time,  from  excursions  which  were  known 
to  be  attended  with  personal  risk.  The  con- 
troversy arising  out  of  the  incident,  after 
continuing  for  some  time,  was  settled  after  a 
fashion  by  the  promulgation  by  the  Chinese 
of  a  series  of  regulations  designed  to  afford 
greater  protection  to  foreigners  at  Canton 
and  its  vicinity. 

Less      than     a     twelvemonth      after      the 
Fatshan     incident     another     outrage     of     a 


66      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


similar  character  nas  perpetrated  at  Tsingpu, 
a  town  about  30  miles  distant  iroin 
Shanghai.  A  paity  o(  missionaries,  three 
in  number,  left  the  British  settlement  one 
day  in  March,  iKt^^-  ^'>^  the  intention  of 
conducting  their  proselytising  work  at  the 
town.  On  arrival  they  cvmimenced  to  dis- 
tribute their  tracts  when  they  were  molested 
by  a  party  of  rowdies.  Soon  the  attack 
developed  into  a  serious  one  and  the 
missiorraries  thought  it  wise  to  take  to 
flight.  They  did  so,  but  were  pursued  and 
captured,  and  were  then  subjected  to  severe 
maltreatment.  The  officials  and  respectable 
classes  finally  rescued  them  from  their 
dangerous  position  and  they  were  helped 
tack  to  Shanghai,  sorely  wounded  and  with 
the  loss  of  all  their  possessions.  Mr.  Alcock 
on  hearing  of  the  occurrence  sent  a  war 
vessel  with  the  Vice-Consul,  and  Mr.  Harry 
Parkes  as  interpreter  on  board,  to  Nanking 
to  demand  satisfaction.  Meanwhile,  an 
embargo  was  laid  upon  the  sailing  of  the 
rice  btoats.  Li,  the  Viccioy,  on  being 
interviewed,   proved   most   anxious    to   settle 


opposed  to  any  concession  of  the  kind. 
There  W'as  no  desire  en  the  part  of  the 
British  to  carry  matters  to  extremes,  and 
when  the  Emperor's  decree  arrived  express- 
ing his  opposition  to  any  attempt  to  force 
the  populace  to  receive  foreigners  into  the 
city  against  their  will,  it  was  deemed 
expedient  to  acquiesce  in  the  imperial 
decision.  After  this  there  was  a  brief  lull, 
hut  the  atrocious  murder  of  the  Portuguese 
Governor  of  Macao  in  1850  proved  that  the 
Chinese  spirit  of  antagonism  to  foreigners 
was  as  potent  for  evil  as  ever.  The  outrage 
was  a  peculiarly  dastardly  one,  and  it  was 
committed  under  circumstances  which  left 
little  doubt  as  to  the  complicity  of  the 
Chinese  officials.  M.  Amaral,  the  unfor- 
tunate victim,  desirous  of  restoring  the 
prestige  of  his  country,  had  introduced 
several  changes  in  the  administration.  He 
did  nothing  that  was  not  in  keeping  with 
the  spirit  of  the  recently  concluded  agree- 
ment, but  the  Canton  authorities  were 
greatly  incensed  at  his  actioir  and  made  up 
their  minds  to  compass  his  death.     Placards 


THE    TAI-WANG-KOW    OR    YELLOW    PAGODA    FORT,    CANTON    RIVER. 
(From  Allom  &  Wright's  "China.") 


the  matter  amicably.  He  gave  orders  for 
the  removal  of  the  Intendant  of  Soochow, 
and  appointed  another  official  with  special 
instructions  to  inquire  into  the  incident. 
Later,  ten  men  implicated  in  the  outrage 
were  punished  with  flogging,  the  cangue 
and  banishment.  In  this  way  what  had 
threatened  to  be  a  very  tiresome  and 
protracted  business  was  concluded  to  the 
complete  satisfaction  of  the  British  com- 
munity. 

If  the  spirit  shown  by  the  officials  on  this 
occasion  had  been  manifested  in  the  south 
no  further  rupture  would  probably  have 
occurred,  at  all  events  for  a  good  many 
years.  But  Canton  would  not  have  been 
Canton  if  it  did  not  do  its  best  to  embitter 
the  relations  between  the  native  and  the 
foreign  elements.  It  will  be  recalled  that 
one  of  the  conditions  wrung  from  Keying 
by  Sir  John  Davis  in  1847,  was  that  the  ■ 
gates  of  Canton  should  be  opened  to 
British  subjects  on  April  6,  1849.  As 
the  day  approached  for  the  carrying  out 
of  this  clause  in  the  agreement  it  became 
evident    that    the    population    were    bitterly 


at  their  instigation  were  issued,  inflaming 
the  native  populace  against  him,  and  in  other 
ways  the  path  was  prepared  for  the  crime. 
The  blow  was  struck  swiftly  and  remorse- 
lessly. M.  Amaral  when  riding  out  one  day, 
accompanied  only  by  one  officer,  was 
attiicked,  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  by  a 
party  of  ruffians  who  lay  in  ambush.  He 
was  dragged  from  his  horse  and  put  to 
death  with  great  cruelty.  Afterwards  his 
head  was  cut  off  and  sent  to  Canton  as  a 
trophy.  There  it  was  received  with  every 
manifestation  of  delight.  Su,  the  Governor- 
General  of  the  province,  in  communicating 
the  fact  of  the  assassination  to  the  Emperor, 
said  that  the  barbarian's  crimes  merited 
public  punishment  of  the  most  fearful  kind, 
but  that  it  had  pleased  the  gods  to  interfere 
and  make  an  example  of  him,  by  allowing 
his  death  at  the  hands  of  some  men  who 
had  private  injuries  to  avenge.  To  throw 
dust  in  the  eyes  of  the  Portuguese,  the 
same  official  caused  a  criminal  to  be 
decapitated,  and  sent  his  head,  with  that  of 
the  Portuguese  Governor,  to  Macao,  with  an 
intimation  that  the  crime  had   been  avenged 


by  the  execution  of  the  principal  murderer. 
The  Portuguese  declined  to  accept  this  as 
adequate  reparation,  and  reinforcements 
were  summoned  from  Lisbon,  to  impress 
upon  the  Canton  oflicials  a  sense  of  the 
infamy  of  the  outrage  that  had  been  com- 
mitted. After  moiitlis  of  negotiation  several 
of  the  real  criminals  were  captured  and 
executed.  A  number  of  other  men  impli- 
cated in  the  crime  had  met  their  deserts 
previously  at  the  hands  of  British  forces 
engaged  in  suppressing  piracy  in  the  Canton 
Estuary. 

The  death  of  the  Emperor  Taoukvvang  on 
February  12,  1850,  gave  a  new  turn  to 
the  course  of  events  in  China.  The  old 
despot's  declining  days  were  dogged  with 
misfortune,  and  he  left  to  his  successor, 
Hienfung,  a  legacy  of  internal  trouble  and 
international  complications  which  was  to 
shake  the  imperial  power  to  its  foundations. 
Hienfung  was  only  a  young  man  of  nineteen 
when  he  ascended  the  throne,  and  his  im- 
pressionable mind  seems  to  have  fallen  under 
the  spell  of  those  of  the  imperial  counsellors 
who  were  inimical  to  toreigners.  One  of  his 
first  acts  was  to  disgrace  Keying  and  another 
Mandarin  who  had  shown  in  their  official 
career  some  leaning  towards  the  British. 
Whether  intended  as  an  indication  of  hostile 
policy  or  not  the  action  taken  was  interpreted 
in  that  sense  by  the  great  majority  of  Chinese 
officials,  and  indications  were  soon  forth- 
coming of  the  change  in  sentiment.  At 
Foochow  difficulties  were  raised  against  the 
British  residing  in  the  city,  on  the  ground 
previously  taken  up  that  the  concession  of 
trading  facilities  referred  not  to  the  city  but 
to  the  landing  place  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river.  Lin,  the  old  enemy  of  the  British,  was 
in  residence  at  this  time  in  the  vicinity  of 
Foochow,  and  it  was  suspected,  not  prob- 
ably without  reason,  that  he  had  a  hand  in 
fomenting  the  agitation  which  arose  on  this 
question.  Whatever  the  truth  may  have  been 
on  that  point,  the  ebullition  was  thoroughly 
in  keeping  with  the  sentiments  which  had 
always  inspired  him.  Moreover,  the  selection 
of  ground  for  the  dispute  showed  the  mark 
of  his  cunning  hand  ;  for  the  British  were 
undoubtedly  in  the  wrong  in  their  interpre- 
tation of  the  terms  of  the  concession.  The 
Treaty  conferred  permission  to  the  British  to 
reside  in  the  Kiang-Kan,  or  mart  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  but  not  in  the  ching  or  town. 
Upon  this  fact  being  borne  in  upon  them 
the  British  officials  withdrew  their  preten- 
sions, leaving  the  question  open  for  adjust- 
ment afterwards  as  opportunity  might  offer. 

Hienfiing's  antagonism  to  foreigners  was 
peculiarly  ill-timed  in  the  circumstances  in 
which  he  commenced  his  reign.  Throughout 
the  vast  limits  of  his  empire  there  was  dis- 
content and  unrest.  The  formidable  secret 
organisation  known  as  the  Triads  had  raised 
the  standard  of  rebellion  in  alarming  fashion 
in  Kwangsi.  In  vast  bands  they  ravaged  the 
country,  laid  siege  to  towns,  and  fought 
pitched  battles  with  imperial  troops.  The 
imperial  authorities  were  powerless  to  make 
any  real  headway  against  the  movement. 
The  small  advantages  gained  were  more 
than  counterbalanced  by  crushing  defeats. 
At  length  the  rebels  had  the  audacity  to  put 
forward  their  chief,  Tien  Wang,  as  a  rival 
for  the  imperial  tlirone  itself.  Tien  Wang 
was  a  man  of  low  birth  and  inferior  educa- 
tional attainments,  but  he  had  unquestionable 
genius  as  a  leader,  and  the  common  people, 
impressed  by  his  successes,  pinned  their  faith 
in  his  destiny  with  remarkable  devotion.  He 
justified  the  popular  confidence  reposed  in 
him  after  his  assumption  of  royal  rank  by 
carrying  in  the  early  part  of   the   year  1851 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       Q7 


the  important  military  station  of  Nanning 
and  occupying  a  great  tract  of  country  about 
it.  Thereafter  he  proceeded  to  attaclj  Kvvei- 
ling,  the  provincial  capital  which  commands 
one  of  the  important  roads  into  the  interior 
of  China.  Frenzied  efforts  were  made  by 
the  Imperial  Government  to  cope  with  the 
situation,  but  by  this  time  the  Taeping  Re- 
bellion, as  it  was  to  be  kno%vn  in  history, 
had  assumed  such  proportions  as  to  be  almost 
beyond  the  powers  which  could  be  exercised 
from  Peking.  Instead  of  Tien  Wang  being 
suppressed  by  the  forces  sent  against  him 
he  derived  confidence  from  their  ill-directed 
efforts,  and  In  the  end  conceived  the  bold 
design  of  marchhig  his  forces  northwards 
into  Hoonan.  It  is  unnecessary  for  our  pur- 
pose to  follow  the  course  of  events  so  lucidly 
described  in  Mr.  Demetrius  Boulger's  great 
work  on  China.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  by  the 
month  of  April,  1853,  the  rebels,  after  a 
tiiumphal  march,  had  captured  and  occupied 
Nanking  and  firmly  established  themselves  in 
the  valley  of  the  Yangtse-Kiang. 

The  course  of  the  rebellion  had  been 
watched  with  intense  interest  by  foreigners 
in  China  and  by  none  more  closely  than  by 
the  British  community.  As  a  rule  sympathy 
was  strongly  enlisted  on  the  side  of  the  rebels. 
In  them  Britons  saw  a  people  struggling  for 
freedom  against  a  desolating  despotism,  and 
they  attributed  to  them  patriotic  virtues  which 
it  is  to  be  feared  they  never  possessed. 
After  the  astounding  successes  achieved  in 
the  valley  of  the  Yangtse  the  British  au- 
thorities deemed  it  advisable  to  take  special 
measures  to  discover  the  true  meaning  of  this 
wonderful  movement  which  seemed  to  be 
on  the  point  of  laying  the  proud  Manchu 
power  in  the  dust.  Consequently  in  April, 
1853,  Sir  George  Bonham,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded Sir  John  Davis  in  the  supreme 
charge  of  British  interests  in  China,  pro- 
ceeded to  Nanking  in  the  warship:  Hermes. 
The  vessel  was  fired  upon  by  the  batteries 
at  Chinkiang  and  Kwachow,  but  the  compli- 
ment was  ignored  and  in  due  course  the 
party  reached  Nanking.  After  a  week  spent 
in  interviews  and  negotiations  with  the 
Taeping  leaders.  Sir  George  Bonham  left  in 
the  Hermes.  His  mission,  there  can  be  no 
doubt,  was  a  mistake.  While  it  accomplished 
nothing  practical,  it  had  the  effect  of  instil- 
ling the  jealous  and  suspicious  minds  of  the 
Peking  authorities  with  the  belief  that  Britain 
was  for  her  own  purposes  fomenting  the 
rebellion.  After  Sir  George  Bonham's  visit 
to  Nanking  a  section  of  the  rebel  forces 
marched  northwards  with  the  intention  of 
attacking  Peking.  The  enterprise  failed  for 
various  reasons,  and  very  few  of  those  who 
left  Nanking  ever  returned  to  it.  But  signal 
as  were  the  imperial  successes  they  had  no 
decisive  result  on  the  course  of  the  rebellion. 
The  flame  of  revolt  continued  to  blaze  with 
fierce  intensity  at  many  and  widely  separated 
points,  and  occasional  outbreaks  in  quite 
new  centres  pointed  the  inevitable  results  of 
slackened  authority.  At  the  British  Treaty 
ports  the  continuance  of  the  rebellion  was 
regarded  with  a  feeling  almost  akin  to  con- 
sternation. The  effect  upon  trade  was  most 
disastrous,  and  the  proposal  was  seriously 
mooted  by  the  Shanghai  mercantile  com- 
munity that  the  custom  duties  should  no 
longer  be  paid.  Mr.  Rutherford  Alcock, 
however,  emphatically  declined  to  entertain 
any  such  idea,  pointing  out  that  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Treaty  of  Nanking  must 
be  upheld,  and  urging  that  it  behoved 
British  subjects  to  maintain  strict  neutrality 
in  the  crisis  through  which  China  was 
passing.  On  another  point— the  putting  of 
the    settlement    in   a    condition   of  defence — 


Mr.  Alcock  was  able  to  enter  into  hearty 
co-operation  with  the  mercantile  community. 
Under  his  auspices  an  influential  meeting  of 
the  residents  was  held  in  April,  1853,  to 
devise  a  plan  for  the  protection  of  the  com- 
munity. The  most  notable  decision  arrived 
at  was  that  the  British  residents  should  form 
a  volunteer  corps  under  the  direction  of 
Captain  Trowson,  an  officer  who  had  seen 
service  in  the  Bengal  Fusiliers,  and  that  the 
supreme  command  and  direction  of  the 
military  preparations  should  be  vested  in 
Captain  Fishbourne,  the  senior  officer  on 
the  station.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  the 
members  of  the  other  foreign  communities 
decided  to  associate  themselves  with  their 
British  confreres  in  these  protective  measures. 
Events  soon  proved  the  wisdom  of  the  action 
taken.  After  some  preliminary  threatenings 
the  rebels  in  September,  1853,  descended 
upon  the  native  city  and  with  the  aid  of  the 
local  disaffected  seized  the  Taoutai's  quarters, 
killed  a  number  of  officials,  and  assumed  the 
government.  The  occurrences  excited  great 
alarm    in    the    settlement,     which    from    its 


and  provided  daily  diversion  for  Shanghai 
people,  who  in  the  intervals  of  business  went 
out  to  watch  the  operations  of  the  contending 
forces.  In  the  interests  of  commerce,  which 
was  suffering  greatly  by  the  civil  distractions, 
attempts  were  vainly  made  to  induce  the 
rebels  to  surrender.  Short  of  intervention, 
however,  there  seemed  no  way  of  bringing 
the  siege  to  a  close.  The  British  authorities 
steadily  declined  to  entertain  all  proposals  to 
this  end.  But  the  French,  whose  settlement 
was  nearest  the  native  city  and,  therefore, 
most  liable  to  attack,  in  December,  1854, 
elected  to  throw  the  weight  of  their  influence 
into  the  imperial  scale  with  a  view  of  putting 
an  end  to  the  state  of  war  in  which  the 
district  had  been  involved  for  the  past  three 
months.  The  French  guns  did  a  good  deal 
of  damage  to  the  city  walls,  and  it  seemed 
that  the  Triads,  as  the  rebels  were  locally 
known,  were  in  for  a  very  bad  time.  When, 
however,  the  French  with  a  force  of  some 
four  hundred  sailors  and  marines  attempted 
to  assault  the  city  in  co-operation  with  the 
imperial   forces,  they  were  met  with  such  a 


THE    CITY    OF    NANKING. 
(From  Allom  &  Wright's-^'\ China.") 


proximity  to  the  scene  of  the  disturbances 
and  its  open  character,  was  a  bait  calculated 
to  attract  the  lawless  mob  which  had  so 
dramatically  obtained  the  ascendency  in  the 
adjacent  Chinese  district.  Every  precaution 
was  taken  to  guard  against  surprise  and  to 
meet  an  attack.  The  men-of-war  in  port 
trained  their  guns  upon  the  approaches  to 
the  settlement  and  were  ready  to  land  armed 
parties  at  a  moment's  notice.  Meanwhile  the 
volunteer  force  patrolled  the  European  quarter 
day  and  night.  As  time  wore  on  it  became 
evident  that  the  rebels  had  no  intention  of 
provoking  an  encounter.  Apart  from  the 
inevitable  risks  which  thev  would  have  to 
face  there  was  the  certainty  that  interfer- 
ence with  Europeans  would  break  down  the 
policy  of  neutrality  which  had  been  steadily 
pursued  in  regard  to  them.  So  what  at  first 
had  been  regarded  as  a  menacing  danger 
assumed  the  aspect  of  a  somewhat  tedious 
but  not  entirely  uninteresting  struggle 
upon  which  foreigners  could  look  with  an 
air  of  detachment.  The  attempts  of  the 
imperial  forces  to  recover  possession  of  the 
city   were    ludicrous    in    their    ineff'ectiveness 


determined  resistance  that  they  were  com- 
pelled ultimately  to  fall  back  with  a  loss 
of  four  officers  and  si.xty  men  killed  and 
wounded.  This  unpleasant  reverse  had  the 
effect  of  killing  for  the  time  being  the  idea 
of  foreign  intervention.  The  contending  fac- 
tions were  left  severely  alone  and  the  siege 
went  on  in  its  old  desultory  way.  Before 
very  long  the  rebels,  feeling  the  pinch  of 
want,  made  a  desperate  effort  to  cut  their 
way  out.  The  bulk  of  them  fell  either  by 
the  sword  of  the  imperialists  or  later  at  the 
hands  of  the  executioners,  who  carried  out 
their  sanguinary  work  with  a  remorseless 
severity  characteristic  of  Chinese  methods. 
The  two  leaders.  Lew  and  Chin-ah-lin, 
escaped,  though  a  heavy  price  was  put  upon 
their  heads,  and  a  few  of  the  lesser  lights 
of  the  rising  also  got  away  by  taking  refuge 
in  the  foreign  settlement.  In  other  direc- 
tions at  this  period  the  imperial  authorities 
achieved  successes  over  the  rebels,  and  the 
circumstance  undoubtedly  tended  to  stiffen 
their  opposition  to  demands  which  shortly 
afterwards  were  made  upon  them  by  the 
British  Government. 


68      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

Sir  John  Bowling's  Administration— He  demands  an  Interview  with  the  Viceroy  Yeh — Refusal  to  grant  a 
Meeting  in  Canton — Outrage  on  the  British  Lorcha  "Arrow" — Sir  Michael  Seymour  bombards  Canton — Con- 
tinuance of  Hostilities— Troops  requisitioned  from  England — Lord  Elgin  appointed  Special  Envoy— Expeditionary 
Force  sent  out  but  diverted  to  India  to  deal  with  the  Mutiny  Crisis— Ultimate  advance  on  Canton — Bombardment 
of  the  City — Capture  and  deportation  of  Yeh — Allied  British  and  French  Fleets  capture  the  Taku  Forts  and 
enter  the  Peiho  Rivei — Conclusion  of  the  Treaty  of  Tientsin. 


Mr.  (afterwards  Sir  John)  Bowring  in  1853 
succeeded  Sir  George  Boiiham  in  the  chief 
control  of  British  interests  in  China.  He 
was  a  man  wlio  liad  had  a  remarkable  career. 
In  1832,  when  travelling  in  France,  he  was 
arrested  as  a  spy.  The  intimate  friend  of 
Jeremy  Bentham,  and  one  of  the  earliest 
school  of  philosophical  Radicals,  he  was  the 


instructions,  on  appointment,  were  to  avoid 
all  initatinj^  discussions  with  China,  aiui  when 
a  new  Government  came  into  power  in 
England  a  short  time  later  the  instructions 
were  repeated  with  emphasis.  In  strict  con- 
formity with  them  Sir  John  Bowring  (as  he 
became  soon  after  his  appointment)  souglit 
an  early  opportunity  of  entering  into  friendly 


SIK    JOHN    BOWRING,   GOVERNOR    OF    HONGKONG. 
(From  the  bronze  medallion  in  the  National  Portrait  Gallery.) 


first  joint  editor  of  the  Westminster  Review, 
and  wrote  largely  on  political  and  economic 
questions.  He  was  employed  by  the  Gov-. 
ernments  of  the  day  on  many  important 
commissions,  and  in  1841  entered  Parliament 
as  a  Radical.  Six  years  later  he  went  as 
Consul  to  Canton.  It  was  from  this  post 
tliat  he  was  transferred  to  Hongkong.      His 


communication  with  the  Chinese  authorities. 
The  Viceroy  Su,  in  acknowledging  his 
communication,  complimented  him  on  his 
appointment,  but  begged  to  be  excused  a 
personal  interview  on  the  ground  that  his 
hands  were  full  of  the  operations  against 
the  rebels.  Nothing  was  done  for  some 
little   time,   Sir  John  Bowring   deeming  that 


he  was  precluded  from  pushing  the  matter 
by  the  strict  injunctions  given  to  him  on 
appointment  and  several  times  repealed. 
When,  however,  in  the  early  part  of  1854, 
Lord  Clarendon,  who  had  succeeded  to  the 
office  of  Foreign  Secretary,  addressed  him 
a  despatch  in  which  an  admission  was  made 
of  the  desirability  of  securing  free  and  unre- 
stricted intercourse  with  the  Chinese  officials 
and  "admission  into  some  of  the  cities  of 
China,  especially  Canton,"  he  felt  that  he 
might  appropriately  venture  to  raise  afresh 
the  question  of  the  opening  of  Canton  to  the 
British.  The  opportunity  offered  on  the 
appointment  of  Yeh  as  Viceroy  in  succession 
to  Su.  Sir  John  Bowring  addressed  a 
communication  to  the  new  commissioner 
notifying  his  definitive  appointment  as 
Governor  of  Hongkong.  Receiving  no  reply 
to  this  he  sent  a  second  communication 
requesting  an  interview  but  intimating  that 
such  could  only  take  place  within  the  city 
of  Canton  at  the  oflicial  residence  of  the 
Viceroy.  Yeh  sent  an  evasive  reply, 
saying  that  though  he  would  be  pleased  to 
see  Sir  John  Bowring  if  possible  his  duties 
in  connection  with  the  management  of  the 
military  arrangements  in  tlie  province  were 
such  that  he  could  not  name  a  day.  The 
British  Governor,  not  to  be  put  off  in  this 
way,  sent  Mr.  Medhurst,  his  official  secre- 
tary, to  Canton,  charged  with  the  duty  of 
fixing  an  interview  with  Yeh  if  such  an 
arrangement  could  be  made.  Mr.  Medhurst 
speedily  found  that  his  mission  would  be  an 
abortive  one.  The  Mandarins  detailed  to 
meet  him  were  men  of  inferior  rank,  and 
he  could  get  no  satisfaction.  He  gathered, 
however,  that  the  arrangement  made  by 
Keying  for  the  opening  of  the  gates  of  the 
city  was  repudiated  by  the  Viceroy,  and 
that  the  utmost  concession  that  would  be 
made  was  that  a  meeting  should  take  place 
at  the  Jinsin  Packhouse  on  the  Canton  Kiver 
— a  position  outside  the  city  limits.  Sir 
John  Bowring  resolutely  declined  to  enter- 
tain this  proposal,  and  finding  that  Yeh  was 
obdurate  he  left  Hongkong  for  Shanghai 
with  the  view  of  getting  into  direct  com- 
munication with  the  Peking  authorities.  On 
arrival  at  the  northern  .settlement,  he  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  Eleang,  the  Viceroy  of 
the  Two  Kiang,  making  a  complaint  of 
Yeh's  discourtesy  to  him  and  expressing  a 
desire  to  negotiate  either  with  him  or  some 
other  high  official  of  the  Empire.  Eleang 
replied  in  a  letter  which  is  a  masterpiece  of 
courtly  irony.  After  saying  that  he  could 
not  interfere  with  Commissioner  Yeh,  who 
was  a  high  official  specially  appointed  by 
the  Emperor  to  conduct  the  relations  with 
foreigners,  he  wrote  :  "  I  have  no  means 
of  knowing  what  kind  of  treatment  your 
Excellency  or  your  predecessors  received  at 
the  hands  of  the  Commissioner  at  Canton. 
It  is,  to  my  mind,  a  matter  of  more  con- 
sequence  that   we   of   the   central   and   other 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       69 


nations  have  made  fair  dealing  and  good 
faith  our  rule  of  conduct,  and  thus  for  a 
length  of  time  preserved  entire  our  amicable 
relations.  Familiarity  or  otherwise  in  social 
intercourse  and  all  such  triHes,  are,  in  my 
opinion,  to  be  decided  by  the  laws  of  con- 
ventionality. As  your  Excellency  cherishes 
such  a  dislike  to  discourteous  treatment,  you 
must  doubtless  be  a  most  courteous  man 
yourself — an  inference  which  gives  me  sin- 
cerest  pleasure,  for  we  shall  both  be  able  to 
maintain  Treaty  stipulations,  and  contiiaie  in 
the  practice  of  mutual  goodwill  to  your 
Excellency's  everlasting  honour."  Sir  John 
Bovvring  let  the  matter  sleep  for  the  best 
part  of  a  year  and  then  (in  June,  1855) 
prepared  an  explicit  demand  for  the  ofiicial 
reception  either  of  himself  or  of  Mr.  Ruther- 
ford Alcock,  who  by  this  time  had  been 
transferred  from  Shanghai  to  Canton.  Yeli, 
after  taking  a  month  to  reply,  sent  a  l^;tter 
saying  that  the  reception  of  a  consul  was  out 
of  the  question,  and  that  as  the  Governor 
himself  had  refused  the  meeting  outside  the 
city,  there  was  an  end  of  the  matter.  He 
added  that  though  the  rebel  movement  had 
been  got  well  under,  he  was  still  largely 
occupied  with  military  matters.  In  acknow- 
ledging this  communication  Sir  John  Bowring 
intimated  that  there  was  little  likelihood  of 
British  and  Chinese  relations  being  put  on 
anything  like  a  satisfactory  footing  until 
the  city  question  was  satisfactorily  settled. 
Here  for  the  present  the  controversy  ended. 
Mr.  Alcock  returned  to  his  old  post  at 
Shanghai,  and  his  place  at  Canton  was  filled 
by  Mr.  (afterwards  Sir)  Harry  Parkes.  Tlie 
altitude  of  the  Cantonese  meanwhile,  was 
such  as  to  cause  grave  anxiety.  Follow- 
ing upon  a  series  of  minor  insults  a  gross 
and    entirely    unprovoked    attack    was    made 


The  deadlock  which  had  been  reached 
might  have  continued  indefinitely  had  not, 
as  had  often  happened  before,  in  the  history 
of  foreign  trade  in  China,  an  event  occurred 
which  forced  matters  to  an  issue.  Early  in 
October,  1856,  a  lorcha,  or  fast   sailing  boat, 


no  right  to  interfere.  After  waiting  a  few 
days  for  an  apology  which  was  not  forth- 
coming it  was  decided  to  give  an  additional 
turn  to  the  screw  with  a  view  to  bringing 
Yeh  to  a  more  reasonable  frame  of  mind.  To 
Sir  Michael  Seymour,  the  Admiral  on  the  sta- 


SIR    HARRY    PARKES,    K.C.B. 

(From  "Tlie  Life  of  Sir  Harry  Parties."     By  Stantey 

Lane-Poole. 

By  Itiiid  permission  of  Messrs.  Macmillan  &  Co.) 

in  1856  in  the  outskirts  of  Canton  upon 
Mr.  Berkeley  Johnson  and  Mr.  Whittall,  two 
of  the  leading  British  merchants.  In  spite  of 
the  indignant  remonstrances  of  Mr.  Parkes, 
the  Chinese  authorities  took  no  action  what- 
ever to  punish  the  offenders.  The  utmost 
that  they  could  be  induced  to  do  was  to 
secure  the  withdrawal  of  an  inflammatory 
placard  directed  against  Europeans. 


BRITISH    WARSHIPS    PASSING    THE    BATTERIES    OP    THE    BOCCA    TIGRIS. 

,  (From  ail  engraving.) 


named  the  Arrmv,  British  owned  and  com- 
manded, and  flying  the  British  flag,  while 
lying  at  anchor  in  the  Canton  River  was 
boarded  by  a  party  of  Mandarins  attended 
by  a  substantial  escort.  In  spite  of  remon- 
strances the  intruders  hauled  down  the 
British  flag  and  carried  ofi^  the  Chinese  crew 
prisoners.  On  the  circumstances  of  the  in- 
cident becoming  known  to  Mr.  Parkes  he 
demanded  satisfaction  for  this  "  very  grave 
insult,"  and  as  a  preliminary  requested  that 
the  captured  crew  should  be  released.  Yeh 
sent  a  reply  which  was  a  vindication  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  officials.  His  explanation 
was  that  one  of  the  crew  was  a  criminal,  and 
that  the  others  were  required  as  witnesses 
against  him.  Moreover,  he  asserted  that  the 
Arrmv  was  not  a  foreign  lorcha — a  contention 
which  had  colourable  justification  in  the  fact 
that  through  an  oversight  the  boat  was  not 
at  the  time  of  the  affair  actually  registered 
at  Hongkong,  though  it  was  beheved  that 
she  was  so  registered,  and  in  any  event  she 
was  most  certainly  under  British  protection. 
Beyond  question  the  boarding  of  the  bo.it 
and  the  carrying  off  of  her  crew  was  an 
unwarrantable  proceeding,  and  one  which 
could  not  possibly  be  overlooked  without 
grave  injury  to  British  prestige. 

Failing  to  obtain  redress  from  Yeh  the 
British  authorities  decided  to  institute  re- 
prisals. The  first  step  taken  was  the  seizure 
of  a  junk  believed  to  be  a  Chinese  Govern- 
ment vessel,  by  the  British  Naval  Commodore 
at  Canton.  When  this  move  had  lieen  carried 
out  Mr.  Parkes  wrote  to  Yeh  telling  him 
what  had  been  done,  and  reminding  him  that 
the  question  of  the  Arrow  still  remained 
unsettled.  The  Chinese  Commissioner  affected 
to  be  not  in  tlie  least  moved  by  the  British 
action.  The  junk  seized,  he  intimated,  was  not 
a  Government  vessel,  and  as  for  the  matter 
in  dispute  it  was  where  it  was,  the  lorcha 
not    being    a   British   vessel   the    British   had 


tion,  was  entrusted  the  task  of  applying  the 
pressure.  This  took  the  form  of  battering 
the  Barrier  forts  and  dismantling  and  spiking 
the  guns.  The  operation  was  accomplished 
on  the  23rd  of  October,  with  the  accustomed 
facility.  Proceeding  up  the  river  to  Canton 
the  British  admiral  delivered  a  communication 
in  the  nature  of  an  ultimatum  informing  Yeh 
that  unless  he  complied  at  once  with  every 
demand  made,  the  British  forces  would 
"  proceed  with  the  destruction  of  all  the 
defences  and  public  buildings  of  this  city 
and  of  the  government  vessels  in  the  river." 
As  no  reply  was  vouchsafed  to  the  message 
Sir  Michael  Seymour  proceeded  to  dismantle 
the  forts  in  the  vicinity  of  Canton  itself,  and 
having  landed  a  body  of  marines  for  the 
protection  of  the  foreign  factories  manoeuvred 
ills  ships  into  such  a  position  as  to  lead  to 
the  supposition  that  he  meant  to  bombard 
the  city.  Yeh,  so  far  from  being  intimidated 
by  the  naval  menace  was  only  aroused  by  it 
to  greater  fury.  He  sent  a  defiant  message 
to  the  British  telling  them  that  the  rage 
of  the  people  who  suffered  by  the  operations 
undertaken  would  speedily  retrieve  the  injuries 
that  might  be  inflicted.  Meanwhile,  he  placed 
a  price  on  the  head  of  every  Englishman 
that  might  be  brought  to  him.  This  un- 
compromising attitude  made  the  adoption  of 
further  coercive  measures  indispensable.  For 
two  days  the  British  ships,  after  due  notice 
had  been  given  to  the  inhabitants,  bombarded 
those  parts  of  the  city  in  which  the  Govern- 
ment buildings  were  situated.  Thereafter,  a 
body  of  marines  was  landed,  and  when  they 
had  occupied  Tsinghai  gate.  Sir  Michael 
Seymour  and  Mr.  Parkes  proceeded  to  the 
Viceroy's  yamen.  This  demonstration  having 
been  made  the  positions  occupied  in  the  city, 
which  were  not  easily  defensible,  were 
evacuated,  and  the  force  was  witlidrawn 
either  to  the  ships  or  to  the  positions  occupied 
by   the   river.      It    was   a    well-planned    and 


70      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


well-«xecute<J  business,  but  it  unfortunately 
did  nt>t  bring  a  settlement  a  whit  the  nearer. 
Nothing  further  of  imiwrtance  occurred  until 
the  commencement  of  Xoverat>er,  when  Sir 
Michael  Seymour  attacked  and  destroyed  a 
(!eet  of  war  junks  which  were  tlireafening 
his  communications.  On  the  Qth  of  November 
he  issued  another  ultimatum  giving  notice 
that  ho>tiHties  would  l>e  prosecuted  actively 
if  a  settlement  was  not  reached  in  twenty-four 
hours.  As  the  only  response  vouchsafed  was 
an  evasive  communication  in  which  stress 
was  laid  on  the  growing  indignation  of  the 
Chinese  people  at  the  British  action,  Sir 
Uichael  Seymour  on  the  1 2th  and  13th  of 
Noveml>er  attacked  and  captured  the  Bogue 
forts,  which  at  the  time  were  armed  with 
four  hundred  guns.  Still  there  were  no 
overtures  for  peace  from  the  Chinese.  On 
the  contrary  the  Cantonese  showed  the 
greatest  activity  in  perfecting  their  defensive 
measures  and  waging  hostilities  in  their 
peculiar  fashion.  Stragglers  were  cut  off 
and  ruihlessly  butchered,  in  some  instances 
after   horrible   torture  ;  attempts  were   made 


Sir  Michael  Seymour  was  to  deal  with  them 
effectually.  Towards  the  end  of  January, 
1857,  the  British  and  American  docks  and 
factories  at  Whampoa  were  destroyed  by 
fire.  Wherever  it  was  deemed  safe  to  attack 
the  property  of  foreigners  the  attack  was  de- 
livered. To  deal  with  the  marauding  Chinese 
junks,  which  were  able  to  avoid  encounters 
by  taking  refuge  in  the  numerous  shallow 
creeks  where  the  large  ships  of  the  navy 
could  not  follow  them,  Sir  Michael  Seymour 
manned  and  armed  a  number  of  native 
ships  and  carried  the  war  very  successfully 
into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country.  But 
these  measures  had  onlv  a  local  and  transient 
effect.  They  left  Yeh"  absolutely  indifferent, 
and  if  they  moved  the  populace  at  all  it 
was  only  to  add  fuel  to  the  flames  of  their 
patriotic  ardour.  In  the  face  of  such  a 
situation,  Sir  Michael  Seymour  could  not  do 
less  than  apply  to  the  home  authorities  for 
that  material  aid  which  he  needed  to  carry 
out  a  comprehensive  plan  of  campaign.  At 
the  close  of  1856  he  sent  home  a  demand 
for  5,000  troops  and  meantime  called  to  his 


TEMPLE  AND  CANAL  OF  HONAN. 

(From  Borget's  "Skcti;hes  of  China.") 


to  fire  ships,  and  forts  were  blown  up. 
Finally,  successive  attempts  were  made  to 
fire  the  foreign  factories,  attempts  which  in 
the  long  run  were  so  successful  that  the 
entire  foreign  settlement  was  completely 
destroyed.  The  position  ashore  at  length 
became  so  difficult  to  hold  that  Sir  Michael 
Seymour  elected  to  withdraw  his  men  to 
the  ships,  and  to  conduct  the  negotiations 
from  them.  The  Chinese,  elated  at  this 
retrograde  move,  now  redoubled  their  efforts 
to  annihilate  the  haled  barbarians.  Unwary 
Europeans  who  happened  to  be  moving  about 
at  this  period  were  captured  and  murdered. 
In  one  instance  a  daring  attack  was  made 
upon  a  postal  steamer  plying  between  Canton 
and  Hongkong,  and  the  ship  captured  and 
destroyed,  and  the  Europeans  on  board  put 
to  death.  This  deadly  activity  was  stimulated 
by  the  rewards  offered  by  Yeh,  which  at 
this  juncture  amounted  to  as  much  as  thirty 
pounds  a  head. 

The  hostilities  went  on  in  desultory 
fashirjn  for  some  weeks,  the  Chinese  gain- 
ing confidence  as  they  realised  how  impotent 


aid  as  many  of  the  units  of  the  garrison  of 
the  Straits  Settlements  as  could  be  spared. 
War  by  this  time  was  not  only  in  sight— it 
had  arrived. 

The  Home  Government  treated  Sir  Michael 
Seymour's  requisitions  with  the  seriousness 
that  they  merited.  They  saw  that  whether 
they  liked  it  or  not  they  had  to  deal  with  a 
difficulty  of  more  than  ordinary  importance 
in  its  military  as  well  as  in  its  diplomatic 
aspects.  They  therefore  decided  to  send  out 
the  Earl  of  Elgin  as  special  envoy  to  direct 
any  negotiations  which  might  be  entered 
into  with  the  Chinese  Government.  Lord 
Elgin  was  a  nobleman  thoroughly  qualified 
by  temperament  and  experience  in  public 
life  for  the  duty.  His  views  were  broad 
and  statesmanlike  and  he  had  sufficient  of 
the  national  quality  of  caution  to  make  it 
certain  that  he  would  not  rush  the  country 
into  reckless  courses.  He  left  England  at 
the  end  of  April,  1857,  intent  on  making  his 
way  to  the  seat  of  disturbances  as  quickly 
as  possible.  But  neither  Lord  Elgin  nor  the 
Government  at  home  had  foreseen  a  crisis  in 


India  with  which  the  China  difficulty  was 
by  comparison  insignificant.  While  Lord 
Elgin  was  on  the  sea  the  flames  of  mutiny 
were  sweeping  over  Northern  India,  placing 
the  British  power  in  the  deadliest  peril  it 
had  been  in  for  generations.  On  arrival  at 
Singapore  on  the  3rd  of  June,  a  leltcr  from 
Lord  Canning,  the  Governor-General  of  India, 
met  the  Envoy,  representing  in  the  most 
urgent  terms  the  peril  of  the  posilion  in 
which  the  paramount  power  was  placed  and 
imploring  him  to  divert  the  China  expedition 
to  the  assistance  of  the  .sorely  tried  British 
forces  in  the  North  West  Provinces.  It  was 
impossible,  of  course,  to  resist  so  pressing 
an  appeal.  The  necessary  orders  were 
given  and  the  British  regiments  drawn  from 
England  and  Mauritius  were  promptly 
despatched  to  Calcutta,  where  they  arrived 
to  materially  alleviate  a  very  dangerous  situa- 
tion. Meanwhile  Lord  Elgin  resumed  his 
journey  to  Hongkong,  which  port  he  reached 
in  the  first  week  of  July,  1857.  In  the 
months  preceding  his  arrival,  Sir  Michael 
Seymour  had  been  busily  occupied  in  carry- 
ing home  to  the  mind  of  the  enemy  the 
fact  that  war  for  them  was  a  very  costly 
business.  A  great  fleet  of  Government  junks 
was  destroyed  in  the  Escape  Creek,  an  inlet 
lying  between  Hongkong  and  the  Bocca 
Tigris,  smaller  expeditions  were  conducted 
up  the  other  creeks  in  the  locality,  and, 
most  important  of  all,  on  the  1st  of  June 
the  Admiral,  with  a  small  force  of  men, 
stormed  and  captured  immensely  strong 
positions  held  by  the  enemy  in  and  about 
the  town  of  Katshan.  The  latter  operations 
were  carried  out  with  a  dash  and  gallantry 
characteristic  of  the  senior  service,  and 
though  they  resulted  in  somewhat  heavy 
casualties — thirteen  killed  and  forty  wounded 
— the  price  was  not  a  heavy  one  to  pay  for 
what  was  unquestionably  a  valuable  piece 
of  work. 

Lord  Elgin,  on  deliberating  carefully  over 
the  position  of  affairs  which  confronted  him 
at  Hongkong,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
operations  against  Canton  with  a  view  to 
the  crushing  of  Yeh's  power  must  be  sus- 
pended pending  the  arrival  of  fresh  troops 
from  home.  The  decision  arrived  at  caused 
some  discontent  amongst  the  mercantile 
community,  who  were  naturally  anxious  that 
a  decisive  blow  should  be  struck  without 
delay  in  view  of  the  certain  misconceptions 
which  would  arise  from  a  slackening  of  the 
operations.  But  though  the  arguments  used 
in  support  of  this  view  were  exceedingly 
weighty,  there  is  little  doubt  that  Lord  Elgin 
was  entirely  in  the  right.  To  attack  Canton 
with  a  reasonable  prospect  of  success  at  least 
four  thousand  troops,  it  was  calculated,  would 
be  required.  At  Hongkong  at  that  time  the 
total  garrison  only  numbered  fifteen  hundred, 
and  of  these  a  considerable  number  were 
ineffectives.  The  utmost  force  that  could 
have  been  mustered  with  the  assistance  of 
the  fleet  was  two  thousand  men.  This  body, 
even  if  successful  in  capturing  the  enemy's 
positions,  was  altogether  too  small  to  hold 
them.  Moreover,  without  reserves  for  the 
expediiionary  force  to  fall  back  upon,  the 
British  power  would  have  been  greatly  im- 
perilled in  the  event  of  a  disaster.  Lord 
Elgin,  though  opposed  to  active  measures  in 
the  Canton  River,  was  not  content  to  sit 
down  and  do  absolutely  nothing.  He  pro- 
posed to  the  Home  Government  that  he 
should  make  a  demonstration  with  the  fleet 
off  the  Peiho,  with  the  object,  if  possible,  of 
getting  into  touch  with  the  Peking  authorities. 
Lord  Clarendon,  the  Foreign  Secretary  of 
the  period,  wrote  entirely  approving  of  the 
suggestion ;     but   local   opinion   was   strongly 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       71 


against  the  adoption  of  a  course  which  would 
extend  the  area  of  operations.  The  conten- 
tion was  that  the  quarrel  was  with  Yeh  and 
that  it  should  be  dealt  with  at  Canton.  It 
was  impossible  to  gainsay  the  force  of  these 
views,  so  Lord  Elgin  decided  to  drop  his 
project  for  the  time  being  and  await  the 
course  of  events  with  as  much  equanimity  as 
he  could.  In  order  that  he  might  be  fully 
acquainted  with  the  intentions  of  the  Indian 
Government  as  regarded  the  troops  diverted 
from  China  to  the  peninsula,  he  paid  a  flying 
visit  to  Calcutta.  What  he  learned  on  the 
way  about  the  gravity  of  the  position  induced 
him  to  take  with  him  seventeen  hundred 
additional  troops  which  were  on  the  way 
out  to  China.  These  reinforcements  were  of 
incalculable  value  to  India,  but  their  despatch 
destroyed  any  lingering  expectations  that  the 
envoy  entertained  of  being  able  immediately 
to  prosecute  a  vigorous  diplomacy  in  China. 
Returning  to  Hongkong  in  September,  he 
found,  however,  that  preparations  were  in 
active  progress  for  the  expedition  to  Canton, 
whenever  it  should  be  made.  The  time  for 
action  came  with  the  close  of  the  year.  By 
that  period  the  authorities  had  completed 
their  military  arrangements.  Their  position, 
furthermore,  had  been  strengthened  by  the 
conclusion  by  tlie  Home  Government  with 
the  French  authorities  of  a  working  agree- 
ment by  which  it  was  arranged  that  the  two 
powers  should  jointly  prosecute  the  demand 
for  redress  for  outrages  committed  and  for 
freedom  of  diplomatic  intercourse.  Altogether 
a  force  of  six  thousand,  including  nine  hun- 
dred French,  was  available  for  the  important 
business  in  hand. 

The  opening  step  of  the  war  was  the 
transmission  on  the  I2th  of  December  to 
Yeh  of  a  communication  from  Lord  Elgin 
informing  him  of  the  nature  of  his  mission, 
and  especially  demanding  the  complete  execu- 
tion at  Canton  of  all  treaty  engagements  and 
compensation  to  British  subjects  for  injuries 
and  losses  incurred  in  the  recent  disturbances. 
Yeh  replied  in  a  discursive  letter,  in  which 
he  sought  to  justify  argumentatively  the  posi- 
tion he  had  taken  up.  He  suggested,  it  would 
seem  ironically,  that  trade  relations  should  be 
renewed  on  the  basis  of  each  party  paying 
for  its  own  losses.  It  was  obvious  from  the 
tenour  of  the  communication  that  Yeh  was 
still  unrepentant.  In  the  circumstances  it 
was  decided  that  Sir  Michael  Seymour 
should  occupy  that  portion  of  the  island  of 
Honan  which  faces  Canton.  The  move  was 
expeditiously  carried  out  on  the  15th  of 
December  without  opposition.  Afterwards 
the  main  body  of  troops  was  brought  up 
the  river  from  Hongkong.  By  Christmas  Day 
everything  was  in  readiness  for  the  assault. 
But  a  chance  was  given  to  Yeh  to  recon- 
sider his  position  before  a  shot  was  fired. 
He  was  allowed  forty-eight  hours  to  think 
the  matter  over,  or,  if  he  intended  to  under- 
take hostilities,  to  provide  time  for  the 
peaceable  population  to  evacuate  the  city. 
Whether  Yeh  did  give  any  serious  attention 
to  the  ultimatum  is  not  clear.  Probably, 
having  found  himself  in  a  most  diflicult  posi- 
tion with  certain  ruin  and  probably  death 
before  him  if  he  assented  to  the  foreigners' 
demands,  and  possible  defeat  and  disaster 
if  he  held  out,  he  thought  it  better  to  leave 
the  matter  to  the  decision  of  fate.  However 
that  may  be,  he  made  no  sort  of  reply  to 
the  joint  British  and  French  declaration. 
On  the  28th  of  December,  theiefore,  the 
bombardment  commenced  in  earnest,  the  fire 
being  directed  to  a  position  known  as  Lin's 
Fort,  on  the  east  side,  which  offeied  the 
most  feasible  line  of  advance.  After  half 
an    hour's   firing   the    Chinese   gunners   fled. 


and  the  fort  was  soon  afterwards  destroyed 
by  the  accidental  firing  of  its  magazine. 
Under  cover  of  the  guns  the  troops  ad- 
vanced to  the  walls  of  the  city,  which  were 
assailed  from  three  different  points.  They 
were  met  with  a  rather  feeble  resistance, 
and  within  an  hour  and  a  half  of  the  com- 
mencement of  the  attack  the  city  was  in  the 
possession  of  the  allied  forces.  Meanwhile, 
another  portion  of  the  expeditionary  force 
had  captured  the  fort  on  Magazine  Hill, 
which  is  a  highly  important  strategic  posi- 
tion as  it  commands  the  other  eminences 
about     the     city.        From     this     centre     the 


culty  was  at  first  experienced  in  discovering 
his  lair.  The  official  quarter,  containing  the 
residences  of  Yeh  and  Pihkwei,  the  Governor, 
was  captured,  and  with  it  a  considerable 
amount  of  treasure,  but  Yeh  was  unfortu- 
nately "  not  at  home."  By  dint  of  assiduous 
inquiries  Mr.  (alterwaids  Sir  Harry)  Parkes 
obtained  information  as  to  the  Commissioner's 
movements,  and  he  was  finally  tracked  down 
in  a  yamen  in  the  south-west  part  of  the 
city.  He  had  made  every  arrangement  tor 
flight,  and  was  about  to  escape  over  a  wall 
in  the  rear  of  the  premises  when  the  guard 
of    sailors     under     Captain     (afterwards     Sir 


JAMES,    EIGHTH    EARL    OF    ELGIN. 

(From  an  engraving  in  tlie  Print  Room,  Britisfi  Museum.) 


Chinese  were  bombarded  out  of  their  posi- 
tions in  Gough  Fort  and  the  surrounding 
hills.  In  fact,  within  a  very  short  period  the 
attacking  force  were  absolute  masters  of  the 
situation.  Yeh  still  was  not  conquered. 
Installed  in  his  yamen,  in  the  portion  of  the 
cily  which  had  not  yet  been  occupied,  he 
issued  fiery  edicts  proscribing  citizens  who 
were  supposed  to  have  leanings  towards  the 
foreigners  and  made  lavish  promises  of  re- 
wards to  all  who  would  bring  him  the  heads 
of  foreigners.  His  course,  however,  by  this 
time  was  nearly  run.  On  the  5th  of  January 
a  move  was  made  with  the  object  of 
bearding   the    lion   in   his   den.      Some   difii- 


Astley  Cooper)  Key  which  had  accompanied 
Mr.  Parkes,  seized  him.  Yeh,  we  are  told 
by  one  of  the  British  present,  exhibited  great 
self-possession,  and  remained  perfectly  quiet 
while  his  boxes,  of  which  the  room  was  lull, 
were  opened  and  examined  for  papers.  The 
fact  that  he  had  been  previously  assured 
that  his  life  was  safe  possibly  accounted  in 
some  degree  for  his  equanimity,  but,  even 
so,  his  bearing  was  markedly  indifferent, 
having  regard  to  all  that  his  capture  implied 
to  him  personally.  The  only  time  he  seems 
to  have  lost  his  imperturbability  was  as  he 
was  being  taken  through  the  streets  to  the 
British    ship,    which    was    to   be   his   prison. 


VIEWS    OF    CANTON    AND    VICINITY. 
I.    TeHPi.E  OF  Buddha.  2-    VVhampoa,  from  Dank's  Island. 

3.     THE    EL-KOPEAN    FACTORIES.  4.     SCENE   OX    THF    HOXAX    CAXAL. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       73 


On  the  way  a  party  of  the  British  Coolie 
Corps  was  encountered,  and  these  rough 
fellows  seeing  him  in  custody,  put  down 
their  burdens  and  indulged  in  hearty  laughter. 
This  open  contempt  of  the  despised  Hakkas 
caused  Yeh  to  gnash  his  teeth  in  impotent 
rage.  Probably  he  had  never  experienced  in 
his  whole  life  a  greater  insult,  but  he  was 
not  again  to  be  subjected  to  the  cynosure 
of  rude  Cantonese  eyes,  for  his  humiliating 
progress  on  this  occasion  was  his  last  public 
appearance  in  Canton,  or  even  in  China.  On 
account  of  his  crimes  and  misdemeanours 
against  foreigners,  and  they  proved  to  be 
many,  he  was  deported  to  Calcutta,  there  to 
spend  the  remaining  two  years  of  his  life. 

The  seizure  of  Canton  and  the  overthrow 
of  Yeh  were  important  achievements,  but 
they  left  unsolved  the  larger  problem  of 
establishing  direct  diplomatic  intercourse 
with  the  Chinese  Government.  When 
therefore,  the  war  had  been  completed  in 
the  south,  Lord  Elgin  and  Baron  Gros,  the 
French  representative,  forwarded  to  the 
Chinese  Government  despatches  recounting 
the  proceedings  adopted  at  Canton,  and 
setting  forth  in  conciliatory  but  firm 
language  the  demands  which  they  had  been 
commissioned  to  prefer.  It  was  specifically 
stated  that  the  official  chosen  to  discuss 
affairs  with  them  would  be  required  to 
hold  his  commission  direct  from  the 
Emperor.  The  communications  in  due 
course  found  their  way  to  Peking  and 
elicited  a  characteristically  Chinese  reply 
from  Yuching,  the  Emperor's  Chief 
Minister.  In  lofty  style  the  missive  dis- 
cussed the  position  of  affairs  at  Canton, 
describing  the  action  taken  by  the  allied 
powers  as  being  "  without  parallel  in  the 
history  of  the  past."  But,  the  letter  went 
on,  "  His  Majesty  is  magnanimous  and  con- 
siderate. He  has  been  pleased  by  a  decree 
which  we  have  had  the  honour  to  receive, 
to  degrade  Yeh  from  the  Governor-General- 
ship of  the  Two  Kwang  for  his  maladminis- 
tration and  to  despatch  His  Excellency 
Hwang  to  Kwantung  as  Imperial  Commis- 
sioner in  his  stead  to  investigate  and  decide 
with  impartiality  ;  and  it  will  of  course 
behove  the  English  Minister  to  wait  in 
Kwantung  and  there  make  his  arrangements. 
No  Imperial  Commissioner  ever  conducts 
business  at  Shanghai.  There  being  a  par- 
ticular sphere  of  duty  allotted  to  every 
official  on  the  establishment  of  the  Celestial 
Empire,  and  the  principle  that  between 
them  and  the  foreigner  there  is  no  inter- 
course being  one  ever  religiously  adhered 
to  by  the  servants  of  our  Government  of 
China,  it  would  not  be  proper  for  me  to 
reply  in  person  to  the  letter  of  the  English 
Minister.  Let  Your  Excellency,  therefore, 
transmit  to  him  all  that  I  have  said  above, 
and  his  letter  will  in  no  way  be  left  un- 
answered." The  time  had  passed  when 
British  diplomatists  could  be  diverted  from 
their  purpose  by  the  evasive  policy  of  the 
Peking  Government,  of  which  Yuching's 
letter  is  a  good  example.  Lord  Elgin,  who 
had  proceeded  to  Shanghai  at  the  end  of 
March,  sent  a  reply  from  there,  pointing  out 
the  serious  character  of  the  infractions  of 
the  Treaty  of  Nanking,  and  intimating  that 
he  proposed  to  proceed  north  in  order  to 
get  into  closer  communication  with  the 
higher  officials  of  the  Imperial  Government. 
In  pursuance  of  plans  already  formed.  Lord 
Elgin  and  his  Erench  colleague,  early  in 
April,  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  Peiho, 
the  allied  fleet  meanwhile  being  directed  to 
assemble  at  that  point  with  all  possible 
expedition.  On  arriving  at  their  destination, 
the  plenipotentiaries  sent  to  Yuching  a  letter 


demanding  in  temperate  language  the 
appointment  of  a  minister  duly  authorised 
by  the  Emperor,  to  discuss  questions  at 
issue.  An  intimation  was  given  that  if,  at 
the  expiry  of  six  days,  a  satisfactory  reply 
was  not  forthcoming,  it  would  be  considered 
that  the  pacific  overtures  of  the  pleni- 
potentiaries had  been  rejected,  and  that 
other  measures  must  be  adopted  to  obtain 
satisfaction.  The  reply  to  this  was  the 
appointment  of  three  commissioners  of 
moderate  rank,  who  lacked  the  requisite 
powers  to  negotiate.  Some  weeks  were 
spent  in  abortive  negotiations  which  at  each 
successive  stage  emphasised  the  fact  that  the 
inordinate  obstinacy  and  arrogance  of  the 
Chinese  Government  could  only  be  over- 
come by  the  exercise  of  force.  Lord  Elgin, 
on  his  part,  was  ready  to  apply  this 
touchstone  to  the  problem  at  an  early  date, 
but,  unfortunately,  there  was  some  mis- 
understanding about  the  movements  of  the 
fleet,  and  an  adequate  force  was  not  at 
hand  when  wanted.     In    his    irritation  at   the 


the  Imperial  Government."  As  the  despatch 
was  written  after  the  war  he  was  able  to 
strengthen  his  position  by  referring  to  the 
course  of  the  final  operations,  which,  in 
almost  dramatic  fashion,  as  we  shall  see, 
brought  about  a  settlement.  The  controversy 
was  decidedly  an  unfortunate  one,  and  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  raised  reflected 
some  little  discredit  on  Lord  Elgin. 

By  the  middle  of  May  the  naval  preparations 
were  sufficiently  advanced  to  enable  Lord 
H;igin  to  put  into  execution  his  plan  of 
campaign.  On  the  lyth  of  the  month  the 
allied  fleet,  under  the  joint  command  of  Sir 
Michael  Seymour  and  Admiral  Kigault 
de  Genouilly,  appeared  off  the  forts  and 
summoned  the  commandant  to  surrender. 
No  reply  to  this  demand  being  received,  a 
bombardment  was  commenced,  and  it  was 
so  effective  that  at  the  end  of  an  hour  and 
a  quarter  it  was  possible  to  land  parties  to 
seize  the  practically  deserted  forts.  Proceed- 
ing up  the  river  the  allied  fleet  was  attacked 
in    vigorous    fashion    by    the    Chinese,    who 


A    VIEW    NEAR    TIENTSIN. 


delay  Lord  Elgin  penned  a  despatch  home 
in  which  he  complained  in  strong  terms  of 
Sir  Michael  Seymour's  lack  of  energy,  and 
he  described  the  non-arrival  of  the  fleet  as 
"  a  most  grievous  disappointment,"  inasmuch 
as  he  believed  that  if  he  had  had  ten  or 
twelve  gunboats  he  would  have  been 
allowed  by  the  forts  to  proceed,  unresisted, 
to  Tientsin,  and  that  the  Emperor's  Govern- 
ment would  have  yielded  at  once  everything 
that  was  demanded  of  them.  Sir  Michael 
Seymour  was  not  directly  approached  on  the 
subject  by  Lord  Elgin,  but  when  he 
became  aware  of  the  tenor  of  the  allega- 
tions made  against  him  he  put  in  a  defence 
which,  in  the  view  of  all  impartial  and 
competent  personages,  was  a  complete 
vindication  of  his  professional  character  and 
reputation.  He  directly  traversed  the  idea 
that  an  early  move  up  the  river  would  have 
served  to  bring  the  Chinese  to  reason. 
Speaking  from  an  experience  of  two  years 
of  Chinese  warfare,  he  confidently  asserted 
that  "  nothing  but  the  conclusive  evidence 
of    irresistible    force    will    ever    fully    satisfy 


made  strenuous  efforts  to  destroy  the  foreign 
vessels  by  means  of  fire  ships.  Their  plans, 
however,  were  completely  frustrated,  and  the 
invaders  were  able  without  much  further 
difficulty  to  establish  themselves  firmly  at  tlie 
village  or  town  of  Taku.  The  losses  incurred 
by  the  allied  forces  in  the  course  of  the 
operations  were  slight  ;  they  were  a  small 
price  for  the  advantages  gained,  which  were 
of  a  substantial  and,  as  it  proved,  conclusive 
kind.  By  their  victory  the  allies  had  free 
access  to  Tientsin,  and  with  it  the  practical 
command  of  the  Grand  Canal  and  of  a  safe 
line  of  advance  on  Peking.  The  results 
achieved  were  so  striking  that  even  the 
Chinese  Government  was  convinced.  On 
learning  the  perilous  position  of  affairs  from 
the  three  commissioners,  the  Emperor  des- 
patched, with  instructions  to  proceed  with 
all  haste,  two  high  dignitaries— Kweiliang 
and  Hwashana— to  make  terms  with  the 
troublesome  foreigners.  These  imperial 
negotiators  on  appearing  at  Tientsin  mani- 
fested the  utmost  anxiety  to  make  terms, 
and    as    they     were     endowed    with     auiple 


74       TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


powers  and  were  prepared  to  make  (he  most 
liberal  conce^iuns,  it  seemed  that  peace 
was  well  in  sight.  The  fair  prospect  was 
momentarily  dimmed  by  the  appearance 
on  the  scene  of  Keyinj;,  who  as  a  sort 
ul  informal  extra  negotiator  showed  a 
disposition  to  enforc-e  terms  which  fell 
considerably  short  of  those  which  the  two 
other  commissioners  were  prep;ired  to  agree 
to.  It  appeared  later  that  this  was  a 
desperate  effort  on  the  wily  old  Mandarin's 
part  to  reinstate  himself  in  the  favour  of 
the  Emperor.  The  scheme  failed  because 
the  allied  ptnvers  were  too  much  in  earnest 
to  be  induced  to  forego  any  of  the  fruits 
of  their  success.  Keying  went  back  to 
Peking  a  disappointed  and  disillusioned  man. 
He  was  promptly  arrested  and  brought 
before  the  Board  of  Punishment,  who  found 
him  guilty  of  acting  '•  with  stupidity  and 
precipitancy,"  and  ordered  him  to  be  strangled. 
The  sentence  was  not  actually  carried  t)ut 
because  "  as  an  act  of  extreme  grace  and 
justice "  the  Emperor  sent  him  an  order  "  to 
put  an  end  to  himself,"  which  he  obeyed. 
Meanwhile,  the  negotiations  at  Tientsin  with 
the  two  approved  commissioners  were 
proceeding  slowly  but  s;itisfactorily.  Con- 
siderable opposition  was  manifested  to  the 
demand  for  a  resident  minister  at  Peking. 
Indeed,  this  was  the  crti.x  of  the  negotiations. 
The  commissioners  represented  that  com- 
pliance with  so  unheard  of  a  proposal  would 
be  perilous  both  to  the  minister  who  might 
be  appointed  and  the  Chinese  Government. 
They  also  raised  difliculties  about  etiquette, 
and  revived  the  old  question  of  the  KotoK'. 
Lord  Elgin  declined  to  t>e  moved  from  the 
position  which  he  had  t^iken  up  at  the  outset, 
that  there  must,  as  an  essential  feature  of 
any  arrangement,  be  a  provision  for  direct 
diplomatic  intercourse.  At  length,  on  the 
nth  of  June,  the  commissioners  in  a  des- 
patch practically  conceded  all  demands. 
They  suggested,  however,  that  the  visit  of 
a   British   Ambassador   to   Peking    should   be 


deferred  for  a  time.  A  treaty  was  draw  n 
up  on  the  terms  of  this  despatch,  and  it 
was  formally  signed  on  the  26th  of  June. 
The  ratifications  were  exchanged  on  the 
4th  of  July.  Afterwards  the  important 
question  of  the  revision  of  the  tariff  was 
taken  in  hand.  Great  Britain  acted  in  this 
matter  alone,  but  there  was  no  question  of 
exclusive  privileges,  as  a  most  favoured  nation 
clause  extended  the  concessions  granted  to 
all  powers  having  treaties  with  China. 
The  two  imperial  commissioners  who  had 
negotiated  the  Treaty  of  Tientsin  were 
joined  with  the  Viceroy  of  the  Two  Kiang  to 
conduct  the  negotiations  on  the  Chinese  side, 
and  Mr.  (afterwards  Sir  Thomas)  M^ade  and 
Mr.  Oliphant  (Lord  Elgin's  Secretary)  repre- 
sented the  British.  The  parties  met  at 
Shanghai,  and  there  threshed  out  the  details 
with  a  commendable  amount  of  expedition. 
In  the  result  a  striking  set  of  regulations 
was  agreed  to.  A  maximum  tariff  of  5  per 
cent,  ail  valorem  for  both  imports  and  exports 
is  the  guiding  principle  of  the  arrangement. 
But  the  most  dramatic  feature  of  the 
regulations  was  a  clause  legalising  the  im- 
portation of  opium  on  the  payment  of  a  duty 
of  thirty  taels  per  chest.  It  was  a  concession 
wrung  without  any  very  serious  difficulty 
from  the  Chinese.  In  their  practical  way 
they  doubtless  realised  that  while  they  were 
giving  little,  since  opium  was  freely  intro- 
duced in  spite  of  imperial  edicts,  they  were 
providing  themselves  with  a  useful  weapon 
with  which  to  attack  the  foreigner  on  the 
softer  side.  They  were  not  slow  to  use  it. 
Before  the  negotiations  had  been  completed 
the  commissioners  reverted  to  tlie  question  of 
the  establishment  of  a  permanent  diplomatic 
representative  at  Peking.  Once  more  they 
represented  the  grave  dangers  which  would 
attend  the  carrying  out  of  the  proposal, 
more  especially  in  view  of  the  Taeping 
Rebellion,  and  besought  the  British  officials 
not  to  press  the  point.  The  latter  were  not 
insensible    to    the    force    of    the    arguments 


used.  They  also  recognised  that  it  was  good 
policy  at  the  moment  to  be  conciliatory  ; 
so  the  question  was  allowed  to  stand  over, 
though  it  was  clearly  intimated  that  there 
could  be  no  falling  away  fiom  the  principle 
of  direct  diplomatic  intercourse.  Thus  the 
Treaty  of  Tientsin  was  cariied  to  completion 
with  this  one  little  loophole,  which  was 
subsequently  to  allow  of  the  opening  once 
more  of  the  floodgates  of  war.  Lord  Elgin, 
when  he  left  China  on  the  completion  of  his 
work  in  March,  1859,  could  not  be  insensible 
to  the  risks  which  attended  the  situation. 
While  the  negotiations  were  in  progress 
active  steps  weie  taken  to  restore  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  Peiho  forts,  and  secret  edicts 
were  in  circulation  invoking  the  national 
spirit  of  the  Chinese  against  the  foreigner. 
At  Canton  there  had  been  almost  continuous 
trouble  from  the  time  of  Yeh's  deposition. 
In  the  city  itself  martial  law  rigorously 
administered  by  a  British  commissioner  and 
a  native  governor  repressed  to  some  extent 
the  turbulent  instincts  of  the  population.  But 
in  the  adjacent  districts  persistent  efforts 
were  made,  and  not  without  success,  to  harass 
the  barbarians.  Investigations  showed  that 
the  unrest  was  the  work  of  the  new  Viceroy, 
Hwang,  who  had  been  sent  to  succeed  Yeh, 
supported  by  a  powerful  committee  of  pro- 
vincial notabilities.  Such  was  the  patriotic 
ardour  which  directed,  or  misdirected,  the 
efforts  of  this  combination,  that  a  reward 
was  offered  on  its  behalf  of  thirty  thousand 
dollars  for  the  head  of  Mr.  Parkes.  The 
occupation  was  prolonged  in  consequence  of 
these  manifestations,  and  measures  were 
adopted  to  convince  the  Chinese  that  hos- 
tility to  the  foreigner  was  a  policy  which 
did  not  pay.  In  course  of  time,  by  means  of 
well-arranged  expeditions  to  centres  of  dis- 
tuibance,  a  more  peaceful  spirit  was  infused 
into  the  relations  between  the  two  races. 
But  the  impression  was  left  that  the  full 
lesson  which  the  military  operations  were 
intended  to  convey  had  not  been  learned. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

The  Third  Campaign — Repulse  of  the  British  Fleet  by  the  Taku  Forts — Despatch  of  allied  British  and  French 
Expeditionary  Force — Capture  of  the  Taku  Forts— Advance  on  Peking— Mr.  Parkes,  Mr.  Loch,  and  others  made 
Captives  by  the  Chinese — Attack  on  Peking — Occupation  of  the  Summer  Palace  and  its  subsequent  Destruction — 

The  Treaty  of  Peking. 


If  the  British  Government  could  have  had 
the  arrangement  of  the  course  of  events 
nothing  would  have  suited  it  better  than  to 
allow  trade  to  pursue  the  tranquil  and 
prosperous  course  which  was  marked  out 
for  it  under  the  Treaty  of  Tientsin.  That 
instrument  vastly  extended  the  area  of 
diplomatic  and  commercial  action  in  China. 
Access  to  the  fountain  head  of  Govenmient 
was  seemingly  assured,  the  conditions  of 
trade  were  fixed  on  a  moderate  basis,  and, 
perhaps  most  important  of  all  from  the 
British  standpoint,  the  opium  difficulty  which 
had  been  an  obstacle  to  peaceful  relations  for 
generations  was  removed.  So  much,  in  fact,  • 
had  been  gained  that  there  was  little  that 
was  immediately  practicable  left  to  secure. 
But  peace  is  a  blessing  which  cannot  be 
commanded,  and  it  proved  in  this  instance 
as  in   others    that    the    British    Government, 


though  actuated  by  the  most  pacific  of 
sentiments,  was  driven  to  assume  once  more 
an  attitude  of  determined  hostility  towards 
the  Chinese.  The  source  of  trouble  was  the 
familiar  one  in  our  relations  with  the  Celestial 
Empire — bad  faith  in  the  execution  of  treaty 
pledges.  And  the  rupture  followed  quickly  on 
the  heels  of  the  conclusion  of  peace,  arising 
in  fact  out  of  the  ratification  of  the  Tientsin 
Convention.  Mr.  Frederick  Bruce,  brother  of 
Lord  Elgin,  who  had  acted  as  secretary  to 
that  nobleman  during  his  embassy,  had  been 
entrusted  with  the  duty  of  carrying  the 
final  formality  through  at  Peking,  and  arrived 
at  Hongkong  in  April  for  that  purpose.  His 
definite  instructions  were  to  exchange  the 
ratifications  nowhere  but  at  (he  capital,  but 
he  quickly  discovered  that  this  was  a  counsel 
of  perfection  in  the  circumstances  of  the 
hour.      The    rumours    which    were     brought 


with  every  fresh  ship  from  the  mainland 
were  of  military  preparations,  and  of  a 
determination  to  resist  the  indignity  to  the 
imperial  person  of  a  mission  to  Peking. 
Knowing  lie  stood  on  firm  ground  Mr.  Bruce 
did  not  waste  any  time  in  futile  negotiations 
in  the  south.  Having  despatclied  a  letter  for- 
mally ainiouiicing  his  pending  departure  for 
Tientsin,  and  expressing  a  hope  that  adequate 
means  would  be  provided  ior  his  convey- 
ance to  Peking  and  his  accommodation  there, 
he  proceeded  northwards.  At  Shanghai  he 
found  the  imperial  commissioners  still  there, 
and  it  was  ominous  that  they  manifested  a 
disposition  to  discuss  certain  unsettled  points 
of  detail  which  they  calmly  assumed  were 
still  open  to  debate.  Mr.  Bruce  was  not 
to  be  drawn  into  any  side  issue  by  efforts 
however  speciously  framed.  His  mission  was 
to   get   to    Peking  as  quickly  as  possible  and 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONa,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       75 


he  faithfully  adhered  to  it.  In  view  of  the 
attitude  of  the  authorities  tlie  fleet  was 
ordered  to  assemble  at  tlie  Pciho  River,  and 
witli  it  went  a  body  of  troops  from  the 
iJarrison  at  Canton.     When  Mr.  Bruce  arrived 


mijjlit  be  retrieved  by  a  demonstration  on 
land,  and  the  force  of  marines  and  engineers 
which  had  been  sent  up  from  Hongkong 
was  told  off  to  attempt  the  capture  of  the 
forts    by   storm.      The   enterprise    proved    to 


ON    THE    RIVER    OFF    TAKU. 


oft  the  Peiho,  on  June  20tli,  he  found  a 
substantial  portion  of  the  China  squadron 
under  its  new  commander,  Admiral  Hope, 
awaiting  him  there.  Communication  had 
already  been  opened  up  with  the  shore,  but 
with  very  discouraging  results.  The  passage 
of  the  river  was  found  to  be  barred  by  a 
row  of  iron  stakes  backed  by  a  formidable 
boom,  and  the  British  boat's  crew  were 
warned  not  to  land  by  an  arnitd  and  angry 
crowd.  A  second  attempt  to  get  into  touch 
with  the  officials  elicited  an  even  more  un- 
compromising display  of  hostility,  and  was 
equally  unsuccessful.  The  attitude  assumed 
by  the  Chinese  was  felt  to  leave  no 
alternative  to  a  forcing  of  the  defences.  The 
belief  entertained  at  the  British  headquarters 
was  that  if  this  were  successfully  accom- 
plished, and  a  landing  effected,  the  local 
ol'licials  would  be  disowned  and  there  would 
be  no  further  opposition  to  the  passage  of 
the  mission  to  Peking.  It  was  a  theory 
which  the  previous  history  of  British  le- 
lations  with  China  justified.  But  Admiral 
Hope  and  Mr.  Bruce  had  reckoned  without 
the  spirit  of  courage  which,  despite  all  that 
detractors  may  say,  is  to  be  found  in  the 
Chinese  soldiery  when  properly  handled  and 
led.  They  had  not  long  to  wait  for  a 
display  of  this  quality.  When  the  attack 
commenced  on  the  25th  of  June,  the  British 
ships,  on  reaching  the  boom,  were  subjected 
to  a  destructive  fire  from  the  forts.  Four 
of  the  British  force  of  eleven  vessels  engaged 
the  forts  at  close  quarters,  and  a  fierce  tight 
was  waged  for  the  best  part  of  three  hours. 
The  fire  from  the  forts  then  slackened,  but 
the  Brit  sh  ships  had  been  so  badly  damaged 
that  they  were  unable  to  take'  advantage  of 
the  lessened  resistance.  On  drawing  off  it 
was  found  that  three  of  the  gunboats  were 
in  a  sinking  condition,  while  there  was  not  a 
unit  in  the  squadron  which  had  escaped 
severe    injury.     The    check,   it   was    thought. 


be  an  even  greater  failure  than  the  sea 
attack.  The  men  were  galled  by  a  dropping 
fire  from  the  forts  on  landing,  and  after 
struggling  on  against  hopeless  odds  for  some 


reverse  was  calculated  to  have  on  the  situa- 
tion in  China.  Altogether  it  was  one  of  the 
worst  days'  work  to  the  British  account 
since  their  first  connection  with  China. 

After  the  fight  Mr.  Bruce  withdrew  to 
Shanghai  and  Admiral  Hope  sent  his  ships 
to  points  where  he  thought  they  might  be 
useful  in  the  event  of  anti-foreign  ebullitions. 
A  serious  outbreak  at  Shanghai  which  re- 
sulted in  the  death  of  two  Englishmen,  and 
disturbances  at  the  other  Treaty  ports 
showed  that  the  precaution  was  a  prudent 
one.  In  point  of  fact  the  Taku  defeat, 
doubtless  magnified  beyond  all  recognition, 
had  given  a  dangerous  stimulus  to  the  law- 
less and  ultra  patriotic  element  of  the 
Chinese  populace.  The  unrest  was  the 
more  marked  as  it  was  impossible  to  do 
anything  immediately  to  wipe  out  the 
memory  of  the  rebuff.  The  Home  Govern- 
ment naturally  had  to  decide  in  the  impor- 
tant crisis  that  had  arisen,  and  as  those 
were  days  when  cable  communication  was 
unknown,  months  necessarily  elapsed  before 
their  views  were  known.  The  decision  they 
took,  it  would  seem  with  considerable  reluc- 
tance, was  to  despatch  a  military  expedition 
to  enforce  the  realisation  of  the  objects  of 
British  policy.  It  was  not  until  November, 
1859,  that  the  arrangements  for  the  new 
movement  wel'e  matured.  Then  it  was 
announced  that  a  joint  plan  of  action  had 
been  discussed  and  agreed  upon  between 
France  and  England,  and  that  the  military 
expedition  that  was  to  be  sent  out  would 
occupy  the  island  of  Chusan  as  an  advanced 
base  for  the  contemplated  operations  in  the 
Gulf  of  Pechili. 

The  new  expedition  was  conceived  on  a 
more  formidable  scale  than  any  that  had 
ever  been  sent  to  China  to  enforce  foreign 
demands.  The  British  force  consisted  of 
ten  thousand  men,  afterwards  increased  to 
thirteen  thousand,  mainly  drafted  from  India. 


THE    TAKU    FORTS. 


time  they  were  withdrawn.  The  net  result 
of  the  day's  disasters  was  a  loss  of  three 
hundred  men  killed  and  wounded,  and  a 
crippled  squadron.  Over  and  above  this 
was   the   damaging   effect   which   the   British 


The  French  contingent  numbered  about  six 
thousand  men  of  all  arms.  In  addition  to 
this  large  land  force  there  was  a  power- 
ful naval  squadron  representing  the  com- 
bined   strength    in    Far    Eastern    waters    of 


76       TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  allied  powers.  Sir  Hope  Grant,  a 
distinguished  Anglo-Indian  general,  wlio 
had  done  good  service  in  the  operations 
around  Canton,  connnanded  the  British  forces, 
while  General  Montauban  was  at  the  head 
of  the  French  contingent.  The  naval  com- 
mand on  the  British  side  remained  in  the 
hands  of  Admiral  Hoi-«e.  The  diplomatic 
arrangements  were  in  harmony  with  the  size 
and  importance  of  the  expedition.  Mr.  Bruce, 
who  had  continued  to  represent  the  British 
Government,  and,  indix-d,  on  the  8th  of  March 
presentetl  the  ultimatum  embodying  the 
demands  of  the  British  Government,  was 
superseded  by  his  brother,  Ix)rd  Elgin,  and 
the  French  Government  again  sent  out  Baron 
Gros  to  represent  them.  Nothing  this  time 
was  to  be  left  to  chance.  The  instruction 
given  to  the  plenipotentiaries  was  to  demand 
an  indemnity  enuivalent  to  live  millions  for 
the  losses  inflicted  upon  the  two  countries 
by  the  non-ratitic.ition  of  the  Treaty.  A 
reply  sent  by  the  Chinese  Government  to 
Mr.  Bruce's  ultimatum  clearly  showed  that 
there  was  not  the  smallest  chance  of  securing 
peacefully  the  acceptance  of  the  stipulated 
conditions.  A  blank  refusal  was  given  lo  the 
demand  for  an  iiidenniity  and  an  apology, 
and  while  it  was  intimated  that  the  British 
might  perhaps  be  allowed  to  proceed  lo 
Peking  by  way  of  Pchtang,  it  was  at  the  same 
time  announced  that  in  no  circumstances 
would  the  use  of  the  route  by  Taku  and 
the  Peiho  be  |-)ermittcd.  It  was  probably 
never  anticipated  that  the  Peking  authorities 
would  make  other  than  an  unfavourable  reply. 
At  all  events,  the  military  preparations  were 
continued  without  a  break  as  soon  as  the 
word  had  been  given  for  the  despatch  of  the 
expedition.  In  view  of  the  advent  of  the 
very  large  body  of  troops  forming  the  expe- 
ditionary force,  a  lease  was  obtained  in  per- 
petuity of  Kowloon  and  Stonecutter  Island, 
positions  which  from  their  greater  openness 
of  situation  were  (ar  more  healthy  than  the 


which  excited  a  good  deal  of  criticism  then 
and  afterwards,  was  the  occupation  of  Cluisan 
by  a  body  of  two  thousand  British  troops. 
The  island  was  not  subsequently  used  to 
any    appreciable    extent    in    the    conduct    of 


€.- 


SIR    J.    HOPE    GRANT. 

the  operations,  and  its  capture  had  not  the 
smallest  influence  on  the  course  of  the  opera- 
tions. The  really  Important  centre  at  this 
juncture  was  the  mouth  of  the  Peiho,  where 
there  was  a  very  nasty  reverse  to  be  avenged 
and  the  conviction  to  be  carried  to  the  head- 


VALE    OF    TINGHAI,    CHUSAN. 


island  of  Hongkong.  Here  the  troops  on 
arrival  from  India  or  Kiigland  were  received, 
and  as  the  summer  advanced  an  impr>sing 
and  inspiriting  spectacle  was  presented  by 
the    various    camps.     The    first    move,    on<i 


quarters  of  the  Chinese  power  thatiiTreaty 
rights  must  be  respected.  Thither  by-degrees 
the  allied  forces  were  despatched,  Shanghai 
being  made  an  advanced  base.  There  was 
considerable     delay   'due    to     differences     of 


opinion  between  the  British  and  French 
commanders  as  to  the  plan  of  campaign. 
Kventually,  about  a  year  after  tlie  faihiie  of 
Admiral  Hope's  effort  to  force  the  passage 
of  the  river,  all  was  in  readiness  for  the 
execution  of  a  plan  mutually  agreed  upon  to 
attack  and  capture  Pehtang  and  take  the  Taku 
forts  in  the  rear.  The  troojis,  wlio  were  led 
by  Sir  Hope  Grant  in  person,  effected  a 
landing  without  opposition,  and  they  bivou- 
acked for  the  night  on  an  elevated  causeway 
near  the  shore.  A  reconnaissance  tlie  next 
morning  showed  tliat  the  enemy  had  evacuated 
the  fort  which  guarded  the  spot,  but  they 
had  thoughtfully  left  a  mine  to  be  exploded 
by  the  moving  of  some  gunlocks,  which 
were  placed  where  they  were  certain  to  be 
trodden  upon  by  the  incoming  troops.  For- 
tunately the  trick  was  exposed  in  time,  with 
the  result  that  the  trap  was  avoided.  Pushing 
into  the  country  after  three  days  of  Inaclion, 
reconnoitring  parties  came  across  a  strongly 
entrenched  Chinese  camp,  from  whicli  a 
heavy  lire  was  opened,  compelling  the  Hiitisli 
to  withdraw.  As  this  camp  commanded 
the  road  leading  to  the  interior  it  was  obvious 
that  it  must  be  carried,  but  the  position  pre- 
sented very  considerable  dilTiculties  to  an 
attacking  force,  owing  to  the  circumstance 
that  the  country  all  about  was  litlle  better 
than  a  swamp.  The  discovery  by  Colonel 
(afterwards  Lord)  VVolseley  of  a  cart  track 
suitable  for  the  passage  of  troops  suggested 
the  possibility  of  a  flank  movement  and  to 
some  extent  improved  the  situation.  But 
with  an  enemy  more  enterprising  than  the 
Chinese  the  assault  would  have  been  a  matter 
of  great  danger.  As  it  was  the  obstacles 
proved  so  formidable  that  it  seemed  at  one 
time  that  the  movement  would  have  to  be 
abandoned  or  at  least  deferred.  Describing 
the  niarcli  subsequently.  Sir  Hope  Grant 
wrote:  "The  horses  got  bogged,  the  guns 
sunk  up  lo  their  axletrees,  and  the  waggons 
stuck  fast.  At  last  we  were  compelled  to 
leave  the  waggon  bodies  behind  us,  and 
content  ourselves  with  the  gun  and  waggon 
limbers."  In  the  end,  however,  dogged  per- 
sistence and  pluck  carried  the  day.  The 
enemy's  position  was  vigorously  attacked  on 
the  flank  as  well  as  in  front,  and  after  a  brief 
resistance  the  Chinese  defenders  broke  and 
lied.  But  this  fight  was  only  a  preliminary 
to  another  and  more  stubborn  engagement. 
Beyond  the  village  of  Sinho,  which  the  allied 
troops  had  captured,  was  the  far  more  impor- 
tant position  of  Tangku,  a  strongly  fortified 
village  protected  by  well-placed  batteries.  An 
attack  was  made  on  this  by  the  expeditionary 
force  as  soon  as  a  careful  reconnaissance  had 
shown  the  most  practicable  line  of  advance. 
Thirty-six  pieces  of  ordnance  were  brought 
to  bear  upon  the  fortifications,  with  tlie  result 
that  the  Chinese  fire  was  soon  got  under. 
But  the  defenders,  contrary  to  the  usual 
practice  of  the  Chinese,  still  held  their  ground. 
Nor  was  it  until  the  guns  had  been  brought 
almost  up  to  the  walls  and  the  men  of  the 
attacking  force  were  streaming  in  that  the 
evacuation  was  begun.  The  success  at  Tangku 
removed  the  last  obstacle  in  the  way  of  an 
attack  on  the  Taku  forts.  The  only  question 
was  whether  attention  should  be  directed  first 
to  the  forts  on  the  noi  thern  or  to  those  on  the 
souOiern  side.  Sir  Hope  Giant  was  in  favour 
of  an  immediate  attack  on  the  northern 
defences,  as  in  his  view  their  capture  would 
render  the  southern  forts  untenable.  General 
Montauban  took  the  view  that  the  southern 
forts  sliould  be  dealt  witli  first,  but  he  ulti- 
mately agreed  to  accept  the  plan  of  campaign 
proposed  by  his  British  colleague.  On  the 
2 1st  of  August,  after  a  series  of  careful  recon- 
naissances,  the   attack    opened   with    a    brief 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       77 


cannonade  from  tlie  splendid  guns  of  the 
expeditionary  force.  The  Chinese  replied 
with  spirit,  and  it  was  soon  apparent  that 
the  Allies  were  not  to  have  an  easy  victory. 
One   of  the   principal  magazines  in   the  fort 


Tientsin,  was  despatched  in  hot  haste  to  make 
the  hest  terms  he  could  with  the  Allies.  On 
notifying  his  arrival  to  Lord  Elgin  he  was 
informed  that  the  three  indispensalMe  con- 
ditions  of    peace    were    an   apology   for    the 


TAKU    FROM    THE    ANCHORAGE. 


was  exploded  by  a  shell  and  yet  the  Chinese 
gunners  fought  on.  A  series  of  attempts  made 
to  scale  the  wall  of  the  fort  were  baflledwith 
heavy  loss  to  the  Allies.  At  length  by  a  happy 
chance  the  British  discovered  a  drawbridge, 
and  by  cutting  the  ropes  which  held  it  up 
they  secured  for  the  attacking  party  an  easy 
means  of  access.  The  Chinese  fought  to  the 
last  and  it  was  computed  that  out  of  a 
garrison  of  five  hundred  but  one  hundred 
escaped.  On  the  side  of  the  Allies  the 
losses  were  considerable  :  the  British  alone 
had  22  killed  and  179  wounded.  The  en- 
gagement, however,  was  a  decisive  one. 
Pour  other  forts  on  the  northern  side  were 
captured  without  loss,  and  the  southern  forts 
surrendered  without  a  shot  being  fired.  It 
only  remained  for  the  positions  to  be  formally 
occupied  on  August  22nd  simultaneously  with 
the  entrance  of  the  fleet  into  the  river. 

Before  the  affair  of  Tangku  overtures  for 
peace  had  been  received  from  Peking,  but  in 
view  of  earlier  contretemps  brought  about  by 
a  too  precipitate  acceptance  of  negotiations  it 
was  deemed  advisable  by  the  representatives 
of  the  Allies  to  settle  the  business  of  the  Taku 
forts  before  bringing  diplomacy  into  play. 
Even  after  the  positions  had  fallen  the  Allies 
manifested  no  disposition  to  abandon  the 
sword  for  the  pen.  An  immediate  advance 
to  Tientsin  was  commenced.  Touch  was 
obtained  with  that  place  on  the  23rd  of 
August,  and  in  three  days  the  bulk  of  the 
expeditionary  force  had  reached  the  city. 
No  resistance  was  encountered  from  the 
regular  Chinese  forces,  and  the  inhabitants 
showed  what  in  the  circumstances  was  an 
amazing  disposition  to  turn  the  invasion  to 
account  by  opening  up  a  brisk  trade  with  the 
troops.  In  the  meantime  communication  had 
been  established  with  the  Chinese  authorities. 
The  logic  of  events  had  driven  home  into  the 
imperial  brain  the  necessity  of  action,  and 
Kweiliang,  who  had  negotiated  the  Treaty  of 


attack  on  the  British  flag  at  the  Peiho,  the 
payment  of  an  indemnity  including  the  cost 
of  the  war,  and  the  ratiiicatlon  and  execution 
of    the     Treaty    of    Tientsin,    including    the 


to  Tungchow,  within  12  miles  of  Peking, 
a  distinctly  uncompromising  attilude  was 
taken  up.  Finding  that  the  object  of  the 
negotiations  was  only  to  gain  time,  and  being 
anxious  to  complete  the  campaign  before 
the  approach  of  the  winter  season,  the 
allied  representatives  decided  to  continue  the 
advance.  The  first  detachment,  fifteen  hun- 
dred strong,  accompanied  by  Lord  Elgin  and 
Sir  Hope  Grant,  marched  out  on  the  8th  of 
September  and  camped  at  the  village  of 
Hosiwu,  about  half  way  to  the  capital.  The 
strength  of  the  advanced  force  having  been 
brought  up  to  a  division,  the  advance  was 
resumed  a  few  days  later.  No  opposition 
was  encountered  until  the  expeditionary 
force  reached  Chan-chia-wan,  a  point  some 
distance  further  on  the  road,  when  the  way 
was  found  blocked  by  a  large  army. 

Throughout  the  march  from  Tientsin  the 
semblance  of  diplomatic  courtesy  had  been 
kept  up.  The  British  leaders  were  in 
constant  communication  with  the  Chinese 
officials,  and  no  outward  demonstration  of 
hostility  had  been  encountered.  So  pacific 
was  the  outlook  that  on  the  day  prior  to  Sir 
Hope  Grant's  getting  into  touch  with  the 
Chinese  forces,  a  party  consisting  of  Mr. 
Parkes,  Mr.  Henry  Loch  (afterwards  Lord 
Lochi,  Mr.  De  Normann,  and  Mr.  Bowlby 
(the  latter  the  special  correspondent  of  the 
Times)  had  been  despatched,  with  an  escort 
of  six  English  dragoons  and  twenty  Sikh 
cavalry-men,  to  arrange  the  final  preliminaries 
for  the  camping  of  the  expeditionary  force 
at  Tungchow,  and  the  interviews  with  the 
representatives  of  the  Chinese  Government. 
The  members  of  this  body  looked  forward 
to  some  interesting  experiences,  but  they 
were  totally  unprepared  for  the  staLtlIng 
adventures  which  fell  to  their  lot.  The 
journey  to  Tungchow  was  made  without 
incident.  At  one  or  two  points  the  riders 
were  challenged  by  military  parties,  but  on 


A    STREET-£SCENEj  IN  [TIENTSIN. 


clause  which  provided  for  tlic  reception  of 
a  British  representative  at  Peking.  No  great 
objection  was  urged  to  any  of  the  conditions 
by  Kweiliang,  but  when  it  became  known 
that    it    was    proposed   to   march    the    army 


intimating  that  they  were  proceeding  to  the 
quarters  of  the  imperial  commissioners  they 
were  at  once  allowed  to  pass.  There  was 
even  a  friendliness  shown,  as,  for  example, 
at    one    point    where    a    Mandarin    of    high 


78       TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


rank  rode  up,  and  announcing  himseU  as  the 
cvMnmander  of  the  Chinese  troops  at  Sinho, 
intimated  that  there  would  be  peace  now, 
and  expressed  a  desire  to  take  by  the  hand 
those  who  flight  him  on  that  day.  The 
visitors  had  not  been  at  Tungehow  long, 
however,  before  they  disi-overcd  that  all 
was  not  to  be  pUiin  sailing.  The  commis- 
sioners, whether  owing  to  direct  orders  from 
the  Emperor,  or  to  the  knowledge  which 
was  brought  them  that  a  great  military 
force  had  been  brought  upon  the  scene,  in 
the  place  of  the  former  courtesy  assumed 
an  arrogant,  almost  offensive,  attitude. 
They  placed  all  sorts  of  obst:icles  in  the 
way  of  an  arrangement,  and  it  was  only 
after  four  hours'  discussion  that  they  could 
be  brought  to  assent  to  plans  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  expeditionary  force. 
There  seems  very  little  doubt  now  that 
they  were  utilising  the  negotiations  simply 
for  purpt>ses  of  delay  —  to  allow  of  the 
advancing  Chinese  troops  to  close  in  more 
effcx'tually  upon  the  invading  force.  But 
Mr.   Parkes,  though   suspicious  of    the    bona 


missioners  and  extricating  from  the  dubious 
position  in  which  they  were  placed  the 
main  body  of  the  escort,  which,  with 
Messrs.  De  Normann,  Bowlby,  and  Anderson, 
had  been  left  there  to  point  out  the 
champing  ground  to  the  expeditionary  force 
on  its  arrival.  Mr.  Loch  performed  his  task 
with  difficulty,  but  he  was  not  content  that 
his  mission  should  end  there.  He  thought 
that  his  duty  impelled  him  to  return  to  tlie 
Chinese  lines  to  help  his  quondam  associates 
out  of  their  difficulty,  so  tak  ng  Captain 
Braba/.on  and  an  escort  of  two  Sikhs  with 
him,  he  rode  as  fast  as  he  could  through 
the  enemy's  ranks  to  Tungchow.  The  party 
had  an  uneventful  ride,  and  on  arriving  at 
Tungchow  they  found  that  the  British 
members  of  the  party  were  away  in  the 
town  shopping,  in  blissful  ignorance  of  the 
critical  position  of  affairs.  There  was, 
however,  a  letter  from  Mr.  Parkes  instruct- 
ing the  officers  to  prepare  for  instant  flight, 
and  stating  that  he  was  himself  seeking 
Prince  Tsai.  Not  long  afterwards  the  entire 
party    met    to    face    what   was    momentarily 


VIEW   FROM    THE   WALL,   PEKING. 


fiilcs  of  the  Mandarins,  did  not  divine  the 
true  state  of  affairs  until  he  was  on  his 
way  back  to  the  British  camp  on  the 
following  morning.  Then  he  realised  only 
too  well  what  the  true  position  was.  On 
every  side  troops  were  encountered,  ob- 
viously collected  for  the  execution  of  some 
grand  coup.  Taking  in  the  situation  as  he 
passed  along,  the  dense  masses  of  cavalry 
ready  for  instant  action,  the  guns  being 
placed  in  position,  and  the  marching  and 
countermarching  of  considerable  bodies  of 
braves,  Mr.  Parkes  had  not  the  slightest 
difficulty  in  underst^inding  that  the  object 
of  the  Chinese  was  to  attack  the  expe- 
ditionary force  at  a  disadvantage.  Imme- 
diately the  truth  dawned  upon  him  he 
took  steps  which  seemed  to  him  to  be 
demanded  by  the  occasion.  He  first  of  all 
despatched  Mr.  Uxrh  with  two  Sikhs,  to 
carry  to  Sir  Hope  Grant  the  news  of  what 
he  had  to  expect.  He  himself  decided  to 
return  to  Tungchow,  for  the  double  purpose 
of   demanding    an   explanation    of    the   com- 


becoming  a  more  dangerous  situation.  Mr. 
Parkes'  interview  with  Prince  Tsai  left  not 
the  smallest  doubt  that  war  was  intended, 
and  apart  from  this,  there  were  sufficiently 
ominous  movements  visible  to  show  that  the 
sword  was  to  be  drawn,  if  it  was  not 
already  out  of  its  scabbard.  It  was  speedily 
decided  to  make  a  bold  bid  for  safety.  This 
could  only  be  done  by  riding  with  the  least 
possible  delay  back  to  the  British  lines. 
But  the  expeditionary  force  was  lo  miles 
away,  and  it  was  known  that,  according  to 
an  understanding  arrived  at  between  Mr. 
Loch  and  Sir  Hope  Grant,  the  British  attack 
would  be  delivered  at  the  expiration  of  two 
hours  from  the  time  of  the  former's  depar- 
ture. With  none  too  confident  feelings, 
therefore,  the  little  band  of  Britons  com- 
menced their  journey.  All  went  well  until 
they  had  passed  through  Chan-chia-wan. 
Then  they  found  themselves  in  the  rear  of 
the  Chinese  army,  with  the  battle  already 
raging  in  front.  After  a  council  of  war  it 
was  decided  not  to  take  a  direct  course,  but  to 


endeavour  to  get  round  the  riglit  flank  of 
the  Chinese  force  and  by  a  detour  reach 
the  British  lines.  When  an  attempt  was 
made  to  give  effect  to  this  decision  the 
Chinese  innnediately  interfered.  The  British 
were  told  by  a  Mandarin  that  if  they 
persisted  they  would  be  fired  on,  but  that  if 
they  would  accompany  him  to  the  general's 
presence  he  would  procure  a  safe  conduct 
for  them.  The  offer  was  peiforce  accepted, 
and  Mr.  Parkes  and  Mr.  Loch,  separating 
themselves  from  their  companions,  and 
attended  only  by  a  Sikh  trooper,  rode  off 
in  search  of  Sankolinsin.  the  Chinese  general. 
They  came  suddenly  upon  a  large  body  of 
infantry,  who  attacked  them  with  such 
ferocity  that  they  would  inevitably  have 
been  killed,  but  for  the  intervention  of  the 
Mandarins,  who  rushed  between  them  and 
their  men  and  comniaiuled  the  latter  not 
to  fire.  Sankolinsin,  on  being  encountered 
shortly  afterwards,  treated  the  representa- 
tions made  to  him  with  scornful  flippancy. 
By  his  orders  the  unfortunate  Britishers 
were  dragged  from  tlieir  horses  and  sub- 
jected to  all  manner  of  indignities,  and 
finally  were  despatched  prisoners  to  Peking. 
The  remainder  of  the  party  were  later 
subjected  lo  similar  ill-treatment  and  fol- 
lowed their  companions  in  misfortune  to  the 
Chinese  capital. 

The  battle  meanwhile  was  proceeding 
rapidly  to  its  inevitable  culmination.  In  the 
final  dispositions  for  the  struggle  tlie  French 
had  taken  up  position  on  the  right,  and  they 
early  became  vigorously  engaged  with  the 
best  portion  of  Sankolinsin's  troops.  The 
Tartar  cavalry  charged  the  guns  with  so 
much  spirit  that  a  battery  narrowly  missed 
falling  into  their  hands.  This  charge  was 
met  by  a  counter  charge,  which,  however, 
produced  little  effect  on  the  dense  masses  of 
the  enemy.  Sir  Hope  Grant,  fearing  the 
prolongation  of  the  conflict,  decided  to  assail 
the  enemy's  left  vigorously.  The  movement 
was  carried  out  very  effectively,  the  great 
feature  of  it  being  a  brilliant  charge  by  soir.e 
squadrons  of  Probyn's  Horse.  The  enemy 
now  began  to  give  ground  slowly.  Their 
pnigress  rearwards  might  have  been  hastened 
liad  not  the  French  been  too  exhausted  to 
participate  further  in  the  fight.  Sir  Hope 
Grant,  making  the  best  use  of  available 
material,  was,  however,  able  before  night 
fell  to  occupy  Chan-chia-wan  and  drive  the 
enemy  out  of  a  strong  camp  one  mile  on  the 
other  side  of  the  town.  The  British  com- 
mander was  under  no  misapprehension  as  to 
the  character  of  his  victory.  The  Chinese, 
though  beaten,  were  not  demoralised.  They 
had  fought  bravely  and  well,  and  there  was 
no  reason  why  they  should  not  again  measure 
swords  with  the  expeditionary  foix'e.  In  the 
circumstances  Sir  Hope  Grant  considered 
that  prudence  demanded  that  he  should 
strengthen  his  force  witli  a  view  to  futui'e 
eventualities.  He  therefore  ordered  Sir 
Robert  Napier  to  join  him  with  all  available 
troops  from  the  Tientsin  garrison.  On  the 
2lst  of  September  Lord  Elgin  arrived  at  the 
military  headquarters,  and  about  the  same 
time  the  French  troops  were  reinforced  by  a 
fresh  brigade.  The  hostilities  were  then 
recoriunenced  with  vigour".  The  Chinese, 
emboldened  by  the  delay,  made  another 
stand  at  the  Palikao  bridge  whrch  crosses 
the  Peilio  west  of  Tungchow  ;  but  they  were 
no  match  for  the  carefully  trained  and  well 
equipped  troops  pitted  against  them,  and  on 
the  bridge  being  brilliantly  rushed  by  the 
French,  they  quickly  dispersed.  Peking  was 
now  practically  at  the  mercy  of  the  invaders. 
That  the  circumstance  was  appreciated  in  the 
imperial    entourage    was   made    manifest    the 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       79 


next  day,  when  Prince  Kung,  the  Emperor's 
brother,  forwarded  a  letter  stating  that  he 
had  been  commissioned  to  ariange  a  peace 
and  asking  for  the  temporary  suspension  of 
hostilities  to  allow  of  a  discussion  of  details. 
Lord  Elgin  replied  to  this  communication 
with  a  somewhat  stern  letter  in  which  he 
intimated  that  there  could  be  no  negotiations 
for  peace  until  the  piisoners  in  Chinese 
custody  had  been  set  free.  Prince  Kung  was 
warned  that  if  the  prisoners  were  not  sent 
back  in  safety  the  consequences  would  be 
most  serious  for  the  Chinese  Government. 
Prince  Kung  was  indisposed  to  accept  the 
view  that  the  prisoners  must  be  released  as  a 
condition  precedent  to  negotiation,  and  as 
after  a  week  he  showed  no  signs  of  yielding 
orders  were  given  for  the  march  of  the 
expeditionary  force  to  Peking.  It  was  de- 
cided by  the  allied  commanders  to  avoid  the 
city  itself,  and  to  make  the  Summer  Palace 
the  objective.  In  pursuance  of  this  plan  the 
advance  was  continued,  but  on  the  way  the 
British  and  French  forces  became  separated, 
and  though  the  arrangement  was  that  the 
French  should  bring  up  the  rear,  they 
managed  to  get  to  the  common  destination 
first.  Practically  no  opposition  was  met  with 
by  either  portion  of  the  force.  The  fact  that 
on  the  approach  of  the  invaders  the  Emperor 
had  fled  to  Gehol  was  no  doubt  accepted  by 
the  complaisant  officialdom  as  a  sufficient 
reason  why  they  should  not  continue  the 
resistance.  Whatever  may  be  the  truth  on 
that  point  the  surrender  paved  the  way  for 
the  infliction  of  a  blow  on  the  imperial 
dignity  the  like  of  which  had  never  before 
in  its  history  been  experienced.  The  despoil- 
ing of  the  Summer  Palace  was  the  first  step 
in  this  humiliating  process.  Immediately  the 
French  arrived  they  promptly  proceeded  to 
sack  the  beautiful  pavilions,  scattering  and 
destroying  such  of  their  contents  as  they 
could  not  take  away.  "  It  was  pitiful  to  see 
the  way  in  which  everything  was  being 
robbed,"  wrote  Sir  Hope  Grant  in  describing 
the  scene  which  he  witnessed  on  arrival  at 
the  Palace.  The  work  of  destruction  once 
begun  in  this  fashion  could  not  be  stopped, 
and  soon  little  was  left  that  was  worth 
taking  away.  But  even  when  the  Palace 
had  been  stripped  and  left  in  a  condition  of 
forlorn  desolation  the  heavy  hand  of  the 
conqueror  was  not  removed.  The  reckoning 
had  to  be  paid  for  the  outrage  perpetrated  on 
Mr.  Parkes  and  his  party.  After  the  Allies 
had  entered  Peking  an  intimation  was  received 
through  Mr.  Parkes  that  he  and  his  fellow 
prisoners,  French  and  English,  who  had 
been  detained  in  the  Kaon  Meaon  Temple, 
near  the  Tehshun  Gate,  were  to  be  surren- 
dered on  the  8th  of  October.  The  story  they 
told  was  one  which  was  calculated  to  fire 
the  indignation  of  their  countrymen.  Insult 
upon  insult  had  been  heaped  upon  them,  and 
outrage  upon  outrage,  and  no  artifice  was 
spared  to  induce  them  to  be  false  to  their 
country  by  furnishing  information  or  using 
their  influence  to  its  disadvantage.  Still,  their 
lives  had  been  spared,  and  in  view  of  this 
fact  and  of  the  extreme  anxiety  displayed  by 
Prince  Kung,  the  representative  of  the  Chinese 
Government  with  whom  he  had  to  deal  to 
ariange  a  peace.  Lord  Elgin  deemed  it 
expedient  not  to  press  the  matter  too  far.  He 
did  not  know  then  the  story  of  the  other 
prisoners  who  had  been  separated  from 
Mr.  Parkes  and  Mr.  Loch.  That  was  a 
melancholy  sequel  reserved  until  the  arrival 
of  eight  Sikhs  and  a  Frenchman  who  were 
of  the  party  which  had  been  made  captive 
after  the  seizure  of  Mr.  Parkes  and  Mr.  Loch. 
It  appeared  from  the  accounts  of  the  Sikhs 
that   the    five    Englishmen    who   were   of   the 


number  had  been  bound  with  ropes  and 
maltreated  with  fiendish  ingenuity.  Under 
the  terrible  strain  Lieut.  Anderson,  one  of  the 
Dragoon  officers,  became  delirious,  and  died 
on  the  ninth  day  of  the  captivity.  A  week 
later  Mr.  de  Normann  died,  and  he  was 
followed  to  the  grave  at  short  intervals  by 
the  other  Europeans.  Such  a  monstrous 
crime  against  civilisation  and  humanity  called 
aloird  for  vengeance,  and  Lord  Elgin,  though 
extremely  anxious  to  conclude  peace,  decided 
that  before  terms  could  be  settled  some  signal 
step  must  be  taken  to  indicate  to  the  Chinese 
populace  the  detestation  in  which  the  treat- 
ment of  the  prisoners  was  held  by  their 
countrymen.  When  the  question  of  the 
character  of  the  punitive  act  came  to  be 
considered  there  was  no  doubt  entertained 
by  the  British  representatives  that  the  most 
sti'iking  and  appropriate  retribution  which 
could  be  exacted  was  the  destruction  of  the 
Summer  Palace.  Strangely  enough,  having 
regard  to  the  earlier  action  of  the  French 
troops  at  the  Palace,  the  French  commander 
declined  to  be  associated  with  this  measure. 


of  the  palace.  The  circumstances  under 
which  the  settlement  was  concluded  were 
such  as  to  leave  an  indelible  impress  upon 
the  mind  of  the  Chinese  populace  of  the 
completeness  of  the  victory  won.  To  Mr. 
Parkes  and  Mr.  Loch  was  entrusted  the  duty 
of  selecting  a  suitable  place  for  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  treaty.  Hiding  through  the  streets 
of  the  city  at  the  head  of  an  escort  of  British 
and  Sikh  cavalry,  they  decided  that  the  Hall 
of  Ceremonies  was  the  building  best  adapted 
for  the  purpose.  The  Chinese,  who  had 
recently  seen  the  two  oflicials  as  helpless 
captives,  could  not  fail  to  have  read  in  this 
triumphal  entry,  in  which  they  figured  as  the 
leaders,  a  lesson  not  readily  to  be  forgotten. 
Nor  were  they  likely  to  have  missed  the  sig- 
nificance of  the  selection  by  Lord  Elgin  and 
Baron  dc  Gros  as  their  place  of  temporary 
residence  in  Peking  the  palace  of  Prince  Tsai, 
whose  hostile  action  and  attitude  towards 
the  Allies  throughout  had  been  particularly 
marked. 

The  ceremony  of  ratification  took  place  on 
October  24th,  amid  every  circumstance  which 


A    VIEW    IN    PEKING. 


the  necessity  for  which  he  failed  to  recognise. 
Lord  Elgin  and  Sir  Hope  Grant,  however, 
were  quite  prepared  to  accept  all  responsi- 
bility, and  in  due  course — on  the  i8th  of 
October — the  Summer  Palace  was  set  on  fire 
and  utterly  destroyed.  Nothing  in  the  whole 
of  the  campaign  more  impressed  the  Chinese 
mind  than  this  act  of  vengeance.  "  It  was," 
wrote  Lord  Wolseley  in  his  narrative  of  the 
war,  "  the  stamp  which  gave  an  unmistak- 
able reality  to  our  work  of  vengeance,  proving 
that  Lord  Elgin's  last  letter  was  no  idle 
threat,  and  warning  them  of  what  they  might 
expect  in  the  capital  itself  unless  they  accepted 
our  proffered  terms.  The  Imperial  Palace 
within  the  city  still  remained  untouched  ; 
and  if  they  wished  to  save  the  last  remaining 
place  for  their  master  it  behoved  them  to 
lose  no  time.  I  feel  convinced  that  the 
burning  of  Yuen-min-yuen  considerably 
hastened  the  final  settlement  of  affairs  and 
strengthened  our  ambassador's  position." 
The  arrangement  of  the  peace  terms,  at  all 
events,   followed    swiftly  on    the   destruction 


could  lend  it  importance.  Lord  Elgin  pro- 
ceeded in  a  chair  of  state  to  the  Hall  of 
Ceremonies  accompanied  by  a  brilliant  suite, 
and  also  by  Sir  Hope  Grant  with  an  escort 
of  one  hundred  officers  and  five  hundred 
troops.  Prince  Kung,  with  an  imposing  body 
of  Mandarins,  attended  to  submit  the  necessary 
imperial  authorisation  to  the  conclusion  of 
peace  and  to  affix  the  imperial  seal  to  the 
treaty.  He  was  extreirrely  nervous — "anxious 
and  hesitating "  was  Mr.  Loch's  description 
of  his  attitude — but  the  general  impression 
left  was  of  an  amiable  young  man  who 
had  passed  through  a  trying  ordeal  with 
dignity.  The  work  in  coimection  with  the 
treaty  was  not  considered  to  be  at  an  end 
until  the  Emperor's  edict  for  its  publication 
had  been  received  from  Gehol.  That, 
however,  only  entailed  a  delay  of  a  few 
days,  and  by  the  gth  of  November  the  last 
of  the  allied  troops  had  left  Peking  on 
their  homeward  journey.  Lord  Elgin  also 
departed  about  the  same  time,  leaving  Mr. 
Frederick    Bruce     behind    as    first    Resident 


80      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  l3lPRES^IONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Minister  to  the  Chinese  Court.  The  Treaty 
of  Peking,  besides  pro\iding  (or  the  making 
of  reiviration  for  the  outrages  upon  British 
subjects  and  the  payment  of  an  indemnity 
of  eight  million  taels  to  cover  the  expenses 
of  the  war,  amplitied  and  extended  in  im- 
portant directions  the  facilities  for  trade. 
One  of  its  clauses  threw  Tientsin  o(Ten  to 
foreign  trade  ;  anotlicr  provision  ceded  to  the 
British  the  KowKxin  peninsula  at  Hongkong, 
which,    as    has    been    noticed,    was    already 


leased  to  the  Hongkong  Government  ;  and  a 
further  stipulation  which  was  to  have  a 
powerful  influence  on  British  trade  was 
that  there  should  be  freedom  granted  to 
Chinese  subjects  to  emigrate  to  British 
colonies.  But,  of  course,  tlie  greatest  achieve- 
ment of  all  of  the  Treaty  w.is  to  settle  for 
ever  the  long  discussed  question  of  direct 
diplomatic  intercourse  with  the  Chinese 
Government.  The  liberty  granted  by  the 
Treaty  to  send  representatives  to  Peking  was 


not  confined  to  the  Allies.  Like  other  con- 
cessions wrung  from  the  Chinese  Government 
by  fi>rce  of  arms  it  was  of  general  application, 
and  it  was  not  long  before  Mr.  Bruce  and 
his  French  colleague  had  to  keep  them  in 
countenance  in  the  Chinese  capital  represen- 
tatives of  otlier  foreign  powers.  A  new  era, 
in  fact,  was  opened  up  by  tlie  Treaty — an 
era  frauglit  with  nnich  prosperity  for  foreign 
trade,  and  not  a  little  peril  for  the  imperial 
Chhiese   authority. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

Progress  of  Hongkong — Popular  Element  introduced  into  the  Legislative  Council — Stormy  closing  days  of  Sir 
John  Bowring's  Administration — Sir  Hercules  Robinson's  Administration — The  Kowloon  Peninsula — Prosperous 
Days  followed  by  a  Period  of  Depression — Sir  R.  G.  MacDonnell's  Administration — Financial  Reform — The 
Stamp  Act — Disputes  with  the  Colonial  Office  over  the  Gambling  Licences — "  The  Blockade  of  Hongkong " — 
Prosperous  Trade — Sir  A.  E.  Kennedy's   Administration — Sir  J.  Pope-Hennessy's   stormy  Rule. 


Ix  tracing  the  history  of  Anglo-Chinese  rela- 
tions in  the  impoi  tant  period  which  concluded 
with  the  ratification  of  the  Treaty  of  Peking, 
we  have  necessarily  had  to  overkxik  the  de- 
velopment of  the  great  colonial  experiment 
which  was  entered  upon  with  the  occupation 
of  Hongkong.  Our  last  glimpse  of  the  Colony 
was  a  sombre  one.  A  small  comnumity  was 
maintaining  an  arduous  struggle  against  heavy 
odds  with  only  a  faint  prospect  of  ultimate 
success.  The  commercial  position,  which,  as 
we  have  seen,  was  gradually  improving  in  1847, 
continued  to  gain  strength,  though  slowly,  in 
the  administration  of  Sir  George  Bonham.  In 
other  respects  progress  was  made.  It  is  to  this 
period  that  is  to  be  dated  the  introduction  of 
the  popular  element  into  the  government  of 
the  Colony.  At  the  end  of  1849  Sir  George 
Bonham  selected  fifteen  of  the  unoHicial 
Justices  of  the  Peace  and  summoned  them 
to  a  conference.  He  informed  them  that  Earl 
Grey  had  sanctioned  his  propositi  for  the 
admission  of  two  members  of  the  civil  com- 
munity into  the  Legislative  Council,  that  the 
nomination  rested  with  him,  but  that  he 
thought  it  better  for  the  justices  themselves 
to  elect  two  of  their  number.  At  a  meeting 
of  the  justices  held  at  the  club  on  December 
6,  1849,  Messrs.  David  Jardine  and  J.  F.  Edger 
were  nominated  as  the  first  unofficial  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislative  Council.  Another 
important  matter  discussed  at  the  same 
conference  was  the  question  of  Municipal 
Government.  Sir  G.  Bonham,  while  agree- 
ing with  the  principle  that  taxpayers  should 
have  control  of  their  municipal  affairs, 
doubted  whether  such  a  scheme  was  prac- 
ticable in  Hongkong.  However,  he  requested 
the  justices  to  consult  on  the  question  of  a 
Municipal  Committee  of  Police  Commissioners. 
The  justices  passed  a  resolution  to  the  effect 
that  no  advantage  could  be  derived  from 
having  a  Municipal  Council  unless  the  entire 
managenient  of  the  police  of  the  streets  and 
roads  within  the  limits  of  the  town,  and  of 
all  other  matters  usually  given  to  corporations, 
were  confided  to  it,  and  that  the  amount  raised 
in  land  rents,  together  with  the  sums  derived 
from  licences  and  rents,  should,  with  the  police 
assessments,  be  applicable  as  far  as  possible 
for  municipal  purposes.  The  demands  made 
were    imp<»sible   ones   in    the    then    circum- 


stances of  the  Colony,  and  they  were  rejected. 
But  in  January,  1851,  Sir  George  Bonham 
offered  to  place  the  wliole  management  of  the 
police  under  a  Municipal  Committee  on  the 
condition  that  the  entire  expense  of  the  police 
force  was  defrayed  by  an  adequate  police  tax. 
He  also  agreed  to  hand  over  to  a  municipal 
authority  the  management  of  streets,  roads, 
and  sewers  on  condition  that  the  requisite 
funds  were  provided  either  by  an  assessed 
tax  on  real  property  or  by  a  tax  upon  hoises 
and  carriages.  Both  offers  were  declined  by 
the  justices,  and  here  the  matter  ended  for 
the  time. 

Sir  John  Bowring's  administration  witnessed 
the  steady  growth  of  the  community  in  in- 
fluence and  importance,  but  unhappily  during 
the  later  years  of  his  term  of  office  the  Colony 
was  torn  with  internecine  disputes — "  an 
internal  chronic  warfare,  the  acerbities  of 
which  beggared  all  description  "  is  Dr.  Eitel's 
picturesque  but  absolutely  accurate  descrip- 
tion of  the  condition  of  affairs.  The  initial 
disturbing  element  was  a  newspaper  pub- 
lished under  the  title  of  Tlic  Friend  of  China 
and  edited  by  a  discharged  civil  servant. 
This  journal  delivered  a  series  of  attacks 
spread  over  a  long  peiiod  on  the  official 
classes  and  particularly  on  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor,  against  whom  an  allegation  of 
complicity  in  corruption  was  not  obscurely 
advanced.  For  years  these  insinuations  were 
made  without  any  action  being  taken,  but 
ultimately  the  editor  was  prosecuted,  and 
on  September  21,  1859,  sentenced  to  a 
term  of  imprisonment  for  libel.  Before  this 
drastic  retribution  had  been  meted  out  a 
charge  had  been  made  by  another  paper — Tlic 
Daily  Press — against  the  Kegistrar-Geneial, 
who  was  accused  of  being  the  tool  of  un- 
scrupulous conspirators  and  in  league  with 
pirates.  The  Registrar-General,  consequent 
upon  the  charge,  sent  in  his  papers,  but  the 
Government,  having  perfect  confidence  in  him, 
induced  him  to  withdraw  his  resignation. 
This  event  happened  in  1856.  Less  than  two 
years  later  Tlie  Daily  Press  again  distinguished 
itself  by  charging  the  Governor  with  cor- 
ruptly favouring  the  firm  of  Jardine,  Matheson 
&  Co.  in  the  matter  of  public  contracts,  but 
this  time  it  had  reckoned  too  much  on  the 
official   tolerance    of    scurrility,    for  Sir  John 


Bowring  caused  a  prosecution  to  be  instituted 
against  the  paper,  with  the  result  that  the 
editor  was  sent  to  gaol  for-  six  months.  An 
Attorney-General,  a  politician  who  had  been 
sent  out  from  home  for  the  not  uncommon 
reason  that  he  was  a  nuisance  there,  added 
to  the  liveliness  of  the  situation  by  quarrelling 
with  nearly  everybody,  and  tapping  all  by 
charging  the  Acting  Colonial  Secretary  with 
collusion  with  the  new  opium  farmer,  from 
whom  he  accepted  a  retainer.  A  commission 
appointed  to  inquire  into  the  matter  exonerated 
the  accused  official  of  any  dishonourable  con- 
duct, though  it  held  that  some  slight  blame 
attached  to  him.  Fresh  chaiges  arising  out  of 
this  incident  were  brought  by  the  Attorney- 
General,  notably  one  wliich  attributed  to  him 
the  burning  of  the  account  hooks  of  a  con- 
victed pirate  to  screen  himself  and  the 
Kegistrar-Geneial  fiom  a  charge  of  complicity 
with  pirates.  The  outcome  of  the  business 
was  the  suspension  of  the  Attorney-General 
by  the  Governor  and  the  reference  of  the 
matter  to  England.  The  Secretaiy  of  State 
in  his  reply  exonerated  the  Acting  Colonial 
Secretary,  but  that  officer  voluntarily  resigned 
his  office  on  August  28,  1858.  .4n  action 
subsequently  brought  against  The  Friend  of 
China  for  libel  in  connection  with  the  repe^; 
tition  of  the  charge  anent  the  burning  of  the 
pirate's  books,  resulted  in  a  verdict  of  not 
guilty  and  the  awarding  of  costs  against  the 
Government.  An  incident  which  heightened 
the  public  interest  in  the  proceedings  was 
the  hurried  departure  of  Sir  John  Bowring 
to  Manila  to  avoid  service  of  a  subpcena  in 
the  case.  The  scene  of  the  conflict  was  now 
transferred  to  England,  where  the  Attorney- 
General  started  an  agitation  with  a  view  to 
compelling  the  Government  to  take  action 
for  the  vindication  of  the  national  honour, 
which  was  supposed  to  have  been  impugned 
by  the  conduct  of  the  Registiar  and  the 
Acting  Colonial  Secretary.  The  movement, 
though  skilfully  directed,  came  to  very  little. 
The  Government  spokesman  in  the  House 
of  Commons,  while  promising  a  careful 
inquiry  into  the  facts,  stated  that  a  dis- 
passioiiate  consideration  of  the  papers  induced 
the  Government  to  come  to  the  view  that 
the  Governor's  decision  as  to  the  suspension 
of   the  Attorney-General  must   be   confirmed. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONOKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       81 


The  Tillies  on  March  15,  1859,  caustically 
commented  on  the  state  of  affairs  at  Hong- 
kong which  the  controversy  disclosed. 
"Hongkong,"  it  said,  "is  always  connected 
with  some  fatal  pestilence,  some  doubtful 
war  or  some  discreditable  internal  squabble  ; 
so  much  so  that,  in  popular  language,  the 
name  of  this  noisy,  bustling,  quarrelsome, 
discontented  little  island  may  not  inaptly 
be  used  as  a  euphemous  synonym  for  a 
place  not  mentionable  to  ears  polite.  Every 
official's  hand  is  there  against  his  neighbour. 
The  Governor  has  run  away  to  seek  quiet  or 
health  elsewhere.  The  Lieutenant-Governor 
has  been  accused  of  having  allowed  his  ser- 
vant to  squeeze.  The  newspaper  proprietors 
were,  of  late,  all  more  or  less  in  prison  or 
going  to  prison  or  coming  out  of  prison  on 
prosecutions  by  some  one  or  more  of  the  in- 
criminated and  incriminating  officials.  The 
heads  of  the  mercantile  houses  hold  them- 
selves quite  aloof  from  the  local  disputes  and 
conduct  themselves  in  a  highly  dignified 
manner,  which  is  one  of  the  chief  causes  of 
the  evil.  But  a  section  of  the  community 
deal  in  private  slander,  which  the  newspapers 
retail  in  public  abuse.  Of  the  Hongkong 
Press,  w^hich  every  one  is  using,  prompting, 
disavowing  and  prosecuting,  the  less  we 
say  the  better.  A  dictator  is  needed,  a 
sensible  man,  a  man  of  tact  and  firmness. 
We  cannot  aKvays  be  investigating  a  storm 
in  a  tea  pot  where  each  individual  leaf  has 
its  dignity  and  its  grievance." 

Sir  John  Bowring  was  not  happy  in  his 
administration  in  other  respects  than  those  to 
which  particular  reference  has  been  made. 
He  entered  into  a  quarrel  with  the  Legislative 
Council  over  the  construction  of  a  praya  or 
sea  wall,  which  was  to  extend  along  the 
whole  front  of  the  town  from  Navy  Bay  to 
Causeway  Bay  and  to  be  named  the  Bowring 
Praya.  I'he  project  aroused  determined  oppo- 
sition from  the  mercantile  community,  the 
property  of  individual  members  of  which 
was  likely  to  be  adversely  affected  by  the 
construction  of  a  wall.  A  draft  bill  legalising 
the  scheme  passed  its  first  reading  with  only 
one  opponent.  But  when  the  Council  as- 
sembled on  F'ebruary  4,  1859,  to  discuss  the 
second  reading  of  the  measure  the  Chief 
Justice  and  the  Lieutenant  -  Governor  wer  e 
absent  and  to  the  Governor's  intense  morti- 
fication a  motion  that  the  Praya  scheme  be 
deferred  sine  die  was  carried  by  six  votes 
against  three.  The  only  votes  cast  in  favour 
of  the  bill  were  those  of  the  Acting  Attorney- 
General,  the  Colonial  Treasurer,  and  the 
Auditor-General.  The  Colonial  Secretary,  the 
Chief  Magistrate,  and  the  Surveyor-General 
all  exercised  the  luxury  of  voting  against  the 
Government.  The  Governor  did  not  question 
the  right  of  the  official  members  to  vote 
according  to  their  convictions,  but  he  gave  a 
plain  indication  of  what  he  considered  to  be 
the  mainspring  of  their  action  by  attacking 
the  system  under  which  public  functionaries 
like  the  Attorney-General  and  the  Surveyor- 
General  were  allowed  to  accept  private 
practice.  In  a  despatch  he  wrote: — "The 
enormous  power  and  influence  of  the  great 
commercial  houses  in  China,  when  associated 
directly  or  indirectly  with  personal  pecuniary 
advantages  which  they  are  able  to  confer  on 
public  officers,  who  are  permitted  to  be  em- 
ployed and  engaged  by  them,  cannot  but 
create  a  conflict  between  duties  not  always 
coiupatible.  .  .  .  One  of  the  peculiar  diffi- 
culties against  which  this  Government  has  to 
struggle  is  the  enormous  influence  wielded 
by  the  great  and  opulent  commercial  houses 
against  whose  power  and  in  opposition  to 
whose  personal  views  it  is  hard  to  contend." 

When    Sir   John    Bowring    retired    in    1859 


the  Chinese,  as  a  mark  of  the  genuine  esteem 
in  which  he  was  held  among  all  classes  of 
the  native  population,  tendered  him  some 
magnificent  presents,  including  a  roll  of  satin 
inscribed  with  tw^o  hundred  names.  In  his 
autobiographical  recollections  Sir  John  Bow- 
ring thus  refers  to  his  period  of  service  in 
Hongkong  : — "  My  career  in  China  belongs 
so  much  to  history  that  I  do  not  feel  it  need- 
ful to  record  its  vicissitudes.  I  have  been 
severely  blamed  for  the  policy  I  pursued,  yet 
that  policy  has  been  most  beneficial  to  my 
country  and  to  mankind  at  large.  It  is  not 
fair  or  just  to  suppose  that  a  course  of  action, 
which  may  be  practicable  or  prudent  at  home 
will  always  succeed  abroad." 

Sir  Hercules  Kobinson,  who  succeeded  Sir 
John  Bowring  in  the  office  of  Governor  on 
September  g,  1859,  and  administered  the 
affairs  of  the  Colony  for  nearly  six  years, 
was  an  official  in  every  respect  qualified  for 
the  difficult  post  which  he  had  to  fill.  A 
man  of  strong  character,  shrewd,  tactful,  and 
with     more     than     a     common      share     of 


SIR    HERCULES    ROBINSON 
(Afterwards  L.ord  Rosmead). 

intellectual  attainments,  he  was  precisely  the 
type  of  administrator  to  unravel  the  dis- 
creditable tangle  into  which  affairs  in  the 
Colony  had  got  under  the  rule  of  his 
predecessor.  His  administration  was  a 
brilliantly  successful  one  and  marked  the 
turning  point  in  the  fortunes  of  the  Colony. 
His  eailiest  efforts  were  directed  to  a  much 
needed  reform  of  the  civil  service.  In  some 
matters  he  was  unable  to  carry  his  Council 
with  him,  but  he  nevertheless  contrived  to 
evolve  a  new  system  the  main  feature  of 
which  was  a  cadet  scheine  introduced  for 
the  better  government  of  the  Chinese 
portion  of  the  inhabitants.  Side  by  side 
with  these  reforms  were  formulated  pro- 
posals calculated  to  induce  the  Chinese 
inhabitants  to  take  a  more  intelligent  interest 
in  the  aff;iirs  of  the  Government.  A  Chinese 
edition  of  the  Goveniiiient  Gazelle  was  issued, 
a  translation  office  was  organised  to  secure 
the  correct  publication  of  all  Government 
documents,  and,  finally,  the  old  system  of 
governing  the  Chinese  through  their  own 
headmen     was    abandoned    in     favour    of    a 


system  of  direct  control  by  the  Registrar- 
General.  Another  innovation  which  met 
with  less  general  approval  was  the  intro- 
duction of  rules  designed  to  deprive  the 
official  members  of  the  privilege  of  indepen- 
dent voting  which  they  had  exercised  to  Sir 
John  Bowring's  marked  discoinfiture.  The 
power  is  probably  one  which  cannot  be  dis- 
pensed with  in  a  crown  colony  system  of 
government  in  which  the  autocratic  principle 
necessarily  is  in  the  ascendant,  but  the 
position  was  not  so  well  understo<Kl  a  half 
century  ago  as  it  is  to-day,  and  there  was 
much  grumbling  at  the  limitations  imposed 
on  the  Council.  Sir  Hercules  Kobinson, 
however,  pursued  his  course  undeterred  by 
hostile  criticism  and  the  proceedings  of  the 
Council  were  kept  by  him  in  a  groove  which 
left  little  room  for  the  violent  surprises 
which  had  characterised  its  history  in  an 
earlier  period.  There  was  only  one  occasion 
on  which  the  Governor  had  any  difficulty  in 
enforcing  the  rule  of  official  solidarity  in 
voting.  This  was  in  1865  when  the  question 
of  the  payment  of  a  military  contribution  to 
the  imperial  funds  came  up  for  considera- 
tion. Owing  to  the  improvement  in  finances 
brought  about  by  Sir  Hercules  Robinson's 
strong  administration  the  Home  Government 
deemed  that  the  Colony  was  prosperous 
enough  to  contribute  something  to  the  up- 
keep of  the  garrison,  and  in  1864  put  in  a 
demand  for  ;^2o,ooo  a  year  for  five  years. 
The  claim  was  strongly  resisted  by  the 
Government  on  the  grounds  that  Hongkong 
was  an  imperial  rather  than  a  local  station, 
that  owing  to  its  insular  position  it  required 
no  military  protection,  that  its  finances  were 
not  equal  to  the  strain  which  such  a  contri- 
bution would  make  upon  them  ;  and  that  the 
Colony  had  already  contributed  in  the  shape 
of  land  for  naval  and  military  purposes  to 
the  cost  of  the  military  garrison.  In  spite  of 
these  representations,  however,  the  demand 
was  insisted  upon,  and  the  Governor  had  no 
alternative  but  to  include  the  military  contri- 
bution asked  in  the  estimates  for  1865.  On 
the  proposals  being  brought  up  for  decision, 
they  were  opposed  by  all  the  unofficial 
members  and  also  by  the  Colonial  Treasurer, 
and  in  the  end  were  only  carried  by  the 
casting  vote  of  the  Governor.  The  Colonial 
Treasurer  got  a  severe  wigging  subsequently 
from  the  Secretary  of  State  for  his  indepen- 
dent action.  But  that  he  had  strong 
sympathies  on  his  side  was  shown  by  the 
action  of  the  Council  in  passing  a  resolution 
subscribed  to  by  all  the  official  members 
(excepting  the  Chief  Justice)  apprising  "that 
the  maintenance  of  troops  in  Hongkong  is 
not  necessary  purely  for  the  protection  of 
Colonial  interests  or  the  security  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  that  the  Colonial  revenue 
cannot  fairly  be  charged  with  any  contri- 
bution towards  the  Imperial  military  expen- 
diture in  China  and  Japan." 

The  cession  of  the  Kowloon  Peninsula 
under  the  terms  of  the  Peking  Convention 
was  one  of  the  leading  events  of  Sir 
Hercules  Robinson's  administration.  The 
ceremony  of  handing  over  the  territory 
took  place  on  January  19,  1861,  amid  much 
pomp.  At  the  outset  a  Mandaiin  tendered 
to  Lord  Elgin  a  paper  containing  soil  in 
token  of  the  cession.  Then  the  Royal 
Standard  was  hoisted  amid  the  salutes  fired 
by  the  men-of-war  in  harbour,  and  by  a 
battery  on  Stonecutter's  Island.  An  acute 
controversy  arose  out  of  the  cession  of 
Kowloon  between  the  military  and  the  civil 
authorities.  The  former  urged  that  the 
idea  of  appropriating  the  peninsula  had 
originated  with  them,  that  the  Colonial  Office 
had  approved  of  its  appropriation  for  military 


82      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


purposes,  and  that  consequenlly  it  should 
be  converted  into  a  purely  military  canton- 
ment To  this  view  Sir  Hercules  Robinson 
on  behalf  o(  the  Government  offered  strenuous 
opposition.      He    nuuntained     that    the    civil 


had  been  prosecuted  in  a  desultory  way,  and 
a  gixKl  proportion  of  wall  was  completed 
in  1862,  but  the  masonry  was  ilcficient  in 
solidity  and  palpably  would  not  stand  the 
strain    of   a   storm.     Sir    Hercules    Robinson 


FORT    VICTORIA,    KOWLOON. 
(From  Alloni  &  Wright's  "China.") 


authorities  oiiginally  mooted  the  question  of 
the  acquisition,  and  that  in  doing  so  they 
had  in  view  the  necessity  of  providing  for 
the  wants  of  the  general  population  as  well 
as  of  the  military  garrison.  He  strongly 
urged  that  the  peninsula  was  indispensable 
to  the  welfare  of  the  Colony,  inasmuch  as 
it  was  required  to  keep  the  Chinese  popula- 
tion at  some  distance,  and  to  preserve  the 
European  and  American  community  from 
the  injury  and  inconvenience  of  intermixture 
with  the  Chinese  residents.  The  Imperial 
Government,  with  a  strange  disregard  of 
colonial  interests,  decided  in  favour  of  the 
military  view.  The  ultimate  decision  given 
in  1864  e.xtended  the  military  occupation  over 
the  bulk  of  the  peninsula  and  gave  them 
prescriptive  rights  over  the  remaining  area, 
which  was  divided  between  the  Colony 
and  the  navy. 

The  construction  of  public  works  occupied 
a  leading  place  in  the  work  of  Sir  Hercules 
Robinson's  administration.  Early  in  his  term 
of  office  he  invited  plans  for  a  scheme  of 
water  supply,  which  had  been  tentatively 
discussed  in  liis  predecessor's  time.  Elaborate 
plans  were  sent  in  by  several  competitors, 
and  ultimately  those  of  Mr.  S.  B.  Rawling, 
Clerk  of  the  Works  of  the  Royal  Engineers. 
were  selected  by  the  committee  appointed 
to  adjudicate  in  the  matter.  Tenders  were 
immediately  called  for,  and  an  ordinance 
was  passed  empowering  the  Governor  to 
appropriate  from  current  revenues  the  sum 
of  £^30,000  as  the  works  proceeded,  and  to 
supply  any  deficiency  of  funds  if  necessary 
by  mortgaging  the  water  rate  at  2  per 
cent,  on  the  gross  annual  value  of  house 
property  according  to  assessment.  In  1863 
the  work  was  completed  and  was  hailed  as 
a  great  success.  But  events  s<K)n  proved  its 
inadequacy  for  the  needs  of  the  Colony. ' 
Another  prf)ject  with  which  Sir  Hercules 
Robinson  closely  identified  himself  was  Sir 
John  Bowring's  much  criticised  scheme  for 
the   construction   of  a  sea   wall.      The   work 


decided  to  rebuild  the  whole  praya  wall, 
and  to  use  the  opportunity  which  the  works 
afforded  of  extending  the  praya  seawards  by 
reclaiming  from  the  sea  a  further  strip  of 
land  100  feet  in  width.  He  soon  found,  as 
his  predecessor  had  done,  that  he  had  to 
reckon  with  a  determined  opposition  from 
the  marine  lot  holders  Eventually  Sir 
Hercules  Robinson  so  far  yielded  as  to  inti- 
mate that  the  extension  would  not  be  enforced 
where  not  desired  by  the  lot  holders. 

In  many  ways  Sir  Hercules  Robinson  left 
a  vigoious  impress  upon  the  Colony.  During 
his  administration  it  advanced  to  a  very 
marked  extent  on  the  path  of  prosperity. 
This  was  not  altogether  due  to  his  woik,  but 
there  can  be  no  question  that  with  a  less 
able    man    at    the    helm   or   one   who   had   a 


lower  sense  of  dignity  and  discipline,  the 
position  might  have  been  a  very  different 
one  to  what  it  was  when  he  quitted  Hong- 
kong in  1865.  Sir  Hercules  Robinson's 
influence  is  seen  in  the  linancial  statistics  of 
the  Colony.  When  he  went  to  the  island  the 
revenue  was  only  ;£;65,226  ;  on  his  departiue 
the  exchequer  receipts  were  more  than 
double  that  sum.  The  position  is  best  illus- 
trated by  the  following  figures,  showing  the 
revenue  and  expenditure  of  the  Colony  over 
a  series  of  years  from  the  time  of  the  occu- 
pation : — 


Year. 

Revenue. 

Kxpeiiditure. 

£ 

£ 

1846 

27,046 

68,351 

1847 

31,078 

.50,959 

1848 

25,091 

62,658 

1849 

23,616 

38,986 

1850 

23,526 

34,314 

1851 

23,72  ■ 

34,115 

1852 

21,331 

34,765 

1853 

24,700 

,36,418 

I8.S4 

27,054 

34,635 

>«.S5 

47,973 

40,813 

1856 

3.S.500 

42,426 

1857 

5«,«42 

65,497 

1858 

62,486 

62,979 

1859 

65,226 

66, 1 09 

i860 

94.182 

72,390 

1861 

127,241 

109,632 

1862 

i3",5'2 

122,223 

1863 

120,028 

121,888 

1864 

132,884 

259,022 

1865 

— 

SIR    ROBERT    G.   MAODONNELL,   C.B. 

(Governor,  tloiigkong,  1H6O-7I-) 


The  progressive  increase  in  the  revenue 
it  will  be  noted  dates  from  1857 — two  years 
before  Sir  Hercules  Robinson  appeared  on 
the  scene.  While  this  fact  indicates  that 
the  tide,  of  good  fortune  had  already  set  in 
strongly  when  he  was  appointed,  the  greatly 
accelerated  pace  at  wliich  tlie  revenue  in- 
creased during  his  adniinistralioii  may  fairly 
be  attributed  in  considerable  measure  to  his 
successful  government  and  the  confidence  it 
inspired  in  quarters  where  confidence  implied 
commercial  support. 

The  spell  of  prosperity  which  marked  Sir 
Hercules  Robinson's  term  of  office  was  unfor- 
tunately not  maintained.  Almost  as  so<m  as 
he  had  left  the  Colony  black  clouds  began  to 
fill  the  financial  horizon.  The  effect  of  the 
monetary  crisis  in  Europe  was  felt  in  Hong- 
kong. Property  was  seriously  depreciated 
and  counnercial  transactions  on  all  sides  were 
restricted.  "Yet,"  says  Dr.  Eitel,  "public 
works,  the  praya,  the  new  gaol,  the  mint, 
the  waterworks,  the  sea  wall  at  Kowloon, 
commenced  or  constructed  in  a  period  of  un- 
exampled prosperity,  had  now  to  be  carried 
on,  completed,  or  maintained,  from  the  scanty 
resources  of  an  impoverished  and  well-nigh 
insolvent  treasury."  Nor  were  financial  diffi- 
culties alone  the  obstacles  with  which  the 
Government  had  to  contend.  "  New  laws 
were  clearly  needed  for  the  regulation  of  the 
Chinese,  whose  gambling  habits  were  tilling 
the  streets  with  riot  and  honeycombing  the 
police  force  with  corruption.  Crime  was  lam- 
pant,  and  the  gaols  overflowing  with  prisoners. 
Piracv,  flourishing  as  ever  before,  was  be- 
lieveci  to  have  not  only  its  secret  lairs  among 
the  low  class  of  marine  store  dealers,  but  the 
support  of  wealthy  Chinese  linns,  and  to  enjoy 
the  connivance  of  men  in  the  police  force. 
A  sense  of  insecurity  as  to  life  and  property 
was  again,  as  in  days  gone  by,  taking  jiosses- 
sion  of  the  public  mind."  In  these  depress- 
ing circumstances  Sir  R.  G.  MacDoiniell,  who 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


83 


had  been  appointed  Sir  Hercules  Robinson's 
successor,  toolc  up  the  reins  of  office  on 
March  ii,  1866,  after  an  interrejjnuni  of 
twelve  months,  during  whicli  the  Hon.  W.  T. 
Mercer,  a  former  Colonial  Secretary,  adminis- 
tered the  Government.  The  new  Governor 
was  greatly  surprised  at  the  slate  of  affairs 
which  confronted  him,  as  he  had  been  led  to 
e.xpect  to  find  a  colony  with  an  oveiflow- 
ing  treasury  and  a  prosperous  and  contented 
community.  He  set  to  work  with  energy  to 
straigiiten  things  out  once  more.  As  the 
stress  was  to  a  large  extent  the  product  of 
monetary  trouble,  it  was  to  finance  that  he 
gave  his  first  consideration.  The  position 
with  which  he  had  to  deal  was  no  ordinary 
one.  In  1865  there  was  a  surplus  of  assets 
over  liabilities  of  $298,000,  but  llie  next  year 
this  had  fallen  to  $184,000,  and  in  January, 
1867,  there  was  a  mere  nominal  surplus  of 
$24,000  made  up  of  unavailable  assets.  In 
1865  there  was  an  excess  of  expenditure 
over  reveime  of  $94,361,  and  in  1866  this 
had  increased  to  $167,877.  Sir  Robert 
MacDonnell  effected  sensible  economies  by 
readjusting  offices  in  the  Civil  Service,  and 
by  cutting  down  redundant  expenditure  in 
all  directions.  In  this  way  he  at  once 
reduced  the  outgoings  from  $936,954  to 
$730,916,  though  the  full  reduction  was  only 
effected  by  leaving  the  military  contribution 
in  arrear.  On  the  revenue  side  he  devised 
a  lucrative  new  source  of  income  by  putting 
in  force  a  stamp  act.  The  measure  was 
strongly  opposed  by  the  commercial  com- 
munity, and  the  Chinese  traders,  as  far  as 
they  dared,  ignored  the  enactment  when  it 
was  enforced,  but  as  the  need  of  a  new 
source  of  revenue  was  imperative  the  scheme 
was  persisted  with,  and  eventually  it  came 
to  be  recognised  as  a  legitimate  and  innocuous 
means  of  revenue  production.  As  far  as  the 
finances  of  the  Colony  were  concerned  its 
effect  was  immediate  and  marked.  In  1868, 
the  first  year  of  its  enforcement,  the  tax 
brought  in  the  large  sum  of  $101,000.  The 
income  for  the  year  generally  was  good,  the 
revenue  reaching  the  unprecedented  sum  of 
$1,134,105.  As  the  expenditure  for  the  period 
was  no  more  than  $991,81 1  there  was  a  surplus 
of  $140,000.  The  finances  of  subsequent  years 
were  seriously  embarrassed  by  a  difficulty 
which  arose  between  the  Governor  and  the 
Colonial  Office  in  reference  to  some  measures 
for  the  regulation  of  gambling  houses  in  the 
Colony  which  the  Government  introduced. 
Sir  Robert  MacDonnell,  conceiving  that 
gambling  was  an  ineradicable  vice  of  the 
Chinese,  deemed  it  better  to  regulate  it  than 
to  make  futile  efforts  to  suppress  it.  He 
accordingly  decided  to  introduce  the  farming 
system,  under  which  the  right  to  keep 
gambling  houses  was  let  out  to  licensees 
for  a  sum  of  money.  The  system  was  in 
force  at  the  Portuguese  Colony  of  Macao, 
and  it  prevails  to  this  day  in  the  Federated 
Malay  States  under  quasi  British  rule.  But 
at  home  the  idea  of  any  part  of  the  Colonial 
revenue  being  derived  from  vice  was  received 
with  disfavour,  and  the  Colonial  Secretary  (the 
Earl  of  Carnarvon),  while  reluctantly  giving 
permission  to  a  trial  of  the  system,  stipulated 
that  the  licence  fees  must  not  be  farmed 
out  but  treated  as  matters  of  police  and 
not  as  revenue.  Sir  Robert  MacDonnell  in 
a  despatch  pointed  out  the  impossibility  of 
proceeding  by  any  other  method  than  farming 
the  licence,  and  suggested  that  a  discretionary 
power  should  be  given  to  the  Governor  in 
Council  to  exercise  authority  under  the 
ordinance  as  circumstances  might  render 
expedient.  The  Duke  of  Buckingham,  who 
had  succeeded  Lord  Carnarvon,  concurred  in 
his  predecessor's    instructions,   and   expressly 


declined  to  sanction  the  farming  system.  In 
another  despatch  he  intimated  that  the  licence 
fees  should  be  limited  to  an  amount  covering 
police  arrangements  connected  with  the 
system.  The  ordinance  having  been  con- 
firmed, with  the  quilifying  conditions  in- 
dicated. Sir  Robert  MacDonnell  proceeded  to 
enforce  it.  The  licence  fees  were,  to  meet 
the  demands  of  the  home  authorities,  placed 
in  a  distinct  special  fund,  which  amounted 
to  $155,000  on  May  23,  i868,  to  $221,733 
on  June  28,  1869,  and  to  $277,334  o" 
December  31,  1869,  When  the  scheme  had 
got  fairly  under  way  there  was  a  strong 
outburst  of  indignation  from  a  section  of 
evangelical  churchmen  who  regarded  with 
horror  the  fact  that  the  Government  had  had 
anything  to  do  with  the  unclean  thing.  The 
agitation  commenced  in  the  Colony  was 
carried  to  England,  and  the  flames  of  sectarian 
fanaticism  were  assiduously  fanned  by  the 
ex-Attorney-General  and  the  former  editor 
of  the  Daily  Press,  who  were  glad  of  the 
opportunity  afforded  of  having  another  fling 
at  the  administration.  While  this  agitation 
was  proceeding.  Sir  Robert  MacDonnell  was 
conducting  a  very  lively  controversy  with 
the  Colonial  Office  in  reference  to  the  manner 
in  which  he  had  interpreted  his  instructions. 
The  Duke  of  Buckingham,  realising  the  extent 
to  which  the  Government  had  been  com- 
mitted, expressed  his  entire  disapproval  of 
the  proceedings,  and  threatened  "  to  stop 
the  licensing  altogether."  Sir  Robert,  re- 
plying to  this  despatch  to  Earl  Granville, 
who  had  succeeded  the  Duke  at  the  Colonial 
Oflice,  alluded  to  the  ducal  despatch  as 
embodying  "  sweeping  comments  which  im- 
plied a  general  censure  on  the  Hongkong 
Government."  Earl  Granville  thereupon 
lectured  the  Governor  upon  the  peculiarly 
unbecoming  tone  of  his  remarks,  and  at  a 
subsequent  date  passed  heavy  censure  upon 
Sir  Robert  for  his  dealings  with  the  money 
in  the  special  fund  and  ordered  him  to  pay 
back  into  the  fund  all  unauthorised  appro- 
priations amounting  to  $129,701.  The  end 
of  the  controversy  was  that  the  scheme  had 
to  be  abandoned  and  drastic  measures  of 
economy  adopted  to  make  up  for  the  de- 
ficiency in  the  revenue  caused  by  the 
withdrawal  of  the  appropriations. 

Apart  from  domestic  questions.  Sir  Robert 
MacDonnell's  administration  was  of  some 
importance,  in  that  it  coincided  with  the 
raising  of  some  notable  controversies  affect- 
ing the  relations  of  the  Colony  with  the 
Chinese  Empire.  The  chief  of  these  was  the 
question  of  what  came  to  be  known  as  "the 
Blockade  of  Hongkong "  by  the  Chinese 
authorities.  The  measure  referred  to  was  an 
effort  made  to  regulate  the  junk  trade 
between  the  Colony  and  Chinese  ports.  The 
first  exercise  of  the  supposititious  power  was 
experienced  about  the  middle  of  October, 
1867,  when  the  steam  cruisers  of  the  Canton 
Customs,  aided  by  some  gunboats,  stopped 
and  searched  several  native  craft  leaving  the 
harbour.  Subsequently,  the  blockade  was 
rigorously  enforced,  every  junk  quitting  or 
entering  the  harbour  being  boarded  and 
overhauled.  In  cases  where  the  papers  were 
not  in  proper  order  the  junks  were  detained 
and  double  duty  was  levied  in  the  case  of 
goods  shipped  at  Pakhoi  and  Canton,  or  other 
Treaty  ports,  by  junks  which,  eti  route, 
touched  at  Hongkong.  The  ostensible  object 
of  the  blockade  was  the  prevention  of 
smuggling,  but  the  effect  of  it  was  to  impose 
heavy  disabilities  upon  the  native  trade  by 
driving  the  shipments  made  into  foreign 
bottoms,  the  freight  charges  of  which  were 
heavier  than  those  of  the  junks.  Great 
indignation  was  excited  amongst  the  mercan- 


tile community  at  the  action  of  the  Chinese 
Government,  but  it  was  found  that  the  hands 
of  the  Hongkong  Government  were  to  some 
extent  tied,  by  the  fact  that  the  scheme  was 
suggested  to  the  Chinese  Viceroy  at  Canton 
by  the  British  Consul — Mr.  (afterwards  Sir) 
D,  B.  Robertson.  Nevertheless,  the  Governor 
took  energetic  action  within  the  limits  of 
what  was  possible  and  expedient.  He 
strengthened  the  water  police  force,  and 
obtained  a  steam  launch  lo  assist  the  Colonial 
gunboat  Victoria  in  patrolling  the  Colonial 
waters  to  prevent  trespass  by  the  Chinese 
craft  on  the  Colonial  territorial  limits.  He 
also  compelled  the  Chinese  warships  to  fly  a 
special  official  flag  as  a  condition  of  their 
being  allowed  to  anchor  in  the  harbour. 
Discovering  that  the  object  of  the  Chinese 
Government  in  instituting  the  blockade  was 
to  levy  a  special  war  tax,  called  /;*/;;,  which 
was  not  only  applied  to  opium  but  to  a  large 
list  of  ordinary  goods.  Sir  Robert  demanded 
of  the  Canton  authorities  a  copy  of  the  tariff 
upon  which  the  charges  were  based.  His 
request  in  this  matter  was  not  complied 
with,  but  his  energy  had  unquestionably  a 
salutary  influence  in  curbing  the  excessive 
zeal  of  the  Chinese  officials.  Meanwhile,  the 
local  mercantile  community  had  adopted  a 
strongly  worded  memorial  to  the  Secretary 
of  State  protesting  against  the  blockade,  and 
demanding  its  withdrawal.  The  agitation 
was  kept  alive  by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
and  from  time  to  time  vigorous  philippics 
were  delivered  against  what  was  regarded 
as  a  subversion  of  the  rights  of  the  Colony. 
But  the  representations  had  little  effect  on 
the  authorities  at  home,  who,  animated  by 
what  seemed  to  Hongkong  people  as  an 
overweening  desire  to  keep  on  good  terms 
with  the  Chinese  Government,  refrained 
from  taking  steps  to  secure  the  removal  of 
the  blockade.  In  the  end  the  Chinese 
merchants  deemed  it  wise  to  pay  the  imposts 
demanded  of  them,  and  the  system,  having 
been  thus  acquiesced  in  by  the  parties 
most  affected,  was  continued  until  it  became 
an  established  institution.  Another  matter 
of  diplomatic  interest  which  agitated  the 
public  opinion  of  Hongkong  at  this  period 
was  the  appointment  of  a  Chinese  consul  in 
Hongkong.  When  the  proposal  for  the 
establishment  of  a  Chinese  consulate  in  the 
Colony  was  made,  strong  objection  was  taken 
by  the  local  merchants  on  the  ground  that 
the  power  which  a  Chinese  consul  would 
gain  over  the  local  Chinese  population  would 
constitute  a  veritable  imperinm  in  imperio, 
and  subject  the  native  community  to  an 
intolerable  system  of  official  espionage,  and 
to  the  insatiable  rapacity  of  a  corrupt 
ofticialdom.  Sir  Rutherford  Alcock,  then 
British  Minister  at  Peking,  dismissed  these 
objections  lightly  as  "fears  more  or  less 
chimerical  and  exaggerated,"  and  the  Earl  of 
Clarendon,  Foreign  Secretary  at  the  time, 
concurred  in  the  main  with  his  views.  But 
though  the  establishment  of  a  Chinese 
consulate  in  Hongkong  was  accepted  in 
principle,  no  steps  were  taken  to  give  effect 
to  the  proposal. 

All  this  time  the  trade  of  Hongkong  was 
advancing  rapidly.  Many  causes  contributed 
to  bring  about  this  result.  The  opening  of 
the  Suez  Canal  in  1865  was  one  important 
factor.  This  important  measure  gave  new 
life  to  the  trade  of  the  F"ar  East,  and 
especially  to  those  forms  of  trade  which 
from  the  outset  have  flourished  at  Hong- 
kong. The  establishment  of  bonding  houses 
and  the  formulation  of  a  liberal  tariff  in 
Japan  in  July,  1866,  was  another  contributory 
cause  of  some  moment.  Furthermore,  the 
connection  of  San   Francisco  with  Hongkong 


84      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


by  a  rcjliilar  line  of  large  fast  steamers 
added  greatly  to  its  pri»ix.'rity.  The  evi- 
dences i>f  these  improved  conditions  are  to 
be  liHind  in  the  opening  on  June  15,  1867.  of  a 
new  dix-k  at  Aberdeen  and  the  fonnation  of 
\'ariou$  joint  sttKk  enterprises  for  the  im- 
pnntmcnt  of  pi>rt  faciUties.  There  was  a 
temporar>-  check  to  the  Coli>ny's  prosperity 
at  the  close  i>f  iW>6  and  in  the  tieginning 
of  1867,  but  the  crisis,  though  severe  while 
it  lasted,  passed  away  without  leaving  any 
permanent  ill  effects,  and  in  1870  there 
were  abundant  pro<>fs  forthcoming  that  the 
Colony  was  commercially  quite  itself  again. 
The  next  >"ear  was  remarkable  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  cable  communication  between 
the  port  and  distant  parts  of  the  world. 
Shanghai  was  brought  into  direct  touch  with 
the  Colony  on  May  26th  ;  New  York  and 
London  were  coupled  up  on  June  Qth.  and 
Saigon  and  Singapore  on  August   1st. 

Sir  Robert  MacDonnell's  successor  in  the 
Governorship  was  Sir  Arthur  E.  Kennedy, 
who  had  previously  served  in  leading  ad- 
ministrative c-apacities  in  Western  Australia 
and  West  Africa,  His  administration,  which 
extended  from  April  i6,  1872,  to  March  i, 
1877,  was  an  uneventful  one.  The  matters 
of  chief  interest  which  occupied  the  attention 
of  the  community  were  a  series  of  incidents 
arising  out  of  the  Chinese  blockade  of  the 
port  which  was  continued  with,  if  anything, 
increased  rigour.  Yielding  to  merc-antile 
pressure  the  Governor  app<«iited  a  com- 
mission to  inquire  into  abuses  connected 
with  the  action  of  the  Chinese  maritime 
customs.  The  report  supported  the  views 
of  the  local  community  but  it  had  no  in- 
fluence on  the  Home  Government,  which 
was  too  definitely  committed  to  a  policy  of 
non-interference  to  take  action  in  the  direc- 
tion desired.  The  arrest,  in  May,  1874,  of  a 
Chinese  revenue  junk  caught  in  the  act  of 
firing  at  lishing  boats  in  colonial  territorial 
waters  seemed  to  promise  a  new  develop- 
ment, but  the  Chinese  Government  having 
tendered  ample  apologies  for  the  incident, 
and  promised  to  punish  the  offenders,  the 
Attorney-General  was  ordered  to  enter  a 
nolle  prosequi  in  the  proceedings  which  had 
btx-n  instituted  in  the  High  Court  against  the 
men.  and  the  episode  was  thus  quietly 
closed.  Memorials  continued  to  be  sent 
home  against  the  system,  including  one  from 
the  Chamt)er  of  Commerce  on  August  3, 
1874,  in  which  the  blockade  was  condemned 
as  an  organised  invasion  of  the  freedom  and 
sanctuary  of  the  port.  Lord  Carnarvon,  the 
then  Sccretaiy  of  State,  in  replying  to  these 
representations,  while  admitting  that  abuses 
had  (Kcurred  in  connection  with  the  action 
of  the  Chinese  revenue  cruisers,  denied  that 
the  exercise  of  the  right  of  search  in  close 
proximity  to  Hongkong  affected  the  freedom 
of  the  port  and  afforded  valid  excuse  for 
diplomatic  remonstrance.  I^rd  Carnavon 
subsequently  saw  fit  to  mtxlify  these  views, 
and  it  was  announced  in  January,  1876,  that 
the  Home  Government  were  of  opinion  that 
the  comnmnity  of  Hongkong  really  had  a 
grievance  and  were  entitled  to  relief.  Sir 
Arthur  Kennedy  afterwards  submitted  a 
series  of  proposals  for  the  future  regulation 
of  the  junk  trade.  These  were  (i)  that  all 
Chinese  cruisers  should  be  prohibited  inter- 
fering with  Hongkong  junks,  except  those  of 
the  Hoppo ;  (2)  that  a  definite  Chinese  tariff 
of  import  and  export  duties,  applicable  to 
Hongkong  junks,  and  fixed  regulations  for. 
the  Hoppo's  dealings  with  Hongkong  junk 
masters  be  published  and  adhered  to ;  (3) 
that  a  joint  board  should  be  appointed  to 
investigate  all  complaints  of  illegal  sei2ure. 
The      suggestions,     which      were      endorsed 


by  the  ChaniK-r  of  Commerce,  were  sent 
home,  and  ultimately  fornicd  the  basis  of 
discussions  which  were  conducted  between 
Sir  Thomas  Wade,  the  Biitish  Minister  at 
Peking,  and  the  Tsung  li  Yamen.  The  two 
first  proposals  were  rejected  by  the  Chinese 
Government  and  a  modilication  of  the  third 
was  embodied  in  the  Chefoo  Convention  in 
the  form  of  an  arrangement  for  the  creation 
of  a  mixed  commission  consisting  of  a 
British  consul,  a  Hongkong  oflicer,  and  a 
Chinese  official  to  arrange  a  set  of  regula- 
tions calculated  to  benefit  the  revenue 
collection  of  China  without  interfering  with 
the  counnercial  interests  of  Hongkong. 

A  tremendous  typhoon,  which  is  accurately 
described  by  Hongkong's  historian  as  "  the 
severest  disaster  that  ever  befell  the  Colony 
of  Hongkong,"  burst  over  the  island  on 
the  evening  of  September  22,  1874.  "  On 
the  morning  of  September  23,  1874,"  says 
Dr.  Eitel,  "  the  town  looked  as  if  it  had 
undergone  a  teiritic  bombardment.  Thousands 
of  houses  were  unroofed,  hundreds  of  Euro- 
pean and  Chinese  dwellings  were  in  ruins, 
large  trees   had   been  torn   out   by  the   roots 


SIR    ARTHUR   KENNEDY. 


and  hurled  to  a  distance,  most  of  the  streets 
were  impassable,  being  obstructed  by  fallen 
trees,  roof  timbers,  window  frames  and 
mounds  of  soil  thrown  up  by  the  bursting  of 
drains.  Business  was  at  a  complete  standstill 
for  several  days.  The  praya  was  covered 
with  wrecked  sampans  and  the  debris  of  junks 
and  ships,  whilst  in  every  direction  dead 
bodies  were  seen  floating  about  or  scattered 
along  the  ruins  of  what  was  once  the  praya 
wall.  Thirty-five  foreign  vessels,  trusting  in 
their  anchors,  were  wrecked  or  badly  injured. 
Over  two  thousand  lives  were  lost  in  the 
harbour  within  the  space  of  about  six  hours, 
during  which  time  the  screams  of  the 
Chinese  in  distress  on  the  water  were  heard 
by  residents  on  the  upper  levels  of  the 
town,  to  rise  above  the  terrific  din  of  the 
storm.  .  .  The  amount  of  property  destroyed 
in  Hongkong  within  those  terrible  six  hours 
was  estimated  at  five  million  dollars." 

Chequered  as  had  been  the  history  of 
Hongkong,  the  period  upon  which  it  entered 
after  the  retirement  of  Sir  A.  E.  Kennedy 
was  to  be  memorable  for  its  unrest  and 
excitement.  The  new  Governor  was  Mr. 
(afterwards     Sir)    John     Pope-Hennessy,     an 


Irish  Conservative  who,  as  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Commons  from  1859  to  1865, 
attracted  Disraeli's  notice,  more  because  of 
his  political  views  than  from  any  great 
regard  for  his  personality.  Mr.  Pope- 
Hennessy  entered  the  colonial  service  as 
Governor  of  Labuan  and  Consul-General  of 
Borneo  in  1867,  and  he  subsequently  served 
as  Governor  of  the  West  .African  Settle- 
ments, of  the  Bahamas,  and  of  the  Wind- 
ward Islands.  He  was  a  man  of  peculiar 
temperament  and  endowed  with  more  than 
a  common  share  of  the  pugnacity  which  is 
traditionally  attributed  to  his  race.  Both  at 
the  Bahamas  and  the  Windward  Islands 
he  was  in  continual  hot  water,  owing  to 
his  indiscreet  championing  of  the  interests 
of  the  native  community.  So  bad  did 
the  relations  between  himself  and  the 
European  community  at  length  become 
that  a  strong  movement  was  set  on  foot  for 
his  recall,  and  ultimately  he  was  withdrawn. 
In  Hongkong  he  was  received  (on  April  22, 
1877)  without  prejudice,  though  with  no 
excess  of  enthusiasm.  But  he  had  not  been 
in  office  long  before  he  gave  a  taste  of  his 
peculiar  qualities.  In  October,  1878,  after  a 
series  of  minor  incidents  illustrative  of  the 
Governor's  facility  for  creating  trouble,  the 
community  were  startled  and  outraged  by 
the  announcement  that  the  selection  of  an 
acting  successor  to  Mr.  C.  C.  Smith,  the 
Kegistiar-General,  who  had  been  promoted 
to  the  Coloniid  Secretaryship  of  tlie  Straits 
Settlements,  had  fallen  upon  Mr.  J.  A.  da 
Carvalho,  a  Portuguese  clerk  in  the  Treasury. 
The  indignation  was  the  greater  because 
Mr.  Carvalho  was  not  even  a  British  subject. 
The  protests  made  would  probably  not  have 
had  much  effect  had  it  not  been  for  this 
circumstance.  As  it  was.  the  appointment 
was  revoked  because  of  the  inability  of  Mr. 
Carvalho  to  qualify  by  taking  the  oath  of 
allegiance.  Another  appointment  which 
created  much  dissatisfaction  at  the  period 
was  the  nomination  on  January  22,  1880,  of 
Mr.  Ng  Choy,  a  Chinese  barrister,  to  a 
vacant  post  on  the  Legislative  Council.  The 
position  had  been  held  previously  by  the 
Hon.  Mr.  H.  B.  Gibb,  and  if  the  ordinary 
rule  had  been  followed  the  choice  of  his 
successor  would  have  been  a  European 
colleague  of  his.  But  it  was  not  merely  in 
personal  matters  that  the  Governor  showed 
the  cloven  hoof.  His  entire  administration 
was  tinctured  with  a  prejudice  which  did 
not  favour  the  predominant  section  of  the 
community.  Even  when  he  acted  rightly  he 
so  contrived  matters  as  to  invite  condenma- 
tion.  One  of  his  pet  official  hobbies  was  a 
scheme  of  criminal  reform  based  in  the 
main  on  the  philanthropic  ideals  which 
obtained  in  England.  Whipping,  bianding, 
and  deporting — features  of  the  penal  system 
of  the  Colony  as  he  found  it — were  strongly 
condemned  and  eventually  abolished  by  him, 
and  he  made  other  changes  in  the  direction 
of  greater  leniency.  The  Chinese  lower 
classes  were  naturally  grateful  for  the 
favours  received,  and  dulibed  the  Governor 
"the  merciful  man";  but  the  Kuiopean  com- 
munity, with  a  profounder  knowledge  of  the 
springs  of  Chinese  criminal  nature,  were 
profoundly  dissatisfied  at  what  they  regarded 
as  the  dangerous  workings  of  the  policy 
adopted  by  the  Governor.  A  great  outburst 
of  serious  crime  which  look  place  in  1878 
lent  point  to  the  indignant  repiesentations  of 
this  important  section  of  the  population,  and 
as  month  succeeded  month  and  the  crimes 
increased  in  seriousness  it  was  determined 
to  hold  an  indignation  meeting  to  protest 
against  the  action  that  had  been  taken.  The 
demonstration  took  place  on  October  7,  1878, 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       85 


on  the  cricket  j;roiiiid.  It  was  one  of  the 
most  important  gatherinjjs  of  the  kind  ever 
held  in  the  history  of  the  Colony.  Mr.  H. 
B.  Gibb  was  in  the  cliair,  and  he  was 
supported  by  practically  all  the  leadin;; 
mercliants  of  the  Colony  excepting  the 
senior  unoflicial  nieniber  of  the  I.,ei;islative 
Council  (the  Hon.  Philip  Ryrie).  who  for 
particular  reasons  held  aloof.  With  practical 
unanimity  resolutions  were  passed  affirming 
that  life  and  property  had  been  jeopardised 
by  the  policy  of  undue  leniency  that  had 
been  adopted,  and  asking  that  a  commission 
from  outside  tlie  Colony  should  be  appointed 
to  investigate  the  application  of  criminal 
laws,  the  carrying  out  of  sentences  of  the 
courts,  and  the  relation  between  the 
Governor  and  his  officials.  This  European 
protest  evoked  a  counter  demonstration  from 
the  Chinese  inhabitants,  who  organised  an 
address  to  the  Queen  expressive  of  con- 
iidence  in  the  Governor.  The  resolutions  and 
the  address  were  duly  forwarded,  and,  after 
taking  nearly  twelve  months  to  reply,  the 
Colonial  Secretary  (Sir  Michael  Hicks-Beach) 
in  a  despatch  admitted  the  reasonableness  of 
the    alarm    felt    in    the    Colonv,    but    declined 


sending  out  a  commission,  on  the  ground 
that  the  action  of  the  Governor  had  removed 
all  cause  for  fear.  The  reference  was  to 
the  introduction  of  a  more  stringent  system 
of  dealing  with  criminals  by  the  Governor. 
The  system  of  deportation  was  resumed  and 
old  offenders,  instead  of  being  tried  before 
magistrates,  were  sent  to  the  Supreme  Court, 
where  they  received  punishment  commen- 
surate with  their  crimes.  On  the  main 
points — the  question  of  flogging  and  brand- 
ing— Sir  J.  Pope-Hennessy  carried  the  day, 
for  in  November,  1880,  Lord  Kimberley  (wtio 
had  become  Colonial  Secretiiry)  sent  out  a 
despatch  directing  the  permanent  discon- 
tinuance of  branding  and  prohibiting  flog- 
ging, excepting  in  cases  of  the  class  in 
which  it  would  be  inflicted  in  the  United 
Kingdom. 

As  the  years  of  Sir  J.  Pope-Hennessy's 
administration  went  on  the  tide  of  his  un- 
popularity increased  in  volume.  The  breach 
between  him  and  the  Euiopean  conmunity 
ultimately  became  irreparable,  and  the  strange 
prospect  was  seen  in  Hongkong  of  the 
Queen's  representative  living  an  existence  of 
isolation  from  the  gieat  bulk  of  his  fellows. 


The  effect  of  such  a  state  of  affairs  upon  the 
Colony's  interest  could  not  fail  to  be  extremely 
bad,  and  only  the  natural  stiength  of  its 
position  enabled  it  to  come  through  the 
period  of  stress  and  trouble  without  marked 
injury.  A  great  sigh  of  relief  went  up  when 
it  was  announced  in  March,  18S2,  that  the 
Governor  was  shortly  proceeding  to  Europe 
on  six  months'  leave.  The  stiitement  was 
interpreted  to  mean  that  Sir  J.  Pope-Hennessy 
was  leaving  finally,  and  there  was  no  dis- 
position shown  to  resent  the  valedictory  com- 
pliments subsequently  paid  to  him  by  the 
Chinese  and  Portuguese  communities.  The 
general  feeling  was  one  of  gladness  that  the 
period  of  turmoil  and  bitterness  was  at  length 
at  an  end.  Afterwards  there  was  a  disturb- 
ing rumour  that  Sir  J.  Pope-Hennessy  was 
returning  to  Hongkong,  and  in  hot  haste 
strong  remonstrances  were  sent  by  the 
leading  merchants  to  Downing  Street.  Then 
it  was  made  known  that  the  incubus  of  a 
discredited  and  unpopular  Governor  was  not 
to  be  infiicted  on  Hongkong,  Sir  J.  Pope- 
Hennessy  having  been  appointed  to  the 
Governorship   of   Mauritius. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

Development  of   Shanghai — The   Establishment    of   the  Chinese    Maritime  Customs   Department — New    Municipal 
Constitution — Operations  of  the  "  Ever  Victorious  "  Army  around  the  Settlement — Land  Speculations. 


The  conclusion  of  the  Treaty  of  Peking  was 
the  signal  for  a  great  development  of  mer- 
cantile activity  throughout  the  Treaty  ports. 
Perhaps  its  influence  was  most  marked  at 
Shanghai,  which,  from  its  proximity  to  the 
new  ticlds  of  enterprise  opened  up  in  Northern 
China  by  the  Treaty  and  its  immediate  prede- 
cessor— the  Treaty  of  Tientsin — was  best 
placed  to  reap  the  advantages  of  the  new  order 
of  things.  "  The  model  settlement,"  as  it  was 
and  is  still  called  without  excess  of  modesty. 
in  its  earliest  years  showed  the  disposition 
which  all  new  trade  centres  have  to  hang  fire 
somewhat.  It  developed,  but  its  growth  was, 
comparatively  speaking,  slow.  There  was 
nothing  in  the  nature  of  a  "  boom  " — to  adopt 
a  modern  phrase.  The  disturbed  condition 
of  the  country  owing  to  the  Taeping  Rebellion 
no  doubt  militated  against  its  complete 
success.  But  it  was  not  alone  that  factor 
which  kept  Shanghai  from  marching  to  its 
inevitable  destiny  of  a  great  port  and  com- 
mercial entrepot.  The  restricted  character  of 
the  openings  for  trade  and  the  repressive  and 
obstructive  policy  pursued  by  the  Chinese 
Government  had  an  even  wider  influence  on 
the  settlement's  fortunes.  All  this,  however, 
was  changed  by  the  two  treaties.  Under  the 
Treaty  of  Tientsin  that  great  waterway,  the 
Yangtse-Kiang,  was  opened  up  to  British 
trade,  and  a  regularised  status  was  accorded 
to  merchants  at  the  important  riverain  towns 
of  Chinkiang  and  Hankow.  The  same 
instrument  allowed  British  merchants  access 
to  Newchwang,  Tangchow,  Taiwan  (For- 
mosa), Chanchow  (Swatoa),  and  Kiungchow 
(Hainan)  ;  while  the  Peking  Convention  had 
given  further  significance  to  these  widened 
facilities  by  adding  Tientsin  to  the  list  of 
Treaty  ports.  Thus,  for  the  first  time  in 
history,  a  real  opening  was  afforded  to  the 
vast  markets  of  Central  and  Northern  China. 


No  port  was  better  placed  to  take  advantage 
of  the  situation  than  Shanghai.  On  the  one 
side  the  broad  bosom  of  the  Yangtse  was  open 
to  it  ;  on  the  other  was  easy  access  to  the 
capital  and  the  great  districts  of  the  north  ; 
while  in  the  country  behind  were  some  of  the 
greatest  trade  markets  of  the  Celestial  Empire. 
It  seemed  to  many  that  at  last  Shanghai's  day 
had  really  come. 

Before  an  account  is  given  of  the  stirring 
times  which  followed  the  conclusion  of  the 
Treaty  of  Peking  it  may  be  desirable  to  take 
a  brief  glance  at  Shanghai  as  it  was  in  the 
years  preceding  that  event.  Even  at  that 
early  period,  says  an  old  resident  in  a  des- 
cription of  its  early  life,  the  settlement  was 
a  striking-looking  city.  "The  magnificent 
hongs  which  thronged  the  riverside  with 
their  compounds,  their  flags  flying  (for  nearly 
every  hong  represented  some  consular  dignity) 
and  the  fine  broad  terrace  fronting  the  river, 
and  commonly  called  the  '  Bund,'  had  a  grand 
and  imposing  appearance,  which  was  truly 
astonishing  in  a  place  of  such  recent  growth. 
The  bimd  was  the  most  wonderful  scene  of 
business  and  bustle.  Chinese  coolies  or 
labourers  were  everywhere  hurrying  to  and 
fro  with  burdens  slung  to  bamboos  carried 
upon  the  shoulders  of  these  indefatigable 
beings  who  uttered  a  sort  of  monotonous 
'  Hee  Haw  '  song  as  they  moved  along.  In 
the  centre  of  the  bund  was  situated  a  striking 
looking  Chinese  building,  the  Custom  House, 
in  those  days  managed  by  Chinese  with  the 
assistance  of  two  European  gentlemen.  .  . 
So  little  were  these  customs  officials  heeded 
that  the  captain  of  an  American  steamer  who 
was  about  to  export  a  cargo  of  rice,  which  is 
strictly  forbidden  both  by  Chinese  law  and 
treaty  stipulations,  is  actually  stated  to  have 
pitched  one  of  them  overboard  for  attempting 
to  interfere  with  him." 


The  Custom  House  organisation  referred 
to  by  the  writer  came  into  existence  as 
a  direct  result  of  the  complications  arising 
out  of  the  Taeping  Rebellion.  A  brief 
reference  made  to  the  matter  in  an 
earlier  chapter  may  be  supplemented  by 
a  more  detailed  statement  of  the  origin  of 
this  important  institution.  In  March,  1853, 
when  Nanking  and  Chinkiang  had  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  and  there  was 
a  report  that  the  rebel  fleet  proposed  to 
attack  Woosung,  there  was  a  complete 
cessation  of  business  in  Shanghai.  The 
Chinese  customs  officials  were  all  scattered 
or  in  hiding,  and  for  a  time  there  was  no 
apparent  machinery  in  existence  for  the 
collection  of  customs.  "  One  morning,"  says 
the  author  of  an  interesting  sketch  of 
Shanghai  history,  published  on  the  occasion 
of  its  jubilee  celebrations  in  1873,  "it  was 
found  that  a  Weiyman  had  established  him- 
self during  the  night  in  a  mat-shed,  amongst 
the  ruins  of  the  Customs  House,  and  hung 
out  a  flag  and  chop  sealed  by  the  Taotai 
authorising  him  to  receive  customs  dues, 
but  the  foreign  consuls  concluded  that  this 
gentleman's  position  was  not  exactly  legal, 
and  Mr.  Alcock,  the  British  Consul,  there- 
fore, consulted  with  the  captain  of  the 
Spartan,  the  result  being  that  a  squad  of 
English  men-of-war's  men  hustled  the  poor 
Mandarin  and  his  assistants  ignominiously 
out  of  his  'improvised  custom  house.  The 
Weiyman  then  attempted  to  get  over  the 
difficulty  by  saying  that  he  would  receive 
the  duties  on  board  a  junk  which  was 
moored  in  the  river  opposite  the  French 
concession,  and  Mr.  E.  Cunningham,  who  was 
acting  as  American  Vice-C<5nsul,  fell  in  with 
the  suggestion  and  ordered  his  nationals  to 
pay  their  dues  on  board  this  floating 
coilectorate,    but    the    Americans    promptly 


8r> 


TAVEXTIETH  CENTURY  I3IPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


objected  that  they  amid  not  find  her.  .  . 
In  this  dilenmta  Mr.  AlaKk  and  Mr. 
Cunnin):hnm  sent  round  a  notification  to 
the  effect  that  they  would  undertake  the 
collection  of  duties,  and  would  not  clear 
any  British  or  Anieric-an  ves.sels  in  respect 
of'  which  duties  had  not  been  paid,  or 
undert:ikint;s  to  pay  fjiven.  This  was  at 
once  strongly  opposed  by  the  merchants, 
who  argued  that  they  could  not  be  called 
upon  to  pav  duties  to  a  government  that 
was  unable  to  give  them  any  protection, 
and  that  had  no  proper,  visible  machinery 
available  for  c-ollecting  the  revenue,  and  that 
the  British  and  American  Consuls  had  no 
right  to  usurp  any  functions  of  the  Chinese 
Government  which  had  not  been  legally 
delegated  to  them.  The  Consuls  of  the  other 
pt>wers  represented  adopted  the  same  view, 
and  the  French  Consul  took  the  lead  in  de- 
cUiring  that  he  would  clear  any  French  ship 
that  applied  to  him,  without  the  payment  of 
any  duties  whatst>ever,  until  the  Imperial 
Chinese  Government  re-asserted  its  authority. 
.  .  .  The  British  Consul  and  the  American 
Vicx'-Consul  were  left  almost  alone  on  one 
side  in  the  struggle  to  uphold  the  claims  of 
the  Chinese  Government,  while  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  Chinese  Government,  the 
Taotai,  Sam  Qua,  from  his  safe  retreat  in 
the  Kecchong  hong,  contented  himself  with 
issuing  exhortative  notices  to  his  countrymen 
to  do  right  in  the  matter  of  paying  customs 
dues,  while,  with  reference  to  the  foreigners, 
he  was  only  tix)  thankful  to  them  for  what- 
ever small  quotjis  of  these  dues  they  were 
content   to   pay   him" 

In  the  face  of  the  division  of  consular 
opinion  the  British  and  American  Consuls 
found  it  impossible  to  maintain  the  position 
they  had  taken  up.  Several  ships,  American 
and  British,  got  away  without  the  payment 
of  any  duties,  and  in  1854  the  principle  of 
clearance  without  payment  of  duties  had 
been  tacitly  accepted.  The  Chinese  Govern- 
ment, however,  was  naturally  not  content  to 
allow  a  lucrative  source  of  revenue  to  be 
diverted  from  it  without  a  struggle,  and  about 
the  middle  of  1854  consular  intervention  was 
invoked  to  secure  a  restoration  of  Chinese 
rights  in  the  matter  of  the  levy  of  customs. 
A  conference  Ux)'*  place  at  which  the  Taoutai. 
Sam  Qua.  with  the  Consuls  of  Great  Britain. 
America,  and  France  assisted,  and  as  the 
outcome  of  it,  it  was  decided  to  introduce  an 
entirely  new  system.  Under  the  arrangement 
the  duty  of  collecting  the  customs  dues  was 
vested  in  three  oflicers  nominated  by  the 
three  Consuls  pjirticipating  in  the  conference. 
The  Chinese  officials  were  left  to  discharge 
the  ordinary  duties  of  supervision.  It  was 
a  tentative  measure  devised  to  meet  a  sudden 
emergency  which  had  arisen,  but  the  system 
worked  so  satisfactorily  that  it  ultimately 
broadened  out  into  a  great  organisation, 
which  under  a  name  to  become  familiar 
throughout  the  civilised  world — the  Chinese 
Maritime  Customs — extended  its  operations  to 
the  whole  of  the  Treaty  ports. 

Another  important  Shanghai  institution 
which  was  emerging  from  the  chrysalis 
stage  at  this  period  was  the  Municipal  Council. 
As  originally  instituted  the  bfxly  was  known 
as  the  0>mmittee  of  Roads  and  Jetties.  Its 
income  was  as  modest  as  its  designation,  for 
altogether  the  municipal  collections  in  1852 
did  not  amount  to  more  than  $5,000.  Of  this 
sum  $2,400  came  from  wharfage  dues,  and 
the  balance  from  a  tax  of  }  per  cent,  on  land 
and  I  per  cent,  on  houses.  The  expenditure 
for  the  year  was  $8,000,  that  amount  incUuling 
the  repayment  of  a  k)an  of  $2,000  which  had 
been  borrowed  at  10  per  cent.  But  the 
exigencies   of    the    situation    created    by    the 


Taeping  Rebellion  iicct-ssitatcd  some  more 
comprehensive  ariangement,  and  about  the 
middle  of  1854  there  were  frequent  con- 
sultations between  the  Taoutai,  Sam  Qua, 
and  Messrs.  Alcock,  the  British  Consul, 
K.  C.  Murphy,  the  United  States  Consul, 
and  M,  B.  Edau,  the  French  Consul  with 
a  view  to  devising  a  new  system  of 
l<K-al  control.  The  upshot  of  the  delibera- 
tions was  the  issue  on  July  5,  1854,  of  a 
notification  to  the  foreign  community  to  the 
effect  that  a  new  code  of  municipal  and 
land  regulations  had  been  drawn  up,  and 
would  henceforth  govern  the  residence  of 
foreigners  in  the  three  concessions.  Tlie 
regulations  thus  promulgated  with  some  sub- 
sequent changes  and  additions  are  practically 
the  constitution  under  which  the  settlement 
is  governed.  Under  tile  rules  the  local 
authority  designated  for  the  first  time  a 
Municipal  Council  was  to  consist  of  a  chair- 
man and  six  members  elected  by  the  land- 
renters  instead  of   the  "  three  upright  British 


SIR   RUTHERFORD    ALCOCK,    K.C.B. 

merchants  appointed  by  the  British  Consul," 
of  whom  the  first  early  Committee  of  Roads 
and  Jetties  consisted.  Another  important 
change  was  the  substitution  for  the  old 
methods  of  raising  revenue  of  a  regular 
assessment  based  on  the  value  of  property 
and  area  of  land,  on  residences  and  wharfage 
within  the  settlement.  The  new  system  was 
found  to  work  most  satisfactorily.  Hence- 
forward there  was  no  looking  back  in  matters 
municipal  in  Shanghai.  In  1863  the  adminis- 
tration lost  its  exclusively  British  character  by 
the  interests  of  the  British  concession  being 
merged  with  those  xif  the  American  settlement 
at  Hongkew  on  the  north  of  the  Soothow 
Creek.  The  French,  who,  as  has  been  stated, 
occupied  a  strip  of  territory  adjacent  to  tlie 
native  city,  elected  to  maintain  their  separate 
jurisdiction,  and  they  have  done  so  to  this 
day,  with  the  result  that  there  is  a  marked 
distinction  between  the  two  sections  of  what 
is  in  reality  one  settlement. 


W'liile  Shanghai  was  preparing  to  avail 
itself  of  the  openings  offered  by  tlie  Treaty 
of  Peking,  the  developments  of  the  Tae- 
ping Rebellion  were  once  more  furnishing 
her  citizens  with  excitement  of  a  varied  kind. 
The  rebels,  encouraged  by  the  weakness  of 
the  imperial  authority,  had  during  the  years 
from  1857  to  i860  enormously  extended  their 
sphere  of  intluence.  They  conliniRcl  in 
possession  of  Nanking  in  spite  of  all  efforts 
to  dislodge  them,  and  by  the  end  of  the  last 
named  year  their  authority  was  established 
almost  to  the  sea.  Such  was  the  gravity 
of  the  situation  that,  prior  to  the  advance 
on  Peking,  the  Governor-General  of  the 
province  of  the  Two  Kiang  actually 
invoked  the  aid  of  the  British  and  French 
in  support  of  the  imperial  power.  The 
French  representative  was  willing  to 
render  the  assistance,  and  offered  fifteen 
hundred  troops  if  the  British  would  send 
five  hundred  ;  but  Mr.  Bruce  prudently  de- 
clined to  allow  the  British  authority  to  be 
mixed  up  with  the  internal  troubles  of  the 
Chinese  Empire.  A  proclamation,  however, 
was  issued  on  May  26,  i860,  in  the  name 
of  all  the  foreign  representatives,  intimating 
that  Slianghai  would  not  a  second  time  be 
allowed  to  fall  into  rebel  liands. 

Tliough  official  foreign  aid  was  denied  the 
Chinese  authorities,  they  were  not  to  be  . 
without  European  assistance  in  their  efforts 
to  suppress  the  rebellion.  A  movement  set 
on  foot  by  patriotic  Chinese  merchants,  and 
encouiaged  and  supported  by  European  firms, 
resulted  in  the  getting  out  at  Shanghai  of  a 
foreign  contingent  for  service  in  the  disturbed 
area.  Ward,  an  American  subject,  was  the 
leader  of  the  organisation,  and  he  had  as  his 
chief  lieutenant  and  quartermaster  a  fellow 
countryman  named  Burgevine.  Ward  was  a 
swashbuckler  of  a  pronounced  type — unscru- 
pulous, rapacious,  and  cruel.  He  had  been 
a  mate  on  an  American  sailing  vessel 
trading  lo  China,  and  had  served  on  a 
llotilla  fitted  out  some  time  previously  by 
the  Taoutai  to  opeiate  against  the  rebels  on 
the  Yangtse.  In  that  capacity  he  had 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  wealthy  Chinese 
mercliants,  and  his  selection  to  command 
the  foreign  legion  was  the  result.  A  pretty 
free  hand  was  given  to  him  in  the  matter  of 
the  engagement  of  recruits.  Pay  at  the  rate 
of  ^'20  per  month  was  offered,  and  in  addition 
the  prospect  was  held  out  of  a  share  of  loot. 
About  one  hundred  Europeans  in  all  were 
collected,  together  with  about  double  that 
number  of  Manila  men.  The  Europeans 
were  a  nondescript  lot  of  adventurers  drawn 
from  the  shipping  and  the  local  stores  and 
offices.  They  were  bound  by  the  loosest  ties 
of  discipline  and  were  ignorant  in  many  cases 
of  the  rudiments  of  military  science.  The 
initial  operation  of  the  contingent  was  an 
attack  on  Sunkiang,  a  large  walled  town  about 
20  miles  south-west  of  Shanghai.  It  was  for 
various  reasons  a  conspicuous  failure.  Ward, 
however,  was  not  to  be  discouiaged  by  a 
single  rebuff.  Collecting  reinforcements,  he 
renewed  the  attack  with  a  successful  result. 
The  town  through  his  exertions  was  given 
over  once  more  to  the  possession  of  the 
imperial  forces.  The  achievement  brought 
him  passing  fame  and,  what  was  more  to  his 
purpose,  a  considerable  accession  of  Chinese 
confidence  and  support.  Ward  was  soon 
invited  to  try  his  skill  in  another  direction. 
The  new  task  allotted  to  him  was  the  capture 
of  Tsingpu,  a  walled  town  of  some  little  im- 
portance. Having  recruited  a  fresh  body  of 
men,  including  25  Europeans  and  280  Manila 
men.  Ward  marched  out  of  his  camp  at  Sun- 
kiang. On  arrival  outside  Tsingpu  he  speedily 
found  that  he  cou!d  accomplish  little,  owing  to 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       87 


the  lack  of  suitable  guns.  He  had  only  two 
6-pounclers  with  him  and  these  were  quite 
powerless  against  the  Taeping  position,  which 
was  one  of  considerable  strength,  and  de- 
fended, moreover,  by  the  rebels  under  the 
direction  of  an  Englishman  named  Savage. 
Nevertheless,  the  attack  was  delivered  on 
the  night  of  August  2,  i860.  It  ended  in  a 
disastrous  repulse,  in  whicli  all  the  Europeans 
save  six  were  either  killed  or  wounded. 
Ward,  though  himself  wounded  in  the  jaw, 
elected  to  make  another  attempt  to  win  the 
great  reward  which  was  offered  for  the  cap- 
ture of  the  position.  Proceeding  to  Shanghai, 
he  enlisted  a  fjesh  force  of  150  Europeans, 
purchased  two  l8-pounder  guns  and  am- 
munition, and  replenished  his  stores.  He 
then  returned  to  Tsingpu  and  commenced 
a  vigorous  bombardment  of  the  town.  For- 
tune favoured  him  even  less  on  this  occa-sion 
than  it  did  previously.  After  the  attack  had 
proceeded  some  days  Ward's  force  was  sur- 
prised by  a  body  of  the  rebels  under  Chang 
Wang,  a  famous  leader,  and  put  to  utter  rout. 
The  contingent  lost  its  guns  and  most  of  its 
stores,  and  had  tlie  enemy  been  entciprising 
the  entire  body  wt>uld  have  been  annihilated. 
Encouraged  by  the  success,  Chang  Wang 
made  an  effort  to  recapture  Sunkiang,  and, 
being  foiled  in  the  attempt,  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  city  of  Shanghai.  The  Allies, 
acting  up  to  their  proclamation,  took  measure 
to  assist  the  Chinese  imperial  authorities  in 
their  defence.  The  rebels,  therefore,  had  a 
very  warm  reception  when  they  appeared 
outside  the  city.  They  persevered,  however, 
in  their  enterprise,  returning  again  and  again 
to  the  attack.  Eventually,  when  the  best 
part  of  a  week  had  elapsed,  Chang  Wang 
drew  off  his  forces,  sending  previously  a 
valiant  message  in  which  he  blamed  the 
French  for  his  discomfilure,  and  said  that 
but  for  the  foreigners  he  would  have  been 
triumphant. 

As  a  result  of  the  attack  on  Shanghai  the 
British  authorities  deemed  it  expedient  to 
have  a  clear  understanding  with  the  Taepings 
as  to  the  precise  limits  of  their  operations. 
For  this  purpose  the  British  Naval  Com- 
mander, Admiral  Sir  James  Hope,  as 
previously  nariated,  proceeded  to  Nanking 
and  opened  up  connnunications  with  Tien 
Wang,  the  rebel  chief.  The  outcome  of  the 
negotiations  was  an  arrangement  under 
which  the  Taepings  pledged  themselves  not 
to  make  any  attack  on  Shanghai  in  the  next 
twelve  months,  and  that  the  Taeping  forces 
should  not  advance  to  any  point  within  a 
radius  of  20  miles  of  that  city.  A  further 
development  of  the  situation  at  this  period 
was  the  arrest,  in  May,  1 861,  of  Ward  in 
Shanghai,  as  a  disturber  of  the  public  peace. 
Ward  subsequently  obtained  his  release  by 
declaring  himself  a  Chinese  subject,  but  his 
career  at  Shanghai  was  nearing  its  close. 
His  fate  as  a  commander  of  European 
auxiliaries  and  that  of  the  force  which  he 
had  got  together  were  sealed  by  another 
disastrous  failuie  before  Tsingpu,  in  which 
out  of  80  men  23  were  either  killed  or 
wounded.  Ward  and  Burgevine,  after  a 
temporary  period  of  inaction  at  Shanghai, 
turned  their  attention  to  the  drilling 
of  Chinese  after  the  European  method. 
Their  operations  were  destined  to  bear  note- 
worthy fruit,  for  out  of  the  little  band  of 
men  they  trained  developed  the  Ever  Victor- 
ious Army,  which  was  to  win  back  for  the 
Chinese  Government  the  authority  which 
had  so  narrowly  missed  slipping  altogether 
from  their  hands. 

In  the  closing  months  of  1861  the  Taepings 
achieved  some  conspicuous  successes  against 
the   imperial    forces.     The  important  cities  of 


Ningpo  and  Hangchow  fell  into  their  hands, 
and  there  were  minor  triumphs  which  greatly 
enhanced  their  prestige  and  brought  thou- 
sands of  recruits  to  their  standards.  The 
occupation  of  the  first  named  place  without 
British  opposition  seems  to  have  encouraged 
the  belief  at  the  rebel  headquarters  that 
Shanghai  might  now  be  taken  in  spite  of  the 
arrangement  come  to  between  Admiral  Hope 
and  Tien  Wang.  The  victorious  Taeping 
forces  appeared  outside  the  city  and  settle- 
ment at  the  end  of  the  second  week  in 
January,  1862.  Before  them  were  driven 
great  nuinbers  of  Cliinese  who  sought  refuge  in 
(light  from  the  horrors  which  almost  invariably 
marked  the  onward  rebel  march.  Thousands 
of  these  unfortunates  invaded  the  foreign 
settlement  in  the  expectation  of  finding  an 
asylum  there  from  the  dire  woes  which 
menaced  them  across  the  border.  The  best 
that  was  possible  was  done  for  them,  but 
there  was  much  inevitable  suffering,  an  ex- 
ceptionally severe  winter  adding  to  the 
horrors  of  the  situation.  Meanwhile  the 
flagrant    infraction     of     the     Yangtse     under- 


SIB    JAMES    HOPE,    Q.C.B. 

(From  a  print  in  the  British  Mnseum.) 

standing  by  the  rebels  was  being  met  by  the 
Britisli  autliorities  in  the  only  possible  way — 
by  retaliating.  The  military  force  at  Shan- 
ghai at  the  time — two  native  regiments  and 
some  artillery — was  too  weak  to  allow  at  the 
outset  of  more  than  defensive  measures,  and 
encouraged  by  the  inactivity  the  rebels 
showed  great  boldness,  plundering  and  burn- 
ing on  the  outskirts  of  the  settlement,  and  at 
one  time  even  threatening  Woosung,  the 
port  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  The  French 
made  a  successful  onslaught  on  a  body  of 
rebels  which  appeared  outside  their  con- 
cession, and  on  the  arrival  of  Sir  John  Michel 
with  a  small  body  of  English  troops  as  a 
reinforcement  of  the  garrison,  a  regular  plan 
of  campaign  was  instituted  against  them  by 
the  British  and  the  French.  The  operations 
commenced  on  February  21st.  when  a  mixed 
British  and  French  force,  about  500  strong, 
with  600  of  Ward's  newly  disciplined 
troops,  marched  out  under  the  command 
of  Admiral  Hope  to  the  village  of  Kachiaou, 
where  the  Taepings  had  a  strong  position. 
On  coming  into  contact  with  the  enemy 
there    was    some  sharp  fighting,    but    nothing 


could  withstand  the  ardour  of  the  attacking 
force,  who,  with  Ward's  men  leading, 
carried  the  village  in  gallant  style.  The 
Taepings,  undismayed  by  this  reverse,  gave  a 
considerable  amount  of  trouble  to  Admiral 
Hope,  and  even  at  one  time  compelled  him 
to  retire.  But  on  his  receiving  a  substantial 
reinforcement  of  450  Europeans  with  700  of 
Ward's  Chinese  and  7  howitzers,  he  was  able 
to  very  effectively  continue  his  little  campaign. 
Tseedong,  another  strong  position  of  the 
rebels,  was  attacked,  and  while  the  British 
sailors  operated  in  front  Ward's  men  made  a 
detour  and  came  upon  their  rear.  Between 
the  two  fires  the  rebels  suffered  terribly,  more 
than  seven  hundred  being  killed.  The 
steadiness  shown  by  Ward's  disciplined  levies 
on  the  two  occasions  they  were  under  fire, 
led  the  British  authorities  to  take  a  very 
favourable  view  of  their  capacity  and  useful- 
ness and  to  give  support  both  diplomatic  and 
practical  to  measures  for  their  increase.  For 
some  weeks  following  the  Tseedong  affair, 
there  was,  however,  a  lull  in  the  operations. 
It  was  not,  in  fact,  until  the  end  of  March, 
when  General  Staveley  arrived  from  Tientsin 
with  the  31st  and  67th  British  regiments  that 
any  further  serious  effort  was  made  to  deal 
with  the  rebels.  Then  was  commenced  the 
task  of  clearing  the  country  for  30  miles 
around  Shanghai  in  accordance  with  the 
terms  of  the  agreement.  In  pursuance  of 
this  plan  the  village  of  Wongkadsa,  about 
12  miles  west  of  Shanghai  was  captured, 
but  on  an  attempt  being  made  by  Ward's 
men  to  carry  a  stockade  to  which  the  rebels 
had  retired,  the  attacking  party  was  repulsed 
and  Admiral  Hope,  who  had  accompanied  it, 
was  wounded.  The  next  day  this  failure  was 
wiped  out  and  the  enemy  were  subsequently 
driven  out  of  Tsipoo.  Next,  attention  was 
tiu'ued  to  Kahding,  a  strong  walled  city, 
which  was  captured  with  little  loss.  A 
desperate  attempt  to  fire  Shanghai,  happily 
frustrated,  caused  a  brief  interruption  in  the 
operations,  but  eany  in  May  the  train  was 
ready  laid  for  an  important  series  of  move- 
ments, in  which  a  powerful  body  consisting 
of  1.429  British  troops  and  20  guns  and 
mortars,  380  men  and  5  guns.  Naval  Brigade, 
and  800  French  troops  with  10  guns  took 
part.  The  allied  force  proceeded  first  to 
Tsingpu,  the  journey  being  made  from 
Sunkiang  by  boat  owing  to  transport  difii- 
culties.  A  bombardment  with  the  powerful 
guns  carried  with  the  force  soon  paved  the 
way  for  an  assault  which  was  completely 
successful,  though  the  Taepings  fought  well. 
Afterwards  Nanjao  was  captured  and  a 
brilliant  little  series  of  movements  was  closed 
with  an  engagement  at  Cholin  which  ter- 
minated in  the  complete  discomfiture  of  the 
rebels.  The  good  effects  of  this  campaign 
was  unfortunately  almost  completely  wiped 
out  by  a  disaster  which  overtook  an  im- 
perialist force  about  the  middle  of  May  at 
Taitsau,  to  the  north-west  of  Shanghai.  Such 
was  the  impression  made  that  General 
Staveley  deemed  it  expedient  to  withdraw  his 
forces  to  Shanghai,  Kahding  being  given 
back  to  the  rebels.  As  a  set  off  against  this 
serious  state  of  affairs  the  imperialists  had  to 
their  account  the  recapture  of  Ningpo  which 
had  about  the  same  period  fallen  into  their 
hands  after  a  desperate  conflict.  Chung 
Wang  now  threatened  both  Tsingpu  and 
Sunkiang,  and  as  there  was  nothing  to  be 
gained  in  the  circumstances  in  holding  the 
former  place,  it  was  evacuated.  Ward  after 
this  devoted  himself  energetically  to  the 
training  and  equipping  of  a  force  to  recover 
the  lost  ground.  He  soon  had  a  body  of  five 
thousand  men  under  his  command,  and  with 
these     larried     the     war     into    the     enemy's 


88      TAVENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


LtHiiitry.  Alter  an  unsucvesslul  attempt 
Tsingpu  was  ret;iken.  and  protxibly  this  would 
have  been  the  starting  (xiint  of  a  new  career 
for  Ward  had  he  not  been  mortally  wounded 
in  an  attack  on  Tseki.  near  Ninjjpo,  whither 
he  had  pnxx-eded  at  the  call  of  the  Govern- 
n»ent.  On  a  refusal  of  the  post  by  Colonel 
Forrester.  Ward's  chief  lieutenant,  the  com- 
niand  of  the  Ever  Victorious  Army  devolved 
upon  Burgevine,  who  was  little  ad;»pted  either 
by  temperament  or  capacity  for  so  responsible 
an  office.  Li  Hung  Chang,  to  be  famous  in 
later  years  as  one  of  China's  greatest  states- 
men, had  about  this  time  sucx"eeded  to  the 
chief  control  on  the  Chinese  Government  side 
and  he  seems  very  early  to  have  formed  a 
very  unfavourable  impression  of  the  new 
commander.  Burgevine.  indeed,  was  gener- 
ally distrusted  by  the  leading  Chinese  officials 
and  merchants.  They  disliked  his  dictatorial 
ways,  and  they  doubted  his  loyalty  to  the 
cause  which  they  had  at  heart.  Furthermore. 
what  little  they  knew  of  his  c-apacity  for 
militiry  leadership  did  not  impress  them.  In 
the  circumstances  it  is  not  surprising  that 
dilficullies  should  soon  have  arisen  between 
the  American  and  the  Mandarins.  The  latter 
were  so  seriously  dissatisfied  with  Burgevine 
that  they  went  the  length  of  asking  General 
Staveley  to  remove  him  from  the  command 
and  supply  his  place  with  an  English  officer. 
The  British  commander  declined  to  interfere 
at  the  moment,  but  when  in  the  first  week 
of  January.  i!<63.  Burgcvine's  force  openly 
mutinied,  and  Burgevine  himself  perpetrated 
a  grave  outrage  by  using  personal  violence 
to  Takee,  a  leading  Shanghai  merchant,  who 
was  the  life  and  soul  of  the  patriotic  move- 
ment, the  summary  dismissal  of  the  adven- 
turer by  the  Chinese  Government  was 
acquiesced  in.  The  direct  result  of  this 
disciplinary  action  was  to  bring  into  the  scene 
of  perhaps  his  greatest  triumphs  the  hero  of 
Khartoum — Charles  Gordon — then  a  practically 
unknown  officer  of  Engineers.  Gordon  did 
not  actually  take  up  the  command  until  March 
24th.  as  the  Home  Governments  appro\al 
to  his  nomination  by  General  Staveley  had 
to  be  received,  and.  moreover,  he  wished  to 
complete  the  survey  of  the  country  around 
Shanghai  upon  which  he  was  then  engaged 
before  assuming  active  military  work.  But  he 
interested  hnnsclf  informally  in  the  duties 
pertaining  to  his  new  post  and  may  be  said 
practically  to  have  commenced  his  connection 


with  the  force  on  Burgevine's  disniiss;il. 
The  story  of  his  skilful  organisation  and 
direction  of  the  Chinese  forces,  of  his 
indomitable  courage  and  perseverance  in 
combating  the  rebel  forces,  and  finally,  the 
complete  reassertion  of  Chinese  imperial 
authority,  through  the  exertions  of  the  Ever 
Victorious  Army  under  his  leadership,  is  too 
familiar  to  need  recapitulation  here. 

The  crisis  in  Shanghai's  life  came,  as  we 
have  stated  at  the  couunencement  of  the 
chapter,  after  the  conclusion  of  the  Treaty 
of  Peking.  One  of  the  earliest  symptoms 
of  it  was  an  inflation  of  land  values  due  to 
the  belief  that  the  settlement  was  bound 
to  undergo  enormous  expansion.  The  theory 
was  sound  enough,  but,  as  often  happens  in 
these  cases,  an  altogether  exaggerated  con- 
ception of  the  possibilities  of  the  situation 
was  formed.  The  period  of  speculation  with 
its  ups  and  downs  and  its  various  manifesta- 
tions is  vividly  described  by  the  writer  already 
quoted.  "  The  site  of  the  old  racecourse  was 
put  up  and  sold  at  auction  at  fabulous  prices, 
and  the  cricket  ground  was  treated  in  a 
similar  manner,  a  very  small  proportion  of 
money  sufficing  to  supply  their  places  at 
a  short  distance  beyond,  and  the  balance 
of  the  funds  being  reserved  for  purposes  of 
public  improvement  or  recreation.  Land  had 
become  the  great  subject  for  speculation,  and 
was  being  bought  up  in  every  conceivable 
directioii  with  the  greatest  avidity.  Plots 
which  a  few  months  previously  had  been 
purchased  for  garden  purposes  at  tifty  taels 
per  mow,  equal  to  about  £^100  sterling  per 
acre,  now  realised  at  least  a  thousand  taels 
per  mow  and  even  more,  and  for  a  long  time 
this  remained  the  standard  value  of  the  land. 
For  miles  in  the  country  upon  purely  Chinese 
territory,  and  for  miles  down  the  river  upon 
both  its  banks,  did  speculators  buy  up  every 
available  inch  of  ground  at  daily  increasing 
prices  in  the  most  visionary  manner.  For- 
tunes upon  fortunes  were  made  upon  its 
re-sale  to  still  more  reckless  gamblers,  but 
only  to  be  re- invested  in  the  same  unsoimd 
manner  and  eventually  to  culminate  in  loss. 
But  it  was  not  alone  in  land  that  speculation 
ran  wild.  Chinese  houses  sprung  up  in 
every  direction,  and  Shanghai  in  a  couple  of 
years  from  the  modest  '  model  settlement ' 
had  become  a  very  London." 

•■  Joint  stock  companies  now  commenced 
to     be     started,    and     shares     were     eagerly 


applied  for.  The  number  of  banks  wliicli 
established  agencies  was  perfectly  fabulous. 
The  shores  of  the  river  for  miles  down  the 
stream  were  covered  with  newly-erected 
wharves  and  as  many  as  300  foreign  vessels 
were  in  the  harbour  at  one  time.  New 
local  improvements  were  commenced, 
regardless  of  expense.  The  New  Club,  a 
magnilicent  building,  and  conducted  on 
the  most  extravagant  scale,  was  hurried  on. 
The  new  racecourse  and  the  cricket  gi'ound 
were  completed  ;  roads  were  constructed  for 
miles  out  into  the  country,  and  villa  resi- 
dences and  model  farms  began  to  abt>und. 
The  municipal  institutions  were  constructed 
on  a  scale  of  extravagance  hitherto  un- 
known ;  and  professional  jockeys  and 
trainers,  sparring  matches,  badger  baiting 
and  rat  pits  became  the  fancy.  Shanghai 
had   gone   perfectly   mad." 

At  this  time  the  population  of  Shanghai 
was  estimated  at  420.000.  of  whom  6,000 
were  foreigners.  It  was,  as  far  as  the 
foreign  element  was  concerned,  a  mixed 
community,  but  was  full  of  enterprise  and 
virility.  Its  spirit  was  manifested  in  a 
rather  striking  way  when  the  Chinese 
Government,  having  disposed  of  the  Taeping 
rebels,  thought  it  might  recover  some  of  its 
losses  by  imposing  a  likiii,  or  war  tax, 
upon  those  of  its  subjects  who  resided  in  the 
settlement.  To  this  proposition  the  Muni- 
cipal Council  offered  emphatic  opposition. 
It  was  pointed  out  that,  as  the  responsibility 
of  protecting  such  an  enormous  concourse  of 
refugees  fell  upon  the  foreign  municipalities 
and  their  British  and  foreign  protectois,  it 
was  only  right  th.tt  the  Chinese  inside  should 
bear  their  proportion  of  the  regular  expenses. 
The  argument  had  no  effect  on  the  Chinese 
oflicialdom.  and  as  their  claim  was  backed 
by  the  British  Minister,  the  tax  had  to  be 
allowed.  Feeling  on  the  subject  ran  very 
high  in  the  foreign  community  and  a  scheme 
was  seriously  mooted,  by  an  influential  sec- 
tion, for  repudiating  all  Chinese  rights  and 
constituting  the  settlement  a  free  city,  some- 
what on  the  lines  of  the  Hanse  towns.  The 
idea,  of  course,  was  absurdly  visionary,  and 
it  was  laughed  out  of  existence  almost  as 
soon  as  it  was  mooted.  But  the  fact  that 
it  was  suggested  indicates  the  extent  to 
which  even  business  men  had  been  carried 
off  their  feet  by  the  wave  of  speculation 
which   was   sweeping   over   the  port. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

Last  Days  of  the  Emperor  Hienfung— Com/i  d'e'tat  at  Peking— The  New  Regime— The  Young  Emperor  Tungche 

assumes   the    Reins   of    Government— Reception   of    Ministers   at    Peking— Death    of    Tungche   and  Accession  of 

Tsai  Tien — Murder  of  Mr.  Margery — The  Chefoo  Convention. 


As  immediate  outcome  of  the  Treaty  of  Peking 
was  the  establishment  in  the  Chinese  capital 
of  a  body  known  as  the  Tsung-li-yamen,  to 
deal  with  the  foreign  affairs  of  the  empire. 
Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  no  provision 
in  the  Chinese  Governmental  system  for  con- 
ducting intercourse  with  foreign  nations,  and 
the  absence  of  machinery  had  tended  more 
than  anyihing  else  to  create  difficulties.  To 
a  very  large  extent,  therefore,  the  change 
was  an  advantageous  one.  But  it  was  very 
far  from  being  a  sign  of  grace  on  the 
part  of    the  imperial   authorities.      The   Em- 


peror himself  showed  at  this  time,  indeed, 
a  marked  disposition  to  emphasise  his  dis- 
satisfaction with  the  new  order.  He  retired 
to  Gehol  and  surrounded  himself  there  with 
the  most  bigoted  and  fanatical  Mandarins, 
chief  amongst  whom  was  Tsai,  the  hero  of 
the  disgraceful  episode  <>(  Tungchow  decribed 
in  the  previous  chapter.  It  was  believed  at 
the  time  that  the  main  purpose  of  his  with- 
drawal was  to  avoid  lending  by  his  presence 
any  countenance  to  the  establishment  of  the 
diplomatic  system  at  Peking.  Whether  that 
was  the  case  or  not  when  Mr.  Bruce  took  up 


his  residence  at  the  Chinese  capital  towards 
the  end  of  March,  1864,  he  had  to  be  content 
with  such  maimed  rites  as  could  be  extended 
to  him  by  Prince  Kung,  the  enlightened 
brother  of  the  p;niperor,  upon  whom  the 
burden  of  arranging  matters  with  the  Allies 
had  fallen.  The  Emperor's  absence  was  the 
cause  of  much  discontent  amongst  the 
Pekingese,  and  it  was  condenmed  even  by 
members  of  the  imperial  family,  who  suffered 
heavily  in  pocket  owing  to  the  cessation  of 
their  allowances  during  the  period  that  the 
court    was    at    Gehol.      It    is    probable    that 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


89 


trouble  would  have  arisen  out  of  tlie  imperial 
action  had  not  matters  been  brought  to  a 
sudden  issue  by  the  serious  illness  and  sub- 
sequent death  of  the  Emperor.  This  event, 
which  took  place  on  August  22,  1864,  was 
followed  by  the  circulation  of  a  proclamation 
amiouncing  the  accession  of  Hienfung's  son, 
a  child  of  six  years  of  age,  and  of  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  Board  of  Regency  consisting  of 
eight  members,  with  Prince  Tsai  at  their  head, 
to  control  matters  during  his  minority.  Prince 
Kung  and  his  associates  at  Peking  were  left 
entirely  out  in  the  cold  in  the  arrangements 
for  the  succession,  and  it  soon  became  obvious 
that  they  did  not  intend  to  sit  down  quietly 
under  the  exclusion.  The  day  following  the 
state  entry  of  the  young  Emperor  into  Peking 
(the  2nd  of  November),  Prince  Kung  appeared 
at  the  palace  with  an  imperial  edict,  which 
he  had  secured  from  the  Empress  Dowager, 
ordering  the  dismissal  of  the  Council  of 
Regency.  Prince  Tsai  and  his  colleagues 
made  an  attempt  to  obtain  the  reversal  of  the 
decree,  but  the  only  effect  of  their  action 
was  to  bring  about  their  arrest  and  the  issue 
of  a  second  decree  directing  their  degradation 
from  their  official  and  hereditary  rank 
and  their  punishment  for  "  outrageous  con- 
duct." Later  on  the  entire  party  were 
brought  to  trial  before  Prince  Kung,  with 
the  result  that  all  were  condemned  to 
death.  One  regarded  as  the  leader  was 
publicly  executed,  but  the  others  were,  as  a 
special  favour,  given  a  silken  cord  with  which 
to  put  an  end  to  their  existence.  Under  the 
new  regime  the  power  was  vested  in  the 
Empress  Dowager  and  the  Emperor's  mother, 
and  Prince  Kung  occupied  the  supreme 
ministerial  positions  with  vast  powers  of  con- 
trol. Prince  Kung  directed  affairs  ably  and 
skilfully,  showing  an  enlightened  regard  for 
foreign  opinion  which  tended  to  smooth  the 
paths  of  diplomacy.  Apparently  he  soared  too 
high,  for  in  April,  1865,  to  the  surprise  and 
even  consternation  of  the  British  Minister  and 
his  diplomatic  colleagues,  an  edict  appeared  in 
the  name  of  the  two  Empresses  degrading  him 
for  having  grown  arrogant  and  assumed  privi- 
leges to  which  he  had  no  right.  It  was  feared 
that  the  incident  might  seriously  prejudice 
foreign  interests,  but  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  European  community  Prince  Kung  was, 
after  the  lapse  of  five  weeks,  restored  to 
favour,  though  he  was  no  longer  allowed  to 
hold  the  post  of  President  of  the  Council. 
Some  little  time  after  this  incident  Sir 
Frederick  Bruce's  term  of  office  as  minister 
at  Peking  expired.  His  successor  was  Sir 
Rutherford  Alcock,  the  erstwhile  consul  at 
Shanghai,  whose  services  prior  to  his  going  to 
Peking  had  been  utilised  as  minister  to  Japan. 
Sir  Rutherford  Alcock  in  his  turn  was  suc- 
ceeded at  Yeddo  by  Sir  Harry  Parkes,  another 
eminent  Anglo-Chinese  official  who  figures 
conspicuously  in  our  narrative. 

During  the  entire  period  of  Mr.  Bruce's 
service  at  Peking  the  relations  between  the 
British  and  the  Chinese  were  most  cordial, 
largely  owing  to  the  admirable  tact  of  the 
minister  on  the  one  side  and  the  broad- 
mindedness  of  the  chief  minister  on  the 
other.  One  awkward  question,  however, 
arose  which  might  have  been  productive  of 
considerable  danger  to  the  peace  if  it  had 
not  been  properly  handled.  Mr.  Horatio 
N.  Lay,  who  had  some  time  before  been 
appointed  by  the  Chinese  Government  to 
assist  in  the  collection  of  customs  in  the 
Shanghai  district,  was  in  1862  commissioned, 
in  conjunction  with  Captain  Sherard  Osborn, 
to  go  to  Europe  to  purchase  a  fleet  of  gun- 
boats of  small  draught  for  the  suppression  of 
piracy  on  the  Chinese  coasts  and  the  policing 
of   the   shallow    estuaries   and   creeks    there- 


abouts. The  vessels — seven  gunboats  and  one 
storeship — were  purchased  and  taken  out  by 
Captain  Osborn.  Meanwhile,  Mr.  Lay  pro- 
ceeded direct  to  Peking  to  complete  the 
arrangements  for  the  disposal  of  the  embryo 
Chinese  fleet.  He  was  greatly  concerned  to 
find  that  Sir  Frederick  Bruce  would  have 
nothing  whatever  to  do  with  his  enterprise 
without  specific  instructions  from  home  ; 
while,  what  was  more  disconcerting,  Prince 
Kung  raised  difficulties  as  to  the  arrange- 
ments Mr.  Lay  proposed  for  the  working  of 
the  new  system.  The  points  of  difference 
developed  between  the  Minister  and  Mr.  Lay 
had  reference  to  the  control  of  the  squadron. 
The  former,  perhaps  not  unnaturally,  con- 
sidered that  the  power  should  be  vested  in 
the  Government  in  the  ordinary  way  ;  but 
Mr.  Lay  claimed  that  he  should  be  directly 
responsible  under  the  Emperor  for  the 
administration  and  movements  of  the  fleet. 
He  flatly  declined  to  entertain  a  proposal 
that  a  Chinese  official  should  be  appointed  as 
joint     commander,     and     he     as     resolutely 


of  bad  faith,  as  the  conditions  they  were 
called  upon  to  ratify  are  not  such  as  the 
authority  given  to  Mr.  Lay  entitled  him  to 
assent  to  in  their  name.  Mr.  Lay  mistook 
his  position  and  overrated  his  influence 
when  he  resolved  on  starting  this  flotilla, 
without  having  previously  ascertained  that 
the  terms  agreed  upon  with  Captain  Osborn 
would  be  accepted."  Mr.  Lay  retired  with  a 
handsome  monetary  solatium,  and  in  his 
place  there  succeeded  to  the  control  of  the 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  Mr.  (now  Sir) 
Robert  Hart,  the  able  official  whose  long 
and  honourable  service  in  China  is,  as 
these  pages  are  passing  through  the  press, 
receiving  such  widespread  and  honourable 
recognition  in  Europe.  Another  well-known 
Anglo-Chinese  who  came  to  the  front  about 
this  time  was  Sir  Halliday  Macartney,  a 
gentleman  who  in  later  life  played  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  domain  of  Chinese 
diplomacy  in  Europe,  as  the  English 
Secretary  to  the  Chinese  Embassy  in  London. 
Macartney   went   out   to    China   in    the    first 


PA'VriLION    AND    GARDEN    OF    A   MANDARIN,    NEAR    PEKING. 
(From  Alloni  &  Wright's  "  China.") 


rejected  a  suggestion  that  he  should  act 
under  the  orders  of  the  provincial  authorities. 
In  the  circumstances  it  is  not  altogether 
surprising  that  Prince  Kung  should  have 
manifested  an  indisposition  to  take  over  the 
fleet.  The  ships  remained  idly  at  anchor  all 
through  the  period  during  which  they  would 
have  been  useful  against  the  Taepings,  and 
when  the  crisis  had  passed  away  the  Chinese 
Government  considered  they  could  do  without 
them.  Finally,  in  November,  1863,  Mr.  Lay 
was  dismissed  from  the  Chinese  Government 
service,  and  orders  were  given  for  the  return 
of  the  ships  to  Europe  for  disposal.  Mr.  Lay 
was  very  wroth  at  the  treatment  meted  out 
to  him,  and  invoked  the  powerful  aid  of 
friends  at  home  to  obtain  redress.  But  he 
gained  very  little  support  in  official  quarters 
in  his  campaign  against  Chinese  officialdom. 
The  points  in  the  controversy  were  very  con- 
cisely put  by  Sir  Frederick  Bruce  in  a  despatch 
which  he  pemied  on  the  subject.  "  I  do  not 
think,"  the  British  Minister  wrote,  "that  the 
Chinese  Government  are  open  to  the  charge 


instance  as  Assistant-Surgeon  to  the  gpth 
Regiment,  and  served  through  the  Peking 
Campaign.  Afterwards  he  drifted  into  the 
employ  of  the  Chinese  Government,  which 
he  assisted  in  various  capacities.  His  most 
important  service  was  as  organiser  of  the 
first  Chinese  arsenal  at  Soochow.  He  mani- 
fested great  ability  in  the  prosecution  of  this 
undei  taking,  but,  owing  to  the  development 
of  defects  in  some  of  the  guns  manufactured 
at  the  establishment,  he  had  differences  with 
Li  Hung  Chang,  with  the  result  that  he 
resigned  his  office.  The  enterprise  which  he 
had  initiated  was  continued  under  other 
direction  and  paved  the  way  for  an  extensive 
organisation  for  the  manufacture  of  muni- 
tions of  w^ar. 

The  decade  following  the  conclusion  of  the 
Treatv  of  Peking  was  a  period  of  comparative 
tranquillity  in  the  relations  between  the 
Chinese  Government  and  the  European 
powers.  For  this  state  of  affairs  thanks  were 
largely  due  to  the  wisdom  and  moderation 
of  Prince  Kung,  who  continued  to  direct  the 


90       TWENTIETH  CENTl'KY  I3IPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


councils  of  the  empire  ;  but  some  credit  also 
attached  to  the  British  representatives  who 
in  their  dealings  with  the  Chinese  Govern- 
ment resolutely  set  their  faces  a>;ainst  the 
pushing  of  extravagant  claims  and  the  multi- 
plication of  points  of  difference.  The  two 
great  Mahomcdan  rebellions  in  the  provinces 
of  Yunnan  and  Shcnsi  and  Kansuh,  the  sup- 
pression of  which  taxed  to  the  utmost  the 
resources  of  the  Chinese  Government  during  a 
greater  portion  of  the  decennial  period,  also 
was  a  factor  which  made  for  harmony 
between  the  Peking  authorities  and  the 
Western  powers.  The  only  uns;itisfactory 
phases  in  the  situation  were  occasional  out- 
bursts of  popular  feeling  against  the 
missionaries  who  at  this  time  were  actively 
prosecuting  their  propaganda  in  various  parts 
of  China.  At  Yangchow  and  Formos;i,  and 
later  at  Swatow  and  FotKhow,  there  were 
outrages  more  or  less  serious.  But  in  each 
instance  reparation  was  promptly  made  and 
it  was  manifested  that  the  Chinese  Govern- 
ment  was    sincere    in    its    desire    to    ensure 


mission  to  France  to  offer  what  amends  it 
could  lor  the  outbreak.  Chung  How,  the 
Suiwrintendent  of  Trade  for  the  three 
northern  ports,  who  was  present  at  Tientsin 
at  the  time  of  the  riot,  and  whose  lack  of 
initiative  was  indirectly  responsible  for  the 
(K-currence,  was  selected  to  head  the  mission. 
It  otherwise  lacked  nothing  which  could  lend 
it  importance  as  a  manifestation  of  the 
Government's  regret  at  the  event.  In  Paris 
the  mission  was  received  in  a  not  unfriendly 
spirit,  but  the  intimation  was  given  that  as  a 
recognition  of  the  moderation  shown  In  the 
matter  the  French  Government  would  expect 
that  the  right  of  audience  would  be  conceded 
to  the  French  Minister  at  Peking.  The 
demand  was  received  with  mingled  feelings 
In  Peking,  where  the  old  jealous  feeling  of 
exclusiveness  was  still  In  the  ascendant.  The 
question  remained  in  abeyance  until  tlie  young 
Emperor  Tungche,  four  months  subsequent 
to  his  marriage,  was.  In  February,  1873, 
Invested  with  full  powers  of  government. 
Then,   the   time   being  ripe   for  pressing  the 


ANCIENT    TOMBS    NEAR    AMOY. 
(From  .'ill  ciij;r,ivinj; ) 


protection  for  the  foreigner  to  the  utmost  of 
its  ability.  The  worst  epis<xie  was  one  which 
occurred'  at  Tientsin  in  1870  and  which,  but 
for  the  outbreak  of  the  Franco-German  War, 
might  have  involved  China  in  war  with 
France.  On  the  21st  of  June  in  that  year  a 
disorderly  mob  gathered  outside  the  Roman 
Catholic  Mission  House  in  Tientsin,  murdered 
M.  Fontanier,  the  French  Consul,  who  en- 
deavoured to  restrain  them,  and  subsequently 
attacked  the  Mission  House,  murdering  its 
inmates,  who  included  M.  Simon,  a  member 
of  the  F'rench  legation  at  Peking,  and  his 
wife,  a  French  storekeeper  and  his  wife, 
three  priests,  ten  sisters  of  charity,  and  a 
Russian  merchant  and  his  wife.  A  great 
sensation  was  created  by  this  crime,  which 
surpassed  in  horror  any  that  had  hitherto 
been  perpetrated  against  the  foreign  com- 
munity, and  on  the  one  hand  there  was  an 
insistent  demand  from  Europeans  for  retri- 
bution and  on  the  other  a  wave  of  anti- 
foreign  exultation.  The  Chinese  Government 
fortunately  recognised  the  extreme  gravity 
of  the  crisis  and  decided  to  send  a  special 


claim,  the  Foreign  Ministers  in  a  joint  note 
preferred  a  request  to  be  received  in  audience. 
At  the  outset  the  old  question  of  the  kotow 
was  raised,  but  on  a  clear  indication  being 
given  that  there  would  not  be  the  slightest 
concession  on  this  point.  Prince  Kung  and  the 
ministers  yielded,  and  the  young  Emperor  duly 
received  the  ministers  of  the  foreign  powers 
In  audience  on  June  29,  1873.  The  event 
marked  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  diplo- 
matic relations  of  the  European  nations  with 
China.  Once  and  for  all  the  claim  to 
superiority  so  arrogantly  and  insistently  put 
forward  on  behalf  of  the  Chinese  Emperors 
was  abandoned. 

After  this  for  some  little  time  the  course 
of  Chinese  history  ran,  if  not  smoothly,  at  all 
events  with  less  serious  incident  than  here- 
tofore. In  1873  trouble  arose  between  Japan 
and  China  over  the  murder  of  the  crew  of  a 
junk  wrecked  on  the  Loochoo  Islands 
some  years  before,  but  thanks  to  the  mediation 
of  Mr.  Wade  an  amicable  settlement  was 
reached  by  the  terms  of  which  China  paid  an 
indemnity,  and  the  Japanese  evacuated  Formosa, 


whicli  they  had  occupied  to  bring  pressure  to 
bear  on  the  Peking  authorities.  Another 
episode  of  a  more  personal  character  which 
was  the  subject  of  diplomatic  representations 
was  an  attack  by  pirates  in  August,  1874,  on 
the  river  steamer  Sftuk  while  on  her  way 
from  Whampoa  to  Macao.  The  vessel  was 
plundered  and  the  only  English  passenger, 
Mr,  Walter  Mundy,  was  seriously  wounded 
and  left  for  dead  on  the  deck.  Mr.  Mundy 
was  permanently  Injured  by  the  treatment 
he  received  ;  but  the  Home  Government 
declined  to  support  his  claim  to  compen- 
sation though  there  was  no  question  that  the 
piratical  attack  was  due  to  the  failure  of  the 
Chinese  authorities  to  carry  out  the  provisions 
of  one  of  tlie  principal  clauses  of  the  Treaty 
of  Tientsin. 

The  death  of  the  Emperor  Tungche  on 
January  12,  1875,  seemed  to  offer  promise 
of  serious  internal  trouble,  but  eventually 
the  succession  was  peacefully  arranged  by 
the  selection  of  Tsai  Tien,  a  child  of  tender 
age,  the  son  of  Prince  Chun  or  the  Seventh 
Prince.  The  new  Emperor  was  proclaimed 
on  the  13th  of  January  with  the  name  of 
Kwangsu,  and  he  commenced  his  reign  under 
the  auspices  of  the  two  Empresses  and  Prince 
Kung,  who,  by  their  judicious  direction  of 
affairs  were  able  to  look  forward  to  a  further 
spell  of  uncontrolled  power.  Before  the  new 
ruler  had  been  many  weeks  on  the  throne 
an  event  occurred  which  rudely  threatened 
the  peaceful  relations  which  had  grown 
up  between  the  Chinese  and  the  British 
Governments.  Towards  the  close  of  1874 
the  Government  of  India  decided  to  despatch 
a  special  mission  of  exploration  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Horace  Browne  to 
Yunnan,  the  extreme  western  province  of 
China.  The  enterprise  was  promoted  with 
the  approval  of  the  Peking  authorities,  who 
Issued  special  orders  to  the  local  authorities 
concerned  to  give  the  mission  every  assistance. 
Mr.  Raymond  Augustus  Margery,  a  talented 
Chinese  scholar,  and  an  official  thoroughly 
versed  in  Chinese  ways,  was  appointed  to 
accompany  the  mission  as  a  coadjutor  of 
Colonel  Browne.  He  journeyed  through  the 
Interior  of  China  from  Peking  and  joined  his 
chief  at  Bhamo,  on  January  26,  1875.  Three 
weeks  laler  the  mission  started  on  Its  way. 
As  it  approached  the  Chinese  frontier  it  was 
met  by  rumours  of  opposition  to  Its  advance 
on  the  part  of  Lisltal,  a  Chinese  commander 
who  had  control  of  the  frontier.  In  order 
to  ascertain  the  true  state  of  affairs.  Colonel 
Browne  despatched  Mr.  Margery  on  an 
expedition  of  inquiry  across  the  frontier. 
Riding  out  on  the  19th  of  February,  Mr. 
Margery  reached  Momein,  a  town  on  the 
Chinese  side  of  the  border,  the  same  day, 
and  sent  from  thence  a  letter  saying  that  all 
was  quiet  at  that  place.  Nothing  further 
was  heard  from  him  or  of  him  until  several 
days  later,  when  the  news  was  spread  that 
he  and  his  attendants  had  been  treacherously 
murdered  at  Manwein,  a  place  some  little 
distance  to  the  eastward  of  Momein.  The 
startling  information  was  supplemented  by 
a  statement  that  a  large  Chinese  force  was 
advancing  with  the  intention  of  attacking  the 
expedition.  Any  doubts  that  may  have  been 
entertained  as  to  the  accuracy  of  the  news 
were  dispelled  on  the  22nd  of  P'ebruary  by 
the  appearance  of  a  hostile  body  of  Chinese 
troops  on  the  heights  near  the  camp  of 
the  expedition.  Preparations  were  made  by 
Colonel  Browne  to  meet  the  threatened 
danger,  but  the  Chinese  general,  seeing  the 
bold  front  that  had  been  assumed,  thought 
better  of  his  enterprise  and  withdrew  his 
force.  When  news  of  the  outrage  reached 
the   outer   world,  a   great   cry  of   indignation 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       91 


went  lip  from  the  British  organs  of  public 
opinion,  and  the  amplest  backinj;  was  given 
to  the  demand  promptly  made  at  Peking  by 
the  British  Minister  (Mr.  Thomas  Wade)  for 
reparation.  The  Chinese  Government  showed 
at  the  outset  very  little  disposition  to  satisfy 
the  claims  preferred,  which  primarily  were 
for  an  investigation  into  the  circumstances  of 
the  murder  by  a  mixed  commission  of  British 
and  Chinese  officials.  At  length,  however, 
it  agreed  to  the  proposed  inquiry  and 
appointed  Li  Han  Chang,  Governor-General 
of  Honkwang,  and  brother  of  Li  Hung 
Chang,  to  conduct  the  investigations.  This 
functionary,  with  the  British  members  of  the 
commission,  Messrs.  Grosvenor,  Davenport, 
and  Baber,  met  in  the  closing  days  of  the 
year  in  the  district  which  was  the  scene  of 
the  outrage  and  commenced  their  inquiry. 
It  was  soon  discovered  by  the  British  com- 
missioners that  as  far  as  the  infliction  of 
punishment  on  the  really  guilty  parties  was 
concerned  their  mission  was  likely  to  prove 
futile.  Li  Han  Chang  temporarily  suspended 
the  Futai  for  neglect  of  duty,  but  this 
was  the  extent  of  the  censure  of  the  local 
officialdom  he  would  permit  himself.  The 
responsibility  for  the  murder  was  thrown 
upon  the  lawless  frontier  tribes,  and  to  lend 
colour  to  the  view  several  miserable  villagers 
were  seized,  on  the  ground  that  they  were 
accessories  to  the  murder,  and  their  lives 
were  offered  as  an  atonement  for  the  offence. 
Very  naturally  the  British  Government 
resolutely  declined  to  accept  the  course 
proposed  as  adequate  redress.  Sir  Thomas 
Wade  (as  he  had  now  become)  was  instructed 
to  bring  home  to  the  Peking  authorities  the 
seriousness  of  the  situation  which  had  been 
created  by  this  shameful  outrage  on  a  British 
expedition,  and  this  he  did  in  the  most 
emphatic  way  by  intimating  that  diplomatic 
relations  must  be  broken  off  until  the  Chinese 
Government  were  prepared  to  satisfy  the  just 
demands  made  upon  them.  Sir  Thomas 
Wade  subsequently  quitted  the  Chinese 
capital,  and  his  withdrawal  coincided  with 
the  appearance  of  a  strong  British  fleet  off 
the   Peiho.      Alarmed   at   these   evidences   of 


offended  British  honour,  the  Peking  oflicials 
at  length  consented  to  discuss  under  satis- 
factory conditions  the  question  of  redress. 
Chefoo  was  selected  as  the  scene  of  the 
negotiations,  and  there  the  British  and  Chinese 
representatives    (Sir    Thomas    Wade    and    Li 


of  the  regret  felt  by  the  Chinese  Government 
for  the  murder.  An  important  article  of  the 
Convention  was  a  provision  calling  upon  the 
different  Viceroys  and  Governors  to  respect 
and  afford  every  protection  to  all  foreigners 
provided   with    the    necessary   passport   from 


CHEFOO    FROM    THE    SEA. 


Hung  Chang  acting  as  principals)  assembled 
in  August,  1875.  The  result  of  the  delibera- 
tions was  the  agreement  known  as  the  Chefoo 
Convention.  This  document  provided  for  the 
payment  of  an  indemnity  to  Mr.  Margery's 
relatives  and  for  the  despatch  to  England  of 
a   special  mission  bearing  a  letter  expressive 


the  Tsung-!i-yamen,  and  warning  them  that 
they  would  be  held  responsible  in  the  event 
of  such  travellers  meeting  with  injury  or  ill- 
treatment.  There  were  also  embodied  in  the 
arnmgetnent  a  series  of  regulations  with 
reference  to  trade,  and  notably  one  relative 
to  the  likiii  or  transit  duties. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

The  Development  of  Shanghai — Chinese  Commercial  Enterprise — The  Shanghai-Woosung  Railway — Establishment 
of  a  Native  Cotton  Mill — New  Municipal  Constitution — Later  History  of  Hongkong. 


At  the  period  of  the  conclusion  of  the  Chefoo 
Convention,  Shanghai  trade,  in  common  with 
Chinese  commercfe  generally,  was  passing 
through  a  somewhat  serious  crisis.  The 
financial  stress  was  mainly  due  to  over  specu- 
lation consequent  upon  the  opening  of  the 
Suez  Canal  and  the  establishment  of  direct 
telegraphic  communication  with  Europe. 
With  the  completion  of  those  great  enter- 
prises dawned  a  new  era  in  Far  Eastern 
commerce — an  eia  rich  in  promise  for 
European  trade — but  merchants,  in  their  im- 
patience to  reap  the  harvest  which  they 
confidently  expected  awaited  them,  did  not 
take  sufficient  account  of  the  fact  that  a 
period  of  ripening  was  essential.  As  a  result 
serious  losses  were  incurred,  which  for  the 
time  being  crippled  the  resources  of  a  good 
many  of  the  leading  firms,  particularly  in 
Shanghai.       While     European     activity     was 


somewhat  circumscribed  owing  to  the  un- 
toward course  that  commerce  had  taken,  the 
Chinese  at  this  period  gave  evidence  of 
remarkable  enterprise.  In  1872,  under  the 
direct  patronage  of  Li  Hung  Chang  (at  tliat 
time  Governor-General  of  Chihli)  was  formed 
at  Shanghai  a  company  under  the  name  of 
the  Chinese  Merchants  Company,  for  the 
purpose  of  owning  and  running  steamers. 
Ostensibly  the  company  was  established  for 
the  purpose  of  carrying  tribute  rice  to  Tientsin 
eit  route  for  Peking,  but  it  soon  became 
evident  that  its  real  object  was  the  far  more 
ambitious  one  of  competing  with  European 
owned  vessels  for  the  trade  of  the  coast  and 
of  the  Yangtse.  Furthermore,  the  arrange- 
ments indicated  that  the  floating  of  the 
company  was  designed  for  political  as  well 
as  commercial  ends.  One  of  the  articles  of 
the  company  prohibited  the  holding  of  shares 


by  foreigners.  The  offices  established  at 
Shanghai,  Hankow,  Tientsin,  Hongkong,  and 
Canton  were  under  Chinese  managers  ;  and 
the  only  foreigners  employed  in  the  com- 
pany's service  were  the  masters  of  vessels. 
Finally,  as  evidence  of  the  determination  to 
give  a  purely  native  aspect  to  the  venture, 
was  the  fact  that  two  of  the  earliest  vessels 
in  the  company's  service  were  built  at  the 
Foochow  Arsenal. 

In  another  direction  at  this  juncture  was 
demonstrated  in  a  striking  way  the  deter- 
mination of  the  Chinese  to  stay  the  inarch 
of  foreign  encroachment.  In  December, 
1872,  was  formed  in  Shanghai,  by  a  number 
of  leading  residents,  a  small  private  com- 
pany, under  the  title  of  the  Woosung  Road 
Conipanv.  It  seemed  an  innocent,  non- 
committal kind  of  venture,  but  its  simple  title 
covered    a    project    of    deep    significance,    the 


92       TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONa,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


real  object  of  the  promoters  being  notliing 
more  nor  lesis  than  the  intrtxluction  of  rail- 
\ra\-s  into  China.  The  idea  of  giving  the 
blessings  of  railway  communication  to  the 
empire  was  not  new.  As  far  l>ack  as  July, 
lt(6ji.  an  application  had  been  made  to  tlie 
Chinese  authorities  for  permission  to 
construct  a  line  lH;tween  Shanghai  and 
Soochow,  but  the  reception  given  to  the 
proposal  was  such  as  to  indicate  that  the 
Government  were  not  likely  to  readily  s;mc- 
tion  the  inno\-ation.  When,  therefore,  the 
idea  was  taken  up  again  it  was  decided  not 
to  appriMch  the  Chinese  governing  power, 
but  to  seek  to  reach  the  goal  indirectly. 
The  company's  object  was  stated  to  be  the 
improvement  of  road  communiciition,  and 
to  give  effect  to  their  aims  they  purchased 
a  strip  of  land  about  fifteen  \'ards  wide 
extending  from  Shanghai  to  Woosung.  a 
distance  of  about  nine  and  a  quarter  miles. 
Almost  simultaneously,  at  their  instigation, 
the  district  magistrate,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Taoutai,  issued  a  proclamation, 
gi\ing  notice  that  they  had  acquired  posses- 


to  proceed,  and  half  the  line,  viz.,  that  por- 
tion from  Shanghai  to  Kangwan,  was 
opened  for  public  traflic,  the  inaugural  trip 
being  run  on  June  30,  1876.  Subsequently 
the  Chinese  authorities,  who  had  been  much 
displeased  at  the  laying  down  of  a  railway 
without  their  previous  permission,  made  an 
arrangement  with  Her  Majesty's  Minister, 
through  the  medium  of  his  Chinese  secre- 
tary, Mr.  Mayers,  to  the  effect  that  they 
should  buy  the  railway,  and  certain  articles 
of  agreement  for  c;>rrying  out  this  arrange- 
ment were  drawn  up  at  Nanking.  These 
articles  were  afterwards  agreed  to  by  the 
company,  subject  to  certain  conditions,  and 
the  payment  of  285,000  Shanghai  taels  was 
arranged  between  the  two  parties  as  the 
price  of  the  property.  It  was  further  settled 
that  this  sum  should  be  paid  in  instalments, 
extending  over  one  year,  during  which  time 
the  company  were  to  retain  possession  of 
the  line  and  work  it  to  their  own  profit. 
The  running  of  trains,  which  had  been 
stopped  for  a  time,  recommenced  on  Decem- 
ber  I,    1876.      During   July  and   August   the 


FESTIVAL   OP   THE   DRAOON   BOAT   (FIFTH    DAY    OF    THE    FIFTH    MOON). 


sion  of  the  land,  and  that  they  had  a  right 
to  build  bridges,  cut  ditches,  erect  fences, 
and  construct  roads  suitable  for  the  running 
of  cars. 

The  scheme  having  now  assumed  a  prac- 
tical shape,  a  new  company  was  formed  and 
registered  July  28,  1874,  under  the  Limited 
Lialnlity  Act,  as  a  company  having  its  head 
office  in  Canton,  with  a  capital  of  £100,000. 
This  new  company  took  over  the  lands  and 
rights  of  the  old  company,  bought  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  extra  land,  and  formed 
an  embankment  along  the  entire  length  of 
the  route,  the  whole  of  the  area  being  about 
the  level  of  high  water  spring  tides,  and 
under  the  level  of  exceptionally  high  tides. 
The  agents  of  the  company  in  China  were 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  with 
whom  Mr.  J.  Dixon  of  London  entered  into 
a  contract  to  construct  a  light  railway  on 
the  embankment  referred  to,  and  work  was 
commenced  in  January,  1876.  Some  diffi- 
culties hereupon  ensued  with  the  Chinese 
authorities,  but  on  the  company's  making 
certain  concessions  as  to  the  deviation  of  the 
line  at  some  points,  the  work  was  allowed 


traffic  amounted  to  a  total  of  16,894  passen- 
gers. During  December  the  number  of 
passengers  was  17,527,  of  which  number 
15,873  were  third  class.  When  the  Chinese 
entered  into  occupation  of  the  railways  they 
discontinued  the  running  of  trains  and  pro- 
ceeded to  tear  up  the  rails.  Subsequently 
the  entire  plant  was  despatched  to  Takow,  in 
the  island  of  Formosa. 

Thus  ended  the  pioneer  effort  to  introduce 
railways  into  China.  The  project  was  a 
bold  one,  and  its  results  during  the  brief 
period  during  which  the  railway  was 
working  showed  that  commercially  the  pros- 
pects were  good.  But  the  scheme  was  born 
out  of  time.  China  at  that  juncture  was 
not  ready  for  railways.  Moreover,  foreign 
action  was  deeply  distrusted,  owing  to  the 
events  of  the  previous  decade,  and  Chinese 
statesmen  realised  that  they  must  at  all  costs 
keep  the  control  of  matters  in  their  own 
hands.  As  evidence  of  the  spirit  which  was 
in  the  ascendant  we  may  quote  a  few  passages 
from  a  memorial  sent  to  the  Throne  by 
Tseng-Kwo-fan,  sometime  Viceroy  of  the 
Two  Kiang,  who  was  described  by  a  British 


official  writer  of  note  in  1877  as  "the 
greatest  statesman  China  has  produced 
during  the  present  century."  "  If,"  observed 
Tseng,  "small  steamers  be  allowed  on 
inland  waters,  native  craft  of  every  size, 
sailors,  and  pilots  will  suffer  ;  if  foreigners 
are  allowed  to  construct  telegraphs  and 
railways,  owners  of  carts,  mules,  chairs,  and 
inns  w^ill  suffer,  and  the  means  of  living  be 
taken  away  from  the  coolies.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  all  demands  of  foreigners, 
except  the  working  of  coal  mines  ;  it  would 
enrich  China  to  borrow  foreign  appliances 
for  the  extracting  coal,  and  it  would  appear 
to  deserve  a  trial.  If  foreigners  are  allowed 
to  introduce  small  steamers,  railroads,  &c., 
they  will  monopolize  the  whole  profits  of 
the  country  ;  if  our  people  are  allowed  to 
join  with  them  in  introducing  them,  the  rich 
will  benefit  at  the  expense  of  the  poor — 
neither  plan  is  practicable.  With  respect  to 
the  points  which  are  not  highly  obnoxious 
we  should  grant  them  if  asked  ;  it  is  only 
as  to  railroads,  steamers,  salt,  and  residence 
in  the  interior  for  trade,  as  destructive  to 
our  people's  interest,  that  a  strenuous  fight 
should  be  made."  Here  we  have  the 
guiding  spirit  of  the  most  enlightened 
Chinese  policy  at  this  period.  The  foreigner 
was  to  be  tolerated  where  it  was  thought 
he  would  do  no  mischief,  but  he  was  to  be 
kept  at  arm's  length  where  the  means  of 
communication  and  residence  in  the  interior 
were  concerned.  It  may  seem  to  our  view 
an  essentially  narrow  way  of  looking  at 
things  ;  but  recalling  the  later  history  of 
railway  concessions  in  China,  who  shall  say 
that  "Tseng's  opinions  were  not  from  his 
patriotic  standpoint  absolutely  sound  ? 

Tliere  was  no  doubt  in  the  years  follow- 
ing the  conclusion  of  the  Treaty  of  Peking  a 
feiment  in  the  Chinese  mind  which  led  to 
developments  calculated  to  cause  anxiety  in 
the  ranks  of  the  Peking  autocracy.  An 
example  of  these  tendencies  is  the  drift 
to  the  foreign  settlements  and  notably  to 
Shanghai,  of  well-to-do  Chinese  subjects. 
Referring  to  this  movement  the  British  Con- 
sul at  Shanghai,  in  his  report  for  1876, 
says  ;  "  P'roin  a  vague  apprehension  of 
future  calamities  many  men  of  substance 
have  removed  here  with  their  families  from 
the  interior  and  in  several  instances  have 
even  taken  foreign  houses  in  preference  to 
Chinese  hongs.  The  shopkeepers  have  also 
improved  in  their  style  of  buildings,  and  as 
the  old  rickety  tenements  are  from  time 
to  time  swept  away  by  fires  they  are 
invariably  replaced  by  buildings  superior  to 
the  ordinary  run  of  Chinese  houses.  The 
natives  are  likewise  learning  the  value  of 
brick  walls  and  adopt  them  in  the  capacity 
of  fire  walls."  Meanwhile  the  foreign 
residents  were  showing  more  and  more  a 
disposition  to  leave  their  houses  in  the  heart 
of  the  settlement  and  establish  lliemselves  in 
the  country.  The  Consul  speaks  in  his 
report  for  1874  of  villa  residences  springing 
up  like  mushrooms  in  various  directions 
beyond  municipal  limits,  and  he  reverts  to 
the  tendency  towards  a  substitution  of 
Chinese  tenements  for  foreign  houses  in  the 
heart  of  the  settlement,  and  the  consequent 
depreciation  in  value  of  the  larger  houses. 

Another  sign  of  the  times  upon  which 
stress  is  laid  in  the  communications  of  the 
British  officials  of  the  period  is  the  growth 
of  the  purely  native  press.  In  referring  to  the 
opening  of  the  Chinese  Polytechnic  Institu- 
tion in  1875  the  Consul  at  Shanghai  mentions 
that  ;it  the  period  there  were  no  fewer  than 
five  Chinese  daily  papers,  and  that  in  addition 
there  were  a  number  of  weekly  and  monthly 
organs — most    of    them    very    popular    and 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


93 


increasing  in  circulation.  It  should  be 
mentioned,  however,  that  side  by  side  with 
this  literary  activity  so  characteristic  of  the 
new  spirit  was  revealed  a  jealous  adhesion 
to  the  old  economic  ideals.  In  1876  an 
attempt  was  made  to  establish  a  steam  cotton 
mill  company  at  Shanghai  for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  cotton  piece  goods  from  native 
grown  cotton  of  a  similar  quality  and  weight 
to  the  goods  manufactured  by  the  Chinese. 
The  scheme  at  the  outset  received  the  sup- 
port of  influential  natives.  But  after  a  time 
the  Cotton  Cloth  Guild  took  the  alarm  and 
instituted  in  the  native  press  a  crusade  against 
the  project.  The  idea  was  circulated  that 
the  hand  cloth  trade  would  be  immediately 
ruined  if  the  mill  started  working,  and  when 
the  apprehensions  of  the  native  community 
had  been  sufficiently  aroused  the  Guild  passed 
a  resolution  to  the  effect  that  no  cloth  made 
by  machinery  would  be  permitted  to  be 
purchased.  About  the  same  time  that  this 
declaration  was  made  there  appeared  on  the 
scene  a  well-known  native  resident  named 
Peng  with  a  project  for  prosecuting  a 
Chinese  Joint  Stock  Company  with  the  same 
object.  It  was  stated  at  the  time  that  this 
gentleman  obtained  one  of  the  prospectuses 
of  the  British  Company,  and  after  altering  it 
to  suit  his  purpose  presented  it  to  the  Super- 
intendent of  Foreign  Trade  as  a  venture 
deserving  of  support.  His  scheme  was 
approved  by  the  authorities  and  was  duly 
launched  with  a  respectable  native  backing. 
In  1879  the  foundations  of  the  mill  were 
laid  and  an  agreement  was  entered  into  with 
a  British  merchant  for  the  supply  of  the 
requisite  machinery  for  an  eight  hundred 
loom  mill.  But  the  enterprise,  owing  to  the 
incapacity  of  the  directorate,  soon  got  into 
difliculties,  and  operations  were  suspended 
for  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
period  a  new  company  was  formed  under 
the  patronage  of  the  Government,  and  Peng 
was  removed  from  the  chairmanship  of  the 
directorate,  and  Tai,  another  influential  resi- 
dent and  an  expectant  Taoutai,  appointed  in 
his  place.  In  the  reorganised  company  the 
capacity  of  the  factory  was  reduced  to  two 
hundred  looms,  and  orders  for  the  machinery 
were  placed  in  America.  Meanwhile,  the 
original  contract  was  annulled,  Tai  paying 
the  stipulated  forfeit  of  fifteen  thousand  taels. 
It  is  unnecessary  at  this  point  to  follow  the 
fortunes  of  the  venture  further.  The  facts  as 
they  stand  are  sufficiently  complete  to  illus- 
trate the  point  which  was  being  emphasised 
— that  the  traditional  Chinese  exclusiveness 
was  taking  the  new  form  of  an  endeavour  to 
supplant  the  foreigner  in  his  own  sphere. 

Shanghai  all  this  time  was  developing 
rapidly  into  the  fine  city  it  ultimately  became. 
In  1873  the  report  of  the  British  Consul 
embodied  the  enclosed  table  showing  the 
value  of  the  assessments  of  land  and  houses 
in  the  settlement  and  the  number  of  inhabi- 
tants : — • 

Land  Assessed. 


English  settlement — 

Tads. 

Foreign 

...    4,812,000 

Native     

100,000 

Hongkew — 

Foreign*            

530,000 

Native.     No  assessment  yet  made 


Houses. 
English  settlement — 

Foreign  ...         

Native     

Hongkew — 

Foreignf  

Native     , 


Taels. 

450,000 
503,000 

73,000 
70,000 


1,096,000 
Census  Avekage. 

Chinese,  resident         62,844 

employed   in   foreign 

hongs        5,556 

„         boat    population    and 

vagrants 9,957 

Foreigners         2,000 


Total     ...         80,367 


tion.  suggested  the  desirability  of  a  reform 
of  the  municipal  constitution.  The  discussions 
on  the  subject  led  to  the  appointment,  towards 
the  end  of  1879,  of  a  committee,  with  Mr.  F.  B. 
Forbes  as  chairman,  to  consider  the  question. 
A  report  was  forthcoming  suggesting  various 
changes,  the  result  of  which,  if  carried  out, 
would  have  been  to  increase  the  electorate 
from  403  to  508,  and  to  swell  the  number  of 
resident  voters  from  255  to  360.  The  report 
was  considered  at  a  ratepayers'  meeting  in 
March,  1881,  and  approved.  Subsequently,  the 
revised  regulations  were  sent  to  Peking  for 
ratification  by  the  foreign  ministers  ;  but  for 
some  reason  or  other  the  requisite  assent  was 
withheld  at  the  time.  Not  until  November, 
1898,  after  a  fresh  demand  had  been  made 
by  the  ratepayers,  did  the  diplomatic  body  at 
Peking  pass  the  new  constitution.  In  addition 
to  the  reforms  recommended  by  the  com- 
mittee of  1879,  a  number  of  changes  suggested 
by  widened  experience  of  municipal  adminis- 
tration in  the  settlement  were  introduced. 
The  principal   of   these   had   reference  to   the 


-«r'->^?p^- 


DYEING   AND    WINDING    SILK. 


5,442.000 


Actual  value  supposed  to  be  double. 


As  an  indication  of  the  progress  made  in 
the  years  which  followed  the  issue  of  this 
table,  it  is  to  be  noted  that  in  February,  1881, 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce  published  a  report 
which  gave  the  estimated  value  of  property 
in  the  united  settlements  at  ^^14,250,000. 
Trade  all  the  time  was  increasing  with  great 
rapidity.  More  than  three-fourths  of  it  was 
with  Great  Britain,  and  the  bulk  of  the 
shipping  which  entered  and  cleared  the  port 
was  British.  Germany  at  this  time  was 
practically  nowhere.  Indeed,  she  seemed  to 
be  actually  slipping  behind  in  the  race.  Of 
4,248  vessels  which  visited  the  port  in  1878 
only  154  were  German,  and  the  Acting 
Registrar  of  shipping  in  his  report  for  the 
year  spoke  of  German  interests  as  "  steadily 
declining."  He  added  :  "  Of  the  many 
famous  German  business  houses  which  used 
to  do  a  large  business  here,  only  one  or  two 
remain."  Twenty  years  later  a  very  different 
tale  was  told,  and  to-dav'  no  one  speaks  of 
German  commercial  decay  in  the  Far  East. 

The  rapid  development  of  Shanghai,  and 
with  it  the  increase  of  the  European  popula- 

t  Under  new  assessment  will  be  80,000  taels. 


compulsory  acquisition  of  land,  promotion  of 
sanitation,  and  the  regulation  of  building 
operations.  There  was  also  a  provision  for 
the  appointment  of  a  Board  of  Land  Com- 
missioners to  safeguard  the  interests  of  foreign 
renters  and  native  owners.  These  reforms, 
it  should  be  stated,  applied  only  to  the  joint 
British  and  American  settlement.  The  French 
concession  has  its  own  municipal  constitution, 
which,  in  its  present  form,  dates  back  to  1868. 

The  later  history  of  both  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  is  so  largely  covered  in  other 
portions  of  the  work  that  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  touch  upon  the  more  prominent 
points.  At  Hongkong,  after  Sir  John  Pope- 
Hennessy's  troubled  regime  there  was  a  brief 
interregnum,  during  which  Mr.  (afterwards 
Sir)  William  Marsh,  the  Colonial  Secretary, 
officiated.  In  March,  1883,  Sir  George 
Bowen  arrived  to  take  charge  of  the 
administration,  and  directed  the  affairs  of 
the  Colony  on  healthy  progressive  lines  for 
close  upon  three  years.  When  he  left 
Hongkong,  on  December  19,  1885,  Mr. 
Marsh  agahi  temporarily  assumed  the 
control  of  affairs  and  continued  to  discharge 
the  duties  until  his  retirement  in  April,  1887. 


94       TWENTIETH  CENTURY  I3IPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


He  handed  over  charge  to  Major-Geiieral 
Cameron,  who  officiated  until  Sir  Williauj 
G.  des  Voeux,  the  new  Governor,  arrived  in 
the  October  following.  The  next  four  years, 
during  which  this  official  held  office,  though 
not  particularly  eventful,  were  fruitful  of 
useful  work.  Amongst  other  improvements 
the    praya    reclamation    scheme   was   carried 


SIR  OEOROE  FERQUSON  BOWEN. 
(From  "Thirty  Years  of  Coloni.il  Govcrninenl." 
By  Mr.  Stanley  I^  Poole.      Macmillan  &  Co.) 

out.  Besides  contributing  materially  to  the 
attractions  and  conveniences  of  the  city  the 
project  added  57  acres  to  the  available  land 
of  the  island  at  a  point  where  space  was 
greatly  needed.  The  execution  of  the  work 
was  the  more  welcomed  as  it  synchronised 
with  a  period  of  remarkable  expansion  in 
Hongkong.  So  rapid  indeed  was  the 
increase  of  population  that  some  of  the  most 
difficult  problems  of  the  administration  were 
connected  with  the  housing  of  the  people, 
who  were  crowding  into  the  already  con- 
gested districts  of  the  city.  Sir  William 
des  Voeux,  dealing  with  the  subject  in  his 
report  for  1888,  spoke  of  relief  having  to 
be  sought  by  the  opening  up  of  the  interior 
of  the  island  by  tramways,  and  with 
prophetic  vision  he  foreshadowed  a  time 
when  the  whole  of  the  island  would  be 
covered  with  dwellings  or  manufactories.  In 
the  same  report  Sir  William  des  Voeux  drew 
an  interesting  comparison  between  the  Hong- 


kong of  that  period  and  the  island  as  it 
was  before  the  occupation.  In  place  of 
"a  bare  rock  with  a  fisherman's  hut  here 
and  there,  as  the  only  sign  of  h.-ibit-ition, 
and  a  great  sea  basin  only  very  rarely  dis- 
turbed by  a  passing  keel,"  was  "a  city  of 
closely-built  houses,  stretching  lor  some  four 
miles  along  the  island  shore,  and  rising  tier 
over  tier,  up  the  slopes  of  the  mountain, 
those  on  the  upper  levels  interspersed  with 
abundant  foliage  ;  while,  on  the  opposite 
peninsula  of  Kowloon  ....  and  along 
the  whole  seaboard,  are  numerous  houses, 
together  with  docks,  great  warehouses,  and 
other  evidences  of  a  large  and  thriving 
population.  Again,  the  silent  and  deserted 
basin  has  become  a  harbour,  so  covered 
with  shipping  that  even  if  a  visitor  has 
been  round  the  whole  world,  he  could 
never  before  have  seen  so  much  in  a  single 
coiift  d'ocil.  At  anchor  or  moving  are  some 
forty  to  fifty  ocean  steamers,  including  ships 
of  war,  large  European  and  American 
sailing  vessels,  and  hundreds  of  sea-going 
junks  ;  while  in  the  space  intervening  and 
around,  are  many  thousand  boats,  for  the 
most  part  human  habitations,  with  steam 
launches  rushing  in  all  directions."  This 
picture  of  a  prosperous  Hongkong  was  not 
a  bit  over-coloured  at  the  time  it  was 
painted,  but  after  Sir  William  des  Voeux 
had  retired,  in  May,  1891,  a  period  of  de- 
pression and  public  misfortune  set  in,  which 
left  its  mark  on  the  record  of  the  Colony. 
First  there  was  commercial  trouble,  the 
product  of  overspeculation  and  uncertain 
exchange,  and  then,  in  1894,  loomed  up  that 
ghastly  spectre  of  the  plague,  which  uii- 
liappily,  has  never  yet  been  completely 
exorcised  from  the  island.  The  history  of 
the  epidemic,  or  series  of  epidemics,  which 
have  afflicted  the  inhabitants  is  told  else- 
where. It  is  only  necessary  to  say  here 
that  the  visitations  called  forth  the  highest 
administrative  and  scientific  skill  and  that 
though,  in  the  fight,  the  authorities  have 
had  some  disappointing  checks,  they  have 
brought  about  an  enormous  improvement  in 
the  condition  of  the  Colony.  The  heaviest 
and  most  notable  work  in  connection  with 
the  epidemics  occurred  during  the  governor- 
ship of  Sir  William  Robinson,  who  arrived 
in  the  Colony  on  December  10,  1891,  and 
who  served  continuously  until  February  1, 
1898.  But  it  was  left  to  the  administration 
of  his  successor.  Sir  Henry  Blake,  to  apply 
the  chief  remedies  which  were  recom- 
mended by  two  sanitary  experts,  Mr.  Osbert 
Chadwick  and  Dr.  Simpson,  who  were 
specially    sent    out    from     England     for    the 


purpose  of  investigating  the  matter.  The 
term  of  office  of  Sir  Matthew  Nathan,  who 
iollowed  Sir  Henry  Blake  in  the  governor- 
ship, was,  unfortunately,  not  free  from 
serious  plague  troubles.  His  administration, 
however,  will  always  be  memorable  from 
the  fact  that  it  covered  the  period  of  the 
memorable  typhoon  of  September  18,  1904 
— a  catastrophe  of  appalling,  and  as  far  as 
Hongkong  is  concerned,  unprecedented 
magnitude.  Over  ten  thousand  lives  were 
lost  in  the  disaster,  and  property  to  the 
value  of  many  millions  of  dollars  was 
destroved.  Amongst  the  victims  was  the 
Right  ■  Rev.  J.  C.  Hoare,  D.D.,  Bishop  of 
Victoria,  who  was  drowned  in  tlie  harbour. 
Another  event,  of  more  cheerful  import, 
which  marked  Sir  Matthew's  term  of 
service,  was  the  inauguration  of  the 
Kowloon-Canton  railway  scheme — an  enter- 
prise wliich,  when  completed,  as  it  will   be, 


SIR    ■WILLIAM    G.  DES  VOEUX. 


it  is  expected,  in  19 10,  will  bring  Hongkong 
into  direct  land  communication  with  the 
great  markets  of  Southern  China.  After  a 
busy  and  useful  administration  Sir  Matthew 
Nathan  handed  over  the  reins  of  office  to 
his  successor,  Brigadier-General  Sir  F.  D. 
Lugard,   in   April,    1907. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


The  War  between  China  and   Japan — Intervention   of    Russia,   Germany,  and    France^German    Occupation    of 
Kiaochau— Russian   Occupation   of    Port  Arthur — The   British   at   Weihaiwei— Railway   Concessions— The  Boxer 
Rising — The  Siege  of  the  Legations  at  Peking— The  International  Expedition— The  Peace  Protocol — The  Russo- 
Japanese  War — Conclusion. 


Is  recent  years  the  general  course  of  Chinese 
history  has  been  prolific  of  dramatic  surprises 
and  events  of  the  deepest  international 
import  The  story  of  this  memorable 
period  is  too  fresh  to  need  more  than 
brief  recapitulation  here.  A  convenient 
starting  point  is  the  war  waged  by  Japan 
on     China    in     1894.      That    struggle    arose 


over  a  dispu'e  as  to  the  government  of 
Korea.  Disturbances  having  occurred  at 
Seoul,  the  Korean  capital,  Japan  and  China 
sent  trcKips  for  the  protection  of  their  re- 
spective subjects.  Afterwards  the  Japanese 
Government  put  forward  a  scheme  for  the 
execution  of  reforms  under  the  joint  super- 
vision of  the  two  powers,  but  Chinaj  declined 


to  enterlain  the  proposals  on  the  ground  that 
her  traditional  policy  was  not  to  interfere  in 
the  internal  affairs  of  a  vassal  state.  The 
refusal  led  to  strained  relations  between  the 
two  Governments  and  finally,  after  a  series 
of  incidents,  to  actual  warfare.  Japan  was 
triumphant  on  both  sea  and  land.  Her 
army,   commanded   by    Field    Marshal   Count 


TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       9.5 


Yamafiata,  inflicted  a  signal  defeat  on  the 
Chinese  forces  in  Nortli  Korea  on  Septem- 
ber 17th,  and  the  same  day  the  Chinese  fleet 
was  badly  worsted  in  an  engagement  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Yalu  River.  The  tide  of  war 
thereafter  swept  into  Manchuria,  and  Port 
Arthur  was  besieged  and  captured.  A  similar 
fate  befell  Weihaiwei.  where  the  Chinese 
fleet,  under  Admiral  'ling,  was  either  sunk 
or  taken  ;  the  capture  of  Yingkow  placed 
Newchwang  at  the  mercy  of  the  invaders. 
Recognising  the  logic  of  events,  the  Chinese 
Government  made  overtures  for  peace,  and  a 
treaty  of  peace  negotiated  by  Li  Hung  Chang 
at  Shimonosaki  was  concluded  on  April  17th 
and  ratified  on  May  4th.  By  the  terms  of 
the  arrangement  China  recognised  the  in- 
dependence of  Korea,  ceded  to  Japan  the 
Liaotung  peninsula  together  with  Formosa 
and  the  Pescadore  Islands,  and  agreed  to 
pay  an  indemnity  of  200,000,000  taels  in 
eight  instalments.  It  was  arranged  that 
Japan  should  occupy  Weihaiwei  temporarily 
pending  the  execution  of  the  provisions  of 
the  treaty.  Barely  was  the  ink  dry  on  the 
treaty  before  it  was  made  evident  that  Japan 
was  not  to  be  permitted  to  enjoy  the  com- 
plete fruits  of  her  victory.  A  movement 
projected  by  Russia,  France,  and  Germany 
was  set  on  foot  with  a  view  to  nullifying 
the  provision  relative  to  the  cession  of  the 
Liaotung  peninsula.  The  principal  ground 
put  forward  to  justify  this  intervention  was 
that  the  territorial  integrity  of  China  must 
be  maintained.  It  was  a  hypocritical  reason 
—  but  it  served.  Recognising  the  force  of 
the  combination  against  her,  Japan  sullenly 
agreed  to  forego  ttie  prize  she  had  won  in 
consideration  of  the  payment  of  an  extra 
indemnity.  A  decent  interval  was  allowed 
to  elapse  before  the  true  meaning  of  this 
manccuvre  on  the  part  of  the  three  European 
powers  was  revealed.  The  first  indication 
of  it  was  conveyed  by  rumours  which  were 
set  afloat  at  the  close  of  1896  in  reference 
to  the  conclusion  of  a  treaty  between  China 
and  Russia  giving  the  latter  power  the  right 
to  extend  the  Siberian  Railway  to  Manchuria 
and  to  occupy  and  fortify  Kiaochau,  while 
she  on  her  part  agreed  to  defend  Port 
Arthur  and  Talienwan,  As  events  proved, 
the  stories  in  circulation  were  well  founded 
as  far  as  the  main  fact  of  the  conclusion  of 
a  treaty  giving  Russia  wide  powers  in  Man- 
churia was  concerned.  But  in  the  working 
out  of  the  details  there  was  a  striking  change 
made  by  the  substitution  of  Germany  for 
Russia  at  Kiaochau.  The  ostensible  cause 
of  the  German  occupation  was  the  murder 
of  two  missionaries,  subjects  of  the  Kaiser. 
It  has  always  been  suspected,  however,  that 
the  move  was  part  of  an  understanding 
entered  inio  with  Russia,  under  which 
Kiaochau  was  to  fall  to  Germany  as  her 
share  in  the  proceeds  of  the  Russian  Treaty, 
However  that  may  be,  Germany's  appearance 
at  Kiaochau  was  quickly  followed  by  the 
advent  of  Russia  at  Port  Arthur  and  tiy  the 
adoption  of  measures  for  the  consolidation  of 
Russian  power  in  Southern  Manchuria.  The 
course  of  events  was  watched  with  anxious 
interest  by  friends  of  China,  who  saw  in 
these  acts  a  situation  full  of  menacing  possi- 
bilities for  the  future.  Great  Britain,  in 
accordance  with  an  agreement  arrived  at  at 
the  time  that  the  Japanese  evacualed  the 
port,  on  May  24,  1898,  occupied  Weihaiwei 
as  a  counterpoise  to  the  German  and  Russian 
encroachments,  and  it  also  availed  itself  of 
the  opportunity  to  secure  an  extension  of  its 
territory  on  the  Kowloon  peninsula  and  the 
adjacent  mainland.  But  these  measures  had 
little  influence  on  the  general  situation  in 
China  which  rapidly  became  worse  as  Russian 


ambitions  were  the  more  plainly  revealed  by 
successive  acts. 

The  period  to  which  these  events  refer  was 
one  of  great  diplomatic  tension.  The  Chinese 
Government,  staggering  under  the  successive 
blows  inflicted  upon  its  authority,  became 
a  mark  for  the  attentions  of  aspiring  Euro- 
pean powers.  Efforts  made  to  stay  the 
process  of  disintegration  only  served  to  bring 
into  prominence  the  magnitude  of  the  pre- 
tensions, which  were  set  up.  It  seemed  to 
observers  that  the  break-up  of  the  Chinese 
Empire  was  rapidly  impending.  One  form 
which  the  unequal  war  waged  at  Peking 
between  the  weak  and  effete  Chinese  oflicial- 
dom  and  the  bold,  self-assertive  diplomacy 
of  Europe  took  was  a  struggle  for  commercial 
concessions  —  chiefly  railway  concessions. 
When  the  Chinese  tore  up  the  rails  of  the 
Shanghai-Woosung  Road  it  was  thought  that 
they  had  washed  their  hands  for  a  long  period 
of  railways.  But  the  question,  though  thrust 
into  the  background,  was  never  out  of  sight  of 
the  trade  representatives  of  the  various  Euro- 
pean powers,  who  were  alive  to  the  vastness 
of  the  possibilities  which  centred  in  railway 
expansion  in  China.  From  time  to  time  timid 
and  tentative  efforts  were  made  to  re-open 
the  question,  and  they  were  so  far  successful 
that  in  one  or  two  directions  small  lengths 
of  line  were  built,  the  most  notable  of  these 
being  the  railway  from  Peking  to  Tientsin 
(which  was  opened  in  1897),  and  a  line  con- 
necting Tientsin  and  Taku  on  the  one  hand 
and  Kinchow  and  Newchwang  on  the  other. 
These  lines  together  are  part  of  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Northern  Railway,  and  from 
their  position  they  are  of  great  importance. 
But  they  touch  only  the  outer  fringe  of  the 
empire  and  the  real  exploitation  of  railway 
schemes  was  left  to  the  period  referred  to. 
Then  the  matter  was  pushed  in  sober  earnest. 
It  seemed  a  point  of  honour  with  each  of  the 
rival  European  powers  to  obtain  as  large  con- 
cessions as  possible.  Great  Britain,  Russia, 
F"rance,  and  Germany  w-ere  the  principal 
figures  in  the  struggle,  but  the  United  States 
also  took  a  hand  in  it,  while  Belgium,  pushed 
forward  and  backed  by  Russia,  cut  in  as 
occasion  offered.  The  net  result  of  it  all  was 
that  by  1900  concessions  for  the  construction 
of  upwards  of  5,000  miles  of  railway  had 
been  made,  while  grants  for  more  than 
2,000  additional  miles  were  under  considera- 
tion. One  of  the  earliest  of  the  schemes 
sanctioned  was  a  railway  700  miles  long 
connecting  Peking  with  Hankow  in  the 
Yangtse  basin.  The  concession  for  this  line 
was  obtained  in  1896  by  a  Belgian  syndicate 
which  had  strong  support  in  France.  A 
second  project  for  linking  up  Hankow  and 
Canton,  practically  a  continuation  of  the 
Peking-Hankow  railway,  was  launched  by  an 
American  syndicate.  In  the  French  sphere 
of  interest  schemes  embracing  a  mileage  of 
800  were  sanctioned,  while  Germany  had  con- 
cessions for  the  construction  of  845  miles  of 
line  in  Shantung,  and  Russia  (apart  from 
Manchuria)  was  interested  in  enterprises  north 
of  Peking,  the  mileage  of  which  aggregated 
150.  Besides  these  great  railway  under- 
takings commercial  enterprises  of  a  highly 
important  character  were  launched  in  these 
busy  days  in  Peking.  The  most  conspicuous 
of  the  number,  perhaps,  are  those  embodied 
in  the  concession  of  the  great  British  financial 
group  known  as  the  Peking  Syndicate.  This 
body  secured  in  1897  the  valuable  right  to 
work  coal  and  iron  mines  in  the  province 
of  Shansi — an  area  containing  much  unde- 
veloped mineral  wealth.  Included  in  the 
grant  obtained  from  the  Government  was  a 
concession  for  the  construction  of  branch 
railwavs  to  connect  the  mines  with  the  river 


navigation  in  adjoining  provinces  and  with 
main  lines  of  railways.  The  project,  as  repre- 
senting the  first  real  effort  that  had  been  made 
to  develop  the  magnificent  material  resources 
of  China  on  scientific  lines,  was  of  more  than 
common  interest  and  importance.  Later, 
when  the  concessionaires  got  to  work,  they 
were  impeded  in  their  operations  by  the 
obstructiveness  of  the  Chinese  Government, 
which  put  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the 
execution  of  the  railway  clauses  of  the  agree- 
ment. Nevertheless,  the  operations  of  the 
syndicate  have  been  on  an  extensive  scale, 
and  have  done  much  to  infuse  a  spirit  of 
scientific  commercial  enterprise  into  the 
Chinese  of  the  area  in  which  the  mines  are 
situated. 

Not  without  indifference  were  these  startling 
evidences  of  the  growth  of  foreign  influence 
regarded  by  the  Chinese  masses.  The  patri- 
otic sentiment  was  outraged  by  the  apparent 
inability  of  the  Government  to  withstand 
the  pressure  put  upon  it  by  the  foreign 
representatives.  The  Chinese  saw  in  these 
concessions,  with  the  occupation  of  Port 
Arthur,  Kiaochau  and  Weihaiwei,  a  deep- 
seated  conspiracy  against  the  integrity  of 
the  Empire  and  the  independence  of  the 
race.  For  a  time  there  was  merely  vague 
discontent,  but  gradually  there  came  into 
existence  a  movement  which  gave  vent  to 
the  popular  feeling  in  a  prolonged  orgy  of 
riot  and  outrage  which  was  destined,  before 
its  end,  to  bring  the  Chinese  dynasty  to  the 
verge  of  ruin,  and  to  involve  China  itself  in 
incalculable  damage.  A  factor  which  lent 
strength  to  the  movement— if  it  was  not  in 
intimate  relation  with  it,  was  a  coup  d'etat 
which  in  1898  led  to  the  relegation  of  the 
young  Emperor  Kwangsu  to  retirement,  and 
the  placing  of  supreme  power  once  more  in 
the  hands  of  his  aunt,  the  Dowager  Empress. 
1  he  Dowager  Empress  was  supported  by  the 
most  reactionary  elements  in  the  country, 
and  she  personally  manifested  a  bigoted 
hatred  of  all  foreigners  and  the  innovations 
which  they  brought  in  their  train.  Out- 
wardly, however,  the  movement  to  which 
we  have  referred  was  a  popular  ebullition, 
with  aims  which  ran  counter  to  governmental 
authority.  The  motive  force  was  supplied 
by  a  secret  society,  known  by  the  name  of 
I-ho-chuan,  literally.  Patriotic  Harmony  Fists, 
or  to  adopt  the  most  expressive  English 
synonym — Boxers.  1  he  organisation  has  a 
ritual  in  which  gymnastic  posturing  plays  a 
considerable  part,  and  upon  this  for  special 
purposes  of  the  anti-foreign  crusade  was 
cleverly  grafted  a  cult  of  occultism,  well 
calculated  to  attract  the  ignorant  and  super- 
stitious. Full  membership  was  held  to  confer 
immunity  from  bullets,  to  enable  initiates  to 
walk  on  air,  and  to  do  many  miraculous 
things.  The  propaganda,  with  this  attractive 
embroidery,  soon  made  itself  felt  in  the  fertile 
soil  of  Chinese  nationalism.  Numbers  flocked 
to  the  Boxers'  standards  wherever  they  were 
raised,  and  soon  the  outside  world  had 
evidence  of  the  tendencies  of  the  movement. 

The  first  symptom  of  the  outbreak  was 
rioting  in  Southern  Pechili  in  January,  1900. 
No  steps  were  taken  by  the  authorities  to  quell 
the  disturbances,  and  as  they  were  gradually 
assuming  a  more  serious  aspect,  the  diplo- 
matic representatives  at  Peking,  on  January 
27th,  made  a  joint  protest  to  the  Tsung  li 
Yamen,  demanding  the  publication  of  an 
edict  proscribing  the  Bo.xer  organisation  and 
their  doctrines.  The  Chinese  authorities  after 
their  usual  manner,  attempted  to  evade 
responsihilitv,  but,  finding  that  the  European 
powers  were  in  earnest,  they  intimated  that 
thev  would  issue  the  required  edict.  A 
proclamation  of  some  kind  was  made,  but  it 


96       TWENTIETH  CENTI  RY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONOKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


was  utterly  futile,  and  the  rcvoUitionary 
mowinent  sained  new  streiisth  and  activity 
with  the  immunity  it  enjoyed.  Towards  the 
end  ot  April  outtireaks  iKXurred  at  Tientsin. 
directed  by  a  bnmch  organisation  known  as 
the  Stct  of  the  Red  Fish.  Native  Christians 
were  the  special  objects  of  attack,  and 
property  belonging  tt)  the  French  missionaries 
greatly  suffered.  Urgent  protests  were  lodged 
against  the  kiwlessness  of  the  mob.  but  the 
authorities  either  would  not  or  could  not 
control  the  disruptive  forces  which  had  been 
let  loose.  Soon  the  outbreak  extended  to 
Peking,  and  the  streets  became  full  of  roughs 
who  attacked  native  converts  and  insulted 
every  foreigner  they  met.  At  length  the 
ri»>ting  tixik  the  alanning  form  of  tearing  up 
the  rails,  and  so  severing  communic~ition  with 
the  t-oast.  Impressed  with  the  growing 
seriousness  of  the  situation,  the  diplomatic 
representatives  called  for  assistance  from 
their  respective  squadrons,  and  some  four 
hundred  and  fifty  men  were  sent  up.  The 
trouble  now  assumed  an  even  graver  form. 
Violent   outbreaks   occurred   in   North   China, 


the  foreigners  with  increasing  violence  and 
determination,  murdering  and  destroying 
wherever  the  hated  influence  was  apparent. 
An  urgent  call  from  the  Legations  to  the 
Admirals  for  reinforcements  led  to  the 
prompt  despatch  from  Tientsin,  on  June  loth, 
of  a  mixed  force  of  fifteen  hundred  sailors, 
under  the  personal  command  of  Admiral  Sir 
Edward  Seymour,  the  senior  naval  ofticer  on 
the  station.  The  detachment  entrained  for 
Peking,  but  at  I.o-Ja  they  found  that  the 
permanent  way  had  been  destroyed,  and  that 
the  route  was  barred  by  a  large  body  of 
Boxers.  As  he  had  with  him  only  three 
obsolete  field  pieces,  and  a  badly  equipped 
commissariat.  Admiral  Seymour  deemed  it 
advis;ible  not  to  attempt  to  proceed.  He 
conducted  a  masterly  retreat  to  a  point 
outside  Tientsin  where  he  remained  en- 
trenched until  his  little  force  was  relieved  by 
a  column  of  allied  troops  on  June  25th.  On 
the  following  day  the  united  force  marched 
into  the  foreign  settlements,  taking  their 
wounded  with  them  in  safety.  While 
Admiral   Seymour's   expedition   was   proceed- 


A    PONTOON    BRIDGE,    TIENTSIN. 


and  to  the  destruction  of  the  railway  at 
Paoting  Fu,  was  added  the  murder  of  Messrs. 
Norman  and  Kobcrtson.  two  missionaries  at 
Yunching.  and  the  wholesale  assassination  of 
native  Christians  wherever  met  with.  A 
culminating  feature  of  the  occurrences  was 
the  murder  of  the  Chancellor  of  the  Japanese 
Legation  in  the  streets  of  Tientsin.  The 
seriousness  of  the  situation  had  by  this  time 
impressed  itself  upon  the  foreign  Govern- 
ments, and  soon  a  strong  fleet — the  largest 
ever  seen  in  Chinese  waters — assembled  at 
Taku.  But  the  crisis  had  now  got  beyond 
the  point  when  any  naval  demonstration, 
however  imposing,  could  ameliorate  it.  The 
Boxers  caught  up  in  their  movement  all 
classes  of  the  population.  In  some  places 
the  officials  openly  identified  themselves  with 
it ;  in  others  they  were  powerless  to  resist 
it  Later  it  became  perfectly  evident  that  the 
Government  itself  was  deeply  involved  in  the 
propaganda.  At  Peking,  as  June  advanced. 
the  position  of  affairs,  owing  to  the  calculated 
inactivity  of  the  authorities,  became  alarming. 
The  Boxers  cairied  on  their  crusade  against 


ing,  momentous  events  had  occurred  else- 
where. On  Saturday,  June  i6th,  owing  to 
the  menacing  character  of  the  situation  in 
Chihli,  the  Admirals  sent  in  a  demand  for 
the  cession  of  the  Taku  forts  before  the  next 
morning.  The  Chinese  not  only  rejected  the 
ultimatum  but  commenced  hostilities  against 
the  fleet.  The  inevitable  result  followed. 
The  forts  were  successfully  attacked  by  the 
fleet,  and  finally  occupied  by  the  allied  forces. 
Two  days  after  these  occurrences  the 
Tsung  li  Yamen  sent  a  notification  to  the 
Embassies  demanding  their  withdrawal  by 
4  p.m.  the  following  day.  The  reason 
assigned  for  this  step  was  the  attack  by  the 
Allies  on  the  Taku  forts,  but  the  general 
concensus  of  opinion  of  those  who  had 
opportunities  of  watching  on  the  spot  the 
development  of  the  crisis,  is  that  the  Chinese 
authorities  were  already  at  this  period  so 
deeply  involved  in  the  anti-foreign  movement 
that  the  Taku  affair  only  indirectly  influenced 
their  action.  However  that  may  have  been, 
the  foreign  ministers  declined  to  entertain 
the    demand    of    the    Yamen.      They    were 


influenced  in  their  decision  by  the  palpable 
inability  of  the  Chinese  Government,  even  if 
its  good  faith  were  beyond  reproach,  to 
afford  adequate  protection  during  tlie  journey 
to  the  coast,  and  by  the  unavoidable  necessity 
which  would  arise  of  leaving  thousands  of 
native  Christians  who  had  taken  refuge  in 
Peking  to  be  slaughtered  by  the  Boxers. 
When  it  became  known  that  the  Legations 
intended  to  remain,  the  situation  swiftly 
advanced  to  a  tragic  daioitemeiii.  On  the 
very  next  day  the  German  Minister,  Baron 
Von  Ketteler,  was  brutally  murdered  in 
the  Peking  streets  while  on  his  way  to 
interview  the  Chinese  Ministers.  The 
attack  made  on  him  was  the  work  of 
imperial  soldiers,  and  there  can  be  little 
doubt  of  the  direct  complicity  of  high-placed 
ofiicials  in  it.  Its  grave  significance  was  too 
obvious  to  be  ignored  by  the  greatest 
optimist  amongst  the  foreign  ministers. 
Immediately  measures  were  taken  to  place 
the  Legations  in  a  condition  of  defence  to 
withstand  the  attacks  which  it  was  clearly 
seen  were  impending.  Before  twenty-four 
hours  had  elapsed  the  historic  siege  of  the 
Legations  had  been  entered  upon.  The 
details  of  that  thrilling  episode  in  Chinese 
history  are  too  fresh  in  public  memory  to 
require  to  be  related  here.  It  is  only 
necessary  to  say  that  after  weeks  of  almost 
continuous  fighting,  during  which  the 
defending  force  showed  a  splendid  spirit  of 
valour  and  endurance,  the  Legations  were 
relieved  by  an  international  relief  column, 
which,  leaving  Tientsin  on  August  3rd,  and 
pushing  steadily  onwards,  arrived  before 
Peking  on  August  13th,  and  almost 
immediately  raised  the  siege.  On  the  day 
previously  the  imperial  family  had  taken 
flight  into  Shansi  en  route  for  Si-an-fu, 
where  it  was  to  remain  for  many  months  in 
a  not  too  honourable  exile.  The  foreign 
military  occupation  of  the  Chinese  capital 
continued  for  a  rather  lengthened  period,  and 
even  when  the  main  forces  were  withdrawn 
strong  detachments  were  left  behind  as  a 
permanent  measure  of  protection.  Apart 
from  the  humiliation  involved  in  this 
measure  the  Chinese  Government  had  to 
pay  dearly  for  the  ineffaceable  infamy  of  its 
conduct.  The  Peace  Protocol,  finally 
arranged  between  the  envoys  of  the  Treaty 
Powers  and  Prince  Ching  and  the  late  Li 
Hung  Chang,  provided  for  the  payment  of 
an  indenmity  of  ;t65'00°'°°o>  spr^-'i'd  over 
a  period  of  39  years,  and  for  a  revision  of 
commercial  treaties  on  lines  which  were 
little  to  the  taste  of  tlie  reactionary  Chinese 
oflicialdom.  Eventually  three  new  treaties 
were  concluded,  one  with  the  United  King- 
dom, the  second  with  the  United  States,  and 
the  third  with  Japan.  Under  the  British 
Treaty  Changoha  in  Hunan  was  opened  to 
foreign  trade,  and  the  arrangements  with  the 
United  States  and  Japan  provided  for  the 
inclusion  of  Mukden,  Tatunkow,  and  Antung, 
in  Manchuria,  amongst  the  Treaty  ports. 

China  was  not  involved  as  a  belligerent 
in  the  Kusso-Japanese  War  of  1904-5,  but 
the  titanic  struggle  between  the  giant  power 
of  the  north  and  the  little  island  empire 
profoundly  affected  her  interests  directly,  and 
indirectly  it  has  exercised,  and  still  is  e.xer- 
cising,  a  powerful  influence  on  her  people. 
The  stirring  of  the  dry  bones  of  Chinese 
life,  which  is  one  of  the  remarkable  inter- 
national phenomena  of  the  day,  is,  there  can 
be  little  doubt,  an  aftermath  of  the  war. 
The  spectacle  of  the  Japanese  triumphing 
over  the  colossal  might  of  Russia  by  virtue 
of  her  thoroughgoing  adoption  and  intelligent 
application  of  Western  principles  of  life  and 
government,  has  created  in  the  minds  of  the 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       97 


Chinese  people  a  divine  discontent  with  the 
old  order  of  thinjis.  and  from  one  end  of 
the  empire  to  the  other  the  spirit  of  reform 
is  abroad.  Men  wlio  formerly  shouted  arro- 
gantly with  the  crowd  that  China  was  all- 
suHicient  and  needed  nothing  from  without, 
are  now  crying  aloud  in  the  market  places 
for  the  introduction  of  the  features  of 
European  civilisation,  which  has  enabled  to 
be  performed  what  seems  to  the  Eastern 
mind  to  be  the  greatest  miracle  of  the  age. 
Me  would  be  a  bold  man  who  would 
prophesy  how  far  the  movement  will  go. 
Chinese  conservatism,  though  it  has  been 
driven  from  its  entrenchments  by  the  events 
of  the  past  few  years,  is  still  lurking  in  the 
background,  and  circumstances  may  in  the 
future,  as  in  the  past,  bring  it  into  active  life 
once  more.  Looking,  however,  at  the  depth 
and  intensity  of  the  popular  desire  for 
changes  designed  to  be  a  buckler  ag.iinst  the 
assaults  from  without,  which  aforetime   have 


brought  such  lamentable  humiliation  upon 
the  empire,  it  would  appear  that  China  has 
at  last  really  reached  the  parting  of  the  ways. 
The  telegraphs,  the  posts,  and  the  railways, 
which  are  covering  the  vast  dominions  with 
a  network  of  civilised  organisation,  are 
infusing  new  blood  into  the  outworn  arteries, 
and  the  rapidly  growing  native  press  is 
educating  the  inhabitants  to  new  conceptions 
of  life.  Official  policy,  too,  is  taking  to  itself 
more  and  more  of  the  progressive  views 
which  dominate  the  best  systems  of  Western 
government,  while  the  machinery  of  govern- 
ment is  being  in  many  respects  improved  by 
the  mere  elimination  of  old  abuses.  In  time 
there  is  hope  for  China — hope  that  she  may 
yet  rise  to  the  full  height  of  her  greatness 
and  take  her  position  in  the  world  as  one  of 
its  mightiest  forces.  The  fears  entertained 
in  some  quarters  that  a  real  awakening  on 
her  part  would  be  of  disastrous  import  to 
the  peace  of  the  world  are   probably   chimer- 


ical. The  Chinese  are  traditionally  an 
unaggressive  race,  and  there  is  no  reason  to 
suppose  that  the  adoption  of  Western  ideas 
would  work  a  change  within  their  nature. 

Whatever  danger  there  may  be  for  Western 
nations  in  the  regeneration  of  China  lies 
probably  exclusively  in  the  industrial  sphere. 
There,  indeed,  we  may  look  for  startling 
results  when  the  teeming  population  of  the 
empire  is  organised  on  scientific  lines  and 
its  energies  are  turned  to  the  production  of 
manufactures  of  which  Europe  and  America 
have  now  practically  the  monopoly.  Hut 
the  competition,  strenuous  though  it  will  be, 
will  not  necessarily  be  destructive,  for  we 
may  rely  upon  Western  energy,  aptitude  and 
pliability  of  thought,  providing  means  by 
which  the  handicap  of  cheap  Eastern  labour 
will  be  met.  In  any  event  there  will  be  no 
disposition  to  place  obstacles  in  the  way  of 
Chinese  progress  if  her  victories  are  sought 
exclusively  in  commercial  fields. 


CONSTITUTION    AND    LAW. 


THE    LOCAL    LEGISLATURE. 


ONGKOXG  was  created  a 
Crown  Colony  by  Royal 
Charter  bearing  date  April 
5,  1843,  and  on  the  same 
day  a  Royal  Warrant  was 
issued  appointing  the  Chief 
Superintendent  of  Trade  in 
China,  Sir  Henry  Pottinger,  Bart.,  K.C.B., 
Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Colony  and  its  Dependencies.  The  Charter 
provided  for  the  constitution  of  a  Legislative 
Council,  with  whose  advice  the  Governor 
was  empowered  to  enact  Ordinances  "for 
the  peace,  order,  and  good  government  of 
the  Colony."  that  would  have  the  force  of 
law,  subject,  of  course,  to  the  Royal  veto. 
The  constitution  of  the  Government  was 
subsequently  amended  several  times  by  the 
issue  of  Letters  Patent,  but  tlie  alterations 
were  of  a  minor  character,  extending  the 
Governor's  power  of  granting  pardons  to 
criminals  and  remitting  lines,  and  providing 
for  the  administration  of  the  Government  in 
the  event  of  the  Governor's  death,  incapacity, 
or  absence. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  original  Charter  of 
1843,  a  Government  was  promptly  organised, 
and  an  E.xecutive  and  Legislative  Council 
were  formed,  each  consisting  of  three  Official 
members,  exclusive  of  the  Governor.  On 
January  11,  1844,  the  newly  appointed  Legis- 
lative Council  commenced  their  sittings,  and 
in  the  next  four  months  passed  on  an  average 
one  Ordinance  a  week.  Dissatisfaction  soon 
arose  owing  to  the  exclusively  official  char- 
acter of  the  Legislative  Council,  which,  a 
local  journalist  declared,  had  no  real  power. 
"  Such  a  Council,"  he  added,  "  may  suit  the 
Pacha  of  Egypt,  but  in  a  British  Colony  it 
is  shameful." 

Various  changes  took  place  in  the  con- 
stitution of  the  Councils  during  the  next 
year  or  two,  but  in  spite  of  the  continuous 
demands  of  the  British  community  for 
representation,  Sir  John  Davis  refused  during 
his  Governorship  (1844  48)  to  make  any  con- 
cession. The  leading  merchants  of  the 
Colony  drew  up  a  petition  to  the  Home 
Government  in  January,  1849,  praying  for 
some  form  of  popular  representation  on  the 
governing  body— a  privilege  which,  it  was 
pointed  out,  had  not  been  w.thheld  from  any 
other  British  Colony.  Nine  months  later.  Sir 
George  Bonham,  who  was  then  Governor, 
invited  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  to  select 
two  of  their  number  for  admission  to  the 
Legislative  Council. 


When  Sir  J.  Bowring  became  Governor  in 
1854,  the  Legislative  Council  was  presided 
over  by  the  Lieut. -Governor,  and  consisted 
of  six  members — four  officials,  including  the 
President,  and  two  non-ofiicials.  In  the 
following  year  a  proposal  was  submitted  to 
Mr.  Labouchere,  the  Secretary  of  State  for 
the  Colonies,  for  enlarging  the  basis  of  the 
Legislative  Council  by  introducing  four 
additional  official  and  three  non-official  mem- 
bers, giving  a  total  of  thirteen  members, 
exclusive  of  the  Governor.  Mr.  Labouchere 
demurred  to  so  great  an  enlargement,  but 
sanctioned  a  moderate  addition,  and  at  the 
same  time  expressed  his  approval  of  the  steps 
which  had  been  taken  in  laying  the  estimates 
before  the  Legislative  Council,  and  inviting 
their  observations  upon  the  items  of  public 
expenditure.  The  Colonial  Treasurer  and 
Chief  Magistrate,  and  a  third  representative 
of  the  general  community  were  accordingly 
introduced,  the  relative  proportions  of  offi- 
cials and  non-officials  being  thus  preserved — 
the  Council  consisting  of  six  members  of  the 
Government  and  three  representatives  of  the 
community. 

Sir  J.  Bowring  subsequently  added  the 
Surveyor-General  and  then  the  Auditor- 
General  to  the  Council.  This  evoked  a 
spirited  protest  on  December  4,  1858,  from 
the  unofficial  members,  who  pointed  out  that 
His  Excellency  had  now  arrived  at  the  lunn- 
ber  of  official  members  (8)  proposed  by  him 
and  disapproved  by  Mr.  Labouchere,  whereas 
the  unofficial  elem<;nt,  during  the  same  period, 
had  been  increased  by  only  one.  The  pro- 
test appears  to  have  had  no  effect  beyond 
eliciting  an  expression  of  opinion  from  Sir 
H.  Robinson,  who  succeeded  to  the 
Governorship  shortly  afterwards,  that  for 
the  future  the  official  members  should  never 
bear  to  the  unoflicial  members  a  greater 
proportion  than  two  to  one. 

In  the  meantime,  in  consequence  of  the 
independent  attitude  which  was  adopted  by 
so  ne  of  the  officials  —  notably  by  the 
Attorney-General  and  the  Chief  Magistrate — 
it  was  provided  in  1858,  by  order  of  the 
Home  Government,  that  henceforth  they 
must  either  vote  in  favour  of  Government 
measures  or  resign  their  seats.  The  censure 
of  the  Colonial  Treasurer,  under  this  order, 
in  1865,  for  seconding  the  motion  of  an 
unofficial  member  to  eliminate  Irom  the 
estimates  the  item  relating  to  the  military 
contribution  of  the  Colony  brought  a  protest 
from  the  general  community,  who  urged  that 


their  three  representatives  were  practically 
powerless  when  opposed  to  seven  officials 
acting  in  concert.  In  deference  to  this 
representation,  Sir  R.  MacDonnell,  the 
Governor,  on  August  27,  1869,  appointed 
another  unofficial  member  to  a  seat  vacated 
by  an  official,  thereby  reducing  the  disparity 
from  7 — 3  to  6 — 4. 

Subsequently,  however,  the  proportion  fell 
to  five  officials  and  three  unofficials,  and,  on 
February  26,  1880,  the  Hon.  P.  Ryrie  asked 
whether  the  Governor  would  recommend  an 
addition  to  the  number  of  unoflicial  mem- 
bers on  the  ground  that  the  proportion  of 
three  unofficial  members  to  live  official 
members,  besides  the  Governor,  was  unsatis- 
factory. Sir  J.  P.  Hennessy  answered  that 
he  had  already  suggested  to  the  Secretary 
of  State  that  the  number  of  unofficial  mem- 
bers should  be  raised  to  four  or  five,  and  in 
the  following  year  another  unofficial  member 
was  added. 

A  small  measure  of  popular  representation 
was  conceded  by  the  Home  Government  in 
1883,  in  deference  to  the  advice  of  Sir 
George  Bowen,  Ihe  Governor,  and  the 
right  of  nominating  one  member  each  was 
accordingly  given  to  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce and  the  Justices  of  the  Peace.  In 
opening  the  first  meeting  of  the  newly  con- 
stituted Legislative  Council,  on  February 
28th  of  the  following  year,  the  Governor 
used  these  memorable  words:  "It  will 
always  be  one  of  the  most  satisfactory 
reminiscences  of  my  long  public  career  that 
I  have  been  able  to  procure  a  more  ade- 
quate representation  in  this  Council  of  the 
community  at  large.  I  am  confident  that 
the  Government  will  derive  valuable  aid 
from  the  local  knowledge  and  experience  of 
the  unofficial  members,  and  I  also  believe 
that  you  will  agree  with  me  that  tliere 
neither  is,  nor  ought  to  be,  any  antagonism 
between  the  official  and  the  unofficial 
element  in  the  Legislature.  All  the  members 
can  have  no  other  object  but  to  secure  the 
general  welfare,  and  to  advance  the  progress 
of  the  Colony."  His  Excellency  went  on  to 
point  out  that  the  debate  on  the  Governor's  ad- 
dress at  the  opening  of  each  annual  session 
would  afford  the  members  Ihe  usual  constitu- 
tional opportunity  of  expressing  their  opinion 
on  the  conduct  ;uid  proposals  of  the  Govern- 
ment, and  he  recommended  the  appointment 
of  a  Committee  of  Finance  (consisting  of  the 
whole  Council),  a  Committee  of  Laws,  and 
a    Committee    of    Public   Works   to   examine, 


100     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


in  the  hrst  instance,  the  details  o(  every 
propt^sed  vote  and  measure. 

By  ro>-al  instrument,  in  1886,  the  number 
of  official  members  of  the  Legislative 
Council  was  fi.\ed  at  seven,  and  that  of  the 
unofficial  members  at  five. 

In  l9*^  an  appeal  was  addressed  to  the 
House  of  Commons  by  the  residents  of  the 
Colony,  in  favour  of  (I)  the  majority  of  the 
Legislative  Council  being  composed  of  elec- 
ted representatives  of  British  nationality ; 
(2)  perfect  freedom  of  debate  for  the  official 
members,  with  power  to  vote  according  to 
their  conscientious  con\ictions  ;  (3)  complete 
control  in  the  Council  over  loc"al  expen- 
diture ;  (4)  the  management  of  local  affairs, 
and  (5)  a  consultative  voice  in  questions  of 
an  imperial  character.  The  Marquess  of 
Ripon.  in  replying  to  the  petitioners,  ex- 
pressed the  opinion  that  the  Colony  had 
been  well  governed.  The  fact  that  such  a 
politically  timid  race  as  the  Chinese  had 
settled  in  the  Colony  in  such  large  numbers 
was  practical  and  irrefutable  evidence  that  the 
Government  must  at  least  have  possessed 
some  measure  of  strength  and  of  justice. 
Though  holding  out  no  hope  that  Hongkong 
would  cease  to  be  a  Crown  Colony,  and 
stating  that  he  was  not  inclined  to  add  to 
the  numbers  of  the  unofficial  members  of 
the  Legislative  Council  without  increasing 
also  the  number  of  official  members,  the 
noble  Marquess  went  on  to  suggest  that 
"some  understanding  might  be  come  to, 
that,  in  the  case  of  discussion  of  specified 
local  subjects— at  any  rate  so  long  as  there 
was  no  municipality  in  existence  in  Hong- 
kong —  one  or  more  unofficial  members 
should  be  summoned  to  take  part  in  the 
proceedings  in  the  Executive  Council,  with- 
out giving  them  seats  on  the  Council  for  all 
purposes."  On  May  29,  1896,  Mr.  Cham- 
berlain, who  had  meanwhile  succeeded  the 
Marquess  of  Ripon  as  Secretary  of  State  for 
the  Colonies,  wrote,  in  continuation  of  the 
same  subject  :  '•  As  Hongkong  is  to  remain 
a  Crown  Colony,  no  useful  purpose  would 
be  served,  but,  on  the  contrary,  a  consider- 
able amount  of  needless  irritation  would  be 
caused,  by  balancing  even  the  unofficial 
members  and  the  officials.  But,  having 
regard  to  the  fact  that,  in  the  absence  of  the 
Governor,  the  officer  commanding  the  troops 
will  in  future  administer  the  Government,  I 
consider  that  it  would  be  of  advantage  that 
he  should  be  a  member  of  the  Legislative 
Council,  and,  if  he  is  added  to  it,  I  am 
willing  to  add  one  unofficial  member  to  the 
unofficial  bench.  Who  the  latter  should  be, 
and  what  special  interest,  if  any,  he  should 
represent,  I  leave  to  the  Governor  to  deter- 
mine. I  may  observe,  however,  that  the 
Chinese  community  is  the  element  which 
is  least  represented,  while  it  is  also  by  far 
the  most  numerous,  and  that  I  should  regard 
as  valuable  any  step  which  tended  to  attach 
them  more  closely  to  the  British  connexion 
and  to  increase  their  practical  interest  in 
public  affairs."  Mr.  Chamberlain  added  that, 
"in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  Colonial  Govern- 
ment was  discharging  municipal  duties, 
representatives  of  the  citizens  might  fairly 
be  given  a  place  on  the  Executive."  He 
therefore  proposed  that  "the  Executive 
Council  shall  in  future  include  two  unofficial 
members  to  be  selected  at  the  discretion  of 
the  Governor.  It  is  obviously  desirable," 
he  proceeded,  "  that  they  should,  as  a  rule, 
be  chosen  from  among  the  unofficial  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislative  Council,  and  the 
choice  should,  and  no  doubt  will  be,  inspired 
by  consideration  of  personal  merit,  and  have 
no  reference  to  the  particular  class  or  race 
to  which  the  persons  chosen  belong." 


In  accordance  with  the  terms  of  this 
despatch,  the  number  of  public  representa- 
tives upon  the  Legislative  Council  was 
increased  to  six,  and  two  unofficial  members 
were  added  to  the  E.xecutive  Council.  At 
the  present  day  the  Executive  consists  of 
eight  members,  and  the  Legislative  Council 
of  thirteen  members,  not  including  the 
Governor,  who  presides. 

Concurrently  with  the  demand  (or  some 
measure  of  popular  representation  on  the 
Legislative  Council  in  January,  1849,  an 
agitation  arose  in  favour  of  a  system  of 
Municipal  Government.  In  reply  to  a  clause 
urging  this  reform  in  the  petition  submitted 
to  the  House  of  Commons  by  the  leading 
merchants  of  the  Colony,  Earl  Grey,  in  the 
following  October,  wrote  that  he  could  see 
no  general  objection  to  the  proposal,  but  he 
hesitated  to  pronounce  upon  it  until  some 
definite  scheme  was  formulated.  Accordingly, 
in  November,  Sir  George  Bonham,  the  Gover- 
nor, after  expressing  his  agreement  with  the 
principle  of  giving  the  ratepayers  some  form 
of  Municipal  Government,  although  doubting 
the  practicability  of  its  application  to  Hong- 
kong, requested  fifteen  unoflicial  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  whom  he  summoned  to  a  con- 
ference, to  consult  together  upon  the  organi- 
sation of  a  "  Municipal  Committee  of  Police 
Commissioners."  At  their  first  meeting  on 
December  6,  1849,  the  Justices  of  the  Peace 
passed  the  following  resolutions  : — First,  that 
no  advantage  could  be  derived  from  having  a 
Municipal  Council  unless  the  entire  manage- 
ment of  the  police,  of  the  streets  and  roads 
within  the  precincts  of  the  town,  and  of  all 
other  matters  was  given  to  the  Corporation  or 
confided  to  it ;  and,  secondly,  that,  whereas  the 
mode  of  raising  so  much  of  the  revenue  from 
land  rents  is  only  retained  as  being  the  most 
convenient  and  is  in  lieu  of  assessment  and 
taxes,  consequently  the  amount  raised  from 
that  source,  together  with  the  ;^3,ooo  or 
;f4,ooo  raised  from  licences  and  rents,  should, 
with  the  police  assessments,  be  made  applic- 
able, so  far  as  may  be  required,  for  municipal 
purposes. 

In  response  to  this.  Sir  George  Bonham, 
being  desirous  of  meeting  the  wishes  of  the 
community  as  far  as  possible,  offered,  on 
January  10,  1851,  to  place  the  whole 
management  of  the  police  under  the  control 
of  a  Municipal  Committee,  on  condition  that 
the  entire  expense  of  the  force  was  met  by  an 
adequate  police  tax.  He  further  proposed  to 
hand  over  to  this  Committee  of  Management 
all  streets,  roads,  and  sewers,  on  the  under- 
standing that  the  necessary  funds  were 
provided,  either  by  an  assessed  tax  on  real 
property,  or  by  a  tax  upon  horses  and  car- 
riages, as  the  general  revenue  of  the  Colony 
would  prove  insufficient  for  the  purpose.  The 
Justices  replied  declining  both  the  Governor's 
offers.  Whilst  expressing  their  willingness 
to  undertake  the  duties  of  a  Municipal  Com- 
mittee, they  objected,  first,  that  any  further 
tax  would  be  injurious,  as  the  cost  of  living 
was  already  exorbitant  ;  and,  secondly,  that 
the  police  tax  would  not  be  sufficient  to 
provide  the  necessary  funds,  because,  whilst 
the  Colony  remained  a  rendezvous  for  pirates 
and  outlaws,  the  police  force  was  too  small, 
and  was  composed  of  too  untrustworthy  and 
ill-paid  material.  The  discussion  closed  with 
the  Governor's  declaration,  on  March  15, 
1851,  that  "As  the  Justices  objected  to  any 
further  taxes,  and  as  application  to  the  Home 
Government  for  further  grants  would,  in  view 
of  recent  discussions  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  be  of  no  avail,  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  meet  the  views  of  the  Justices." 

From  this  date  the  matter  seems  to  have 
lain     dormant    in     the    minds    of    the    local 


community  until  1894,  when  a  memorial  on 
this  and  cognate  subjects  was  addrcssetl  to 
the  Home  Government,  as  previously  stated. 
The  Marquess  of  Ripon  replied  that,  althoujih 
he  would  like  to  see  a  Municipal  Council 
established  in  Hongkong,  he  was  not  prepared 
to  sanction  any  important  change  of  adminis- 
tration "  until  the  necessary  measures  for 
protecting  the  health  of  the  Colony  had  been 
finally  decided  upon  and  brouglit  into  opera- 
tion." Moreover,  his  Lordship  foresaw  the 
difficulty  of  separating  Municipal  from  Colonial 
matters.  Referring  to  the  subject  in  his 
famous  despatch  of  May  29,  1896,  Mr. 
Chamberlain,  who  was  then  Secretary  of 
State  for  the  Colonies,  declared  that  it 
seemed  to  him  impracticable  to  grant  a 
Municipal  Council  to  Hongkong,  "for  this 
reason,  among  others  :  that  the  Colony  and 
the  Municipality  would  be  in  great  measure 
co-extensive,  and  it  would  be  almost  im- 
possible to  draw  the  line  between  Colonial 
and  Municipal  matters."  In  these  circum- 
stances, as  has  been  seen,  the  right  hon. 
gentleman  advocated  the  inclusion  of  two 
unofficial  menihcrs  in  the  Executive  Council. 

In  the  meantime,  that  is  to  say  in  1883,  as 
the  result  of  a  report  made  by  Mr.  Osbert 
Chadwick  on  the  deplorable  sanitary  con- 
dition of  the  Colony,  a  permanent  Sanitary 
Board,  consisting  of  eight  members,  had  been 
established  with  a  nominated  unoflicial 
element.  This  Board  was  reconstituted  under 
the  Public  Health  Ordinance  of  1887,  and 
the  public  were  granted  the  right  of  electing 
two  representatives,  an  unofficial  majority 
being  also  conceded.  In  1895,  "i'^  Medical 
Officer  of  Health  was  appointed  to  a  seat  on 
the  Board,  whereupon  all  the  unoflicial 
members,  save  one,  resigned  as  a  protest. 
Eventually  the  storm  subsided,  and,  in 
deference  to  the  opinion  of  the  general 
community  ascertained  by  a  plebiscite  taken 
by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  an  ordinance 
was  passed  in  1901  n.\ing  the  official  repre- 
sentation at  four,  and  the  unofficial  at  six. 
Two  years  later,  however,  the  Sanitary  Board 
was  converted  into  a  Sanitary  Department  of 
the  Government,  presided  over  by  the 
Principal  Civil  Medical  Officer,  who  was 
held  directly  responsible  for  the  administra- 
tion of  sanitary  matters.  By  tliis  change, 
which  was  based  upon  a  report  presented  by 
Mr.  Chadwick  and  Prof.  Simpson,  the  Board 
became  little  more  than  an  advisory  com- 
mittee. In  1907  a  Commission  deplored  this 
practical  disfranchisement  of  the  public,  and 
recommended  that  any  matters  relating  to 
sanitation  (except  control  of  the  water  supply, 
public  roads,  and  sewers),  building  nuisances, 
and  the  construction  or  alteration  of  buildings 
which  were  then  dealt  with  by  the  building 
authority  should  be  transferred  to  the  Sanitary 
Board,  to  be  hereafter  designated  the  Sanitary 
and  Building  Board  —  composed  of  four 
official  and  six  unofficial  members — which 
should  elect  its  own  president,  have  the 
complete  ordering  of  its  own  affairs,  and  be 
accountable  to  the  Governor  for  the  expen- 
diture of  funds  voted  by  the  Legislative 
Council,  on  estimates  furnished  by  the  Board. 

In  response  to  these  recommendations,  the 
Government  introduced  a  Bill  in  March,  1908, 
which  provided  for  the  transference  of  the 
duties  of  the  Board,  under  the  Building 
Ordinance  to  the  Public  Works  Department, 
as  a  means  of  ending  the  division  of 
authority,  of  which  complaint  had  been  made. 
The  constitution  of  the  Board  it  was  arranged 
should  be  altered  by  the  withdrawal  of  the 
Principal  Civil  Medical  Officer,  and  the 
Captain  Superintendent  of  Police,  in  whose 
stead  a  cadet,  with  experience  of  the  Chinese, 
and    the    Medical    Officer   of    Health   should 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     101 


be  appointed.  The  cadet  was  to  act  as 
administrative  head  of  the  department,  and 
be  responsible  to  the  Government,  and  not,  as 
the  Commission  sujigested,  to  the  Sanitary 
Board.  In  regard  to  the  other  points 
raised,  it  was  proposed  that  the  head  of 
the  department  should,  before  March  31st 
of   each    year,   lay   the   estimates   before    the 


Sanitary  Board  for  discussion,  together  with 
any  proposals  which  he  might  liave  to  make 
regarding  works  of  a  sanitary  nature  included 
in  the  vote  for  public  works  e.xtraordinary ; 
that  he  should  consult  the  Sanitary  Board 
on  all  changes  giving  effect  to  sanitary  bye- 
laws  ;  that  he  should  inform  the  Board  of 
any  change  in   the  organisation   of  the   staff  ; 


that  he  should  inform  them  regarding  any 
recommendations  for  appointment  or  leave 
or  dismissal  of  the  European  staff  ;  and  that 
he  should  lay  before  them  any  complaint  of 
the  public  regarding  the  staff.  This  measure 
encountered  strong  opposition,  but  it  passed 
into  law  in  substantially  this  form  on  July  3, 
1908. 


THE    COURTS. 


When  the  East  India  Company's  monopoly 
of  trade  in  China  ceased,  an  Act  was  passed 
in  the  third  and  fourth  years  of  the  reign  of 
William  IV.,  conferring  upon  the  Crown  the 
power  of  appointing  Superintendents  of  Trade 
and  of  governing  by  Orders  in  Council  all 
British  subjects  within  the  dominions  of  the 
Emperor  of  China.  Under  the  powers  granted 
by  this  Act  a  Court  of  Justice  was  appointed 
in  Canton,  with  criminal  and  admiralty  juris- 
diction, for  the  trial  of  all  offences  and  the 
settlement  of  all  cases  that  might  be  brought 
before  it.  Of  this  court  the  Superintendent 
of  Trade  was  president.  When,  under  the 
Treaty  of  Nanking  in  1842,  Hongkong  was 
ceded  to  Great  Britain,  and  four  other  ports 
were  thrown  open  to  trade,  the  Emperor  of 
China  renounced  all  authority  over  British 
subjects,  and,  accordingly,  in  the  sixth  and 
seventh  years  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Victoria 
Acts  were  passed  empowering  the  Superin- 
tendent of  Trade,  at  that  time  the  Governor 
of  Hongkong,  to  enact,  with  the  advice  of 
the  Legislative  Council  of  the  Colony,  such 
laws  and  ordinances  as  might  seem  "  neces- 
sary for  the  peace,  order,  and  good  govern- 
ment of  Her  Majesty's  subjects  within  the 
dominions  of  the  Emperor  of  China,"  and 
"  within  any  vessel  not  more  than  100  miles 
from  the  coast." 

By  an  order  of  the  Privy  Council  dated 
January  4,  1843,  the  Criminal  and  Admiralty 
Courts,  which  had  been  held  at  Canton  since 
1833,  were  removed  to  Hongkong,  and  they 
were  granted  jurisdiction  over  British  subjects 
in  the  "  island  and  within  the  dominions  of  the 
Emperor  of  China,  and  the  ports  and  havens 
thereof,  and  on  the  high  seas  within  100  miles 
of  the  coast  of  China."  It  was  further  directed 
that  the  Court  should  be  held  by  the  Chief 
Superintendent  of  Trade. 

In  the  meantime  formal  official  possession 
had  been  taken  of  the  island  of  Hongkong, 
and  on  April  30,  1841,  Captain  Elliott,  the 
British  plenipotentiary  in  China,  issued  a 
warrant  appointing  Major  Caine  Ciiief  Magis- 
trate, requiring  him  in  the  case  of  natives 
to  exercise  authority  "  according  to  the  laws, 
customs,  and  usages  of  China,"  and  in  the 
case  of  all  others  "  according  to  the  customs 
and  usages  of  British  police  law."  The  proviso 
was  added  that  the  head  of  the  Government 
should  be  consulted  in  any  case  where  the 
crime,  according  to  Chinese  law,  involved 
imprisonment  for  more  than  three  months, 
penalties  exceeding  ?4oo,  corporal  punishment 
exceeding  a  hundred  lashes,  or  capital  punish- 
ment. On  the  same  date  were  published 
"  rules  and  regulations  for  the  British  mer- 
chant shipping  and  for  the  marine  magis- 
trates." In  the  following  year  the  powers 
of  the  Chief  Magistrate  and  of  the  Marine 
Magistrate  were  increased  in  certain  respects, 
the  jurisdiction  of    the    Chief   Magistrate    in 


civil  matters  being  raised  to  $250,  with  power 
to  confine  debtors  if  necessary. 

In  the  Charter  under  which  Hongkong 
was  created  a  Crown  Colony  in  1843, 
clauses  were  contained  authorising  the  estab- 
lishment of  properly  constituted  courts  to 
administer  the  law,  the  Governor  being 
empowered  to  remit  any  fine  not  exceeding 
£50,  to  suspend  the  payment  of  penalties 
above  that  amount  until  the  Royal  pleasure 
was  ascertained,  and  to  grant  a  free  and 
unconditional  pardon  to  any  convicted 
person.  The  Chief  Magistrate  remained  the 
chief  judicial  officer  in  the  Colony  until 
1844,  when  a  Chief  Justice  was  appointed. 
In  October  of  the  same  year  the  Supreme 
Court  was  opened,  and,  except  for  the 
Criminal  and  Admiralty  Court  presided  over 
by  Sir  Henry  Pottinger,  the  Governor  and 
Chief- Superintendent  of  Trade  under  the  old 
law,  this  was  the  first  time  that  a  regularly 
constituted  Criminal  Court  for  trial  by  jury 
had  sat  in  China. 

It  was  enacted  that  the  law  of  England 
should  be  in  full  force  except  where  it 
might  be  inapplicable  to  the  local  circum- 
stances of  the  Colony  or  its  inhabitants,  and 
that  in  all  matters  relating  to  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Supreme  Court  the  practice  of 
the  English  courts  should  obtain  unless,  and 
until,  otherwise  ordered  by  rule  of  the  Court. 
The  same  jurisdiction  as  that  whicli  was  law- 
fully held  by  the  judges  in  England,  both  on 
the  Common  Law  and  Chancery  side,  was 
conferred  upon  the  Supreme  Court  of  Hong- 
kong, and  express  power  was  given  to  the 
Court  to  admit  and  enrol  barristers  and 
solicitors  to  practice  their  profession  in  the 
Colony.  Power,  also,  was  given  to  the 
Chief  Justice  to  order  the  arrest  of  abscond- 
ing debtors. 

A  court  with  Admiralty  jurisdiction  within 
the  Colony  was  created  by  Letters  Patent  of 
January  10,  1846.  It  was  coinposed  of  the 
Governor,  the  Chief  Justice,  the  Officer 
Commanding  the  Troops,  the  Colonial 
Secretary,  the  Chief  Police  Magistrate,  and 
the  flag  officers  or  captains  of  ships  of  war 
in  the  harbour.  Either  of  these  com- 
missioners could  examine  or  commit  those 
charged  with  piracy.  Trials  could  be  held 
by  three  of  the  commissioners,  including 
the  Governor  or  the  Chief  Justice.  The 
Court  was  opened  on  January  14,  1847,  with 
a  grand  jury  and  petty  jury  in  attendance. 
It  was  abolished  in  1850,  and  its  functions 
were  transferred  to  the  Supreme  Court. 

In  1847,  the  Supreme  Court  was  so  over- 
burdened with  trivial  cases  that  the  powers 
of  the  Magistrates  and  Justices  of  the  Peace 
were  extended.  With  the  object  of  further 
relieving  the  congestion,  a  Court  of  Petty 
Session  was  established  in  1849.  This  court 
sat  once  a  week,   and   was    composed    of    a 


Magistrate,  who  occupied  the  chair,  and  such 
of  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  as  cared  to 
attend.  Although  this  change  was  a  step  in 
the  right  direction,  the  Ordinance  under 
which  it  was  effected  unfortunately  left  the 
stipendiary  during  the  remaining  five  days 
of  the  week  invested  with  powers  which 
were  formerly  exercised  only  by  a  judge 
and  jury. 

This  arrangement  continued  in  force  until 
1862,  when  a  Court  of  Summary  Jurisdiction, 
presided  over  by  a  judge  called  the  Judge 
of  the  Court  of  Summary  Jurisdiction,  was 
established,  with  power  to  deal  with  cases 
in  which  the  amount  involved  did  not 
exceed  $r,ooo.  In  order  to  make  provision 
for  the  salary  of  the  new  judge,  the  salaries 
of  the  Chief  Magistrate  and  the  Assistant 
Magistrate  were  abolished,  and  two  Police 
Magistrates  were  appointed  in  their  stead. 
From  this  date  the  Justices  of  the  Peace 
ceased  to  have  any  criminal  jurisdiction,  and 
at  the  present  day  their  powers  are  confined 
to  granting  licenses,  visiting  the  gaol,  hos- 
pitals, and  asylums,  and  awarding  punishment 
to  refractory  prisoners  when  the  power  of 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Gaol  is  not  sufficient 
to  deal  adequately  with  the  case.  The  Court 
of  Summary  Jurisdiction  was  abolished  in 
1873,  its  powers  being  transferred  to  the 
Supreme  Court,  over  the  summary  jurisdiction 
of  which  a  puisne  judge  was  appointed  to 
preside. 

By  an  Order  in  Council  dated  April  17, 
1844,  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Consular  Officers 
residing  at  the  several  ports  were  invested 
with  jurisdiction  over  British  subjects  within 
their  respective  districts  for  the  repression 
and  punishment  of  crime,  and  for  the  settle- 
ment of  disputes  and  contentions.  In  the 
exercise  of  this  authority  it  was  stipulated 
that  they  were  to  be  governed  by  the  laws 
and  ordinances  promulgated  by  the  Super- 
intendent of  Trade  (who  was  at  that  time, 
and  for  many  years  after,  the  Governor  of 
Hongkong)  with  the  advice  of  the  Legislative 
Council  of  Hongkong.  The  right  of  appeal 
to  the  Supreme  Court  of  Hongkong  in  certain 
cases  was  allowed.  By  an  Order  of  the 
Queen  in  Council  in  November,  1853,  the 
powers  of  the  Consular  officers  and  Super-, 
intendent  of  Trade  were  extended,  authority 
was  vested  in  the  Chief  Superintendent  of 
Trade  (as  distinct  from  the  Governor  of 
Hongkong),  and  in  the  Consuls  and  Vice- 
Consuls  in  their  respective  districts,  subject 
to  the  approval  of  the  Chief  Superintendent, 
to  make  and  enforce  by  fine  and  imprison- 
ment rules  and  regulations  for  the  observance 
of  treaties,  and  for  the  peace,  order,  and 
good  government  of  British  sul)jects  within 
the  dominions  of  the  Emperor  of  China. 
The  Consuls  were  further  authorised  to  hear 
and    decide    all    civil    suits    between    British 


102     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


subjects  or  between  British  subjects  and 
Chinese,  subject  in  the  former  case  to  appeal 
to  the  Supreme  Court  of  Hongkong  should 
the  sum  in  dispute  exceed  $1,000.  and  to 
the  Chief  Superintendent  in  a  suit  for  less 
than  that  amount.  The  Consuls  were  em- 
powered to  inquire  into  all  crimes  and 
offences  charged  against  any  British  subject, 
and.  on  conviction,  to  iuHict  the  punishment 
provided  for  under  the  Order.  They  were 
also  invested  with  the  power  of  deporting 
refractory  subjects.  Appeals  from  the  de- 
cisions of  the  Consular  Court  relating  to 
breaches  of  rules  and  regulations  lay  lo  the 
Chief  Superintendent.  For  all  other  crimes 
and  offences  recognised  as  such  under  Ihe 
law  of  England,  the  Chief  Superintendent, 
Consuls,  or  Vice-Consuls  were  empowered 
to  impose  a  fine  not  exceeding  $1,000,  to 
inflict  a  sentence  of  twelve  months'  imprison- 
ment, or  to  send  the  case  for  trial  before 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Hongkong. 

The  new  regime  was  not  altogether  satis- 
factory. In  the  case  of  murder  or  arson  the 
maximum  punishment  which  the  Consuls 
could  award  was  inadequate,  yet  it  was  the 
only  one  that  could  with  certainty  be  applied. 
To  send  a  criminal  to  Hongkong  for  trial 
was.  as  a  general  rule,  equivalent  to  acquit- 
ting him,  for  in  the  case  of  serious  crimes 
against  Chinese  it  was  impossible  to  adduce 
sufficient  evidence  to  obtain  a  conviction 
from  a  Hongkong  jury.  In  civil  suits,  which 
were  increasing  daily  in  number  and  impor- 
tance with  the  growth  of  trade,  the  Consular 
Officers  were  without  that  knowledge  of  the 
law  which  alone  could  ensure  a  proper 
respect  for  their  decisions,  and  merchants 
and  others  were  put  to  great  expense  by 
being  obliged  to  take  their  cnses  either 
directly,  or  indirectly  by  appeal,  to  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Hongkong,  where  the 
judgments  of  Ihe  inferior  courts  were  in- 
variably reversed. 

After  1859  the  Governor  of  Hongkong  had 
no    jurisdiction    beyond    the   territorial   limits 


of  the  Colony.  The  Minister  Plenipotentiary 
and  Chief  Superintendent  of  Trade  at  the 
Court  of  Peking  had  power  to  make  and 
enforce  all  such  rules  and  regulations  as 
appeared  to  him  necessary  or  expedient  for 
the  preservation  of  peace  and  order  among 
British  subjects  of  all  classes  in  China,  and 
for  the  maintenance  of  friendly  relations  with 
the  Chinese.  In  all  cases  that  arose  under 
these  rules  and  regulations  he  was  the  judge 
of  appeal.  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Minister 
in  Japan  was  granted  similar  power  in  that 
kingdom. 

On  March  9,  1865,  a  Queen's  Order  in 
Council  was  passed  which  hnally  severed  the 
British  communities  in  China  and  Japan  from 
the  Colony  of  Hongkong  by  giving  them  a 
Supreme  Court  of  Civil  and  Criminal  Judica- 
ture at  Shanghai,  with  subordinate  tribunals 
at  the  various  courts.  Shortly  after  this 
there  was  an  agitation  in  favour  of  making 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Hongkong  the  head 
Court  of  Appeal.  This  agitation  arose  in 
consequence  of  different  decisions  which  had 
been  given  with  regard  to  the  bankruptcy 
laws  by  the  Chief  Justice  of  Hongkong  and 
the  Chief  Judge  of  Shanghai.  The  one  in- 
sisted that  before  a  firm  could  file  a  petition 
in  bankruptcy  it  was  necessary  for  all  the 
partners  to  be  present,  whereas  the  other 
held  that  the  atiendance  of  the  resident 
partner  or  partners  was  sufficient.  Nothing, 
however,  resulted  from  the  agitation  or  from 
the  demand  which  was  put  forward  in  1878 
for  the  creation  of  a  Court  of  Appeal  inter- 
mediate between  the  Supreme  Courts  of 
Hongkong,  China,  and  Japan  and  the  Privy 
Council. 

The  constitution  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Hongkong  was  amended  in  1873  by  an  ordi- 
nance which  enacted,  inter  alia,  that  a  puisne 
judge  should  be  appointed  to  perform  any 
judicial  or  other  act  which  the  Chief  Justice 
was  authorised  to  perform  ;  and  that  there 
should  be  an  appeal  from  every  decision  of 
either  of  the  judges,  or  from  the  decision  of  a 


magistrate,  to  a  full  court,  consisting  of  the 
Chief  Justice  and  the  Puisne  Judge,  the  former 
possessing  a  double  or  casting  vote  in  the 
event  of  there  being  a  difference  of  opinion. 

This  Ordinance  remains  in  force  to-day. 
Criminal  Sessions  are  held  monthly,  and 
they  are  presided  over  by  the  Chief  Justice, 
or,  in  his  absence,  by  the  Puisne  Judge. 
When  there  is  a  heavy  calendar  both  Judges 
hold  courts,  and  have  power  to  pass 
sentence  of  death  subject  to  the  veto  of 
the  Governor  in  Council.  In  normal  cir- 
cumstances the  principal  duties  of  the  Puisne 
Judge  are  to  preside  over  the  Court  of 
Summary  Jurisdiction,  which  is  analagoiis 
to  a  County  Court  in  Great  Britain.  For 
obvious  reason  the  constitution  of  the  Court 
of  Appeal  is  regarded  as  capable  of  improve- 
ment, and  for  some  time  there  has  been  a 
demand  for  the  appointment  of  a  third 
judge,  for  which  the  pressure  of  work  in 
the  Supreme  Court  alone  furnishes  ample 
justification.  In  the  case  of  a  suit  involving 
not  less  than  ;£l500  there  is  a  final  appeal  to 
the  Privy  Council. 

Barristers  and  attorneys  who  have  qualified 
in  the  United  Kingdom  are  alone  entitled  to 
practise  before  the  courts.  In  the  early 
days  both  branches  of  the  legal  profession 
were  amalgamated,  but  later  on,  when  the 
number  of  legal  practitioners  increased,  they 
were  kept  distinct,  in  spite  of  the  protests  of 
the  general  community.  By  an  Ordinance 
passed  in  1856  it  was  provided  that  any 
person  who  had  served  for  not  less  than 
three  years  as  Registrar,  Deputy  Registrar, 
Clerk,  or  Interpreter  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
or  of  a  judge  of  that  court,  as  a  clerk  to 
the  Attorney-General,  or  as  a  clerk  of  the 
peace,  should  be  eligible  to  practise  as  an 
attorney,  solicitor,  or  proctor  upon  satisfying 
a  Board  of  Examiners,  consisting  of  the 
Attorney-General,  a  Barrister  or  Registrar  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  and  two  practising 
attorneys,  of  his  fitness.  This  Ordinance, 
however,  was  repealed  in  1871. 


THE    LAWS. 


By  C.   D.    WILKINSON,    Solicitor,   Hongkong. 


By  the  first  Charter  of  the  Colony  of  Hong- 
kong in  1843,  it  was  provided  that  the  laws 
then  existing  in  England  should  be  in  force 
in  Hongkong,  except  so  far  as  they  were 
inapplicable  to  the  ItK-al  circumstances  of  the 
Colony  or  of  its  inhabitants.  The  local  cir- 
cumstances necessarily  rendered  inapplicable 
certain  laws  then,  and  still,  in  force  in 
England  ;  such,  for  instance,  as  the  Mortmain 
Act,  which,  although  the  question  of  its  appli- 
cability to  Hongkong  has  never  arisen  in  the 
Court  of  this  Colony,  was  declared  by  the 
House  ol  Lords  in  the  case  of  Whicker  v. 
Hume  17.  H.L.,  124I  not  to  be  applicable  to  any 
of  the  colonics.  It  would  appear  never  to  have 
been  definitely  settled  by  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Hongkong  that  any  particular  statute  or 
statutes  in  force  in  England,  prior  to  1843, 
has  or  have  no  application  to  this  Colony. 
The  question  seems  to  have  arisen  but  once, 
when  two  persons  were  convicted  by  the 
magistrate  of  the  criminal  offence  of  champerty 
and  maintenance.  The  defendants  in  this  case 
appealed  to  the  full  Court  against  the  magis- 
trate's decision,  and  on   their  behalf  it  was 


argued,  upon  the  strength  of  the  judgment 
of  the  Privy  Council  in  the  case  of  Ram 
Coomar  Coondoo  and  Anor  v.  Chundar  Canto 
Mookerjee  (2  Ap.  Ca.  :  186),  that  the  old 
English  laws  with  regard  to  champerty  and 
maintenance,  which,  though  unaltered,  had 
fallen  into  desuetude  in  England,  were  as 
much  inapplicable  to  the  inhabitants  of  Hong- 
kong as,  it  was  held  in  the  case  cited,  they 
were  to  the  inhabitants  of  India.  The  full 
Court  did  not  decide  the  point,  but  allowed 
the  appeal  on  other  grounds. 

The  provisions  of  the  Ordinance  of  1845 
that  "  the  law  of  England  shall  be  in  full 
force  "  made  it  appear  that  all  statutes  already 
enacted  in  England  after  April  5,  1843,  and 
thereafter  to  be  enacted,  were  by  that  Ordi- 
nance extended  to  the  Colony  ;  but  this  not 
being  the  intention  of  the  Legislature,  an 
Ordinance  (No.  2  of  1845)  was  in  the  following 
year  passed,  which  provided  that  such  of  the 
laws  of  England  only  (subject  to  the 
exception  of  their  applicability  to  the  circum- 
stances of  the  Colony  and  its  inhabitants),  and 
such  portion   of  the  practice  of  the   English 


courts,  as  existed  on  April  5,  1843,  should 
be  in  force  in  the  Colony  from  thenceforth. 
However,  although  many  statutes  of  impor- 
tance were  enacted  in  England  after  1843, 
the  provisions  of  which  might  have  been 
usefully  introduced  into  the  Colony,  very  little 
trouble,  apparently,  was  taken  for  many  years 
by  the  Legislature  to  amend  the  law  in  this 
Colony  as  it  had  been  amended  in  England. 
Occasionally,  necessary  ordinances  were 
passed  relating  to  procedure,  adopting  tlie 
methods  provided  by  English  statutes  then 
recently  enacted.  Of  course  no  provision 
made  by  a  local  ordinance  of  a  Colony  could 
deprive  the  Home  Government  of  power 
expressly  to  extend  to  the  Colony  the  pro- 
visions of  any  statute  enacted  subsequently 
to  1843.  Moreover,  the  right  of  our  Sovereign 
to  make  all  such  laws  as  might  appear 
necessary  for  the  peace,  order,  and  good 
government  of  the  Colony  was  expressly 
reserved  by  the  Charter. 

The  first  Ordinance  of  any  particular 
importance  which  was  passed  after  the 
Colony  obtained  a  local   legislature  by  virtue 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     lOB 


of  its  Charter,  was  one  which  provided  for 
the  registration  of  deeds,  documents,  and 
judgments  affecting  landed  property  in 
Honglvong,  Ordinance  No.  3  (now  styled 
No.  I)  of  1844,  whereby  a  land  office  was 
established,  in  which,  it  was  provided,  all 
such  deeds,  documents,  and  judgments  should 
be  registered  within  the  period  of  time 
mentioned — one  month  after  execution  in  the 
case  of  all  documents  executed  in  the  Colony, 
or  twelve  months  if  executed  in  any  other 
place.  Neglect  to  obey  the  provisions  of  this 
Ordinance,  it  was  further  provided,  should 
render  such  deeds  and  documents  absolutely 
null  and  void  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as 
against  any  subsequent  boihi  fide  purchaser 
or  mortgagee  of  the  property  affected. 

The  establishment,  by  this  Ordinance,  of  a 
register  of  titles  to  landed  property  rendered 
conveyancing  a  comparatively  easy  matter, 
although  considerable  difficulties  have  occa- 
sionally been  experienced  by  reason  of  the 
custom  among  the  Chinese  of  purchasing 
property  in  a  "Tong"  name,  that  is  to  say, 
a  name  invented  to  represent  a  family,  or  a 
body  of  persons  descended  from  a  common 
ancestor.  In  the  early  days  of  the  Colony 
this  custom  was  apparently  unknown  to  legal 
practitioners,  with  the  result  that  titles  to 
some  properties  were  subsequently  found  to 
be  much  complicated.  Of  late  years,  however, 
the  Chinese  themselves  have  come  to  under- 
stand that  in  dealing  with  landed  property  in 
this  Colony,  use  must  not  be  made  of  a 
"Tong"  name. 

The  tenure  of  practically  all  the  land  in 
Hongkong  and  its  dependencies  is  under 
lease  from  the  Crown  for  a  term  of  either 
999  years  or  75  years,  the  Colony  deriving 
a  very  large  part  of  its  revenue  from  the 
Crown  rents  payable  under  these  leases. 
Crown  leases  for  the  shorter  term  usually 
contain  a  provision  giving  the  lessee  a  right 
of  renewal  of  the  lease  upon  the  expiration 
of  the  term,  when,  however,  the  Crown 
rent  may  be  readjusted. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Colony  by  far  the 
greater  number  of  residents  were  not  British 
subjects,  but  Chinese.  Many,  as  at  the  present 
time,  were  aliens  from  European  countries. 
For  some  reason,  which  is  by  no  means 
clear,  doubts  arose  regarding  the  rights  of 
other  than  natural-born  British  subjects  to 
hold  and  transfer  landed  property  within  the 
Colony.  Accordingly  an  Ordinance  was 
passed  in  1853  for  the  purpose  of  removing 
these  doubts,  and  it  was  provided  that  it 
should  be  lawful  for  any  alien  to  acquire, 
hold,  sell,  and  transfer  any  lands,  or  other 
immovable  property  in  the  Colony  as  fully 
and  effectually  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as 
if  he  were  a  British  subject  residing  in  the 
Colony.  Recently  similar  doubts  have  arisen 
with  regard  to  foreign  corporations,  and, 
although  it  is  conceived  that  the  necessity  for 
such  provision  does  not  arise,  inasmuch  as 
the  Mortmain  Acts  do  not  apply,  and  a 
foreign  corporation  is  for  all  other  purposes 


regarded  by  our  law  as  an  entity,  it  has  been 
considered  advisable  to  provide  expressly  by 
Ordinance  that  a  foreign  corporation  shall  be 
entitled  to  hold  and  transfer  land  in  the 
Colony.  The  transmission  and  devolution  of 
landed  property  in  the  Colony  is  governed  by 
the  laws  of  England  as  they  existed  prior  to 
1843.  The  Statute  of  8  and  9  Vict.,  c.  106, 
not  having  been  expressly  extended  to  the 
Colony,  and  its  provisions  not  having  been 
introduced  here  by  any  Ordinance,  it  is  un- 
necessary for  the  purpose  of  rendering  valid 
at  law  a  lease  of  landed  property  for  a  term  of 
over  three  years,  to  make  such  lease  by  deed. 
Nevertheless,  it  has  been  the  invariable  practice 
in  the  Colony  to  follow  the  home  practice  in 
this  respect,  and  also  in  regard  to  assign- 
ments of  property.  The  Conveyancing  Act 
of  1881  not  being  in  force  in  Hongkong, 
deeds  relating  to  land  are  necessarily  more 
lengthy  than  they  are  now  required  to  be  in 
England. 

On  the  death  intestate  of  the  owner  of 
landed  property  in  the  Colony,  the  land, 
being  leasehold,  devolves  upon  his  adminis- 
trators in  trust  for  his  next  of  kin.  Should 
the  owner  of  property  die  leaving  a  will, 
the  terms  of  that  will  govern  the  devolution 
of  such  property,  provided  the  will  is  exe- 
cuted in  due  form,  according  to  English  law. 
But  in  the  case  of  a  will  made  by  a  Chinese 
testator,  whether  a  native  of,  or  domesticated 
in,  Hongkong  or  the  Empire  of  China, 
special  provision  was  made  by  Ordinance 
in  1856  to  the  effect  that  if  the  same  be 
proved  to  have  been  made  according  to 
Chinese  laws  and  usages,  it  shall  be  treated 
as  a  valid  will  for  the  purpose  of  trans- 
mitting property  in  the  Colony.  At  the  time 
of  the  passing  of  the  Ordinance  it  was  evi- 
dently not  comprehended  by  the  Legislature 
that  there  were  not  then,  as  there  are  not 
now,  laws  and  usages  in  China  with  regard 
to  wills  ;  but  that  property  in  that  country 
devolves  upon  the  next  succeeding  head  of 
the  deceased's  family,  who,  however,  is 
supposed  to  have  a  certain  regard  for  the 
wishes  of  the  deceased,  expressed  verbally 
or  in  writing,  and  whose  conduct  will  be,  to 
some  extent,  regulated  by  the  elders  of  the 
village.  The  Ordinance,  therefore,  is  prac- 
tically of   little  or  no  use. 

In  by  far  the  greater  number  of  instances 
where  a  Chinaman  has  amassed  property  in 
Hongkong  and  died,  he  has  learned  the 
advisability  of  making  a  will,  and  the 
necessity  for  having  two  attesting  witnesses 
to  it.  If  he  has  omitted  to  make  a  will  it  is 
believed,  though  the  fact  can  seldom  be 
proved,  that  after  his  death  a  will  is  pre- 
pared, appointing  executors,  which  purports 
to  have  been  executed  by  him,  and  to  have 
been  duly  attested.  Such  a  will,  however,  is 
generally  a  perfectly  just  one  according  to 
Chinese  ideas,  and  is  therefore  not  disputed, 
the  sole  object  in  propounding  it  being  to 
avoid  the  necessity  for  finding  the  security 
which  is  required  to  be  found  by  the  admini- 


strator of  an  intestate's  estate.  The  Chinese 
are  a  business  people,  and  a  Chinaman  be- 
coming surety  for  another  always  requires, 
and  is  considered  to  be  entitled  to,  payment 
for  his  services. 

The  Married  Women's  Property  Acts  in 
England  not  h.iving  been  extended  to  Hong- 
kong, the  old  law  at  home  remained  in  force 
here  until  quite  recently,  a  married  woman 
being  incapable  of  entering  into  valid  con- 
tracts, or  of  suing  or  being  sued,  except 
under  the  special  provisions  (Section  8)  of 
the  Supreme  Court  (Summary  Jurisdiction) 
Ordinance,  1873,  which  provides  that  no 
person  shall  be  exempted  from  suing  or 
being  sued  for  any  debt  or  damages  not 
exceeding  $1,000  by  reason  of  coverture 
where  the  husband  is  not  resident  in  the 
Colony.  However,  in  1906  it  was  con- 
sidered advisable  to  amend  the  law  in  this 
respect,  and  to  place  married  women  in 
Hongkong  in  the  same  position  as  their 
sisters  in  England.  Accordingly  an  Ordinance 
was  passed  introducing  into  the  Colony  prac- 
tically all  the  provisions  of  the  Married 
Women's  Property  Act,  1882,  whereby  it  is 
provided  that  a  married  woman  may  acquire, 
hold,  and  dispose  of  property,  and  may  sue 
and  be  sued  as  if  she  were  a  fcmmc  sole. 

The  tendency  in  the  Colony  at  the  present 
time  is  to  assimilate  its  laws,  so  far  as  it  can 
conveniently  be  done,  to  those  of  England. 
Undoubtedly  this  assists  very  much  the 
administration  of  justice,  rendering  it  com- 
paratively easy  for  the  judges  of  the  Hong- 
kong Court  to  arrive  at  a  correct  conclusion 
in  most  cases  in  which  points  of  law  are 
involved,  guided  as  they  are  by  the  decisions 
of  the  High  Court  in  England  on  similar 
subjects.  Unfortunately,  however,  in  some 
branches  the  law  of  the  Colony  differs  from 
the  law  in  England,  although  it  has  been 
intended  to  assimilate  it.  The  law  in  the 
Colony  with  regard  to  trade-marks  is  a  case 
in  point.  An  Ordinance  was  passed  in  1898 
which  had  been  prepared  on  the  lines  of  the 
Trade-marks  Acts  in  England  ;  and  it  was 
believed  by  many,  and  was  probably  intended, 
that  such  Ordinance  conferred  the  same 
rights  upon  registered  proprietors  of  trade- 
marks as  had  been  conferred  on  those  pro- 
prietors in  England  by  the  Home  Acts. 
Nevertheless,  it  has  been  held  by  the  Hong- 
kong Court  that  a  registration  of  a  trade-mark 
does  not  confer  any  actual  rights,  but  merely 
gives  to  the  person  registering  the  mark 
easy  means  of  proof  of  such  rights  as  he 
may  possess  at  common  law,  by  making 
registration  prima  facie  evidence  of  such 
rights.  The  law,  however,  with  respect  to 
trade-marks  will,  it  is  understood,  shortly  be 
amended  by  the  introduction  of  an  Ordinance 
framed  upon  the  existing  Trade-marks  Act  in 
England,  and  by  expressly  conferring  upon 
the  registered  proprietors  of  trade-marks  in 
the  Colony  such  rights  as  are  possessed  by 
registered  proprietors  in  England. 


MEMBERS   OF   THE    EXECUTIVE    AND    LEGISLATIVE    COUNCIL,    HONSKONO. 


I.      HOX.  COMMAXDKR   BASIL   K.    H.  TAYI.riK,    K.N. 

4,    Hox.  IJR.  J,  M.  AfKixs<ix.» 
7.    Hox.  Mr.  a.  M.  TH<)M.s<)X.» 


3.    Hox,  Mk.  a.  W.  Brkwix. 
His  Excellency  Maj()K-Gkxkr4i.  HR(>aiivv<k)I),  CM." 


.  2.    Hox   Mr.  H.  K.  Pollock.  K.C. 
Hox.  Mu.  Wii.i.iAM  Chatham,  C.M.G." 
o.    Hox.  Mu.  Kkes-Daviks." 


8.    His  Excellency  Sir  Frederick  Lucard,  K.C.M.G.,  C.H.,  U.S.O. 
10.    Hox.  Mb.  H.  Keswick. 

II.    Hox.  Mr.  E.  a.  Hewett.* 
15.    Hox.  MR.  WEI  YUK.  CMC. 


14.    Hox.  Dr.  Ho  Kai,  M.B.,  C.M.G. 
3.    Hox.  Sir  Paiil  Chater,  Kt.,  C.M.G  «■ 


•  Membere  of  the  Executive  Council. 


Hox.  Mr.  F.  H.  Mav.»  ifi.    Hox.  Mii.  Edward  Osborxe. 

All  except  Hon.  Sir  Paul  Chater  are  members  of  the  Legislative  Council. 


TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     lOo 


EXECUTIVE   AND    LEGISLATIVE  COUNCILS 


BIOGRAPHIES    OF    MEMBERS. 


HIS   EXCELLENCY    THE   QOVERNOR.—His 

Excellencv  the  Governor  of  Honjjkoiiji,  Colonel 
Sir  Frederick  Dealtry  Lugarcl,  K.C.M.G.,  C.H., 
D.S.O.,  has  spent  thirty  eventful  years  in  the 
service  of  his  country,  and  his  career  as  a 
soldier  and  administrator  has  been  one  un- 
broken series  of  successes. 

The  son  of  the  Rev.  K.  G.  Lugard,  and 
nephew  of  the  Right  Hon.  Sir  Edward 
Lugard,  P.C,  G.C.H.,  he  was  born  on  January 
22,  1858.  From  Rossall  he  proceeded  to 
Sandhurst,  and  in  May,  1878,  obtained  his 
first  commission  as  a  second-lieutenant  in 
the  gth  Foot,  or  Norfolk  Regiment.  He 
received  his  baptism  of  tire  in  the  "  affair  at 
Saidabad"  during  the  Afghan  War  of  1879-80, 
and  for  this  campaign  received  his  first 
medal.  On  January  i,  1881,  he  was  promoted 
lieutenant,  and  in  August,  1885,  was  given  his 
company.  In  the  same  year  he  was  employed 
with  the  Indian  contingent  in  the  Soudan 
Campaign.  He  was  present  at  "  Tofrek," 
better  known  as  "  McNeill's  Zareeba,"  and 
was  •'  mentioned  in  despatches."  For  his 
services  he  was  awarded  the  medal  with 
two  clasps  and  the  Khedive's  star. 

He  was  again  on  active  service  in  Burmah 
in  the  following  year,  where  he  acquitted 
liimself  with  such  distinction  that  he  was 
thiice  mentioned  in  despatches,  and,  in 
.iddition  to  receiving  another  medal  with 
two  clasps,  was  awarded  the  Distinguished 
Service  Order,  then  newly  instituted.  From 
Burmah  he  returned  to  England,  shattered 
in  health,  and  obtained  temporary  half-pay 
leave  on  medical  certiiicate.  Receiving  per- 
mission to  travel,  he  visited  the  advance 
camp  of  the  Italians  at  Saati  and  offered  his 
services  lo  them  in  their  campaign  against 
the  Abyssinians.  Negotiations  were,  how- 
ever, being  conducted  by  a  mission  under 
Mr.  (afterwards  Sir  Gerald)  Portal,  and,  since 
there  was  no  prospect  of  active  service, 
Captain  Lugard  left  for  Zanzibar.  Thence 
he  proceeded  to  Lake  Nyasa,  where  he 
heard  that  the  small  British  trading  station 
of  Karonga,  at  the  north  end  of  the  lake, 
was  invested  by  slave-raiders,  who  had  devas- 
tated the  whole  surrounding  district.  A  relief 
expedition  was  being  formed,  and  he  was 
unanimously  requested  by  the  British  resi- 
dents and  by  Her  Majesty's  Consul  to  take 
command  of  it  (May,  l888).  It  was  during 
this  expedition  that  he  received  his  most 
serious  wound — a  gunshot  wound  in  both 
arms  and  chest — of  which  he  gives  an 
account  in  his  book,  "  Our  East  African 
Empire."  The  trading  company  (African 
Lakes)  who  had  organised  the  defence  of 
Karonga,  were  now  in  straitened  circum- 
stances, and  declared  their  inability  to  con- 
tinue the  struggle  unless  they  received 
pecuniary  assistance.  Difficulties  had  also 
arisen  with  regard  to  the  import  of  the 
necessary  munitions  through  Portuguese  terri- 
tory. In  these  circumstances.  Captain  Lugard 
returned  to  England  to  make  known  the 
critical  situation,  for  he  was  convinced  that 
the  slave-traders  had  no  less  a  scheme  in 
view  than  to  join  hands  across  the  lake 
and  to  oust  the  British,  and  establish  their 
supremacy  in  Mid-Africa.      Mr.  Cecil  Rhodes 


was  anxious  to  adopt  the  scheme  drawn  up 
by  Captain  Lugard  for  patrolling  the  lake 
by  steamers,  and  was  desirous  that  Captain 
Lugard  should  himself  return  and  take  charge 
of  it,  which  he  was  quite  willing  and  eager 
to  do,  but  meantime  Her  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment had  intervened,  with  the  final  result 
that  Nyasaland  was  declared  a  British  Pro- 
tectorate and  added   to  the  Empire. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  (1889), 
therefore.  Captain  Lugard  was  free  to  accept 
service  with  the  newly-formed  British  East 
African  Company,  and,  after  some  months  of 
exploration  and  survey  work  on  their  behalf, 
he  accepted  the  difficult  mission  of  trying  to 
forestall  the  Germans,  and  of  concluding  a 
treaty  with  Uganda.  It  was  not  without  great 
difficulty  and  some  danger  that  this  treaty 
was  obtained,  for  the  country  was  divided 
with  factions  who  called  themselves  British, 
French,  and  Mahomedan,  and  all  were 
armed  with  rifles.  With  the  aid  of  the  two 
Christian  factions.  Captain  Lugard  defeated 
the  Mahomedans,  whom  he  repatriated 
later  in  Uganda  on  friendly  terms.  He  then 
proceeded  through  the  unexplored  and  hostile 
country  of  Unyoro,  wliose  army  he  defeated, 
and  reached  the  distant  Albert  Lake  by  way 
of  Ruwenzori  (the  Mountains  of  the  Moon). 
His  object  was  lo  engage  in  his  service  the 
troops  of  Emin  Pasha,  who  had  left  the 
Equatorial  Province  after  many  battles  with 
the  Madhi  and  were  now  on  their  own 
account  devastating  the  region  in  which  they 
had  settled.  With  much  difficulty  he  suc- 
ceeded in  this  task,  and  brought  them  with 
him  to  the  number  of  over  eight  thousand 
(men,  women,  and  children).  Most  of  these 
he  established  in  South  Unyoro  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  district  of  Toro,  whose  king 
he  had  reinstated  ;  and,  proceeding  with 
comparatively  few  fighting  men,  he  reached 
Uganda  early  in  1892.  In  his  absence  the 
hostility  between  the  French  (or  Roman 
Catholic)  party  and  the  British  (or  Protestant) 
had  reached  a  climax,  and  very  soon  after- 
wards broke  out  in  open  war.  The 
"  French  "  included  Captain  Lugard  with  the 
British  and  he  had,  therefore,  unwillingly 
to  fight.  The  French  party  were  defeated, 
and  thereupon  he  made  a  re-settlement  of 
the  country,  repatriating  both  the  F'rench 
and  the  Mahomedans.  As  before  at  Nyasa, 
so  now  again  in  Uganda,  at  the  critical 
moment  the  Company  in  whose  behalf  he 
was  acting  declared  themselves  unable  to 
bear  any  further  expense,  and  ordered 
Captain  Lugard  to  evacuate  Uganda.  This 
he  declined  to  do,  but,  leaving  the  country 
in  peace  under  his  second  officer.  Captain 
Williams,  he  returned  to  England  to  prosecute 
a  more  difficult  campaign  for  the  "  Retention 
of  Uganda."  Though  little  used  to  public 
speaking,  he  found  himself  compelled  to 
address  audiences  throughout  England  and 
Scotland,  and  though  the  Cabinet  had  decided 
to  abandon  the  country,  the  feeling  became 
so  strong  that  the  decision  was  reversed,  and 
Uganda  was  included  in  the  Empire. 

Later,  Mwanga,  the  king  of  Uganda,  who 
had  originally  been  very  hostile,  wrote  to 
Queen   Victoria ;   "  I   want   you   to   send   this 


same  Captain  Lugard  back  again  to  Uganda 
that  he  may  finish  his  work  of  arranging 
the  country,  for  he  is  a  man  of  very  great 
ability,  and  all  the  Waganda  (natives)  like 
him  very  much  ;  he  is  gentle,  his  judgments 
are  just  and  true,  and  so  I  want  you  to  send 
him  back  to  Uganda." 

However,  the  country  was  now  under  the 
British  Government,  and  the  Foreign  Office, 
for  political  reasons,  considered  it  better  that 
Captain  Lugard  should  not  return.  In  1894, 
the  Royal  Niger  Company,  who  had  con- 
cluded treaties  with  the  kings  of  Borgu  and 
Gurma,  learned  that  the  F'rench  were  about 
to  make  overtures  to  the  king  of  Nikki  whom 
they  regarded  as  the  rightful  king  of  Borgu. 
The  Company  decided  to  protect  themselves 
doubly  by  securing  a  treaty  before  France 
could  do  so.  France,  however,  got  the  start. 
Captain  Decoeur,  leaving  for  Dahomey  on 
July  24,  1894.  Four  days  later  Captain 
Lugard  left  England,  determined  to  reach 
the  king  of  Nikki  first.  On  November  10th, 
he  saw  the  king  of  Nikki,  and  had  the  treaty 
signed  five  days  before  Captain  Decoeur 
arrived.  It  was  a  signal  victory,  and  assured 
the  position  of  the  Royal  Niger  Company. 
Just  alter  this  Captain  Lugard  received  his 
C.B.  In  April,  1895,  he  returned  to  England 
having  been  wounded  by  an  arrow. 

In  1896  he  led  an  expedition  across  the 
Kalahari  Desert  for  the  British  West  Charter 
Land  Company,  who  had  engaged  his  assist- 
ance because  of  the  difficulties — considered 
by  many  to  be  insuperable — of  crossing  the 
desert  without  oxen,  the  oxen  having  died 
of  rinderpest.  He  concluded  a  treaty  with 
Sekomi,  the  chief,  and  established  the  Com- 
pany's agents  there.  He  was  recalled  thence 
by  a  letter  from  Mr.  Chamberlain. 

There  was  a  "  crisis  "  in  West  Africa 
between  ourselves  and  the  French,  which 
seemed  likely  at  any  moment  to  develop 
into  war.  Major  Lugard  accepted  the  post 
of  Commissioner  and  Commandant  in  the 
Hinterland  of  Lagos,  and  took  command  of 
the  troops  there.  He  proceeded  to  raise  the 
West  African  Frontier  Force  (eventually 
some  three  thousand  strong),  and  upon  the 
organisation  of  this  force  the  whole  of  the 
troops  of  the  various  colonies  in  West  .Africa 
have  since  been  modelled.  The  crisis  with 
France  was  fortunately  brought  to  an  end  by 
the  Convention  of  June  14,  1898,  but  not 
before  the  hostile  forces  on  the  spot  had 
been  on  the  very  verge  of  hostilities. 

He  now  became  a  Lieut. -Colonel  on  half- 
pay,  and  received  the  medal  and  clasp 
awarded  for  these  operations.  He  returned 
to  England  to  assist  the  Colonial  Office  in 
the  negotiations  with  the  Royal  Niger  Com- 
pany, which  resulted  in  the  transfer  of 
Nigeria  to  the  imperial  administration  on 
January  i,  1900.  Then  he  returned  as  first 
High  Commissioner  (with  the  rank  of 
Brigadier-General),  with  the  task  of  creating 
an  administration. 

When  the  vast  area  known  as  Northern 
Nigeria  (about  300,000  square  miles),  was 
taken  over  by  the  Imperial  Government 
from  the  Royal  Niger  Company,  it  was  for 
the  most  part  wholly  independent  of  British 


106     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


control.  The  dominating  race  were  Mah<iine- 
dans  (Fulani).  wlio  raided  the  pagan  tribes 
for  slaves,  and  had  depopulated  vast  areas. 
During  the  first  year,  1900,  the  troops  of 
the  protectorate  (the  West  African  Frontier 
Force)  were  lent  to  Sir  J.  Willcocks  for 
the  Ashanti  War.  In  1901  two  of  the 
principal  and  most  aggressive  Emirs  and 
slave-raiders  were  subdued,  and  their  pro- 
vinces organised  under  residents.  In  1902 
the  kingdom  of  Bornu  was  annexed,  and 
several  Fulani  Emirs  were  conquered  who 
would  not  consent  to  desist  from  sending 
their  armies  to  raid  for  slaves.  Early  in 
1903  the  kingdoms  of  Sokoto  and  Kano 
were  organised  under  British  administration. 
Thus,  the  whole  of  Nigeria  became  amen- 
able to  British  rule,  and  slave-raiding  was 
entirely  stopped.  Before  General  Lugard 
left  Nigeria  in  June.  1906,  he  was  able  to 
report  that  the  country  was  entirely  peaceful, 
and  that  even  slave-dealing  was  almost 
extinct.  The  administration  had  meanwhile 
been  organised. 

Sir  Frederick  Lugard  arrived  in  Hongkong 
and  assumed  the  office  of  Governor  in  suc- 
cession to  Major  Sir  Matthew  Nathan, 
K.C.M.G.,  in  July,  1907. 

In  1902  Sir  Frederick  married  Miss  Flora 
Shaw,  daughter  of  the  late  General  Shaw, 
C.B.,  and  formerly  head  of  the  colonial 
department  of  The  Times,  for  which  news- 
paper she  undertook  special  commissions  to 
South  Africa.  Australia,  Canada,  and  Klon- 
dyke.  Lady  Lugard  has  published  several 
works,  including  "Castle  Blair"  (1878), 
"  Hector,'  a  tale  for  young  people  (1883), 
and  "A  Tropical  Dependency"  (1905). 

Sir  Frederick  and  Lady  Lugard's  English 
residence  is  '•  Little  Parkhurst,"  Abinger 
Common.  Surrey.  His  Excellency's  clubs 
are  the  Athena;um  (special  election),  St. 
James's  and  Royal  Societies',  and  he  is  a 
gold  medallist  of  the  Royal  Geographical 
Society,  a  silver  medallist  of  the  Scottish 
Royal  Geographical  Society,  and  was  elected 
a  life  fellow  of  the  Royal  Colonial  Institute. 


Captain  of  right  half  No.  2  Company  Volun- 
teer Artillerv,  the  section  wliicli  in  1907  won 
both  the  maxim  and  tifteen-pounder  competi- 
tions, and  the  cup  for  the  highest  etticiency. 
Captain  Armstrong  was  Hon.  Aide-de-Camp 
to  His  Excellency  Sir  Matthew  Nathan  and 
to  the  Hon.  Mr.  F.  H.  May  when  the  latter 
was  administering  the  Government. 


j# 


CAPT.  PERCY  HENRY  MITCHELL  TAYLOR, 

32nd  I-iiicers,  l..\.,  Aide-de-Camp  to  His 
Excellency  the  Governor,  was  the  only  son  of 
the  late  Lieut. -Colonel  A.  M.  Taylor,  com- 
manding the  19th  Hussars.  Educated  at 
Wellington  and  Sandhurst,  where  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  gymnastics  and  fencing, 
he  received  his  first  commission  on  August  5, 
1896,  and  for  a  year  was  attached  to  the  Dublin 
Fusiliers.  He  then  joined  his  present  regi- 
ment, receiving  his  captaincy  in  August.  1905. 
He  went  to  South  Africa  in  1900-1,  and  was 
present  at  several  engagements,  including 
Paardeburg,  the  relief  of  Kimberley,  Drie- 
fontein,  and  Wittebergen,  being  awarded  the 
Queen's  medal  with  six  clasps.  His  present 
appointment  as  Aide-de-Camp  to  the  Governor 
dates  from  June,  1907. 


I# 


CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  ARMSTRONG,  Hon. 
Aide-dt-Camp  to  His  Excellency  the  Governor, 
is  Senior  Captain  of  the  Hongkong  Volunteer 
Corps,  to  which  he  has  belonged  since  1803. 
When  in  that  year  the  Corps  was  disbancfed 
and  reformed,  he  served  in  the  ranks  as  a 
gunner.  He  received  his  commission  in  May, 
1899,  and  was  appointed  Captain  on  October 
•5.  '903-  He  was  one  of  the  officers  who 
accompanied  the  Coronation  contingent  from 
Hongkong.      At    the    present     time    he    is 


CAPTAIN    W.   ARMSTRONG,   HON.   A.D.C. 

TO  HIS   EXCELLENCY  THE  GOVERNOR 

AND    SENIOR    CAPTAIN    HONGKONG 

VOLUNTEER    CORPS. 


MR.    ARTHUR     JOCELYN    BRACKENBURY, 

Private  Secretary  to  His  Excellency  Sir  K. 
Lugard,  Governor  of  Hongkong,  is  a  nephew 
of  Lady  Lugard.  He  was  educated  at  Clifton 
College,  where  he  obtained  his  cricket  and 
running  colours.  When  the  war  broke  out 
in  South  Africa  he  served  his  country  for 
eighteen  months,  receiving  the  Queen's  medal 
and  three  clasps.  In  1901  lie  joined  the 
Transvaal  Civil  Service,  and  in  the  following 
year  was  appointed  Secretary  to  the  Inspector 
of  Mines,  Pretoria  district.  He  acted  in  a 
similar  ofiice  in  the  Krugersdorp  district  from 
1906  until  March,  1907,  when  he  left  the 
Transva:il  Civil  Service.  He  received  his 
present  appointment  on  June  20,  1907. 


I# 


HIS  EXCELLENCY  MAJ.-aENERAL  ROBERT 
QEOROE  BROADWOOD,  C.B.,  came  to  the 
Colony  in  1906  to  take  command  of  His 
Majesty's  P'orces  in  South  China  and  Hong- 
kong. Prior  to  that  date  he  had  held  com- 
mand of  the  troops  in  Natal  (1903-4),  and, 
as  Brigadier-General  of  the  troops  in  the 
Orange  River  Colony  district  (1904-6).  A 
son  of  the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Broadwood,  of 
Holmbush  Park,  Surrey,  he  was  born  on 
March  14,  1862,  and  commenced  his  military 
career  in  the  12th  Lancers  in  1881.  He  has 
seen  much  active  service.  In  1896  he  took 
part  in  the  expedition  to  Doiigola,  being 
present  at  the  operations  of  June  7tli  and 
September  loth.  He  was  mentioned  in  des- 
patches, received  the  Egyptian  medal  with 
two  clasps,  and  the  British   medal,  and   was 


given  the  brevet  rank  of  Lieut. -Colonel.  In  the 
lollowing  year  he  took  part  in  the  Nile  Ex- 
pedition, and  was  present  at  the  action  of 
Abu  Hamed  and  the  subsequent  occupation 
of  Berber,  gaining  two  further  clasps  to  the 
Egyptian  medal,  and  the  4th  class  Osnianieli. 
He  was  present  at  the  cavalry  reconnaissance 
of  April  4,  i8qS,  and  at  the  battles  of  Albara 
and  Khartoum.  Twice  he  was  mentioned  in 
despatches,  and  in  recognition  of  his  services 
the  brevet  rank  of  Colonel  was  bestowed 
upon  him,  whilst  he  received  two  additional 
clasps  to  the  Egyptian  medal  and  was  awar- 
ded the  British  medal.  During  the  South 
African  War,  1899  1902,  when  he  raised 
"  Roberts'  Horse  "  and  afterwards  commanded 
the  2nd  Cavalry  Brigade  he  was  live  times 
mentioned  in  despatches,  including  two  special 
mentions  by  Lord  Roberts.  He  was  made 
Aide-de-Camp  to  His  Majesty  the  King,  and 
was  awarded  the  Queen's  medal  with  six 
clasps  and  the  King's  medal  with  two  clasps, 
while  the  order  of  C.B.  also  was  conferred 
upon  him.  His  addresses  are  the  Military 
Headquarters,  Hongkong  ;  and  94.  Piccadilly, 
London,  W. 


THE  HON.  MR.  FRANCIS  HENRY  MAY, 
C.M.Q,,  the  Colonial  Secretary,  completed 
twenty-six  years'  service  under  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Colony  in  November,  1907,  and  a 
quarter  of  a  century's  service  in  the  Colony 
and  China  in  t'ebruarv,  1908.  The  fourth 
son  of  the  late  Right  Honble.  G.  A.  C  May, 
Lord  Chief  Justice  of  Ireland,  and  of  Olivia, 
daughter  of  Sir  Mathew  Barrington,  Bart., 
of  Glenstal,  Co.  Limerick,  he  was  born  on 
March  14,  i860,  at  Dublin  After  being  at 
Harrow  he  proceeded  to  Trinily  College, 
Dublin,  where  he  look  the  B.A.  degree,  and 
was  first  honoursman  and  prizeman  in 
Classics  and  Modern  Languages  in  i88r.  In 
the  same  year,  he  was  appointed,  after  a 
competitive  examination  to  a  cadetship  in 
Hongkong,  but  before  coming  out  to  the  East 
served  in  the  Colonial  Office  for  twelve 
months.  He  studied  the  dialect  at  Canton  for 
six  months,  and  has  since  written  a  ''Guide 
to  Cantonese."  From  the  end  of  1883  until 
the  beginning  of  1886  he  was  in  Peking 
learning  the  Mandarin  dialect,  and  at  the  end 
of  that  period  passed  the  higher  examination 
for  interpreters  in  the  Consular  service. 
Upon  returning  to  Hongkong,  Mr.  May  was 
employed  as  Assistant  Registrar-General  and 
as  interpreter  for  the  Governor  at  interviews 
with,  and  receptions  of,  high  Chinese  officials. 
His  subsequent  appointments  included  those 
of  Assistant  Colonial  Secrelary,  private  secre- 
tary to  His  Excellency  Sir  W.  des  Voeux,  to 
Sir  K.  Fleming,  and  to  Major-General  Barker  ; 
Acting  Colonial  Treasurer  ;  Vice-President  of 
the  Sanitary  Bo^ird ;  Captain  Superintendent 
of  the  Police  and  Fire  Brigade ;  and  Superin- 
tendent of  Victoria  Gaol.  In  1895  ''^  was 
awarded  the  Companionship  of  the  Most 
Distinguished  Order  of  St.  Michael  and  St. 
George  in  recognition  of  special  services 
rendered  during  the  plague  of  1894,  and  in 
suppressing  a  strike  in  1895  which,  while  it 
lasted,  paralysed  business  connected  with 
shipping.  In  1897  he  succeeded  in  bringing 
to  light  widespread  corruption  in  the  police 
force  under  his  command,  and  for  two  years 
he  was  engaged  in  purging  the  force  of 
dishonest  members  and  in  reorganising  the 
Criminal  Investigation  Department,  which  he 
kept  under  his  personal  control.  In  1899 
Mr.  May  organised  Ihe  police  administration 
of  the  New  Territories,  and  for  two  years 
subsequently  was  actively  employed  in  .sup- 
pressing the  lawlessness  which  was  very  rife 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     107 


in   the  newly-acquired  area.     As   Superinten- 
dent of  Victoria  Gaol — a  post  wliicli  lie  held 
in  conjunction  with  that  of  Captain  Superin- 
tendent  of    the    Police    and    Fire   Brifjade — 
Mr.  May  placed  the  whole  of  I  he  prison   on 
the   separate    system,   and,    while    increasing 
thereby  the  deterrent  effect  of  imprisonment, 
he  greatly  developed  the  means  of  affording 
industrial   employment    to    the    prisoners,   by 
whom   much   of   the   printing   work  required 
in    the    various    Government    departments    is 
now  carried  out.     It  was  in  1902  that  Mr.  May 
received    his    present    appointment,    but    his 
acquaintance    with    the    Colonial    Secretary's 
office  extends  as  far  back  as  January,    1887, 
when  he  was  Acting-Assistant  Colonial  Secre- 
tary, a   position   in    which   he   was  confirmed 
four  years  later.    Mr.  May  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Legislative  Council  since  1895,  and,  by 
virtue  of  his  office,  he  has  now  a  seat  also  on 
the  Executive  Council.     Upon  three  occasions 
Mr.   May   has   administered   the   Government 
of  the   Colony — for   eight    months    in    1903-4 
between   the  departure  of  Sir  Henry  Arthur 
Blake,  and  the  arrival  of  Sir  Matthew  Nathan  ; 
for  five  weeks  at  the  close  of   1906  and  the 
beginning    of    1907    during    the    absence    on 
sick-leave   of   Sir   Malthew   Nathan    after    an 
accident   at   polo ;    and   for   three   months   in 
1907  between  the  departure   of   Sir  Matthew 
Nathan     and     the     arrival     of     the     present 
Governor,     Sir     F.    D.    Lugard.       As    might 
naturally  be  expected    in  view   of   his  official 
position  and  long  residence  in  the  Colony,  Mr. 
May  is  connected  in  one  capacity  or  another 
with    a    number   of    local    institutions.     He   is 
Rector  of  the  Hongkong  College  of  Medicine  ; 
Chairman  of  the  Governing  Body  of  Queen's 
College  ;      Chairman      of      the      Board      of 
Examiners  ;     President  of   the   Y.M  C.A.  ;     a 
member  of  the  Colonial  Church  Council  ;     a 
steward  of   the  Jockey  Club  ;   Commodore  of 
the    Koyai    Hongkong    Yacht    Club  ;      and    a 
member   of   the   Committee  of  the  Volunteer 
Reserve   Association    and   of    the    Hongkong 
Gymkhana   Club.       An    all-round    sportsman, 
his  favourite  recreations  are  hunting,  shooting, 
fishing,   and    yachting.     He    is    the   author  of 
several    publications,   including    manuals    for 
use    in    the    police    force    and    a    history    of 
yachting     in     Hongkong.       Mrs.     May     is     a 
daughter     of     General     Sir     George     Digby 
Barker,     K.C.B.,    of     "  The     Priory,"     Clare, 
Suffolk. 

THE  HON.  MR.  WILLIAM  REES-DAVIES, 
J. P.,  D.L.,  who  was  appointed  Attorney- 
General  for  the  Colony  in  1907,  was  born  on 
May  II,  1863,  and  is  the  eldest  son  of  the 
late  Sir  William  Davies,  of  Scoreston,  Pem- 
brokeshire, who  represented  his  county  in 
Parliament  from  1880  to  1892.  After  being 
at  Eton,  Mr.  Rees-Davies  proceeded  to  Trinity 
Hall,  Cambridge,  where  he  graduated  B.A. 
in  1885.  Two  years  later  he  was  called  to 
the  Bar  at  the  Inner  Temple,  and  joined 
the  South  Wales  Circuit.  In  1892  he  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  the  representation  of 
Pembrokeshire,  in  the  Liberal  interest  for 
six  years.  During  this  time  he  was  private 
secretary  to  the  late  Sir  William  Harcourt, 
who  was  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  from 
1893  to  1895.  Mr.  Rees-Davies  is  a  Magistrate 
and  Deputy  Lieutenant  for  Pembrokeshire. 
He  was  Attorney-General  in  the  Bahama 
Islands  from  1898  to  1902,  acting  during  a 
portion  of  that  time  as  Chief  Justice,  and 
was  King's  Advocate  at  Cyprus  from  1902 
to  1907.  His  position  now,  at  Hongkong, 
entitles  him  to  a  seat  upon  the  Legislative 
Council.  He  is  also  on  the  Executive  Council 
and   the  Standing   Law    Committee.       He   is 


a  member  of  the  Reform  Club,  London,  and 
of  the  Hongkong  and  various  local  sporting 
clubs.  His  chief  recreations  are  riding  and 
shooting.  Mr.  Rees-Davies  married,  in  1898, 
Florence  Beatrice,  the  second  daughter  of 
Mr.  John  Birkett,  of  Kendal,  Westmoreland. 

THE  HON.  MR.  ALEXANDER  MACDONALD 
THOMSON,  the  Colonial  Treasurer  of  Hong- 
kong, Is,  ex  officio,  a  member  of  the  Executive 
and  Legislative  Councils  with  a  seat  on  the 
Finance  and  Public  Works  Committees.  The 
second  son  of  Mr.  J.  W.  Thomson,  M.A.. 
schoolmaster  and  Isabella,  the  eldest  daughter 
of  the  late  Mr.  Alexander  Macdonald,  of 
Kindrought,  Portsoy,  N.B.,  he  was  born  on 
September  27,  i86j,  at  Turriff,  Scotland. 
He  had  a  successful  career  at  Aberdeen 
University,  taking  his  M.A.  degree,  with  first- 
class  honours  in  mathematics,  in  1883.  For 
the  following  two  years  he  was  lecturer  in 
mathematics  at  NainI  Tal  College,  North- 
West  Provinces,  India,  but  in  1887  returned 
to  Scotland,  and,  later,  took  up  the  appoint- 
ment of  Assistant-Professor  of  Mathematics 
at  Aberdeen.  In  the  same  year  he  entered 
the  Hongkong  Civil  Service  by  the  usual 
competitive  examination.  After  spending 
twelve  months  in  the  Colonial  Office,  during 
which  time  he  won  the  Bacon  Scholarship 
at  Gray's  Inn,  he  came  out  to  the  Colony, 
arriving  In  October,  1888.  Having  attained 
the  necessary  proficiency  in  the  Chinese  lan- 
guage, he  was  appointed,  In  October,  1890, 
to  fill  the  temporary  vacancy  of  Chief  Clerk 
in  the  Colonial  Secretary's  office.  Since  then 
he  has  occupied  numerous  administrative 
positions,  including  those  of' Clerk  of  Councils, 
Superintendent  01  Victoria  Gaol,  Assistant 
Colonial  Secretary,  Registrar-General,  Post- 
master-General, and  Colonial  Secretary  ;  and 
in  July,  1898,  was  appointed  permanently  to 
his  present  post.  During  his  residence  in 
the  Colony  he  has  served  on  the  Tung  Wall 
Hospital  Commission,  the  Registry  of  the 
Supreme  Court  Commission  ;  and  has  pre- 
sided over  the  deliberations  of  two  Committees 
which  have  been  appointed  with  regard  to 
the  subsidiary  coinage  question.  He  was  an 
original  member,  and  for  some  time  honorary 
secretary  of  the  governing  body  of  Queen's 
College  ;  was  a  trustee  of  tlie  Belillos  Scholar- 
ships ;  and  has  been  vice-president,  and  has 
acted  as  president,  of  the  Sanitary  Board. 
For  his  services  in  compiling  the  first  edition 
of  the  General  Orders  he  received  the  thanks 
of  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies. 
Mr.  Thomson  is  a  member  of  the  Hongkong 
Club,  but  does  not  now  belong  to  any  other 
club,  having  ceased  for  some  years  to  take 
any  active  interest  in  sport,  his  chief  recrea- 
tion being  reading. 

THE  HON.  MR.  WILLIAM  CHATHAM, 
C.M.Q.,  M.I.C.E.,  Director  of  Public  Works, 
a  member  of  the  Executive  and  Legislative 
Councils,  and  vice-president  of  the  Sanitary 
Board,  has  been  associated  with  the  develop- 
ment and  progress  of  the  Colony  for  seventeen 
years.  He  was  born  in  July,  1859,  and  was 
educated  at  the  Royal  High  School,  Edin- 
burgh, and  at  Edinburgh  University.  He 
went  first  as  assistant  to  Messrs.  Thos.  Meik 
&  Sons,  the  well-known  firm  of  civil 
engineers,  Edinburgh,  and  afterwards  to  the 
engineer  of  the  Bristol  Docks.  He  came  to 
Hongkong  as  Executive  Engineer  in  1890, 
and  in  1893  received  the  acting  appointment 
of  Director  of  Public  Works.     On  his  return 


from  leave  in  1897,  he  received  the  additional 
appointments  of  Water  Authority  and  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislative  Council.  In  1901  he 
acted  also  as  president  of  the  Sanitary  Board, 
and  in  October  of  the  same  year  was  con- 
firmed In  the  appointments  which  he  now 
holds.  Mr.  Chatham  was  a  member  of  the 
Queen's  Jubilee  Committee,  acting  as  honor- 
ary secretary  for  some  years,  and  taking  a 
leading  part  in  carrying  out,  at  a  cost  of 
^20,000,  the  construction  of  the  Jubilee  Road 
and  the  Hospital  for  Women  and  Children. 
During  1907  he  was  created  a  Companion 
of  the  Order  of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George 
in  recognition  of  his  long  service  in  the 
Colony.  Mr.  Chatham,  who  lives  at  the  Peak, 
is  a  member  of  the  Hongkong  Club. 


/# 


THE  HON.  DR.  JOHN  MITFORD  ATKINSON, 

the  principal  Civil  Medical  Ollicer  of  Hong- 
kong, was  born  in  1856,  and  is  the  son  of 
the  late  Rev.  S.  Atkinson,  M.A.  He  was 
educated  at  Woodhouse  Grove  School  and 
at  Queen's  College,  Taunton.  His  medical 
training  was  sound  and  comprehensive.  He 
was  prizeman  at  the  London  Hospital 
Medical  College,  and  holds  the  degree  of 
M.B.  London,  and  the  diplomas  of  M.R.C.S. 
Eng.,  L.S.A.  Loud.,  and  D.P.H.  Cantab.  For 
nearly  eight  years  he  was  the  Resident 
Medical  Officer  of  St.  Mary  Abbott's  Infirmary, 
Kensington,  and  for  two  years  the  Medical 
Officer  of  one  of  the  districts  in  that  locality, 
before  coming,  in  1887,  to  take  up  the 
appointment  of  Superintendent  of  the  Govern- 
ment Civil  Hospital,  and  Medical  Officer  to 
the  Small  Pox  Hospital  and  the  Government 
Lunatic  Asylums,  Hongkong.  Seven  years 
later  he  was  acting  as  Colonial  Surgeon,  and 
in  1897  he  obtained  his  present  post.  During 
the  plague  epidemic  of  the  following  year 
his  services  in  preventing  the  spread  of 
infection,  and  stamping  out  the  disease,  were 
acknowledged  in  a  letter  of  thanks  from  the 
Secretary  of  State.  Dr.  Atkinson,  who  has 
been  president  of  the  Sanitary  Board  since 
1897,  and  a  member  of  the  Executive  Council 
since  1903,  has  from  time  to  time  contributed 
articles  to  the  Lancet  and  other  British 
medical  journals.  He  is  a  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Colonial  Institute  and  of  the  Society 
of  Tropical  Medicine  and  Hygiene  ;  and  is 
an  honorary  life  member  of  the  St.  John 
Ambulance  Association.  He  resides  at  Vic- 
toria Hospital,  Barker  Road,  the  Peak. 


SIR  C.  PAUL  CHATER,  Kt.,  C.M.Q.— Prob- 
ably no  other  man  has  done  so  much  for 
the  commercial  advancement  of  the  Colony 
as  Sir  Catchick  Paul  Chaler,  Kt.,  C.M.G. 
To  him  Hongkong  owes  many  of  its  most 
prosperous  public  companies,  some  twenty  of 
which  still  include  him  on  their  directorate. 
The  son  of  Mr.  Chater  Paul  Chater,  of  Cal- 
cutta, Sir  Paul  was  born  in  1846,  and 
arrived  in  Hongkong  in  1864  as  an  assistant 
In  the  bank  of  Hindustan,  China,  and  Japan. 
He  resigned  this  position,  in  1866,  to  start 
business  as  an  exchange  and  bullion  broker. 
In  1886  he  was  chosen  by  his  fellow  Justices 
of  the  Peace  to  fill  a  vacancy  on  the  Legis- 
lative Council  caused  by  the  absence  on 
leave  of  Mr.  F.  D.  Sassoon,  and  when,  in 
1887,  Mr.  Sassoon  resigned  his  seat.  Sir  Paul, 
who  was  then  taking  a  holiday  in  India,  was 
unanimously  elected  in  his  stead  for  a  term 
of  six  years.  He  was  re-elected  for  a  further 
period  of  six  years  in  1893,  and  again  in 
1899,    retiring    upon    the    expiration    of    his 


108     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


third  tenn  of  office  in  January,  1906.  While 
Sir  Paul  was  a  member  of  the  Legislative 
Council  a  petition  from  the  leading  residents 
was  sent  to  the  SecrcLiry  of  State  in  favour 
of  the  formation  of  a  Municipal  Council. 
The  Secretary  of  Slate,  however,  would  not 
entertain  this  idea,  but  suggested  as  a  sort 
of  compromise  that  two  unollicial  members 
should  be  placed  upim  the  Executive  Council. 
This  suggestion  was  acted  upon,  and  Sir 
Paul  Chater  and  Mr.  J.  Bell  Irving  were 
appointed.  Sir  Paul  still  retains  this  appoint- 
ment, though  he  has  relinquished  the  duties 
of  the  Legislative  Council. 

In    18H4    Sir    Paul    started    a    wharf    and 
godown  business  at  Kowloon,  purchasing  the 
necessary    site   on    the    sea   shore    from    the 
Government.       He    established    the    existing 
Hongkong  and  Kowloon  Wharf  and  Godown 
Company,  and,  to  provide  facilities  for  carry- 
ing on  tlie   business,  reclaimed  some  of  the 
foreshore  and  erected   the   present  godowns 
and  wh.Trves.     P'our  years  later  the  business 
was    amalgamated    with    that   carried   on    at 
Messrs.    Jardine,    Matheson    &    Co.'s    wharf. 
He    originated    the    Praya    Reclamation,    in 
1887,    by    writing    to    the    Government    and 
submitting  a  scheme  which  was  accepted  by 
marine  lot-holders.    Later,  he  visited  England 
and  received  the  Secretary  of  State's  sanction 
to    carry    out    the    work.       The    foundation 
stone  was  laid,  at  the  corner  of  the  cricket 
ground,  by  the  Duke  of  Connaught,  in  1.90, 
Sir   Paul   Chater   presenting   a   statue  of  His 
Koyal  Highness  to  the  Colony  in  commemo- 
ration of  the  event.    The  work  was  concluded 
in  1905,  and  the  result  has  been  an  addition 
to  the  Colony  of  considerable  foreshore  upon 
which  have  been  erected  some  of  the  finest 
hongs  in   the   East.     In    1892  he  rendered  a 
signal   service  to  the  French  Government  in 
Tonkin    by   opening   up   coal   mines   in   that 
country.      He    formed    the    Societe    Kranyais 
Chart)onnages  de  Tonkin,  and  in  recognition 
of  his  services  he  received  that  much-coveted 
decoration,  the  I.egion  of  Honour.     Sir  Paul 
was   the   first    to   advocate    the    acquirement 
of   the    new    territory    on    the    mainland    of 
China.     He   wrote   to  the  Government  upon 
the  subject  four  years  before  the  actual  lease 
was  executed.     He   again   urged  the   matter 
upon    the    authorities    at    the    lime    of    the 
Chino-Japanese  War,  and  secured  the  support 
of    the    Chamber    of    Commerce,   the    China 
Association,   and   the    unofficial    members   of 
the     Legislative     Council.      Indeed,    he     has 
been   identified  with  most  public  movements 
since    his    arrival    in   the    Colony.     He    was 
treasurer,   and   afterwards   chairman,   of   the 
Queen's  Jubilee  Committee,  and  In  1897  was 
chairman  of  the  Diamond  Jubilee  Committee. 
At  this  period,  in  recognition  of  his  numerous 
public    services,    he    was    created    a   C.M.G. 
A   man   of  great  wealth,  his  purse  has  ever 
been  at  the  disposal  of  any  good  cause.     To 
take  but  one  example  of  his  generosity,  the 
first     Anglican     Church     at     Kowloon,     St. 
Andrew's,  was  erected  and  presented  by  him 
to    the    Colony.     In    1902    he    received    the 
honour   of    knighthood.     His    life    has    been 
one    ceaseless    round    of    activity,    and    his 
energies    seem    only    to    increase    with    ad- 
vancing years.     A  short  time  since  he  com- 
menced operations  in  a  new  sphere — mining. 
After  spending  a  great  deal  of  money  pros- 
pecting in  the  new  territory  for  minerals  he 
was  rewarded  by  a  rich   discovery  of  iron. 
The  Hongkong  Mining  Company  was  formed 
to  work  this  deposit,  which   promises   to   be 
an  immense  source  of  wealth  to  the  Colony. 
Sir   Paul   is  interested   in   all  kinds  of  sport. 
He   has   been  a  steward  of  the  Jockey  Club 
for   a   quarter   of   a   century   and    has    been 
its  president  for  many  years.    He  is  a  mem- 


ber of  the  Hongkong  Club,  and  is  the 
owner  of  one  of  the  finest  private  residences 
in  the  Colony,  Marble  Hall,  Conduit  Koad, 
where  he  has  galhered  together  a  collection 
of  curios  and  works  of  art  that  is 
un.ipproached  bv  any  other  collection  in  the 
Far  East. 


THE  HON.  MR.  EDBERT  ANSOAR  HEWETT 

is  one  of  those  men  who,  coining  from  old 
county  families  and  choosing  business  careers, 
have   settled   In   some    far    country,   and,    by 
their  innate  ability,  their  enterprise,  and  their 
steadfast  perseverance  in  face  of  all  obstacles, 
and  rigid  adherence  to  the  highest  principles 
of  commercial  integrity,  have  done  much  to 
earn    England's    reputation    as    a    colonising 
power.       Mr.     Hewett,    who    was    born    on 
September  5,   i860,  is  the  second  son  of  the 
late   Sir   George  J.  K.  Hewett,  Bart.,  of  The 
Old  Hall,  Nealhcrseale,  Leicestershire.    Owing 
to  the  state  of  his  health,  which  was  by  no 
means  robust   in   his   younger   days,  he   was 
educated   mainly   by   private   tutors.      At   the 
age   of   seventeen    he   joined    the    Peninsular 
and  Oriental  Service  at  their   he.id   ollice  in 
London,  and  two  years  later  (in  1880)  came  to 
Hongkong.      He  acted  as  agent  for  the  com- 
pany  in   Shanghai   for    seven    years,   was  at 
Yokohama   for  two   years,   and  at   Kobe   for 
six    months.      For  the  last  six  years  he  has 
been  at   Hongkong,  and   has  had   the   super- 
intendence  of   the   whole   of  the    Company's 
traffic    in    the    Far   East   from   Yokohama   to 
Penang.     Two  years   ago    Mr.    Hewett  went 
home  on  a  short  trip  to  England.     This  was 
his   second   holiday   only   during  a  period  of 
twenty-seven  years,  so  unwilling  has  he  been 
to  absent  himself  from  his   office  and  public 
duties.      It  is  but  natural,  therefore,  that  the 
whole  of  his  interests  should  now  be  centred 
in    the     F"ar    East.      Public    affairs    he    has 
always  followed   with   the   greatest  altenlion, 
and  in  the  public  service  has  held  numerous 
positions.        He     was     a     member     of      the 
Shanghai    Municipal    Council    from    1897    to 
1901,  and   occupied  the  chair  for  two  years. 
During  the  trying  period  of  the  Boxer  Rising 
enlire    confidence   wis    reposed    in    him    by 
the    community,    and     he    achieved     a    high 
reputation  as  an  organiser  and  administrator. 
Throughout  the  whole  of  that  anxious  period 
he  made  aclive  preparations  for  the  defence 
of    the   town.      The   fleet   had    sailed    north, 
and  there  was  a  population  of  some  twelve 
thousand   whites  and    nearly   half    a    million 
Chinese   under   his   cluirge.      As   Civil   Com- 
mandant  of    the   volunteers    he   enrolled    all 
the    able-bodied    men,   and    had    a    force   of 
nearly   twelve    hundred   whites    under   arms. 
He  organised  the  first  comp,-iny  of  Japanese 
volunteers  that  had  ever  been  raised  outside 
of  Japan,   and   the   highest  encomiums  were 
passed   upon   him   subsequently   by   both   the 
naval    and    military    authorities.      For    these 
services  and    for  the   work   he    did    for   the 
army    and    navy    he    received    the    English 
medal    for    China,    the    fourth    class    Sacred 
Treasure  of    J<ipan   and   the   Iron   Crown   of 
Austria,  and   was   decorated  as  a  Knight   of 
the  Orange-Nassau  of  Holland.     F'or  several 
years    he   served    on   the   committee    of    the 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  Shanghai,  and  made 
two  special  visits   to    Peking  in   1901   as  the 
representative   of  the   Chamber,   In   order   to 
urge  upon  the  diplomatic  body  the  necessity 
for  pushing  forward  the  conservancy  of  the 
Whangpoo   River,    a   work    of    vital    impor- 
tance  to   the   prosperity  of    the   town.      Mr. 
Hewett    took    the    greatest     interest    in    this 
scheme  and  urged  its  importance   in   season 
and  out  of   season   during  the   whole  period 


of  his  residence  in  Shanghai.  As  the  result 
of  his  efforts  a  special  committee  was 
formed,  consisting  of  the  English,  German, 
American,  French,  and  Dutch  Ministers. 
They  discussed  the  whole  question,  with 
Mr.  Hewett  present  ;is  the  Chamber's  repre- 
sentative, and  adopted  the  proposals  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  which  were  em- 
bodied in  the  Peace  Protocol  of  1901.  The 
scheme  was  not  carried  out  owing  to 
Chinese  opposition,  but  now  the  Chinese 
themselves  are  doing  the  work  entirely  at 
their  own  expense,  under  the  supervision  of 
a  very  capable  Dutch  engineer.  The  im- 
provements, when  effected,  will  be  In  no 
small  measure  due  to  Mr.  Hewett's  initiative, 
and  they  are  largely  on  the  lines  originally 
suggested  by  him.  Almost  immediately  after 
his  arrival  in  Hongkong  Mr.  Hewett  was 
elected  vice-chairman  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  (1902),  and  has  been  chairman 
since  1903.  On  April  26,  1906,  he  was 
chosen  to  represent  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce on  the  Legislative  Council,  and  im- 
mediately afterwards  the  Governor  appointed 
him  to  one  of  the  two  seats  held  by  nn- 
oOicials  on  the  Executive  Council.  In 
addition  to  holding  these  important  ol'tices 
Mr.  Hewett  is  a  member  of  the  Sanitary 
Board,  of  the  Governing  Board  of  Queen's 
College,  and  of  the  committee  of  the  Diocesan 
School.  He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Medical  Board  in  May,  1904,  and  was  chosen 
by  the  Governor  to  act  as  cliairman  of  the 
commission  to  inquire  into  the  administra- 
tion of  the  sanitary  and  building  regulations, 
enacted  by  the  Public  Health  and  Building 
Ordinance  of  1893,  which  commission  sat 
from  May,  1906,  to  March,  1907.  Mr.  Hewett 
is  a  member  of  a  luimber  of  clubs,  including 
the  Hongkong  ;  the  Peak  ;  the  United,  Yoko- 
hama ;  the  Shanghai  ;  the  Country,  Shanghai  ; 
and  the  Wellington,  London.  He  resides  at 
"  Craig  Ryrie,"  the  Peak,  Hongkong. 

THE  HON.  MR.  ARTHUR  WINBOLT 
BREWIN,  the  Registrar-General,  has  spent 
practically  the  whole  of  his  life  in  the  service 
of  the  Colony.  Born  at  Settle,  Yorkshire, 
in  1867,  he  was  educated  at  Winchester,  and, 
entering  the  Civil  Service  as  the  result  of 
the  usual  competitive  examination,  he  came 
to  Hongkong  in  December,  1888.  He  went 
through  the  ordinary  routine  as  a  cadet,  and 
studied  Chinese  for  two  years  at  Canton. 
On  passing  the  final  examination  he  was 
attached  to  the  Registrar-General's  oFlice. 
In  May,  1891,  he  was  appointed  to  act  as 
Assistant  Registrar-General,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  four  years,  during  which  he 
held  the  post  of  Inspector  of  Schools,  he 
has  been  almost  permanently  connected  with 
this  department.  In  1901  he  was  appointed 
Registrar-General,  by  virtue  of  which  office 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Sanitary  Board, 
and  in  the  same  year  was  given  a  seat  on 
the  Legislative  Council.  Mr.  Brewin  is  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  Colony,  and  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Examiners. 

THE  HON.  MR.  FRANCIS  JOSEPH  BADELEY, 
B.A.,  Captain  Superintendent  of  Police  In 
Hongkong,  was  born  on  March  27,  1868,  and 
was  educated  at  the  Clergy  Orphan  School, 
Canterbury,  and  at  Jesus  College,  Cambridge, 
passing  senior  optiine  in  the  Mathematical 
Tripos  of  1889.  He  came  to  the  Colony  as 
a  cadet  in  1890,  and  three  years  later,  having 
passed  in  Cantonese  and   Hindustani,  he  was 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     109 


appointed  Acting  Deputy  Superintendent  of 
Police.  He  lias  since  that  time  filled  various 
acting  appointments,  including  those  of  Assis- 
tant Registrar-General,  Assistant  Postmaster- 
General,  and  Assistant  Colonial  Secretary  and 
Clerk  of  Councils,  but  for  the  most  part  his 
duties  have  been  in  connection  with  the 
police  force.  He  was  appointed  Deputy 
Superintendent  of  Police  and  Assistant 
Superintendent  of  the  Fire  Brigade  in  1S95, 
and  took  up  his  present  appointment  as 
Captain  Superintendent  of  Police  and  of  the 
Fire  Brigade,  and  Superintendent  of  Victoria 
Gaol  in  igo2.  He  has  made  a  special  study 
of  the  tinger-print  system  of  identifying  re- 
cidivists. In  October,  i(;o6,  he  was  appointed 
to  a  seat  on  the  Legislative  Council,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Standing  Law  Committee. 
Mr.  Badeley,  who  is  a  member  of  the  Hong- 
kong Club,  lives  at  "  Ardsheal,"  the  Peak. 


THE  HON.  DR.  HO  KAI,  C.M.Q.— Among 
the  Chinese  there  are  many  who  have  pro- 
fited by  a  thoroughly  sound  and  high-class 
European  education,  but  there  are  few  who 
have  had  a  more  distinguished  academical 
career,  or  who  have  used  their  advantages 
to  belter  purpose  than  Dr.  Ho  Kai.  Born  at 
Hongkong  in  1859,  he  is  the  fourth  son  of 
the  late  Kev.  Ho  Tsun  Shin,  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society.  He  was  educated  at  the 
Government  Central  School  in  Hongkong 
and  subsequently  in  England  at  Palmer 
House  School,  Margate  ;  at  Aberdeen  Uni- 
versity ;  at  St.  Thomas's  Medical  and  Surgical 
College,  and  at  Lincoln's  Inn.  He  took  the 
degrees  of  M.B.,  CM.,  Aberdeen,  became  a 
member  of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons, 
England,  and  was  Senior  Equity  Scholar, 
Lincoln's  Inn,  in  1881.  Upon  returiiing  to 
the  Colony  he  started  to  practise  medicine, 
but  found  that  the  Chinese  were  not  yet 
prepared  to  avail  themselves  of  Western 
treatment  unless  it  was  offered  free.  Dr.  Ho 
Kai  therefore  presented  the  Colony  with  the 
Alice  Memorial  Hospital,  named  after  his  late 
wife,  Alice,  eldest  daughter  of  the  late  Mr. 
John  Walkden,  of  Blackheath.  Dr.  Ho  Kai 
then  commenced  practice  as  a  barrister-at- 
law,  and  has  been  so  engaged  since  1882. 
He  served  as  a  member  of  the  Sanitary  Board 
for  over  ten  years,  and  on  the  Public  Works 
Committee  for  five  years.  He  is  now  senior 
unofficial  member  of  the  Legislative  Council, 
and  has  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the 
following  public  institutions  : — The  Standing 
Law  Committee  ;  the  Examination  Board  ; 
the  Medical  Board  ;  the  Po  Leung  Kuk  Com- 
mittee ;  District  Watchmen's  Committee  ;  the 
governing  body  of  the  Free  Hospitals  ;  the 
Tung  Wah  Hospital  Advisory  Committee  ; 
the  governing  body  of  Queen's  College  ;  the 
Qualified  Architects'  Advisory  Board  ;  the 
Interpretation  Committee  and  the  Advisory 
Committee  of  the  Hongkong  Technical  Insti- 
tute ;  and  Rector's  Assessor  of  the  Hongkong 
College  of  Medicine,  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  founders.  In  short  it  may  be  said  that 
he  has  had  the  distinction  of  serving  on  the 
committee  of  almost  every  public  board 
appointed  during  the  last  twenty-five  years, 
and  that  his  time  has  always  been  given 
ungrudgingly  in  the  public  service  no  matter 
at  what  sacrifice  to  his  own  interests  as  a 
professional  man.  For  upwards  of  twenty-six 
years  he  has  been  continuously  resident  in 
the  Colony  ;  for  twenty-six  years  he  has  been 
a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Hongkong,  and  for 
three  terms  (eighteen  years)  has  represented 
the  Chinese  community  on  the  Legislative 
Council.  Hence  it  is  not  a  matter  for  surprise 
that   he   is   looked  to   by   his    fellow    country- 


men for  advice  in  their  dealings  with  the 
Government,  and  is  also  often  consulted  by 
the  Government  in  their  transactions  with 
the  Chinese  community.  On  the  occasions 
of  both  visits  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of 
Connaught  and  of  Prince  Arthur  to  the 
Colony,  he  received  and  welcomed  their 
Royal  Highnesses  on  behalf  of  the  Chinese, 
and  in  recognition  of  his  many  public  works 
and  services  he  was  created  a  C.M.G.  in 
1892.  Among  his  publications  are: — "A 
Critical  Essay  on  China";  "The  Sleep  and 
Awakening"  ;  a  letter  addressed  to  Lord 
Charles  Beresford  on  "The  Open  Door"; 
"  An  Open  Letter  to  John  Bull  on  the  Boxer 
Rising"  ;  articles  on  Sir  Robert  Hart's 
Memorandum  on  the  Land  Tax  of  China  and 
his  army  and  navy  scheme,  1904  ;  the 
"Foundation  of  Reformation  in  China"; 
criticisms  of  the  views  of  Kang  Yau  Wei, 
1898  ;  criticisms  of  the  views  of  Viceroy 
Chang  Chi  Tung,  especially  on  his  recent 
work,  "  Encouragement  to  Learning,"  1899  ; 
Persons  responsible  for  Reformation  in 
China  ;  and  Two  Critical  Essays  on  the 
Progress  of  Reformation  in  China.  Dr.  Ho 
Kai's  address  is  7,  West  Terrace,  Hongkong. 


THE    HON.   MR.  WEI    YUK,   C.M.G.— As  a 

conscientious  worker  on  behalf  of  the 
Chinese  community  of  Hongkong,  and  as  a 
man  who  has  done  a  great  deal  to  produce 
the  present  good  relations  existing  between 
the  Government  and  the  Chinese,  the  Hon. 
Mr.  Wei  Yuk's  name  deserves  to  be  specially 
remembered  by  all  sections  of  society  in 
the  Colony.  On  many  occasions  he  has  been 
of  invaluable  assistance  to  the  officials,  and 
his  counsel  has  been  largely  instrumental, 
notably  at  times  of  riots  and  strikes  during 
the  past  quarter  of  a  century,  in  settling 
matters  amicably  before  they  assumed  the 
serious  proportions  which  they  threatened  to 
do  in  several  instances.  Mr.  Wei  Yuk  is  a 
Cantonese  (Heungshan  District),  born  in  Hong- 
kong in  1849,  and  conies  of  excellent  family. 
His  father,  the  late  Mr.  Wei  Kwong,  was  a 
well-known  banker,  and  formerly  compradore 
to  the  Chartered  Mercantile  Bank  of  India, 
London,  and  China,  in  Hongkong.  After  ten 
years'  study  of  Chinese,  under  private  tutors, 
Mr.  Wei  Yuk  commenced  his  English  educa- 
tion at  the  Government  Central  School,  under 
the  late  Dr.  F"rederick  Stewart,  LL.D.,  and  in 
1867,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  England  and  attended  the  Leicester 
Stoneygate  School  lor  twelve  months.  In 
1868  he  went  to  Scotland,  and  studied  for 
four  years  at  the  Dollar  Institution.  He  soon 
became  a  favourite  with  both  masters  and 
fellow  pupils,  and  the  impression  regarding 
his  nationality  that  he  made  and  left  behind 
him  became  a  tradition  in  the  school,  ensuring 
to  others  from  the  Far  East  a  most  friendly 
reception  at  that  institution.  Mr.  Wei  Yuk 
was  one  of  the  first  Chinese  to  go  abroad 
for  Western  education.  On  his  return  to 
the  East  in  1872,  after  a  European  tour,  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  Chartered  Mercan- 
tile Bank  of  India,  London,  and  China  (now 
the  Mercantile  Bank  of  India,  Limited),  in 
Hongkong,  and  on  the  death  of  his  father, 
in  1879,  he  (after  a  temporary  retirement, 
according  to  Chinese  custom)  took  up  the 
vacant  position  of  compradore.  This  position 
he  still  holds.  Mr.  Wei  Yuk  and  his  father 
have  served  the  bank  for  fifty-three  years  in 
Hongkong — that  is  to  say,  since  it  was  first 
opened.  In  1883  Mr.  Wei  Yuk  was  appointed 
a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and,  in  1896,  became 
an  unofficial  member  (representing  the 
Chinese      community)      of      the      Hongkong 


Legislative  Council.  He  works  in  the  greatest 
harmony  with  his  colleague,  the  Hon.  Dr. 
Ho  Kai,  C.M.G.,  M.B.,  CM.,  M.R.C.S.,  and 
while  not  noted  for  long  speeches,  is  regarded 
as  an  invaluable  adviser  in  connection  with 
all  legislation  in  any  way  touching  the 
interests  of  his  fellow  countrymen.  In  many 
other  capacities  also  he  has  striven  for  the 
public  good.  He  has  held  numerous 
appointments,  and  has  served  on  many 
committees,  for  when  his  help  has  been 
required  for  the  furtherance  of  the  public 
weal  it  has  never  been  withheld.  It  is 
impossible  to  give  a  complete  list  of  his 
appointments  in  a  brief  biographical  sketch 
such  as  is  here  essayed,  but  a  few  of  his 
appointments  may  be  mentioned.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital  (Hong- 
kong's leading  Chinese  charitable  institution), 
1881-83  "ind  1888-90  ;  a  permanent  member 
of  the  committee  of  the  Po  Leung  Kuk  for 
the  protection  of  destitute  women  and  children 
(of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders)  since 
1893  ;  a  permanent  member  of  the  Hongkong 
District  Watchmen's  Committee  (which  was 
formed  on  his  suggestion)  ;  and  a  member 
of  the  Standing  Law  Committee  since  1896. 
Moreover,  he  has  served  on  all  the  com- 
missions appointed  by  the  Government  to 
inquire  into  matters  affecting  the  Chinese 
since  the  commencement  of  his  public  career. 
The  Chinese  Government  is  indebted  to  him 
in  no  small  degree  for  the  assistance  he  has 
rendered  in  bringing  to  justice  Chinese 
criminals  who  have  fled  from  Chinese 
territory  to  Hongkong  and  elsewhere.  For 
the  services  which  he  rendered  during  the 
plague  epidemic  of  1894,  the  general  public 
of  Hongkong  presented  him  with  a  gold 
medal  and  a  letter  of  thanks,  while  the 
Chinese  community  also  addressed  to  him 
a  letter  of  thanks.  Mr.  Wei  Yuk  may  be 
regarded  as  the  father  of  the  Sanitary  Board. 
VoT  many  years,  previous  to  the  formation  of 
the  present  body,  he  took  the  greatest  interest 
in  sanitary  matters,  and  he  was  the  friend  and 
adviser  of  Professor  Chadwick  when  that 
well-known  authority  visited  the  Colony  to 
report  on  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  city 
of  Victoria.  Seventeen  years  ago  he  sug- 
gested the  construction  of  a  railway  from 
Kowloon  to  Canton,  and  thence  to  Peking. 
He  spent  large  sums  in  furtherance  of  the 
scheme,  which  failed,  however,  owing  to  the 
obstacles  placed  in  its  way  by  Chinese 
oflicials,  who  at  that  time  strenuously  opposed 
the  introduction  of  anything  from  the  West. 
During  the  past  six  or  seven  years,  however, 
several  lines  of  railway  have  been  constructed, 
or  are  in  course  of  construction,  between  the 
places  named,  and  they  follow  closely 
Mr.  Wei  Yuk's  original  plans.  In  1872 
Mr.  Wei  Yuk  married  the  eldest  daughter 
of  the  late  Hon.  Mr.  Wong  Shing,  the  second 
Chinese  to  be  appointed  to  the  Hongkong 
Legislative  Council.  Mr.  Wei  On,  M.A., 
solicitor,  and  Mr.  Wei  Piu,  barrister-at-law, 
both  distinguished  Cheltonians,  are  the  Hon. 
Mr.  Wei  Yuk's  brothers.  Mr.  Wei  Yuk's 
name  figured  in  the  last  list  of  Birthday 
Honours  as  a  recipient  of  a  Companionship 
of  the  Order  of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George. 

id 

THE  HON.  MR.  HENRY  EDWARD  POLLOCK, 
K.C.,  an  unofficial  member  of  the  Legislative 
Council,  has  been  connected  with  the  Colony 
for  nearly  twenty  years,  and,  during  that  time, 
has  become  intimately  associated  with  all  the 
more  prominent  phases  of  its  life.  Born  in 
December,  1864,  and  educated  at  Charter- 
house, he  was  called  to  the  Bar  by  the  Inner 
Temple  in  November,  1887.     He  was  admitted 


no     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HON(rKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


to  practise  in  Hongkong  in  April  of  the 
following  year,  and  from  September,  1888, 
until  August,  iSSq,  he  acted  as  Police  Magis- 
trate. In  June,  1892,  he  was  appointed  Acting 
Puisne  Judge,  and  continued  as  such  until 
December,  1892.  During  the  plague  epidemic 
of  1894  he  rendered  signal  service  to  the 
authorities,  and  in  recognition  of  this  was 
awarded  a  gold  medal.  For  nearly  three 
years,  at  intervals  tietween  181)6  and  1901,  he 
acted  as  .Attorney-General.  In  1900  he  was 
appointed  Queen's  Counsel,  and  since  the 
death  of  Mr.  J.  J.  Francis,  K.C.,  in  IQOI,  he 
has  been  the  senior  practising  counsel  in  the 
Colony.  He  went  to  Fiji  as  Attorney-General 
in  January,  1902.  but  left  in  the  following 
April  and  resigned  the  appointment  two 
months  later,  returning  to  Hongkong  in 
October  of  that  year.  In  1903  he  temporarily 
represented  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  on 
the  legislative  Council,  and  in  1905  he  was 
elected  to  represent  the  Justices  of  the  Peace 
on  that  body  upon  the  retirement  of  Sir  Paul 
Chafer.  C.M.G.  He  is  one  of  the  members 
of  the  Standing  Law  Committee.  Mr.  Pollock 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Sanitary  Board 
in  March,  1903.  and  held  office  until  January, 
1906.  He  is  president  of  the  Hongkong 
Branch  of  the  Navy  League  and  of  the  Chess 
Club,  secretary  of  the  Odd  Volumes  Society, 
and  a  member  on  the  committee  of  the 
Royal  Hongkong  Yacht  Club.  Mr.  Pollock, 
who  married  in  March,  1906,  Lena  Oakley. 
lives  at  "  Harrington, "  the  Peak. 


MR.    WILLIAM    JARDINE    QRESSON    is    a 

son  of  the  late  Colonel  Gresson,  of  the  27th 
Inniskillings  and  65lh  Regiment.  Upon  the 
completion  of  his  education  at  Bedford 
School  he  entered  the  London  office  of  the 
Chartered  Bank.  In  1892  he  came  to  Hong- 
kong to  join  the  tirm  of  Jardine,  Matheson 
&  Co..  Ltd..  of  which  his  nncle,  Sir  Robert 
Jardine,  was  the  head.  Since  that  date  he 
has  represented  the  firm  both  at  Hongkong 
and  Shanghai.  To  his  duties  as  an  un- 
official member  of  the  Legislative  Council 
are  added  those  of  a  member  of  the  Public 
Works  Committee.  He  is  a  thorough  sports- 
man, and,  as  a  steward  of  the  Hongkong 
Jockey  Club,  takes  an  especially  keen  interest 
in  racing.  Mr.  Gresson  was  recently 
married. 


THE   HON.  MR.   EDWARD   OSBORNE,  J.P., 

the  Secretary  of  the  Hongkong  and  Kowloon 
Wharf  and  Godown  Company,  is  one  of  the 
men  of  whom  the  Colony  has  great  reason 
to  be  proud.  During  his  twenty-six  years' 
residence  in  Hongkong  he  has  made  himself 
master  of  many  of  the  more  difficult  problems 
which  have  confronted  the  prime  movers  in 
commercial  enterprise,  and  his  opinion,  based 
upon  shrewd  observation,  is  widely  sought. 
Born  in  1 861,  and  educated  at  St.  Anne's, 
Streatham  Hill,  Mr.  Osborne  entered  the 
service  of  a  Durham  firm  of  solicitors,  and 
then  went  into  the  Ix>ndon  office  of  the 
Peninsular  and  Oriental  Company.      In  1882 


he  came  out  to  the  Company's  Hongkong 
office,  where  he  reni.iined  seven  years,  until 
the  formation  of  the  Hongkong  and  Kowloon 
Wharf  and  Godown  Company.  Since  i88g 
he  has  been  closely  identified  with  the 
Wharf  Company's  progress,  and,  as  secretary, 
he  has  encountered  innumerable  difficulties 
arising  out  of  the  organised  opposition  of 
the  Chinese  guilds  to  the  competition  of 
the  foreigner.  It  has  been  a  long,  uphill 
fight  on  his  part  against  tlie  co-operated 
exactions  of  the  Chinese  and  in  favour  of 
European  interests.  As  a  member  of  the 
Sanitary  Board,  to  which  he  was  elected  in 
1900,  Mr.  Osborne  devoted  considerable  time 
and  labour  to  fighting  the  plague,  and,  so  far 
as  concerned  the  Wharf  Company's  employees, 
found  that  the  most  effective  measures  were 
the  extermination  of  rats  and  the  enforcement 
of  simple  rules  of  health  and  cleanliness. 
With  a  few  other  gentlemen  he  was  instru- 
mental in  bringing  about  the  erection  of  the 
new  Hongkong  Club  building;  whilst,  :it  the 
request  of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank 
and  of  the  mortgagees  of  the  Hongkong 
Hotel  property,  he  was,  some  twelve  years 
ago,  largt-ly  responsible  for  rescuing  the 
Hotel  Company  from  imminent  bankruptcy 
and  placing  it  upon  a  dividend-paying  b.isis. 
He  also  assisted  in  bringing  about  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Star  Ferry  Company,  and  placing 
double-ended  boats  on  the  service  between 
Hongkong  and  the  mainland.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  Dairy  Farm  and  of  the  Steam  Laundry 
Company,  and  has  a  seat  on  the  Consulting 
Committees  of  A.  S.  Watson  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  and 
the  China-Borneo  Company.  In  May.  1906, 
he  succeeded  the  Hon.  Mr.  Gershom  Stewart 
on  the  Legislative  Council,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Finance  and  Public  Works  Committees. 
A  lover  of  outdoor  sports,  with  a  leaning 
especially  towards  rowing,  riding,  and  shoot- 
ing. Mr.  Osborne  is  also  extremely  partial 
to  pedestrian  exercise.  He  has  seen  in  this 
way  a  good  deal  of  the  mainland  adjacent 
to  Hongkong,  and  was  in  Peking  just  after 
the  Boxer  troubles.  He  has  walked  across 
Korea,  through  parts  of  Japan,  and  recently 
went  on  foot  from  Hankow  to  Canton  by 
way  of  Kweilin.  In  February,  1904,  he 
was  married  to  Phyllis  Eliza,  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  G.  Whittey,  of  Weybridge,  by  whom 
he  has  three  children.  He  lives  at  the  Peak, 
where  he  went  to  reside  many  years  ago 
in  the  hope — since  completely  justified — of 
.securing  immunity  from  malarial  fever. 

THE  HON.  COMMANDER  BASIL  REGINALD 
HAMILTON  TAYLOR,  R.N.,  who  is  acting  as 
a  member  of  the  Legislative  Coinicil  during 
the  absence  on  leave  of  Mr.  Badeley,  the 
Captain-Superintendent  of  Police,  has  been 
connected  with  the  Harbour  Department  of 
the  Colony  since  July,  1899.  His  father  was 
the  late  Colonel  Thomas  Edward  Taylor, 
Chief  Conservative  Whip  for  many  years, 
and  for  forty-two  consecutive  years  Member 
for  County  Dublin.  He  was  Chancellor  of 
the  Duchy  of  Lancaster  in  Lord  Derby's  last 
Cabinet,  and  in  Lord  Beaconsfield's  Cabinet 
of    1874.     Commander    Taylor's    grandfather 


was  the  eldest  son  of  the  Rev.  the  Hon. 
Heiny  Edward  Taylor,  a  son  of  the  first 
Earl  of  Bective,  and  brother  of  the  first 
Marquis  of  Headfort.  Born  on  April  8,  1865, 
and  educated  at  a  private  school  at  Cheani, 
in  Surrey,  Commander  Taylor  entered  the 
Royal  Navy  in  1878.  He  served  in  the 
Egyptian  VVar  of  1882,  and  was  present  at 
the  bombardment  of  Alexandria  In  July  of 
that  year,  subsequently  landing  with  the 
Naval  Brigade  at  Alexandria  and  Port  Said 
for  police  and  guard  duties.  For  his  services 
he  was  awarded  the  Egyptian  medal, 
Alexandria  clasp,  and  bronze  star.  He  was 
commissioned  a  lieutenant  in  1888,  and 
served  on  the  Mediterranean,  North  American, 
China,  and  Home  Stations.  He  resigned  his 
commission  in  1898,  and  in  the  following 
year  was  appointed  Assistant  Harbour  Master 
of  Hongkong.  Since  that  time  the  total 
tonnage  of  vessels  entered  and  cleared  has 
doubled.  Great  improvements  have  been 
made  in  lighting  and  much  of  the  foreshore 
has  been  reclaimed.  Besides  being  Harbour 
Master,  Commander  Taylor  is  Marine  Magis- 
trate, Emigration  and  Customs  Officer, 
Registrar  of  Shipping,  Superintendent  of 
the  Gunpowder  Depot,  Collector  of  Light 
Dues,  Superintendent  of  Imports  and 
Exports,  and  Board  of  Trade  Agent  for 
Commercial  Intelligence.  He  was  confirmed 
in  these  appointments  on  his  return  from 
leave  in  February,  1907.  For  a  while  he 
acted  as  Assistant  Superintendent  of  the 
Water  Police,  but,  the  arrangement  by 
which  that  force  was  placed  under  the 
Harbour  Department  proving  unsatisfactory, 
It  was  discontinued.  In  1903  Comuiander 
Taylor  was  married  to  Harriet,  a  daughter 
of  Brigadier-General  H.  H.  Osgood,  of  the 
United  Slates  Army,  and  widow  of  the  late 
Major  Paul  Clendennis,  of  the  United  States 
Army.  He  Is  a  member  of  the  Carlton, 
Bath,  and   Hongkong  Clubs. 


MR.  HENRY  KESWICK,  who  is  acting  as 
a  member  of  the  Legislative  Council  during 
the  absence  of  Mr.  Gresson  from  the  Colony, 
is  the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  William  Keswick, 
M.P.,  of  Beech  Grove,  Dumfriesshire.  He 
was  born  in  Shanghai  In  1870,  and  was 
educated  at  Eton  and  Trinity  College,  Cam- 
bridge, taking  his  H.A.  degree  in  1892.  Mr. 
Keswick  went  to  New  York  in  1893  for  the 
firm  of  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd.  Two 
years  later  he  came  East  and  remained  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  Boer  War  in  1900.  when 
he  went  to  South  Africa  and  served  as  a 
captain  in  the  3rd  King's  Own  Scottish 
Borderers.  Iti  the  following  year  he  returned 
East  to  take  charge  of  the  firm's  branch  at 
Yokohama,  and  in  1904  he  entered  upon  a 
similar  position  in  Shanghai.  He  w,-is  chair- 
man of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and 
chairman  of  the  Municipal  Council  in 
Shanghai  during  J906-7.  Early  in  1907  he 
was  given  charge  of  the  head  office  in  Hong- 
kong. He  is  a  member  of  the  committees 
of  the  Chamber  of  Connncrce,  the  China 
Association,  and  the  Royal  Hongkong  Yacht 
Club,  and  a  steward  of   the  Jockey  Club. 


IIVENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      HI 


LEGAL    AND    JUDICIAL    BIOGRAPHIES. 


THE  CHIEF  JUSTICE   OF   HONGKONG,  His 

Honouf  Sir  Francis  Taylor  Pigyolt,  has  been 
from  his  early  years  in  the  profession  a 
writer  on  International  Law,  and  he  is  recog- 
nised as  an  authority  upon  the  rules  which 
govern  the  relationships  and  control  the 
intercourse  of  one  country  with  another. 
His  career  has  furnished  him  with  many 
opportunities  of  perfecting  his  knowledge  in 
this  particular  direction,  and  his  opinions, 
based  upon  facts,  many  of  which  have  come 
within  his  personal  experience,  are  embodied 
in  several  sturdy  volumes  and  held  in  high 
repute  by  the  members  of  his  profession. 
Born  in  London  on  April  25,  1852,  he  is  the 
son  of  the  Rev.  Francis  Allen  Piggott,  of 
Worthing.  His  early  education  was  obtained 
first  at  Worthing  College,  and  then  for  some 
time  in  Paris,  and  afterwards  at  Trinity  Col- 
lege, Cambridge.  Always  an  enthusiastic 
rifle-shot,  he  represented  his  University  on 
three  occasions  in  the  Inter-'Varsity  shooting 
contests  at  Wimbledon,  and,  one  year,  was  a 
member  of  the  English  eight  in  the  competi- 
tion for  the  ''Elcho"  Shield.  Still  retaining 
his  interest  in  the  sport  Sir  Francis  is  now 
a  member  of  the  Hongkong  Rifle  Association. 
Having  graduated,  and  taken  the  degrees  of 
Master  of  Arts  and  Master  of  Laws,  he  was 
in  1874  called  to  the  Bar  by  the  Inner 
Temple.  In  1887  he  attended  the  Colonial 
Conference,  in  connection  wilh  a  scheme  for 
the  enforcement  of  Colonial  judgments  in 
England,  which  he  had  put  forward,  and  in 
the  same  year  was  employed  by  the  Foreign 
Office  to  draft  a  convention  with  Italy  for 
the  mutual  execution  of  judgments,  the  negoti- 
ations in  connection  with  this  subject  being 
carried  on  in  Rome.  Afterwards  he  was 
selected  by  Sir  Julian  Pauncefote.  on  the 
application  of  the  Japanese  Government,  as 
legal  adviser  to  the  Prime  Minister  of  Japan, 
in  connection  with  the  drafting  of  the  consti- 
tution. He  resided  in  Tokyo  from  1888  to 
1 891,  and  named  his  second  son,  who  was 
born  in  Japan,  after  his  chief,  Count  (now 
Prince)  Ito.  During  his  slay  in  the  Island 
Empire  Sir  Francis  collected  the  data  for  his 
books,  "  The  Garden  of  Japan "  and  the 
"Music  and  Musical  Instruments  of  the 
Japanese,"  published  a  few  years  later.  In 
1893  he  assisted  Sir  Charles  Russell,  then 
Attorney-General,  in  drafting  the  British 
argument  for  the  Behring  Sea  Arbitration, 
and  as  secretary  to  Sir  Charles  attended  the 
sittings  of  the  Tribune  in  Paris,  and  a  series 
of  letters  from  his  pen,  on  the  subject  of 
the  arbitration,  appeared  in  The  Times. 

Appointed  Procureur  and  Advocate-General 
for  Mauritius  in  1894,  he  held  that  position 
until  1905,  acting  for  two  years  as  chief 
justice  during  1895  96.  In  1897  he  revised 
the  laws  of  the  Colony,  and  completed  a 
second  and  more  comprehensive  revision 
before  leaving  the  Colony.  He  also  published, 
in  two  volumes,  a  complete  and  revised 
collection  of  the  "  Imperial  Statutes  applicable 
to  the  Colonies."  After  coming  to  Hongkong 
as  Chief  Justice,  he  received  the  honour  of 
knighthood  in  1905.  Besides  those  works 
already  mentioned.  Sir  Francis  has  published 
a  series  of  books  on  foreign  judgments  : 
"  Principles  of  Law  of  Torts,"  1885  ;  "  Ex- 
territoriality and  Consular  Jurisdiction,"  1892  ; 
"  Service  out  of  the  Jurisdiction,"  1892  ; 
"  Nationality  and  Naturalisation  and  the  Eng- 


lish Law  on  the  High  Seas  and  Beyond 
the  Realm,"  1904.  In  Hongkong  his  chief 
recreation  has  been  golf  ;  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Golf  Club,  the  Hongkong  Club,  and 
the  "  Thatched  House,"  London.  Sir  Francis 
married  Mabel  Waldron,  eldest  daughter  of 
Jasper  Wilson  Johns,  J. P.,  D.L.,  and  has  two 
sons. 

HIS  HONOUR  MR.  ALFRED  OASCOYNE 
WISE,  Puisne  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
Hongkong,  was  born  at  Colombo,  Ceylon,  on 
-August  15,  1854,  and  was  a  son  of  the  late 
Mr.  Alfred  Wise,  a  well-known  planter. 
Educated  at  Repton  and  at  Trinity  College, 
Cambridge,  he  was  called  to  the  Bar  by 
Lincoln's  Inn  in  1878,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight  came  to  Hongkong,  and  on 
January  i,  1884  was  appointed  Police  Magis- 
trate. In  1892  he  became  Registrar,  Official 
Administrator,  Official  Trustee,  Registrar  of 
Companies,  and  Registrar  in  the  Colonial 
Court  of  Admiralty,  and  three  years  later  he 
entered  upon  his  present  appointment.  Twice 
he  has  acted  for  the  Attorney-General  and 
twice  for  the  Chief  Justice.  In  1902  he  was 
elected  chairman  ol  the  Squatter's  Board. 
He  is  married  to  Augusta  Frances,  a  daughter 
of  Mr.  A.  N.  C.  R.  Nugent.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Conservative,  Thatched  House,  and 
Hongkong  Clubs. 

MR.  ARATHOON  SETH,  I.S.O.,  the  Regis- 
trar of  the  Supreme  Court,  Hongkong,  was 
born  in  1852.  When  only  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  was  appointed  Hindustani  interpreter 
to  the  Magistracy,  Hongkong,  having  acquired 
a  knowledge  of  the  language  in  Hongkong, 
and,  except  for  a  comparatively  short  interval 
when  he  was  attached  to  the  Peninsular 
and  Oriental  Company,  he  has  been  in 
the  Civil  Service  ever  since.  He  re-entered 
the  Magistracy  as  third  clerk  in  September, 
1872,  and  received  steady  promotion,  be- 
coming first  clerk  in  1875,  and  Clerk  of 
Councils  and  chief  clerk  in  the  Colonial 
Secretary's  office  six  years  later.  He  was 
created  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1882, 
and  was  called  to  the  Bar  by  Lincoln's  Inn 
in  1893.  After  serving  as  Superintendent  of 
the  Opium  Revenue  and  of  Imports  and 
Exports,  was  appointed  Secretary  to  the 
Board,  under  the  ''Taipingshan  Resumption 
Ordinance,"  and  subsequently  received  the 
thanks  of  the  Government  for  his  services. 
He  has  held  a  variety  of  other  posts  from 
time  to  time,  including  those  of  Acting  Assis- 
tant Registrar-General,  Official  Receiver  in 
Bankruptcy,  Acting  Registrar  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  Acting  Land  Officer,  Acting  Registrar 
of  Companies,  Official  Administrator,  and 
Official  Trustee  ;  was  appointed  to  his  present 
position  in  October,  1903.  Mr.  Seth  is  a 
member  of  the  Hongkong  Club  and  lives  at 
Norman  Cottage,  Peak  Road. 

MR.  HENRY  HESSEY  JOHNSTON  GOM- 
PERTZ,  the  first  Police  Magistrate  and 
Coroner  of  Hongkong,  has  spent  nearly 
twenty   years    in    the   Civil    Service,   his    ap- 


pointment as  a  cadet  dating  from  1890.  For 
nearly  seven  years  he  was  in  the  Straits 
Settlements,  and  during  that  time  he  acted 
in  a  magisterial  capacity  on  several  occa- 
sions, and  also  as  Deputy  Registrar  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  Penang.  He  tame  to  Hong- 
kong in  August  of  1897  as  Assistant  Regis- 
trar-General, and  served  on  the  Commission 
appointed  to  report  on  the  interpretation 
scheme.  Before  receiving  his  present  posi- 
tion, in  October  of  1907,  he  was  for  two 
years  president  of  the  Land  Court,  and  had 
acted  as  Police  Magistrate,  Attorney-General, 
and  Puisne  Judge.  He  is  a  Bachelor  of  Arts 
of  Oxford  and  a  member  of  the  Bar  (1899). 
He  speaks  the  Tie-Chin,  Hok-kien  and  Can- 
tonese dialects. 

id 

MR.  FRANCIS  ARTHUR  HAZELAND,  the 

second  Police  Magistrate  of  Hongkong,  was 
appointed  Clerk  to  the  Puisne  Judge  in 
November,  1878,  and  subsequently  discharged 
the  duties  of  First  Clerk  of  the  Supreme 
Court  and  Marshal  of  the  Colonial  Court  of 
Admiralty,  Acting  Chief  Clerk  in  the  Colonial 
Secretary's  office  and  Acting  Clerk  of  Coun- 
cils, and  Deputy  Registrar.  While  on  leave 
in  1899  he  was  called  to  the  Bar  by  Lincoln's 
Inn.  Since  his  return  to  the  Colony  in  the 
following  year  he  has  served  for  several 
long  terms  as  Acting  Police  Magistrate  and 
Coroner.  His  present  substantive  appoint- 
ment dates  from  1901. 


THE  ATTORNEY-GENERAL.— A  biographi- 
cal sketch  of  Mr.  William  Rees-Davies,  the 
Attorney-General,  will  be  found  under  the 
heading  "  Executive  and  Legislative  Councils." 


MR.    FRANCIS    BULMER    LYON    BOWLEY, 

Crown  Solicitor  and  Notary  Public,  was  born 
in  1868,  at  Bristol,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  Bristol  Grammar  School.  He  was 
admitted  a  Solicitor  in  London  in  1890,  and 
in  1893  came  to  Hongkong  to  join  Mr. 
H.  L.  Dennys.  Seven  years  later  he  was 
appointed  Crown  Solicitor  in  succession  to 
Mr.  Dennys,  and  at  the  same  time  undertook 
the  duties  of  Secretary,  Librarian,  and  Curator 
at  the  City  Hall,  which  he  fulfilled  for  six 
years.  He  is  on  the  committee  of  the  Hong- 
kong Law  Society. 

MR.   GEORGE   HERBERT   WAKEMAN,   who 

has  been  in  the  Hongkong  Government  Ser- 
vice for  about  seven  years  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Land  Oflicer  and  Official  Receiver 
in  Bankruptcy  since  August,  1905,  was  born 
on  June  15,  1866,  and  educated  at  Cams 
College,  Cambridge.  He  was  appointed 
Assistant  Land  Oflicer  on  June  29,  1900,  and 
was  made  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  same 
year  Mr.  Wakeman  is  an  enthusiastic  rifle- 
shot, and  in  1906-7  was  honorary  secretary 
of  the  Volunteer  Reserve  Association,  founded 
by  Sir  Matthew  Nathan. 


I.    O.  I).  Thomson.  Esc^ 
Srilicitor. 
4.    F.  A.  Hazkhnd.  Esg.. 
Second  Holice  Ma((i»trate. 
7.    J.  Scott  Hakstox.  Es^.,  f>. 

Solicitor. 

II.    Arathoos  SrTH.  Esq.. 
Re^stnr. 
14.    G.  C.  C.  Master,  Esq..  i.V 

SaOcltor. 


HONGKONG    LEGAL   GROUP. 

2.    Paui,  M.  HoD(isf>x.  Es(j..  3.    H. 

Solicitor. 
5,    F.  B.  L.  Bowi.EY.  Esq.. 
Crown  Solicitor. 
Mr.  Ji;stice  Wise.  <>.    Sir  F.  T.  Piggott.  Kt., 

Puisne  JudKC.  Chief  Justice. 

12.    F.  X.  D'AI.MADA  K  Castro,  Esq..  13. 

Solicitor. 
C.  D.  WiLKiKsox,  E.SQ.,  16.    G.  A.  Hastings.  Esq.. 

Solicitor.  SoUcltor. 


W.  LooKKK,  Esq., 
Solicitor. 

6.    H.  H.  J.  GoMPKRiZ,  Esq., 
First  Magistrate. 
10.    G.  K.  Hai-I.  Hrittox,  Esq.. 
Solicitor. 
Sir  Hkxky  S.  Bekkelev, 
H;uTisttT..il-l..'iw. 

17.    P.  W.  GoLitHixG,  Esq.. 
Solicitor. 


FINANCE. 


By    the    Hon.    Mr.    A.    M.    Thomson.    Colonial    Treasurer. 


HE  Coloni.il  Treasurer  is  tlie 
officer  in  ciiarge  of  all  finan- 
cial operations,  subject  to  the 
P'inancial  Instructions  and 
such  orders  as  may  be  trans- 
mitted to  him  from  time  to 
time.  He  is  also  Collector  of 
Stamp  Revenue.  The  staff  of  the  Treasury 
is  of  the  usual  clerical  nature,  and  heads  of 
departments  are  regarded  as  sub-accountants 
under  the  Treasurer  so  far  as  they  are 
required  to  transact  financial  business. 

In  the  early  days  the  Imperial  CJovernment 
bore  practically  the  whole  of  the  expenses  of 
the  Colony,  voting  a  sum  annually  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  on  the  business  of  the 
Government.  During  the  Governorship  of 
Sir  George  Bonham  (1848  54)  this  grant, 
which  had  been  reduced  to  _^25,ooo,  was 
further  reduced  to  £9,200,  and  soon  after- 
wards was  withdrawn  altogether.  Two 
grants  of  ;fio,ooo  each,  however,  were  ren- 
dered necessary  by  public  works  in  1857  and 
1858.  Since  that  time  the  Colony  has  been 
self-supporting. 

The  revenue  for  1907  amounted  to 
16,602,280,  of  which  the  principal  portions 
were  derived  from  the  opium  farm  and 
assessed  taxes.  The  former  is  now  tet  at 
$1,452,000  per  annum,  and  the  latter  item  is 
practically  a  general  charge  of  13  per  cent. 
on  rateable  property  in  the  Colony,  yielding 
something  like  $1,397,730  per  annum.  Land 
sales  form  an  item  of  extraordinary  revenue, 
but  the  amount  derived  from  them  in  1907 
was  only  $159,750.  Two  factors  have  con- 
tributed to  the  decline  in  the  receipts  from 
this  source.  In  the  first  instance,  most  of 
the  valuable  land  in  the  business  centres  has 
been  alienated  ;  and,  in  the  second,  owing 
to  the  geneial  depression  of  trade  during 
the  last  two  years  very  little  capital  has 
been  put  into  new  enterprises  for  which 
land  might  have  been  required,  though  there 
are  plenty  of  suitable  factory  sites  available. 
For  the  first  few  years  of  the  Colony's  exis- 
tence leases  were  granted  for  a  term  of 
75  years,  but,  in  accordance  with  the 
general  wishes  of  the  community,  a  change 
was  made,  and  leases  were  granted  for 
999  years.  About  ten  years  ago,  however, 
the  Secretary  of  State  issued  a  new  rule  to 
the  effect  that  the  original  term  of  75  years 
should  again  be  introduced,  and  that  rule 
remains  in  force  at  the  present  day.  All 
Crown  leases  are  sold  by  auction.  Hong- 
kong being  a  free  port,  there  are  no  customs 
or  excise  duties  in  the  Colony. 

The  rateable  value  of  the  city  of  Victoria 
for    1907  8    was    $8,892,205,    a    decrease    of 


3'42  per  cent,  on  that  of  the  previous  twelve 
months,  while  that  for  the  whole  Colony, 
$10,654,338,  sliowcd  a  falling-off  of  2-52 
per  cent. 

The  expenditure  for  1907  came  to 
S5.757i203,  including  a  sum  of  $728,650  spent 
on  extraordinary  public  works,  exclusive  of 
the  railway  to  Canton,  which  is  being  pro- 
vided for  by  advances  from  a  special  fund 
to  a  special  account.  The  Colony  pays  a 
military  contribution  of  20  per  cent,  on  its 
annual  revenue,  exclusive  of  land  sales. 

The  following  table  shows  the  revenue  and 
expenditure  of  the  Colony  during  the  last 
ten  years  : — 

Statement  of   Kevknuk  and  Expenditure 


I'UOM  1898  ' 

ro  I 

907. 

Revenue. 

ExpencUtu 

e. 

$ 

c. 

$ 

C. 

1898 

...   2,918,159 

24 

2,841,805 

20 

1899 

...   3,610,143 

25 

3,162,792 

36 

1900 

...   4,202,587 

40 

3,628,447 

13 

1901 

...   4,213,893 

22 

4,111,722 

49 

1902 

...   4,901,073 

70 

5,909,548 

51 

1903 

-   5,238,857 

88 

5,396,669 

48 

1904 

...   6,809,047 

99 

6,376,235 

30 

1905 

...   6,918,403 

85 

6,951,275 

26 

1906 

...   7.035,011 

7« 

6,832,610 

68 

1907 

...   6,602,280 

25 

5,757,203 

47 

At  the  end  of  1907  the  excess  of  assets 
over  liabilities,  exclusive  of  loan  liabilities, 
was  $[,444,738,  as  will  be  seen  from  the 
following  statement  : — 

Assets.  $  c. 

Balance  in  bank 393,54'  38 

Advances 168,501  50 

Crown  agents'  deposit 569,897  96 

Subsidiary  coins  in  stock         ...  645,521  75 

Profit  on  Money  Order  Office...  10,000  00 
Suspense  account  (advanced  for 

railway  construction) 863,271  40 


Total         $2,650,733  99 

Liabilities.  $  c. 

Bills  on  Colonial  Office  in  transit  395,876  29 

Deposits  not  available 656,505  90 

Military   contribution    in    excess 

of  estimate       64,590  00 

Pensions  not  paid          30,400  00 

Balance  overdrawn   in    London  27,503  71 

Miscellaneous       ...  31,119  23 


Total 


...$1,205,995     13 


The    above    does    not    include    arrears    of 
revenue,  amounting  to  $88,978-33. 


The  first  loan  ever  raised  by  the  Colony 
was  negotiated  in  1886,  when  ;^20o,ooo  was 
borrowed  for  public  works — chiefly  the 
Tytam  W.aterworks.  In  course  of  time 
this  loan  was  repaid.  The  existing  con- 
solidated loan  amounts  to  ;£i,485.732.  There 
is  a  credit  of  £60,704  (present  market  value 
of  securities)  at  sinking  fund  account,  and  it 
is  expected  that  the  whole  liability  may  be 
extinguished  about  1943,  including  the  amount 
which  may  be  advanced  from  the  special 
fund  for  railway  construction.  The  first 
portion  of  the  consolidated  loan  was  raised 
in  1893,  when  £342,000,  approximately,  was 
borrowed  at  3  J  per  cent,  for  the  purpose  of 
extending  the  Praya  Reclamation,  constructing 
the  Central  Market,  and  carrying  out  other 
public  works  extraordinary,  in  .addition  to 
paying  off  the  balance  of  the  1886  loan, 
amounting  approximately  to  £142,000.  The 
remaining  portion,  borrowed  in  1905,  costs 
the  Government  £3  13s.  per  cent,  for  interest 
annually,  but  this  last  loan  was  raised  to 
provide  an  advance  of  £1,100,000  to  the 
Viceroy  of  Wuchang,  repayable  by  him  in 
yearly  instalments  of  £110,000,  and  bearing 
interest  at  4.J  per  cent.  These  repayments 
and  the  inteiest  on  the  balance,  form  the 
special  fund  above  referred  to. 

There  is  a  Widows'  and  Orphans'  Pension 
Fund  in  existence,  on  the  same  lines  as  in 
other  Colonies,  the  finances  being  managed 
by  the  Treasurer.  There  is  no  Government 
Savings  Bank. 


THE  COLONIAL  TREASURER.— A  brief 
biographical  sketch  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  A.  M. 
Thomson,  the  Colonial  Treasurer,  will  be 
found  under  the  heading  '•  Executive  and 
Legislative  Councils." 


IMR.    HUGH    RICHARD    PHELIPS,    who   has 

been  in  the  service  of  the  Hongkong  Govern- 
ment as  Local  Auditor  since  December,  1904, 
was  born  on  January  6,  i86g,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  Weymouth  College  and  at  Queen's 
College,  Oxford.  He  was  appointed  Local 
Auditor  for  the  Niger  Coast  Protectorate,  West 
Africa,  in  October,  1894,  and  two  years  later 
became  Assistant-Auditor  of  tlie  East  Africa 
Protectorate.  He  was  Local  Auditor  of 
Uganda  in  1897,  and  held  a  similar  position 
in  the  East  Africa  Protectorate  in  1901.  For 
services  rendered  to  the  Government  in 
1897  9  he  was  awarded  the  Uganda  Mutiny 
medal  and  clasp.  Since  his  arrival  in  the 
Colony  Mr.  Phelips  has  been  made  a  Justice 
of    the    Peace.     He   is   attached   to   Somerset 

O 


114    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONCrKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


House,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Sports  Clbb, 
London.  Mr.  Phelips  married,  in  1903, 
Jacquette  Edith,  youngest  daughter  of  the  Kev. 
George  Lanibe.  of  •'  Highlands,"  Ivybridge, 
Devon.  He  resides  at  No.  72,  Mount  Kellel, 
Hongkong. 


THE  ASSESSOR  OF  RATES.— A  short 
biograpliy  of  Mr.  A.  Chapman,  the  Assessor 
of  Kates,  appears  in  the  Volunteer  section 
of  this  work. 


CURRENCY. 

The  currency  of  Hongkong  consists  of  the 
dollar,  half-dollar,  twenty-,  ten-,  tive-,  and  one- 
cent  pieces,  and  of  cash  (or  mil)  represent- 
ing the  thousandth  part  of  a  dollar.  The 
one-cent   piece   and   the   cash   are  of  copper. 


the  rest  of  silver.  The  cash  is  practically 
never  used.  Notes  of  seven  denominations, 
ranging  in  value  from  one  dollar  to  S500 
each,  are  issued  by  the  Chartered  Hank, 
the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank,  and  the 
National  Bank  of  China.  These  notes  had 
an  average  circulation  in  December,  1907, 
representing  $16,916,166. 

Two  kinds  of  dollar  are  in  circulation, 
namely  the  British  and  the  Mexican. 
Formerly  coins  were  issued  from  a  mint 
that  was  opened  in  Hongkong  in  1866  on 
the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Sugar  Refinery 
at  East  Point,  and  run  for  two  years  at  a 
cost  of  ;£9,ooo  a  year,  but  they  are  never 
met  with  at  the  present  day. 

The  value  of  the  dollar  is  not  fixed,  but 
varies  in  accordance  with  the  prevailing  rate 
of  silver.  The  highest  point  that  it  lias 
touched  during  the  List  twenty  years  is 
4s.  3ld.,  in  1877,  and  the  lowest  is.  6Jd., 
in     1902.     The    greatest     variation     in     any 


THE   PREMISES  OP    THE    CHARTERED    BANK    OF    INDIA,   AUSTRALIA, 

AND   CHINA.  [Sec  page  iiS.] 


twelve   months   occurred   in    1890,   when   the 
price  fell  from  3s.  lojd.  to  3s.  ojd. 

This  liability  to  thictualion  introduces,  of 
course,  a  serious  speculative  element  into  the 
commercial  operations  of  the  Colony,  and 
suggestions  have  been  made  from  lime  to 
time  for  fixing  the  value  of  the  dollar,  as  it 
has  been  fixed  recently  in  the  Straits  Settle- 
ments. The  insuperable  difficulty  in  the 
way  of  carrying  out  this  very  desirable 
reform  lies  in  the  fact  that  Hongkong  is 
little  else  but  a  shipping  centre  between 
China  and  the  rest  of  the  world,  and  in 
China  there  is  no  fixed  currency.  Indeed,  in 
the  Chinese  Empire  taels,  or  weights  of 
silver  equal  to  an  ounce  and  a  third,  and 
doll.irs  that  have  been  cut  into  sections  are 
accepted  .it  their  intrinsic  value  as  a  medium 
of  exchange.  Silver  dollars,  therefore,  may 
be  regarded  merely  as  a  commodity  whose 
value  is  determined  by  supply  and  demand. 
In  these  circumstances,  even  if  the  dollar 
were  fixed  in  Hongkong  it  would  not  be 
accepted  at  its  face  value  in  China,  and 
therefore  the  responsibility  of  dealing  with 
the  exchange  question  would  only  be  trans- 
ferred from  commercial  houses  in  Hongkong 
to  their  representatives  in  Canton.  Under 
existing  conditions,  prudent  merchants  en- 
gaged in  transactions  between  Canton  and, 
say,  London  make  arraTigements  with  the  local 
banks  for  a  fixed  dollar  from  time  to  time, 
and  are  thus  enabled  to  quote  on  a  safe 
basis.  As  a  rule  the  banks  will  allow  their 
offers  to  remain  open  for  twenty-four  hours. 
Although  by  this  arrangement  it  is  often 
impossible  to  compete  with  the  trader  who 
is  ready  to  gamble  by  quoting  at  the  current 
rate  of  exchange  and  calculating  upon  a  fall 
in  the  value  of  the  dollar,  it  is  the  only  safe 
method  of  carrying  on  business. 

Since  1863  quantities  of  subsidiary  silver 
coinage  have  been  minted  in  London  and 
issued  by  the  Hongkong  Government  for  use 
in  the  Colony.  The  Chinese,  finding  this 
subsidiary  coinage  a  much  more  convenient 
form  of  exchange  than  long  strings  of 
copper  cash,  about  1,000  of  which  went  to 
the  dollar,  used  it  extensively  ;  indeed  it  is 
estimated  that  not  more  than  10  per  cent,  of 
the  coins  minted  by  the  British  authorities 
remain  in  the  Colony  at  the  present  day. 
In  course  of  time  the  Chinese  Government, 
recognising  the  demand  that  existed  for  these 
small  coins,  began  minting  them,  with  the 
consequence  that  the  importation  of  British 
coins  received  a  serious  check  and  the 
Colony  was  flooded  with  the  Chinese  coin- 
age, which,  although  of  the  same  weight 
and  fineness  as  Hongkong  coins,  are  not 
fractions  of  a  legal  standard  as  the  latter 
are.  At  the  time  of  writing,  both  the 
British  and  Chinese  subsidiary  coins  are  at 
about  5  per  cent,  discount  ;  in  other  words, 
a  British  or  Mexican  dollar  will  buy  loj 
ten-cent  pieces.  The  consequent  disarrange- 
ment of  local  trade  and  the  injustice  which 
Chinese  coolies  suffer  by  being  paid  by  their 
headmen  in  small  coinage  at  the  rate  of  loo 
cents  to  the  dollar  engaged  the  attention  of 
a  specially  appointed  committee  in  the  latter 
part  of  1907.  While  agreeing  that  the  only 
effectual  method  of  dealing  witli  the  question 
was  by  Government  intervention,  since  con- 
certed individual  action  was,  in  practice, 
impossible,  the  committee  found  themselves 
hopelessly  divided  when  they  came  to  the 
formulation  of  a  definite  scheme.  The 
majority  advocated  the  prohibition  of  the 
importation  and  circulation  of  all  alien  sub- 
sidiary coinage  ;  while  the  minority,  fearing 
that  this  might  bring  about  a  further 
depreciation  in  the  value  of  Canton  coins 
and    lead   to   financial    disabilities,    if    not    to 


HONGKONG  AND  SHANGHAI  BANK. 


INTERIOR  OF  HONGKONG  AND  SHANGHAI  BANK. 


[See  page  118.] 


UG     TWENTIKTH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONOKONCJ,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


measures  of  retaliation  by  the  Cliinese 
authorities,  adversely  affecting  the  trade  of 
the  Colony,  urged  that  the  Chinese  Govern- 
ment should  he  pressed  to  reform  its 
currency  in  the  terms  of  the  Mackay  Treaty, 
and  that  an  attempt  should  be  made  to 
secure  an  undertaking  that  the  Canton  Mint 
would  cease  coining  subsidiary  coin  until 
Hongkong  and  Canton  subsidiary  coins 
reached  par  value,  and  that  thenceforward 
both  parties  should  agree  to  restiict  minting 
to  actual  retiuirements. 


BANKING. 

The  first  mention  of  Banking  in  the  olVicial 
summary  of  the  history  of  the  Colony  is  that 
a  branch  of  the  Oriental  Banking  Corporation 
was  established  in  April,  1845— the  year  in 
which  the  first  unsuccessful  attempt  was 
made  to   place   the  currency  of    the   Colony 


on  a  gold  basis.  The  establishment  of  this 
institution  was  welcomed,  it  being  regarded 
as  indiaitive  of  the  sanguine  expectations 
entertained  by  the  comnumity  as  to  the 
island's  commercial  future.  Two  years  later, 
and  before  it  was  chartered,  this  bank  put 
into  circulation  over  56,000  dollars'  worth  of 
notes,  "to  the  great  relief  of  local  trade,"  as 
the  historian  informs  us. 

The  subject  of  banking  from  that  date 
onwards,  for  a  period  of  nearly  twenty  years, 
is  practically  ignored  by  the  records,  though 
there  are  frequent  references  to  the  currency 
question.  The  issue  of  the  prospectus  of  the 
Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Banking  Corporation 
in  July,  1864,  is  the  next  mention,  and,  iiici- 
denlally,  Ur.  Eitel  alludes  to  the  existence 
at  that  time  of  six  banking  institutions — the 
Oriental  Bank  already  referred  to,  the  Agia 
and  United  Service  Bank ;  the  Central  Hank 
of  Western  India  ;  the  Chartered  Hank  of 
India,  Australia  and  China ;  the  Chartered 
Mercantile  Bank  of  India,  London,  and  China; 
and  llie  Commercial  Bank  of  India.     This  list 


PaEHISES    OF    THE    BANQUE    DE    L'INDO    CHINE. 


[See  page  119.] 


does  not  appear  to  be  a  complete  one,  how- 
ever, for  some  of  the  older  inhabitants  of  the 
Colony  well  remember  that  there  were  also  in 
operation  the  Comptoir  Nalionale  d'Kscomple 
de  Paris ;  the  Bank  of  Hindustan,  China,  and 
Japan  ;  the  Asiatic  Bank  ;  and  the  Hank  of 
India.  In  fact,  the  manager  of  the  French 
bank,  Mr.  Victor  Kresser,  became  the  Inst 
manager  of  the  newly  formed  Hongkong  Bank, 
and  the  accountant  of  the  Hank  of  Hindu- 
stan, Mr.  John  Grigor,  its  first  accountant. 

Of  all  these  institutions  only  three — the 
Chartered  Bank  of  India,  the  Mercantile 
Bank  of  India,  and  the  Hongkong  Hank — 
actually  survive  to-day,  whilst  the  financial 
interests  of  a  foiu-th,  the  Comptoir  Natioiiale 
d'Ksconipte  di;  Paris,  were  taken  over  in  181/) 
by  the  Hanque  de  I'lndo  Chine.  The  exact 
fate  of  tile  others  has  hitherto  escaped  record 
for  the  most  part,  but  they  were  all  severely 
shaken  by  the  great  Bombay  crisis  of  1866, 
brought  about  by  the  failure  of  Prenichand 
K'oychand's  "  Back  Bay"  scheme  of  reclama- 
tion, and  of  many  other  companies  floated  by 
him,  in  which  millions  of  money  were  lost. 
In  the  same  year  the  failure  of  Overend, 
(Jurncy  &  Co.,  a  big  London  firm,  created 
widespread  panic,  and  in  consequence,  there 
was  a  run  on  the  vaiious  banks  in  the  Colony. 
There  was  something  of  a  scandal  at  the 
time,  for  in  those  days,  before  the  advent 
of  the  cable,  news  filtered  in  slowly,  and, 
in  the  excitement  of  tlie  moment,  some  of 
tlie  earliest  recipients  took  matters  into  their 
own  hands,  grabbing  notes  from  the  bank 
counters,  and  in  some  cases  landing  them- 
selves by  their  unseemly  behaviour,  in  the 
police  court.  These  causes,  with  the  failure 
of  Dent  &  Co.,  Lyall,  Still  &  Co..  and  other 
lirms,  added  to  the  general  depression  in  the 
trade  of  the  Colony  which  characterised  the 
years  1866  69,  led  nllimately  to  the  failure 
or  closing  of  the  Commercial,  the  Central, 
the  Hindustan,  the  Asiatic,  the  Agra,  and 
probably  other  of  the  banks.  Even  the  Hong- 
kong and  Shanghai  Hank,  with  its  capital  of 
two  and  a  half  million  dollars  and  its  influen- 
tial directorate,  passed  through  unpleasant 
vicissitudes  of  fortune,  culminating  in  1874  75 
in  its  inability  to  pay  a  dividend  ;  and  it  was 
not  until  Sir  Thomas  Jackson,  probably  the 
greatest  financier  the  Colony  has  ever  known, 
assumed  the  management  of  its  affairs,  and 
there  was  a  revival  of  local  prosperity,  that 
the  shareholders'  fears  were  allayed,  and  the 
bank  fulfilled  the  promises  of  its  early  years. 
The  banks  in  existence  in  the  Colony  at  the 
present  day  are  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Bank  (attached  to  which  is  the  Hongkong 
Savings  Bank),  the  Chartered  Bank  of  India, 
Australia  and  China,  the  National  Bank  of 
China,  the  Mercantile  Bank  of  India,  the  Inter- 
national Bank,  the  Banque  de  I'lndo  Chine, 
the  Kusso-Chinese  Bank,  the  Nederlandsch- 
Indische  Handelsbank,  the  Deutsch-Asiatische 
Hank,  and  the  Hank  of  Taiwan.  The  premises 
of  the  more  important  banks  are  in  close 
proximity  to  one  another,  and  are  amongst 
the  most  imposing  buildings  in  a  city  remark- 
able for  its  architectural  features.  That 
Hongkong  should  have  risen  to  such  emin- 
ence in  the  financial  world  is  due,  as 
Alexander  Michie  points  out  in  his  well- 
known  work,  not  to  its  local  resources,  but 
to  its  strategical  position  which  has  enabled 
it  "to  retain  the  character  of  a  pivot  upon 
which   Far  Eastern  commerce  turns." 

The  circulation  of  bank-notes  in  the  Colony, 
first  started  by  the  Oriental  Hank  in  1847, 
has  risen  to  an  average  of  something  like 
17,000,000  dollars'  worth,  the  majority  being 
notes  issued  by  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Banking  Corporation.  The  history  of  their 
gradual  introduction  is  marked  by  a  curious 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     117 


passage,  as  recorded  by  Dr.  Eitel.  In 
1873,  when  the  value  of  tlie  notes  hi  cir- 
culation had  reachtd  three  and  a  qiiaiter 
million  dollars,  "  the  Governor  (Sir  A.  E. 
Kennedy!  received  an  intimation  that  the 
Lords  Commissioners  of  Her  Majesty's  Trea- 
sury disapproved  of  the  issue  of  one  dollar 
notes  on  the  ground  that  the  notes  would  be 
largely  in  the  hands  of  the  poorest  Chinese, 
who  might  be  even  more  subject  to  panics 
than  the  mercantile  classes.  The  (Jovernor 
was  instructed  to  order  the  withdrawal 
of  these  notes  unless  serious  public  incon- 
venience should  result  from  such  a  course. 
When  the  Governor  accordingly  called  upon 
the  bank  (February,  1874)  to  show  cause 
why  the  one  dollar  notes  should  not  be 
called  in,  the  whole  community  took  up  the 
matter,  and  a  numerously  signed  memorial, 
supported  by  a  special  resolution  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  was  forwarded  to 
Her  Majesty's  Government  (March,  1874)  in 
favour  of  the  retention  of  these  one  dollar 
notes." 

The  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank  is 
authorised,  in  accordance  with  its  Ordinance 
of  Incorporation,  to  issue  up  to  10,000,000 
dollars'  worth  of  bank-notes,  including  notes 
issued  in  Hongkong  as  well  as  by  any  of  its 
agencies  in  any  part  of  the  world.  Beyond 
that  the  Corporation  may  issue  notes  to  any 
extent,  provided  that  the  actual  bullion  is 
deposited  previously  in  the  joint  custody  of 
the  Colonial  Secretary  and  the  Colonial 
Treasurer.  The  Chartered  Bank  of  India, 
Australia,  and  China,  is  the  only  other  bank 
in  Hongkong  authorised  to  issue  notes  by 
charter  from  the  Home  Government.  Tlieir 
limit  for  the  Colony  of  Hongkong  under  the 
charter  is  4,000,000  dollars'  worth.  At  the 
same  time  if  Ihey  deposit,  dollar  for  dollar, 
bullion  value,  they  also  may  issue  in  excess 
of  that  amount.  In  1895  the  National  Bank 
of  China  began  to  issue  notes,  unauthor- 
ised by  the  Government  either  by  ordinance 
or  charter,  and  the  result  of  this  was  the 
passing,  at  a  special  sitting  of  the  Legislative 
Council,  of  Ordinance  No.  2  of  1895,  pro- 
hibiting the  issue  of  notes  in  the  Colony 
e.vcept  by  permission,  but  allowing  the  circu- 
lation of  aTiy  notes  actually  in  circulation 
before  March  20,  1895,  a  schedule  of  which 
had  to  be  supplied  to  the  Colonial  Treasurer 
on  application.  The  National  Bank  has, 
therefore,  450,000  dollars'  worth  of  notes  in 
circulation,  though  these  notes  are  not  recog- 
nised by  the  Hongkong  Government. 

Two  big  bank  robberies  are  recorded  in 
the  earlier  annals.  In  July,  1862,  a  huge 
fraud  was  perpetrated  upon  the  Chartered 
Mercantile  Bank  by  an  Indian  merchant, 
who,  with  the  assistance  of  an  Englishman 
in  charge  of  the  opium  stored  in  the  receiv- 
ing-ship Tropic,  forged  opium  certificates  to 
a  total  of  $2,000,000.  In  1864  and  1865 
there  was  great  activity  on  the  part  of  certain 
ingenious  Chinese  burglars  who  came  to  be 
known  as  "drain  gangs."  The  godowns  of 
Smith,  Archer  &  Co.,  and  the  jewellery  store 
of  Douglas  Lapraik  were  raided  in  1864,  and, 
emboldened  by  these  successes,  a  master- 
stroke was  planned  early  in  the  following 
year.  Tlie  story  cannot  be  belter  narrated 
than  in  the  words  of  Mr.  Norton-Kyshe,  in  his 
"History  of  the  Laws  and  Courts  of  Hong- 
kong." He  writes  :  "A  serious  bank  robbery 
took  place  between  the  evening  of  Saturday 
the  4th  and  the  morning  of  Monday  the  6th 
of  February,  when  the  Central  Bank  of 
Western  India  was  robbed  of  $115,000  in 
notes,  gold,  and  silver,  by  thieves  who  entered 
the  bank's  treasury  vaults  from  the  drains. 
The  principal  labour  seems  to  have  been  that 
of  tunnelling  a  passage  of  twenty  yards  from 


an  adjacent  drain  lo  a  spot  ex.'ictly  below  the 
treasury  vault.  A  perpendicular  shaft,  ten 
feet  in  length,  of  sufiicient  diameter  to  allow 
the  passage  of  one  mnn,  was  next  made,  and 
tliis  brought  the  borers  to  the  granite  boulders 
on  which  the  floor  of  the  vault  rested.  These 
naturally  sank  down  as  they  were  under- 
mined, and  nothing  remained  but  lo  force  up 
a  slab,  when  ingress  became  free.  Sixty- 
three  thousand  dollars  in  mixed  notes  were 
carried  off,  along  with  ^"ir,ooo  in  gold 
ingots  marked  with  the  stamp  of  the  bank." 
As  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  the  gang 
consisted  of  nine  men,  of  whom  three  only 
were  brought  up  for  trial — one  being  dis- 
charged, and  the  others  being  sentenced  lo 
four  years  penal  servitude.     They   would   be 


^100,  plus,  of  course,  his  profit  and  the  cost  of 
freight,  which  may  be  ignored  for  the  purpose 
of  this  illustration.  On  arrival  of  the  goods  in 
London  six  weeks  or  so  later  the  dollar  might 
have  risen  to  2s.  2d.,  which,  in  the  ordinary 
way,  would  mean  that  when  the  ;^ioo  was 
cabled  out  lo  him  he  would  receive  only  about 
S923.  In  order  to  guard  against  this,  mer- 
chants arrange  with  their  bankers  for  a  fixed 
rate  of  exchange,  and  are  thus  guaranteed  a 
specified  number  of  dollars  whatever  may  be 
the  fluctuations  of  exchange.  An  importer  of 
European  goods  for  the  Chitiese  market,  adopts 
of  course,  a  similar  method  of  insuring  himself 
against  loss.  The  bank's  quotations  in  such 
cases  depend  upon  whether  the  dollar  is  con- 
sidered likely  to  become  cheaper  or  dearer. 


PREMISES    OF    THE    YOKOHAMA    SPECIE    BANK,    LTD.        [See  page  iiy] 


smart  thieves  who  could  effect  such  a  burglary 
at  the  present  day  I 

Owing  to  the  fluctuations  of  the  dollar  the 
Hongkong  banks  do  an  immense  business  in 
e.xchange  quotations.  A  merchant  who  pur- 
chases in  Canton  goods  for  export  to  England, 
must  have  some  firm  basis  upon  which  to 
make  his  calculations,  otherwise,  if  pending 
delivery  of  the  goods  the  dollar  increase  in 
value,  the  sterling  remitted  to  him  on  the 
completion  of  the  transaction  will  represent  in 
the  local  currency  something  less  than  he 
anticipated.  For  example,  if  at  the  time  of 
making  the  purchase  the  dollar  stood  at  2s.,  the 
merchant  would  have  to  pay  $1,000  in  Canton 
for  silk  which  he  agreed  to  sell  in  L<jndon  for 


In  the  European  banks  the  whole  of  the 
Chinese  business  is  controlled  by  a  compradore, 
a  Chinaman  of  considerable  financial  standing, 
who  hns  to  lodge  a  large  sum  of  money  with 
the  bank  as  guarantee.  The  compradore  acts 
as  an  intermediary  between  the  liank  and  its 
Chinese  clients.  If  a  native  bank  or  a  substan- 
tial Chinese  Government  official  or  merchant 
wants  a  loan,  the  compradore,  having  satisfied 
himself  as  to  the  financial  soundness  of  the 
applicant,  negotiates  with  the  manager  of  the 
bank  for  the  required  amount,  and  enters 
himself  as  surety  for  its  repayment  In  other 
respects  the  compradore  has  much  the  same 
functions  as  an  ordinary  general  broker, 
buying  and   selling  sterling  bills,  sovereigns, 

02 


118     TWENTIETH  CENTI^RY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONOKONO,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


telegraphic  transfers,  &c.,  always  standing  as 
guarantee  to  the  hank  for  the  Iwna  tides  of 
the  contracts. 

In  addition  to  the  European  banks,  there 
are  upwards  of  thirty  native  hanks,  chief 
among  them  being  the  Yuen  Fung  Yan,  the 
Soy  Kut,  the  Hong  Yue.  the  Shing  Tak,  and 
the  Yue  Fung.  Some  of  them  are  substantial 
concerns,  having  their  own  compradores,  and 
capital  sums  ranging  up  to  two  or  three  lakhs 
of  dollars.  Their-  business  lies  chiefly  in 
receiving  money  on  deposit  and  in  lending 
money  against  security  of  goods.  They  also 
conduct  a  large  remittance  business  between 
Hongkong.  Canton,  and  the  interior  of  China, 
where  none  of  the  large  European  banks  have 
agencies  ;  indeed,  as  far  as  Chinese  business  is 
concerned,  they  act  to  a  large  extent  as  feeders 
of  the  European  banks.  Like  all  the  other 
establishments  they  speculate  a  little  on 
exchange. 


THE  CHARTERED  BANK.— The  distinction 
of  being  the  oldest  established  banking  insti- 
tution in  the  Colony  belongs  to  the  Chartered 
Bank  of  India,  Australia,  and  China,  its 
Hongkong  branch  having  been  founded 
nearly  half  a  century  ago.  Its  business  is 
that  of  an  exchange  bank.  The  head  office 
is  in  London,  and  there  are  branches  in 
New  York,  Hamburg,  and  numerous  places 
in  the  East.  The  paid-up  capital  is  ;£'i,20o,ooo, 
and  the  reserve  liability  of  the  proprietors  is 
;t8oo,ooo.  N'o  less  a  sum  than  £'1,475,000 
has  been  set  aside  as  a  reserve  fund,  so  that 
the  financial  soundness  of  the  concern  is 
assured.  The  manager  of  the  bank  is  Mr. 
John  Armstrong,  who  has  been  in  the  service 
of  the  bank  in  the  East  for  about  twenty- 
four  years.  The  bank's  premises  form  part 
of  the  handsome  row   of   similar   institutions 


PREMISES    OF    THE    NETHERLANDS    TRADINQ    SOCIETY    (SECOND    FLOOR). 

[Sec  p.i)ie  119,] 


in  Queen's  Street  Central,  and  the  site  on 
which  the  building  stands  is  the  property 
of  the  Corporation. 


HONOKONO  AND  SHANGHAI  BANKING 
CORPORATION.  —  Largely  owing  to  able 
manaf;ement  and  to  the  foresight  of  successive 
directors,  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Banking  Corporation  is  to-day  the  premier 
bank  of  the  East.  Its  history  is  one  of  extra- 
ordinary prosperity,  and  though  at  one  time 
heavy  losses  were  encountered,  the  tide  soon 
became  once  more  favourable,  and  upon  it 
the  Corporation  has  been  carried  to  its  present 
strong  position  in  the  financial  world. 

Tlie  bank  was  started  in  1864  with  a  paid- 
up  capital  of  $2,500,000,  in  20,000  shares  of 
$125  each,  and  amongst  its  founders  were 
men  whose  names  are  associated  with  some 
of  the  largest  undertakings  of  the  last  half 
century.  Business  was  commenced  in  1865, 
shortly  before  the  opening  of  the  Suez  Canal 
revolutionised  the  trade  of  the  Far  East,  and 
incorporation  was  granted  in  1866.  The 
prosperity  anticipated  by  the  sliareliolders 
was  fully  realised  for  some  years  ;  then  came 
losses,  and  for  1874  and  the  first  half  of  1875 
no  dividend  was  paid.  In  1876,  Mr.  J.ickson 
(now  Sir  Thomas  Jackson,  Bart.),  was  ap- 
pointed chief  manager,  and  from  that  time 
onward  the  progress  of  the  bank  has  been 
most  marked. 

In  1874  the  Imperial  Chinese  Government 
contracted  a  loan  with  the  bank  of  £"600,000. 
Since  then  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Banking  Corporation  has  been  the  means  of 
placing  many  Chinese  Government  loans  on 
the  markets,  and  has  also  assisted  in  the  flota- 
tion of  Government  loans  for  Japan  and  Siam. 

Sir  Thomas  Jackson  finally  retired  from 
the  chief  managership  in  1902,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  J.  K.  M.  Smith,  the  present 
chief  manager. 

To-day  the  paid-up  capital  of  the  Corpora- 
tion is  8115,000,000.  The  authorised  note 
issue  is  §15,000,000.  The  sterling  reserve 
fund  amounts  to  £1,500,000,  which  at 
exchange  of  2/-  is  equal  to  $15,000,000, 
invested  in  sterling  securities  (mainly  Consols 
standing  in  the  books  at  82),  and  the  silver 
reserve  fund  to  $13,500,000— a  total  of 
$28,500,000.  Tlie  reserve  liability  of  the 
proprietors  is  $15,000,000. 

The  Court  of  Directors  is  composed  of 
Mr.  G.  H.  Medhurst  (of  Messrs.  Dodwell  & 
Co.,  Ltd.),  Chairman  ;  the  Hon.  Mr.  Henry 
Keswick  (of  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  & 
Co.,  Ltd.),  Deputy  Chairman  ;  Messrs.  G. 
Friesland  (of  Messrs.  Melchers  &  Co.), 
A.  Kuclis  (of  Messrs.  Siemssen  &  Co.), 
E.  Goetz  (of  Messrs.  Arnhokl,  Karberg  & 
Co.),  C.  K.  Len/.mann  (of  Messrs.  Carlowilz 
&  Co.),  A.  J.  Raymond  (of  Messrs.  E.  D. 
Sassoon  &  Co.),  E.  Shellim  (of  Messrs.  David 
Sassoon  &  Co.,  Ltd.),  K.  Shewan  (of  Messrs. 
Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co.),  H.  A.  W.  Slade  (of 
Messrs.  Gihnan  &  Co.),  and  H.  E.  Tomkins 
(of  Messrs.  Keiss  &  Co.). 

Branches  and  agencies  of  the  bank  are 
established     at      Amoy,     Bangkok,     Batavia, 


TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     119 


Bombay,  Calcutta,  Colombo,  Koocliow,  Ham- 
burg, Hankow,  Kobe,  London,  Lyons,  Manila, 
Nagasaki,  New  York,  Peking,  Penang, 
Rangoon,  Saigon,  San  Francisco,  Sliangliai, 
Singapore,  Sourabaya,  Tientsin,  Yloilo.  and 
Yokohama. 

The  London  and  County  Banking  Company, 
Ltd.,  act  as  the  London  bankers  of  the  Cor- 
poration. 

The  bank  premises  occupy  one  of  the  best 
business  sites  in  the  Colony.  The  main 
entrance  is  in  Queen's  Road,  Central,  to  which 
the  bank  has  an  imposing  frontage,  whilst 
the  back  of  the  premises  opens  on  Des  Voeux 
Road.  The  banking  hall  is  one  of  the 
finest  in  existence,  with  desks  and  counters 
on  either  side,  and  covered  by  a  spacious 
dome  of  pleasing  proportions. 

The  Corporation  also  conducts  the  business 
of  the  Hongkong  Savings  Bank. 


BANQUE  DE  L'INDO  CHINE.  The  Banque 
de  I'lndo  Chine,  which  represents  French 
interests  in  the  Colony  of  Hongkong  and 
throughout  the  Far  East  generally,  was 
established  in  the  Far  East  in  1875,  by 
special  charter  from  the  French  Government, 
with  a  capital  of  Fr36,ooo,ooo  and  a  reserve 
fund  of  Fr24,ooo,ooo.  The  Hongkong  agency 
was  opened  in  1896,  and  took  over  the  finan- 
cial interests  of  the  Comptoir  Nationale 
d'Escompte  de  Paris.  In  1900  an  agency  was 
also  started  in  the  neighbouring  Chinese  city 
of  Canton.  The  Hongkong  branch  is  managed 
by  Mr.  L.  Berindoague,  and  the  Canton  agency 
by  Mr.  G.  Garnier.  There  are  other  branches 
and  agencies  of  the  bank  at  Saigon,  Haiphong, 
Hanoi,  Tourane,  Pnom-Penh,  Noumea,  Shang- 
hai, Hankeau,  Bangkok,  Pondicherry,  Batlan- 
bang,  Peking,  Tientsin,  Papeete,  and  Singapore. 


THE  YOKOHAMA  SPECIE  BANK,  LIMITED. 

— When  Japan  forsook  her  policy  of  isola- 
tion and  allowed  her  subjects  to  have  free 
intercourse  with  the  outside  world,  a  tremen- 
dous impetus  was  naturally  given  to  the 
trade  and  commerce  of  the  country.  Great 
business  corporations  sprang  into  being,  and 
the  rapid  advance  made,  from  the  commercial 
and  industrial  point  of  view,  by  the  people  of 
the  Empire  has  been  a  cause  of  astonishment 
to  all  nations.  There  are  many  financial 
houses  now  conducting  operations  upon  an 
extensive  scale,  and  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant of  these  is  the  Yokohama  Specie  Bank 
(Yokohama  Shokin  Ginko).  Founded  in  1880 
with  an  authorised  capital  of  Y3,ooo,ooo, 
it  was  entrusted  with  the  management  of 
several  million  yen  of  the  Treasury  reserve, 
and  thus  had  an  ample  capital  at  its  disposal 
for  discounting  foreign  bills  of  exchange. 
In  1889,  however,  this  suppoit  was  withdrawn, 
and  in  place  of  it,  the  Bank  of  Japan  was 
ordered  to  re-discount  foreign  bills  of 
exchange  on  demand  of  the  Specie  Bank,  to 
an    amount    not    exceeding    Y20,ooo,ooo,    at 


the  rate  of  2  per  cent,  per  ammm.  In  1887, 
when  the  special  ordinance  respecting  the 
Specie  Bank  was  promulgated,  the  capital  of 
the  bank  was  raised  to  Y6,ooo,ooo.  The 
consequent  extension  of  business  necessitated 
in  the  same  year,  a  further  increase  of  capital 
to  Y  12,000,000,  and  in  1899  the  capital  was 
again  doubled.  The  business  carried  on  by 
the  bank  consists  of  foreign  exchange ;  inland 
exchange ;  loans  ;  deposit  of  money  and 
custody  of  articles  of  value  ;  discount  and 
collection   of   bills   of  exchange  ;    promissory 


Chang-Chung,  Hongkong,  and  Shanghai. 
The  London  office  is  the  agency  of  the  Bank 
of  Japan.  At  the  fifty-fifth  half-yearly  ordinary 
general  meeting  held  in  Yokohama  in 
September,  1907,  it  was  reported  that  the 
paid-up  capital  amounted  to  Y24,ooo,ooo, 
and  the  reserve  to  Y  15,050,000.  The  gross 
profit  for  the  half-year  was  Y 12, 17 1,077, 
from  which  Y9,266,oi8  were  deducted  for 
current  expenses,  interest,  &c.,  leaving  a 
balance  of  Y2,905,058  for  appropriation. 
An    additional    Y500,ooo    was    added    to   the 


PREMISES    OF    THE    NEDERLANDSCH-INDISCHE    HANDELSBANK. 


notes  and  other  cheques ;  and  exchange  of 
coins.  The  bank  has  authority  to  buy  and 
sell  public  bonds,  gold  and  silver  bullion, 
and  foreign  coins.  It  is  also  entrusted  with 
matters  relating  to  foreign  loans  and  with 
the  management  of  public  moneys  for  inter- 
national account.  The  head  office  is  at 
Yokohama,  and  there  are  branches  and 
agencies  in  Tokio,  Kobe,  Osaka,  Nagasaki, 
London,  Lyons,  New  York,  San  Francisco, 
Honolulu,  Bombay,  Hankow,  Chefoo, 
Tientsin,  Peking,  Newchwang,  Dalny,  Port 
Arthur,   Antung,   Lioyang,    Mukden,    Tiding, 


[See  page  120.] 

reserve  fund,  a  dividend  of  12  per  cent, 
was  declared,  and  a  balance  of  Yi,o55,058 
was  carried  forward  to  the  credit  of  llie  next 
account.  The  Hongkong  branch  of  the 
bank  is  situated  in  Prince's  Buildings,  and  is 
managed  by  Mr.  Takeo  Takamichi. 


<• 


THE    NETHERLANDS    TRADING   SOCIETY. 

— The  Netherlands  Trading  Society  (Neder- 
landsche  Handel-Maatschappij),  which  has 
had  a  branch  at  Singapore  for  about  half  a 


120    TWENTIETH  CENTITKY  I3IPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE    BANK    OF    TAIWAN,    LTD. 


century,  extended  its  operations  lo  Hongkong 
in  Febru.iry,  1906,  talcing  offices  in  Queen's 
Buildings.  The  bank  was  established  at 
Amsterdam  in  1824,  and  has  a  capital  of 
;f3,75o,ooo  with  a  reserve  fund  of  ;f4i7,ooo. 


The  head  office  in  the  East  is  at  Batavia, 
but  a  large  business  in  the  Far  East  is 
transacted  through  the  Singapore  office.  In 
its  early  days  the  Society  was  more  interested 
in  trading  than  in  banking,  but  at  the  present 


time  it  is  concerned  only  witli  banking  and 
cxcliaiige  business.  The  manager  at  Hong- 
Icong  is  Mr.  J.  L.  Van  Houten,  wlio  served 
with  the  bank  for  several  years  in  the  Straits 
Settlements  and  Sumatra. 


NEDERLANDSCH-INDISCHEHANDELSBANK. 

— This  financial  house— the  Nctheilands-lndia 
CommercHal  Bank — which  has  its  liead  office 
in  Amsterdam  and  its  chief  agency  in  Bat.ivia, 
was  establislied  in  1863  witli  an  authorised 
capital  of  ;t  1)250,000  (_t' 1,040,000  paid  up). 
Since  its  formation  it  has  been  largely  con- 
cerned in  the  sugar  industry  of  the  Dutch 
colonies,  especially  in  Java.  It  owns  eight 
large  plantations  with  factories,  and  finances 
about  fifteen  others.  The  eight  plantations 
and  factories  referied  to  are  operated  by  the 
Nederlandsch  -  Indische  Landbomv  -  Maats- 
chappij — Nelherlands-lndia  Agricultuia!  Com- 
pany -the  whole  of  the  shares  in  which  are 
held  by  the  bank.  During  recent  years  the 
sugar  trade  of  Java  with  Japan  and  China  has 
been  very  large,  and  with  the  object  primarily 
of  facilitating  business  the  bank  extended  its 
operations  to  Hongkong  and  established  a 
branch  at  16,  Des  Voeux  Road,  Central,  on 
November  i,  1906.  Mr.  J.  Boetje,  who  has 
been  for  ten  years  in  the  bank's  service,  is 
the  manager  at  Hongkong. 


THE  BANK  OF  TAIWAN,  LTD.  -Any  account 
of  the  financial  institutions  of  the  ColoEiy 
would  be  incomplete  without  some  reference 
to  the  Bank  of  Taiwan,  Ltd.,  a  large  and 
infiuential  house  with  its  headquarters  at 
Taipeh,  Formosa,  and  branches  and  agencies 
at  Amoy,  Swatow,  Newchwang,  Darien, 
P'oochow,  Keelung,  Kobe,  Osaka,  Tokio, 
Yokohama,  Moji,  Nagasaki,  London,  New 
York,  San  Francisco,  Shanghai,  Taichu, 
Tainan,  Takow,  Tamsui,  &c.,  established 
some  eight  years  ago,  it  is  the  Goverinnent 
bank  in  Formosa,  and  is  incorporated  by 
special  imperial  charter.  Two  years  after 
its  foundation  it  extended  its  operations  to 
Hongkong,  and  the  business  carried  on 
under  its  auspices  has  increased  steadily 
month  by  month,  until  now  it  holds  a 
prominent  place  in  the  commercial  life  of  the 
Colony.  The  capital  amounts  to  Ys,ooo,ooo, 
of  wliich  Y3, 750,000  is  paid  up,  and  there 
are  reserve  funds  amounting  to  Y830,ooo. 
The  statement  of  accounts  published  in  June, 
1907,  showed  a  net  profit  for  the  half-year 
of  Y299,45o.  Mr.  Kazuyoslii  Yagiu  is  the 
president,  Mr.  Totaro  Shimosaka,  is  the  vice- 
president,  and  Messrs.  Muneyoshi  Tatsuno  and 
Isolatsu  Kajivvara,  are  the  directors  of  the 
Company.  The  Hongkong  offices  are  in 
Princes  Buildings,  and  the  branch  is  managed 
by  Mr.  D.  Tohdow,  who  has  been  in  the 
service  of  the  bank  since  its  formation.  He 
has  the  assistance  of  an  excellent  general 
staff  and  a  Chinese  compradore. 


EDUCATION. 


By    G.    H.    BATESON    Wright,    D.D.    (OXON.),   Headmaster  of   Queen's  College,   Hongkong. 


impress    upon 


ilONGKONG  is  siii  generis." 
Thirty  years  ago  this  was 
the  war  cry  of  the  eloquent 
Hon.  Mr.  Phineas  Ryrie, 
locally  known  as  the  Ru- 
pert of  Debate.  He  never 
wearied  of  endeavouring  to 
the  Government  that  it  was 
futile  to  attempt  to  apply  the  experiences  of 
England  and  India  to  the  conditions  of 
Hongkong.  Few  people  will  be  found  ready 
to  deny  that  a  sound  substratum  of  fact 
underlies  the  idea  ;  but  it  is  equally  certain 
that  for  many  decades  Hongkong  suffered 
from  undue  regard  to  the  conviction  that 
English  methods  could  not  solve  Chinese 
problems. 

Prima  facie,  it  would  appear  probable  that 
Education  would  naturally  be  one  of  those 
subjects  in  which  great,  if  not  insuperable, 
difficulties  would  be  encountered  in  dealing 
with  a  large,  mixed,  cosmopolitan  community, 
the  bulk  of  which  belongs  to  the  most  con- 
servative of  nations  on  the  face  of  the  earth — 
the  Chinese.  Despite  the  hindrances  en- 
gendered by  this  conception,  a  cursory  review 
of  the  history  of  Education  in  this  Colony  will 
show  that,  after  all.  a  greater  similarity  obtains 
between  the  conditions  existing  in  the  mother 
country  and  this  little  Colony  than  might  at  the 
coup  d'oeil  be  supposed  possible. 

In  England,  from  1850  to  1870,  the  only 
elementary  schools  were  the  National  Schools, 
under  the  ;egis  of  the  Established  Episcopal 
Church,  the  British  Schools  supported  by  the 
Nonconformist  denominations,  and  the  Roman 
Catholic  Schools,  all  of  these  receiving  bonuses 
from  the  Government,  with  special  con- 
sideration to  the  Established  Church.  We 
need  not  be  surprised,  then,  to  find  that  for  the 
first  twenty  or  thirty  years  the  Hongkong 
Government  contented  itself  with  aiding 
missionary  efforts  by  grants  and  by  tlie 
establishment  of  Grant-in-aid  Schools  under 
the  control  of  an  Educational  Committee, 
of  which  Bishop  Smith,  and  subsequently 
Dr.  Legge,  was  chairman.  When  Board 
Schools  were  instituted  in  England  the  Forster 
Code  was  introduced  into  Hongkong,  with  the 
modifications  required  by  local  conditions. 
At  intervals  new  editions  of  the  local  Code 
were  published,  generally  increasing  both  the 
value  of  the  grant  and  the  severity  of  the 
standard.  Last  of  all,  Hongkong,  following  the 
lead  at  home,  abolished  the  necessity  of  an 
annual  examination  of  all  the  scholars  in  the 
Grant-in-aid  Scliools,  leaving  the  assessment  of 
the  proficiency  of  each  school,  and  the  extent 


to  which  it  shall  be  subject  to  examination, 
to  the  discretion  of  the  Inspector  of  Schools. 

So  far,  it  will  be  observed,  nothing  has 
been  recorded  indicative  of  any  necessity  for 
peculiar  treatment  of  educational  matters  in 
Hongkong.  Naturally',  however,  linguistic 
and  racial  problems  unknown  in  Great  Britain 
arise  in  this  Colony.  Of  a  total  population 
of  361,000,  no  fewer  than  340,000,  or  94  per 
cent,  are  Cliinese.  The  importance  to  these 
of  the  study  of  their  own  language  would 
appear  to  be  self-evident,  and  was  immediately 
recognised  by  the  local  Government  without 
discussion.  Under  Sir  J.  Pope-Hennessy's 
regime  (1877-82)  it  was  first  suggested 
that  the  entire  time  of  Chinese  students 
ought  to  be  devoted  to  the  acquisition  of  the 
English  language.  The  supporters  of  the 
then  existing  state  of  affairs  appealed  success- 
fully to  the  famous  dictum  of  Macaulay  relative 
to  the  maintenance  of  vernacular  instruction 
in  India.  The  matter  dropped  for  the  time 
to  be  revived  under  more  propitious  circum- 
stances during  the  governorship  of  Sir 
William  Robinson  (1891-97),  when  notice 
was  given  that  the  study  of  Chinese  was 
removed  from  the  curriculum  of  all  Govern- 
ment Schools,  and  that  in  future  no  new 
Grant-in-aid  School  teaching  Chinese  would 
be  accepted.  Later,  the  Government  reverted 
to  the  former  practice,  and  more  recently 
advanced  to  the  position  that  no  grant  would 
be  given  to  a  school  attended  by  Chinese 
unless  adequate  provision  weie  made  for  in- 
struction in  the  vernacular. 

Next  to  the  consideration  of  whether  the 
Chinese  language  should  be  taught,  came  the 
question  of  the  method  to  be  employed  in 
teaching  it.  At  first  sight  it  would  appear 
somewhat  presumptuous  fpr  foreigners  to 
undertake  to  devise  an  improvement  upon  the 
native  system  which  had  been  in  vogue  for 
several  centuries.  But  common-sense  and 
utilitarianism  prevailed.  It  is  the  custom  in 
China  for  the  first  two  or  three  years  of  a 
child's  school-life  to  be  spent  in  the  acquire- 
ment by  heart  of  several  volumes  of  native 
literature,  without  any  explanation  whatever 
of  the  subject-matter,  which  is  perfectly  un- 
intelligible to  the  scholar.  Even  when 
instruction  comes  later,  its  educational  value, 
apart  from  moral  lessons  such  as  filial  piety, 
&c.,  is  confined  to  the  composition  of  stilted 
essays  in  stereotyped  style  upon  topics  of  a 
very  limited  scope.  To  meet  the  requirements 
of  a  scheme  for  teaching  the  Chinese  their 
own  language  on  a  rational  system  several 
series  of  books  have  been  compiled  and  pub- 


lished by  missionaries  at  Shanghai.  Following 
the  plan  of  English  Readers,  they  begin  with 
the  use  of  the  simplest  characters  possible, 
and  treat  of  subjects  within  the  every-day 
ken  of  the  infant.  Lessons  are  given  on 
animals,  plants,  history,  and  geography,  while 
not  the  least  interesting  and  instructive  is  a 
work  dealing  with  the  composite  parts  of 
vai'ious  characters  and  their  meaning,  hitherto 
a  sealed  subject  to  the  average  Cliinaman. 
All  this,  an  entirely  new  departure  for  Chinese 
students,  is  of  high  educational  value  ;  and 
at  the  end  of  three  years,  instead  of  being 
on  the  threshold  of  learning,  as  by  the  native 
system,  the  pupils  have  acquired  a  variety  of 
useful  information  and  are  able  to  write  short 
letters  and  essays,  formerly  an  impossible 
feat  at  this  stage.  These  useful  books  have 
been  introduced  into  Hongkong  Government 
Schools  within  the  last  half-dozen  years,  and, 
though  some  are  too  childish  in  sentiment 
for  boys  twelve  years  of  age,  are  highly 
appreciated. 

Beside  British  and  Chinese,  there  are  in 
Hongkong  boys  of  all  nationalities — American, 
Hindu,  Japanese,  Parsee,  Portuguese,  &c. 
For  many  years  there  was  a  great  agitation 
amongst  the  British  ratepayers  to  found  a 
separate  school  for  the  exclusive  use  of  boys 
and  girls  of  British  parentage.  Their  prayer 
has  now  been  granted.  The  first  opportunity 
was  afforded  by  a  new  school-building  erected 
hy  the  munificence  of  Mr.  Ho  Tung,  with  the 
proviso  that  no  boy  should  be  excluded  on 
the  ground  of  race  or  creed.  As  this  school 
was  conveniently  situated  for  the  children  of 
residents  in  the  Kowloon  Peninsula  opposite 
Victoria,  Mr.  Ho  Tung  was  induced  to  consent 
to  his  school  being  converted  into  a  school 
for  British  children  only,  on  the  under- 
standing that  the  Government  would  erect  in 
Yaumati,  a  mile  distant  on  the  same  side  of 
the  water,  a  school  for  Chinese  under  the 
charge  of  an  English  headmaster.  Mr.  D. 
James,  formerly  assistant  master  at  Queen's 
College,  Hongkong,  and  second  master  of 
the  King's  School  for  Siamese  Princes  at 
Bangkok,  was  appointed  headmaster,  and  Kow- 
loon British  School  was  formally  opened  in 
1902.  Soon  afterwards,  owing  largely  to  the 
instrumentality  of  Mr.  Irving,  a  similar  British 
School  was  opened  in  the  island  to  the  east 
of  'Victoria  and  called  the  Victoria  British 
School,  under  the  care  of  Mr.  VV.  H.  Williams, 
headmaster.  Both  these  are  mi.xed  schools, 
but  a  somewhat  grotesque  arrangement  has 
been  made  by  the  terms  of  which,  boys  over 
sixteen  may  not  attend   Kowloon  School,  but 


122    TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


must  cross  over  to  Victoria,  and  girls  over 
sixteen  must  leave  Victoria  Sch(x>l  and  cross  to 
Kowloon,  which  seems  to  suggest  tliat  the 
Inspector  of  Schools  has  not  the  full  courage 
of  his  convictions. 

In  this  connection,  while  admitting  that  for 
other  reasons  the  establishment  in  a  British 
colony  of  schools  for  British  txiys  and  girls 
is  highly  desirable,  it  is  only  just  to  the 
denizens  of  the  ancient  and  enormous  Empire 
of  China  to  put  on  record  that  one  of  the 
reasons  urged  by  the  parents  for  this  segre- 
gation, viz.,  the  fear  of  moral  contamination  of 
their  children  from  association  with  Chinese 
schoolmates,  is  based  on  popular  prejudice, 
which  is  not  supported  by  the  evidence  of 
those  competent  to  form  an  opinion  founded 
upon  experience.  On  the  occasion  of  a 
visit  to  the  Central  School  in  1885,  General 
Cameron,  then  administering  the  government, 
asked  the  headmaster  his  opinion  of  the 
morals  of  his  Chinese  pupils,  and  received  the 
answer  :  "  .About  the  same  as  those  of  school- 
boys of  other  nations,  certainly  not  worse." 
Dr.  Stewart,  the  previous  headmaster,  on 
being  appealed  to,  corroborated  the  state- 
ment. Dr.  Eitel,  the  Inspector  of  Sch<K>ls, 
whose  experience  was  still  more  varied, 
as  he  had  been  for  many  years  a  missionary 
among  the  Hakka  population  on  the  mainland, 
then  made  the  following  important  pronounce- 
ment :  "  Taking  them  class  by  class,  Your 
Excellency,  the  Chinese  compare  very  favour- 
ably with  Western  nations  in  the  matter  of 
morality."  The  General  laughed,  and  said 
"That  is  your  opinion,  gentlemen.  Well, 
nobody  will  believe  you."  Here  we  have 
the  whole  affair  in  a  nutshell.  Popular  pre- 
judice is  tenacious  of  life.  Nobody  will 
accept  an  actual  fact  opposed  to  the  belief 
of   the  man  in  the  street. 

When  Inspector  of  Schools,  Dr.  Stewart 
endea%'Oured  to  induce  the  Government  to 
favour  a  policy  of  compulsory  education, 
then  exploited  in  England.  All  succeeding 
inspectors  of  schools  have  concluded,  and 
justly  so,  that  it  is  absolutely  impracticable 
to  dream  of  introducing  compulsory  education 
into  Hongkong.  The  enormous  army  of 
school  attendance  officers  necessary  to  render 
the  scheme  in  the  least  degree  efficient,  is 
in  itself  sufHciently  appalling  ;  to  say  nothing 
of  the  time  that  would  be  wasted  at  the 
magisterial  court  in  warning  and  fining 
offenders.  The  discrepancy  between  the 
estimated  number  of  children  of  school  age 
in  the  Colony,  and  those  attending  school 
is  largely  accounted  for  by  the  boating 
populati(jn  ;  though  even  tliese  are  not 
indifferent  to  the  advantages  of  Western 
education,  as  Queen's  College  and  Yaumati 
Government  School  can  testify.  From  what- 
ever cause,  however,  there  has  been  in  the 
last  few  years  a  very  perceptible  decrease 
in  the  number  of  children  seen  toiling  up 
the  hillside  with  loads  of  brick  and  earth. 

Chinese  boys  are  for  the  most  part  docile, 
well-behaved,  and,  to  some  extent,  eager  to 
learn.  They  have,  however,  a  disposition  to 
be  eclectic.  If,  for  instance,  they  do  not 
see  the  present  advantage  of  the  study  of 
geography  or  geometry,  they  neglect  these 
subjects  as  far  as  the  rules  of  the  school  may 
permit.  They  do  not  recognise  that  in  a 
commercial  career,  a  correct  knowledge  of 
cities  and  countries,  of  their  manufactures 
and  products,  may  be  of  real  service  in 
after  life  ;  nor  do  they  appreciate  the  fact 
that  the  average  Chinaman  is  incapable  of 
sustaining  an  argument,  starting  with  false 
or  indeterminate  premisses  and  cheerfully 
pursuing  a  circuitous  course  to  the  point 
from  which  he  started,  the  only  cure  for 
which  is  a  rigid  course  of  geometrical  study. 


There  is,  perhaps,  no  characteristic  of  the 
Chinese  nation  more  universally  admitted 
than  their  possession  of  a  marvellous  memory. 
But  the  questions  arise  :  Is  it  a  serviceable 
memory  ?  Is  it  not  rather  an  agent  for 
cramming  .'  Are  there  not.  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  nearly  99  per  cent,  of  them  incapable 
of  renieml)ering,  after  the  lapse  of  a  year, 
the  salient  points  of  any  subject  (say  history) 
in  which  they  have  passed  an  examination 
successfully  ?  Again,  though  like  most 
Eastern  nations,  the  Chinese  show  a  greater 
aptitude  for  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  in 
arithmetic,  algebra,  and  trigonometry,  than 
is  possessed  by  the  average  Western  school- 
boy, they  can  hardly  be  ciedited  witli  the 
matliematical  genius  accorded  to  them  by 
popular  opinion.  Their  memory  is  not 
accretive  ;  too  often  will  they  be  found  to 
have  forgotten  elementary  principles,  with 
which  they  were  acquainted  two  or  three 
years  previously.  As  a  rule  they  are  lacking 
in  initiative  ;  they  can  repeat  the  same 
mathematical  exercise  provided  the  conditions 
are  the  same,  but  will  be  at  a  loss  if  a  slight 
change  is  introduced  requiring  the  exercise 
of  independent  thought.  In  spite,  however, 
of  these  points  of  adverse  criticism,  Chinese, 
taking  them  all  round,  are  more  apt  and 
willing  pupils  than  European  boj's. 


THE    INSPECTORATE    OF 
SCHOOLS. 

The  growth  of  education  in  this  Colony 
has  been  unostentatious  and  slow.  Like  a 
germinating  plant,  it  at  first  followed  the 
lines  of  least  resistance,  but  as  it  matured  it 
became  firmly  rooted,  and  the  buffets  of 
conflicting  circumstances  have  only  proved 
beneficial.  It  is  now  hardy  and  weather- 
proof. As  we  have  seen,  the  Government 
began  by  encouraging  missionary  efforts. 
It  remained  for  a  missionary  to  be  the  prime 
factor  in  rousing  the  Governinent  to  a  full 
sense  of  its  responsibility  in  tlie  matter  of 
taking  a  lead  in  the  education  of  the  Colony. 
Dr.  James  Legge,  of  Aberdeen,  the  celebrated 
Sinologue,  Senior  Missionary  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  was  at  the  time  chair- 
man of  the  Government  Educational  Board, 
and  he  was  successful  in  inducing  the 
Government  to  agree  to  the  foundation  of 
the  Government  Central  School  in  Gough 
Street,  and  to  the  appointment  of  Mr.  (later 
Dr.)  Frederick  Stewart,  also  of  Aberdeen 
University,  to  be  the  first  headmaster,  com- 
bined with  which  office  were  the  additional 
duties  of  Inspector  of  Schools.  Mr.  Stewart 
arrived  in  1862.  He  had  many  difficulties  to 
cope  with,  prominent  amongst  them  being 
the  indifference  of  the  Chinese  of  those  days 
to  the  advantages  of  Western  education.  In 
a  few  years,  however,  he  had  various  Govern- 
ment schools  established  in  sundry  villages 
of  the  island  and  at  Kowloon,  in  addition  to 
two  more  important  schools — Governinent 
Schools  at  Wantsai  and  Saiyingpuii.  As  soon 
as  Dr.  Legge  saw  Mr.  Stewart  firmly  seated 
in  the  saddle,  he  generously  recommended 
to  the  Government  the  complete  emancipa- 
tion of  the  former  from  the  Educ.itioiial 
Board,  and  this  was  immediately  granted. 
For  nineteen  years  Dr.  Stewart  remained 
Inspector  of  Schools,  during  which  time  the 
number  of  Government  and  Grant-in-aid 
Schools  swelled  considerably,  and  tlie  increase 
in  school  attendance  and  the  extension  of 
proficiency  in  English  were  thoroughly  satis- 
factory. Attacks  on  the  educational  system 
were   made   during  the   Governorship  of  Sir 


J.  Pope-Hennessy.  Dr.  Stewart  first  begged 
to  be  relieved  of  the  onerous  duties  of 
Inspector  of  Schools,  Dr.  Eitel  being  at 
once  appointed  to  the  vacancy.  In  1881, 
Dr.  Stewart  successfully  made  application 
for  the  post  of  Police  Magistrate.  He 
subsequently  became  Registrar -General, 
Acting  Colonial  Secretary,  and,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  in  1889,  was  Colonial  Secret.iry. 
Tlie  Cliinese  evinced  their  high  appreciation 
of  Dr.  Stewart's  services  by  founding  a 
scholarship  at  Queen's  College  in  his  memory. 
A  large  coloured  window  in  a  transept  of 
St.  John's  Cathedral  permanently  records  the 
sentiments  of  the  general  public. 

Dr.  Eitel  was  Inspector  of  Schools  from 
187910  1897.  Education  continued  to  flourish 
during  his  tenure  of  oflice,  the  chief  features 
of  which  were  the  impetus  given  to  female 
education,  the  removal  of  religious  disabilities 
in  schools,  and  the  reduction  in  the  number 
of  school  days  annually  necessary  for  the 
Governinent  grant.  The  arrival  of  Sir  George 
Bowen  in  1883  was  signalised  by  .a^Jwft 
of  educational  ardour.  Scholarships  were 
granted  giving  free  education  at  the  Central 
School  to  boys  from  the  Government  District 
Schools,  and  an  annual  Government  scholar- 
ship of  £200  a  year  for  four  years  was 
founded  to  enable  Hongkong  boys  to  proceed 
to  England  for  the  further  study  required 
for  a  professional  career.  To  the  enterpris- 
ing courage  of  Mr.  C.  J.  Bateman  was  due 
the  starting  of  the  Cambridge  Local  Exami- 
nations in  Hongkong.  A  year  or  two  later 
Hongkong  was  made  a  centre  for  the  Oxford 
Locals,  with  Mr.  Wright  as  local  secretary, 
Oxford  proving  more  amenable  than  Cam- 
bridge in  granting  concessions  to  Hongkong 
on  account  of  its  gre,it  distance  from  England. 
The  Chinese  College  of  Medicine  was  in- 
augurated, and  proved  an  unqualified  success. 
With  the  exhibition  of  so  much  educational 
energy,  a  friendly  spirit  of  rivalry  was  excited 
amongst  the  schools  of  the  Colony  that 
continues  to  the  present  day  with  very 
beneficial  results.  School  sports,  which  pre- 
viously had  been  confined  to  individual 
schools,  were  re-organised  and  amalgamated 
into  one  annual  function  known  as  tlie  Hong- 
kong Schools'  Sports.  Dr.  Eitel  spent  con- 
siderable time  and  energy  in  the  formation 
of  a  cadet  corps  in  connection  with  all  the 
leading  schools.  One  combined  and  rather 
imposing  general  parade  was  held  on  the 
cricket  ground,  but,  like  most  new  ideas  in 
Hongkong,  it  was  doomed  to  early  extinction. 
To  the  great  grief  of  all  the  headmasters 
concerned  Dr.  Eitel  succeeded  during  Sir 
William  Robinson's  regime  in  inducing  the 
Governinent  to  abolish  the  Government 
scholarship  to  England,  and  the  local  free 
scholarships  founded  ten  years  previously. 
The  latter  alone  have  been  restored. 

On  the  retirement  of  Dr.  Eitel  in  1897,  the 
Hon.  Mr.  A.  W.  Brewin  (now  Registrar- 
General)  was  for  a  brief  period  Inspector  of 
Schools.  He  was  followed  by  Mr.  E.  A. 
Irving,  the  present  inspector,  in  1901.  The 
past  six  years  have  shown  a  great  stimulus  in 
education,  especially  during  the  short  time 
that  Sir  Matthew  Nathan  ruled  the  Colony. 
In  fact,  it  would  appear  just  to  say  that  of 
the  three  Governors  who  most  bestirred 
themselves  about  educational  matters — .Sir  J. 
Pope-Hennessy,  Sir  George  Bowen,  and  Sir 
Matthew  Nathan — the  efforts  of  the  last  are  the 
most  likely  to  provide  permanent  benefit  to 
the  Colony.  The  school  study  of  hygiene  was, 
it  is  true,  made  part  of  imperial  policy  by  the 
Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies,  but  it  is 
no  less  true  that  its  zealous  adoption  in  Hong- 
kong was  due  to  the  late  Governor,  while  the 
institution  of  the  Evening  Continuation  Classes 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     123 


was  His  Excellency's  own  idea.  These  classes 
have  proved  so  successful  that  they  have 
recently  been  re-christened  "  Hongkong 
Technical  College,"  and  made  a  sub-depart- 
ment of  the  Inspectorate  of  Schools,  with  an 
Advisory  Committee,  the  chairman  of  which, 
the  Hon.  Mr.  A.  W.  Brewin,  has  done  yeoman 
service  during  the  past  "eighteen  months. 
Besides  being  an  active  member  of  the  League 
of  the  Empire,  connected  with  whose  agency 
is  visual  instruction  by  lectures  and  magic 
lantern  exhibitions  on  the  subject  of  the 
British  Empire,  the  Inspector  of  Schools, 
Mr.  Irving,  has  been  particularly  successful  in 
promoting  in  the  Government  District  Schools 
the  improvement  of  English  conversation  by 
the  Chinese,  and  in  urging  throughout  the 
Colony  the  acceptance  of  vernacular  instruc- 
tion on  a  Western,  as  contrasted  with  a 
Chinese,   system. 


EDUCATIONAL    ESTABLISH- 
MENTS. 

A  brief  reference  must  now  be  made  to  the 
various  Hongkong  educational  establishments 
not  alluded  to  above.  Queen's  College  will 
be  dealt  with  separately  below.  Of  the  oldest, 
St.  Paul's  College,  the  Diocesan  School,  St. 
Joseph's  College,  the  Italian  Convent,  L'Asile  de 
la  Sainte  Enfance,  the  Berlin  and  Basel,  and 
the  Baxter  Girls'  Missions  at  once  claim  atten- 
tion. The  work  of  the  London  Mission  in 
early  times  has  already  been  referred  to, 
and  .still  briskly  flourishes.  St.  Paul's  College, 
originallyi  intended  for  a  missionary  training 
school,  has  reverted  to  its  purpose,-after  various 


side  attempts  at  educating  the  British  popula- 
tion. The  Diocesan  School,  at  first  a  mixed 
school,  devoted  itself  to  the  exclusive  education 
of  boys  some  twenty  years  ago.  Its  school 
building  has  been  considerably  enlarged,  and 
its  educational  successes  have  been  conspicu- 
ous. The  Koinan  Catholic  School  of  St. 
Saviour's  migrated  to  St.  Joseph's  in  about 
1880.  A  new  storey  has  recently  been  added 
to  the  building,  in  itself  evidence  of  the  success 
which  marks  the  generous  unpaid  zeal  of  the 
Christian  Brothers,  who,  in  a  truly  catholic 
spirit,  admit  Jews,  Turks,  Heretics,  and  Infidels 
to  the  benefit  of  their  high-cl;iss  education. 
The  Italian  Convent,  I.'Asile  de  la  Sainte 
Enfance,  Berlin,  Basel  and  Baxter  Missions, 
are  some  of  the  oldest  institutions  for  girls  ; 
the  first  two  mentioned  proving,  also,  of 
educational  service  to  the  community  at  large, 
and  the  last  having  risen  from  an  enrolment  of 
eleven  in  1883  to  its  present  number  of  sixty. 
Amongst  more  recently  started  schools  we 
must  note  the  Belilios  Public  School  for  Girls, 
the  Diocesan  School  for  Girls,  EllisKadoorie 
School  (now  called  Hongkong  College),  St. 
Stephen's  College  for  the  sons  of  the  better- 
class  of  Chinese,  and,  at  Kowloon,  the  Home 
for  Girls  and  a  Blind  School.  Outside  the 
Education  Department  are  a  number  of  private 
schools  where  a  good  education  is  provided 
in  English  and  Portuguese  In  this  category 
are  also  the  Kaifong  schools,  promoted  by  the 
native  gentry,  for  the  study  of  vernacular  by 
the  poorer  classes  ;  and  schools  for  the  study 
of  English,  endowed  by  the  liberality  of 
gentlemen  like  Messrs.  Ho  Kom-tong  and  the 
late  Chan  He-wan.  To  the  names  of  these 
gentlemen  as  public  benefactors  should  be 
added  those  of  the  late  Mr.  E.  R.  Belilios,  Mr. 


Ellis  Kadoorie,  and  Mr.  Ho  Tung,  who  have 
built  schools  referred  to  passim  above. 

Hongkong  is  a  centre  for  the  London 
University  Matriculation,  the  Oxford  Local 
Examinations,  and  the  Royal  College  of 
Music,  and,  on  leaving  the  Colony,  its 
students  have  distinguished  themselves  in 
England  and  the  United  States  of  America. 
It  may,  therefore,  be  admitted  that,  however 
stii  generis  Hongkong  may  have  been  thirty 
years  ago,  it  can  now  lay  claim  to  have 
entered  the  educational  comity  of  nations. 

The  following  table  of  statistics  shows  the 
steady  growth  of  educational  progress  in  the 
Colony,  remarkable  in  the  case  of  female 
education,  which  was,  at  first,  naturally  op- 
posed to  Chinese  ideas  : — 


Xo.  of 

Girls 

Percentajie 

Year. 

Sctiools. 

Scliolars. 

only. 

of  Girls. 

1866 

16 

1,870 

45 

2-4 

1876 

41 

2,922 

543 

18-5 

1886 

90 

5,844 

1,683 

28-8 

1896 

120 

7,301 

2,702 

37-0 

1906 

«s 

7,642 

3,289 

430 

QUEEN'S  COLLEGE.— Like  the  Royal  Col- 
lege at  Mauritius  and  the  Harrison  College 
at  Barbados,  Queen's  College,  Hongkong,  is 
an  entirely  separate  Government  department, 
independent  of  the  Inspectorate  of  Schools. 
Its  history,  therefore,  demands  individual 
treatment. 

When  Dr.  Stewart  in  1862  opened  the 
Government  Central  School  in  Gough  Street, 
that  district,  though  in  close  proximity  to  the 
Queen's  Road,  was  semi-rural,  being  occupied 
by  villa    residences,   interspersed    with    trees 


QUEEN'S    COLLEGE. 


124     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  bamboo  groves.  The  sile  was  admir- 
ably adapted  to  the  purpose,  beiiij;  equi- 
distant from  the  two  extremities,  cast  and 
west,  of  ihc  city  of  Victoria,  to  supply  whose 
educational  needs  was  its  object.  A  building 
in  the  shape  of  a  letter  H  was  erected,  afford- 
ing accommodation  for  about  350  boys.  The 
central  bar  was  a  sort  of  hall,  in  which 
rows  of  benches  rose  one  above  another,  tier 
upon  tier.  Two  classes  were  taught  here, 
and  three  in  each  of  the  adjoining  wings. 
Screens  were  impossible,  so  that  instruction, 
under  the  conditions,  suffered  considerable 
di^^advantage. 

There  was  at  first  some  difticulty  in  in- 
ducing Chinese  to  see  the  benefit  accruing 
from  Western  studies.  Fees,  of  course,  were 
quite  out  of  the  question,  and  a  few  years 
later  the  charge  of  fifty  cents  a  month  was 
not  made  without  much  apprehension. 
However,  in  four  years  222  boys  were  on 
the  annual  roll.  In  1876  this  number  had 
risen  to  577.  It  became  necessary  to  use 
the  four  basement  rooms  of  the  headmaster's 
and  second  master's  quarters  as  class-rooms, 
and  the  need  for  erecting  a  much  larger 
building  providing  a  separate  room  for  each 
class  became  apparent. 

Though  only  reaching  the  borders  of  what 
is  understood  by  Secondary  Education,  the 
Central  School  turned  out  an  immense  num- 
ber of  well-educated  pupils  of  all  nationalities, 
as  can  be  testified  by  many  Chinese,  English, 
Indian,  Parsee,  and  Portuguese  gentlemen 
now  in  the  Colony  upwards  of  forty-tive 
years  of  age.  In  1877  an  attack  was  made 
on  the  work  done  at  the  Central  School  in 
a    pamphlet,   popularly  ascribed    to  the    pen 


of  the  late  Mr.  J.  J.  Francis,  Q.C.,  and  entitled 
"  Does  the  Central  School  fulfil  its  raisoii 
d'Ctn  .' "  A  commission  was  appointed  by 
Sir  John  Pope-Henncssy  to  inquire  into  the 
possibility  of  providing  a  better  system,  and 
to  consider  whether  the  erection  of  five 
Government  schools  under  European  head- 
masters, one  being  a  collegiate  establishment, 
would  not  prove  more  beneficial  to  the  needs 
of  the  Colony  than  one  new  large  building. 
The  report  was  published  in  1882,  the  com- 
missioners disapproving  of  His  Excellency's 
scheme,  which  later  experience,  however, 
would  seem  to  have  shown  highly  com- 
mendable. The  Government  thereupon  re- 
solved to  build  what  is  now  known  as 
Queen's  College,  the  foundation  of  which 
was  laid  by  Sir  George  Bo  wen  in  1884. 

In  1881  Dr.  Stewart,  at  his  own  request, 
was  transferred  to  the  post  of  Police  Magis- 
trate, and  in  November  of  the  same  year  the 
present  headmaster,  Mr.  (Dr.  in  1891)  G.  H. 
Bateson  Wright,  was  appointed  by  Earl 
Kimberley.  Immediately  on  his  arrival  in 
January,  1882,  Mr.  Wright  held  the  annual 
examination  of  the  Central  School,  and, 
thougli  not  in  a  position  to  write  a  report  on 
a  year's  work  with  which  he  had  no  personal 
acquaintance,  he  stated  in  a  speech  to  Sir 
John  Pope-Hennessy  at  the  prize  distribution 
that  he  was  much  struck  with  the  attainments 
in  the  English  language  of  the  Chinese  boys, 
and  that  the  results  of  the  examination 
reflected  great  credit  on  the  management  of 
the  school  and  the  labours  of  the  masters. 

The  following  changes  were  immediately 
effected.  A  half-yearly  examination  was  in- 
stituted and  has  licen  maintained   ever   since. 


to  secure  the  efliciency  of  the  work  in  the 
first  half-year  and  to  minimise  the  evils  of 
cramming  in  the  second  half.  The  power 
to  administer  corporal  piniishment  was  re- 
stricted to  the  headmaster,  and  all  forms  of 
assault  were  strictly  proliibited.  The  study 
of  grammar  and  geography  was  extended  to 
two  lower  classes,  and  algebra,  geometry, 
and  mensuration  were  restored  to  the  curri- 
culum. In  the  preparation  of  examination 
questions  every  care  was  taken  to  obviate  the 
possiliilily  of  answers  that  were  simply  feats 
of  memory  without  any  evidence  of  the  exer- 
cise of  intelligent  effort.  The  consequence 
was  that  for  tlie  next  eight  years,  while  the 
headmaster  (in  so  small  a  school)  was  able 
to  take  an  active  part  in  tuition,  the  Inspector 
of  Schools,  who  held  the  office  of  Annual 
Independent  Examiner,  in  his  reports  pub- 
lished in  the  Goveriimcnt  Gazette,  spoke  in 
the  most  complimentary  terms  of  the  work 
done  at  the  Central  School.  In  1884  Walter 
Bosman  was  elected  the  First  Government 
Scholar,  and  proceeded  to  England,  where 
he  had  a  brilliant  career  at  the  Crystal  Palace 
Engineering  Institute.  He  has  since  been  in 
the  Government  service  at  Natal  as  Director 
of  Public  Works  at  Eshowe  and  Durban. 
The  thanks  of  the  Imperial  Government  were 
accorded  to  him  for  delimiting  the  Portuguese 
frontier,  and  a  couple  of  years  ago  he  was 
aide-de-camp  to  the  Colonel  in  charge  of  the 
expedition  to  suppress  the  rising  in  Natal. 

In  July,  1889,  the  premier  Government 
institution  migrated  from  the  old  Central 
School  to  Queen's  College,  erected  on  an 
open  spot,  insulated  by  four  roads,  a  little 
higher  up  the  hill.      In  January,  1889,  there 


ST.    JOSEPH'S    EKQLISH    COLLEQE. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     125 


were  438  boys  on  the  roll  at  the  Central 
School  ;  in  July  and  September  of  the  same 
year  there  were  at  Queen's  College  510  and 
7g6  respectively.  By  this  sudden  practical 
doubling  of  the  number  of  students,  the  vast 
majority  of  whom  were  naturally  admitted  to 
the  bottom  classes,  one  would  have  thought 
it  self-evident  that  the  work  of  the  next  three 
or  four  years  would  be  exceptionally  arduous, 
and  that  the  steady  progress  of  the  previous 
eight  years  must,  as  a  matter  of  course,  be 
retarded.  Sir  William  Robinson,  however, 
after  a  residence  in  the  Colony  of  six  months, 
caused  considerable  astonishment,  and  in  some 
quarters  indignation,  by  the  public  announce- 
ment at  the  Queen's  College  Prize  Distribution 
in  January,  1892,  that  Queen's  College  was  a 
failure.  This  dictum,  which  would  have  been 
the  ruin  of  a  private  school,  did  not  affect 
the  popularity  of  Queen's  College  with  the 
Chinese.  It  is,  indeed,  very  instructive  to 
note  that  during  the  very  six  years  that  the 
college  was  suffering  from  the  gubernatorial 
frown,  Chinese  masters  and  pupils  were 
urgently  required  at  the  Imperial  Tientsin 
University,  where  their  excellent  proficiency 
in  English  secured  them  a  hearty  welcome 
and  rapid  promotion.  Of  these  sixty  young 
men,  at  least  four  are  now  Taoutais,  Wen 
Tsung-yao  is  Secretary  to  the  Viceroy  at 
Canton,  Dr.  Chan  Kam-to  is  in  the  Finance 
Bureau  at  Peking,  and  Wong  Fan  and  Leung 
Lan-fan  are  on  Railways  and  Telegraph  Ser- 
vice respectively.  Verily,  it  may  be  said  of 
Queen's  College,  as  of  the  prophet,  that  it  is 
not  without  honour  save  in  its  own  country. 

In  1894  the  constitution  of  the  college  was 
changed  by  the  appointment  of  a  governing 
body,  whose  first  act  in  1895  was  to  abolish 
the  vernacular  school,  restoring  it,  however, 
nine  years  later.  In  1896  independent 
examiners  were  nominated  by  the  governing 
body  to  hold  the  winter  examination  and 
report  on  the  college.  With  only  two 
exceptions  this  practice  was  continued 
annually  till  1903,  when  the  governing  body 
resolved  that  an  annual  inspection  in  July 
and  report  by  the  independent  examiners 
would  be  of  greater  service  than  the  exam- 
ination of  a  thousand  boys  in  January,  the  con- 
duct of  which  was  left  in  1904  and  onwards 
(as  prior  to  1896)  to  the  control  of  the  head- 
master. A  very  wide  gulf  sunders  the  con- 
ditions of  these  two  examinations.  In 
January  every  boy  is  examined,  and  the 
whole  year's  work  is  under  review  ;  in  July 
the  boys  are  tested  in  new  work  upon 
which  they  have  been  engaged  for  only  four 
months,  and  about  20  per  cent,  are  taken  by 
the  sample  method. 

Queen's  College  is  fortunate  in  the  posses- 
sion of  an  excellent  staff.  Of  the  English 
staff,  apart  from  the  headtnaster,  there  are 
three  trained  certificaled  masters,  the  re- 
mainder are  graduates  of  universities — three 
from  Cambridge,  two  from  Trinity  College, 
Dublin,  one  from  Oxford,  and  one  from 
Aberdeen.  The  senior  Chinese  masters  leave 
nothing  to  be  desired,  and  most  of  the 
junior  are  satisfactory.  The  native  masters 
are  trained  under  the  charge  of  a  normal 
master.  Twenty  years  ago,  when  the  salary 
was  only  $4  a  month,  the  head  boys  of  the 
school  were  eager  to  be  monitors,  now  that 
they  receive  $20  rising  to  $35  a  month  great 
difficulty  is  experienced  in  finding  suitable 
boys  to  be  articled  pupil  teachers,  though  by 
this  course  of  training  their  market  value  is 
considerably  enhanced  on  account  of  their 
greater  proficiency  in  English. 

The  Oxford  Local  Examinations,  which  have 
been  held  at  Hongkong  as  a  centre  for  twenty 
years,  during  which  time  1,400  candidates, 
boys   and   girls,    have    been    examined,    have 


proved  of  inestimable  value.  Besides  pro- 
viding an  impartial  test  of  the  educational 
work  done  in  the  Colony,  unmarrcd  by  local 
bias  on  either  side,  they  have  been  of  great 
service  to  Hongkong  boys  in  procuring  for 
them  admission  to  English  and  American 
schools  and  universities,  and  in  obtaining 
exemption  from  professional  preliminary  ex- 
aminations. Queen's  College  has  always  had 
a  difficulty  to  cope  with  in  presenting  can- 
didates. 'The  majority  of  these  boys  after 
promotion  at  the  commencement  of  the 
school  year  have  in  March  to  begin  to  pre- 
pare for  the  examination  in  July.  They  are, 
therefore,  practically  examined  upon  their 
knowledge  gained  in  ordinary  school  routine, 
and  very  little  on  the  special  requirements  of 
the  locals.  In  spite  of  this  drawback,  how- 
ever, they  have  done  very  creditably.  Third 
Class  Junior  Honours  were  obtained  in  1907, 
and  distinctions  as  follow  :— 1895,  Senior 
Mathematics  and  Preliminary  History  ;  1898, 
Junior  English  ;  1899,  Senior  English. 


In  an  ambitious  upward  course  Queen's 
College  is  hindered  by  the  following  con- 
siderations. It  is  a  day-school,  so  that  all 
attempts  to  teach  English  conversation  are 
necessarily  confined  to  school  hours,  after 
which  all  the  boys  immediately  revert  to 
Chinese  thought  and  expression,  and  no 
supervision  can  be  given  to  preparation  of 
work.  Again,  fully  one-third  of  the  boys 
change  annually,  and  this  has  always  been 
the  case  from  time  immemorial.  Four 
hundred  boys  leaving  and  four  hundred  new 
boys  being  admitted  annually  is  a  very  serious 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  obtaining  a  large  and 
efficient  upper  school.  In  this  connection  it 
is  to  be  observed  that  there  is  no  external 
system  for  feeding  the  upper  classes  of 
Queen's  College  such  as  exists  in  any 
large  town  in  England,  for  the  half-dozen 
boys  from  the  Goverinnent  district  schools 
are  lost  sight  of  when  the  number  of  seats 
available  (420)  is  borne  in  mind. 

The  following  table  serves  to  illustrate  the 


ST.  JOSEPH'S  ENGLISH  COLLEGE. 

(Group  uf  Scholars.) 


126     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


slow  but  steady  progress  of  Queen's  College. 
"  The  day  of  small  things  "  is  past.  Gradually 
tlie  number  of  subjects  in  the  curriculum  has 
increased,  and  the  increase  in  the  number  of 
scholars  taking  those  subjects  is  enormous. 
Queen's  College  has  justified  the  high 
reputation  it  enjoys  in  the  neighbouring  vast 
Empire  of  China,  and,  with  due  encourage- 
ment, its  future  prospects  are  practically 
limitless. 

Total    number  of    boys  examined  in  each 
subject. 

1881       1885      1889      11107 


George  Bache  Wright,  of  the  Peninsular  and 
Oriental  Steam  Navigation  Company's  London 
oflice,  and  grandson  of  Augustus  Wright, 
storekeeper  of  the  magazine,  Priddy's  Hard, 
Gosport,  during  the  Crimean  War,  Dr.  Wright 
was  born  in  1853.  He  was  educated  at 
Queen's  College,  Oxford,  where  he  graduated 
B.A.,  with  second-class  Theological  Honours, 
in  June,  1875.  He  gained  the  Denyer  and 
Johnson      Scholarship      and     the      Kennicott 


English  to  Chinese.  . 

301 

379 

676 

771 

Chinese  to  English... 

30 1 

379 

676 

771 

Grammar      

172 

312 

547 

1, 08  s 

Geography 

■44 

253 

477 

1,085 

Com|X)sition 

83 

127 

360 

771 

History         

30 

75 

143 

322 

Geometry     

— 

75 

143 

557 

Algebra        

— 

75 

143 

557 

Mensuration 

— 

25 

24 

118 

Latin 

— 

117 

— 

General  Intelligence 

— 

— 

83 

34 

Shakespeare 

— 

— 

24 

34 

Trigonometry 

— 

— 

•7 

14 

Hygiene        

— 

— 

— 

771 

Book-keeping 

— 

— 

— 

118 

THE  REV.  0.  H.  BATESON  WRIGHT.  D.D. 
(Oxoa.). — Seated  quietly  at  his  desk,  or  pre- 
siding over  his  classes,  the  gentleman  who, 
for  upwards  of  twenty-six  years,  has  been 
the  headmaster  of  Queen's  College,  has, 
perhaps,  done  more  than  any  of  his  con- 
temporaries towards  the  formation  of  that 
sterling  character  which  so  distinguishes 
the  educated  Chinese  of  Hongkong.  The 
histories  of  many  of  the  Colony's  greatest 
men  may  be  read  in  her  stones  and  thorough- 
fares, in  her  docks  and  wharves,  in  the 
innumerable  outward  and  tangible  evidences 
of  her  commercial  prosperity  ;  but  the  history 
of  Dr.  George  Henry  Bateson  Wright  is 
writ  even  more  legibly  upon  the  lengthen- 
ing human  scroll  issuing  from  Hongkong's 
leading  academy.   The  second  son  of  the  late 


DR.  G.  H.  B.  WRIGHT,  QUEEN'S  COLLEGE. 

Hebrew  Scholarship  in  1876,  and,  in  the 
following  year,  the  Syriac  Prize  and  the 
Pusey  and  Elerton  Scholarship.  He  was 
ordained  at  Worcester  a  Deacon  (Gospel)  in 
1877,  and  became  Curate  of  Ladbroke, 
Warwickshire.  In  the  following  year  he 
was  admitted  to  tlie  priesthood,  again  head- 
ing the  list  of  candidates,  and  subsequently 
held  the  curacies  of  Christ  Church,  Bradford, 
and  St.  Peter's,  Bournemouth.  Kor  a  time 
he   was  a   private    tutor    at    Oxford,   and    in 


KLLIS   KADOOBIE   CHINESE   SCHOOLS   SOCIETT. 


1881  he  was  appointed  headmaster  of 
Queen's  College.  He  proceeded  to  the 
degree  of  B.D.  in  February,  1891,  and  by 
grace  of  Convocation  was  allowed  to  take 
the  degree  of  D.D.  in  May  of  the  same 
year,  when  he  was  only  thirty-eight  years 
of  age.  In  1884  he  published  a  work  entitled 
"A  Critical  Edition  of  the  Book  of  Job," 
whilst  in  1895  he  publislied  "  Was  Israel  ever 
in  Egypt?"  Dr.  Wright  is  married  and  lives 
at  "  Ladbroke,"  No.  9,  Conduit  Koad.  His 
recreation  lies  in  his  work. 


ST.   JOSEPH'S    ENGLISH    COLLEGE.— This 

well-known  institution  is  conducted  by  the 
Brothers  of  the  Christian  Schools,  and  is  under 
the  patronage  of  the  Kight  Kev.  Domenico 
Pozzoni,  D.D.,  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Hongkong. 
The  work  of  the  Brothers  is  too  well  known 
to  need  any  comment  here  ;  suffice  it  to  say 
that  their  name  is  familiar  in  every  country, 
and  at  present  they  control  over  two  thousand 
large  educational  establishments,  where  well- 
nigh  four  hundred  thousand  pupils  are  being 
equipped  for  the  great  struggle  of  life. 

When  the  Brothers  came  to  Hongkong 
thirty  years  ago,  they  took  charge  of  a  small 
scliool  in  Caiiie  Road  where  they  had  but 
seventy  pupils.  The  number  steadily  increased, 
and  in  two  years  they  had  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  schools  in  the  Colony.  To  accom- 
modate the  ever-increasing  number  of  boarders 
and  day  scholars  more  room  was  required, 
and  in  1881  the  foundation  of  the  present 
building  was  laid  by  Sir  John  Pope-Hennessy, 
then  Governor  of  Hongkong.  In  1898  it  was 
found  necessary  to  add  a  third  storey  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  boarders,  and  three  years 
afterwards  the  building  was  still  further 
enlarged  by  the  addition  of  two  wings. 

To-day  the  school  is  one  of  the  most  up-to- 
date  educational  establishments  in  the  Far  East. 
The  building,  surrounded  by  trees  and  pleasant 
patches  of  green,  is  delightfully  situated  on  a 
height  which  commands  an  extensive  view 
of  the  city  and  harbour  of  Victoria.  Ample 
accommodation  is  provided  for  five  hundred 
scholars,  and  in  the  boarding  department  there 
is  room  for  eighty.  The  dormitory,  which 
occupies  more  than  half  the  third  storey,  is 
very  well  lighted  and  ventilated.  It  is 
surrounded  by  verandahs  which  greatly  en- 
hance the  comfort  of  the  place  both  in  summer 
and  in  winter.  Adjoining  the  dormitory  are 
private  rooms  for  students  who  wish  to  devote 
more  time  to  their  studies.  On  the  second 
floor  is  the  boarders'  study  hall — a  spacious 
apartment,  capable  of  affording  sitting 
accommodation  for  over  120,  and  in  which  are 
held  public  meetings  on  certain  occasions 
during  the  year.  It  is  lighted  by  numerous 
electric  lamps,  and  the  walls  are  freely  hung 
with  maps  and  pictures.  There  is  a  handsome 
stage  at  one  end  of  the  hall,  where  the  students 
have  an  opportunity  of  developing  their 
debating  powers.  The  majority  of  the  class- 
rooms are  on  the  ground  floor,  and  can 
accommodate  forty  pupils  each.  They  are 
furnished  with  all  teaching  requisites  and  have 
a  very  cheerful  appearance.  On  the  third 
storey  are  three  class-rooms  specially  set  apart 
for  Chinese  boys,  and  these  are  also  equipped 
with  the  necessary  appliances  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  pupils. 

The  aim  of  the  institution  is  to  give  Catholic 
youths  and  others,  without  distinction  of  creed 
or  persuasion,  a  thorough  moral,  intellectual, 
and  physical  education.  The  staff  consists  of 
twelve  thoroughly  trained  European  masters, 
who  have  devoted  their  lives  to  the  work. 
Tliere  are  also  two  competent  Chinese 
teachers  to  give  a  regular  course  of  instruc- 
tion to  Chinese  boys  in  their  own  language. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     127 


When  these  boys  leave  scliool  they  will  have 
the  advantage  of  knowing  both  English  and 
Chinese.  To  facilitate  the  imparting  of 
instruction,  and  to  enable  the  pupils  to  derive 
full  benefit  from  it,  the  Chinese  boys  of  the 
lower  standards  are  separated  from  the 
others,  and  receive  instruction  suited  to  their 
capacity.  In  the  higher  standards,  the  boys 
are  prepared  for  the  O.xford  Local  Examina- 
tion, in  addition  to  receiving  a  sound 
commercial   training. 

Shorthand  and  typewriting  are  taught  with 
great  success,  and  several  of  the  students  have 
already  obtained  first-class  certificates  in  these 
subjects.  Book-keeping,  commercial  geo- 
graphy, commercial  arithmetic,  and  corre- 
spondence also  occupy  a  prominent  place  in 
the  school  syllabus.  In  all  the  classes  great 
importance  is  attached  to  the  teaching  of 
English.  It  is  the  only  language  tolerated 
both  on  the  playground  and  in  the  classroom, 
except  in  the  lower  standards  of  the  Chinese 
department.  High  marks  are  generally 
obtained  by  the  boys  of  the  college  at  the 
Oxford  Examination  for  this  most  important 
subject.  The  school  curriculum  also  includes 
religious  instruction,  French,  arithmetic, 
algebra,  geometry,  history,  and  hygiene. 
In  addition  the  boys  receive  a  special  course 
ill  freehand,  model,  geometrical,  and  archi- 
tectural drawing,  from  a  thoroughly  competent 
master,  and  the  school  has  always  enjoyed  a 
high  reputation  for  the  success  it  has  achieved 
in  the  teaching  of  this  branch  of  education. 

The  physical  training  of  the  pupils  receives 
due  attention.  A  regular  course  of  physical 
drill  is  given  by  a  sergeant  specially  appointed 
by  the  Government  for  that  purpose.  On 
certain  occasions  during  the  year  the  boys 
are  called  upon  to  perform  some  of  these 
exercises  on  the  stage,  and  the  skill  and 
exactitude  with  which  they  go  through  them 
elicits  the  hearty  applause  of  the  onlookers. 
A  keen  interest  is  taken  in  out-door  games, 
and  in  the  shield  competition  every  year  the 
school  holds  a  high  place.  A  football  and 
cricket  club  has  been  established  in  the 
college  with  a  view  to  encouraging  these 
games,  the  teachers  recognising  that  "all 
work  and  no  play  maketh  a  dull  boy." 
When  unable  to  pursue  their  accustomed 
out-door  amusements,  owing  to  bad  weather, 
the  pupils  retire  to  the  club-room,  where  the 
time  may  be  passed  pleasantly  at  a  game  of 
billiards  or  chess,  or  in  the  perusal  of  in- 
teresting literature. 

Hundreds  of  young  men  educated  in  the 
college  have  attained  honourable  and  lucra- 
tive positions  in  different  parts  of  the  world 
by  the  application  of  tliat  knowledge  and  of 
those  principles  of  right  and  honesty  which 
were  instilled  into  them  during  their  early 
days. 


ST.  PAUL'S  COLLEGE.  — This  institution, 
situated  in  the  Lower  Albert  Road,  Hongkong, 
was  founded  in  1843  by  the  first  Colonial 
Chaplain  of  the  Colony,  with  the  object  of 
providing  men  as  native  teachers  and  prea- 
chers. It  is  now  the  Training  College  of 
the  Church  Missionary  Society's  South  China 
Mission,  and  comprises  two  departments — 
one  for  boys  and  the  other  for  men.  In 
that  for  boys  the  sons  of  Christian  parents 
are  received  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and,  after 
three  years  training,  if  they  are  found  suit- 
able, they  pass  into  the  day  or  boarding 
schools  of  the  mission  as  schoolmasters,  under 
the  supervision  of  English  or  Chinese  clergy. 
In  the  student  class,  under  a  separate  organi- 
sation, men  not  under  the  age  of  twenty  are 
trained  as  native  preachers  and  catechists. 
This  department  was  commenced  in  1899  by 


the  Kev.  C.  Bennett,  at  Shiu-Hing,  and  later 
in  the  same  year  the  students  were  moved 
to  Canton.  In  igoo  it  was  found  that  Hong- 
kong would  be  a  more  suitable  centre,  and 
the  college  was  ultimately  transferred  to  its 
present  premises,  placed  at  its  disposal  by 
the  late  Bishop  Hoare.  Recently  there  has 
been  established  in  connection  with  the 
college  a  preparatory  school  at  Kowloon, 
where  an  old  official  yamen  is  held  under 
the  Colonial  Government  on  a  repairing 
lease. 

The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  is  hon. 
visitor  to  the  college,  and  the  Bishop  of 
Victoria  is  the  warden.  The  Sub-warden 
and  Principal  is  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Bunbury, 
M.A.,  who  is  loyally  assisted  in  the  work  by 
a  Chinese  graduate.     There  are  four  men  in 


the  student  class,  twenty  boys  in  the  training 
college,  and  about  fifty  boarders  and  day- 
boys in  the  Kowloon  preparatory  school. 
The  curriculum  embraces  the  essential  sub- 
jects, the  aim  of  the  college  being  directed 
rather  towards  thoroughness  of  teaching  than 
towards  variety.  The  Chinese  language  is, 
at  present,  the  medium  of  instruction. 


THE  ELLIS  KADOORIE  CHINESE  SCHOOLS 
SOCIETY. — This  society,  whose  work  extends 
through  Hongkong,  Canton,  and  Shanghai, 
was  formed  at  the  suggestion  of  the  well- 
known  merchant  whose  name  it  bears.  Its 
chief  object  is  to  overcome  the  difficulty  felt 
by   the   Chinese   poor    of    obtaining  a  sound 


MR.   H.  N.  MODY. 


128     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


education  on  Western  lines,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  see  that  the  Chinese  language  itself 
is  taught.  Six  schools  have  been  opened — 
one  in  Hiingkong,  two  in  Canton,  and  lliree 
in  Shanghai — having,  in  all,  over  a  thousand 
pupils.  The  work  is  carried  on  by  English 
masters,  assisted  by  a  competent  staff  of  Anglo- 
Chinese  teachers,  and  the  curriculum  embraces 
a  wide  range  of  subjects,  from  rudimentary 
cons<>nantal  sounds  to  higher  and  commercial 
arithmetic,  map-drawing,  history,  and  trans- 
lation. The  Hongkong  school  is  situated  in 
the  neighlxiurhood  of  the  Government  Civil 
Hospital. 


MR.  EDWARD  ALEXANDER  IRVINO,  In- 
spector of  Schools,  Hongkong,  was  born  in 
1870,  and  .it  the  age  of  twenty-one  joined 
the  I'erak  Civil  Service  as  a  junior  officer. 
Whilst  in  the  Malay  States  he  qualified  in 
law,  and  acquired  a  knowledge  of  Malay, 
Hakka,  and  Cantonese,  and  tilled  various 
appoinlmenis  in  Perak  and  Selangor  in  the 
Mines  Departments  and  Chinese  Protectorate. 
He  arrived  in  Hongkong  in  April,  1901,  as 
Inspector  of  Schools,  and  has  held  that  olilice 
ever  since,  except  on  two  occasions  when  he 
acted  as  Registrar-General  and  Member  of 
the  Legislative  Council.  He  resides  at 
'•  Kinta,"  the  Peak. 


A  PROPOSED  UNIVERSITY.— A  proposal 
to  establish  a  university  in  Hongkong 
assumed  a  tangible  form  in  March,  1908, 
when  Mr.  Mody,  a  local  gentleman  well- 
known  for  his  public  benefactions,  promised 
$150,000  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  the 
necessary  buildings,  on  condition  that  a  site 
and  an  endowment  fund  were  provided. 
The  idea  of  a  local  university  was  first 
mooted  in  the   China  Mail   some   few   years 


previously.  It  was  suggested  by  this  journal 
that  the  nucleus  of  the  university  should  be 
the  Medical  College  and  the  Technical  Insti- 
tute, that  the  endowment  fund  should  be  raised 
by  the  public,  and  that  a  grant  of  land 
should  be  made  by  the  Government.  At  the 
time  of  writing,  this  scheme  is  under  the 
consideration  of  the  local  Legislature,  and  it 
is  very  probable  that  a  site  at  West  Point, 
on  the  Bonham  Ro,id  level,  will  be  granted. 


MR.  H.  N.  MODY,  whose  muniliccnce  is  re- 
ferred to  in  the  foregoing  paragraph,  comes 
of  a  well-known  Parsee  family,  is  one  of  the 
oldest  residents,  and  one  of  the  most  striking 
personalities  in  financial  circles,  in  Hongkong. 
It  is  more  than  forty-seven  years  since  he 
came  to  the  Colony  to  enter  the  service  of 
a  firm  of  Hindoo  bankers  and  opium  mer- 
chants. With  them  he  remained  for  three 
years  before  launching  his  own  opium  busi- 
ness, which  rapidly  grew  to  large  dimensions. 
With  the  advent  of  the  subni.irine  cable, 
however,  Mr.  Mody  realised  that  the  halcyon 
days  of  the  operations  in  opium  were  gone, 
so  he  turned  his  attention  to  dealing  in 
stocks  and  shares  and  to  exchange  brokerage. 
Refusing  to  recognise  the  existence  of  such 
a  word  as  "  impossible  "  he  soon  came  to  the 
front,  and  for  years  lie  has  played  the  leading 
part  on  the  local  stock  exchange,  carrying 
through  manv  transactions  of  considerable 
magnitude.  More  than  once  he  lost  his  all, 
for  in  his  aireer  he  has  had  difiiculties  to 
overcome  and  obstacles  to  surmount,  but 
with  fine  courage  and  estimable  self-con- 
fidence he  has  braved  the  storms  and  sleered 
his  barque  to  safety.  Always  possessed  of 
a  marvellous  memory  and  a  wonderful  fund 
of  energy  and  zeal,  even  now,  at  an  age 
when  most  business  men  are  content  to  rest 


on  their  laurels,  his  activity  is  proverbial. 
He  has  built  up  an  extensive  business  in 
exchange  brokerage,  having  acquired  the 
control  of  the  hulk  of  the  scttleniciils  m;idc 
by  many  important  Indian  lirnis  in  the 
Colony,  and,  with  the  large  fortune  amassed 
by  these  means,  he  lias  materially  assisted 
in  the  development  of  the  island.  With  his 
partner,  Sir  Paul  Chater,  C.M.G.,  Mr.  Mody 
is  connected  with  most  of  the  important 
industrial  concerns,  and  was  closely  associ- 
ated with  Mr.  A.  H.  Rennie  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Hongkong  Milling  Company,  Ltd., 
in  which  promising  enterprise  he  holds  a  large 
number  of  shares.  Numerous  and  varied  as 
are  Mr.  Mody's  business  interests,  however, 
he  still  finds  time  to  take  a  prominent  part 
in  social  life.  Many  charitable  institutions 
have  benefited  considerably  by  his  muni- 
ficence, and  though  he  carries  on  his  good 
work  in  a  quiet  unostentatious  manner,  his 
benevolence  and  public  spirit  are  gratefully 
recognised  by  the  community.  The  Colony 
will  soon  be  einiched  by  a  magnificent 
statue  of  H.R.H.  the  Princess  of  Wales,  a 
gift  from  Mr.  Mody,  which  is  now  being 
executed  in  England.  Mr.  Mody  also  takes 
great  interest  in  sport,  and  for  many  years 
lias  been  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  Hong- 
kong Jockey  Club,  at  whose  amiual  race 
meeting  his  colours  arc  always  to  the  fore. 
On  several  occasions  he  has  won  the  local 
Derby  as  well  as  other  important  races. 
Mr.  Mody  brings  to  the  turf  that  integrity 
and  steadfastness  of  purpose  which  have 
served  him  so  well  in  business,  and  the 
enthusiastic  manner  in  which  his  many 
victories  have  been  acclaimed  testifies  un- 
mistakably to  the  high  place  he  occupies  in 
the  public  esteem.  His  hospitality,  too,  is 
renowned  and,  among  all  nationalities,  he  is 
recognised  as  a  prince  of  good  fellows. 


^'^^^^"^  <^^=^ 


PUBLIC   WORKS. 


By  the  Hon.  Mr.  W.  Chatham,  C.M.G.,  Direaor  of  Public  Works. 


N  the  first  year  of  the  Colony's 
foundation  a  land  officer  was 
appointed  to  administer  Crown 
lands,  collect  the  revenue 
derivable  from  them,  and 
discharge  the  functions  now 
performed  by  the  Director  of 
Public  Works.  The  officer  to  whom  these 
numerous  responsibilities  were  entrusted  was 
very  frequently  changed  during  the  first  year 
or  two.  On  January  3,  1843,  Mr.  A.  T. 
Gordon  was  gazetted  Surveyor-General,  but 
this  was  merely  a  change  of  title,  for  his 
duties  were  the  same  as  those  of  his  prede- 
cessors. The  Land  Office  was  established  as 
an  independent  department  in  January,  1883. 
The  title  of  Surveyor-General  continued  in 
use  until  1892,  when  it  was  changed  to  that 
of   Director  of  Public  Works. 

Roads. — Roads,  of  course,  were  among  the 
earliest  works  undertaken  for  the  development 
of  the  Colony,  and,  according  to  the  records 
available,  the  first  road  to  be  constructed 
was  one  from  Wongneithung  to  Shaukiwan, 
which  was  made  in  the  year  tiiat  the  Colony 
was  taken  over,  namely  1841.  That  was 
followed  by  roads  from  Shaukiwan  to  Tytam 
in  1845,  from  Victoria  to  Aberdeen  in  1846, 
and  from  Aberdeen  to  Stanley  in  1848.  The 
system  has  gradually  developed,  until  now 
there  are  on  the  island  of  Hongkong  95  miles 
of  roads.  Of  those  inside  tlie  city  5  miles 
are  roads  of  75  feet  in  width.  Similarly  in 
Kowloon,  road-making  was  commenced  soon 
after  the  territory  was  acquired,  the  first 
sections  of  Robinson  and  Macdonnell  Roads 
being  constructed  in  1865,  five  years  after 
the  Peninsula  was  taken  over.  A  halt  seems 
to  have  been  called  lor  some  considerable 
period  after  this,  and  it  was  not  until  about 
1892  that  any  extensive  construction  of  roads 
was  undertaken  in  Kowloon.  Since  then, 
road-making  has  been  actively  pursued,  and 
a  system  of  main  roads,  100  leet  wide,  is 
now  under  construction.  The  roads  in 
Kowloon  at  the  present  time  aggregate 
22  miles  in  length,  of  which  3  miles  are 
100  feet  wide.  In  the  new  territories,  the 
road  to  Taipo  was  the  first  to  be  made.  It 
is  16  miles  in  length,  and  was  completed  in 
1904.  The  only  other  properly  made  road 
is  one  past  Kowloon  City,  leading  in  the 
direction  of  Customs  Pass,  the  construction 
of  which  has  been  undertaken  partly  on 
military  grounds.  All  the  others  are  native 
paths  of  a  very  rudimentary  description, 
suitable  only  for  pedestrian  traffic,  and  not 
well  adapted  for  that  as  a  rule. 

Owing  to  the  hilly  nature  of  Hongkong 
and    its    dependencies,    many    of    the    roads 


are  steep,  some  of  the  earlier  ones  being 
excessively  so  in  parts.  Portions  of  the  roads 
to  Victoria  Gap,  Wanchai  Gap,  and  Wongnei- 
chung  Gap  have  gradients  of  i  in  4,  i  in  3I, 
and  I  in  3J  respectively.  In  the  case  of 
many  streets,  steps  have  had  to  be  introduced. 
One  street  in  the  city  of  Victoria  is  ap- 
propriately named  Ladder  Street,  being 
formed  of  a  series  of  flights  of  stairs  with 
short  landings  between.  To  obviate,  as  far 
as  possible,  damage  by  rainstorms,  which 
cause  rapid  erosion  of  the  decomposed  granite 
surfacing  in  the  case  of  roads  having  any 
considerable  gradient,  concrete  is  extensively 
used  as  a  surfacing  material  and  is  found 
to  wear  well,  there  being  no  heavy  traffic 
on  such  roads  and  no  frosts  to  attack  and 
break  it  up. 

Buildings. — Of  the  Government  buildings 
constructed  in  the  early  days  of  the  Colony, 
very  few  remain,  nearly  all  of  them  having 
become  inadequate  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  more  recent  times.  The  exceptions  are 
the  Government  Offices  and  the  Supreme 
Court,  erected  in  1848,  and  Government 
House,  built  in  1856.  The  Supreme  Court 
will  shortly  be  transferred  to  a  new  building. 
Government  House  has  undergone  extension 
by  the  addition  of  a  ballroom,  which  was 
built  in  1892,  and  the  retention  of  the 
Government  Offices  has  only  been  rendered 
possible  by  the  transfer  of  several  of  the 
departments  which  were  at  first  housed  in 
them  to  buildings  elsewhere.  The  new  Law 
Courts  and  another  large  building  to  accom- 
modate the  Post  Office,  Treasury,  and  several 
other  important  Government  departments, 
are  in  course  of  erection  at  the  present  time 
and  are  estimated  to  cost  $768,000  and 
$930,000  respectively.  Among  other  build- 
ings of  importance  and  comparatively  recent 
construction  are  the  Central  and  Western 
markets,  the  cattle  depots,  and  the  slaughter- 
houses, all  of  which  are  extensive  and  up-to- 
date  in  their  accommodation.  The  city  cattle 
depot  is  capable  of  containing  over  twelve 
hundred  head  of  cattle.  The  requirements 
of  education  were  not  overlooked,  as  in  i86i 
the  Central  School  was  erected  to  accom- 
modate six  hundred  scholars.  This  has  since 
given  place  to  wliat  is  now  known  as  Queen's 
College,  originally  designed  to  accommodate 
924  scholars,  but  rendered  capable,  by 
making  use  of  the  large  hall  for  class-rooms, 
of  accommodating  no  fewer  than  fourteen 
hundred,  the  number  on  the  rolls  according 
to  the  most  recent  report.  There  are 
numerous  other  Government  schools  in  the 
Colony,  several  of  which  are  undergoing 
extension  at  the  present  time. 


Reclamations.— Owing  to  the  scarcity  of 
level  land,  the  necessity  for  reclamation  soon 
forced  itself  upon  the  attention  of  the  Govern- 
ment, and  we  find  that  in  1851,  or  only  ten 
\ears  after  the  occupation  of  Hongkong,  the 
first  scheme  of  this  nature  was  undertaken, 
being  followed  by  numerous  subsequent 
schemes.  In  1868,  8i  acres  were  reclaimed 
between  Wilmer  Street  and  Bonham  Strand 
West  ;  in  1873  the  East  Praya  was  partly 
constructed  ;  in  1884,  23  acres  were  reclaimed 
from  Causeway  Bay,  and  in  1886,  22  acres 
at  Kennedy  Town.  The  largest  scheme 
carried  out,  however,  was  that  sanctioned  by 
the  Praya  Reclamation  Ordinance  of  1889, 
under  which  a  sea-wall  2  miles  in  length 
was  constructed,  and  a  gross  area  of  65  acres 
reclaimed  from  the  sea,  the  scheme  being 
completed  in  1903.  There  can  be  no  question 
as  to  the  expediency  of  carrying  out  this 
work,  because  practically  every  foot  of  land 
was  covered  with  buildings  almost  as  soon 
as  it  became  available.  Another  scheme  of 
even  greater  magnitude  as  regards  the  area 
to  be  reclaimed  was  under  the  consideration 
of  the  Government  and  the  lot  -  holders 
concerned  for  some  time,  but  has  been 
allowed  to  drop.  It  provides  for  a  reclama- 
tion extending  from  East  Point  to  Arsenal 
Street,  where  it  will  join  the  Naval  Yard 
Extension,  and  comprising  an  area  of  nearly 
84  acres  of  building  land,  exclusive  of  roads. 
On  the  Kowloon  side  much  work  of  a  similar 
nature  has  been  carried  out,  but,  with  the 
exception  of  the  reclamation  in  Hunghom 
Bay  to  form  the  terminus  of  the  Kowloon- 
Canton  Railway,  it  has  been  the  result  of 
private  enterprise,  no  general  scheme  having 
been  undertaken  by  the  Government. 

Whilst  dealing  with  marine  work  it  may 
be  interesting  to  record  that  in  1883  a 
breakwater  was  constructed  at  Causeway  Bay 
to  afford  a  harbour  of  refuge  for  small  craft 
during  typhoons.  The  sheltered  area  is  about 
60  acres  in  extent.  A  scheme  is  now  under 
consideration,  and  there  is  promise  of  its 
being  undertaken  at  an  early  date,  for  the 
construction  of  a  much  larger  harbour  of  a 
similar  nature  off  the  west  side  of  the 
Kowloon  Peninsula.  This,  when  completed, 
will  afford  a  sheltered  area  of  160  acres. 

Drainage  and  Sewerage.— With  the  carrying 
out  of  reclamations  and  the  gradual  advance 
of  the  city  up  the  slope  of  the  hills,  at  the 
base  of  which  it  is  situated,  it  became 
necessary  to  regulate  the  discharge  of  the 
torrential  rains  which  frequently  occur  in 
Hongkong.  This  was  done  by  a  system  of 
large  masonry  channels  —  some  open  and 
some    covered    in — and    for     a    considerable 


130    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


pcrkxl.  in  addition  to  performing  the  purpose 
fiH-  which  they  were  constructed,  these 
channels  were  turned  to  account  as  a  means 
oi  jjctting  rid  of  the  sullagc  water  from  llie 
houMfS.  This  state  of  affairs  could  evidently 
not  be  (■•crmitted  to  go  on  indetinitely,  as 
the  channels  were  obviously  unsuitable  for 
the  conveyance  of  foul  liquids,  especially 
during  the  dry  season  of  the  year,  when 
the  absence  of  rainfall  caused  the  nullahs  to 
be    practically  dry.      Consequently,    in    l888 


the  city  front,  generally  into  deep  water, 
where  it  is  dispersed  by  the  tidal  currents, 
which  are  of  considerable  strength.  With 
the  continued  progress  of  buildings  upwards 
on  the  higher  levels  of  the  city,  the  regulation 
of  the  various  streams  was  a  matter  of 
necessity,  to  enable  the  sites  which  were  cut 
in  the  hillsides  to  be  properly  laid  out,  and 
roads  giving  access  to  them  to  be  formed, 
and  many  channels  were  constructed  with 
these  objects.     More   recently,   however,   tlie 


A  CORNER  OP  THE  NEW  PUBLIC  GARDENS. 


an  extensive  scheme  was  prepared  for  the 
construction  of  what  is  now  known  as  the 
••  separate  system."  This  consisted  of  the 
laying  of  stoneware  pipes  of  comparatively 
small  diameter  for  the  reception  of  foul  water, 
though,  of  course,  rain-water  cannot  be 
entirely  excluded  from  them.  The  work, 
which  extended  throughout  the  whole  area 
of  the  city,  was  completed  about  the  year 
1895.  The  sewage  is  discharged  into  the 
waters  of  the  harbour  at  various  points  along 


importance  of  training  the  streams  as  a 
preventative  of  malaria  has  been  recognised, 
and  during  the  past  six  years  very  extensive 
works  have  been  carried  out  for  this  purpose 
alone. 

Waterworks. — Prior  to  the  year  i860,  the 
city  of  Victoria  was  entirely  dependent  for 
its  supply  of  water  on  wells  sunk  in  the  com- 
pounds throughout  the  city  and  on  the  streams 
flowing  down  the  slopes  of  the  range  of  hills 
at   the    base    of    which    the   city    is    situated. 


These  sources,  besides  being  of  a  piccarious 
nature,  very  soon  proved  inadequate,  and  in 
the  year  already  mentioned  steps  were  taken 
to  supplement  them  by  intercepting  the 
waters  of  a  stieam  on  the  opposite,  or 
southern,  side  of  the  range  and  bringing 
them  into  the  city  in  cast-iron  pipes.  The 
works,  as  carried  out,  comprised  a  small 
dam  in  the  Pokfolum  Valley  impounding 
2,000,000  gallons,  a  cast-iron  main  10  inches 
in  diameter  and  3J  miles  in  length,  two 
tanks  or  service  reservoirs  above  the  city  of 
a  combined  capacity  of  fully  1,000,000 
gallons,  and  a  number  of  fountains  and  lire- 
cocks.  They  were  completed  in  1863,  but 
were  speedily  found  insullicicnl  to  meet 
requirements,  and  in  1866  the  construction 
of  a  dam  in  the  Pokfolum  Valley  with  a 
capacity  of  66,000,000  gallons  was  under- 
taken.    This  was  completed  in  1871. 

With  the  growth  of  the  city  which,  per- 
force, continued  upwards  owing  to  the  flat 
area  at  the  base  of  the  hills  being  soon 
covered,  a  difliculty  arose  in  supplying 
water  to  the  buildings  on  the  higher  levels. 
To  overcome  this,  a  conduit  was  constructed 
from  the  outlet  of  the  Pokfolum  reservoir 
contouring  the  hills  at  a  height  of  about  500 
feet  above  sea-level  and  terminating  at  a 
point  above  the  central  part  of  the  city.  It 
was  3J  miles  long  and  had  a  discharging 
capacity  of  nearly  1,750,000  gallons  per 
day.  The  original  cast-iron  main  which 
was  thus  superseded  was  taken  up  on 
completion  of  the  work,  which  occurred  in 
1877. 

The  growth  of  the  population  and  the 
increasing  demand  for  water  for  industrial 
purposes  soon  rendered  it  necessary  to  aug- 
ment the  supply,  and  in  1883  the  Tylam 
scheme  was  undertaken.  The  works  com- 
prised under  it  were,  relatively  to  the  Pok- 
folum works,  of  great  magnitude.  They 
included  a  storage  reservoir  with  a  capacity 
of  312,000,000  gallons,  a  tunnel  and  aqueduct, 
1'38  and  293  miles  in  length  respectively, 
for  conveying  the  water  to  the  city,  a  series 
of  filter-beds  and  a  service  reservoir  capable 
of  containing  nearly  5,750,000  gallons.  The 
cost  of  these  works  amounted  to  Si, 257,500, 
and  they  were  completed  in  1889. 

To  place  the  Pokfolum  suppiv  on  an  equal 
footing  with  that  derived  from  Tytam,  filter- 
beds  and  a  service  reservoir  (capacity  941,000 
gallons)  were  next  constructed,  and  attention 
was  then  turned  to  the  question  of  distributing 
the  greatly  augmented  supply  throughout  the 
city.  For  tliis  pin  pose  fully  20  miles  of  cast- 
iron  mains,  varying  from  14  inches  to  3  inches 
in  diameter,  were  laid  during  the  years 
1890-92  ;  a  system  of  hydrants  being  provided 
at  the  same  time  for  fire-extinction  pur- 
poses. Owing  to  the  great  variation  in  the 
levels  of  the  city,  whicli  extended  from  sea- 
level  to  about  500  feet  above  it,  the  distribution 
system  was  divided  into  three  zones,  the  excess 
pressure  of  the  supply  for  the  lowest  zone 
being  utilized  for  pumping  water  to  the 
highest  zone,  whilst  the  middle  zone  was 
supplied  direct  from  the  service  reservoirs. 
About  the  same  time  as  the  distribution  works 
just  described  were  being  carried  out,  a 
scheme  for  extending  the  supply  of  water 
to  the  Hill  District,  which  ranges  from  about 
900  to  1,800  feet  above  sea-level,  was  under- 
taken. The  scheme  included  the  provision 
ot  a  pumping  engine,  a  rising  main  of  heavy 
wrought-iron  piping,  nearly  a  mile  in  length, 
SJ  miles  of  distributing  mains,  and  a  series 
of  tanks  lor  controlling  the  pressure  and 
ensuring  uniformity  of  supply.  On  the  com- 
pletion of  the  distributing  system  in  tlie  city 
the  wells  were  closed,  as  they  were  all  more 
or  less  contaminated  or  liable  to  contamination. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      131 


Notwithstanding  the  large  Tytam  works, 
llie  supply  still  proved  to  be  inadequate,  and 
in  1895  the  raising  of  Tytam  dam  for  a 
further  height  of  I2i  feet  was  proceeded 
with.  This  Increased  the  capacity  of  the 
reservoir  to  385,000,000  gallons.  Subse- 
quent additions  to  the  works  include  storage 
reservoirs  at  VVongnelchung  Gap  (1899),  and 
below  the  overflow  of  Tytam  reservoir  (1904) 
with  capacities  of  30,000,000  and  22,000,000 
gallons  respectively  ;  the  construction  of 
nearly  5  miles  of  catchwaters  ;  additional 
lilter-beds  and.  finally,  a  low-level  storage 
reservoir  (1907)  in  the  Tytam  Valley,  with  a 
capacity  of  196,000,000  gallons.  To  render 
the  supply  from  the  last-mentioned  source 
available,  pumping  engines  capable  of  raising 
2,500,000  gallons  per  day  have  been 
installed,  and  3I  miles  of  18-inch  cast-iron 
mains  have  been  laid.  The  combined 
capacity  of  all  the  existing  storage  reservoirs 
is  699,000,000  gallons,  but,  by  the  insertion 
of  sluice  boards  on  the  overllow  weirs,  this 
is  increased  to  747,000,000  gallons. 

A  scheme  for  the  construction  of  another 
low-level  reservoir  to  contain  1,200,000,000 
gallons  has  been  prepared  but  has  not  yet 
been  undertaken.  A  large  increase  in  the 
pumping  plant  will  be  necessary  in  con- 
nection with  this  scheme  and  the  rising 
main  will  have  to  be  duplicated. 

The  frequent  occurrence  of  periods  of 
scarcity,  owing  to  severe  droughts,  has 
rendered  it  necessary  to  adopt  some  means 
of  economising  the  consumption  of  water. 
The  means  adopted  has  been  the  laying, 
throughout  the  Chinese  quarters  of  the  city, 
of  what  are  known  as  rider  mains,  with 
which  all  house  services  are  connected. 
These  are  subsidiary  mains  controlled  by 
valves,  by  means  of  which  the  supply  of 
water  to  the  houses  can  be  temporarily  dis- 
continued without  rendering  it  necessary  to 
obstruct  the  flow  in  the  principal  mains, 
with  which  the  fire  hydrants  are  connected. 
The  supplies  to  all  European  houses,  which 
are  connected  with  the  principal  mains,  are 
metered. 

The  only  supply  obtainable  by  the  in- 
habitants of  Kowloon  up  to  the  end  of  1895 
was  from  wells,  many  of  which  were 
privately  owned.  In  that  year,  a  supply 
derived  from  springs  in  some  of  the  larger 
valleys  in  British  Kowloon  was  rendered 
available  by  pumping,  the  necessary  engines, 
mains,  service  reservoirs,  He,  having  been 
installed.  The  quantity  obtained  from  this 
source  was  about  a  quarter  of  a  million 
gallons  a  day.  which  sufficed  for  a  period  to 
meet  the  needs  of  the  inhabitants,  but,  by 
the  lime  the  new  territories  were  acquired 
(1898I,  an  increased  supply  had  become  a 
matter  of  urgent  necessity.  Works  were 
therefore  undertaken  at  the  earliest  possible 
opportunity  for  intercepting  the  waters  of 
some  streams  on  the  Kowloon  range  of 
hills,  thus  rendering  available  an  additional 
supply  of  100,000  gallons  per  day  which 
was  laid  on  in  1900.  It  was,  however, 
recognised  that  substantial  works,  including 
a  storage  reservoir  of  considerable  capacity, 
must  be  undertaken,  and  a  scheme,  which 
is  now  (1908)  nearing  completion,  was  put 
in  hand  in  1902.  It  includes  a  storage 
reservoir  (capacity  350,000,000  gallons)  ;  a 
large  catchwaler,  2  miles  in  length,  to 
supplement  the  natural  catchment  area  ; 
filter  beds  ;  a  large  covered  service  reservoir  ; 
4  miles  of  main,  18  inches  and  12  inches  in 
diameter  ;  and  numerous  subsidiary  mains 
for  distribution  purposes. 

Public  Lighting.— In  1857  the  lighting  of 
the  streets  in  the  city  by  oil  lamps  was 
undertaken,  but  this  gave  way  in  1865  to  gas 


lighting,  a  private  company  for  the  manufac- 
ture and  supply  of  gas  having  been  formed 
and  entrusted  by  the  Government  with  the 
public  lighting.  In  1890  a  considerable 
section  of  the  city  was  illuminated  by 
electric  arc  lamps,  but  from  the  fact  that  no 
extension  of  this  system  has  ever  been 
carried  out  it  may  be  concluded  that  the  gas 
lighting,  which  has  been  altered  to  the  in- 
candescent system  throughout,  is  regarded  as 
the   more   suitable   form  of   illumination.      In 


incandescent    gas    lamps   was  carried  out  in 
U)05. 

Lighlliougeg. — The  importance  of  lighting 
the  approaches  to  the  harbour  seems  only  to 
have  been  recognised  in  comparatively  recent 
years.  In  1875  the  first  of  the  lighthouses, 
containing  a  lirst-order  light,  was  completed 
at  Cape  D'Aguilar,  and  this  was  followed  a 
few  months  later  by  another  on  Green  Island 
containing  a  fourth-order  light.  In  1876  a 
sixth-order    light    was    established    on    Cape 


ENTRANCE  TO  THE  PUBLIC  GARDENS. 


Kowloon,  no  lighting  of  any  kind  existed 
prior  to  1892,  when  the  Gas  Company  exten- 
ded its  operations  to  the  other  side  of  the 
harbour  and  laid  down  a  small  gas  works, 
enabling  the  lighting  of  the  peninsula  to  be 
carried  out.  A  comparatively  short  length 
of  road  has  since  been  lighted  by  electric 
incandescent  lamps,  a  company  having  been 
established  for  the  supply  of  electricity 
to  consumers  generally.  The  lighting  of 
the   roads   in   the   Hill   District   by  means   of 


Collinson,  but  the  more  outlying  approaches 
remained  unlighted  until  1892,  when  a  first- 
order  light  was  displayed  on  Gap  Rock,  a 
similar  light  being  established  on  Waglan 
Island  in  1893.  In  the  case  of  the  Gap 
Rock  light  permission  had  to  be  obtained 
from  the  Chinese  Government  to  construct 
the  lighthouse,  which  is  situated  on  a  small 
island  some  30  miles  to  the  south  of  the 
Colonv,  and  as  regards  Waglan  light,  arrange- 
ments' had  also  to  be   made  with   the  same 


13i     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


authorities  whereby  the  one  on  Waglan 
Island  was  ct>nstiucted  by  ths  Imperial 
Maritime  Customs  Department.  The  latter 
only  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  British 
Government  in  1900,  shortly  after  the  New 
Territory  was  taken  over.  The  opening  of 
the  lighthouse  on  Waglan  Island  did  away 
with  the  necessity  of  maintaining  the  one 
on  C-jpe  D"Aguilar,  and  the  light  in  the 
latter  was  accordingly  dismantled  and  has 
recently  been  substituted  for  the  one  on 
Green  Island.  Similarly  the  light  from 
Green  Island  has  been  fitted  up  in  lieu  of 
the  one  on  Cape  Collinson,  and  it  is  now 
proposed  to  erect  the  old  Cape  Collinson 
light  on  what  is  knotvn  as  Blackhead's  Hill, 
or  Kowloon  Point. 

Traawajrs. — The  first  tramway  constructed 
in  Hongkong  was  one  to  afford  access  to 
the  high  levels  known  as  the  Peak  or  Hill 
District.  This  line,  approximately  a  mile  in 
length,  ascends  to  a  height  of  about  1,300  feet 
alx>ve  sea-level,  and  was  opened  in  l888. 
Under  the  Ordinance  which  authorijed  its 
construction  powers  were  conferred  for  the 
laying  of  tramways  in  some  of  the  principal 
thoroughfares  of  the  city,  but  these  powers 
were  never  exercised,  and  it  was  not  until 
1903  that  a  new  Ordinance  was  passed 
authorising  the  construction  by  a  private 
company  of  a  system  of  electric  tramways, 
extending  from  the  extreme  western  district 
of  the  city,  known  as  Kennedy  Town,  to 
Shaukiwan,  a  distance  of  gi  miles.  This 
scheme  was  promptly  carried  out,  and  in 
igo4  the  system  was  opened  for  public 
traffic.  It  is,  perhaps,  a  matter  for  congratu- 
lation that  the  scheme  was  deferred,  for  had 
it  been  constructed  at  an  earlier  date  the 
lines  must  have  traversed  very  narrow  road- 
ways, whereas  the  completion  of  the  big 
reclamation  scheme  to  which  reference  has 
already  been  made,  and  the  widening  of 
Queen's  Road  from  Arsenal  Street  to  the  City 
Hall  by  the  Naval  Authorities,  have  rendered 
available  fine  wide  streets.  The  construction, 
by  private  enterprise,  of  a  second  tramway 
to  the  Peak  District  has  been  before  the 
Legislature  and  will  probably  be  commenced 
in  the  near  future. 

Railway. — Following  closely  upon  the  intro- 
duction of  tramways  came  the  proposal  for 
constructing  a  railway  from  Kowloon  to 
Canton,  the  survey  for  which  vyas  undertaken 
in  1905  ;  and,  as  described  elsewhere  in 
these  pages,  the  work  of  construction  is  in 
progress.  This  work  is  being  executed 
independently  of  the  Public  Works  Depart- 
ment. 

Telepbones  and  Telegraphs. — A  Govern- 
ment telephone  system  confined  to  the  use 
of  the  Police,  the  Waterworks,  the  Govern- 
ment Offices,  and  the  residences  of  the 
principal  Government  officials,  has  been 
established,  and  there  are  cables  communi- 
cating with  Gap  Rock  and  Waglan  light- 
houses, from  which  points  the  passing  of 
vessels  is  signalled.  All  arrangements  con- 
nected with  the  latter  service  are  conducted 
at  the  Harbour  Office,  where  the  various 
lines  arc  concentrated. 

Coatrol  aad  Sapervigion  of  Building  Opera- 
tioa*  geaerally.— Up  to  1889  but  little 
jurisdiction  was  exercised  by  the  Govern- 
ment   with    regard    to    the    construction    of 


buildings  of  a  private  character  in  the 
Colony.  An  "Ordinance  for  Buildings  and 
Nuisances"  was  passed  as  early  as  1856, 
but  its  provisions  were  of  a  very  primary 
description.  In  1889,  however,  an  Ordinance 
dealing  in  very  considerable  detail  with  the 
construction  of  buildings  generally  was 
passed,  but  such  important  matters  as  tlie 
regulation  of  the  height  of  buildings,  and 
the  provision  of  adequate  back-yards  or 
open  spaces  were  omitted  from  it.  Subse- 
quent Ordinances  remedied  these  omissions 
to  some  extent,  but  it  was  not  until  1903, 
when  the  existing  Ordinance  became  law, 
that  the  matter  was  thoroughly  gone  into 
and  remedied.  This  Ordinance  was  the  out- 
come of  the  visit  of  Professor  Simpson  and 
Mr.  Osbert  Chadwick  to  inspect  and  report 
upon  the  condition  of  the  Colony  from  a 
sanitary  point  of  view.  It  may  be 
mentioned  incidentally  that  as  early  as  1882 
Mr.  Chadwick  had  reported  on  the  sanitary 
condition  of  Hongkong,  but  no  adequate 
action  appears  to  have  been  taken  on  his 
report.  Hongkong  has  gained  a  somewhat 
unenviable  reputation  in  the  matter  of 
collapses  of  buildings,  in  some  cases 
attended  by  serious  loss  of  life,  but  with 
the  gradual  reconstruction  of  the  city  which 
must  come  in  the  ordinary  course  of  events, 
this  reproach  will  disappear,  tlie  require- 
ments of  the  present  Ordinance  as  regards 
the  thickness  of  walls  and  other  points 
affecting  their  stability  being  much  more 
stringent  than  the  old. 

Crown  Lands. — Tlie  whole  of  the  lands  in 
the  Colony  belong  to  the  Crown,  and  tlie 
supervision  of  them  is  vested  in  the  Surveyor- 
General  or  Director  of  Public  Works,  as  that 
officer  is  now  designated.  In  the  case  of 
Kowloon,  leases  of  considerable  areas  were 
granted  to  those  inhabitants  who  were  in 
occupation  at  the  time  of  its  cession  to  the 
British  and  were  able  to  establish  a  satis- 
factory title  to  the  land,  and  a  similar  course 
has  been  followed  in  the  case  of  all  the  petty 
holdings  of  the  villagers  throughout  tlie 
Colony.  The  latter  were  not  systematically 
dealt  with,  however,  until  after  the  passing 
of  the  Squatters'  Ordinance  in  1890.  Except 
in  special  cases,  the  disposal  of  Crown  land  is 
almost  invariably  effected  by  public  auction, 
the  conditions  of  sale  being  notified  before- 
hand in  the  Government  Gazette  and  the 
terms,  briefly  stated,  advertised  in  the  news- 
papers. To  prevent,  as  far  as  possible,  mere 
speculative  buying  of  lands,  a  building  cove- 
nant is  included  in  the  conditions  of  sale,  and 
it  is  only  on  the  fulfilment  of  this  that  the 
Crown  lease  is  issued.  All  Crown  leases 
reserve  a  power  of  entry,  for  purposes  of 
inspection,  to  the  Surveyor  of  His  Majesty 
the  King,  who  is  the  Director  of  Public 
Works. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Colony,  the  leases 
granted  were  for  periods  of  75  years,  but 
this  policy  was  altered  some  years  later,  so 
far  as  the  city  of  Victoria  was  concerned, 
and  leases  were  thereafter  granted  for  periods 
of  999  years.  To  put  the  earlier  leases  on 
an  equal  footing,  it  was  notified  in  1849  that 
leases  granted  prior  thereto  for  a  period  of 
75  years  would  be  extended  on  application 
for  a  further  term  of  924  years.  Outside  the 
city  of  Victoria  and  Kowloon,  except  in  a  few 


$ 

c. 

I3.S,3'8 

87 

617,824 

72 

816,222 

92 

240,315 

06 

571,361 

22 

510.165 

71 

486,098 

64 

392,259 

76 

315,733 

21 

159,750 

29 

cases,  all  leases  issued  were  for  a  period  of 
75  years.  Matters  rem.iined  on  this  footing 
until  1899,  when  the  Secretary  of  State  for 
the  Colonies  directed  that  in  future  all  leases, 
irrespective  of  the  situation  of  the  lands  con- 
veyed by  them,  should  be  for  a  term  of  75 
years,  renewable,  subject  to  revision  of  the 
Crown  rent,  for  one  further  term  of  the  same 
duration. 

The  revenue  derived  from  land  sales  is 
very  variable,  as  will  be  seen  from  the 
following  statement  of  the  amounts  received 
during  the  past  ten  years  ; — 

1898   

1899   

1900   

1901    

1902   

1903   

1904   

1905   

1906   

1907   

In  1890,  the  rent  derived  from  leased  lands 
amounted  to  $180,170-86,  and  in  1907  it 
had  increased  to  S371, 167-80,  or  more  than 
double,  which  may  be  regarded  as  satisfactory 
evidence  of  the  prosperity  and  development 
of  the  Colony. 

There  are  numerous  other  matters  which 
come  within  the  scope  of  the  Public  Works 
Department,  besides  those  to  which  reference 
has  been  made,  such  as  the  care  of  the  various 
public  recreation  grounds,  the  Colonial  Ceme- 
tery, and  the  construction  of  piers,  but 
enough  has  been  said  to  show  how  extensive 
its  ramifications  are. 


THE    DIRECTOR    OP    PUBLIC    WORKS.— A 

biographical  sketch  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  W. 
Chatham,  C.M.G.,  appears  under  the  heading 
"  Executive  and  Legislative  Councils." 


MR.    PATRICK     NICHOLAS     HILL    JONES, 

Assistant  Director  of  Public  Works,  was  for 
several  years  in  Trinidad,  first  in  connection 
with  the  construction  of  district  waterworks 
(loan),  and  afterwards  as  engineer  in  charge 
of  the  water  and  drainage  works  of  the  Colony, 
before  he  arrived  in  Hongkong,  in  1903,  to 
take  up  his  present  appointment.  He  was 
born  in  1864,  and  commenced  his  technical 
education  at  King's  College,  London.  After 
serving  a  five  years'  pupilage  to  a  civil 
engineer  he  was  appointed  Resident  Engineer 
to  the  Barbadoes  Water  Supply  Company,  and 
after  six  years  proceeded  to  Trinidad,  gaining 
in  the  West  Indies  an  experience  which 
proved  invaluable  to  him  in  Hongkong. 
During  the  absence  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  Chatham 
on  a  year's  leave,  Mr.  Jones  acted  as  Director 
of  Public  Works,  Member  of  the  Executive 
and  Legislative  Councils,  Vice-President  of 
the  Sanitary  Board,  &c.  He  is  an  Associate 
Member  of  the  Institute  of  Civil  Engineers, 
and  a  member  of  the  Hongkong,  Peak,  and 
Grosvenor  (London)  Clubs. 


POSTS,    CABLES,   AND   TELEPHONES. 


THE    POST   OFFICE. 


OLLOWING  closely  upon  the 
settlement  of  the  British  in 
Hongkong,  a  Post  Office  was 
established  in  the  Colony  by 
Sir  Henry  Pottinger,  the 
British  Plenipotentiary  in 
China,  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  and  delivering  letters  and  letter 
packets  free  of  charge.  The  building  at  that 
time  was  located  on  the  hill  just  above  the 
site  now  occupied  by  St.  John's  Cathedral. 
In  order  to  convey  their  mails  to  Canton, 
sixty  of  the  British  mercantile  houses  of 
Hongkong  paid  a  monthly  subsidy  of  ;fi50 
lo  the  s.s.  Corsair,  and  in  1847  considerable 
indignation  was  caused  by  the  Postmaster 
insisting  upon  the  vessel  carrying  and 
delivering  Post  Office  letters  at  a  charge  of 
2d.  each.  The  owner  objected  to  being 
saddled  with  the  responsibility  of  delivering 
the  letters,  but  Ihe  legal  proceedings  which 
ensued  resulted  in  the  demand  of  the  Post- 
master being  upheld  by  the  Court.  In  the 
same  year  the  owner  was  also  fined  for  an 
infraction  of  the  Post  Office  Regulations  by 
carrying  letters  other  than  those  consigned 
by  the  Postmaster-General.  The  British 
community,  feeling  themselves  aggrieved, 
established  the  Hongkong  and  Canton  Steam 
Packet  Company,  as  a  joint-stock  enterprise, 
and  it  continued  in  ofjeration  until  1854.  The 
control  of  the  Post  Office  passed  from  the 
Imperial  Government  into  the  hands  of  the 
Colonial  Government  on  May  I,  i860.  Two 
years  and  a  half  later  (December  8,  1862) 
the  use  of  postage  stamps  was  introduced  into 
the  Colony,  the  stamps  being  of  six  denomi- 
nations— 2,  8,  12,  18,  24  and  48  cents,  24 
cents  being  regarded  as  the  equivalent  of 
a  shilling.  Up  to  that  time  it  had  been  the 
custom  for  traders  and  others  with  heavy 
correspondence  to  keep  running  accounts  at 
the  Post  Office,  and  the  discontinuance  of 
this  arrangement  encountered  strong  but 
unavailing  opposition. 

The  year  1876  was  remarkable  for  the 
entry  of  Hongkong  into  the  Postal  Union,  on 
the  payment  of  ;^3,i5o  per  annum,  and  for 
the  reduction  of  the  postal  rates  on  letters  to 
England,  These  rates  were  lowered  to  16 
cents  a  letter  on  April  i,  1877,  and  at  the 
same   time  the   local  rates  were  reduced   by 


one-half.  A  third  reduction  was  effected  in 
1879 — this  time  to  10  cents  a  letter  to  any 
country  in  the  Postal  Union.  At  the  present 
time  the  charge,  both  for  letters  and  post- 
cards, is  4  cents  each,  which,  with  the  dollar 
standing  at  2/-,  is  equal  to  about  one  penny. 
To  Canton  and  Macao  the  fee  for  letters  is 
only  2  cents,  and  lor  postcards  i  cent, 
while  to  other  places  in  China  the  charge  is 
4  cents  for  letters  and  i  cent  for  postcards. 

The  mails  to  England  are  sent  by  three 
different  routes  —  via  Canada,  Suez,  and 
Siberia.  The  time  occupied  in  transit  is 
about  the  same  in  each  case,  namely,  from 
27  to  29  days.  The  Post  Office  sustains  a 
loss  on  all  letters  addressed  to  Europe,  but 
this  is  covered  by  the  profits  earned  on 
those  sent  shorter  distances.  For  the  con- 
veyance of  letters  marked  "  via  Siberia " 
the  Post  Office  has  to  pay  about  five  times 
as  much  as  it  receives.  The  English  mails 
via  Suez  are  carried  by  the  Peninsular  and 
Oriental,  the  Messageries  Maritimes,  and  the 
Norddeutscher  Lloyd  lines,  each  of  which 
maintains  a  fortnightly  service,  the  English 
and  French  boats  arriving,  as  a  rule,  in  one 
week,  and  the  German  boat  in  the  next. 
A  monthly  mail  via  Canada  by  the  Canadian 
Pacific  Line  gives  a  total  of  seven  mails  in 
and  home  every  month. 

Owing  to  being  the  port  of  call  for  so 
many  direct  lines  of  steamships,  Hongkong 
has  become  a  vast  distributing  centre  for 
mails  destined  for  all  paits  of  China,  and 
the  British  Post  Oflices  at  Shanghai  and 
other  Treaty  Ports  are  all  under  the  control 
of  the  Postmaster  of  Hongkong.  These 
branch  oflices  were  first  opened  during  the 
governorship  of  Sir  G.  Bonhani  (1848-54). 
The  total  number  of  mail  bags  and  packets 
dealt  with  last  year  was  168,351,  as  com- 
pared with  160,921  in  1906,  the  arrivals  and 
departures  of  steamers  carrying  mails  totalling 
27,920.  Sometimes  as  many  as  a  thousand 
bags  of  mails  a  day  are  despatched  from 
the  Colony.  No  revenue  is  derived  from 
the  warehousing  of  mails  received  by  one 
steamer  and  despatched  by  another,  and 
this,  taken  in  conjunction  with  the  fact  that 
the  Post  Oflice  in  Hongkong  has  to  con- 
tribute 20  per  cent,  of  its  receipts  to  the 
Imperial   Exchequer  as  part   of  the   military 


contribution  for  the  defence  of  British  inter- 
ests in  China,  constitutes  a  local  grievance. 

The  number  of  registered  articles  and 
parcels  handled  in  Hongkong  increased  from 
638,977  in  1905  to  770,820  in  1906,  and  to 
856,415  in  1907.  The  total  for  the  adminis- 
tration, including  Shanghai  and  British 
Agencies  in  China  was  979,506  in  1907,  an 
increase  of  52,619  over  the  previous  year. 
All  parcels  despatched  from  Ihe  Colony  are 
trtated  in  the  same  way  as  registered  articles, 
a  receipt  being  given  to  the  sender.  In  the 
case  of  parcels  received  for  local  distribution, 
.advices  are  sent  to  the  addressees,  who  can 
obtain  delivery  upon  application  at  the  Post 
Office.  Letters  are  delivered  tiy  Chinese 
postmen,  but  most  people  prefer  to  have 
their  mail  sorted  into  private  boxes,  for 
which  a  charge  of  Sio  per  annum  is  made. 
The  boxes  are  fitted  with  combination  locks 
on  the  Ameiican  principle,  the  combination 
being  known  only  to  the  holder  and  the 
postal  officials. 

Despite  the  exceptional  demands  made 
upon  it,  the  Post  Office  manages  to  pay  its 
way.  In  1905,  it  is  true,  there  was  a  deficit 
of  $170,611,  but  this  was  attributable  to  the 
payment  in  that  ye.ar  of  arrears  due  to  the 
Peninsular  and  Oriental  Company  under  their 
mail  contract.  In  1906  there  was  a  profit  of 
$60,970,  the  receipts  amounting  to  $420,454 
as  comp.ared  with  $414,838  in  1905,  and  the 
expenditure  to  $359,484  as  against  $585,449, 
excluding  the  payment  of  20  per  cent,  as 
military  contribution.  Last  year  Ihe  profit 
amounted  to  $78,968,  the  receipts  being 
$445,420  and  the  expenditure  $366,452. 

Practically  nine-lenths  of  the  receipts  are 
derived  from  the  sale  of  postage  stamps.  Of 
nearly  7I  millions  issued  at  Hongkong  and 
the  various  British  Agencies  in  China  during 
1907  2,414,000  were  for  4  cents  each, 
2,330,000  for  2  cents,  and  1,108,000  for 
10  cents.  The  stamps  range  in  value  from 
I  cent  to  $10  and  are  of  16  denomin- 
ations, a  new  6  cent  stamp  having  been 
introduced  during  1907  for  the  convenience 
of  those  corresponding  with  non-British 
Union  countries,  the  postage  fee  to  which  is 
10  cents  for  a  letter  not  exceeding  i  ounce 
in  weight  and  6  cents  extra  for  each  additional 
ounce.     The  sale  of  postage  stamps,  &c.,  at 


134     TWENTIETH  CENTl  liY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGtKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the    British    Post 

Offices     in 

China    du 

!go6     and      1907 

yielded 

the      follox 

amounts : — 

1906 

1907 

Shanghai    ... 

«(>5,7i8-97  . 

..$65,063-42 

Amoy 

4,61014  . 

..     9,960-49 

Canton 

11,205-60  . 

..  10,827-37 

Chefoo 

1,610-87  . 

..     1,609-71 

Foochovv    ... 

4,44229  . 

••     4.783-67 

Hankovv 

4,788-95  . 

■  ■     .^.92503 

Hoihow 

1,605-27  . 

..     1,202-33 

LiuKung  Tail 

4,272-72  . 

••     4,424-5« 

Xingpo 

499-82  . 

••        52733 

Svvatow 

5,660-96  . 

■•     6,374-50 

Tientsin      ... 

1,77392  . 

..     6,163-31 

$106,189-51    $114,861-67 

Imperial  postal  notes,  as  British  postal 
orders  are  locally  called,  are  issued  and  paid 
for  sums  of  20s.,  los.  6d ,  los.,  5s.,  2s.  6d., 
IS.  6d.,  IS.,  and  6d.  Money  orders  are  issued 
direct  to  nearly  all  the  offices  in  the  Postal 
Union,  and  even  with  the  few  exceptions 
the  authorities  can  negotiate  a  "  through 
order."  All  money  orders  from  British 
possessions  to  the  Far  Kast  north  of  Hong- 
kong are  sent  through  Hongkong,  the 
Hongkong  Post  Office  receiving  a  commission 
of  I  per  cent,  on  through  orders,  and  j 
per  cent,  on  direct  orders.  The  value  of 
the  orders  issued  at  the  Hongkong  Post  Office 
averages  about  $1,000  a  day. 

Business  at  the  Hongkong  Post  Office  is 
obviously  carried  on  under  great  disadvantages 
owing  to  the  inadequate  and  ill-arranged 
premises  in  Queen's  Road  in  which  it  has 
to  be  conducted.  At  the  time  of  writing,  a 
handsome  and  commodious  new  building,  in 
the  Renaissance  style  of  architecture,  is  in 
course  of  construction  on  a  corner  site 
overlooking  the  harbour  and  abutting  on 
Connaught,  Pedder,  and  Des  Voeux  Roads, 
but  it  is  not  expected  to  be  ready  for 
occupation  until  1911. 

There  is  no  savings  bank  in  connection 
with  the  Post  Office,  but  this  deficiency  is 
made  good  by  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Bank.  Similarly,  the  telegraph  cables  and 
the  local  telephone  service  are  provided  by 
private  enterprise.  No  internal  telegraph 
communication  exists  in  tiie  Colony  except 
for  police,  military,  and  maritime  purposes. 


MR.  LEWIS  AUDLEY  MARSH  JOHNSTON, 

the  Postmaster-General  of  Hongkong,  gained 
his  chief  experience  of  colonial  administration 
in  the  Straits  Settlements.  Born  on  October 
12,  1865,  he  joined  the  Civil  Service  in  1888, 
and,  having  ser\ed  for  a  time  in  the  Colonial 
Secretary's  office  at  Singapore  and  in  the 
Resident  Councillor's  office  at  Penang,  he 
was  in  October,  i8<jo,  attached  to  the  General 
Post  Office  in  Singapore.  In  1897  he  came 
to  Hongkong  on  a  special  mission  concerning 
postal  matters,  and  on  his  return  was  appoin- 
ted Assistant  Postmaster-General  at  Penang. 
In    the    following    year   he   carried   out    the 


duties  of  Collector  of  Land  Revenue  and 
Officer  in  Charge  of  the  Treasury  at  Malacca. 
He  also  acted  for  a  time  as  Resident  Coun- 
cillor and  Deputy  President  of  the  Municipal 
Commission,  Malacca.  In  1900  he  served 
temporarily  as  Postmaster-General  in  the 
Straits  Selllements,  and  was  appointed  Post- 
master-General of  Hongkong  in  1903.  During 
his  tenure  of  this  office  he  has  acted,  tem- 
porarily, as  Colonial  Treasurer,  and  by  virtue 
of  that  fact  has  occupied  a  seat  on  the 
Executive  and  Legislative  Councils.  Mr. 
Johnston  is  a  J. P.  for  County  Down,  Ireland, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Sports  Club  and 
the  Hongkong  Club. 


OREAT  NORTHERN  TELEGRAPH  COMPANY, 
LTD. — This  Company,  which  has  its  head- 
quarters at  Copenhagen,  opened  a  branch  in 
Ihe  Colony  in  1869  on  completion  of  the 
c.ible  from  Slianghai  to  Hongkong.  There 
are  now  lines  of  communication  from  Hong- 
kong to  Europe,  rid  Sliangliai,  Peking, 
Kiachta,  and  Irkutsk ;  and  Shanghai,  Naga- 
saki, and  Vladivostock.  Shanghai  is  the 
head  office  of  the  Company  in  the  East. 
The  new  premises  in  Hongkong  were 
opened  in  1898,  and  Mr.  H.  B.  Krikke  is  in 
charge  as  the  acting  manager. 


EASTERN  EXTENSION  TELEGRAPH  COM- 
PANY, LTD.— The  Eastern  Extension  Tele- 
graph Company,  Ltd.,  opened  their  branch 
in  Hongkong  on  completion  of  the  Singapore- 
Saigon -Hongkong  cable  in  1871.  Cable 
communication  was  extended  to  Manila  on 
May  I,  1880,  and  to  Canton,  by  the  Imperial 
Chinese  Telegraph  Administration,  in  March, 
1882.  Now  there  are  two  cables  to  Singapore, 
the  second  touching  at  Labuan,  and  one  to 
Slianghai,  via  Sliarp  Peek  and  Koochow,  and 
one  to  Macao,  besides  tliat  already  mentioned 
as  going  to  Manila.  The  two  Singapore  cables 
form  part  of  the  main  route  to  Europe. 
There  is  also  connection  witli  America,  7'id 
Manila,  by  means  of  the  Commercial  Pacific 
Company.  The  present  offices  in  Connaught 
Road,  Hongkong,  have  been  occupied  since 
1898,  and  they  are  open  day  and  night  for 
tlie  receipt  and  transmission  of  messages 
from  and  to  all  parts  of  the  world.  Mr. 
J.  M.  Beck  is  the  superintendent.  The  tariffs 
are  based  on  gold  francs,  the  currency 
equivalents  being  revised  every  three  months. 


a 


THE    CHINESE    TELEGRAPH    COMPANY. 

The  Cliinese  Telegraph  Company  in  Hong- 
kong, which  was  founded  by  Mr.  Ho  A-mei, 
under  the  name  of  the  Hongkong-Canton 
Wa  Hop  Telegraph  Company,  was  established 
in  the  seventh  year  of  the  reign  of  the 
Emperor  Kwang-Hsu,  and  was  taken  over 
two  years  later  under  an  instrument  of 
purchase    by   His    Excellency   Sheng    Hsuan 


Hwai,  Director-General  of  tlie  Imperial 
Cliinese  Telegraph  ..\dmiiiistratioii,  Slianghai, 
by  whom  an  ot'ticer  was  sent  down  to  take 
cliarge.  It  was  tlieii  known  as  "a  mercantile 
undertaking  under  the  control  of  otlicials." 
The  company's  cables  extend  tlirougliout  the 
Chinese  Empire,  and  are  land  lines.  The 
business  at  the  Hongkong  station  is  increasing 
year  by  year,  and  does  not  fall  below  a 
hundred     thousand     dollars     annually.       The 


MR. 


TAOUTAI    WEN    HAO. 

(M.inaj^er.) 


Hongkong  office  is  under  the  management 
of  Mr.  Taoutai  Wen  Hao,  of  the  second  rank, 
a  native  of  the  Kwangtung  District,  who 
has  been  in  charge  for  thirteen  years,  and 
has  a  record  of  fifteen  years'  service  with  the 
Imperial  Government  of  China. 


THE  CHINA  AND  JAPAN  TELEPHONE 

COMPANY.— This  Company  is  affiliated  with 
the  Oriental  Telephone  and  Electric  Company 
of  London,  India,  and  the  Straits  Settlements, 
with  which  the  Telephone  Company  of  Egypt 
is  also  connected.  Some  two  years  .-igo  the 
Company  secured  from  the  Government  a 
twenty-five  years'  lease,  and  modern  appli- 
ances were  introduced  immediately,  such  as 
underground  wires,  new  switch-boards,  instru- 
ments, &c.  The  Company  now  operates  in 
Kowloon,  as  well  as  in  Hongkong,  and  has 
altogether  1,000  stations,  900  exchange  lines, 
and  1,700  miles  of  underground  and  594  miles 
of  overhead  wires.  The  .igeiit  for  China  is 
Mr.  W.  L.  Carter,  A.M.l.E.E.  The  eldest  son  of 
Mr.  W.  H.  Carter,  merchant,  he  was  born  in 
Shanghai  in  1877.  For  some  time  he  held  a 
commission  in  the  East  Lancashire  regiment, 
and  obtained  the  South  African  war  medal. 


FLORA. 


■By    S.    T.    Dunn,   B.A.,    F.L.S.,    J. P.,    Superintendent  of  the  Botanical  and  Forestry  Department,  Hongkong. 


N  order  to  understand  the  rise 
and  projjrcss  of  Ihe  Botanical 
and    Forestry   Department   of 

IKVWrii   irsi^nn     Hongkong   it    is   necessary  to 
^^g\|   ^^^      SO  baclv  to  a  time  when  the 
^^Sf^^^g      island  was  hardly  less  barren 
than     the    mainland     on    the 
opposite  side  of  the  harbour  is  now. 

There  were,  it  is  true,  one  or  two  small 
patches  of  virgin  forest,  such  as  that  now 
existing  on  the  north  side  of  Little  Hong- 
kong village,  and  there  were,  doubtless, 
small  groves  of  pine  trees  round  the  fishing 
villages  which  dotted  the  coast,  but  the 
sides  of  the  mountains  in  general  were  bare 
of  trees,  and,  in  many  places,  bare  even  of 
grass.  Mr.  Charles  Ford,  I.S.O.,  the  first 
Superintendent  of  the  15otanical  and  Afforesta- 
tion Department  (as  it  was  then  called)  had 
joined   the  Government  service  originally  as 


Superintendent  of  the  new  Government 
Gardens  under  the  Department  of  I'ublic 
Works,  or  Surveyor  General's  Department. 
A  few  months  later  his  work  was  organised 
as  a  separate  department  and  began  at  once 
to  attract  notice  as  a  centre  from  which  the 
well-known,  but  as  yet  little  seen,  garden 
and  economic  plants  of  China  could  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  outer  world. 

Somewhere  about  the  year  1876  the  idea 
was  conceived  of  planting  the  bare  hills 
with  the  local  pine  tree  {Piiiiis  massoniaiia). 
I  do  not  suppose  that  any  one  at  that  time 
thought  that  the  covering  of  the  slopes  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  town  of  Victoria  with  this 
tree  would  develop  into  the  e.xtensive  and 
important  Government  undertaking  that  it  has 
now  become,  nor  that  the  system  of  plant- 
ing, then  introduced  for  ornament,  would 
some    day    be    a   source   of   revenue   to   the 


GARDENS,  LOWER  TERRACE. 


community.  The  pine  tree  was  selected  as 
being  one  known  to  thrive  well  in  the 
climate,  and  to  be  available  for  all  sorts  of 
soil,  even  the  very  poorest  that  is  to  be 
found  on  the  Hongkong  mountains,  viz., 
bare  granite  gravel.  This  has  proved  to  be 
a  sound  choice.  It  is  a  very  quick-growing, 
hardy  tree,  and  valuable  as  a  binder  of  loose 
slopes.  Although  a  continuous  series  of 
experiments  have  been  made  with  other 
trees  of  all  kinds  which  might  have  been 
supposed  to  be  suitable  to  this  climate,  no 
good  substitutes  have  ever  been  found  for  it 
up  to  the  present  time.  Meanwhile,  by  a 
regular  annual  grant  for  the  purpose,  the 
Government  plantations  have  been  spreading 
year  by  year  over  the  whole  island,  whicli 
is  now  fairly  covered  with  trees  in  the 
lower  portions.  The  pine  area  exceeds 
5,000  acres.  Not  only  has  the  appearance 
of  Hongkong  been  revolutionised  by  this 
planting,  but  the  bare  sandy  tracts  which 
formerly  disfigured  the  scenery  have  been 
converted  into  green  and  fertile  slopes. 

During  recent  years  a  fresh  scheme  has 
been  initiated  whereby  the  planting  has  been 
extended  to  the  opposite  mainland.  The 
amphitheatre  of  mountains  which  surround 
the  harbour  on  that  side  are  now  being 
planted  year  by  year  with  pine  trees  from 
a  height  of  200  to  one  of  400  or  600  feet 
above  the  sea-level,  the  plantations  depend- 
ing upon  the  degree  of  shelter  available. 
The  seed  is  scattered  broadcast  at  first,  and 
after  three  or  four  years  trees  are  planted 
in  pits  to  fill  any  gaps  that  may  be  left.  In 
this  way  about  400  acres  are  covered  each 
year,  about  1,000  trees  being  planted  to  the 
acre.  In  time  the  reproach  of  the  arid  sand 
hills  which  form  so  conspicuous  a  feature  of 
that  landscape  at  the  present  time  will  be 
removed  by  the  growth  of  the  trees  which 
have  already  been  planted  over  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  ground. 

The  streets  of  the  city  are  particularly 
well  provided  with  shade,  trees  and  roadside 
plots  of  flowering  shrubs  and  evergreens 
which  have  been  planted  by,  and  are  under 
the  care  of,  this  department.  The  tree  which 
has  been  most  frequently  employed  lor  street 
planting  in  the  past  is  the  Chinese  Banyan 
[Ficiis  ictiistt).  Its  popularity  arises  from  its 
excellent  shade-giving  qualities  and  from  its 
extreme  hardiness  under  all  kinds  of  treat- 
ment.    The  usual  way  of  making  an  avenue 


136     TWENTIETH  CEXTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


o(  banyans  illustrates  this  point.  Large 
branches  of  6  to  li  inches  in  diameter 
are  sawn  off  convenient  trees,  the  leafy  twigs 
pruned  off,  the  whole  swathed  in  straw-rope 
and  placed  upright  in  a  hole  in  the  road 
metal  along  the  sides  of  the  road  to  be 
planted.  In  a  few  weeks  leaves  begin  to 
appear,  and  within  a  year  the  new  avenue 
is  in  full  foliage.  The  vitality  of  the  Banyan 
is  its  chief  glory,  but  it  is  also  the  cause  of 
its  recent  exclusion  from  street  planting.  Its 
roots  are  too  pushing :  they  tind  their  way 
into  drain  pipes  through  the  smallest  faults, 
and  cause  obstructions  thereby  that  have 
incurred  much  expense  to  the  sanitary 
authorities.  In  the  extensive  street-planting 
now  proceeding  in  Kowloon,  therefore,  the 
Banyan  is  vetoed,  and  Candlenut,  Hetcro- 
fxiiiax,  and  Poinciaiia  take  its  place. 


produce  a  good  garden.  There  are  camellias, 
allamandas,  azaleas,  hydrangeas,  poincettias, 
&c.,  which  luxuriate  in  a  way  seldom  seen 
elsewhere,  and  which  produce  a  mass  of 
colour  in  the  gardens  in  their  proper  season  ; 
then  there  are  the  peculiar  indigenous  shrubs 
and  trees,  some  of  which  have  never  been 
raised  in  other  gardens — ainong  them  is  the 
lovely  rhodolcia,  which  is  indiijenous  in  the 
island  and  in  Yunnan  only,  and  has,  so  far  as 
I  know,  resisted  all  attempts  to  cultivate  it 
elsewhere.  Tree-ferns,  too,  grow  in  the 
inore  sheltered  parts  of  the  gardens  with 
great  ease  and  luxuriance.  They  form, 
together  with  the  palms  in  the  Glenealy 
Ravine,  one  of  the  most  charming  pieces 
of  scenery  to  be  found  anywliere.  Long 
before  coming  to  Hongkong  I  remember 
hearing  of  the  gardens  as  some  of  the  most 


plants  of  Chinese  gardens,  long  known  from 
the  descriptions  of  travellers,  were  introduced 
into  Knglish  gardens  from  the  collections  of 
this  department,  so  also,  it  has  played  an 
important  part  in  investigating  and  making 
known  to  the  botanical  world  the  rich  aiKl 
interesting  Hora  of  the  Chinese  Empire. 

Numerous  expeditions  have  from  time  to 
time  been  organised  for  the  botanical  ex- 
ploration of  neighbouring  parts  of  the 
continent,  and  the  large  number  of  plants 
thus  discovered  and  published  in  botanical 
journals  during  the  last  quarter  of  a  century 
bear  witness  to  the  value  of  these  researches 
to  the  botanical  world.  The  Colonial 
Herbarium,  which  is  arranged  in  a  room 
adjoining  the  offices  of  the  department  is, 
no  doubt,  as  it  ought  to  be,  the  most  extensive 
collection  of  specimens  of  Chinese  plants  in 


THE   PUBLIC    GARDENS. 


The  Public  Gardens  consist  of  some  i6  acres 
of  sloping  ground  between  Albany  Nullah 
and  Glenealy  Ravine,  and  are  cut  into  two 
nearly  equal  parts  by  the  Albany  Road.  The 
spur  of  the  mountains  on  which  they  lie  is 
occupied  atxjve  by  European  residences,  and 
below  by  Government  House  and  the  Govern- 
ment Offices.  Horticulture  in  Hongkong  has 
one  great  advantage  over  that  in  most  other 
place-t,  and  one  great  disadvantage  —  the 
former  is  secured  by  the  |>eculiar  climate, 
which  allows  of  the  cultivation,  almost  to 
perfection,  of  some  of  the  finest  flowering 
shrubs  in  the  world  ;  while  the  latter  is  the 
regular  occurrence  of  typhoons,  which  always 
damage  the  gardens  more  or  less  every 
season.  On  the  whole,  however,  this  may 
be  said  to   be  an    easy  place   in    which    to 


beautiful  in  the  world,  although  small,  and 
probably  there  are  many  visitors  who  would 
endorse  that  opinion.  The  almost  precipitous 
mountains  which  rise  to  the  south  enhance 
the  luxuriant  effect  of  the  vegetation. 

The  Botanic  Gardens  are  not  the  only  ones 
maintained  by  the  Government.  A  small 
garden  was  made  in  1904  on  the  waste 
ground  left  vacant  by  the  resumption  of  an 
insanitary  and  crowded  portion  of  the  Chinese 
quarter  of  Victoria  under  Sir  Henry  Blake, 
and  called  Blake  Garden.  This,  with  the 
gardening  in  the  Colonial  Cemetery,  West 
End  Park,  Government  House  Garden,  and 
in  the  grounds  at  Mountain  Lodge,  require 
the  maintenance  of  a  considerable  staff 
outside  the  central  gardens. 

Just  as  in  early  days  the  curious  cultivated 


existence.  A  good  library  of  works  necessary 
to  the  study  of  general  systematic  botany,  as 
well  as  special  ones  dealing  with  the  Chinese 
flora,  gives  ample  facilities  to  any  visitors 
who  wish  to  work  in  this  branch  of  study. 

The  economic  side  of  the  work  over  and 
above  that  dealing  with  forestry,  has  been 
shown  in  the  introduction  of  improved 
varieties  of  crops  into  the  agriculture  of  the 
new  territories  ;  but  those  vvlio  know  the 
Chinese  best  will  not  be  surprised  to  be  told 
that  they  have  not  profited  mucli  from 
European  entciprise  in  this  respect.  The 
export  of  economic  products  has  probably 
been  more  valuable  than  the  imports.  Large 
collections  of  samples  of  Chinese  vegetable 
economic  products  have  been  made  from 
time  to  time,  and  sent  to  the  Imperial  Institute, 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      137 


where  they  mav  be  seen  in  the  Hongkong 
Court. 

The  superintendent's  quarters,  the  her- 
barium, and  offices  of  the  department  are 
accommodated  in  a  charming  house  at  the 
top  of  the  new  gardens,  commanding  a  good 
view  of  the  liarbour. 

The  permanent  staff  numbers  between 
ninety  and  one  hundred,  and  there  is  an 
auxiliary  staff  of  about  the  same  si/e.  The 
total  expenditure  of  the  department  for  iQoS 
is  estimated  at  $48,700.  Tlie  revenue  in  1907 
amounted  to  $6,654. 


MR.  STEPHEN  TROYTE  DUNN,  B.A.,  F.L.S., 

J. P.,  who,  since  1903,  has  been  Superintendent 
of  (lie  Hotanical  and  Forestry  Department, 
Hongkong,  was  born  at  Bristol  in  1868. 
The  son  of  the  Rev.  James  Dunn,  he  was 
educated  at  Kadley  and  at  Merton  College, 
Oxford.  He  was  private  secretary  to  Sir 
Thomas  Acland  in  1897,  ^"^  '"  th*;  follow- 
ing year  became  private  secretary  to  Sir 
William  Dyer,  the  Director  of  the  Royal 
Botanical  Gardens,  Kew.  P'or  about  two 
years  he  was  assistant  for  India  at  Kew. 
In  1903  he  was  sent  to  report  upon  the  agri- 
cultural   prospects    of    Wei-hai-wei,   and    for 


his  services  received  the  thanks  of  the 
Secretary  of  St;ite.  Two  years  later  he  was 
sent  to  investigate  the  flora  of  Central 
Fokien.  His  publications  include  "  The 
Flora  of  West  Surrey"  (1903),  and  "The 
Alien  Flora  of  Britain "  (1905),  besides 
numerous  papers  in  the  Journal  of  the 
Linnean  Society,  &c.  In  1901  Mr.  Dunn 
married  Maud,  youngest  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  W.  H.  Thornton,  rector  of  North  Bovey, 
Devon.  He  Is  a  member  of  the  Hongkong 
Club.  His  local  address  is  the  Botanic 
Gardens,  Hongkong,  and  his  English  address 
is  Gumley  Cottage,  Kew  Green,  S.W. 


^[^][^] 


FAUNA. 


GENERAL. 

By    J.    C.    Kershaw.    Author  of  "Butterflies  of  Hongkong." 


[HE  most  striking  portions  of 
the  Hoiigkoim  fauna  to  a 
general  observer  are  the  in- 
sects, the  birds,  and  tlie  rep- 
tiles. The  mammals  have  to 
be  carefully  sought  for  and, 
consequently,  are  rarely  seen 
by  the  majority  of  people. 

Maminalia. — The  Bats,  especially  the  fruit- 
eating  ftcropitliv,  are  numerous  ;  some  of  the 
latter  feed  to  a  great  extent  on  banyan  berries 
in  the  autumn,  and  make  their  presence 
known  by  constant  p.iltcring  of  the  fruit  on 
roads  tx)rdered  by  these  trees.  A  large 
species  of  Sinew  {Sorcx  iiniriinis),  known  in 
Hongkong  as  the  "  Musk-rat."  is  very  common 
on  the  island,  often  entering  buildings.  It  is 
very  like  a  large  edition  of  the  British  Shrew- 
mouse,  and  is  likewise  insectivorous,  though 
it  is  probably  a  flesh  and  vegetable  feeder  to 
some  extent.  It  has  short,  soft,  dark-grey  fur, 
inclining  to  blue.  A  species  of  Civet  [Viverra) 
is  still  common  on  the  island,  a  cat-like 
animal,  but  with  a  pointed  face  and  about 
twice  the  size  of  the  common  cat.  There  is 
also  a  rather  large  species  of  Wild  Cat,  but 
it  is  not  common,  and  is  likely  to  be  soon 
exterminated,  though  it  is  fairly  immerous  on 
the  mainland.  A  Fox,  very  similar  to  the 
British  animal,  but  rather  larger  and  lighter 
in  colour,  is  common  on  the  mainland,  and 
occurs  on  the  island.  An  Olter  and  a  Badger, 
very  like  their  resiiective  British  prototypes, 
occur  on  the  island  and  are  common  on 
the  mainland.  A  curious  Dolphin  [Sotalia 
sinensis),  locally  known  as  the  "  Pink  Por- 
poise," of  a  white  or  pale  flesh  colour,  often 
appears  in  the  estuary  of  the  Canton  Kiver 
and  the  approaches  of  Hongkong  harbour. 
The  Wild  Boar  is  common  in  some  parts  of 
Kwangtung.  and  occurred  within  recent  years 
on  the  island.  A  species  of  Cervtiliis,  one  of 
the  small  Muritjac  Deer,  is  numerous,  as  it  is 
in  all  the  t>etter-WfXKled  parts  of  South  China. 
It  has  a  very  ugly,  discordant  bark.  Of  Rats 
and  Mice  there  are  several  sjiecies,  the 
common  rat  being  a  serious  nuisance.  One 
of  the  Scaly  Ant-eaters,  genus  Pangolin, 
occurs  in   Kwangtung,  and  very  possibly  on 


the  island,  and  may  occasionally  be  seen 
alive  in  the  markets  of  Hongkong  and 
Macao.  The  majority  of  these  mammals  are 
strictly  nocturnal,  and,  in  coiisequence,  the 
Hongkong  mammalia,  few  in  species,  are 
also  the  least  conspicuous  portion  of  the 
fauna  of  the  island. 

Reptllia. — The  Snakes  are  quite  numerous 
enough  to  attract  attention,  at  least  during 
the  wet  season.  One  of  the  burrowing 
snakes  [Typhlina),  nearly  black  and  not  so 
big  as  an  ordinary  earth-worm  and  with 
exceedingly  minute  eyes,  is  very  common 
luider  large  stones,  beneath  which  it  burrows 
in  the  soil.  Python  rcliculala  is  common, 
but  seldom  attains  any  considerable  dimen- 
sions. One  of  the  commonest  snakes  is  the 
little  Amphiesma  ti^rinnm,  plentiful  on  paddy- 
field  paths  and,  in  fact,  almost  everywhere. 
Of  the  venomous  snakes,  the  common  Cobr.a 
is  fairly  numerous  in  phices  ;  the  black-and- 
white  ringed  Bun^arns  fasciatiis  occurs,  and 
the  pretty  bright  green  Pit-viper,  Trimcrcsurus 
graniinens,  is  rather  common.  A  small  and 
very  poisonous  Sea-snake,  probably  a  species 
of  Hydrophis,  also  occurs,  but  not  commonly. 
Of  Lizards  there  are  many  species,  but  the 
one  most  in  evidence  is  Calotcs  versicolor, 
with  more  or  less  of  a  crest  down  the  back. 
The  same  wall-lizard,  so  common  in  Singa- 
pore houses,  occurs  in  Hongkong,  but  is  not 
nearly  so  numerous  here.  The  curious  and 
loud  cry  of  the  big,  clumsily-built  Gecko  is 
sometimes  heard.  It  haunts  big  trees  and 
rocks  and  sometimes  buildings.  The  struc- 
ture of  its  feet  is  admirably  adapted  to 
running  over  vertical  and  smooth  surfaces. 
Fresh-water  Tortoises  of  the  genus  Terrapcnc 
inhabit  a  few  streams  and  pools  in  the  island. 
Marine  Turtles  of  the  genus  Chelone  occur 
commonly  at  Hongkong ;  some  have  been 
captured  weighing  over  400  lbs.  They  lay 
their  eggs  in  the  sand  on  some  of  the 
adjacent  islands,  especially  some  of  the 
sm.-iller  islets  seaward  of  Lantao. 

Amphibia.  —  Frogs  and  Toads  are  very 
numerous  in  species,  some  of  the  smaller 
frogs  being  beautifully  coloured.  A  large 
editjle    kind    is    much    sought    after    by    the 


Chinese.  Tree-frogs  of  the  genus  Volypcdatcs 
are  very  common,  and  their  large,  oval, 
frothy  egg-sacs  hang  on  almost  every  bush 
overhanging  stagnant  water  during  the 
beginning  of  the  wet  season.  On  a  summer's 
night  the  chorus  of  frogs  from  every  marshy 
piece  of  ground  is  almost  deafening. 

Pishes. — The  fresh-water  fishes  are  few 
and  small  ;  several  of  them  are  species  pro- 
vided with  barbels.  Of  the  sea-fish  I  can 
only  mention  the  curious  little  Goby,  which 
hops  across  the  surface  of  the  tidal  mud-flats 
in  swarms,  and  even  climbs  on  mangrove 
bushes  and  rocks  and  lies  basking  in  the  sun 
for  several  minutes. 

Insecta. — The  Orthoptcra  are  exceedingly 
well  represented,  and  many  species  of  Mantis, 
Pliasmids  or  Stick-insects,  lyocusts  and  Katy- 
dids are  of  large  size  and  beautiful  colour- 
ing. Termites,  or  White  Ants,  are  only  too 
well-known  in  Hongkong,  where  they  do  an 
immense  amount  of  clamage  every  year. 
Dragonflies  are  numerous  in  species  and 
many  of  them  are  handsome  insects.  There 
are  hosts  of  Sawflies  and  Parasitic  Hyiiien- 
optera,  .and  the  Bees  and  Wasps  are  very 
numerous,  especially  the  Solitary  Wasps. 
The  Ants  are  everywhere,  and  some  species 
are  a  great  nuisance  at  times.  The  Beetle 
f.iuna  is  rather  poor  on  tlie  whole,  though 
there  are  many  Pliytopluiiions  kinds,  a  few 
line  Loni^icorns  and  Lamellicorus  and  many 
species  of  Carubidie.  Butterflies  are  noticed 
in  more  detail  later  ;  the  Moths,  as  usual, 
are  much  less  conspicuous,  though  far  more 
immerous  ;  but  tiiere  are  some  large  and 
showy  day-flying  moths,  including  the  huge 
Atlaciis  attas,  wliose  larv;e  and  cocoons  may 
be  found  in  abundance  on  Sliliii)^ia  trees, 
though  the  perfect  insect  is  not  very  often 
observed  ;  Actias  tuna,  a  beautiful  and  large 
pale-green  moth  with  very  long  tails  on  the 
hind-wings  ;  and  several  other  large  Saiur- 
iiiida-,  with  a  host  of  Sphinx  or  Hawk- 
moths.  A  moth,  Epipyrops  anomnla,  with  a 
curious  life-history,  whose  larva  is  parasitic 
on  the  Candletlies,  is  connnon  here.  The 
Diptera  are  in  hosts,  including  Mosquitoes 
and   other    blood-sucking    (lies.     Perhaps    the 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      139 


most  noticeable  otherwise  are  large  Syrphids 
and  Asiliiis,  the  latter  fierce  and  predaceous 
flies.  The  Heiniptcra  are  much  in  evidence, 
some  large  and  handsome  species  occurring  ; 
a  few  kinds  are  in  such  abundance  as 
seriously  to  damage  certain  trees.  The 
great  Water-bug,  a  species  of  Belostoma,  is 
very  common  in  stagnant  water,  but  is 
seldom  seen.  Sometimes,  however,  it  flies 
during  the  night  into  lighted  houses,  and 
always  attiacts  attention  by  its  great  size. 
The  Cicadidiv  during  the  wet  season  force 
themselves  on  one's  attention,  being  found 
even  in  trees  in  the  city.  Of  the  Candle- 
flies,  or  Fulgorida;  there  are  two  large  and 
handsomely-coloured  species,  one  being  very 
common.  Some  curious  Metiihracids,  Apliidcs 
and  Scale-insects,  and  the  insects  which  prey 
on  them,  are  also  very  common ;  in  fact,  but 
for  the  Ladybird  and  Syrphid  larvse  and 
other  enemies  which  destroy  them,  Aphides 
of  two  or  three  kinds  would  soon  tiecome  a 
pest  in  the  island. 

Spiders,  Crustacea,  &c.— There  is  a  rich 
fauna  of  Spiders,  including  some  very  large 
species.  Scorpions  occur,  but  are  not  very 
common.  The  Crabs  are  well  represented. 
Whole  armies  of  small  land-crabs  may 
sometimes  be  heard  rustling  the  paddy  like 
the  wind,  as  they  climb  the  rice-plants  in 
the  evening  to  eat  the  grain.  The  large  and 
peculiar  King-crab,  a  species  of  Limulns, 
inhabits  the  shallow  sea  round  the  island, 
and  is  sometimes  to  be  seen  in  the  market. 
Of  the  Myriapoda,  a  poisonous  Centipede, 
often  over  five  inches  in  length,  is  very 
common,  and  many  other  species  are 
numerous  under  stones  and  logs. 

Mollusca. — Land-shells,      as     usual     in      a 


TURTLE,    WEIGHING    ABOUT    400    LB.,    CAUGHT    NEAR    HONGKONG. 


granite  country,  are  not  numerous  in  species. 
Leeches  are  common    in   small   streams,    but 


do  not  swarm  in  wet  grass  and  herbage,   as 
in  many  tropical  places. 


BUTTERFLIES. 


By  J.  C.  Kershaw. 


Hongkong  Island,  protected  more  or  less 
from  the  ravages  of  the  Chinese  wood  and 
grass  cutters,  has  become  a  haven  of  refuge 
for  butterflies  on  the  coast  of  Kwangtung. 
Nearly  all  the  species  found  on  the  adjacent 
mainland  are  here  abundant,  and  some  inhabit 
the  island  which  do  not  occur  again  till  we 
reach  some  Buddhist  monasteries  many  miles 
inland,  around  which  a  fair  amount  of  well- 
grown  timber  and  little-disturbed  underwood 
is  still  preserved. 

There  are  some  146  Hongkong  butterflies 
recorded.  About  sixteen  are  rare,  and  two  or 
three  of  these  are  exceedingly  rare — merely 
accidental — though  the  list  of  rare  visitants  is 
sure  to  be  gradually  increased.  But  we  may 
say  that  130  species  are  native  and  numerous, 
the  majority  very  abundant.  The  greater  part 
are  also  very  beautiful  insects,  some  even 
gorgeous,  and  the  butterfly  fauna  as  a  whole 
has  a  decidedly  "  tropical "  aspect  ;  the  large 
and  showy  I'apilioiiitia;  of  which  twelve 
species  are  very  common,  contributing  greatly 
to  its  character. 

Hongkong  is  in  Wallace's  Indo-Chinese 
(or  Himalayan)  sub-region  of  the  Oriental 
Region.    The  butterflies  (and  also  the  bugs  or 


Hemiptera-Heteroptera)  have  decided  Indian 
attinities,  and  many  insects  of  both  orders 
are  familiar  natives  of  Calcutta.  Hongkong 
is  rich  in  representative  Himalayan  genera. 
The  only  two  peculiar  Hongkong  (and  South 
China)  species,  Clcrome  ciimcus  and  Gcrydus 
chincnsis,  belong  to  tropical  and  Himalayan 
genera,  Chronic  being  entirely  Oriental.  The 
very  common  Euplcea  midainiis  is  a  Chinese 
variety,  slightly  different  from  the  type. 
Pariiara  sinensis,  first  found  by  Leech  in 
Western  China,  is  fairly  common  here.  Two 
insects,  Vanessa  cardni  and  IJmenitis  sybilla, 
are  respectively  the  well-known  "  Painted 
Lady"  and  "White  Admiral,"  but  the  latter 
is  scarce  in  Hongkong,  whilst  the  former  is 
spreading  gradually  over  the  world,  and  is 
not  at  present  common  here.  Only  two  really 
Palajarctic  genera  occur  here — Vanessa  and 
Argyniiis,  the  former  represented  by  three 
species,  one  of  which  {V.  indica)  somewhat 
resembles  the  "  Red  Admiral "  ;  the  latter 
genus  has  only  one  species  which  is  common 
in  the  Eastern  tropics.  Butterflies  of  the 
sub-family  Danaincv  (which  is  really  tropical, 
though  some  of  its  members  are  rapidly 
becoming    cosmopolitan)    and    genus    EnpUva 


are  some  of  the  most  abundant  and  striking 
insects  in  Hongkong,  the  EupUva  being 
entirely  confined  to  the  Oriental  and  Austra- 
lian Regions,  but  chiefly  numerous  in  the 
former.  Danais  chrysippns  is  very  common 
here,  occurs  in  South  Europe,  and  is  spreading 
over  the  greater  part  of  the  world,  as  also  is 
D.  aichippus  [D.  crippns  mcnippe),  which  has 
occurred  in  Hongkong— together,  it  would 
seem,  with  the  spread  of  the  food-plant  of  its 
larva,  which  is  sometimes  planted  in  gardens, 
though  originally  a  North  American  weed. 
But  the  Danaid  larvie  feed  largely  on  plants 
which  have  the  seeds  naturally  adapted  for 
conveyance  to  enormous  distances  by  the 
wind. 

One  slow-flying  Pieiid,  P.  canidia  (a 
contrast  to  the  rapid  flight  of  most  butterflies 
here)  reminds  one  strongly  of  the  destructive 
European  "  Cabbage  White,"  and  is,  I  believe, 
merely  an  Eastern  race  of  P.  rapcv.  It  is 
practically  the  only  butterfly  in  Hongkong 
which  damages  gardens,  as  its  larva  feeds 
on  cultivated  vegetables.  The  larva  of  a 
"  Skipper  "  Parnara  Gnttatus,  feeds  on  the 
leaves  of  the  rice-plant,  but  is  greatly  checked 
by  parasites,  and  does  no  material  damage. 


140     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Taking  the  130  really  native  Hongkong 
butterflies,  and  reducing  the  Danitiiuv  lo 
the  genera  /).iii<i/$  and  Eiif'laui  (both  these 
genera  are  usually  sub-divided  into  numerous 
sub-genera),  they  are  distributed  as  follows : — 


Gcnen. 

Species. 

Tout 
species. 

Danainae  ... 

2 

Danais 
Euploea      . 

"     7 
..    3 

10 

Lethe...    . 

..     2 

Mvcalesis  . 

..     I 

Salyrime   ... 

4 

Melanitis    . 
Yphthiina  . 

..     1 
..     I 

5 

Morphime... 

3 

Discophora 
Clerome 

1 
..     1 

2 

Cethosia 

..     I 

Cupha 

..     1 

Cirrochroa 

I 

Atella ... 

..     I 

Svnibrenlh 

a     I 

Argynnis 

1 

Vanessa 

..     •» 

Precis... 

•  •     .S 

Nymphalinae 

17 

Hypoliniiia 

Ergolis 

Neptis... 

Alhyma 

Linicnitis 

Euthalia 

Apalura 

Hestina 

S          I 

..     I 
..     2 
•  •     3 
..     2 
..     2 
..     I 
I 

29 

Charaxes 

..     2 

Nemeobiiiue 

2 

Zemeros 
Abisara 

..     I 
..     I 

2 

Gerydus 

..     I 

Neopitheco 

ps     I 

Megisba 

I 

Cyaiiiris 

..     I 

Chilades 

..     I 

Zi/era... 

..     2 

(amides 

..     I 

Lampidcs 

..     I 

Everes 

..     2 

Nacaduba 

..     I 

Lycaenid.-*... 

21 

Catochryso 

Polyommal 

Arhopala 

Iraota ... 

Ilerda ... 

Pratapa 

Spindasis 

Tajuria 

Deudorix 

Lehera 

Kapala 

ps    2 
us    I 
..      2 
..       I 
..       1 
..       I 
..       1 
..      2 
..       I 
I 
I 

26 

Delias... 

..      2 

Prioneris 

..      I 

Terias... 

..      2 

Pierina;     ... 

8 

Ixias    ... 
Hebomoia 
Catopsilia 
Dercas 
Pieris  ... 

..      I 
..       I 
..      2 

••      3 

13 

Papilioninse 

2 

Papilio 
Leptocircus 

..    14 
I 

>5 

Genera. 

Species. 

'     Total 
1  species. 

Tagiades    ... 

Odontoptiluin 

Suastus 

lambrix 

Hvarotis     ... 

Matapa 

Erionota     ... 

Taractrocera 

Ampittia     ... 

Parnara 

Hesperiidae 

21 

Baoris 

Padraona    ... 
Telicota      ... 
Udaspes 

Halpe 

Astictopleius 
Kerana 
Notocrypta 
Hasora 
Badamia     ... 

28 

Ismene 

79 

130 

The  species  of  Cyaniris  was  not  observed 
before  1906,  but  was  then  fairly  numerous  in 
Hongkong  Island,  and  will  probably  establish 
itself  there. 

Of  the  sixteen  rare  species,  three  belong 
to  Danais  and  two  to  Eiiflcea,  one  each  to 
Lethe,  Melanitis,  Cirrochroa,  Cyrestis,  Rlu'iio- 
palpa,  Hyfolimnas,  Curetis,  Priotieris,  Pieris, 
and  two  lo  Caprona. 

There  is  a  very  well-marked  wet  and  dry 
form  in  the  case  of  many  Hongkong  butter- 
flies (especially  in  the  Satyriint,  Precis,  and 
Lycwiiiila')  and  four  cases  of  insects  with 
dimorphic  females — Cethosia  biblis,  having 
the  commoner  form  of  female  like  the  male, 
chiefly  of  a  brilliant  orange-red  on  the 
upper  side,  relieved  with  black  ;  whilst  the 
second  form  of  female  is  dark  grey  wilh 
black,  brown,  and  white  markings  ;  the 
under  side  agrees  in  both  forms  in  colour 
and  markings.  The  other  examples  are 
Hypolimitas  misippiis,  which  is  rare  or 
sporadic  ;  Papilio  memuoii,  with  its  tailed 
and  tailless  females  ;  and  P.  clyiia  ;  but  in 
this  latter  case  the  dimorphism  includes  both 
sexes.  Some  of  the  butterflies,  especially 
amongst  the  Euploea  and  Satyriinv,  exhibit 
i-triking  and  numerous  varieties — some  of 
them  doubtless  incipient  species,  though, 
after  all,  even  a  species  is  but  a  very  stable 
variety,  and  transitory  like  everything  else. 
The  swarms  of  Danais  and  Enplcca  are 
curious  here.  These  insects  collect  together 
in  hundreds  about  the  middle  of  the  dry 
season  (November-December)  and  cling  on 
trees  and  bushes  in  sheltered  localities, 
packed  so  closely  that  they  hide  much  of 
the  foliage,  and  darken  the  air  in  rising 
when  disturbed.  There  are  many  interesting 
biological  items  in  the  history  of  Hongkong 
butterflies,  but  we  have  only  space  lo 
mention  a  few  : — Euthalia  Inbcntina  lays  a 
hemispherical  egg,  the  peculiarity  of  which 
is  the  numerous  glandular  hairs  on  the 
upper  surface,  each  hair  with  a  little  globule 
of  brownish,  viscous  fluid  at  the  tip  ;  these 
are  quite  visible  without  a  lens.  The  larva 
of  Gerydus  chinensis  is  of  intei  est  as  feeding 
entirely  on  aphides  ;  that  of  Spinilasis  lohita 
is  one  of  the  numerous  instances  of  Lycciniii 
larvae  being  assiduously  attended  by  ants, 
for  the  purpose  of  sipping  the  fluid  exuded  by 
the  dorsal  glands  of  the  larva.  Apparently 
the  latter,  in  this  case,  is  absolutely  depen- 
dent for  existence  on  the  care  and  attention 


of  the  ants,  and  is  usually  to  be  found  in 
their  nests.  These  ants  are  a  species  of 
Creniasto,iiaster.  But  there  are  some  kinds 
of  ants  here  which  are  inimical  to  the 
mature  butterfly.  These  lie  in  wait  amongst 
flowers  and  seize  the  butterfly  by  the  pro- 
boscis as  it  feeds.  A  small  pale  yellow  or 
while  spider,  with  its  legs  tightly  appressed 
to  its  body,  likewise  ambushes  in  flowers. 
In  spite  of  its  small  size — about  :J-inch  in 
diameter — it  not  only  seizes,  but  sometimes 
manages  to  hold  and  kill,  a  large  Papilio. 
This  spider  is  almost  indistinguishable 
amongst  white  or  yellow  blossoms.  Besides 
the  operations  of  the  native  woodcutters, 
which  destroy  many  eggs  and  larvi-e  and 
tend  to  eradicate  food  plants,  the  increase  of 
butterflies  in  South  China  is  chiefly  and  to 
an  enormous  extent  checked  (especially 
amongst  the  Hcspcriida-)  by  egg  and  larva 
parasites,  chiefly  Hymenopterous,  which  are 
extremely  numerous  in  South  China.  In  the 
case  of  a  moth,  Melanestria  punctata,  whose 
larva  feeds  on  fir-trees,  and  in  certain  years 
often  defoliates  large  areas  in  China,  exam- 
ination of  a  great  number  of  pupae  showed 
that  fully  75  per  cent,  had  been  destroyed, 
chiefly  by  Dipterous  and  Hymenopterous 
parasites,  whilst  the  eggs  of  the  moth  were 
heavily  parasitised  by  Hymenoptera.  No 
doubt  these  parasites  always  appear  when- 
ever the  moth  becomes  very  abundant.  The 
insectivorous  birds  here  destroy  few  mature 
butterflies,  though  they  account  for  numbers  of 
eggs,  larvie,  and  pup:e.  I  am,  however,  of 
opinion  that  on  the  whole  the  butterfly, 
having  passed  through  manifold  dangers  in 
its  innnature  stages,  has  few  enemies  in  its 
adult  state. 

The  geographical  distribution  of  animals 
changes  slowly  in  the  natural  course  of 
things,  but  modern  civilisation  and  constant 
and  rapid  communication  with  all  parts  of 
the  world  tends  to  effect  soine  of  these 
changes  more  rapidly,  and,  we  may  expect, 
will  eventually  cause  many  more  species  to 
become  extinct  and  some  almost  cosmopo- 
litan. Hongkong,  as  a  focus  for  a  continuous 
stream  of  traffic  from  near  and  distant 
countries,  and,  possessing  a  sub-tropical 
climate  to  which  many  animals  and  plants 
can  adapt  themselves,  seems  exceptionally 
well  situated  for  observation  of  some  of 
these  phenomena,  for  exotic  insects  may  be 
expected  to  occur  frequently,  and  some  of 
them  to  find  a  suitable  habitat  in  the  island. 
For  many  new  plants  have  certainly  been 
introduced  or  found  their  way  lo  Hongkong 
within  the  last  fifty  years,  and  some  of  thein 
now  flourish  here  ;  and  butterflies,  like  man 
and  most  terrestrial  animals  are,  directly  or 
indirectly,  dependent  for  existence  on  the 
vegetable  kingdom.  The  small  area  of  the 
island  lends  itself  specially  to  the  observa- 
tion of  the  increase  and  decrease  of  native 
species,  and  the  arrival  of  immigrants. 

In  conclusion,  Hongkong  possesses  a  very 
bright,  varied,  and  individually  numerous  but- 
terfly fauna,  which  enhances  the  beauty  and 
life  of  the  island  even  more  than  the  birds 
which,  with  a  few  exceptions,  are  not  paiticu- 
larly  striking  in  plumage.  At  Foocliovv,  about 
inidway  between  Hongkong  and  Slianghai, 
the  vegetation  changes,  and  is,  .says  Mr.  S.  T. 
Dumi,  superintendent  of  the  Afforestation 
Department  at  Hongkong,  an  almost  equal 
intermingling  o(  tropical  and  temperate  forms. 
At  Shanghai,  about  900  miles  north  of  Hong- 
kong, so  far  as  the  vegetation  is  concerned, 
one  might  itnagine  oneself  in  England,  and 
some  ol  the  commonest  butterflies  there  are 
species  of  Colias  and  Goneptcry.x,  the  familiar 
"  Clouded  Yellows  "  and  "  Brimstones  "  — 
typically  Pala;arctic  genera. 


TWENTIETH  OENTUKY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     141 


BIRDS. 


By  Staff-Surgeon  Kenneth  H.  Jones,  R.N.,  Naval  Hospital,  Hongkong. 


The  Birds  of  Hongkong  may  broadly  be 
divided  into  those  which  are  resident,  and 
remain  for  the  whole  year  round,  and  those 
which  come  to  the  Colony  for  only  a  part  of 
the  year.  These  distinctions,  however,  are 
not  absolute,  for  some  species  are  partly 
resident  and  partly  not.  All  the  resident 
birds  breed  in  the  Colony. 

There  are  at  least  five  species  of  Thrushes 
commonly  to  be  met  with  in  Hongkong, 
belonging  to  four  different  genera.  Of  these, 
perhaps,  the  best  known  is  a  brown  bird 
with  a  white  stripe  over  the  eye,  which  is 
very  popular  with  the  Chinese  as  a  cage 
bird.  This  bird  (Trochalopteron  canornm)  is 
about  the  only  really  good  songster  to  be 
found  here,  and  its  very  thrush-like  song  is 
to  be  heard  in  almost  every  month  of  the 
year  in  the  woods  and  far  up  the  hillsides. 
The  bird  is  resident  in  Hongkong  Island, 
where  it  breeds,  raising  two  broods  in  a 
year — the  first  in  May  and  the  second  in 
July  and  August.  This  species  is  not  found 
at  Kowloon,  nor,  so  far  as  I  know,  in  the 
New  Territory  generally. 

Another  thrush  which  is  sure  to  attract 
attention  is  the  Blue  Whistling  Thrush 
(Myophoiiens  ccvnilcus),  a  large  bird  of  very 
deep  indigo  colour  flecked  with  lighter  blue, 
often  to  be  seen  along  Bowen  Road  and  at 
Wongneichung,  as  well  as  elsewhere.  This 
species  has  a  great  partiality  for  water,  and 
is  never  found  far  from  the  streams  which 
descend  the  little  valleys  to  the  sea  all  over 
the  island.  This  bird  has  a  very  charac- 
teristic way  of  opening  its  tail,  fanwise  with 
a  sudden  jerk,  when  alighting.  Like  the 
last  species,  it  is  resident,  breeding  in  May, 
and  making  its  nest  in  positions,  usually 
inaccessible,  among  the  piles  of  boulders 
which  are  strewn  along  the  water  courses. 
The  note  is  a  low  plaintive  whistle,  monoto- 
nous and  piercing  ;  but  in  the  breeding 
season  a  little  song  is  attempted,  which 
cannot  be  called  beautiful,  but  is,  rather, 
mournful. 

There  are  two  other  blue  thrushes  in 
Hongkong,  the  Blue  Rock  Thrush  [Monticola 
cyanns),  and  the  Red-breasted  Rock  Thrush 
(Monticola  solitariiis).  Both  are  winter  visitors 
to  the  Colony,  arriving  in  October  and  leaving 
again  in  May.  They  are  easily  distinguished 
from  Myophoneus  civnilcits  by  their  smaller 
size  and  brighter  colour,  and  from  one 
another  by  the  presence  or  absence  of  red 
on  the  breast,  as  the  description  of  the 
second-named  indicates. 

There  remain  two  Babbling  Thrushes — one 
a  resident  and  the  other  a  summer  visitor. 
The  former,  the  Black-cheeked  Babbling 
Thrush  (Dryonastcs  perspcciilalus),  is  a  very 
noisy  bird,  and  the  parties  of  half  a  dozen, 
or  more,  in  which  this  species  is  always  to 
be  found,  advertise  their  presence  continually 
by  their  shrill  and  not  particulary  melodious 
whistles.  This  bird  breeds  here,  and  raises 
in  all  probability  two  broods  in  a  year.  The 
other  Babbling  Thrush  is  a  favourite  with 
the  bird  shopkeepers,  who  call  it  San-mo, 
whilst  to  the  Europeans  it  is  known  as  a 
Mocking  Bird  or  as  the  Canton  Nightingale. 
This  species  is  a  large  blackish  bird,  with 
conspicuous   white   patches    below    the   ears, 


and  its  notes,  though  few  and  apt  to  be 
monotonous  at  close  quarters,  are  flute-like 
and  full,  and  sound,  in  the  woods,  exceed- 
ingly well.  The  bird  undoubtedly  breeds  in 
the  woods  above  and  below  Bowen  Road, 
but  so  wary  is  it  that  but  for  its  characteristic 
song  its  presence  there  would  probably  never 
be  suspected. 

Leaving  the  thrushes,  the  next  group  of 
birds  for  consideration  are  the  Wartilers,  and 
with  them  inay  be  noticed  the  majority  of 
other  very  small  birds.  The  two  best-known 
of  all  the  smaller  birds  here  are  the  Silver 
Eye  {Zostcrops  simplex),  a  little  bright  green 
bird  with  a  ring  of  white  feathers  round  the 
eye  ;  and  the  Tailor  Bird  (Sntoria  siiloria),  a 
small  brown  bird  with  a  chestnut-coloured 
head  and  rather  a  long  tail.  Both  these 
birds  are  resident,  and  the  former  is  a 
common  cage  bird.  The  note  of  the  Tailor 
Bird  is  a  loud  "  chink-chink,"  constantly 
repeated,  and  of  remarkable  volume  for  the 
size  of  the  bird. 

Another  small  bird  which  is  likely  to  attract 
attention  by  reason  of  its  brilliant  colouring 
and  its  loud  voice  is  the  Scarlet-backed 
Flower-pecker  (Diccvnm  cnietilatiiiii),  a  black 
bird  of  very  small  dimensions,  with  a  most 
brilliant  red  back  and  head. 

Of  the  true  warblers  only  one  is  common, 
and  that  as  a  winter  visitor,  the  Yellow- 
browed  Warbler  (Phylloscopiis  irochiloides),  a 
small  green  bird,  with  a  yellow  stripe  over 
the  eye.  This  is  the  first  of  the  winter 
visitors  to  arrive,  appearing  as  early  as 
the  middle  of  September,  and  leaving  again 
in  April  and  May. 

There  is  only  one  Tit  here,  the  Indian  Grey 
Titmouse  (Parus  cinercns),  a  conspicuously 
marked  bird,  which  bears  a  certain  super- 
ficial resemblance  to  the  Great  Tit  so  well 
known  in  England.  The  bird  is  resident, 
and  rears  two  broods  in  the  year,  commencing 
to  breed  as  early  as  the  first  half  of  March. 

Another  common  small  bird  is  Miiiiia 
topcia,  a  near  ally  of  the  Java  Sparrow 
\Muiiia  orizvora),  than  which  it  is,  however, 
much  smaller  and  much  less  gaily  coloured, 
being  uniformly  brown,  with  a  dark  brown 
head  and  black  bill.  This  bird  is  not,  as 
a  rule,  to  be  seen  in  the  winter  months,  but 
it  remains  to  breed,  laying  four,  or  more, 
white  eggs,  in  a  curious  covered-in  nest 
with  a  hole  in  the  side  ;  and,  like  so  many 
others  here,  it  is  probably  double-brooded. 

One  of  the  most  conspicuous  and  best 
known  of  the  smaller  birds  in  Hongkong  is 
the  Magpie  Robin  (Copsychus  suuUiris).  The 
striking  mixture  of  black  and  white  in  its 
plumage,  and  its  lameness  and  partiality  for 
human  neighbourhood  call  attention  to  it  at 
once.  This  bird  has,  after  Trochaloptcroii 
cauoiiun  noticed  above,  the  best  song  of  any 
of  the  native  birds.  It  is  resident,  and 
breeds  commonly  from  April  to  August, 
making  a  scanty  nest  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  or 
building. 

Equally  common,  and  almost  as  con- 
spicuous, as  the  last  are  the  Bulbuls,  of 
which  three  species  occur  in  Hongkong,  all 
of  them  plentifully.  The  three  species  are 
the  Black-headed  Bulbul,  the  Red-cheeked 
Bulbul,    and    the    While-eared    Bulbul    {Pyc- 


nonotiis  atricapilliis,  Otocompsa  cmeria,  and 
Hypsietcs  sinensis).  These  three  birds  are  all 
commonly  to  be  met  with  in  gardens  and 
about  the  roadsides  of  the  Colony,  and  they 
are  differentiated  from  one  another  without 
difficulty.  The  first  is  a  brownish-coloured 
bird,  with  a  black  head  and  a  short  crest, 
whilst  the  feathers  of  the  vent  are  bright 
scarlet.  The  second  also  has  the  bright 
scarlet  feathers  round  the  vent,  but  it 
has  on  its  head  a  long  black  crest,  whilst 
its  throat  and  breast  are  white,  and  on 
the  cheeks  are,  as  the  name  indicates  small 
red  patches.  The  third  is  a  smaller  bird 
than  either  of  the  other  two,  is  generally 
greener  in  colour,  and  has  no  crest  of 
any  kind,  but  has  two  large  white  patches 
over  the  ears  which  unite  to  form  a 
collar  behhid.  Of  these  three  birds  the 
Black-headed  Bulbul  is  the  wildest,  and  is 
found  breeding  high  up  on  the  hillsides  in 
places  where  the  others  are  rarely,  if  ever, 
seen.  The  nests  of  the  latter  are  usually 
placed  on  the  lower  ranges  of  hills,  in 
gardens  and  hedges,  and  such-like  places. 
The  Black-headed  Bulbul  has  a  shrill  and 
not  unpleasing  note.  It  can  hardly  be  said 
to  sing,  but  both  the  other  species  have  a 
little  song,  consisting  of  very  few  notes,  and 
becoming  desperately  monotonous  from  its 
too  frequent  repetition. 

There  is  only  one  Cuckoo  which  is  at  all 
common  in  Hongkong,  the  well-known  Rain 
Bird  [Cacomanlis  mcnilinns),  whose  familiar 
whistle  is  one  of  the  most  frequent  and 
mournful  of  bird  sounds  during  the  summer 
months  by  night  as  well  as  by  day.  This 
bird  arrives  in  March  and  leaves  again  in 
September,  and,  like  most  cuckoos,  lays  its 
eggs  in  the  nests  of  another  species.  In  this 
case  the  host  is  always  Sutoria  sntoria,  the 
Tailor  Bird.  The  Tailor  Bird,  as  is  well 
known,  makes  its  nest  by  stitching  together, 
with  thread  manufactured  by  itself,  the  free 
margins  of  a  large  leaf,  or  by  approximating 
two  big  leaves  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  a 
kind  of  bag.  and  in  this  its  little  nest  of  fine 
grass,  with  a  vegetable  down  lining,  is 
placed.  The  Rain  Bird,  from  its  size,  could 
not  possibly  lay  its  eggs  in  the  nest  of  the 
Tailor  Bird,  so  that  probably  they  are  laid 
on  the  ground  and  then  carried  in  the  bird's 
bill  to  their  resting-place.  Contrary  to  what 
obtains  with  most  of  the  cuckoos,  the  eggs 
of  the  Rain  Bird  bear  considerable  resem- 
blance in  colour  to  those  of  the  Tailor  Bird, 
though  they  are,  of  course,  much  larger. 

Only  one  species  of  Dove  is  met  with  in 
Hongkong,  the  Turttir  chiiiensis,  which  is 
extremely  numerous  all  over  the  Colony,  and 
very  tame,  settling  in  public  places  and 
running  about  the  roads  with  the  utmost 
confidence.  This  dove  is  a  resident,  and 
lays  its  eggs  almost  throughout  the  whole 
year. 

Of  birds  of  prey  there  is  some  variety,  but 
only  one  species,  the  Black-eared  Kite,  is  to 
be  seen  the  whole  year  round.  This  bird 
[Milvus  niclauolis)  is  the  large  brown  hawk 
to  be  seen  flying  over  the  harbour  in  search 
of  scraps  of  garbage,  and  is  too  well  known 
to  require  any  description.  The  numbers  of 
kites    are     much     increased    in    the     winter 


142    TAVENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


months,  when  many  individuals  come  down 
from  their  breeding-places  further  to  the 
north,  and  at  such  times  they  have  a  ten- 
dency to  congregate  in  cert;iin  selected  spots. 
Perhaps  as  many  as  two  hundred  may  be 
seen  in  one  small  clump  of  trees  or  on  one 
hilltop.  Such  a  plat-e  exists  at  the  eastern 
end  of  Stonecutters  Island,  though  the  kites 
are  not  there  so  numerous  as  in  some  of 
the  places  in  the  New  Territory.  Milviis 
melanotis  is  a  resident,  and  breeds  about 
Hongkong,  but  not  at  all  commonly,  and 
most  of  those  individuals  which  remain  for 
the  summer  months  in  the  Colony  are  prob- 
ably immature,  and  do  not  nest  Another 
large  brown  hawk  rarely  seen  except  in  the 
autumn  and  winter  is  the  common  Bu/zard 
{Buico  xtilgahs)  a  slightly  smaller  bird  than 
the  Kite,  usually  solitary  in  its  habits,  and 
never  to  be  found  hunting  for  garbage. 
From  the  Kite  it  is  readily  distinguished 
both  by  the  shorter  and  more  rounded  wings 
and  by  the  shape  of  the  tail,  the  free  margin 
of  which  is  convex  in  outline  instead  of 
being  square  or  forked,  as  in  the  Sliliiis. 

The  well-known  Peregrine  Falcon  (Falco 
feregrinus)  is  not  infrequently  seen,  but  it 
cannot  be  regarded  otherwise  than  as  an 
occasional  winter  visitor. 

Two  other  smaller  hawks,  the  common 
Kestrel  (Falco  tinnunculus)  and  the  common 
Sparrow  Hawk  {Accipiter  niisiis)  are  often 
met  with  in  the  winter  months,  whilst  other 
species  occur  more  rarely. 

Of  Owls  one  species,  Scofis  glabripcs.  a 
bird  aKiut  the  size  of  a  pigeon,  is  fairly 
plentiful  in  Hongkong,  where  it  is  resident, 
breeding  in  April  and  May  in  the  old  nests 
of  the  Magpie.  Strictly  nocturnal,  it  is  not 
often  seen,  and  its  note,  a  gentle  "  Hoo " 
repeated  at  intervals,  is  usually  the  only  inti- 
mation of  its  presence.  Another  bird  of  this 
family,  to  be  seen  occ-asionally  is  Btibo 
maximus.  the  Eagle  Owl.  the  largest  of  all 
the  owls,  and  a  great  game  destroyer.  It  is 
hard  to  suppose  that  many  individuals  of 
this  species  can  find  a  living  on  the  island. 

One  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  summer 
visitors  to  Hongkong  is  the  Black  Drongo 
Shrike,  or  Scissor-tail  {Bticliaiiga  atra).  a 
brilliantly  black  bird,  with  a  long  black  tail, 
the  flukes  of  which  cross  one  another 
scissor-fashion,  whence  its  name.  This  bird 
arrives  about  the  middle  of  April,  and  already 
has  found  a  mate.  Pairs  of  these  birds  take 
up  certain  localities  in  the  woods,  and  their 
territory  is  not  encroached  upon  by  others 
of  their  kind.  At  the  nest,  which  is  always 
slung  from  the  under  surface  of  a  bough, 
at  its  slenderest  extremity,  the  birds  aie  both 
noisy  and  fearless,  resenting  interference  in 
the  most  intrepid  manner. 

The  Kingfishers  are  birds  which  always 
attract  attention  by  their  very  striking 
colouring.  Of  the  three  species  of  the  family 
which  are  to  be  found  at  Hongkong,  all 
present  the  brilliant  blues  for  which  most 
of  these  birds  are  famous,  and  two  of  them 
are  of  large  size.  The  two  larger  kingfishers 
are  the  Smyrna  Kingfisher  {Halcyon  Smyr- 
nensis)  and  the  Black-headed  Kingfisher 
(Halcyon  pileatus).  The  former  has  a  bright 
maroon-coloured  head  and  neck,  whilst  the 
latter  has  the  head  black  and  has  a  white 
collar.  The  Smyrna  Kingfisher  is  a  resident, 
and  may  be  seen  at  all  seasons  of  the  year, 
but  the  black-headed  species  spends  the  winter 
months  on  the  seashore,  repairing  to  the 
island  in  the  spring  and  summer  to  breed. 
Both  species  breed  commonly  in  Hongkong, 
making  their  nesting-holes  in  the  perpen- 
dicular faces  of  disintegrated  granite  to  be 
found  in  the  nullahs,  and  in  localities  where 
a  landslip  has  taken  place.    There  is  another 


kingfisher,  a  very  small  bird  ;  indeed,  Alcedo 
BengaU-nsis  is  but  a  miniature  of  the  King- 
fisher of  English  inland  waters,  but  about 
Hongkong  this  species  obtains  its  food  at 
least  as  frequently  in  salt  water  as  in  fresh. 
It  is  not  a  very  common  bird,  but  throughout 
the  year  it  may  be  seen  at  times  on  inland 
streams,  and  more  frequently  on  the  rocks 
by  the  sea-coast.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
it  sometimes  breeds  in  Hongkong. 

There  is  only  one  true  Crow  in  Hongkong, 
but  that,  the  Collared  Crow  {Con'iis  torquatus) 
is  a  handsome  representative  of  the  genus. 
This  crow,  which  is  considerably  larger  than 
our  English  rook,  is  of  a  deep,  shining  black, 
with  a  broad,  white  collar,  which  widens  to 
a  convex  bend  downwards  on  the  shoulders 
and  breast,  a  handsome  and  striking  com- 
bination of  the  two  colours.  This  is  not  a 
common  bird  in  Hongkong,  but  a  few  pairs 
reside  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  breed  early 
in  the  year  in  such  spots  as  are  not  too  open 
to  molestation.  Unlike  most  Corvidiv  this 
species  is  in  all  probability  double-brooded 
in  Hongkong.  The  note  is  a  deep,  harsh 
croak,  and  once  heard  is  not  likely  to  be 
mistaken  for  that  of  any  other  bird. 

Nearly  related  to  the  former  is  the  common 
Magpie  [Pica  caniiala),  one  of  the  best  known 
of  all  the  Hongkong  resident  species.  A  bird 
so  well  known  requires  no  description,  but  it 
is  of  interest  to  note  that,  being  not  only  free 
from  persecution  but  to  some  extent,  in  China, 
considered  a  bird  of  good  omen,  it  is  tame 
and  confiding  to  a  degree  rarely,  if  ever,  lo 
be  met  with  in  other  countries.  The  bird 
breeds  commonly  in  Hongkong,  making  the 
usual  domed  nest  so  characteristic  of  the 
species,  and  it  occasionally  lays  its  eggs  as 
early  as  the  last  days  of  January. 

Another  conspicuous  bird  which  is  a  near 
relation  of  the  Magpie  is  the  Chinese  Blue 
Magpie  (Urocissa  sinensis),  a  bluish-coloured 
bird,  with  coral  red  bill  and  legs,  and  a  most 
disproportionately  long  tail.  This  bird  is  one 
of  the  noisiest  resident  species  in  the  island,  and 
produces  a  perfectly  amazing  variety  of  sounds, 
from  harsh  gutteral  duckings  to  beautifully 
modulated  Hute-like  whistles,  amounting  at 
times  almost  to  a  song.  These  birds  are  great 
robbers  of  the  eggs  of  other  species,  and  the 
appearance  of  the  Blue  Magpie  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  nests  of  the  Magpie  Kobin  or  the  Black- 
headed  Bulbul  is  the  signal  for  an  immediate 
attack  oil  the  would-be  robber.  Urocissa 
sinensis  is  a  quarrelsome  bird,  fighting  for  its 
right  to  a  feeding  ground  both  with  its  own 
kind  and  with  the  common  Magpie.  It  breeds 
in  Hongkong  from  March  to  July,  making  a 
flat  nest  of  the  flimsiest  description  in  a  tree, 
and  laying  from  three  to  five  eggs. 

There  is  only  one  Starling  in  Hongkong,  a 
prettily  coloured  bird,  grey,  white,  and  deep 
bluish-black  being  its  predominating  colours. 
This  bird,  the  Chinese  Starling  (Sturnia  sinen- 
sis), arrives  in  April  and  remains  to  breed, 
leaving  again  in  the  first  half  of  September. 
Like  the  English  Starling,  it  is  rather  noisy  at 
the  nesting  place,  and  very  dirty.  After  those 
birds  which  come  to  Hongkong  to  breed  have 
departed,  small  ilocks  again  appear  in  the 
winter  months,  probably  from  the  north. 
Unlike  the  English  Starling,  the  Chinese  bird 
obtains  most  of  its  food  in  the  tree-tops,  where 
it  picks  caterpillars  and  small  insects  off  the 
leaves. 

Nearly  allied  to  the  Starling  is  the  common 
Mynah  (Acridothcrcs  cristalellns),  a  blackish 
bird  with  conspicuous  white  splashes  on  its 
wings  when  flying,  and  so  well  known  as  a 
favourite  cage-bird  with  the  Chinese,  who 
value  it  for  its  powers  of  mimicry  and  its 
ability  to  talk  after  the  fashion  of  a  parrot. 
In  its  wild  state  the  bird  also  mimics  others, 


especially  the  Francolin  and  the  common 
Hongkong  Shrike.  More  common  in  the 
summer  tlian  in  the  winter,  this  bird  breeds 
abundantly  about  Hongkong,  sonietinies  in 
waterspouts  and  under  the  eaves  of  houses, 
or  in  a  chimney,  but  more  frequently  in 
cracks  in  the  rocks,  or,  most  often  of  all,  in 
the  disused  nesting-hole  of  one  of  the  larger 
kingfishers. 

The  common  Shrike  of  Hongkong  [Lanius 
tcliah),  which  has  been  mentioned  above,  is 
a  handsome  bird,  with  a  conspicuous  chest- 
nut-coloured back  and  a  long  tail.  It  has  a 
loud,  discordant  voice,  which  it  takes  great 
pleasure  in  exercising  in  a  series  of  loud 
cries  from  the  topmost  twigs  of  whatever 
tree  it  chances  to  settle  in.  It  is  a  resident, 
and  breeds  during  April  and  May. 

Another  shrike  occasionally  to  be  met 
with  is  the  Dusky  Shrike  (Lanius  fnscatns), 
a  bird  slightly  smaller  than  Lanins  tchnU, 
from  which  it  is  easily  distinguished  by  the 
general  smoky  look  of  its  plumage,  which 
entirely  lacks  the  brilliant  chestnut  tints  of 
the  latter.  It  is  also  less  noisy  than  Lanius 
tchah. 

The  Philippine  Red-tailed  Shrike  (Lanins 
lucionensis)  is  a  small  shrike  only  to  be  met 
with  in  the  autunm  and  spring,  when  it  is 
passing  from  its  winter  quarters  further 
south  to  its  more  northern  breeding  grounds. 

The  Chinese  FVancolin  (Francolinns  sinen- 
sis), often  miscalled  a  Partridge,  is  the  only 
resident  game  bird  in  Hongkong.  Shy  and 
skulking,  it  would  be  indeed  diflicult  to 
imagine  that  so  many  of  these  birds  exist 
were  it  not  for  their  very  characteristic  cry 
during  the  breeding  season,  a  cry  which  has 
been  rendered  "  Kuk-kuk-kuich-ka-ka "  ;  but 
which  has  also  been,  not  inaptly,  compared 
to  the  syllables  "  Hip,  hip,  hurrah  I "  This 
bird  breeds  on  the  ground,  but  its  nest  is 
rarely,  if  ever,  found  except  by  the  grass 
cutters.  It  must  breed  very  late  in  the  year, 
for  young  birds  barely  able  to  fly  are  said 
to  have  been  seen  at  the  beginning  of 
December. 

Two  species  of  Quails  are  to  be  commonly 
seen  here  on  the  autumn  migration — the 
common  Quail  (Cotnrnix  communis)  and  the 
Burmese  Hemipode,  or  Button  Quail  (Turnix 
blandfordi) — both  well  known  to  local  sports- 
men. 

Two  other  game  birds,  the  common  Snipe 
and  the  Woodcock  (Scolopax  rnsticula)  require 
a  passing  mention.  The  former,  as  is  well 
known,  come  down  from  their  northern 
breeding  grounds  in  September  and  October 
and  return  again  in  May,  though  a  certain 
number  remain  in  suitable  localities  through- 
out the  winter  ;  the  latter  is  a  rather  more 
erratic  cold  weather  visitor  than  the  Snipe, 
but  a  certain  number  of  individuals  always 
occur,  although  later. 

The  Sandpipers  and  Plovers  require  here 
to  be  mentioned,  though  only  one  of  each 
family  is  sufficiently  numerous  at  Hongkong 
to  find  a  place  in  an  article  such  as  this, 
viz.,  the  common  Sandpiper  (Tringoidcs 
Itypoleucus)  and  the  Kentish  Plover  (Aiginlilis 
cantiana),  both  of  which  arc  to  be  met  with 
on  the  seashore  all  through  the  winter 
months. 

There  is  one  common  Swallow  in  Hong- 
kong (Hirundo  gnttnralis).  This  differs  but 
slightly  from  the  bird  so  familiar  in  Europe, 
and,  like  it,  is  a  summer  visitor,  coming  in 
March,  and  departing  as  a  rule  in  August. 
Swallows  are,  indeed,  to  be  seen  occasionally 
in  September,  October,  and  November,  but 
probably  these  are  birds  which  have  lost 
their  way  on  the  long  journey  to  the  south. 
The  Pacific  Swift  [Cypselus  Pacificns)  is  a 
common  summer  visitor,  and  probably  breeds 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     143 


in  Hongkong.  It  is  a  large  swift,  with  a 
white  breast  and  a  conspicuous  white  patch 
on  the  rump.  In  its  habits  it  very  much 
resembles  the  English  Swift,  but  its  scream 
is  much  less  harsh  and  is  not  so  often 
repeated. 

A  bird  wliich  is  sure  to  be  met  with  sooner 
or  later  in  Hongkong  is  the  Crow  Pheasant 
(Cciilropiis  sinensis),  a  bird  as  large  as  a 
Magpie,  and  very  conspicuously  coloured  in 
chestnut  and  black,  the  wings  being  of  the 
former  colour  and  the  rest  of  the  bird  of  the 
latter.  This  bird  gives  vent,  especially  during 
the  summer  months,  to  a  peculiar  booming 
sound,  wliicli  can  be  heard  for  a  great 
distance,  and  whicli  is  quite  characteristic. 
This  sound  the  bird  produces  in  its  throat 
with  the  beak  closed,  dropping  its  head  and 
raising  its  shoulders  as  it  does  so.  The  bird 
breeds  in  Hongkong,  but  nests  are  rarely 
found,  and  then  only  by  the  grass  cutters. 
Another  smaller  species  of  this  genus  is  to  be 
met  with  in  the  New  Territory  {Cenlropus 
Bcngiileusis),  but  whether  it  ever  occurs  on  the 
island  of  Hongkong  is  doubtful. 

The  commonest  Finch  in  Hongkong  is,  of 
course,  the  common  Sparrow  of  the  country 
[Pttsser  montaiiiis),  which  is  not  the  House 
Sparrow  of  Europe,  but  is  known  there  as  the 
Tree  Sparrow.  This  little  bird,  so  tame  and 
domesticated  in  Cliina,  is  not  very  common  in 
England,  and  is  there  rather  shy.  These 
birds  raise  an  immense  number  of  young, 
commencing  to  breed  in  March  and  continuing 
to  do  so  until  October.  I  have  known  as 
many  as  five  broods  to  be  got  off  from  one 
nest  alone.  Like  the  House  Sparrow  of  Great 
Britain,  the  Tree  Sparrow,  which  takes  its 
place  in  China,  shows  a  decided  tendency  to 
become  practically  parasitic  on  man,  for 
rarely,  if  ever,  does  one  meet  with  the  bird 
at  any  distance  from  human  habitations.  The 
Chinese  Greenfinch  (Ltgnrinns  sinensis),  a  little 
greenish  bird,  with  a  great  deal  of  yellow  on 
the  wings,  is  the  only  other  finch  which  is 
common  in  Hongkong,  where  it  is  met  with 
only  as  a  winter  visitor.  Usually  the  Chinese 
Greenfinches  go  about  in  small  flocks. 


A  bird  remarkable  for  the  great  size  and 
thickness  of  its  yellowish-coloured  bill  is  the 
Chinese  Grosbeak  (Eophona  mclannra),  which 
is  to  be  met  with  during  cold  spells  of  weather 
at  Hongkong,  but  never  commonly. 

A  family  of  birds  which  is  sure  to  attract 
attention  is  the  Wagtails,  both  from  their 
colouring  and  from  their  liking  for  meadow 
land  and  grass  lawns.  The  connnonest 
Wagtails  to  be  met  with  in  Hongkong  arc 
the  following  :— The  While-cheeked  Wagtail 
(Motacilla  Icncopsis)  and  the  Streak-eyed 
Wagtail  (Motacilla  ocularis),  both  of  whicli 
are  pied  black  and  white  ;  and  the  Grey 
Wagtail  (Motacilla  mclanopc),  a  bird  with  a 
conspicuous  yellow  breast.  The  two  former 
species  are  very  common  throughout  the 
winter,  and  probably  a  few  of  the  second  one 
named  remain  through  the  summer  and 
possibly  breed  in  Hongkong.  The  Grey 
Wagtails  are  less  common  than  the  others, 
and  are  not  often  to  be  found  far  away  from 
water. 

The  Eastern  Tree  Pipit  (Autlins  macnlatns) 
is  the  only  bird  of  the  genus  that  requires  to 
be  mentioned.  A  small  lark-like  bird,  with  a 
boldly  striped  breast,  it  is  commonly  to  be  seen 
from  November  to  May  in  Hongkong,  where 
it  obtains  much  of  its  food  on  the  branches 
of  trees,  along  which  it  runs  rapidly,  seeking 
for  small  insects.  This  bird  also  feeds  on 
the  ground,  being  fond  of  lawns  and  meadow 
land  ;  it  runs,  but,  unlike  so  many  small 
Passerine  birds,  it  is  unable  to  hop. 

There  is  one  species  of  Waterhen,  the 
White-breasted  Gallinule  (Porpliyrio  I'luvni- 
ciirus),  which  is  common  in  places  where 
there  is  any  water  and  suitable  cover  in  the 
Colony.  This  bird's  cry  is  a  monotonous 
"  Wak-wak-wak  !  "  continually  repeated,  par- 
ticularly at  night.  It  is  a  resident  in 
Hongkong,  and  nests  from  May  till  August 
in  suitable  localities. 

Although  Herons  of  various  species  are 
plentiful  in  South  China,  Hongkong  can  only 
boast  of  occasional  visits  from  these  hand- 
some birds.  The  two  commonest  of  the 
family,  which    are  both   known  to  the  Euro- 


pean residents  as  Paddy-birds,  from  their 
liking  for  the  submerged  rice-fields,  are  the 
Little  Egret  (Ardca  garzetta)  and  the  Chinese 
Pond  Heron  (Ardca  baccltns).  The  former  is 
practically  all  white,  whilst  the  latter  has  a 
maroon-coloured  luichal  crest  and  back. 
These  birds  are  to  be  seen  in  the  autumn  and 
spring  more  often  than  in  winter  and 
summer.  Other  members  of  the  same  family 
which  are  sometimes  to  be  seen  here  are 
the  Chestnut  Bittern  (Ardctta  cinuamomea), 
and  the  Chinese  Little  Bittern  (Ardctta 
sinensis). 

Sea-birds  are  not  numerous,  and,  indeed, 
are  scarcely  to  be  met  except  in  the  winter 
months,  and  then  chiefly  in  bad  weather, 
when  considerable  numbers  of  Herring  Gulls 
(I. ants  cachinnaiis)  seek  shelter  in  the  harbour. 
The  majority  of  these,  as  evidenced  by  their 
brownish  plumage,  are  immature.  Another 
species  of  Herring  Gull  (Lams  vcga-)  may 
occur  among  those  in  the  harbour,  and  both 
tliese  are  very  nearly  related  to  those 
Herring  Gulls  which  inhabit  British  waters. 
Another  and  much  sm;dler  gull  is  the 
Common  Gull  (Lams  caiins),  which  is  not 
infrequently  to  be  met  with  in  the  approaches 
to  the  harbour.  A  third  gull,  the  Black- 
tailed  Gull  (Lams  crassirostris),  occasionally 
occurs  in  January  and  February,  and  is 
easily  distinguished  when  adult  by  the  black 
bar  across  the  tail,  or  when  young,  as  is  the 
case  with  most  of  those  seen  here,  by  the 
great  thickness  of  the  bill. 

In  conclusion,  one  may  mention  the  com- 
mon Cormorant  (I'halocrocorax  carbo),  not  at 
all  an  uncommon  bird  in  the  approaches  to 
the  harbour,  or  in  such  places  as  Tsin  Wan 
Bay,  where  fish  is  plentiful.  Probably  this 
bird  remains  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Hong- 
kong throughout  the  year,  and  may  breed  here. 

It  only  remains  to  be  said  that,  although 
admittedly  incomplete,  it  is  hoped  that  this 
short  account  of  the  birds  of  Hongkong  will 
be  of  some  use  to  those  who  may  read  it. 
It  has,  at  least,  the  merit,  so  far  as  the 
writer  is  aware,  of  being  the  first  of  its  kind 
to  deal  with  the  subject. 


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T^=^:^^:=^V? 


HONGKONG. 


By  H.  a.  Cartwright. 


^  RUGGED  ridge  of  lofty  granite 
hills,  rising  almost  sheer  out 
of  the  waters  of  the  estuary 
of  the  Canton  River,  off  the 
south-east  coast  of  China,  the 
island  of  Hongkong  is  well 
fashioned  by  Nature  to  serve 
as  an  outpost  of  the  British  Empire  in  the 
Far  East.  Extremely  irregular  in  outline,  it 
has  an  area  of  only  29  square  miles,  measuring 
loi  miles  in  greatest  length  from  north-east 
to  south-west,  and  varying  in  breadth  from 
2  to  5  miles.  The  haunt  of  a  few  fishermen 
and  freebooters  less  than  seventy  years  ago, 
this    tiny    spot     has    become,    in     the    hands 


of  the  British,  a  phenomenally  prosperous 
entrepot  of  trade  at  which  ships  hailing 
from  all  points  of  the  compass  discliarge 
their  cargoes  and  replenish  their  holds.  The 
almost  precipitous  slopes  of  the  hills,  formerly 
as  bare  as  the  rocky  escarpments  on  the 
opposite  mainland,  are  covered  from  base  to 
summit  with  luxuriant  verdure,  and  a  fine 
city  of  300,000  inhabitants,  who  live  amid  all 
the  advantages  of  Western  civilisation,  has 
sprung  up  along  the  northern  shore  and 
overflowed  to  the  neighbouring  peninsula. 
"  It  may  be  doubted,"  as  Sir  William  des 
Voeux,  a  former  Governor,  wrote  in  a  des- 
patch to  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies 


in  i88g,  "  whether  the  evidences  of  material 
and  moral  achievement,  presented  as  it  were 
in  a  focus,  make  anywhere  a  more  forcible 
appeal  to  the  eye  and  imagination,  and 
whether  any  other  spot  on  the  earth  is  thus 
more  likely  to  excite,  or  much  more  fully 
justifies,  pride  in  the  name  of  Englishman." 

It  was  in  the  year  1839  that  the  British, 
driven  from  Canton  by  the  persecution  of 
the  Chinese  and  denied  an  asylum  in  Macao, 
were  compelled  in  their  adversity  to  seek 
refuge  in  the  sheltered  haven  of  Hongkong. 
At  that  time  the  barren  inhospitable  appear- 
ance of  the  island  seemed  to  preclude  any 
hope  of  a  permanent  settlement.     Moreover, 


VIEWS    OF    HONGKONG. 


'■"••<  "•'"■»ni.w„ 


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(Reproduced  from  the  Directory  and  Chronicle  for  China,  Japan,  Straits,  Sic,  by  Itind  permission  of  the  proprietors.; 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     147 


Captain  Elliot,  tlie  representative  of  the 
British  Government  in  China,  considered  the 
anchorage  unsafe,  as  being  "  exposed  to  attack 


from  several  quarters,"  and,  regardless  of  the 
petitions  of  the  shipping  community,  he  insis- 
ted upon  the  removal  of  the  merchant  vessels 


A   PEAK   VIEW. 

GENERAL    VIEW    OF    THE    PEAK. 

VIEW    SHOWING   RESIDENCES    STRETCHING    UP    HILL. 


to  Tong-koo.  In  the  following  year,  how- 
ever, a  British  expedition  arrived  to  settle  by 
the  arbitrament  of  arms  the  long-standing 
grievances  against  the  Chinese,  and  Hong- 
kong became  its  headquarters.  In  January 
of  1841,  after  Canton  had  been  menaced 
with  capture,  the  island  and  harbour  were 
ceded  to  Great  Britain  by  the  Treaty  of 
Chuenpee.  Formal  official  possession  was 
taken  in  the  name  of  Her  Majesty  Queen 
Victoria  by  Commodore  Sir  J.  J.  Gordon 
Bremer  on  January  26,  1841.  Captain  Sir 
E.  Belcher,  K.N.,  who  had  landed  the  pre- 
vious day  with  the  officers  of  his  ship, 
ascertained  the  true  position  of  Hongkong  to 
be  22°  i6'  30'  N.  Latitude,  and  1 14°  8'  30' 
E.  Longitude,  and  determined  the  names 
and  heights  of  the  principal  peaks  as  Victoria 
Peak  (1,825  feet).  High  West  (1,774  feet). 
Mount  Gough  (1,575  feet).  Mount  Kellett 
|r,i3i  feet).  Mount  Parker  (1,711  feet),  and 
Pottinger  Peak  (1,016  feet).  The  cession  was 
confirmed  by  the  Treaty  of  Nanking  in  1842. 

Despite  the  assurances  of  friendship  con- 
tained in  this  Treaty,  the  Chinese  authorities 
consistently  maintained  an  attitude  of  over- 
bearing arrogance  and  ill-will  towards  the. 
British,  and  a  long  series  of  insults  culminated 
in  the  arrest  of  the  Chinese  crew  of  the 
Arrow,  a  small  coasting  vessel,  sailing 
under  the  British  flag,  in  October,  1856. 
Hostilities,  long  withheld,  then  broke  out,  and 
resulted  in  the  capture  of  Canton  in  the 
following  year  by  the  British  and  French 
troops,  who  remained  in  occupation  of  the 
city  for  four  years.  In  the  meantime  the 
importance,  from  a  military  point  of  view,  of 
acquiring  the  Kowloon  Peninsula — a  small 
tongue  of  land,  with  an  area  of  about  4 
square  miles,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Hong- 
kong harbour — became  evident,  and  on  March 
21,  i860,  a  perpetual  lease  was  obtained  from 
the  Cantonese  Viceroy,  Lao  Tsung  Kwong. 
In  the  following  October  the  peninsula  was 
ceded  to  the  British  Crown  under  the  Peking 
Convention,  and,  in  1898,  at  the  suggestion 
of  Sir  Paul  Chater,  a  99  years'  lease  was 
obtained  of  the  territory  stretching  behind  it 
to  a  line  drawn  from  Mirs  Point,  140"  30' 
East,  to  the  western  extremity  of  Deep  Bay, 
113°  52'  East,  together  with  the  islands  of 
Lantau,  Lamma,  Cheung  Chau,  and  others. 
The  whole  of  this  territory,  embracing  some 
376  square  miles,  is  now  comprised  in  the 
Colony  of  Hongkong,  which  takes  its  name 
from  the  anchorage  of  Aberdeen,  on  the  south 
of  the  island,  known  to  the  native  fishermen 
as  Heung-kong,  signifying  "good  harbour." 
The  European  mariners  who  were  in  the  habit 
of  putting  in  here  to  obtain  supplies  of  water 
from  the  stream  which  falls  into  the  sea  at 
Aberdeen  village  mistook  the  name  of  the 
anchorage  for  that  of  the  whole  island,  and 
marked  their  charts  accordingly.  The  name 
first  appeared  as  one  word  in  the  Royal 
Charter  published  in  the  Government  Gazette 
in  1843,  and  by  the  same  instrument  the  city 
of  Victoria  received  its  present  appellation. 
The  word  Kowloon  is  derived  from  the 
Chinese  words  Kau-lung,  signifying  "  nine 
dragons,"  in  reference  to  the  nine  hills  which 
form  the  background  of  the  peninsula. 

Prior  to  the  arrival  of  the  British,  the 
population  of  the  island  probably  never  ex- 
ceeded 2,000.  The  ostensible  occupation  of 
the  inhabitants  was  fishing,  but  the  term 
Ladrones  (robbers),  by  which  this  and  the 
adjacent  islands  were  known  to  the  Portu- 
guese, shows  that  they  practised  something 
else  besides  "  the  gentle  art "  ;  indeed, 
piracies  were  a  source  of  infinite  trouble 
to  the  British  settlers  for  many  years.  In 
October,  1841,  the  population  of  Hongkong, 
including   both   the   troops   and   residents   of 


BTATITB   OF    BIB   THOMAS   JACKSON. 
THK    CEMETERY. 


HONGKONG    HARBOUR    AT   EARLY    MORN. 
QUEEN    VICTORIA    STATUE. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     149 


all  nationalities,  was  estimated  at  15,000,  or 
Ihiice  as  many  as  six  months  previously. 
By  1848  the  total  had  increased  to  2:,5I4. 
A  rebellion  which  broke  out  in  the  provinces 
adjacent  to  Canton  in  the  early  fifties  sent  a 
flood  of  emigrants  to  Hongkon;;,  and  the 
population  rose  to  nearly  40,000  in  1853, 
and  to  75,500  in  1858.  Between  i860  and 
186:,  wiien  the  peninsula  of  Kowloon  was 
added  to  the  Colony,  the  numbers  increased 
from  94,917  people  to  119,321,  but  from  that 
date  onward  to  1872  very  little  progress  was 
made.  Four  years  later,  however,  a  census 
revealed  139,144  souls,  due  in  part  to  the 
influ.x  of  some  hundieds  of  Portuguese 
families  from  Macao  after  the  destructive 
typhoon  of  1874.  In  1881  there  were  in  the 
Colony  150,000  Chinese,  and  9,622  British, 
Portuguese,  and  other  non-Chinese  inhabi- 
tants.     To-day  the-. population   of    the   Colony 


this  statement,  he  cited  the  case  of  the  98th 
Regiment,  which  lost  257  men  by  death  in 
twenty-one  months,  and  of  the  Koyal  Artillery, 
whose  strength  fell  in  two  years  from  135  lo 
84,  from  the  same  cause.  General  D'Aguilar, 
the  Commander  of  the  Forces,  also  expressed 
the  opinion  that  to  retain  Hongkong  would 
involve  the  loss  of  a  whole  regiment  every 
three  years.  These  gloomy  views,  however, 
were  not  shared  by  Sir  John  Davis,  the 
Governor,  who  stoutly  maintained  that  time 
alone  was  required  for  the  development  of 
the  Colony  and  for  the  correction  of  some 
of  the  evils  that  hindered  its  early  progress. 
Sir  John  lived  to  see  his  prediction  amply 
verified.  Malarial  fever,  which  proved  such 
a  scourge  in  those  days — owing,  it  seems, 
to  the  noxious  exhalations  from  the  dis- 
integrated granite  disturbed  in  the  course  of 
building   operations — has   received    so    much 


In  the  jeremiad  of  Mr.  Montgomery  Martin, 
referred  to  above,  the  opinion  was  expressed 
that  it  would  be  a  delusion  to  hope  that 
Hongkong  would  ever  become  a  commercial 
emporium  like  Singapore.  Again  the  pro- 
gress of  events  has  shown  Mr.  Martin  to  be 
a  false  prophet,  for  Hongkong  is  now  the 
pivot  upon  which  Ihe  trade  of  South  China 
turns.  Although,  in  accoidancc  with  the 
understanding  given  to  the  Chinese  by  Sir 
H.  Pottinger  when  negotiating  the  Nanking 
Treaty,  the  port  is  free,  and,  therefore,  no 
official  record  of  the  exports  and  imports 
is  compiled,  the  annual  value  of  the  trade  is 
estimated  at  110  less  than  fifty  millions 
sterling.  A  comparatively  small  but  increas- 
ing pioportion  of  this  trade  consists  of  local 
manufaclures.  In  respect  of  tonnage,  Hong- 
kong is  the  largest  shipping  port  in  the 
world.     In  1907  the  total  tonnage  entered  and 


STREET    SCENES    IN    HONGKONG. 


— exclusive  of  the  New  Territory,  which  is 
estimated  to  contain  about  85,000  Chinese — 
may  be  set  down  as  330,000.  This  figure 
includes  some  9,000  soldiers  and  sailors,  and 
a  floating  population  of  nearly  50,000  Chinese 
men,  women,  and  children  who,  from  the 
cradle  to  the  grave,  know  no  home  other 
than  their  junks,  or  sampans,  afford.  The 
non-Chinese  civil  community  numbers  about 
10,000,  and  includes  Europeans,  Eurasians, 
Indians,  Malays,  and  Africans. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Colony  the 
ravages  of  disease  were  so  disastrous  that 
in  1844  the  advisability  of  abandoning  the 
island  was  seriously  discussed.  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery Martin,  Her  Majesty's  Treasurer, 
drew  up  a  long  report  in  which  he  expressed 
the  belief  that  the  place  would  never  be 
habitable  for  Europeans,  and,   in   support  of 


attention  from  the  Medical  and  Sanitary 
Departments  that  its '  toll  of  human  life  is 
decreasing  year  by  year.  'Ihe  chief  causes 
of  mortality  now  are  plague,  dysentery, 
diarrhoea,  malarial  fever,  and  small-pox. 
The  death-rate  for  1907  was  22' 12  per 
thousand  of  the  inhaliitants,  but  for  the  non- 
Chinese  community  it  was  as  low  as  I5'46, 
which  compares  not  unfavourably  with  many 
large  towns  in  the  United  Kingdom.  The 
birth-rate,  however,  is  small.  Among  the 
non-Chinese  it  was  equivalent  to  I5'95  per 
mille,  but  for  the  whole  community  it  was 
only  431  per  mille.  This  latter  figure 
would,  no  doubt,  be  somewhat  higher  but 
for  the  Chinese  custom  of  not  registering  a 
birth  unless  the  child  survives  for  a  month, 
and  often,  in  the  case  of  a  female  child,  of 
not  registering  it  at  all. 


cleared  amounted  to  36,000,000  tons.  To 
this  total  ocean-going  steamers  and  war 
vessels  exceeding  60  tons  contributed  about 
19,500,000  tons,  of  which  more  than  one- 
half —  to  be  exact,  11,846,533  tons  —  was 
British. 

The  harbour — one  of  the  most  extensive 
and  picturesque  in  the  world — consists  of 
the  shclteied  anchorage  lying  between  the 
northern  shore  of  the  island  and  the  opposite 
mainland.  It  varies  in  width  from  a  third 
of  a  mile  at  the  Ly-ee-mun  Channel,  on  the 
east,  to  3  miles  at  the  widest  point,  and 
has  an  area  of  10  square  miles.  On  either 
side  the  hills  and  mountains  stand  guard 
like  silent  sentinels,  and  combine  to  produce  a 
spectacle  of  impressive  grandeur.  The  inter- 
vening stretch  of  water  is  at  all  times  thickly 
studded    with    vessels    of    every    conceivable 

Q2a 


.riiTTSnMi'i^i'iBwwap! .  I 


VIEW    OF    HONGKONQ. 


VIEW    OF    THE    HARBOUR    AND    KOWLOON. 


152     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


size  and  shape — from  the  little  junks,  or  s;un- 
pans,  of  the  natives  to  the  warships  of  the 
China  squadron  and  the  majestic  Ihiers  of 
27,000  tons  burden  belonging  to  the  Pacific 
Mail  Steamship  Compimy.  A  busy,  clamorous 
life  prevails  on  e^cry  side.  Steam  launches 
dart  hither  and  thither,  innumerable  sampans 


harbour,  Hongkong  presents  a  very  pic- 
turesque appearance,  not  unlike  Ihat  of  the 
north  coast  of  Devon,  or  the  west  coast  of 
Scotland.  At  night  time  the  scene  resembles 
a  city  1;/  fCt(.  The  riding  lights  of  the 
shipping  sparkling  like  gems  on  the  bosom 
of   the   deep,  the   bright  illuminations  of   the 


VIEWS    ON    THE    PEAK. 


wriggle  their  tortuous  courses  backward 
and  forward  between  the  ships  and  the 
shore,  junks  pick  their  way  up  and  down 
the  fairways  under  lateen  sails,  and  ocean- 
going steamers  move  in  stately  fashion  to 
and  from  their  moorings.      Viewed  from  the 


water-front,  and  the  countless  lamps  that 
bespangle  the  hillsides  and  stretch  along  the 
terraces  as  though  in  festoons,  furnish  a 
sight  that  fascinates  the  eye  and  leaves  an 
enduring  impression  of  delight  upon  the 
mind. 


Nestling  at  the  foot  of  the  hills,  and 
stretching  from  east  to  west  lor  nearlv  live 
miles  along  the  northern  coast  of  the  island, 
is  tlie  city  of  Victoria.  A  thriving  hive  of 
industry,  built  on  a  narrow  riband  of  land, 
much  of  which  has  been  won  from  the  sea, 
it  is  a  wonderful  monument  to  the  enterprise, 
energy,  and  success  of  the  British  as  colo- 
nisers. The  streets  are  well  laid  out  and 
well  kept,  and  the  buildings  which  abut 
upon  them  are  remarkable  for  their  massive 
and  imposing  design.  The  Praya,  which 
borrows  its  name  from  the  embankment  in 
the  neighbouring  colony  of  Macao,  is  some 
50  feet  wide,  and  extends  along  the  entire 
sea-front,  except  for  a  short  distance  where 
its  continuity  is  broken  by  the  buildings  of 
the  War  Office  and  the  Admiralty.  The 
original  Praya  wall  was  commenced  during 
the  governorship  of  Sir  Hercules  Robinson 
(1859-65),  when  extensive  reclamations  of 
land  were  made  from  the  sea.  The  work, 
however,  was  demolished  by  a  terrific 
typhoon  in  August  of  1867,  and  was  again 
seriously  damaged  by  a  similar  visitation  in 
1874.  Undismayed,  however,  the  inhabitants 
repaired  the  breaches,  and,  in  1890,  at  the 
initiative  of  Sir  Paul  Chater,  another  con- 
siderable tract  of  land  was  added  to  the 
European  business  area.  It  is  now  proposed 
to  carry  the  Praya  a  quarter  of  a  mile  further 
out  to  sea  from  the  Naval  Yard  to  Causeway 
Bay,  a  mile  and  a  quarter  to  the  east. 

Almost  parallel  with  the  Praya  runs 
Des  Voeux  Koad,  and  behind  this  is  Queen's 
Road,  flanked  with  fine  sliops,  and  extending 
from  the  water's  edge  at  Kennedy  Town, 
on  the  west,  to  within  a  short  distance  of 
Happy  Valley,  on  the  east — in  all  some  four 
miles.  Originally  Queen's  Road  was  just 
above  high-water  mark,  and  gave  its  name 
to  the  rising  township,  which  was  known 
as  Queen's  Town  before  it  became  the  city 
of  Victoria  in  1843.  These  three  roads — the 
Praya  (or  Connaught  Road),  Des  Voeux  Road, 
and  Queen's  Road — form  the  main  arteries 
of  traftic,  and  are  intersected  at  right  angles 
by  a  number  of  short  streets.  Space  is  too 
precious  to  allow  of  any  of  these  being  very 
wide,  but  this  is  not  a  matter  of  nnich  moment 
in  view  of  the  almost  entire  absence  of 
horsed  conveyances.  Vehicular  traffic  is 
confined  chiefly  to  handcarts,  rickshaws,  chairs 
suspended  from  poles  borne  on  the  shoulders 
of  coolies,  there  being  but  a  few  pair-pony 
gharries,  and  a  Victoria  or  two  used  by 
Chinese. 

The  European  business  quarter  lies  in 
the  centre  of  the  town,  between  Pottinger 
Street  and  the  Naval  Yard.  Within  this 
small  area  of  less  than  50  acres  are  grouped 
handsome  blocks  of  offices  ranging  from  four 
to  six  storeys  in  height,  tliat  would  not  suffer 
by  comparison  with  those  of  many  cities  in 
the  United  Kingdom.  They  stand  upon 
pile  foundations,  and  arc  built  to  meet  local 
conditions.  The  verandahs,  by  which  all  of 
them  are  surrounded,  render  any  pure  style 
of  architecture  impossible,  but,  generally 
speaking,  it  may  be  said  that  the  prevailing 
tone,  so  far  as  it  can  be  identified  with  any 
particular  period,  is  that  of  the  Italian 
Renaissance.  This      applies      to      Queen's 

Buildings,  a  block  measuring  180  feet  square, 
with  four  storeys,  surmounted  by  towers 
150  feet  in  height  ;  Prince's  Buildings,  a 
similar  block  ;  George's,  King's,  Alexandra, 
and  York  Buildings,  Hotel  Mansions,  the 
Hongkong  Club,  and  the  premises  of  the 
Eastern  Extension  Telegraph  Company,  and 
of  Messrs.  Butlertield  &  Swire.  Not  far 
removed  from  these,  and  occupying  a  corner 
site  abutting  upon  Queen's  Road  and 
Des    Voeux    Road,    is    the    Hongkong    and 


TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      153 


Shanghai  Bank,  a  handsome  )>ranite  structure 
in  classical  Roman  Corinthian  style,  sur- 
mounted by  a  large  dome.  Next  to  this  is 
the  City  Hall,  a  striking  building  in 
Romanesque  style,  carried  out  in  stucco 
work,  containing  a  theatre,  library,  museum. 


Doric  dome  terminaling  at  a  height  of 
130  feet  from  the  ground.  The  front  of  the 
building  will  be  split  into  fifteen  bays  with 
Ionic  columns,  the  bases  of  which  will  be 
6  feet  3  inches  square.  Over  the  centre  of 
the    front   will    be  a   pediment    containing  a 


DES    VOEUX    ROAD. 


and  several  halls  —  approached  by  a  fine 
stone  staircase — in  which  dances  and  other 
gatherings  are  held.  In  front  of  the  main 
entrance  stands  a  large  fountain,  consisting 
of  four  allegorical  figures  supporting  a 
bowl,  from  the  centre  of  which  rises  another 
figure  holding  a  cornucopia.  This  was  the 
gift,  in  1864,  of  Mr.  Dent,  a  former  merchant 
of  the  Colony.  Opposite  to  the  entrance 
of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank  in 
Des  Voeux  Road  is  a  tastefully  laid-out 
garden,  held  in  reserve  by  the  bank.  In 
a  recess  at  the  entrance  to  this  enclosure  is 
a  life-size  bronze  statue  of  Sir  Thomas 
Jackson,  a  former  manager  of  the  institution, 
who  received  the  honour  of  a  baronetcy  in 
recognition  of  his  financial  services  to  the 
Colony.  Upon  a  site  adjacent  to  this  open 
space,  where  Chater  Street  and  Wardley 
Street  cross  one  another,  a  bronze  jubilee 
statue  has  been  erected  of  H.M.  the  late 
Queen  Victoria,  enthroned  under  a  canopy 
of  Portland  stone.  Near  by  stand  a  bronze 
statue  of  H.M.  the  King,  presented  bv 
Sir  Paul  Chater,  C.M.G.,  and  another  o'f 
H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales,  the  gift  of 
Mr.  James  Jardine  Bell-Irving,  both  of  which 
were  unveiled  by  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of 
Connaught  when,  as  Inspector-General  of 
the  Forces,  he  visited  the  Colony  on 
February  6,  1907.  A  statue  of  H.M. 
Queen  Alexandra,  subscribed  for  by  the 
community  as  a  memorial  of  the  coronation 
of  Their  Majesties  in  1902,  and  one  of 
H.R.H.  the  Princess  of  Wales,  presented 
by  Mr.  H.  N.  Mody,  are  also  to  be  placed 
in  the  same  square  at  an  early  date. 
Between  this  square  and  the  adjacent 
cricket-ground  the  new  Law  Courts  are  in 
course  of  construction.  The  principal  eleva- 
tion, facing  west,  will  represent  the  classic 
Ionic    order,    and    will     be     crowned     by    a 


semi-circular  opening,  above  which  the 
royal  arms  will  be  supported  by  figures 
of  Mercy  and  Truth.  From  the  main  tier 
will  rise  a  granite  statue  of  Justice,  9  feet 
in  height.  Another  notable  addition  to  the 
architectural    features    of    the    city    is    being 


made  by  the  erection  of  a  splendid  set 
of  Government  Offices,  four  storeys  in  height, 
in  the  centre  of  the  European  business  area. 
The  building  will  occupy  a  prominent  corner 
site,  more  than  half  an  acre  in  extent,  with 
frontages  to  Connaught  Road,  Pedder  Street, 
and  Des  Voeux  Road.  The  principal  eleva- 
tion, facing  Pedder  Street,  will  be  a  free 
treatment  of  the  Renaissance  style  carried 
out  in  local  gianite  and  Amoy  bricks.  The 
line  of  the  parapet,  78  feet  from  the  ground, 
will  be  broken  by  ornamental  gables,  and 
each  of  the  eastern  angles  will  be  surmounted 
by  a  graceful  turret.  In  the  centre  of  the 
northern  front,  overlooking  the  harbour,  a 
bold  square  clock-tower  will  rise  to  a 
height  of  over  200  feet.  At  the  other 
end  of  Pedder  Street  may  be  seen  the 
unpretentious  and  ill-arranged  structure,  con- 
taining the  Post  Office,  Supreme  Court,  and 
some  of  the  other  Government  Offices,  which 
these  two  new  buildings  are  intended  to 
supersede.  In  line  with  it,  at  the  entrance 
to  Queen's  Road,  stands  an  ugly  clock-tower, 
erected  by  public  subscription  in  1862,  at 
the  suggestion  of  Mr.  J.  Dent,  whose  original 
design  had  to  be  stripped  of  its  original 
decorative  features,  owing  to  the  waning 
enthusiasm  of  the  community. 

Chinatown  stretches  westward  from  Pot- 
tinger  Street.  It  consists  of  a  labyrinth  of 
streets,  many  of  them  very  narrow,  closely 
packed  at  all  hours  of  the  day  with  a  jostling 
mass  of  humanity.  Here  are  to  be  seen  re- 
produced all  the  familiar  phases  of  Chinese 
life — squalid -looking  shops  packed  with  a 
strange  medley  of  things  ;  artisans  patiently 
and  deftly  plying  their  trades  as  braziers, 
tinkers,  or  carpenters ;  itinerant  vendors  of 
food-stuffs  and  other  commodities,  stooping 
under  heavy  loads  suspended  from  bamboo 
poles  borne  across  the  shoulders  ;  and  urchins 
at  play  in  the  less-frequented  courts  and 
alleys.  It  is  in  this  densely  overcrowded 
area  that  plague  and  small-pox  find  a  strong- 
hold, but  within  the  last  decade  the  Sanitary 
Board  has  done  much  to  combat  the  spread 
of  these  diseases,   by   making  house-to-house 


WYNDHAM 

(Known  .IS   tlie   " 


STREET. 

Flower  .Street.") 


Q2 


154     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


\'i$itatioiis.  and  insisting,  as  far  as  possible, 
upon  the  provision  of  proper  air-space,  ven- 
tilation,  and  sanitation. 

In  this  neighbourhood  are  situated  several 
hotels  where  the  mysteries  of  Chinese  ''chow" 
await  the  intrepid ;   two  theatres    in    which 


Hindu — which  cover  the  side  of  the  hill  at 
the  rear  of  the  grand-stand  as  thougli  de- 
signed, like  the  death's-head  at  the  Roman 
feast,  to  serve  as  a  reminder  of  the  transient 
nature  of  earthly  pleasures. 
Beyond    Happy    Valley    lies    the    Chinese 


ABERDEEN    FROM    THE    PEAK. 


Chinese  conceptions  of  the  drama  find  weird 
expression  ;  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital,  a  purely 
Chinese  institution  maintained  by  voluntary 
contributions  ;  the  Government  Civil  Hospital, 
a  large  and  well-designed  building  affording 
extensive  accommodation  ;  and  the  Nethersole 
Hospital.  This  last  is  affiliated  with  the 
Alice  Memorial  Hospital  at  the  corner  of 
Hollywood  Road  and  At>erdeen  Street,  a  useful 
and  philanthropic  institution,  which  serves 
also  as  the  headquarters  of  the  Hongkong 
College  of  Medicine  for  Chinese.  A  little 
higher  up  Aberdeen  Street,  with  its  chief 
frontage  in  Staunton  Street,  is  Queen's  College, 
the  chief  educational  institution  of  the  Colony. 

At  the  opposite  end  of  the  town  are  the 
Military  Hospital,  a  fine  range  of  buildings 
along  Bowen  Road  at  an  elevation  of  400  feet 
above  sea-level ;  and  the  Royal  Naval  Hospital, 
occupying  a  small  eminence  at  the  eastern 
extremity  of  Queen's  Road. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  Gap  is  Happy 
Valley,  the  great  rallying  point  of  those  who 
take  an  interest  in  out-door  sports.  A  level 
stretch  of  green  sward  enclosed  by  lofty  fir- 
clad  hills,  it  bears  a  remarkable  resemblance 
to  Grasmere,  in  the  English  lake  district. 
Around  it  runs  a  circular  racecourse,  seven 
furlongs  in  circumference,  and,  within  this, 
ample  provision  has  been  made  for  cricket, 
foott>all,  and  golf.  On  the  occasion  of  the 
annual  races,  which  are  held  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Hongkong  Jockey  Club  in 
February,  the  whole  Colony  makes  holiday 
for  three  days,  and  the  course  is  crowded. 
The  excitement  and  enthusiasm  inseparable 
from  an  English  meeting  are,  however, 
entirely  absent  here,  the  proceedings  being 
conducted  with  a  funereal  decorum.  This 
may  be  traceable  to  the  close  proximity  of 
the  trimly  -  kept  cemeteries  —  Mahomedan, 
Roman     Catholic,     Protestant,     Parsce,    and 


fishing  village  of  Shaukiwan,  in  a  sheltered 
bay  near  the  Ly-ee-miin  Pass.  This  can  be 
reached  by  the  electric  tramway  which  runs 
from  Belcher's  Bay  on  the  west,  through 
the  city  of  Victoria  to  this  point,  in  all,  a 
distance  of  nine  and  a  half  miles.  On  the 
way  several  large  factories  are  passed,  chief 


among  them  being  the  important  sugar 
refilling  works  on  the  left,  and  the  large 
cotton-spinning  works  on  the  right,  of 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  at  Causeway 
Bay,  and  the  huge  sugar  refinery  and  ship- 
building yard  of  Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire 
at  Quarry  Bay. 

A  winding  path  between  the  hills  leads 
to  Stanley  by  way  of  Tytaiii  Tuk,  a  little 
village  nestling  among  trees  at  the  head  of 
Tytam  Bay,  the  most  extensive  inlet  on  the 
southern  coast.  Stanley  was  formerly  a 
military  station,  but  it  was  abandoned  by 
the  troops  for  reasons  which  are  explained 
only  too  eloquently  by  the  graves  that  fill 
the  cemetery  on  the  point.  Five  or  six 
miles  west  of  Stanley  is  Aberdeen,  which 
possesses  a  well-sheltered  little  harbour  much 
frequented  by  fishing  craft,  also  two  large 
docks,  a  paper  mill,  and  the  Colony's  only 
brick,  pipe,  and  tile  manufactory.  Krom 
Aberdeen  there  is  a  choice  of  two  carriage 
roads  to  Victoria — one  leading  to  Bonham 
Road  tlirough  Pokfolum,  formerly  a  favourite 
place  of  resort  for  Eunjpean  residents  in  hot 
weather  ;  and  tlie  other,  constituting  a  por- 
tion of  the  new  Diamond  Jubilee  Road, 
passing  through  most  charming  scenery  to 
the  Tramway  Terminus  at  West  Point. 

From  Queen's  Koad  a  number  of  steep 
roads  and  paths  ascend  the  lower  slopes  of 
the  hills,  which  above  the  centre  of  tlie  city 
are  dotted  with  attractive  residences,  thickly 
at  first,  and  then  at  wider  intervals  as 
the  Peak  is  approached.  These  residences 
— of  solid  masonry  embowered  in  green — 
are  approached  by  well  made  zig-zig 
paths  shaded  with  trees.  Conspicuous  by 
reason  of  its  beauty  and  its  isolation  is 
Marble  Hall,  the  home  of  Sir  Paul  Chater, 
which  contains  a  collection  of  china.  Ascend- 
ing by  way  of  Garden  Road,  which  is  the 
beginning  of  a  delightful  though  rather 
exacting  walk  to  the  summit,  one  passes,  on 
the  right,  the  Anglican  Cathedral  of  St.  John, 
rising  out  of  a  wealth  of  tropical  foliage. 
Though  of  no  particular  style,  but  with  a 
tendency  to  Gothic,  this  edifice  is  not  lacking 
in    beauty.      The    square   tower,   surmounted 


WARDLEY    STREET. 


TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     155 


CHINESE    RESIDENCES,    LY-EE-MCN,    HONGKONa. 


by  pinnacles,  has  a  grace  of  its  own  and  is 
a  feature  of  the  landscape  from  many  points 
of  view.  Near  by  stands  an  unpretentious 
group  of  Government  Offices,  whose  plain- 
ness is  relieved  by  the  surrounding  vegetation. 
A  little  higher  up  on  the  same  side  is  Govern- 
ment House,  a  commodious  and  substantially 
built  residence,  dating  from  the  year  1857. 
Above  this  and  lying  on  either  side  of 
Albany  Road  are  the  Public  Gardens,  taste- 
fully laid  out  in  walks  and  terraces,  and 
containing  a  profusion  of  rare  palms,  trees, 
and  shrubs,  and  a  constant  succession  of 
bright  flowers.  The  collection  of  palms  is 
especially  noteworthy,  for  it  embraces  speci- 
mens from  all  parts  of  the  world.  A 
handsome  fountain  adorns  the  second  terrace, 
and  looking  down  upon  this  is  a  large  bronze 
statue  of  Sn-  Arthur  Kennedy,  who  was  a 
popular  Governor  of  the  Colony  from  1872 
to  1876.  From  this  coign  of  vantage  a  view 
is  obtained  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Cathedral 
of  St.  Joseph,  a  cruciform  building  with  a 
central  tower  at  the  intersection  and  a  de- 
tached Gothic  campanile  tower.  The  sacred 
edifice  occupies  a  delightful  site  in  Glenealy, 
one  of  the  prettiest  ravines  in  the  Colony, 
which  is  shortly  to  be  desecrated  by  a  second 
tramway  line  to  the  Peak.  On  the  left  side 
of  Garden  Koad,  after  p.nssing  Murray 
Barracks  and  the  terminus  of  the  little  funi- 
cular tramway  which  gives  easy  access  to 
Victoria  Gap,  entrance  is  gained  to  Kennedy 
Koad,  along  which  lie  the  Union  Church,  a 
pleasing  little  edifice  in  the  Italian  style,  and 
the  handsome  premises  of  the  German  Club. 
This  road,  which  winds  round  the  hill  and 
eventually  leads  down  to  the  Gap,  forms  a  very 
pleasant  promenade.  Throughout  its  entire 
length  of  about  a  mile  and  a  half  charming 
glimpses  of  the  harbour  are  obtainable 
through  the  interlacing  trees  which  form  a 
canopy  overhead,  while  here  and  there  little 
rills  come  splashing  down  over  rocks  and 
hide  themselves  in  the  tangled  vegetation 
below.  On  a  similar  level  to  this  road,  but 
running  in  an  opposite  direction,  is  Caine 
Road,  and,  above  that  and  in  a  line  with 
MacDonnell  Road,  is  Robinson  Road.  Both 
roads   eventually  merge   into   Bonham    Road, 


which  eventually  loses  itself  in  Pokfolum 
Road,  leading  to  the  village  of  Aberdeen,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  island.  Caine  Road  is 
largely  built  upon,  but  from  Bonham  Koad 
onw-ards  the  road  becomes  more  rural  in 
character  and  commands  fine  sea  views. 

Parallel    with    Kennedy    Road    and    at    a 
height    of   400    feet   above    sea-level,    Bowen 


Road  traverses  the  face  of  the  hills 
from  Happy  Valley  to  a  point  above  the 
centre  of  the  town  some  four  miles  further 
to  the  west.  This  aqueduct  and  viaduct — 
for  such  it  is — was  constructed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  conveying  water  from  the  Tytam 
reservoir.  In  many  parts  it  is  carried  over 
the  ravines  and  rocks  by  ornamental  stone 
bridges,  one  of  which,  above  Wanchai,  has 
twenty-three  arches.  The  road  commands 
magnificent  views  of  the  eastern  district,  and 
is  a  favourite  resort  of  pedestrians. 

Around  Victoria  Gap  a  little  hill  settlement 
has  been  formed,  possessing  its  own  club 
and  its  own  church,  as  well  as  several  hos- 
pitals. The  reason  for  the  popularity  of  this 
district  is  not  far  to  seek.  In  summer  time, 
when  the  city  below  is  wrapped  in  a  haze 
of  clammy  heat,  the  atmosphere  at  this 
altitude  is  several  degrees  cooler  and  less 
humid.  Throughout  the  winter  a  succession 
of  crisp,  clear  days  is  experienced,  and  it  is 
only  during  the  spring,  when  everything  is 
enveloped  in  a  thick  veil  of  mist,  that  the 
lower  levels  seem  more  desirable  places  of 
residence.  Numerous  paths  branch  off  from 
Victoria  Gap — some  to  the  neighbouring  hills 
and  others  to  Pokfolum  and  Aberdeen.  A 
road  to  the  westward  ascends  the  Peak, 
which  rises  abruptly  behind  the  city  of 
Victoria  to  a  height  of  nearly  2,000  feet. 
From  the  summit  of  this  eminence  a  magni- 
ficent panorama  lies  unfolded  to  the  view. 
Across  the  harbour  with  its  busy  movement, 
the  brown,  arid-looking  hills  of  the  mainland 
rear  their  crests  against  the  sky,  while  to 
the  south,  east,  and  west  the  Canton  Delta, 
a  wide  expanse  of  blue  water,  set  with 
opalescent-looking  islands,  stretches  as  far  as 
the  eye  can  reach.  At  the  close  of  day 
when  the  shades  steal  up  from  the  east  and 
the   sinking   sun   paints   the   western   horizon 


LLOYD'S    GREATER    BRITAIN    PUBLISHING    CO.'S    (LTD.)   OFFICES. 


156     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


with  rich  tints  of  orange,  yellow,  and 
primrose  that  invest  even  the  bare  hills 
with  a  golden  glow,  the  spectacle  is  one  of 
indescribable  charm. 

Communication  between  Victoria  and  the 
Kowloon  Peninsula  is  maintained  by  a  number 
of  ferry  launches,  the  most  important  being 
the  Star  Ferry  Company's  boats,  which  cross 
from  the  centre  of  the  city  direct  to  Tsim- 
tsa-tsui  Point.  The  other  launches  are  used 
by  Chinese  only,  and  run  to  Hunghom  and 
Kowloon  City,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
peninsula,  and  Yaumati  and  Sam  Shui  Po  on 
the  western  side.  At  the  present  time  Kow- 
loon is  in  its  youth,  but  it  is  growing 
vigorously,  and  gives  fair  promise  for  the 
future,  when  the  Kowloon-Canton  Railway 
shall  have  linked  it  up  with  Peking  and  the 
Trans-Siberian  Railway. 


shunting  yards,  workshops,  &c.,  in  connection 
with  this  project,  is  being  obtained  by  exten- 
sive reclamations  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
peninsula,  this  method  being  less  costly  than 
purcliasing  land  ;  and  it  requites  no  great 
prophetic  instinct  to  predict  that  in  time  the 
whole  of   Hunghom  Bay  will   be  reclaimed. 

Close  to  the  Ferry  Wharf,  and  occupying 
an  eminence  that  commands  a  good  view  of 
the  harbour,  is  the  Water  Police  Station,  and 
from  the  flagstaff  on  Signal  Hill  to  the  east- 
ward weather  signals  are  exhibited  both  day 
and  night,  tlie  time-ball  is  operated,  and 
incoming  vessels  are  announced.  Tlie  Post 
Office,  in  close  proximity  to  tlie  wharf,  is  a 
small  building,  but  is  large  enough  for  the 
present  needs  of  the  locality.  Small  resi- 
dences, most  of  which  are  semi-detached, 
are  scattered  about   close  to  the   water,   and 


to  Yaumati,  and  skirts  the  King's  Park,  a 
large  enclosure  reserved  for  recreation,  and 
the  United  Services  Recreation  Ground. 

The  Hongkong  Observatory,  a  large  but 
unpretentious  building,  the  equipment  of 
whicli  was  adversely  criticised  after  the  1906 
typhoon,  is  situated  on  Mount  Elgin,  in  the 
centre  of  the  peninsula.  Skirting  the  penin- 
sula to  the  east,  and  passing  the  military 
barracks,  Hunghom,  a  small  village  in  which 
the  dock  hands  live,  is  reached.  Sampans 
and  small  junks  lie  crowded  together  at  the 
head  of  the  bay,  the  shores  of  which  are 
lined  with  engineering  works,  the  most  im- 
portant lieing  those  of  the  Hongkong  and 
VVhampoa  Dock  Company.  There  is  also  an 
electric  light  and  power  station  here. 

Beyond  the  small  villages  of  Hok-iin  and 
Tukwawan,   Matauchung  and  Hgatsinlong,  is 


Thb  Drawing  Room. 


A   HONGKONG   RESIDENCE. 


Practically  all  the  wharves  in  the  Colony 
are  on  the  peninsula — a  fact  which  accounts 
for  the  clean  appearance  of  the  water  front  at 
Victoria.  At  Sam  Shui  Po  the  Hongkong  and 
Whampoa  Dock  Company  have  constructed 
the  Cosmopolitan  Docks.  The  Hongkong 
Wharf  and  Godown  Company  own  a  large 
slice  of  the  foreshore  on  the  western  side  of 
the  peninsula,  and  upon  this  they  have  built 
new  wharves  to  take  the  place  of  those  de- 
stroyed in  the  t\phoon  of  September  18, 
1906.  Messrs.  Bulterlield  &  Swire,  also,  have 
erected  new  steel  wharves  on  the  reclaimed 
land  at  the  very  point  of  the  peninsula,  and 
at  the  time  of  writing  are  adding  huge 
godowns,  which  will  be  in  close  proximity 
to  the  terminus  of  the  line  from  Kowloon 
to  Canton  that  is  now  under  construction. 
The  necessary  land  for  the  railway  station, 


behind  these  are  terraces  of  small  dwellings — 
each  containing  from  four  to  six  airy  rooms — 
which  are  mainly  occupied  by  those  to  whom 
the  high  rentals  demanded  in  the  island  of 
Hongkong  are  prohibitive.  All  the  roads  on 
the  peninsula  are  wide  and  lined  with  trees, 
and  two  in  particular — Robinson  Road  and 
Gascoigne  Road — are  noticeable  by  reason  of 
their  width.  In  tlie  former  is  situated  the 
Anglican  Church  of  St.  Andrew — an  excellent 
example  of  modern  work  in  Early  English 
Gothic  style — presented  by  Sir  Paul  Chafer  ; 
and  close  to  this  is  the  Kowloon  British  School 
erected  in  1901  at  the  expense  of  Mr.  Ho 
Tung.  It  may  here  be  mentioned,  in  passing, 
that  there  is  a  Roman  Catholic  Church  in 
Des  Vfteux  Road,  the  gift  of  Mr.  S.  A.  Gomes. 
Gascoigne  Road,  which  is  100  feet  wide,  runs 
right    across    the    peninsula    from    Hunghom 


KowOoon  City,  once  a  thriving  town  but  now 
simply  a  collection  of  dilapidated  dwellings. 
Kowloon  City,  which  is  sunounded  by  a  high 
granite  wall,  was  seized  by  the  British  in  May, 
1899,  although  the  agreement  under  which 
the  New  Territory  was  leased  to  the  Britisli 
specially  stipulated  that  it  was  to  remain  in 
the  hands  of  the  Chinese.  The  circumstances 
whicli  led  to  the  taking  of  the  city  are 
interesting  enough  to  bear  repetition.  Just 
prior  to  the  date  for  taking  over  the  New 
Territory  (April  17,  1899)  the  British  parties 
engaged  in  making  the  preliminary  arrange- 
ments were  attacked  by  bands  of  rebels,  and 
military  operations  were  found  necessary.  An 
engagement  was  fought  at  Slieung  Tsun  on 
April  i8th,  and  the  rebel  force,  estimated  at 
2,500  men,  was  completely  routed,  but,  even 
after    this,    intermittent    outbreaks    occurred. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG, 


SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


157 


As  it  was  established  beyond  doubt  that  the 
Chinese  authorities  were  by  no  means  innocent 
in  the  matter  of  this  disturbance,  the  Home 
Government,  to  mark  their  sense  of  the 
duplicity  of  the  Chinese,  directed  the  military 
authorities  to  occupy  Kowloon  City  and 
Samchun.  This  instruction  was  carried  out 
in  May.  The  Hongkong  Volunteers  co- 
operated in  the  attack  on  Kowloon  City,  but 
it  proved  to  be  a  bloodless  campaign,  no 
resistance  being  offered  to  the  British  force. 
Since  then  Kowloon  City  has  remained  in  the 
hands  of  the  British,  but  Samchun,  an  impor- 
tant town  on  the  border  between  China  and 
the  New  Territory,  was  handed  back  to  the 
Chinese  in  November,  1899,  and  has,  unfor- 
tunately, become  a  convenient  asylum  for 
Chinese  criminals  who  are  "  wanted  "  by  the 
Hongkong  authorities. 

On  the  western  side  of  the  peninsula  lies 
the  important  village  of  Yaumati,  which  is 
very  thickly  populated  by  Chinese,  and 
contains  the  gas  works  from  which  the  gas  is 
obtained  for  lighting  the  peninsula.  After 
passing  through  this  village  the  open  country 
is  met.  A  splendid  road  winds  along 
the  high  range  of  hills  which  divides  the 
peninsula  from  the  mainland,  rising  gradually 
higher  until  a  break  in  the  hills  is  reached, 
when  the  road  turns  sharply  to  the  right  and 
descends  into  the  Shatin  Valley.  The  road 
passes  the  extensive  waterworks  which  have 
been  completed  in  recent  years,  and  winds  to 
the  east  at  Kauprkang,  near  which  stands  the 
largest  reservoir  in  the  Colony.  The  country 
to  the  north  of  the  hills  is  extremely  fertile, 
and  large  areas  are  taken  up  in  the  cultivation 
of  paddy.  The  broad  expanse  of  the  valley 
is  dotted  here  and  there  with  small  farm- 
houses and  fields  of  paddy,  while  at  the  base 
of  the  hills,  and  ascending  for  some  little 
distance  up  the  slopes,  are  tiny  rice  fields 
arranged  in  terraces  one  above  the  other. 
Primitive  ploughs,  drawn  by  carribous,  are 
used  in  these  fields,  and  irrigation  is  carried 
out  by  hand.  Chinese  women  work  in  the 
fields,  which  are  usually  covered  with  water 
several  inches  deep.     Pineapples,  peanuts,  and 


many  other  like  products  are  grown  in  this 
valley,  but  not  to  any  large  extent.  Hilly 
country,  intercepted  by  valleys,  continues 
as  far  as  Taipohu — the  headquarters  of  the 
British  administration — on  the  shores  of  Tolo 


are  few,  there  is  promise  of  development  in 
the  future.  Iron  ore  and  silver  have  been 
found,  but  little  beyond  prospecting  has  been 
done  up  to  the  present,  owing,  no  doubt,  to 
the  absence  of  coalfields  in  the  vicinity.    The 


CHINA    LIGHT    AND    POWER    COMPANY,    LTD.— GENERAL    VIEW   OF   WORKS 

AT    KOWLOON. 


Channel,  in  Mirs  Bay,  after  which  a  wide 
expanse  of  level  country  stretches  to  the 
border  of  the  British  sphere  of  influence  and 
beyond. 

Altliough    the    industries    of    the    territory 


country  is  being  opened  up  by  means  of 
roads,  peace  and  order  are  being  preserved  by 
the  establishment  of  police  stations,  and  a 
system  of  administration  is  being  organised 
by  means  of  village  committees. 


THE    SANITARY   BOARD. 


By    a.    SH  ELTON    Hooper,    Member  of  the  Board  and  of  the  Sanitary  Commission. 


Two  problems  have  of  late  years  confronted 
the  authorities  responsible  for  the  sanitary 
administration  of  Hongkong.  One  of  these 
arises  out  of  the  prevalence  of  bubonic  plague, 
which  first  made  its  appearance  in  1894,  and 
towards  this  question  the  efforts  of  the  Sani- 
tary Board  have  been  directed,  with  such 
success  that,  as  the  returns  show,  a  decided 
check  has  been  placed  on  the  spread  of  a 
dreaded  scourge.  The  second  and  more 
serious  problem  relates  to  the  insanitary  areas 
in  the  city  of  Victoria,  where  the  surface- 
crowding  is  greater  than  in  any  other  town 
or  city  of  British  occupation  in  the  world. 
In  some  quarters  the  buildings  are  much  too 
crowded,  and  the  streets  and  lanes  too 
narrow  to  admit  the  amount  of  air  and  light 
necessary  for  public  health,  and  from  a  sani- 
tary point  of  view  these  areas  should  be 
re-laid  out.  In  England,  in  such  cases,  the 
local   authorities   have  power   to   acquire  the 


property  and  effect  the  necessary  improve- 
ments, on  payment  of  full  and  fair  compeTi- 
sation  to  the  owners,  the  cost  being  chargeable 
to  the  rates  as  a  public  improvement.  But  in 
Hongkong  the  Government  demur  to  the 
wholesale  resumption  of  property  for  the 
reason  that  the  finances  of  the  Colony  do  not 
justify  the  expenditure  necessary,  and  so  the 
trend  of  legislation  has  been  to  compel 
owners  to  carry  out  the  many  improvements 
at  their  own  expense,  by  which,  of  course, 
the  returns  on  their  investments  have  been 
seriously  affected.  In  view  of  the  fact  that 
in  the  majority  of  cases  the  buildings  have 
been  erected  in  accordance  with  the  Govern- 
ment laws  and  regulations  prevailing  at  the 
time,  an  injustice  has  been  created  in  Hong- 
kong which  would  not  be  tolerated  in  Eng- 
land. For,  although  the  laws  are  enacted  by 
a  Legislative  Council  composed  of  unofficial, 
as  well  as  of  official   members,  the  latter  are 


in  the  majority,  and,  being  obliged  to  vote 
as  the  Government  direct,  the  community 
is  left  practically  helpless.  The  community 
is  perfectly  willing  that  all  the  sanitary 
laws  now  in  force  in  England  should  be 
extended  to  Hongkong,  provided  that  private 
interests  are  protected  in  the  same  manner 
and  to  the  same  extent  as  they  are  in  the 
Home  Acts. 

Before  dealing  with  the  constitution  of  the 
Sanitary  Board,  and  detailing  its  functions 
and  powers,  a  reference  to  the  circumstances 
leading  up  to  its  formation  will  prove  of 
interest.  In  the  early  years  of  British  rule 
large  percentages  of  European  troops  and 
civilians  succumbed  to  fever.  Hospitals  were 
established  for  the  reception  of  patients,  and 
in  1843  a  Committee  of  Public  Health  and 
Cleanliness  was  appointed  by  the  Government, 
with  authority  to  enforce  rigid  sanitary  rules 
amongst  all  classes  of  the  community,  but  no 


158    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


effective  measures  ensued.  In  1844  and  1845 
the  first  Ordinances  were  made  enacting 
general  regulations  regarding  matters  of 
sanitation,  and  these,  with  various  additions 
and  amendments  necessitated  by  the  growth 
of  the  Colony,  remained  in  operation  until 
replaced  in  1856  by  an  Ordinance  embodying 
the  general  principles  laid  down  by  the 
London  Board  of  Health,  modified  to  meet 
local  conditions.  Ten  years  later  the  Gover- 
nor was  empowered  to  appoint  a  duly 
qualified  medical  practitioner  as  Medical 
Inspector  of  the  Colony.  Upon  this  officer 
devolved  the  general  control  of  sanitary 
administration,  but  he  does  not  appear  to 
have  had  any  direct  staff  under  him  until 
1873,  when  a  Chinaman  was  appointed  as 
scavenger  under  the  Survey  Department. 
This  was  followed  in  course  of  time  by  the 
appointment  of  European  inspectors. 

As  a  result  of  a  report  made  bv  Mr.  Osbert 
Chadwick  in  1881,  it  was  considered  advis- 
able to  create  a  proper  Sanitary  Department, 
under  the  Survey  (now  the  Public  Works) 
Department.  This  change  was  brought  about 
gradually — first  by  the  appointment  of  an 
inspector,  and  then  by  the  constitution  of  a 
permanent  Sanitary  Board,  which,  in  1887, 
commenced  working  under  the  Public  Health 
Ordinance  of  that  year.  That  Ordinance  was 
the  first  to  give  the  right  to  the  public  of 
electing  representatives  to  the  Board.  It 
provided  that  there  should  be  four  official 
members,  and  not  more  than  six  unofficial, 
and  that,  of  the  latter,  four  should  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor  (two  of  them  to  be 
Chinesel  and  two  elected  by  the  ratepayers. 
This  laid  down  the  important  principle  that 
there  should  be  an  unofficial  majority.  For 
a  time  the  secretary  also  acted  as  sanitary 
superintendent,  but,  the  duties  increasing  to 
such  an  extent  that  he  was  unable  to  devote 
sufficient  attention  to  outdoor  matters,  a 
Medical  Officer  of  Health  was  appointed.  In 
consequence  of  the  decision  of  the  Legislative 
Council  that  in  the  event  of  a  vacancy 
occurring  the  Medical  Officer  should  occupy 
a  seat  on  the  Sanitary  Board,  all  the  unofficial 
save  one  resigned. 

A  most  unsatisfactory  state  of  things  pre- 
vailed at  this  time.  Against  the  subordinate 
officers  of  the  Sanitary  Board  were  made 
formal  and  well-founded  allegations  of  cor- 
ruption. A  vexed  question  arose  as  to 
whether  there  should  still  be  an  unofficial 
majority,  and,  in  consequence  of  a  communi- 
cation from  the  Governor,  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  took  a  plebiscite  of  the  residents. 
This  resulted  in  an  overwhelming  vote  in 
favour  of  an  unofficial  majority.  Later  on,  a 
petition  was  forwarded  by  the  principal  resi- 
dents of  the  Colony  lo  the  Secretary  of  State 
calling  attention  to  the  unsatisfactory  sanitary 
conditions  prevailing,  and  asking  for  a  com- 
mission, accompanied  by  experts,  to  be  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  report  upon  the  matter. 
Professor  Simpson,  M.D.,  and  Mr.  Chadwick, 
C.E.,  came  out,  and  upon  their  recommenda- 
tions a  Bill  was  drawn.  This  Bill,  however, 
contained  sections  deemed  by  the  public  to 
be  drastic,  unjust,  and  unworkable,  and  a 
committee  of  European  property  owners 
forwarded  to  the  Governor  a  petition  em- 
bodying their  suggestions  for  its  improvement. 
A  similar  petition  was  also  presented  by  the 
Chinese  in  the  Colony.  To  many  of  these 
suggestions  effect  was  given  in  "The  Public 
Health  and  Buildings  Ordinance  of  1903." 
Finality  was  not  reached  even  then.  An 
amendment  to  the  Ordinance,  passed  at  the 
end  of  1903,  practically  altered  the  whole 
character  of  the  sanitary  administration  by 
creating  a  Sanitary  Department  of  the 
Government,    thereby    giving    the     Principal 


Civil  Medical  Officer  (as  the  Colonial  Surgeon 
had  come  to  be  called)  the  direct  administra- 
tion of  sanitary  matters  by  holding  him 
directly  responsible.  This  enactment  was 
practically  the  death-knell  of  the  Board's 
authority  to  administer  the  sanitary  laws,  and 
reduced  it  to  a  department  controlled  by  the 
Government  through  the  Principal  Civil 
Medical  Officer,  thus  nullifying  the  wishes  of 
the  plebiscite  that  the  sanitary  laws  should 
be  administered  by  a  Board  having  an  un- 
official majority. 

In  the  meantime  allegations  of  corruption 
and  irregularity  amongst  the  officials  charged 
with  the  administration  of  the  sanitary  and 
building  regulations  under  the  Ordinance 
of  1903  continued  to  be  made,  and  in  1906 
a  Commission  was  appointed  bv  the  Gover- 
nor, Sir  Matthew  Nathan,  K.C.M.G.,  to 
make  a  full  investigation.  Sixty  meetings 
were  held,  and  183  witnesses  were  examined, 
with  the  result  that  in  March,  1907,  the 
Commission  reported  that  they  were  forced 
to  the  conclusion  that  irregularities,  cor- 
ruption, and  bribery  were  rampant  in  the 
Sanitaiy  Department,  not  only  amongst  the 
native  subordinates  but  also  throughout  the 
staff  of  British  inspectors.  It  was  pointed 
out  that  owing  to  the  hardship  inflicted  by 
many  of  the  regulations  mucli  injury  was 
wrought  to  property,  and  that  consequently 
the  general  prosperity  of  the  Colony  was 
retarded.  Stress  was  laid  on  the  fact  that 
the  "  open  spaces "  section,  under  which 
vested  rights  were  sacrificed  without  com- 
pensation, had  been  in  a  large  measure 
responsible  for  causing  the  property  owners 
of  Hongkong  exclusive  losses.  It  was 
further  shown  that,  by  placing  the  whole 
control  of  the  admniislration  of  the  Sanitary 
Department  in  the  hands  of  the  Principal 
Civil  Medical  Officer,  the  Board  was  reduced 
to  something  even  less  than  a  consulting 
committee,  in  despite  of  the  fact  that  the 
general  tendency  of  legislation  for  years  past 
had  been  in  the  direction  of  granting  the 
ratepayers  a  modified  form  of  self-govern- 
ment. This  practical  disfranchisement  of  the 
public  was  deplored,  and  the  Commission 
submitted  a  scheme  designed  to  redress  this 
grievance  and  to  place  the  administration  of 
sanitary  matters  on  a  proper  and  systematic 
footing.  The  recommendations  of  the  Com- 
mission were  based  an  the  broad  principle 
that  the  administration  of  the  "  Public 
Health  and  Buildings"  Ordinances  should  be 
entirely  separate  from  the  Public  Works 
Department  ;  that  water  supply,  public  roads, 
sewers,  &c.,  should  remain  under  the  control 
of  the  Public  Works  Department  as  hereto- 
fore ;  but  that  all  matters  relating  to  sanitary 
affairs,  nuisances,  and  the  actual  construction 
or  alteration  of  buildings  should  be  wholly 
transferred  to  the  proposed  Sanitary  and 
Building  Board,  divided  into  four  sections — 
secretarial,  medical,  engineering,  and  veterin- 
ary— and  composed  of  four  ofticlal  and  six 
unofficial  members.  The  Board  should  elect 
its  own  president,  have  the  complete  order- 
ing of  the  department,  recommend  to  the 
Governor  all  promotions  or  changes  in  the 
staff,  and  be  accountable  to  His  Excellency 
for  the  expenditure  of  the  funds  voted  by 
the  Legislative  Council  on  estimates  prepared 
by  the  Board.  Such,  briefly,  was  the  scheme 
suggested  by  the  Commission.  As  a  direct 
outcome  of  the  Commission's  recommenda- 
tions, the  Legislative  Council  passed  an 
amending  Public  Health  and  Buildings  Ordi- 
nance, dated  July  3,  1908.  The  principal 
changes  made  by  this  enactment  are  : — 

I. — A  slightly  increased  electorate  by 
substituting  the  word  "persons"  for  rate- 
payers who  are  entitled  to  vote  and  giving 


members  of   the   Council    a    vote    for    the 
people's  representatives  on  the  Board. 

2.— The  Principal  Civil  Medical  Officer 
who  was  head  of  the  Sanitary  Board  and 
thereby  ex  officio  President  of  the  Board  is 
removed  and  his  place  taken  by  a  specially 
appointed  officer  devoting  the  whole  of  his 
time  to  these  duties.  The  Captain  Super- 
intendent of  Police  is  also  removed  and 
his  place  taken  on  the  Board  by  the 
Medical  Officer  of  Health. 

3- — The  transfer  of  practically  all  building 
matters  from  the  Sanitary  Hoard  to  the 
Building  Authority. 

4. — Power  given  to  the  Authorities  lo 
cause  the  owners  to  pull  down  the  upper 
storeys  of  houses  which  are  too  dark  and 
thereby  insanitary,  and  where  the  work 
benefits  the  adjoining  owners  they  are  to 
pay  the  cost  of  reconstruction,  but  the  com- 
pensation to  the  owner  of  the  property  pulled 
down  is  to  be  paid  by  the  Government. 

5. — The  right  of  appeal  from  the  dis- 
cretion exercised  by  the  Sanitary  Board  or 
Building  Authority  to  the  Governor  in 
Council,  the  applicant  to  have  right  of 
appearing  in  person  or  by  his  representative, 
and  be  heard  at  the  Council,  or  the  right 
of  appealing  to  the  Court  in  lieu  of  to  the 
Governor  in  Council. 

The  Sanitary  Board's  jurisdiction,  as  offi- 
cially defined,  embraces  the  island  of  Hong- 
kong, which  has  an  area  of  29  square  miles, 
and  that  portion  of  the  British  territory  on 
the  mainland  between  the  shore  and  the  first 
range  of  the  Kowloon  Hills,  extending  from 
the  village  of  Tseung  Kwan  O,  in  Junk  Bay, 
on  the  east,  to  the  village  of  Kau  Pa  Hang 
on  the  west,  with  a  sea-frontage  of  about  13 
miles  and  an  area  of  about  16  square  miles. 
Old  Kowloon,  with  an  area  of  about  2|  square 
miles,  has  been  In  British  occupation  since 
1861,  but  New  Kowloon  was  leased  to  the 
Government  as  recently  as  1898,  as  part  of 
what  is  known  as  the  New  Territories.  The 
remaining  part  of  the  New  Territories — a 
considerable  area— is  not  under  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Sanitary  Board. 

The  city  of  Victoria,  which  lies  on  the 
northern  shore  of  the  Island  of  Hongkong, 
contains  9,485  dwellings,  exclusive  of  barracks 
and  police  stations,  and,  with  the  exception 
of  some  982,  these  are  occupied  by  Chinese. 
The  present  rateable  value  of  the  whole 
Colony  Is  $10,654,338,  and  that  of  New 
Kowloon — the  only  portions  of  which  territory 
assessed  are  Kowloon  City,  Sam  Shui  Po, 
Nga  In  Tau,  and  Little  Kowloon— $61,835. 
The  rates  levied  vary  from  7  per  cent,  in  the 
outlying  Chinese  villages  lo  13  per  cent,  in  the 
city  of  Victoria.  The  13  per  cent,  was  arrived 
at  originally  by  allocating  8J  per  cent,  to 
police  protection,  2  per  cent,  to  water  supply, 
1 4  per  cent,  to  public  lighting,  and  f  per  cent, 
to  the  maintenance  of  a  fire  brigade.  The 
amount  collected  in  1906  was  $1,400,641, 
of  which  $2,800  was  derived  from  the 
New  Territory.  The  estimate  for  1907  was 
$1,420,000.  The  money  is  collected  by  the 
Government,  and  in  Its  expenditure,  in  so  far 
as  their  province  extends,  the  Sanitary  Board 
practically  act  only  as  an  advisory  committee. 
The  Board  consists  of  the  Principal  Civil 
Medical  Ofiicei'  (who  is  ex  officio  President), 
the  Director  of  Public  Works,  the  Registrar- 
General,  the  Captain  Superintendent  of  Police, 
and  six  additional  members,  four  of  whom 
(two  being  Chinese)  are  appointed  by  the 
Governor,  and  two  elected  by  such  rate- 
payers as  are  Included  in  the  special  and 
common  jury  lists,  or  are  exempt  only  on 
account  of  their  professional  avocations.  In 
other  words,  English  speaking  property 
owners   or    occupiers  are    qualified    to    vote. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     159 


The  unofficial  members  hold  office  for  three 
years.  At  the  last  election  in  January,  1906, 
there  was  no  contest,  but  nominations  were 
accepted  up  to  the  hour  fixed  for  the  polling 
to  take  place,  and  the  useless  formality  of  a 
ballot  was  gone  through  even  in  the  absence 
of  opposition. 

The  Board   has   power   to  frame   bj'e-laws 


bearing  on  the  public  health,  subject  to  the 
approval  of  the  Legislative  Council.  The 
sanitary  staff  deals  with  general  nuisances  ; 
the  regulation  of  common  lodging-houses, 
wash-houses,  factories  and  workshops,  ques- 
tions of  overcrowding  ;  and  many  other 
matters  relating  to  the  sanitary  condition  of 
the   Colony.     The   scope   of  an  article,  how- 


ever, scarcely  permits  of  a  detailed  definition 
of  the  powers  of  the  Board,  so  closely  are 
they  interwoven  with  those  of  the  Public 
Works  Department. 

In  conclusion  it  may  be  mentioned  that 
Professor  Simpson  declared,  during  his  recent 
visit  to  the  Colony,  that  "  Hongkong  was  the 
best-scavenged  city  in  the  East." 


THE    CHAMBER    OF    COMMERCE. 


Hongkong  was  a  prosperous  and  thriving 
commercial  centre  in  1861,  when  the  idea 
of  organising  a  Chamber  of  Commerce  was 
first  mooted.  In  May  of  that  year,  at  a 
meeting  of  merchants  convened  under  the 
chairmanship  of  Mr.  C.  W.  Murray,  for  the 
purpose  of  discussing  the  suggestion,  it  was 
unanimously  decided  to  establish  a  Chamber, 
the  object  of  which  should  be  "  to  watch 
over  and  protect  the  general  interests  of  com- 
merce, to  collect  information  on  all  matters 
of  interest  to  the  mercantile  community,  and 
to  use  every  means  in  its  power  for  the 
removal  of  evils,  the  redress  of  grievances, 
and  the  promotion  of  the  common  good ; 
to  communicate  with  authorities  and  others 
thereupon  ;  to  form  a  code  of  practice 
whereby  the  transaction  of  business  might 
be  simplified  and  facilitated  ;  to  receive  refe- 
rences and  to  arbitrate  between  disputants." 
All  mercantile  firms,  and  persons  engaged 
or  interested  in  the  commerce  or  shipping 
of  China  were  eligible  for  admission  as 
members  on  payment  of  an  annual  subscrip- 
tion, and  a  committee  of  seven  was  appointed 
consisting  of  the  chairman,  vice-chairman, 
and  five  members.  B'or  the  first  year 
Mr.  Alexander  Perceval  presided  over  the 
deliberations  of  the  Chamber,  and  Mr.  W. 
Walkinshaw  occupied  the  vice-chair,  while 
Messrs.  C.  W.  Murray,  P.  Campbell,  J.  D. 
Gibb,  W.  Delano,  and  R.  M.  Reddie  formed 
the  committee.  Mr.  Baldwin  was  appointed 
the  first  secretary  at  an  annual  salary  of 
$1,500. 

Thus  Hongkong's  Chamber  of  Commerce 
was  inaugurated.  It  was  not  destined,  how- 
ever, to  start  upon  its  career  without  some 
little  criticism,  and  The  Friend  of  Chitia, 
a  paper  of  considerable  importance  in  those 
days,  commenting  upon  the  inaugural  meeting, 
described  it  as  an  insignificant  gathering  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  only  20  out  of  the 
120  mercantile,  banking,  broking,  and  com- 
mercial firms  of  the  Colony,  were  repre- 
sented at  it.  The  paper  went  on  to  express 
the  opinion  that  the  haste  to  scramble  after 
the  first  seats  on  the  committee  was  unpar- 
donable, and,  while  admitting  that  there 
could  be  no  possible  objection  to  traders  of 
such  standing  as  Messrs.  Perceval,  Gibb, 
Delano,  and  Reddie,  it  was  argued  that,  the 
principle  being  fixed  that  the  chamber  was 
not  to  be  exclusively  British,  there  should 
be  foreigners  in  place  of  the  other  members 
of  the  committee.  Whether  these  strictures 
produced  any  effect  it  is  diflicult  to  deter- 
mine after  so  many  years,  but  certain  it  is 
that  a  little  later  the  constitution  of  the  com- 
mittee was  so  altered  as  to  include  merchants 
of  several  other  nationalities.  The  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  after  the  first  few  years, 
during  which  its  stability  was  questionable 
and  its  activities  were   cramped   by   lack  of 


enthusiasm  on  the  part  of  its  members, 
rapidly  advanced  and  widened  its  sphere  of 
influence  puri  passu  with  the  growth  of  the 
Colony.  Now,  instead  of  a  membership  of 
20,  the  roll  includes  117  firms  and  20  private 
traders. 

In  various  directions  throughout  its  career 
the  Chamber  has  shown  great  enterprise. 
As  far  back  as  1869  a  considerable  sum  of 
money  was  devoted  to  the  organisation  of 
a  commercial  expedition  into  the  interior  of 
China  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  as  much 
reliable  information  as  possible  with  regard 
to  the  inland  districts.  Mr.  Moss  accepted 
the  commission  and  started  from  Canton, 
but  he  was  prevented  by  the  Chinese  officials 
from  proceeding  beyond  Nan-ning-fu.  Up 
to  this  point,  however,  he  faithfully  and  dili- 
gently prosecuted  his  inquiries,  and  placed 
beyond  doubt  the  fact  that  inland  dues,  both 
under  the  names  of  Customs  duty  and 
Likin,  were  imposed  on  British  and  other 
foreign  manufactures  in  the  districts  watered 
by  the  Canton  River,  much  in  excess  of  what 
was  stipulated  in  Lord  Elgin's  Treaty.  The 
publication  of  his  report  aroused  considerable 
public  interest.  The  subject  was  continually 
agitated  by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  until 
at  length  the  members  had  the  satisfaction 
of  learning  that  an  agreement  was  signed  at 
Peking  on  February  14,  i80.  under  which 
the  Chinese  Government  undertook  to  throw 
open  two  ports  on  the  West  River  as  Treaty 
ports,  and  four  other  places  as  calling  stations 
where  passengers  and  cargo  might  be  landed. 
This  agreement  came  into  force  on  June  14, 
1907. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Chamber  in 
1863  a  subscription  list  was  opened  to  relieve 
the  serious  distress  then  prevailing  in  the 
districts  forming  the  seat  of  cotton  manu- 
facture in  Great  Britain.  Over  $5,000  was 
raised,  and  the  committee  also  succeeded  in 
obtaining  the  co-operation  of  the  Shanghai 
Chamber  of  Commerce  for  the  same  object. 
In  the  early  part  of  1871  the  Chamber  ad- 
dressed a  memorial  to  the  Secretary  of  State 
praying  that  the  licensing  of  gambling  in 
the  Colony  might  be  discontinued,  and  this 
petition  had  the  desired  effect. 

In  1884  the  Governor  of  the  Colony  invited 
the  Chamber  to  nominate  one  of  its  members 
to  serve  on  the  Legislative  Council.  Sir 
Thomas  Jackson  was  unanimously  chosen,  and 
the  Chamber  has  retained  the  privilege  of 
direct  representation  ever  since.  In  1886  the 
Chamber  was  invited  to  send  a  representative 
to  the  Congress  of  the  whole  of  the  Chambers 
of  Commerce  for  the  British  Empire,  held 
in  London.  The  Hon.  Mr.  W.  Keswick  was 
appointed  as  the  delegate  from  Hongkong, 
and  the  Chamber  has  always  had  a  represen- 
tative at  the  various  congresses  held  since 
that  date. 


In  1889  the  action  of  the  Australian 
Government  in  prohibiting  the  landing  of 
Chinese  in  the  Commonwealth  was  discussed, 
and  the  committee  plainly  expressed  its  dis- 
approval of  the  arbitrary  manner  in  which, 
without  previous  warning,  subjects  of  a 
friendly  power  had  been  treated.  The 
proceeding,  it  was  considered,  was  totally 
opposed  to  all  traditions  of  British  legislation, 
either  impefial  or  colonial,  and,  in  the  highest 
degree,  calculated  to  bring  about  strained 
relations  between   England  and  China. 

In  1900  the  Chamber  turned  its  attention 
to  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  Colony  which 
had  led  to  the  outbreak  of  bubonic  plague. 
Its  action  served  to  direct  public  attention 
to  the  question,  and  resulted  in  a  petition 
being  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  State  for 
the  Colonies  praying  that  a  commission  of 
sanitary  experts  might  be  sent  to  inquire 
into  the  whole  question.  In  response.  Dr. 
Simpson  and  Mr.  Osbert  Chadwick  were 
despatched  by  the  Colonial  Office  to  investigate 
the  sanitary  condition  of  the  Colony,  and 
their  report  has  had  a  far-reaching  effect. 

As  is  well  known,  from  the  earliest  days 
of  European  trading  relations  with  China 
piracy  has  been  a  continual  source  of 
annoyance  and  hindrance  to  trade,  and  the 
British  fleet  has  been  frequently  engaged  in 
suppressing  it.  Many  instances  could  be 
cited  where  foreign-owned  vessels — river  and 
coasting  steamers — have  been  attacked  in 
the  inland  waters  of  China  even  of  recent 
years.  The  piracy  of  the  passenger  steamer 
Namoii  is,  perhaps,  the  most  serious  instance 
during  the  past  twenty  years  ;  but  the  attack 
upon  the  Sainain  in  July,  1906,  whilst  pro- 
ceeding from  Canton  to  the  West  River, 
is  of  sufficiently  recent  occurrence  to  show 
that  there  still  exists  some  need  for  the 
maintenance  of  proper  control  over  the 
inland  waterways  of  China — a  duty  which 
the  Chinese  have  hitherto  shown  themselves 
incapable  of  discharging.  In  view  of  these 
facts  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  as  recently 
as  July  of  1906  telegraphed  to  the  Secretary 
of  State  that  it  considered  the  work  of 
policing  the  waterways  of  the  Canton  Delta 
should  be  carried  out  if  necessary  under  the 
supervision  of  Great  Britain. 

The  important  question  of  quarantine  regu- 
lations is  one  which  is  repeatedly  receiving 
the  attention  of  the  Chamber,  which  only 
recently  combined  with  the  Shanghai 
Chamber  of  Commerce  in  a  protest  against 
"  an  excess  of  prudence  '  on  the  part  of  the 
Hongkong  Government  in  imposing  restric- 
tions on  arrivals  from  Shanghai,  owing  to 
the  alleged  prevalence  of  cholera  in  that  port. 

The  reform  of  currency  in  China  is  another 
question  concerning  which  the  Chamber  has 
made  numerous  representations  to  the  Govern- 
ment.     It  is  urged   that  this   reform   should 


160     T^VENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


be  carried  out  in  accordance  with  the  provi- 
sions of  the  Mackay  Commercial  Treaty  of 
1901.  and  to  that  end  the  Chamber  has 
joined  with  the  Chambers  of  Shanghai  and 
Tientsin  in  memorialising  the  Diplomatic 
Bodv  at  Peking  in  favour  of  the  currency  of 
China  being  pkiced  on  a  uniform  basis,  and 
the  mints  being  transferred  from  independent 
provincial  authorities  to  the  control  of  the 
Imperial  Government. 

The  Chamtier  has  interested  itself  in  the 
improvement  of  typhoon  and  storm  warn- 
ings, and  has  urged  the  pressing  necessity 
for  a  large  tvphoon  refuge  for  small  craft. 
At  the  request  of  the  Government  the  Cham- 
ber nominated  a  member  for  service  on  a 
committee    which    sat    to    consider    whether 


earlier  warning  could  not  have  been  given 
of  the  great  typhoon  of  September  18,  1906  ; 
and  on  a  committee  which  subsequently  went 
into  the  whole  queslion  of  weather  forecasts 
and  storm  warnings. 

Other  matters  which  have  been  debated 
by  the  Chamber  are  the  Sugar  Convention, 
as  worked  under  the  Brussels  Agreement, 
and  the  regulations  enforced  by  the  Imperial 
Merchant  Shipping  Act,  upon  Biitish  ship- 
owners carrying  Asiatic  passengers  and  en- 
gaging in  the  coolie  trade,  which  has  always 
formed  a  very  important  section  of  the  trade 
of  Hongkong.  This  coolie  traffic  is  considered 
likely  to  assume  still  greater  proportions  in 
the  immediate  future,  and  the  Chamber  has 
pointed  out  to  the  Government,  that  the  exist- 


ing regulations  are  a  handicap  upon  British 
shipowners,  and  practically  amount  to  a 
subsidy  to  foreign  shipping. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  tliat  the  Chamber  still 
holds  to  its  old  tradition  of  exercising  a  care- 
ful vigilance  over  all  matters  affecting  the 
general  welfare  of  the  Colony.  The  Hon. 
Mr.  E.  A.  Hewett  has  been  the  chairman  for 
the  past  five  years  and  represents  the  Cham- 
ber in  the  Legislative  Council.  Mr.  A.  G. 
Wood  holds  the  office  of  vice-chairman  ;  and 
the  other  members  of  the  committee  are  the 
Hon.  Mr.  H.  Keswick,  Messrs.  G.  Friesland, 
D.  R.  Law,  G.  H.  Medhurst,  A.  Fuchs,  J.  R.  M. 
Smith,  and  H.  E.  Tomkins  ;  with  Mr.  E.  A.  M. 
Williams  as  secretary. 


GOVERNMENT    HOUSE. 


The  principal  residence  of  His  Excellency 
the  Governor  stands  in  spacious  and  well- 
timbered  grounds,  just  below  the  Public 
Gardens,  the  main  entrance  being  in  the 
Upper  Albert  Road.  The  older  portion  was 
completed  in  1853,  and  took  the  place  of  the 
temporary  accommodation  provided  soon 
after  the  Colony  was  established.  It  is  sub- 
stantially built,  granite  entering  largely  into 


the  structure.  On  either  side  of  the  entrance 
hall  are  offices  apportioned  to  the  use  of 
His  Excellency's  Aide-de-Camp  and  Private 
Secretary,  a  reception  hall,  large  dining  and 
drawing  rooms,  billiard  and  smoking  room, 
and  comfortable  suites  of  bedrooms.  In  the 
dining  room,  which  can  seat  as  many  as 
fifty  guests,  hangs  a  picture  of  George  IV., 
to   which   a   curious   interest    attaches.      The 


only  record  which  can  be  found  concerning 
it  is  dated  June  16,  1865,  and  states  that  the 
face  and  hands  were  painted  by  Sir  Thomas 
Lawrence,  and  the  remainder  by  his  pupils. 
The  picture  was  formerly  the  property  of 
the  East  India  Company  and  was  sent  out 
to  their  factory  in  Canton  in  1827  or  1828. 
During  the  troubles  at  the  close  of  1840,  it 
was  removed  to  Macao,  and  eight  years  later 


GOVERNMENT   HOUSE. 


TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.    161 


it  was  transferred  to  the  Council  Room  of 
the  temporary  Government  House  in  Hong- 
kong. Then  for  some  years  it  found  a  place 
in  the  Council  Chamber  at  the  Government 
Offices,  and  in  1855  was  removed  to  its 
present  position.  In  1859,  when  the  British 
Legation  changed  its  quarters  from  Hongkong 
to  Shanghai,  a  demand  for  the  picture  was 
made  by  Her  Majesty's  Minister  but  was 
subsequently  withdrawn.  From  the  founda- 
tion of  the  Colony  to  the  present  time  the 
picture  has  never  been  out  of  the  possession 
of  the  Colonial  Government.  There  is  some 
doubt,  however,  as  to  whether  the  statements 
contained  in  the  record  correctly  detail  the 
history  of  the  picture.  Among  other  pictures 
in  the  dining  room  are  those  of  Her  Majesty 
Queen  Victoria  and  the  Prince  Consort. 

Some  years  ago  the  need  arose  for 
increased  accommodation  at  Government 
House,  and  accordingly  a  wing  was  added 
to    the    eastern    end    of    the     old    structure. 


This  extension  contains  a  large  ball-room, 
with  a  splendid  floor,  and  ample  space  for 
at  least  twelve  sets  of  quadrilles.  Levees 
and  state  dinners  are  held  here.  Immediately 
below  is  a  supper  room,  whilst  a  smaller 
room  is  set  aside,  when  occasion  requires, 
for  cards.  In  what  was  formerly  the  billiard 
room  His  Excellency  has  his  office.  Com- 
munication between  the  old  and  new  portions 
of  the  residence  is  established  by  means  of 
a  flight  of  shallow  stairs,  but  it  is  now  pro- 
posed to  erect  a  large  entrance  stairway  to 
the  ball-room  on  the  outside  of  the  building 
to  correspond  with  that  giving  access  to  the 
mam  block  from  the  north-east. 

Altogether  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a 
better  situation  for  the  residence  of  His 
Majesty's  representative.  The  grounds  are 
charmingly  laid  out,  and  from  the  terraces 
below  the  house  a  magnificent  view  is  obtain- 
able of  the  centre  of  the  harbour,  with  St. 
John's     Cathedral     in     the    middle    distance, 


whilst  the  adjacent  Public  Gardens  prevent 
the  house  from  being  overlooked  by  any 
other  building.  There  is  a  well-stocked 
kitchen  garden — a  real  boon  in  a  place  like 
Hongkong,  where  the  methods  of  the  native 
gardener  leave  much  to  be  desired. 


MOUNTAIN    LODGE. 

His  Excellency's  summer  residence,  Moun- 
tain Lodge,  erected  in  1901,  is  ideally  situated 
near  the  summit  of  the  Peak,  its  main  front 
facing  westwards  and  commanding  a  lovely 
view,  with  just  a  peep  of  the  harbour.  It  may 
be  reached  in  fifteen  minutes  by  chair  from 
the  Victoria  Gap.  The  grounds  are  charmingly 
laid  out,  and  in  season  are  gay  with  flowers, 
while  four  excellent  tennis  courts  afford 
facilities  for  recreation. 


THE    CITY    HALL. 


Chief  among  the  places  of  entertainment 
in  Hongkong  is  the  City  Hall,  which  plays 
an  important  part  in  the  life  of  the  Colony. 
Erected  by  subscription,  it  was  formally 
opened  by  the  Duke  of  Edinburgh  on 
November  2,  1869,  during  the  Governor- 
ship of  Sir  Richard  Graves  MacDonnell.     It 


contains  a  theatre,  two  splendid  halls,  a 
music-room,  a  public  library  and  reading- 
room,  a  museum,  and  the  offices  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce.  Though  private 
property  the  City  Hall  is  run  entirely  for 
the  public  benefit,  and  the  revenues  derived 
are  devoted  entirely  to  its  maintenance. 


The  theatre  seats  569  persons  in  the  dress 
circle,  stalls,  and  pit.  The  plan  is  so  arranged 
that  an  excellent  view  of  the  stage  may  be 
had  from  any  part  of  the  house.  The  prosce- 
nium has  an  opening  of  nearly  28  feet,  and 
a  depth  of  38  feet,  the  greatest  breadth  being 
48    feet.      During    the    course    of    the    year 


THE    CITY    HALL. 


162     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


numbers  of  entertainments  are  given  both 
by  travelling  companies  and  by  the  Hongkong 
Amateur  Dramatic  Club.  Every  precaution  is 
taken  to  guard  against  fire. 

The  assembly  and  ball-rooms  are  largely 
in  request  lor  dances,  conc-erts,  meetings,  and 
lectures.      Dances    are    usually    held    in    St. 


library  received  in  1869  from  the  Morrison 
Education  Society  "  as  a  free  gift  for  the  use 
of  the  public,  on  condition  that  in  considera- 
tion of  this  gift  and  of  the  great  services  of 
Dr.  Morrison  to  both  Europeans  and  Chinese, 
the  books  be  kept  distinct  from  all  other 
collections   in   the   City   Hall,   and   designated 


THE    MUSEUM. 


George's  Hall,  in  which  hangs  the  fine  portrait 
of  the  late  Queen  Victoria,  presented  to  the 
city  in  1900  by  Sir  Thomas  Jackson,  Bart. 
St.  .Andrew's  Hall  serves  as  an  additional  ball- 
room when  required.  Ordinarily  it  is  used 
for  meetings  and  concerts. 

The  nucleus  of  the  Public  Library  was  the 


'  the  Morrison  Library '  in  perpetuation  of  the 
great  missionary's  memory."  In  1871  tlie 
library  consisted  of  8,000  volumes,  3,000  of 
which  were  unconditionally  presented  by  the 
trustees  of  the  Victoria  Library.  Since  that 
date  it  has  been  added  to  from  time  to  time, 
and     now     contains    3,332    volumes    in    the 


Morrison  Library  ;  6,220,  including  320 
Chinese  religious  and  devotional  books,  in 
the  Cily  Library  ;  and  3,287  in  the  lending 
collection— a  total  of  12,839  volumes.  There 
are  many  valuable  philological,  biographical, 
and  other  works,  including  some  rare  tirst 
editions,  the  department  dealing  with  China 
and  Japan  being  especially  well  filled.  The 
most  treasured  books,  however,  are  those 
presented  by  the  late  Queen  Victoria.  They 
are  "The  Early  Years  of  the  Prince  Con- 
sort," "The  Prince  Consort,"  "Leaves  from 
the  Journal  of  Our  Life  in  the  Highlands," 
and  "  More  I^eaves  from  the  Journal  of  a  Life 
in  the  Highlands,"  and  they  bear  the  auto- 
graph of  Her  late  Majesty.  The  library  is 
freely  used,  the  register  bearing  the  names 
of  nearly  five  hundred  borrowers.  The 
visitors  to  the  reading-room,  which  is  well 
supplied  with  local,  home,  and  American 
newspapers  and  magazines,  average  about 
1,412  non-Chinese  and  628  Chinese  a  month. 
The  library  is  open  from  nine  till  nine. 

The  museum  contains  a  miscellaneous  col- 
lection of  valuable  exhibits,  and  attracts 
thousands  of  Chinese  visitors.  It  is  open 
from  ten  till  one  ai\d  from  two  till  five,  the 
mornings  being  reserved  {or  Chinese  and  the 
afternoons  for  non-Chinese.  The  number  of 
visitors  average  about  29,321  and  844  respec- 
tively each  month.  On  Satmday  mornings 
Chinese  women  and  children  only  are  ad- 
mitted. Within  the  last  year  or  two  the 
collections  have  been  rearranged  and  labelled 
in  Chinese,  but  much  remains  to  be  done 
in  the  w.iy  of  classification. 

The  affairs  of  the  City  Hall  are  managed 
by  a  committee,  of  which  the  chairman  is 
usually  a  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  who 
were  chiefly  instrumental  in  raising  the 
original  subscriptions.  The  present  mem- 
bers of  the  committee  are  the  Hon.  Mr.  H. 
Keswick  (chairman),  Mr.  B.  Langton  (hon. 
treasurer),  the  Hon.  Mr.  H.  E.  I^ollock,  K.C., 
Mr.  A.  G.  Wood,  Mr.  H.  N.  Mody,  Mr.  N. 
A.  Silbs,  and  Mr.  Denman  Fuller  (secretary, 
librarian,  and  curator). 


THE    NEW    GOVERNMENT    OFFICES. 


The  day  is  not  far  distant  when  Hongkong 
will  be  able  to  pride  itself  upon  having  its 
principal  Government  departments  housed  in 
premises  worthy  of  their  importance  and  in 
harmony  with  the  many  imposing  commercial 
buildings  in  the  European  quarter.  The 
new  Government  Offices,  now  in  course 
of  construction,  have  been  designed  in  the 
Renaissance  style  of  architecture,  freely 
treated,  and  are  being  built  with  granite  and 
red  brick.  A  bold  stonework  entrance  in 
the  centre  of  the  main  elevation,  facing 
Pedder  Street,  will  give  access  to  the  postal 
hall,  a  graceful  turret  will  surmount  each  of 
the  eastern  angles  of  the  building,  while  the 
line  of  the  parapet  will  be  broken  by  three 
ornamental  gables.  The  facade  will  be 
78  feet  in  height,  and  the  turrets  will  rise 
to  a  further  height  of  44  feet.  The  other 
elevations  will  be  similar  in  character  and 
will  face  Connaught  Road  on  the  north, 
Des  V^oeux  Road  on  the  south,  and  a  private 
lane,  intersecting  these  thoroughfares,  on  the 


west.  In  the  centre  of  the  northern  front, 
directly  facing  the  harbour,  a  bold  square 
clock  tower  will  rise  to  a  heiglit  of  over 
200  feet.  The  building  will  cover  an  area 
of  considerably  over  half  an  acre. 

The  ground  floor  will  be  devoted  to  the 
needs  of  the  postal  service.  A  large  public 
hall,  with  extensive  counter-space,  will  be 
provided  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  building, 
and  the  remainder  of  the  floor  will  consist 
of  lofty  apartments  for  the  sorting  of  incoming 
and  outgoing  mails,  with  special  accommoda- 
tion for  registered  articles,  money  orders,  &c. 
Strong-rooms  of  fire-resisting  construction 
will  be  provided  for  the  safe  keeping  of 
made-up  mail  bags  and  registered  articles. 
Of  the  basement,  part  will  be  reserved  for 
the  use  of  the  Post  Ofiice,  while  the  remainder 
will  be  used  as  storage  space  for  various 
Government  departments. 

A  wide  teak  staircase  and  a  passenger  lift 
in  the  south-east  angle  of  the  building  will 
give    access    to    the    first,    second   and    third 


floors,  and  there  will  also  be  two  stone 
staircases  on  the  western  side.  The  first 
floor  will  provide  accommodation  for  the 
Colonial  Treasurer,  the  Registrar-General, 
and  the  Assessor.  The  greater  portion  of 
the  second  floor  will  be  reserved  for  the 
use  of  the  Sanitary  Board,  with  Board  room 
and  offices  for  the  President,  the  Medical 
Officer  of  Health,  and  the  Sanitary  Surveyor. 
The  Local  Auditor  and  the  Inspector  of 
Schools  will  also  have  offices  on  this  floor, 
and  a  suite  of  rooms  will  be  provided  for 
the  Chief  Clerk  of  the  Post  Office.  The 
third  floor  will  be  divided  into  numerous 
large  and  well-lighted  offices. 

The  whole  of  the  building  will  be  lit  by 
electricity,  and  the  public  portions  will  be 
heated  by  means  of  radiators  on  a  low- 
pressure  hot-water  system,  whilst  open  fire- 
places will  be  provided  in  the  various  offices. 

The  total  cost  of  the  stiucture,  which  it 
is  expected  will  be  ready  for  occupation 
during  191 1,  is  estimated  at  $930,000. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      163 


Ml  £  •  ■  r 


PLAN    OF    THE    GENERAL   POST    OFFICE    AND    OTHER    GOVERNMENT   OFFICES. 


THE    NEW    LAW    COURTS. 


In  the  new  Law  Courts,  now  nearing 
completion,  Hongkong  will  possess  a  notable 
example  of  modern  architecture,  the  style 
being  that  of  the  English  school  with  details 
of  Greek  character.  The  principal  elevation  of 
the  structure  faces  west,  and  is  divided  into 
fifteen  bays  with  Ionic  columns  and  square 
angle  piers.  The  height  to  the  first  parapet 
is  about  50  feet.  The  centre  portion  is  sur- 
mounted by  a  pediment  containing  a  semi- 
circular opening,  round  which  are  grouped 
the  royal  arms  and  the  figures  of  Mercy  and 
Truth,  the  whole  being  crowned  by  a  statue 
of  Justice,  9  feet  high.  The  drum  of  the 
dome  is  of  the  circular  Doric  order,  the  inter- 
columnar  spaces  being  pierced  by  windows. 
The  dome  is  surmounted  by  a  handsome 
granite  lantern,  terminating  at  a  height  of 
130  feet  from  the  ground  in  a  bronze  Tudor 
crown.  The  north,  south,  and  east  elevations 
are  similar  in  character  to  the  west,  but 
without  the  pediment.  The  whole  building 
is  faced  with  granite  quarried  in  the  Colony. 

The  ground  floor  of  the  structure  provides 
various  offices  for  the  officials  of  the  Court, 
spacious  apartments  being  set  aside  as  land 
offices,  and   separate   rooms  reserved  for  the 


Registrar  and  Deputy  Registrar,  and  also  for 
the  bailiffs.  There  is  a  prisoners'  receiving 
room  with  cells,  reached  by  a  separate 
entrance,  and  stone  staircases  lead  to  the 
docks  of  the  two  principal  Courts.  Two  large 
entrances  for  the  general  public  are  provided 
on  the  west  side  of  the  building,  with  broad 
staircases  leading  to  the  upper  floors,  and 
there  are  separate  entrances  for  the  officials 
and  judges,  with  private  staircase  and  electric 
lifts.  The  official  portions  of  the  building 
are  thus  kept  quite  distinct  from  those  to 
which  the  general  public  have  access. 

The  principal  Court  occupies  the  centre 
of  the  first  floor,  and  is  so  situated  that  the 
surrounding  corridors,  small  rooms,  and 
library  render  it  practically  proof  against  the 
distraction  of  street  sounds.  It  is  a  large  and 
lofty  apartment,  lighted  by  means  of  four 
semi-circular  windows,  each  28  feet  in 
diameter,  placed  high  up,  and  four  small 
circular  windows.  The  Court  is  71  feet 
6  inches  in  length,  and  40  feet  in  width,  and 
ample  space  is  provided  for  judge  and  jury, 
the  members  of  the  legal  profession,  the 
prisoners,  the  press,  and  the  general  public. 
There    are    four    pairs    of     massive    granite 


pillars  ranged  along  the  walls,  supporting  the 
dome,  the  height  from  the  floor  to  the 
ceiling  of  the  dome  being  48  feet.  At  either 
end  of  the  Court  are  smaller  Courts,  each 
53  feet  6  inches  by  42  feet — one  designed  for 
the  use  of  the  Puisne  Judge,  and  the  other 
as  a  Civil  Court. 

On  the  second  floor  are  large  offices  for 
the  Attorney-General  and  the  Crown  Solicitor, 
with  their  respective  clerks. 

A  small  basement  contains  appliances  for 
the  heating  of  the  building  by  a  hot-water 
system  at  low  pressure,  divided  into  sections 
so  that  only  the  parts  of  the  building  actually 
in  use  need  be  heated. 

The  foundation-stone,  a  fine  block  of 
Chinese  granite,  bears  the  following  inscrip- 
tion, which  epitomises  all  that  remains  to 
be  said  : — "  This  stone  was  laid  on  the  12th 
November,  1903,  by  His  Excellency  Sir  Henry 
Arthur  Blake,  G.C.M.G.,  Governor  of  Hong- 
kong ;  William  Chatham,  M.Inst.C.E.,  Director 
of  Public  Works  ;  Aston  Webb,  R.A.,  E. 
Ingress  Bell,  F.R.I.B.A.,  architects  ;  Chan  A. 
Tong,  contractor. "  Mr.  H.  G.  Fisher, 
A.R.I. B.A.,  has  supervised  the  work  of  con- 
struction. 


164      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


IS 


7"'^  ^%  p^'^  ^^  ^^'^^^F"'^-^' 


PLAN  OF  THE  NEW  LAW  COURTS. 


THE    HONGKONG    ELECTRIC    TRAMWAY. 


Hongkong  can  boast  of  possessing  I  he 
pioneer  system  of  electric  traction  in  Ctiina. 
It  was,  however,  only  six  years  ago,  namely, 
in  1902,  that  the  Ordinance  was  passed 
by  the  Legislative  Council  authorising  the 
Hongkong  Tramways  Electric  Company,  an 
English  company  with  its  headquarters  in 
London,  to  construct  a  line  in  the  Colony. 
The  work  was  commenced  in  May,  1903, 
and  completed  in  July,  1904.  The  detailed 
plans  and  specifications  were  prepared  by 
the  Company's  consulting  engineers,  Messrs. 
Alfred  Dickinson  &  Co.,  of  Birmingham,  who 
appointed  Mr.  Harold  Hackwood  as  resident 
engineer  in  charge  of  the  construction. 
Messrs.  Dick,  Kerr  &  Co.,  of  London,  were 
the  contractors.  The  total  length  of  single 
track  is  14)  miles,  and  it  is  laid  over  9^  miles 
of  route.  The  gauge  of  the  track  is  3  feet 
6  inches,  with  rails  of  the  girder  type  weigh- 
ing 86  lb.  per  lineal  yard.  The  lines  within 
the  city  of  Victoria  are  laid  for  the  most  part 
with  centre  pole  construction,  but  the  eastern 
p<jrtion  of  the  route,  being  outside  the  city 
boundary,  is  laid  as  single  line  with  passing 
places,  and  is  equipped  on  the  side  pole 
system.  With  the  exception  of  a  short 
branch  line,  which  runs  to  the  Race  Course, 


the  route  is  parallel  with  the  water-front, 
and  but  for  a  short  length  at  Quarry  Bay  is 
practically  level.  At  Quarry  Bay  a  little  road 
grading  was  done,  the  original  gradient  of 
one  in  ten  being  reduced  to  one  in  fifteen. 
Beyond  Quarry  Bay  is  the  eastern  terminus 
of  the  line,  the  small  Chinese  village  of 
Shaukiwan.  Owing  to  the  varying  nature 
of  the  ground,  three  forms  of  permanent-way 
construction  were  adopted.  Where  the 
ground  was  solid  the  rails  were  bedded  on 
a  concrete  beam  18  inches  wide  and  6  inches 
deep  ;  where  the  ground  was  not  so  good, 
a  bed  of  concrete  6  inclies  deep  and  7  feet 
3  inches  in  width,  extending  under  the  whole 
track  and  for  1  foot  6  inches  on  either  side 
was  adopted  ;  over  doubtful  ground  which 
had  been  recently  reclaimed  from  the  sea, 
this  concrete  bed  was  increased  to  8  inches 
in  depth. 

The  overhead  construction  has  been  carried 
out  in  a  very  neat  manner.  The  length  of 
the  arms  on  the  side  poles  varies,  being  in 
most  instances  6  feet,  but  on  the  centre 
poles  it  does  not  exceed  2  feet.  The  stan- 
dards are  of  mild  steel,  28  feet  3  inches  in 
length,  7  inches  in  diameter  at  the  base,  and 
tapering  to  4  inches  in  diameter  at  the  top. 


They  are  set  6  feet  in  the  ground  in  a  solid 
block  of  concrete.  Within  the  city,  the 
appearance  of  the  standards  is  improved  by 
ornamental  base  castings  and  by  wrought-iron 
scrolls  on  the  bracket  arms.  The  trolley 
wire  is  divided  into  half-mile  sections  by 
means  of  section  insulators,  and  at  each  of 
these  points  the  main  feeder  cables  are 
tapped  for  current.  The  pressure  at  the 
trolley  wire  is  500  volts.  A  lightning  arrester 
and  a  telephone  giving  direct  communica- 
tion with  the  power-house  are  provided  in 
each  feeder  pillar. 

The  generating  station,  situated  beside  the 
Bowrington  Canal,  is  as  nearly  as  possible 
in  tlie  centre  of  the  system.  The  only  fault 
wliicli  could  be  found  with  the  site  lay  in 
the  fact  tliat  a  very  few  years  ago  it  was 
reclaimed  from  the  sea,  and  consequently  no 
good  foundation  could  be  secured  for  either 
buildings  or  machinery.  However,  as  it  was 
the  best  site  obtainable  in  all  other  respects, 
this  difficulty  had  to  he  overcome,  and  sound 
foundations  were  obtained  by  driving  in 
over  five  thousand  piles.  The  depot  com- 
prises engine-room  and  basement,  boiler- 
house  and  coal  store,  car  shed  and  machine- 
shop,    smithy,    paint-shop,    carpenters'    shop, 


THE    HONGKONG    ELECTEIC    TRACTION    COMPANY,    LTD. 


The  Power  House. 
General  View  of  Works. 


ixterior  of  c.ir  shed. 
The  Staff. 


166    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  offices.  The  engine-room,  which  is  lofty 
and  well  liflhted,  amtains  two  Dick-Kerr 
continuous  current,  direct-connected  gene- 
rators, of  the  multipolar  type,  comixiund 
wound,  giving  a  potential  of  550  volts,  and 
running  at  100  revolutions  a  minute.  They 
arc  designed  to  run  either  sepanitely  or  in 
panillel.  The  generators  are  keyed  direct 
on  to  the  main  sh.ift  of  the  engines,  which 
are  of  the  horizont;il  cross  coinp<^und  type, 
each  engine  tieing  equal  to  a  maximum  Iroid 
of  428  B.H.P.  The  engines,  built  by  Yates 
and  Thom,  are  each  provided  with  a  Wheeler 
surface-condenser,  of  the  Admiralty  pattern, 
and  may  be  worked  either  condensing  or 
non-condensing.  The  condensers  are  fixed 
in  the  b;»sement  below  the  engine-room,  as 
also  are  all  the  steam  and  other  pipes,  thus 
leaving  the  engine-r<x)m  free  and  open.  In 
addition  to  the  two  traction  sets,  there  are 
two  smaller  plants  for  lighting  the  depot,  one 
set  being  driven  by  a  small,  high-speed 
engine,  and  the  other  by  a  motor  running 
from  the  500-volt  circuit.  The  lighting  circuit 
is  supplied  at  100  volts  pressure. 


The  Company  owns  36  cars  and  employs 
upon  an  average  nearly  300  men — 120  on  the 
traftic  staff,  112  on  the  engineering  staff,  and 
about  60  as  outside  staff.  In  1906,  8,084,901 
passengers  were  carried,  and  the  cats 
covered  a  distance  of  1,137,727  miles.  In 
1907  the  ligures  were  respectively  8,572.055 
and  1,122.342.  The  earnings  per  car  mile 
amounted  in  1906  to  866  pence,  ami  the 
expenses  to  5-21  pence,  the  average  fare  per 
passenger  being  121  pence.  The  year's 
working  resulted  in  a  profit  of  £^16,350,  and, 
after  paying  debenture  interest  amounting  to 
^^9,783,  the  sum  of  £6,000  was  put  to 
reserve  for  depreciation  and  renewals  and 
the  balance  carried  forward. 

The  directors  of  the  Company  are  Messrs. 
E.  C.  Morgan  (chairman),  K.  Miller,  and  W. 
J.  C.  Cutbill.  Mr.  H.  W.  C.  Dernier  is  the 
secretary,  and  Mr.  J.  Gray  Scott  the  general 
manager  and  chief  engineer.  Mr.  G.  F. 
Maiden  is  chief  assistant  and  Mr.  C.  C. 
Hill  second  assistant  engineer;  Mr.  A. 
Course  the  traftic  superintendent,  and  Mi'. 
W.  Glendinning  the  chief  inspector. 


Mr.  J.  Gray  Scott,  upon  whom,  of  course, 
depends  the  responsibility  for  the  general 
el'liciency  and  smooth  working  of  the  whole 
system,  has  had  a  thorough  technical  training 
and  a  great  deal  of  experience  in  various 
iniporlanl  positions  of  a  similar  cliaracler  in 
Kngland.  The  son  of  the  late  Mr.  John  L. 
Scott,  of  Hamilton,  Scotland,  and  Bombay, 
he  was  born  in  Hamilton,  in  1875,  and  was 
educated  at  Glasgow.  As  a  student  at  the 
Glasgow  and  West  of  Scotland  Technical 
College  he  had  quite  a  distinguished  career, 
and,  in  1899,  was  appointed  Engineer  in 
Cliarge  of  the  new  generating-station  for  the 
municipal  ligliting  and  tramway  supply  of 
the  Corporation  of  Bradford.  Subsequently 
he  was  Chief  Engineer  to  the  Corporations  of 
Whitehaven,  Leith,  and  Croydon,  resigning 
the  last-mentioned  post  in  1904  in  order  to 
come  abroad.  Mr.  Scott  is  a  member  of  the 
Institution  of  Electrical  Engineers  ;  a  Fellow 
of  the  koyal  Society  of  Arts  ;  Fellow  of  the 
Koyal  Scottish  Society  of  Arts,  and  a  former 
member  of  the  Municipal  Electrical  Associa- 
tion. 


PEAK    TRAM    STATION. 


THE    PEAK    TRAMWAY. 

In  1885  a  company  was  incorporated  under 
the  style  of  the  Hongkong  High-level  Tram- 
ways Company,  Ltd.,  with  the  object  of  con- 
structing a  cable  tramway  to  tlie  Victoria  Gap. 
The  cars  commenced  running  in  i888,  but  the 
great  rain  storm  of  1889  was  responsible  for 
a  heavy  landslip,  which  did  great  damage 
to  the  peimanent  way,  and  very  nearly  put 
the  concern  into  liquidation.  In  1891,  the 
tramway  was  taken  over  by  Messrs.  John  D. 
Humplueys  &  Co.,  and  a  small  dividend 
was  paid.  From  that  date  the  returns 
gradually  increased,  the  climax  being  reached 
in  1904,  when  a  dividend  of  $20  per  share 
was  declared.  In  1905  the  concern  was  liqui- 
dated and  tlie  Peak  Tnnnways  Company, 
Ltd.,  was  formed  to  acquire  the  undertaking 
of  the  old  Company,  and  also  a  concession 
which  had  been  granted  by  the  Govermnent 
to  Mr.  Findlay  Smith  for  an  opposition  line. 
The  capital  of  the  new  Company  was  §750,000, 
of  which  8250,000  went  to  the  shareholders 
of  the  old  Company,  while  tlie  remainder 
was  used  for  the  purpose  of  actjuiring  Mr. 
Findlay  Smith's  concession  and  constructing 
the  new  line.  The  lower  terminus  of  the  old 
route  is  situated  near  St.  John's  Cathedral,  the 
upper  lying  just  alongside  the  I'eak  Hotel. 
The  proposed  new  tramway  will  run  from 
the  Queen's  Koad  end  of  Battery  I'atli,  viii 
Glenealy  Valley,  to  the  Peak. 


THE    HONGKONG    AND    CHINA    GAS    COMPANY.    LIMITED. 


AlioiTT  130,000,000  cubic  feet  of  gas  are 
manufactured  and  sf>ld  by  this  Company 
to  over  3.000  consumers.  The  public  light- 
ing is  mainly  in  the  Company's  hands 
and  is  almost  exclusively  on  the  incandc-s- 
cciit  system,  some  1,100  burners  being  used. 
Oial  gas  is  principally  manufactured  from 
Japanese  coal,  but  recently  a  carburetted 
water  gas  system  has  been  installed  as  an 
auxiliary  to  the  manufacturing  plant.  The 
price  of  gas  to  the  public  is  at  piesent 
$275   per    1.000    cubic    feet.       Discounts    are 


given  to  large  consumers  and  to  those 
who  use  gas  for  heating  or  power  pur- 
poses. 

The  Company's  principal  vyorks,  offices, 
and  showrooms  are  situated  at  West  Point, 
Hongkong.  In  addition,  there  is  a  storage 
station  at  East  Point  and  a  small  works  at 
Kowloon.  The  staff  consists  of  Mr.  George 
Curry,  local  secretary ;  Mr.  J.  McCubbin, 
resident  engineer  ;  Mr.  E.  W.  Tcrrey,  fittings 
superintendent  ;  Mr.  L.  J.  Blackburn,  manager, 
Kowloon    works ;     and    European    assistants. 


Some   two    hundred    Chinese    fitters,   stokers, 
&c.,  are  employed. 

The  Company  was  incorporated  in  1862, 
and  its  registered  offices  arc  at  148,  Gresham 
House,  E.C.  The  board  of  directors  is  com- 
posed of  Messrs.  A.  F.  Phillips,  A.M.l.C.E. 
(chairman),  S.  Kostron,  K.  Morton,  E.  H. 
Woods,  and  Sir  J.  Grinlinton,  with  Mr.  F.  G. 
Barrett  as  secretary.  The  total  capital  ex- 
pended amounts  to  ;£l30,ooo.  Dividends  of 
10  per  cent,  are  paid  on  the  share  capital, 
and  of  5  and  41  per  cent,  on  debentures. 


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168     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


HONGKONG    ELECTRIC    COMPANY,    LIMITED. 


Previoi'sly  to  1889  electric  light  was  un- 
known to  the  Colony,  but  in  that  year  the 
Hongkong  Electric  Company,  Ltd.,  was 
formed,  and.  although  the  progress  made  at 
the  commencement  of  their  undertaking  was 
slow,  there  have  been  rapid  developments  of 
recent  years. 

The  historv-  of  the  inception  of  the  Company 
is  an  interesting  one.  Mr,  W.  H.  Wickham, 
who  had  completed  his  articles  and  served 
several  years  with  Messrs.  Johnson  & 
Phillips,  telegraph  engineers  and  electricians, 
of  Charlton,  accepted  a  travelling  commission 
to  superintend,  on  behalf  of  his  firm,  the 
completion  of  certain  contracts.  While  in 
Hongkong  he  obtained  the  order  for  supphnng 
the  machinery  to  the  Electric  Company,  which 
was  then  in  process  of  formation.  He  re- 
turned to  England  to  see  the  order  executed, 
and  everything  was  carried  out  in  so  satis- 
factory- a  manner  that  the  directors  offered 
him  the  position  of  manager  of  the  Company. 
He  accepted  it,  and  still  holds  the  post  at  the 


present  time.  A  site,  150  feet  square,  was 
purchased  at  Wanchai,  near  what  was  then 
a  small  English  cemetery  ;  and  a  power  house 
and  generating  station  were  erected  upon  it, 
and  live  horizontal  compound  engines  of  100 
horse-power  each  were  installed.  For  some 
time  the  operations  of  the  Company  were  on 
rather  a  limited  scale.  They  supplied  current 
to  fifty  electric  arc  lamps  for  public  lighting 
purposes,  but  private  residents  were  slow  in 
introducing  the  new  ilUnninant  into  their 
houses.  Upon  the  Company's  capital  of 
$300,000  no  dividend  was  paid  for  the  first 
six  years,  and  only  four  Europeans  and 
between  twenty  and  thirty  Chinese  were  em- 
ployed. In  i8g6,  however,  the  Company  paid 
a  dividend  of  5  per  cent.  Between  1 898-99  the 
capital  was  increased  to  $600,000,  and  during 
the  last  three  or  four  years  a  dividend  of  10 
per  cent,  has  been  declared.  The  works  at 
Wanchai  now  cover  a  site  350  to  450  feet  in 
length.  Practically  all  the  old  plant  has  been 
superseded   by   high-speed   forced   lubrication 


compound  engines,  developing  1,200  horse- 
power, and  at  the  present  time  two  new  300 
horse-power  Deisel  oil  engines  are  being  laid 
down.  A  network  of  underground  mains 
throughout  the  centre  of  the  city  has  just 
been  completed.  The  Company  now  supply 
the  current  for  about  90  arc  lamps  and 
some  50,000  smaller  lamps.  The  extensive 
use  of  lifts  in  the  Colony  has  necessitated 
the  establishment  of  a  small  sub-station, 
which  is  situated  near  the  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  Bank.  Here  there  are  two  motor- 
generators,  each  of  about  40  horse-power, 
and  two  storage  batteries.  Mr.  Wickham 
now  has  a  staff  of  six  Europeans  and  about 
150  Chinese,  and  there  is  every  likelihood 
that  these  numbers  will  have  to  be  increased 
in  the  near  future. 

Mr.  A.  G.  Wood  is  chairman  of  directors, 
and  his  colleagues  on  the  board  are  the  Hon. 
Sir  C,  P.  Chater,  C.M.G.,  the  Hon.  Mr.  H. 
Keswick,  and  Mr.  G.  H.  Medhurst. 


VIEW   OP   THE   WORKS -EXTERIOR   AND    INTERIOR. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     169 


HONGKONG   SOCIAL    INSTITUTIONS. 


THE    HONGKONG    CLUB. 


THE   HONGKONG    CLUB* 

The  Hongkong  Club,  or  '•  the  Club,"  as  it 
is  more  often  termed,  is  the  premier  insti- 
tution of  the  kind  in  the  Colony,  and  one  of 
the  finest  and  most  luxurious  in  the  Far 
East.  Its  establishment  dates  back  to  the 
year  1846,  and,  as  most  of  the  old  members 
have  long  since  passed  away,  its  early  his- 
tory is  to  a  large  extent  forgotten.  As  far  as 
can  be  gathered,  however,  it  was  inaugurated 
as  a  "Taipans'  Club,"  for  the  convenience 
of,  and  as  a  place  of  meeting  for,  the  heads 
of  the  large  hongs  then  existing  in  the 
Colony.  These  gentlemen  were  some  eight 
in  number,  and  it  is  recorded  that  they  occu- 
pied premises  in  Queen's  Road  nearly  facing 
the  Post  OfBce.  They  obtained  and  held  the 
property  on  the  understanding  that  it  should 
not  be  sold  while  any  of  them  lived,  and  on 
those  lines  the  Club  served  its  purpose  for 
many  years,  until  only  two  of  the  original 
founders  remained.  These  gentlemen  dis- 
posed of  the  property,  which  was  rented  by 
the  newly  formed  members'  Club  in  1886. 
An  excellent  opportunity  for  acquiring  a  new 
site  presented  itself  when  Sir  Paul  Chater's 
scheme  of  reclamation  was  undertaken,  and 
upon  a  block  of  the  reclaimed  land  the  Club 
erected  the  present  commodious  building, 
with    its   commanding    position    fronting    the 


harbour.  The  main  building  is  three  storeys 
high.  Additional  accommodation  becoming 
necessary  in  course  of  time,  an  annexe  was 
erected,  and  the  two  buildings  were  linked 
together  by  a  covered  way.  The  main 
building  was  completed  and  occupied  in 
July,  1897,  and  the  annexe  in  IQ03.  The 
Club  is  handsomely  appointed  throughout. 
There  are  nine  billiard  tables,  a  fine  bowling 
alley,  spacious  dining,  reading,  and  general 
rooms,  bars,  and  living  accommodation  for 
34  guests,  some  of  the  rooms  being  let  to 
members  at  monthly  rates,  and  the  remain- 
der reserved  for  visitors  to  the  Colony. 
Electric  lights  and  fans  are  fitted  through- 
out, and  electric  lifts  give  ready  access  to 
the  upper  floors.  The  Club  also  houses  a 
fine  library,  which  consists  of  15,608  works 
in  18,091  volumes.  The  resident  member- 
ship at  the  present  time  is  about  five 
hundred.  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  His 
Excellency  the  Admiral,  and  His  Excellency 
the  General  Officer  commanding  the  Forces 
are  honorary  members.  Ordinary  members 
are  admitted  only  by  ballot,  and  visitors  for 
a  term  not  exceeding  three  months  may  be 
proposed  by  members  of  the  Club.  Officers 
of  the  Army  and  Navy  resident  in  the 
Colony  are  admitted  by  ballot  as  subscribers  ; 
whilst  ofiicers  of  the  Navy  not  stationed  in 
the     Colony,    but     staying     here     for     short 


periods,  are  invited  to  become  visitors.  The 
Club  is  managed  by  a  committee  of  nine, 
elected  annually,  sub-divided  so  that  the 
different  departments  of  the  work  may  be 
dealt  with  more  easily.  A  chairman  is 
elected  from  their  number.  The  staff  con- 
sists of  the  secretary,  the  assistant  secretary, 
two  European  stewards,  and  about  two 
hundred  Chinese  servants. 


THE   PEAK   CLUB. 

Perched  on  the  crest  of  the  hill  from  which 
it  takes  its  name,  and  commanding  a  charming 
and  extensive  view  of  the  south-west  side  of 
the  island  and  of  the  wide  expanse  of  water, 
dotted  with  blue-grey  islands,  that  stretches 
beyond,  stands  the  bungalow  of  the  Peak 
Club,  surrounded  by  three  tennis  courts,  a 
croquet  lawn,  and  a  garden  that  is  always 
bright  with  flowers.  The  premises  were 
specially  built  to  serve  their  present  purpose, 
and  comprise  drawing,  reading,  and  card 
rooms,  with  a  bar  and  the  usual  oflices.  Here 
between  the  hours  of  5  o'clock  and  7.30  in 
the  evening  bridge  holds  sway.  Sometimes 
before  and  sometimes  after  dinner  small  but 
most  enjoyable  dances  are  held,  and  on  these 
occasions  the  drawing  and  reading  rooms  are 


170     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


thrown  into  one.  while  the  verandah  forms  a 
pleasant  and  cool  retreat  during  the  inter\-als. 
The  latest  newspapers  and  magazines  may 
be  seen  in  the  reading  rixjm.  which  contains 
also  a  small  library.     Ladies  of  a  member's 


Club,  he  granted  them  at  a  nominal  rent  a 
three  years'  lease  of  the  Government  Pavilions 
at  the  Peak,  which  liad  remained  unused  for 
several  years,  and  were  in  a  ruinous  condi- 
tion.    The  Government   Pavilions  were  then 


THE   OLD    PREMISES   OF    THE    HONGKONG    CLUB. 


family  are  admitted  to  the  privileges  of 
memlH;rship,  and  altogether  the  Club  serves 
as  a  charming  and  convenient  centre  for 
social  intercourse  among  the  residents  of 
the  neight>ourhood. 

The  idea  of  establishing  the  Club  originated 
with  Sir  Thomas  Jackson,  Bart,  (then  chief 
manager  of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Banking  Corporation),  the  late  Major  Moore, 
and  several  other  Peak  residents,  in  the  year 
1893.  The  house  known  as  "The  Home- 
stead." now  occupied  by  Lieut.-Colonel  Carter, 
was  taken  on  a  short  lease  from  its  owner, 
the  late  Mr.  Granville  Sharp,  and,  as  the 
regulations  provided  that  the  ladies  of  a 
member's  family  were  privileged  to  make 
use  of  the  Club,  it  was  soon  found  that  a 
long-felt  want  had  been  supplied.  A  com- 
mittee of  management  was  formed,  presided 
over  by  Sir  Thomas  Jackson,  who  continued 
in  oftice  until  his  retirement  from  the  Colony. 
while  Major  Moore  carried  out  the  duties  of 
honorary  secretary. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Club's  existence 
the  number  of  Peak  residents  was  not  great, 
and  the  Club's  membership  was  consequently 
small.  As  a  natural  consequence  the  Club 
was  not,  for  some  time,  upon  a  sound  linancial 
basis.  Sir  Thomas  Jackson,  however,  was  a 
firm  believer,  not  only  in  the  future  prosperity 
of  the  Club,  but  also  in  the  benefit  its  exis- 
tence would  prove  to  the  community,  and 
with  his  a.ssistance  the  Club  was  enabled  to 
tide  over  all  financial  difficulties. 

In  1897  the  tenancy  of  '"The  Homestead" 
expired,  and  the  owner  refused  to  renew  it 
except  upon  such  terms  as  rendered  it  im- 
possible for  the  Club  to  entertain  his  pro- 
posal. Fortunately,  at  this  time,  the  then 
Governor  of  Hongkong,  Sir  William  Kobinson, 
was  a  man  who,  like  Sir  Thomas  Jackson, 
believed  that  a  social  club  at  the  Peak  was 
a  necessary  institution,  and,  in  compliance 
with    the    request  of    the  committee    of    the 


repaired,  and  the  Club  entered  into  occupa- 
tion in  the  latter  part  of  1897.  About  this 
time  Major  Moore  (to  whom  the  members 
of  the  Club  were  greatly  indebted  for  the 
tactful  .ind  energetic  manner  in  which  he  per- 
formed the  duties  of  honorary  secretary)  died 
in  the  Colony,  and  Capt.  (now  Lieut.-Colonel) 
Long,  A.S.C.,  accepted  the  appointment  of 
honorary  secretary,  and  retained  it,  except  dur- 
ing short  intervals  of  leave,  until  his  departure 


for  South  .\frica  in  1899.  Both  Major  Moore 
and  Colonel  Long  acquitted  themselves  so 
well  in  the  ofiice  that  it  has  become  cus- 
tomary to  select  their  successors  from  the 
military  officers  residing  at  the  Peak.  The 
only  departure  from  this  practice  was  when 
Mr.  C.  D.  Wilkinson  (the  present  chairman) 
occupied  the  position  in  the  absence  of 
Captain  Lay,  and  later  when  Mr.  O.  D.  Thomas 
and  afterwards  Mr.  A.  G.  M.  Fletcher  under- 
took and  admirably  performed  the  duties. 
For  a  short  time  the  position  of  honorary 
secretary  was  held  by  Colonel  Carter,  who 
still  rct.nins  a  warm  interest  in  the  Club  and 
is  always  ready  to  devote  both  his  time  and 
experience  to  furthering  the  interests  of  the 
members.  At  the  present  time,  the  honorary 
secretary  is  Cnptain  Thompson,  R.A.,  who 
succeeded    Captain    Quinnell. 

In  1902  notice  was  given  by  the  Govern- 
ment to  the  committee  of  the  Club,  that  the 
pavilions  were  again  required  for  the  purposes 
for  which  they  had  originally  been  erected, 
and  it  therefore  became  necessary  to  seek 
for  other  premises.  No  house  in  a  central 
position  or  at  all  suitable  for  the  purposes 
of  the  Club  was  obtainable,  and  it  appeared 
probable  that  the  Club  must  cease  to  exist. 
However,  Sir  Thomas  Jackson  and  several 
old  Pe.ik  residents  expressed  their  readiness 
to  suliscribe  p.Trt  of  the  funds  retiuired  for 
the  purpose  of  acquiring,  or  building,  perni.a- 
nent  club  premises.  Others,  including  Sir 
Paul  Chater,  who  took  a  keen  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  the  Colony,  offered  to  subscribe 
the  remainder  of  the  money  ;  and  thereupon 
negoti.itions  were  entered  into  with  Messrs. 
Butterfield  &  Swire  and  the  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  liank  for  the  purchase  or  lease  of 
the  site  upon  which  stands  the  present 
building.  Eventually  that  land  vv.is  acquired 
by  the  Club  upon  advantageous  terms,  and 
steps  were  taken  to  erect  the  club  building 
upon  it.  Prior  to  this  being  done  it  was 
considered  advisable,  indeed  necessary,  in 
the  interests  of  those  who  had  promised  to 
provide  the  required  funds,  to  form  the  Club 
into  a  corporate  body.  Accordingly  memo- 
randa and  articles  of  association  were  pre- 
pared,   and    the    Club    was    registered    as    a 


PEAK    CLUB. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      171 


company  undei'  tlie  Hongkong  Companies' 
Ordinances,  and  delientures  of  $500  eacli 
were  issued,  bearing  interest  at  6  per  cent. 

Since  tliis  reconstruction  the  position  of 
the  Club  lias  steadily  improved,  until  now  it 
is  on  a  thoroughly  firm  financial  footing  and 
has  justified  the  belief  entertained  of  its  future 
by  Sir  T.  Jackson  and  others  associated  with 
him  in  its  foundation.  The  present  chair- 
man is  Mr.  C.  D.  Wilkinson,  one  of  the  few 
remaining  original  members. 


THE   PHOENIX   CLUB. 

The  Phoenix  Club  had  its  origin  in  the 
Hongkong  Bowling  Club,  which  was  founded 
in  1898  as  a  limited  company  with  a  capital 
of  $1,250  in  shares  of  $25.  The  bowling 
alleys  were  formerly  situated  in  No.  i, 
Wyndham  Street,  but,  as  time  went  on, 
and  the  Club  attained  wider  popularity,  an 
opportunity  presented  itself  (in  1902)  of 
leasing  the  old  premises  of  the  German 
Club  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  same  street. 
The  scope  of  the  Club  was  considerably 
extended,  and  the  membership  of  the  Club 
was  still  further  increased.  In  .  September, 
1907,  the  Phcenix  Club,  Limited,  was  formed, 
and  the  capital  increased  to  $2,500  divided 
amongst  all  the  members,  so  that  each  should 
have  a  direct  interest  in  the  management. 
The  roll  now  numbers  nearly  two  hundred 
members,  and  includes  a  number  of  captains 
of  vessels — indeed  the  Club  has  become  a 
recognised  meeting-place  for  masters  of  the 
mercantile  marine  of  practically  all  European 
nations.      There    are    a    number    of    visiting 


members,  and  the  courtesies  of  the  Club 
are  always  extended  to  naval  oliicers.  There 
are  four  bowling  alleys,  as  well  as  reading, 
card,  and  billiard  rooms.  The  Club  is 
managed  by  a  committee  consisting  of  a 
chairman  and  six  members,  elected  annually. 
The  permanent  secretary  is  Mr.  E.  Granville 
Jordan. 


ST.  GEORGE'S   CLUB. 

This  Club  was  founded  in  1905,  and  is 
purely  a  social  institution.  The  membership 
varies  considerably,  as  is  only  natural  with 
a  population  of  so  migratory  a  character  as 
that  possessed  by  Hongkong,  but  it  averages 
about  120.  The  club  premises  were  at  first 
in  Ice  House  Street,  but  larger  rooms  were 
speedily  required,  and  at  Christmas,  1906,  the 
headquarters  were  removed  to  Des  Voeux 
Road.  Here  there  is  a  well-stocked  library 
and  a  billiard  room  containing  two  excellent 
tables,  upon  which  both  Mr.  W.  H.  Stevenson 
and  Mr.  Inman  have  given  exhibition  games. 
From  time  to  time  bridge  and  billiard  tourna- 
ments are  arranged,  several  cups  having  been 
presented  for  competition.  Enjoyable  house 
concerts  are  often  promoted  by  the  members. 
Not  a  little  of  the  success  of  the  Club  is  due 
to  Mr.  A.  Cunningham,  who  was  responsible 
for  its  organisation,  and  to  Mr.  Lloyd,  the 
first  secretary  and  chairman  of  committee. 
The  present  chairman  is  Mr.  R.  V.  Hume, 
and  the  duties  of  secretary  and  treasurer  are 
discharged  by  Mr.  Todd  and  Mr.  T.  Chee. 


THE   CLUB   GERMANIA. 

The  growth  of  the  German  Club  has  gone 
hand  in  hand  with  the  growth  of  Teutonic 
influence  in  the  Far  East.  Founded  in 
November,  1859,  (he  first  premises  were 
situated  near  the  present  officers'  quarters 
in  Queen's  Road  East.  In  March  of  the 
following  year  larger  premises  in  Lower 
Wyndham  Street,  opposite  the  German 
Consulate,  were  leased,  and  here  the  Club 
remained  until  the  building  now  occupied 
by  the  Phcenix  Club  was  completed.  This 
structure,  which  was  erected  specially  for 
the  Club,  upon  their  giving  an  undertiiking 
to  lease  it  for  not  less  than  ten  years,  was 
formally  opened  on  February  2,  1872,  in  the 
presence  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor, 
and  a  large  number  of  local  residents  and 
dignitaries.  With  increasing  membership 
these  premises  eventually  became  too  small, 
and  in  1899  it  was  decided  to  build  a  new 
club  house.  An  excellent  site  upon  the 
Kennedy  Road  was  chosen,  and  on 
December  31,  1902,  the  splendid  building 
known  as  the  Club  Germauia  was  opened. 
Spacious  and  most  comfortably  appointed, 
the  buildhig  contains  large  dining,  reading, 
and  billiard  rooms,  an  extensive  and  well- 
stocked  library,  and  several  fine  bowling 
alleys.  The  ordinary  subscription  is  .$9 
a  month,  with  an  entrance  fee  of  $20  for 
resident  members,  and  there  are  special 
terms  for  absent  members  and  visitors.  The 
roll  on  January  i,  1908,  included  139  present 
members,  loi  absent  members,  5  visiting 
members,  and  4  honorary  members.  Election 
to  the  Club  is  by  ballot.  The  committee  is 
elected  annually,  and  consists  of  the  presi- 
dent and  8  other  resident  members. 


GERMAN    CLUB. 


172     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE   CXUB   LUSITANO. 

This  Cluh,  the  membership  of  which  is 
confined  to  the  Portuguese,  was  founded 
some  forty  years  ago,  and  is  consequently 
one  of  the  oldest  social  institutions  in  the 
Colony.  A  limited  number  of  debentures 
($75  each)  are  held  by  the  members,  who 
have  to  pay  an  entrance  fee  of  $5,  and  a 
monthly  subscription  of  $3.  The  Club  passed 
through  x'arious  \icissitudes,  but  now,  largely 
owing  to  the  efforts  of  Mr.  F.  J.  V.  Jorge 
and  other  friends  and  supporters  of  the 
institution,  it  is  in  a  sound  condition.  The 
premises  in  Shelley  Street  were  specially 
erected  to  serve  the  purposes  of  a  club,  and 
are,  therefore,  ven.'  conveniently  arranged. 
The  billiard  room  contains  four  tables,  and  the 
library,  the  "  Bibliotheca  Lusitana,"  stocked 
with  some  ten  thousand  volumes,  chiefly 
Portuguese  literature,  is  one  of  the  most 
extensive  in  the  Far  East.  A  spacious  ball- 
room is  often  used  for  the  presentation  of 
amateur  theatric-als,  for  which  the  Club 
members  have  gained  quite  a  high  reputa- 
tion, and  there  are  also  several  rooms  for 
residential  purposes.  Mr.  F.  J.  V.  Jorge  is 
president  of  the  Club,  which  is  managed  by 
a  committee  of  six  directors  and  a  salaried 
secretary. 


THE   NIPPON    CLUB. 

The  Japanese,  of  whom  there  are  quite  a 
large  number  in  the  Colony,  also  have  a 
social  institution  of  their  own.  It  was  founded, 
owing  to  the  efforts  of  Messrs.  K,  Matsda  and 
Todon  in  1903,  under  the  name  of  Yamato 
Kai  (Association  of  Japanese),  and  in  August 
of  the  following  year  premises  were  obtained 
in  Queen's  Road.  In  February,  IQ06,  the 
Club  moved  to  its  present  quarters  in  Ice 
House  Street,  and  the  name  was  changed  to 
the  more  appropriate  one  of  the  Nippon  Club. 
Membership  is  confined  to  Government 
officials  and  employees  in  the  banks,  the 
shipping,  and  the  larger  commercial  houses. 
There  are  at  present  78  names  upon  the  roll, 
and  the  accommodation  provided  is  ample, 
including  billiard,  dining,  and  reading  rooms, 
as  well  as  qu;irters  reserved  for  the  conve- 
nience of  guests.  All  the  leading  Japanese 
passing  through  the  Colony  pay  a  visit  to 
the  Club,  and  the  visitors  have  included 
Prince  Fushimi,  Prince  Kuni,  Count  Otani, 
and  Admiral  Tamari.  Many  of  tliem  have 
made  liberal  donations  to  a  fund  lor  the 
Club's  improvement.  The  president  is  Mr. 
Kobayashi,  of  the  Mitsui  Busan  Kaisha, 


THE  CHINESE   CLUB. 

What  the  Hongkong  Club  is  to  Europeans 
the  Chinese  Club  is  to  the  Chinese — the 
leading  social  institution  of  the  community. 
Founded  by  Mr.  Ho  Tung,  the  first  occupant 
of  the  presidential  chair,  in  1899,  the  Chinese 
Club  had  then  a  membership  of  240,  During 
Mr,  Fung  \Va  Chun's  term  of  office  the 
numbers  fell  to  165,  and  whilst  Mr.  Tam 
Tsz  Kong  was  president  there  was  a  further 
decline  to  152  members.  In  1905  Mr.  Sin 
Tak  Fan  assumed  the  direction  of  affairs, 
and  he  succeeded  in  raising  the  membership 
to  upwards  of  200.  He  still  holds  the  ol'iice 
of  president,  and  has  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  the  Club  is  now  in  a  very 
prosperous  condition.  The  large  premises, 
situated  in  Queen's  Road  Central,  are  well 
furnished,  and  contain  a  fine  library,  as  well 
as  provision  for  billiards  and  other  forms 
of  recreation.  The  rules  of  the  Club  are 
modelled  on  those  of  the  Hongkong  Club, 
and,  as  in  the  European  institution,  the 
members  extend  their  hospitality  to  distin- 
guished men  passing  through  the  Colony, 
Prince  Shun  was  lavishly  entertained  when 
on  his  way  to  the  Coronation  of  King 
Edward  VII.,  and  the  recent  Chinese  Em- 
bassy to  Berlin,  also,  were  the  guests  of  the 
Club  during  their  stay  in  Hongkong. 


SOCIAL    AND    PROFESSIONAL    BIOGRAPHIES. 


SIR    HENRY    SPENCER    BERKELEY,    KT., 

formerly  Attorney-General,  Hongkong,  was 
bom  on  Septemt>er  6.  1851,  and  having  been 
educated  for  the  legal  profession  was  called 
to  the  Bar  by  the  Inner  Temple,  in  1873. 
He  went  to  the  Leeward  Islands  in  1877 
as  Attorney-General,  and  bec-ame,  in  1878, 
Solicitor-General,  and,  in  1883,  Acting  Colonial 
Secretary.  From  1885  to  1889  he  was  At- 
torney-General for  Fiji,  and  in  the  latter 
year  he  became  Chief  Justice.  For  a  time 
he  acted  as  Administrator,  until  in  June,  1902, 
he  arrived  in  Hongkong  to  take  up  the  position 
of  Attorney-General.  On  two  occasions  he 
acted  as  Chief  Justice.  He  resigned  his  ap- 
pointment in  1906,  relinquishing  the  duties 
early  in  the  following  year,  upon  the  arrival 
of  Mr.  Rees-Davies.  Sir  Henry,  who  is 
married  to  Katherine,  a  daughter  of  S.  S. 
Cassin.  of  Antigua,  West  Indies,  is  a  member 
of  the  Junior  Carlton  (London)  and  Hongkong 
Clubs,  and  is  chairman  of  the  Hongkong 
Volunteer  Reserve  Association.  He  resides 
at  the  Peak,  Hongkong. 


Mr.     MATTHEW     JOHN     D.     STEPHENS, 

Hongkong's  senior  legal  practitioner,  comes 
from  an  old  legal  family,  his  father  and 
grandfather  having  practised  as  solicitors  in 
Chatham,  Kent,  for  over  100  years. 
Admitted  a  Solicitor  at  home  in  1863,  Mr. 
Stephens  came  to  Hongkong  in  August,  1872, 
and  was  admitted  a  Solicitor  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  Colony  in  January,  1873.  At 
that  time  there  were  only  three  legal  firms 
established  on  the  island,  including  the  one 
which  Mr.  Stephens  joined.  He  is  a  Con- 
veyancer, and  Proctor  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Hongkong,  Notary  Public,  and  Patent  and 
Trade  Mark  Agent.    He  is  also  a  member  of 


the  Law  Society  and  a  Solicitor  of  His 
Britannic  Majesty's  Supreme  Court  for  China 
and  Korea.  His  residence  in  the  Colony 
has  only  been  broken  by  short  trips  to 
England,  with  the  exception  of  one  lasting 
about  two  years,  so  that  all  his  interests  are 
centred  in  Hongkong.  His  offices  are  at 
No.  18,  Bank  Buildings,  Queen's  Road  Central. 


MR.  CHARLES  DAVID  WILKINSON,  senior 
partner  of  the  legal  firm  of  Messrs.  Wilkinson 
&  Grist,  is  one  of  the  oldest  practitioners 
in  the  Colony.  Born  on  June  21,  i860,  he 
was  educated  for  the  legal  professioti,  and 
in  1882  was  admitted  a  Solicitor  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Judicature,  England.  Four 
years  later  he  sailed  for  Hongkong,  where 
he  quickly  made  his  way  to  the  front  rank  of 
the  loc-al  Bar.  He  is  Notary  Public  and  Com- 
missioner to  take  acknowledgments  of  married 
women.  He  has  written  several  books  on 
legal  subjects,  including  an  authoritative 
volume  on  the  local  law  relating  to  trade- 
marks, and  is  a  member  of  the  committee  of 
the  Hongkong  Law  Society.  He  lives  at  "  The 
Falls,"  a  picturesque  residence  on  the  Peak, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Peak,  Hongkong, 
and  "  Thatched  House  "  (London)  Clubs. 


MR.  QEORQE   ANDREW  HASTINQS,  who  is 

at  the  present  time  managing  the  practice  of 
Messrs.  Hastings  &  Hastings,  is  a  member 
of  the  committee  of  the  local  branch  of  the 
Law  Society.  He  was  born  in  1865,  and  was 
educated  at  Uppingham  School.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Hongkong  Club,  and  lives  at 
the  Peak. 


MR.  JOHN  HASTINGS,  the  other  partner  in 
the  firm  of  Messrs.  Hastings  &  Hastings, 
was  born  in  January,  1862,  and  was  also 
educated  at  Uppingham.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  "  Thatched  House  "  Club  (London),  the 
Hongkong  Club,  and  the  Royal  Hongkong 
Yacht  Club.  His  address  is  ''  Slemish,"  the 
Peak,  Hongkong. 


MR.  QODFREV  CORNEWALL  CHESTER 
MASTER,  liead  of  tlie  legal  firm  of  Johnson, 
Stokes  &  Master,  came  to  the  Colony  in 
March,  1884,  and  joined  the  firm  of  Edmund 
Sharp  &  Toller,  which  since  the  year  1890 
has  been  known  as  Johnson,  Stokes  & 
Master.  Mr.  A.  B.  Johnson  and  Mr.  A.  P. 
Stokes  have  no  longer  any  connection  with 
the  firm,  which  now  consists  of  Mr.  Master 
and  Mr,  Herbert  Johnson  George,  who  came 
out  to  the  Colony  in  1890.  The  following 
solicitors  are  at  present  connected  with  the 
firm  as  managing  clerks  :  Messrs.  H,  G,  C, 
Bailey,  R.  F.  C.  Master,  W,  J,  Daniel,  and 
A.  G,  Jackson  (a  nephew  of  Sir  Thomas 
Jackson,  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in 
the  financial  history  of  the  Colony).  The 
firm  is  well  represented  in  the  field  of  sport. 
Mr.  Master  has  for  many  years  been  con- 
nected with  racing,  both  as  an  owner  and 
as  an  amateur  rider,  and  for  a  good  many 
years  rowed  regularly  in  the  annual  regattas 
of  the  Victoria  Recreation  Club  with  no  little 
success.  Mr,  Bailey  and  Mr,  Daniel  are 
both  seen  to  advantage  on  the  football  field, 
and  a  representative  of  the  firm  is  more 
often  than  not  to  be  found  taking  part  in 
local  sport  and  amusements,  but  pleasure  is 
never  allowed  to  interfere  with  business. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     173 


MR.  J.  SCOTT  HARSTON,  a  member  of 
the  legal  firm  of  Ewens  &  Harston,  is  a 
Solicitor  and  Notary  Public  and  also  a  Com- 
missioner to  administer  oaths  for  the  High 
Court  of  Australia  and  the  Supreme  Courts 
of  New  South  Wales,  Victoria,  Queensland, 
South  Australia,  and  Western  Australia.  He 
was  born  in  1872,  and  was  educated  at 
Thorparch  Grange,  Yorkshire.  He  served 
his  articles  in  Leeds  and  London,  qualifying 
in  1895.  P'or  five  years  he  was  managing 
clerk  to  Messrs.  Ford  &  Warren,  solicitors,  of 
Leeds,  and,  coming  to  Hongkong  in  1900,  he 
was  admitted  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Creasy 
Ewens  two  years  later.  He  is  on  the  com- 
mittee of  the  local  Law  Society.  He  is  also 
a  director  of  the  National  Bank  of  China, 
Ltd.,  A.  S.  Watson  &  Co.,  Ltd ,  Humphreys 
Estate  and  Finance  Company,  Ltd.,  and  the 
"  South  China  Morning  Post,"  Ltd.  Mr. 
Harston,  who  is  a  member  of  the  Hongkong 
Club  and  of  the  Junior  Athenieum,  London, 
lives  at  No.  4,  Clifton  Gardens,  Conduit  Road. 


IHR.  0.  K.  HALL  BRUTTON.— A  leading 
firm  of  lawyers  in  Hongkong  is  that  of 
Messrs.  Brutton  &  Hett,  whose  offices  are 
situated  in  Des  Voeux  Road  Central.  The 
practice  was  founded  by  Mr.  K.  W.  Mounsey, 
who  retired  in  1903  and  is  now  in  Tientsin. 
Mr.  G.  K.  Hall  Brutton  was  born  in  England, 
and  was  admitted  a  Solicitor  in  the  English 
Courts.  He  went  to  Shanghai  in  1892,  and 
joined  the  legal  firm  of  which  Mr.  W.  V. 
Drummond  was  the  head.  Five  years  later 
he  joined  Mr.  Mounsey  as  a  partner  in 
Hongkong.  After  the  retirement  of  Mr. 
Mounsey,  Mr,  Brutton  conducted  the  business 
for  some  years  on  his  own  account.  In 
1905,  however,  he  took  Mr.  F.  Paget  Hett 
into  partnership.  Messrs.  Brutton  &  Hett 
besides  being  qualified  to  appear  before  the 
local  Courts,  have  been  duly  admitted  as 
SoHcitors  of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  Supreme 
Court  for  China  and  Korea.  Mr.  Brutton 
takes  a  keen  interest  in  sport,  and  especially  in 
the  turf,  being  well  known  as  a  pony  owner 
and  ainateur  jockey.  Shooting  is  another 
favourite  recreation.  He  is  sergeant  of  the 
Hongkong  Mounted  Troop,  with  which  he 
has  been  connected  since  it  was  formed,  at 
the  instigation  of  Sir  Matthew  Nathan,  some 
three  years  ago. 


* 


MR.    PHILIP   WALLACE    OOLDRING,    B.A. 

Oxon.,  the  head  of  the  legal  firm  of  Goldring, 
Barlow  &  Morrell,  was  born  on  March  15, 
1875,  ""id  educated  at  Woking  School,  Clifton 
College,  and  Trinity  College,  O.fford.  At  the 
University  he  obtained  honours  in  classical 
moderations  and  in  the  final  school  of  juris- 
prudence. Admitted  a  Solicitor  in  1899,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Brutton,  Hett 
&  Goldring,  until  April,  1906,  when  he 
started  to  practise  on  his  own  account.  Mr. 
Goldring  is  an  enthusiastic  sportsman,  his 
recreations  including  football,  cricket,  shooting 
and  fishing.  He  lives  at  "  Parkside,"  Kowloon, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Hongkong  Club  and 
the  Sports  Club,  London. 


MR.  HERBERT  WILLIAM  LOOKER,  a  part- 
ner of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Deacon,  Looker  & 
Deacon,  solicitors,  was  born  on  December  2, 
1871.  He  was  admitted  a  Solicitor  in  1894, 
and  arrived  in  Hongkong  in  December  of  the 
following  year.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Hongkong  Club,  and  resides  at  the  Peak. 


MR.  OSWALD  DYKES  THOMSON,  Solicitor 
and  Notary  Public,  Hongkong,  was  born  on 
July  25,  1870,  and  was  educated  at  University 
College  School,  London.  He  matriculated  in 
1887,  and  was  admitted  a  Solicitor  in  England 
in  April,  1892.  Five  years  later  he  came  to 
Hongkong  as  an  assistant  to  Messrs.  Deacon 
&  Hastings,  and,  in  1903,  started  practice  on 
his  own  account.  He  resides  at  the  Peak,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Peak  Club,  of  which  for 
a  short  time  he  acted  as   honorary  secretary. 


MR.  F.  X.  d'ALMADA  e  CASTRO,  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  d'Almada  &  Smith, 
solicitors,  of  No  33,  Queen's  Road,  Hongkong, 
was  born  in  Hongkong  in  January,  1869.  His 
family  is  of  Portuguese  extraction,  and  has 
been  connected  with  the  Colony  practically 
since  its  foundation.  His  father  was  for  some 
years  in  the  office  of  the  Commissioner  of 
Trade  at  Macao,  but  shortly  after  the  British 
occupation  of  Hongkong  he  came  to  this 
Colony,  and  for  forty  years  was  connected 
with  the  public  service.  Mr.  F.  X.  d'Almada 
received  his  education  at  St.  Joseph's  English 
College,  Hongkong,  and  was  then  articled  to 
Mr.  C.  D.  Wilkinson.  He  passed  his  final 
examination  on  August  13,  1897,  and  towards 
the  end  of  the  same  month  was  admitted  to 
practice  as  a  Solicitor  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Hongkong.  He  continued  for  a  time  to 
act  as  managing  clerk  for  the  firm  of  Messrs. 
Williamson  &  Grist,  but  in  1901  he  com- 
menced practice  in  the  Hongkong  Courts  on 
his  own  account,  eventually  founding  the  firm 
of  which  he  is  now  the  head. 


MR.  ROBERT  GORDON  SHEWAN,  the  senior 
partner  in  the  firm  of  Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co., 
has  been  a  prominent  figure  in  the  com- 
mercial life  of  the  Colony  for  nearly  thirty 
years.  Born  in  i860,  he  came  to  Hongkong 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  in  connection  with 
Messrs.  Russell  &  Co.,  then  one  of  the  largest 
mercantile  firms  in  the  East.  He  subse- 
quently took  over  the  business  of  this  house, 
and  founded  the  firm  of  Shewan,  Tomes  & 
Co.,  which,  under  his  guidance,  has  prospered 
exceedingly.  In  1902  Mr.  Shewan  was 
chosen  to  represent  the  interests  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  on  the  Legislative 
Council,  and  he  retained  his  seat  on  that 
body  until  April,  1906,  when  he  resigned  in 
order  to  travel  abroad.  He  was  a  member 
also  of  the  committee  appointed  by  the 
Government  to  report  on  the  subsidiary 
coinage  question.  His  participation  in  the 
public  life  of  the  Colony  was  a  marked 
success,  for,  besides  bringing  to  bear  upon 
large  administrative  problems  that  keen 
business  acumen  so  essential  to  their  success- 
ful solution,  he  is  a  pleasing  and  fluent 
speaker  of  far  more  than  average  ability.  He 
is  a  director  of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Banking  Corporation  and  of  several  local 
companies.  A  variety  of  interests  occupy 
his  leisure,  and  most  of  the  sporting  clubs  in 
the  Colony  claim  his  support ;  he  also  retains 
his  membership  of  the  "Thatched  House," 
London,  and  the  "  Calumet,"  New  York. 


MR.  A.  SHELTON  HOOPER,  secretary  of 
the  Hongkong  Land  Investment  and  Agency 
Company — an  appointment  which  he  has 
held  since  1889 — has  been  very  intimately 
associated  with  the  endeavours  which  have 
been  made  to  improve  the  sanitary  con- 
dition   of    the    Colony.     Born    in    1859,    and 


educated  at  Newton  Abbot  College,  Devon, 
he  came  to  Hongkong  in  1886,  having  been 
appointed  to  the  Civil  Service  by  the 
Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies.  For 
three  years  he  was  employed  under  the 
Government  Rating  Ordinances  as  Municipal 
Rates  Valuer  and  Assessor,  but  in  1889  he 
resigned  to  take  up  his  present  appointment. 
In  1890  he  was  made  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  in  1906  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Sanitary  Board.  On  May  II, 
1906,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
commission  which  sat  for  ten  months  to 
inquire  into  the  administration  of  the  Sanitary 
and  Building  Regulations  enacted  by  the 
Public  Health  and  Buildings  Ordinance  of 
1903.  As  one  of  the  authorised  architects 
under  that  Ordinance  he  was  eminently 
qualified  for  the  duties  which  devolved  upon 
him  in  connection  with  the  inquiry.  He  is 
president  of  the  Devonian  Society  of  Hong- 
kong, and  is  a  member  of  the  Hongkong, 
Royal  Hongkong  Golf,  and  Cricket  Clubs. 
He  resides  at  "Rougemont,"  MacDonnell 
Road,  Hongkong. 


MR.  J.  R:.  MICHAEL,  J.P.,  who  was  born 
in  i860,  has  been  connected  with  the  Colony 
for  nearly  thirty-four  years,  and  during  that 
time  has  taken  a  keen  interest  in  local  com- 
mercial enterprises.  He  is  head  of  the  firm 
of  Messrs.  J.  R.  Michael  &  Co.,  who  have  for 
many  years  carried  on  an  extensive  business 
as  commission  agents,  stock  and  general 
brokers,  and  merchants.  Seventeen  years  ago 
he  was  joined  by  his  nephew,  Mr.  S.  H. 
Michael,  who  is  now  a  partner,  and  has  sole 
charge  of  the  Company's  interests  in  Hong- 
kong. Mr.  Joseph  R.  Michael,  who  is  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  the  Colony,  has  travelled 
considerably,  and  was  one  of  the  first  pas- 
sengers by  the  Hankow-Peking  Railway  before 
the  Yellow  River  Bridge  was  completed.  He 
is  a  strong  advocate  of  a  stable  currency  for 
Hongkong  irrespective  of  China.  His  recrea- 
tions are  chiefly  gardening,  swimming,  and 
racing,  and  he  acts  as  official  timekeeper  to 
the  local  Jockey  Club,  of  which  he  is  a 
member.  Other  clubs  to  which  he  belongs 
are  the  Grosvenor,  the  Piccadilly,  and  the 
Hongkong  Cricket  Club.  He  lives  at  No.  4, 
Century  Crescent,  Hongkong. 


MR.  ERNEST  MANNING  HAZELAND,  civil 
engineer  and  architect,  was  born  in  1870  and 
educated  at  the  Diocesan  School,  Hongkong. 
He  entered  the  Public  Works  Department  in 
1888,  but  twelve  years  later  started  in  prac- 
tice on  his  own  account.  His  chief  recreation 
is  yachting ;  he  was  one  of  the  promoters 
of  the  Corinthian  Yacht  Club  and  is  now  its 
vice-commodore.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Hongkong  Yacht  Club,  the  Jockey 
Club,  and  the  Hongkong  Club.  His  offices 
are  at  No.  33,  Queen's  Road  Central. 


MR.  HENRY  PERCY  WHITE,  the  chairman 
of  the  Hongkong  Club  for  1907-8,  was  born 
at  Highgate  in  1863,  and  was  educated  at 
the  Merchant  Taylors'  School.  He  joined  a 
London  firm  engaged  in  the  tea  trade  in 
1878,  and,  eight  years  later,  went  out  to 
Formosa.  He  remained  there  until  1900, 
when  he  entered  the  firm  of  Messrs. 
Douglas  Lapraik  &  Co.,  for  whom  he  has 
been  the  manager  in  Hongkong  since  Mr. 
Lewis  left  the  Colony.  He  has  been  a 
member  of   the   Hongkong  Club   since  1898. 


174     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Peak,  the  Ger- 
mania,  and  various  local  sportinj;  clubs.  His 
chief  recrc:»tioii  is  raciiij;-  He  resides  at 
Xo.  32,  Robinson  Road. 


MR.  A.  A.  H.  BOTELHO,  who  is  a  well- 
known  merchant  of  Honskonjj  and  a  partner 
in  the  lirm  of  Messrs.  Barretto  &  Co.,  was 
appointed  Consul  in  the  Colony  for  the 
Republic  of  Niairagua  in  January,  1905.  He 
is  a  son  of  the  late  Mr.  A.  A.  H.  Botelho, 
for  many  years  a  prominent  resident  in  Hon}»- 
konjl,  and  was  married  in  December,  1905, 
to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Mr.  J.  A.  dos  Remedios. 


MR.  F.  D.  BARRETTO.  Consul  for  Mexico 
in  Hongkong,  Canton,  and  the  Provinces  of 
the  two  Kwangs  and  Yunnan,  was  born  in 
the  Colony,  and  was  educated  at  Queen's 
College.  He  is  now  a  partner  in  the  (inn 
of  Messrs.  Barretto  &  Co.  In  1905  he  was 
elected  a  life  member  of  the  Society  of  Arts 


and  Manufactures ;  in  IQ06,  a  member  of 
the  Japan  Society  ;  in  the  sjinie  year  was 
apixiinted  Magistrate  for  the  State  of  Queens- 
land, Australia  ;  and  in  n)oy,  was  elected  a 
Fellow  of  the  Geographical  Society  of  Lisbon. 
His  wife  is  a  daughter  of  Mr.  K.  Jones, 
Commercial  Agent  in  the  East  for  the  State 
of  Queensland. 


DR.  A.  S.  GOMES,  the  oldest  representative 
of  the  medical  profession  in  the  Colony,  is 
a  native  of  the  neighbouring  Portuguese 
Colony  of  Macao.  After  receiving  his  pro- 
fessional training  in  Bombay,  London,  and 
Edinburgh,  he  commenced  practice  in  Hong- 
kong in  1867.  He  quickly  established  a 
high  reputation,  and  was  actively  and  busily 
engaged  with  his  professional  duties  until 
1894,  in  which  year  he  retired.  Dr.  Gomes 
has  for  many  years  taken  a  great  interest 
in  charitable  work  in  the  Colony.  He  was 
the  donor  of  the  Kowloon  Catholic  Church, 
a  pretty  building  facing  the  harbour  at 
Kowloon.     He  also  established  a  school  and 


orphanage  close  to  the  church,  which  is 
superintended  by  the  sisters  of  tlie  Italian 
Convent.  Here  a  small  number  of  orpliaiis 
receive  an  excellent  education,  and  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  assistance  in  various 
ways.  Dr.  Gomes  was  responsible,  loo,  for 
starling  the  Wanchai  Hospital  for  the  aged 
and  iiitirni.  As  a  reward  for  his  many 
services  in  these  and  other  directions. 
Dr.  Gomes  received  from  the  Pope  tlie 
Order  of  St.  Gregory.  He  resides  at  Gomes 
Villas,  Kowloon. 


MR.  MARCUS  WARRE  SLADE.  Barristcr- 
at-Law,  was  born  in  1865,  and  was  educated 
at  Clifton  and  at  New  College,  Oxlr)rd.  Called 
to  the  Bar  of  the  Inner  Temple  in  1891,  he 
practised  in  London  for  five  years  before 
coming  to  Hongkong  early  in  1907.  He  has 
chambers  in  Prince's  Buildings,  Ice  House 
Street,  and  resides  at  "  Lewknor,"  Mount 
Gough.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
University,  the  Hongkong,  and  the  Koyal 
Hongkong  Yacht  Clubs. 


ORIENTAL   SOCIAL    AND    PROFESSIONAL    BIOGRAPHIES. 


MR.  LAU  CHU  PAK,  J.P.,  who  is  a  native 
of  Hongkong  and  a  member  of  a  good  old 
Cantonese  family,  is,  at  the  present  time, 
one  of  the  most  prominent  members  of  the 
Chinese  comnumity  in  the  Colony.  He  is 
a  thoroughly  up-to-date  man,  well  versed 
in  the  customs  of  Western  civilisation,  and 
he  has  done  a  great  deal  towards  establishing 
cordial  relations  between  his  countrymen 
and  Euroix;ans.  On  many  matters  relat- 
ing to  the  Chinese  and  their  treatment  by 
foreigners  he  has  veiy  strong  views  ;  but 
he  is  always  moderate  and  reasonable  in 
expressing  them,  and  this  fact  has  added 
considerable  weight  to  his  utterances  at 
public  gatherings  in  the  Colony.  Born  on 
June  5,  1867.  he  was  educated  at  the 
Government  Central  School,  H<mgkong,  and, 
after  completing  his  schola-^lic  course,  served 
for  five  yeais  in  the  lmf)erial  Chinese  service. 
He  was  appointe<l  first  clerk  to  the  Hongkong 
Observatory  in  1885,  and  obtained  the  position 
of  compradore  to  the  West  Point  Godown 
Company  in  1888.  In  the  following  year 
he  acted  .as  Senior  Anglo-Chinese  Master  of 
Formosa  Government  College.  Educational 
questions  have  always  appealed  strongly  to 
him,  and  he  has  made  a  special  study  of 
those  phases  of  the  problem  which  particularly 
affect  his  own  countrymen.  He  is  the 
honorary  secretary  of  the  Ellis  Kadoorie 
Chinese  School  Society,  which  is  doing  a 
great  deal  of  work  in  China  and  the  Colony. 
Mr.  Lau  Chu  Pak  commenced  business  as  a 
tea  merchant  in  1890,  but  for  the  last  four- 
teen years,  besides  being  connected  with 
many  other  local  companies  and  connnercial 
enterprises,  he  has  managed  the  Chinese 
department  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  A.  S. 
Watson  &  Co.  As  a  public  man  he  has 
had  a  very  active  career.  He  has  rendered 
valuable  aid  and  long  and  ungrudging 
service  to  many  public  institutions.  In 
addition  to  being  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  a  member  of  the  Sanitary  Board,  he  is 
a  member  of  the  directorate  of  the  Tung  Wah 
Hospital ;    of   the  committee   of    the   Society 


for  the  Protection  of  Women  and  Children  ; 
of  the  District  Watchmen's  committee  ;  of 
the  executive  committee  of  the  Tung  Wah 
District  Hospitals  (since  1897I,  and  of  the 
finance  committee  of  the  Alice  Memorial 
Hospital.  He  was  a  member  of  the  reception 
committee  on  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of 
Prince  Arthur  of  Connaught,  1906  ;  a  member 
of  the  Public  Health  and  Building  Ordinance 
Commission,  1906  ;  of  the  general  and  sub- 
committees of  the  Typhoon  Relief  Fund, 
l<;o6  ;  and  of  the  reception  committee  for 
the  Duke  of  Connaught,  Kyoy.  Mr.  Lau  Chu 
Pak  took  a  leading  part  in  the  establishment 
of  the  Plague  Hospital  for  Chinese,  the 
Blake  Commemoration  Fund,  and  the  Chinese 
Commercial  Union,  of  which  last-named 
organisation  he  was  chairman  in  1906.  He 
married  in  1886,  and  is  a  grandfather,  his 
eldest  son  being  already  established  in 
business  in  the  Colony,  where  four  genera- 
lions  of  his  family  have  lived  previously. 
Mr.  Lau  Chu  Pak  is  a  member  of  llie 
Hongkong  Club  (Chinese)  and  resides  at 
■'  Ardmore,"  No.  i,  Babington  Path. 


MR.  HO  KOM   TONO,  J. P.,  or  Mr.  Ho  Tai 

Sang  as  he  is  often  called,  is  one  of  three 
brothers  who  all  figure  prominently  in  the 
social,  commercial,  and  public  life  of  the 
Chinese.  He  occupies  the  post  of  second  com- 
pradore to  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co., 
and  controls  the  innnense  outdoor  Chinese 
business  of  the  firm.  Born  in  Hongkong  in 
1866,  he  received  his  education  at  the  Central 
School,  now  known  as  Queens  College. 
After  completing  his  studies,  he  joined  Messrs. 
Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  serving  under  his 
brother,  who  was  then  the  compradore.  In 
the  management  of  affairs  entrusted  to  him 
he  has  always  displayed  great  ability,  and 
has  gradually  forged  his  way  to  the  front. 
He  is  concerned  largely  in  the  cotton  and 
yarn  business  of  the  Colony,  and  also  can  ies 
on  an  extensive  business  in  the   import  and 


export  of  sugar.  But  although  he  takes  so 
active  a  share  in  the  commercial  life  of 
Hongkong,  Mr.  Ho  Kom  Tong  is,  perhaps, 
even  more  widely  known  on  account  of  his 
many  public  services.  Whenever  a  good  cause 
is  in  need  of  assistance  he  is  always  one  of 
the  first  to  come  lo  its  aid.  During  the 
Boxer  troubles  in  North  China  he  went  to 
Peking  and,  at  great  personal  risk,  brought 
away  many  refugees  in  steamers  specially 
chartered  for  the  piupose.  Again,  after  the 
gieat  typhoon  which  swept  over  Hongkong 
in  September,  1906,  Mr.  Ho  Kom  Tong  acted 
for  months  on  the  sub-connnitlee  of  the 
Tung  Wah  Hospital,  assisting  sufferers  in 
every  way  possible,  and  his  valuable  services 
in  this  connection  received  hearty  and  official 
acknowledgment  from  the  Secretary  of  Stale 
for  the  Colonies.  The  building  for  the 
public  dispensary  at  Kau  U  Fong  was  a  gift 
from  him  ;  and  the  connnittees  organised  for 
public  work,  of  which  he  has  from  time  to  time 
been  a  member,  are  ininunerable.  He  has 
assisted  in  the  collection  of  money  for  build- 
ing the  Tung  Wah  Hospital  E.\tension  and 
Infectious  Hospital,  for  supporting  the  widows 
and  orphans  of  the  soldiers  who  died  in 
the  South  African  War,  and  for  assisting  the 
families  of  Japanese  soldiers  who  fell  in  the 
war  with  Russia.  In  1901  he  was  engaged 
in  working  on  behalf  of  a  fund  for  forming 
the  Chinese  Commercial  Union  ;  in  I(p2  on 
behalf  of  the  Victoria  Memorial  Fund  ;  and 
ill  J90.3  on  behalf  of  the  Ellis  Kadoorie 
School  Fund,  lo  which  his  own  contribution 
was  the  largest.  Mr.  Ho  Kom  long,  in 
short,  has  always  been  extremely  successful 
in  soliciting  subscripliojis  to  charitable  objects. 
He  was  the  only  person  who  succeeded  in 
obtaining  support  from  the  Chinese  for  the 
London  Tropical  School  of  .Medicine.  In 
the  case  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital  Exten- 
sion Fund  he  visited  more  than  two-thirds  of 
the  Chinese  business  houses  in  the  Colony, 
and,  as  a  result,  collected  more  than  half 
of  the  tolal  amount  subscribed — Si  10,000. 
Mr.    Ho    Kom    Tong    served    on    special    and 


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176    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG, 


SHANGHAI,  ETO. 


sub-committees  for  supervising  the  removal 
of  old  graves  from  Mount  Davies  to  Telegraph 
Bay,  which  latter  site  was  chosen  by  the 
Government  on  his  recommendation.  He 
personally  supervised,  and  was  responsible 
for,  the  decoration  on  the  Ko  Shing  Theatre 
on  the  occasion  of  the  banquet  to  T.R.H.  the 
Duke  and  Duchess  of  Connaught  in  1892, 
and  he  performed  the  same  service  when 
Their  Ro)-al  Highnesses  returned  to  the 
Colony  in  1907  accompanied  by  Princess 
Patricia.  He  supervised  the  Fish  Lantern 
procession  on  the  occasion  of  the  coronation 
of  H.M.  the  King ;  and,  in  1907,  organised 
and  carried  through  a  large  procession  with 
the  object  of  circulating  money  in  the 
Colony  among  the  business  people  who  were 
complaining  of  bad  times.  In  fact,  he  never 
tires  of  well-doing.  In  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion he  has  given  three  annual  scholarships 
to  the  Kadoorie  School,  one  to  the  Diocesan 
School,  and  two  to  Queen's  College,  for  the 
encouragement  of  learning  and  especially 
translation,  upon  which  much  stress  is  laid 
by  the  Government.  He  was  responsible, 
also,  for  the  free  distribution  of  carbolic  acid 
to  the  plague-stricken  poor,  the  beneficial 
result  of  which  has  been  reported  upon  by 
the  Hon.  Dr.  Atkinson.  Principal  Civil  Medi- 
cal Officer  and  President  of  the  Sanitary 
Board.  To  poor  Chinese  who  cannot  afford 
to  bury  their  dead  he  is  always  ready  to 
give  a  coffin,  and  his  charity  in  this  direc- 
tion has  contributed  materially  to  lessen  the 
number  of  bodies  dumped  into  the  streets  of 
the  Colony,  upon  which  practice  a  report  was 
made  to  His  Excellency  the  Governor  in 
1906.  Mr.  Ho  Kom  Tong  was  appointed  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  Colony  in  1906  ; 
was  chairman  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital  in 
1907  ;  and  has  been  on  the  committee  of  the 
Chinese  Club  ever  since  its  establishment. 
He  takes  a  great  interest  in  flowers,  and  at 
the  last  flower  show  he  carried  off  numerous 
prizes.  As  an  exhibitor  at  the  Arts  and 
Crafts  Exhibition  (on  the  committee  of  which 
he  served)  in  1907  he  was  most  successful  ; 
and  in  various  photographic  competitions 
which  have  been  held  in  the  Colony,  some 
beautiful  pictures  which  he  has  taken  with 
his  camera  have  gained  various  awards. 
Mr.  Ho  Kom  Tong  lives  at  No.  7,  Lower 
Castle  Road. 


MR.  HO  TUNQ,  J.P.— No  nationality  has 
done  more  towards  furthering  the  Colony's 
prosperity  than  the  Chinese,  the  original 
owners  of  the  island,  and  no  man  amongst 
the  Chinese  has  borne  his  part  in  local, 
commercial,  and  social  life  with  more  con- 
spicuous ability,  or  with  greater  credit  to 
himself  and  his  nationality  than  Mr.  Ho 
Tung,  J. P.,  or,  as  he  is  sometimes  known, 
Mr.  Ho  Hai  Shang.  Though  in  recent  years 
he  has  been  compelled  to  relax  to  some 
extent  his  public  activities,  he  is  still  known 
to  be  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and 
public-spirited  men  in  the  island,  and  his 
purse  is  always  open  to  the  cause  of  charity. 
He  was  born  in  Hongkong,  and  was  educated 
first  in  private  Chinese  schools  and  after- 
wards at  the  Central  Sch(X)l,  now  known  as 
Queen's  College.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  joined  the  indoor  staff  of  the  Chinese 
Imperial  Customs,  but  resigned  in  1880  in 
order  to  take  up  the  position  of  assistant 
compradore  to  the  well-known  firm  of 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  as  well  as 
the  posts  of  manager  of  the  native  branches 
of  the  Hongkong  Kire  Insurance  Company, 
Ltd..  and  the  Canton  Insurance  Company,  Ltd. 
During  that  period  he  carried  on  an  extensive 
business  on  his  own  account,  principally  in 


refined  and  raw  sugar,  in  Shanghai,  and 
most  of  the  Yangtsze  and  northern  ports  of 
China.  Failing  health,  however,  obliged  him 
to  hand  over  his  responsibilities  to  one  of 
his  brothers.  Mr.  Ho  Tung  has  been  con- 
nected with  many  public  movements  in  the 
Colony,  his  fluent  English  always  rendering 
his  services  valuable  in  connection  with 
questions  relating  to  the  Chinese  population. 
In  education  he  has  always  taken  the 
greatest  interest.  He  built  and  presented  to 
the  Colony  the  Kowloon  School  for  children 
of  European  parentage.  The  foundation- 
stone  was  laid  by  His  Excellency  Sir  H.  A. 
Blake,  K.C.M.G.,  on  July  20,  1900,  and  the 
school  was  formallv  opened  bv  Major- 
General  Sir  W.  J.  Gascoigne,  K.C.M.G.,  on 
April  19,  1902,  during  Sir  Henry  Blake's 
absence  in  England  for  His  Majesty's 
Coronation.  This  was  the  first  civil 
European  school  opened  in  the  Colony  of 
Hongkong.  Mr.  Ho  Tung  has  also  founded 
a  scholarship  at  Queen's  College.  The  Tung 
Wah  Hospital,  of  which  he  was  formeily 
chairman,  has  claimed  a  large  share  of  his 
attention,  and,  when  the  original  building 
became  inadequate,  he  started,  and  was 
chiefly  responsible  for,  a  fund  of  $100,000 
for  its  extension  and  for  the  establishment 
of  a  plague  hospital.  He  was  also  instru- 
mental in  obtaining  the  necessary  sites 
from  tlie  Government.  He  is  a  large  owner 
of  landed  property  in  Hongkong  and  Macao, 
and  has  built  many  of  the  fine  residences 
which  are  the  pride  of  the  British  Colony 
and  the  admiration  of  the  visitor.  His  own 
residence,  ''  Idlewild,"  is  not  the  least  beauti- 
ful of  them.  It  commands  a  splendid  view 
of  the  harbour,  and  attached  to  it  is  a 
garden  in  which  Mr.  Ho  Tung  and  his  wife 
take  the  greatest  delight,  and  for  which  he 
was,  in  1907,  awarded  the  prize  for  the  best 
private  garden  in  the  Colony.  Mr.  Ho 
Tung's  proprietorial  interests  have  led  to  his 
becoming  a  director  of  the  Humphreys  Estate 
and  Finance  Company,  Ltd.,  and  of  the 
Hongkong  Reclamation  Company,  Ltd.  For 
some  years  he  was  a  director  of  the  Hong- 
kong Hotel  Company,  Ltd.,  and  as  a  share- 
holder in  many  other  local  ventures  he  has 
done  much  to  promote  the  general  welfare  of 
the  Colony.  In  recognition  of  his  position 
in  the  Chinese  community  he  was  made  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1890.  Mr.  Ho  Tung 
has  travelled  extensively,  and  has  twice 
visited  Europe  and  America.  He  occupies  a 
leading  place  in  Chinese  social  life,  and  was 
chiefly  instrumental  in  founding  the  Chinese 
Club,  an  influential  institution,  of  which  he  was 
the  first  chairman.  His  services  have  always 
been  at  the  disposal  of  charitable  organisa- 
tions, as  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  tliat  he 
served  on  the  committees  appointed  to 
administer  the  Diamond  Jubilee  Fund,  the 
South  African  War  P'und,  the  Japanese  War 
Fund,  and  the  Kwangsi  P'amine  Fund.  Lastly, 
Mr.  Ho  Tung  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  he 
was  able  to  be  of  service  to  one  of  England's 
greatest  sailors,  Lord  Charles  Bcresford,  when 
he  was  commissioned  by  the  Home  Govern- 
ment and  the  Associated  Chambers  of  Com- 
merce to  furnish  an  exhaustive  report  upon 
British  trade  and  commerce  in  the  Vat  East; 
and  also  that  he  was,  and  is,  a  personal 
friend  of  Sir  Henry  Blake,  a  former  Governor 
of  the  Colony  ;  Mr.  J.  H.  Stewart  Lockharl, 
C.M.G.  ;  Sir  Thomas  Jackson  ;  the  Hon.  J. 
Whitehead  ;  and  many  other  well-known 
men  at  one  time  resident  in  Hongkong, 


MR.   CHAU   SIU   Kl,   J.P.,   liead   of   several 
important  companies,   owes   his  position    en- 


tirely to  his  own  initiative  and  keen  business 
instinct.  He  was  educated  at  the  Govern- 
ment Central  School,  now  known  as  Queen's 
College,  and,  after  completing  his  studies, 
was  for  some  time  a  pupil  teacher  at  that 
institution.  He  then  joined  the  legal  tirm  of 
Brelerton,  Wotton  &  Deacon,  and  subsequently 
entered  the  Government  service  at  the  Civil 
Hospital.  After  some  time  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Harbour  department,  but  relinquished 
that  post  to  become  secretary  to  the  Man  On 
Insurance  Company,  Ltd.  In  this  position  he 
was  so  successful  that  he  has  since  piomoted 
several  other  companies.  At  the  present  time 
he  is  secretary  to  the  Chun  On  Fire  Insurance 
Company  ;  manager  of  the  Hongkong  and 
Kowloon  Land  and  Loan  Company  ;  general 
manager  of  the  Yuen  On  Steamship  Com- 
p<iny,  Ltd.  ;  managing  director  of  the  Sliiu  On 
Steamship  Company,  Ltd.,  and  manager  of  the 
Tai  Foong  Chinese  Bank.  Mr.  Chau  Siu  Ki 
is  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was  at  one 
time  chairman  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital. 
He  has  twice  served  on  the  committee  of  the 
Po  Leung  Kuk.  He  is  married  and  has 
several  sons  who  are  receiving  an  English 
business  education  similar  to  that  which  served 
their  father  so  well. 


MR.  CHOA  LEEP  CHEE,  J.P.,  is  the  present 
head  of  a  good  old  Chinese  family  that  has 
been  prominently  connected  with  the  British 
Colonies  for  more  than  five  generations.  It 
was  probably  two  hundred  years  ago  that  his 
ancestor,  Mr.  Choa  Su  Chiong,  emigrated  from 
the  province  of  Fukien,  China,  and  established 
himself  as  a  merchant  in  Malacca.  He 
speedily  made  a  good  name,  and  built  up  a 
successful  business,  in  which  he  was  succeeded 
by  his  son,  Mr.  Choa  Ch'ong  Keat.  The  son 
was  as  successful  as  his  father  had  been.  He 
carried  on  a  large  trade  between  Malacca 
and  China,  and  acquired  considerable  real 
estate  in  the  heart  of  the  town  of  Malacca. 
Afterwards  he  was  given  the  title  of  Captain 
China  by  the  Dutch,  and,  although  such  titles 
were  practically  all  abolished  after  the  British 
occupation,  the  new  rulers  found  he  was  a 
man  with  such  large  influence  over  the 
Chinese  community  that  he  was  allowed,  as  a 
special  favour,  to  retain  his.  Mr.  Choa  Ch'ong 
Keat  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Choa  Yeng  Keng, 
Mr.  Choa  Leep  Chee's  great-grandlather.  He 
increased  the  estate,  and  built  the  present 
Malacca  Markets  on  the  property,  at  the  same 
time  erecting  the  bridge  which  now  connects 
the  markets  with  the  town.  The  next  head 
of  the  family,  Mr.  Choa  Sek  Kim,  was  a  land- 
owner and  merchant  of  Malacca,  a  well-known 
man  and  highly  respected.  His  eldest  so[i  is 
Mr.  Choa  Leep  Cliee,  who  was  bom  at  the 
family  house,  No.  14,  Heeren  Street,  Malacca. 
After  completing  his  education  he  went  to 
Singapore,  but,  in  1874,  decided  to  come  to 
Hongkong.  He  obtained  a  small  post  under 
the  China  Sugar  Refinery  Company,  Ltd.,  and, 
by  diligence  and  perseverance,  won  gradual 
preferment  until,  ten  years  ago,  he  was  given 
the  position  of  compradore  and  chief  of  the 
Chinese  staff.  His  time  is  devoted  chiefly  to 
this  business,  in  which  he  has  now  two  sons 
assisting  him,  but  he  is  also  a  shareholder  in 
many  local  companies,  and  is,  generally,  very 
largely  concerned  in  the  sugar  trade  between 
the  Colony  and  Java  and  China,  the  great 
experience  which  he  gained  when  working 
his  way  through  the  refinery  being  of  the 
utmost  value  to  him.  For  many  years  lie  has 
been  a  prominent  member  of  the  Chinese 
community,  and  has  taken  part  in  many  public 
functions.  He  is  on  llie  conunittees  of  the 
Alice  Memorial  Hospital  and  of  the  Nethersole 


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178     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IIMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  nfliliated  hospitals.  He  has  been  obliged 
to  refuse  many  appointments  owing  to  the 
demand  made  upon  his  time  by  business. 
In  recognition  of  his  many  public  services, 
however,  he  was  recently  made  a  Justice  of 
the  Pe.ice  by  the  Government.  He  served 
on  the  committee  of  the  Typhoon  Kinid  and 
did  nmch  on  his  own  accx)unt  to  relieve  the 
sufferers,  Mr.  Choa  Leep  Chee  lives  at 
••  Burnside."  No.  47,  Robinson  Road,  a  house 
delightfully  situatc*d.  overlooking  the  harbour. 
It  is  surrounded  by  a  very  beautiful  garden 
stocked  with  s<ime  hundreds  of  varieties  of 
English  and  Euro|H;an  flowers.  In  1905, 
when  Sir  Matthew  Nathan.  Governor  of  the 
Colony,  offered  a  prize  for  the  best  kept 
private  garden  in  the  Colony,  and  an  inspec- 
tion was  made  at  very  short  notice,  Mr.  Choa 
Leep  Chee  secured  the  award.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Hongkong  Horticultural 
Society,  and  is  a  large  exhibitor  at  the  shows 
organised  by  that  society. 


MR.  HO  FOOK,  J.P.,  compradore  to  the 
firm  of  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co., 
Ltd.,  has  distinguished  himself  both  by  his 
business  acumen  and  by  his  activity  in  the 
wider  sphere  of  philanthropy  and  public 
service.  He  is  a  British  subject,  having  been 
born  in  Hongkong.  After  finishing  his  educa- 
tion at  the  Government  Central  School,  now 
Queen's  College,  he  spent  some  time  in  a 
Chinese  shipping  firm  as  clerk,  and  later 
joined  the  Registrar-General's  department  as 
a  translator.  In  1882  he  entered  the  service 
of  the  legal  firm  of  Messrs.  Deimeys  & 
Mossop  as  an  interpreter.  He  remained  with 
them  for  three  years,  and  then  obtained  the 
appointment  of  assistant  compradoie  to 
Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  Upon  the  retire- 
ment of  his  brother,  Mr.  Ho  Tung,  the  chief 
compradore,  in  1900,  Mr.  Ho  F<x>k  was 
promoted  to  the  vaamcy,  and  his  other 
brother,  Mr.  Ho  Kom  "Tong,  became  his 
assistant.  Mr.  Ho  P'ook  has  been  associated 
wiih  all  the  principal  public  movements  in 
the  Colony  for  a  long  time  past,  and  some 
fifteen  years  ago  he  was  appointed  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace.  Of  the  District  Watchmen's 
committee  he  has  been  a  member  for  sixteen 
years.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  advisory 
committee  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital,  and 
managing  director  of  the  Hoitgkon/i  Telc/iniplt. 
In  all  m.ittcrs  appertaining  to  education  he 
takes  the  greatest  interest.  He  is  a  vice- 
president  of  the  Ellis  Kadoorie  Chinese  School 
Society,  and  has  founded  an  annual  scholar- 
ship for  students  at  Queen's  College.  His 
outlook  has  been  widened  by  much  travel, 
his  journeyings  including  two  visits  to  Europe 
and  one  to  America.  He  recognises  the 
advantages  which,  in  a  British  Colony, 
naturally  follow  from  a  thorough  grasp  of 
Western  methods  ;  and  he  is  taking  care  that 
his  children  shall  enjoy  these  advantages  to 
the  fullest  extent.  His  eldest  son  is  assisting 
him  in  the  firm  of  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co., 
while  four  other  sons  are  pursuing  their 
studies  in  England.  Mr.  Ho  Kook  lives  at 
No.  10,  Caine  Road. 


MR.  LO  CHEUNfl  SHIU,  assistant  compra- 
dore to  the  linn  of  Messrs,  Jardine,  Matheson 
&  Co.,  Ltd.,  is  a  connection,  by  marriage,  of 
Mr.  Ho  Kook.  the  chief  compradore,  and  is 
cirjsely  associated  with  that  gentleman  in 
several  business  undertakings  in  the  Colony. 
Mr.  Lo  Cheung  Shiu  is  a  British  subject, 
having  been  born  in  Hongkong.  After  com- 
pleting   his    English    education    at    Queen's 


College,  he  was  for  some  time  pupil  teacher, 
then  senior  Chinese  assistant  master,  being 
altogether  on  the  staff  of  the  college  for 
upwards  of  seven  years.  He  was  then 
transferred  to  the  Treasury  as  a  tleik,  but 
two  years  later  he  left  the  Government 
service  to  join  his  brother-in-law  at  Jardine, 
Matheson's.  He  is  now  a  partner  with  Mr. 
Ho  Kook  in  the  well-known  Sang  Cheong 
Fat  yarn  firm,  of  Bonham  Strand,  and  in  the 
firm  of  Ho  Ftwk  &  Co.,  which  is  doing  a 
very  large  business  in  sugar  between  Hong- 
kong and  Chinese  ports.  The  tliorougli 
grasp  of  English  and  foreign  methods  which 
he  obtained  while  in  the  public  service,  and 
his  excellent  knowledge  of  the  English 
language,  make  his  assistance  of  great  value 
to  Mr.  Ho  Fook  in  his  many  public  under- 
takings. 


MR.  YUNG  HIN  PONQ,  J.P.— For  fifty  years 
the  position  of  compradore  of  the  Hongkong 
Branch  of  the  Chartered  Bank  of  India, 
Australia,  and  China  has  been  held  by  one 
family.  Mr.  Yung  Hin  Pong,  the  present 
occupant  of  the  oHice,  succeeded  his  father, 
and  now  has  his  eldest  son,  Mr.  Yung  Hin 
Chung,  with  him  in  the  bank.  The  family 
belongs  to  the  Hungshan  district  of  Soiitii 
China.  Born  in  Hongkong,  and  educated 
at  Queen's  College,  Mr.  Yung  Hin  Pong 
entered  upon  his  financial  caieer  some  twenty- 
five  years  ago  as  his  father's  assistant,  and 
has  held  his  present  position  for  the  past 
fifteen  years.  Under  his  direction  there  is  a 
staff  of  about  fifty.  He  has  served  on  the 
committees  of  the  Tung  Wall  Hospital  and 
the  Po  lycung  Kuk,  and  in  1906  his  name 
was  added  to  the  Connnission  of  the  Peace. 
His  second  son,  Mr.  Yung  Hin  Yan,  is  study- 
ing civil  engineering  in  America. 


MR.  TSEUNO  SZ  KAI,  J.P.  This  gentleman 
is  compradore  to  the  well-kdown  Japanese 
firm  of  the  Osaka  Shosen  Kaisha,  and  is 
also  proprietor  of  the  firm  of  Kwong  Tak 
Fat,  at  Bonham  Strand  West,  Hongkong. 
A  native  of  Amoy,  he  went  early  in  life 
to  Jamaica,  and  afterwards  to  Puerto  Rica. 
Thirty-six  years  ago  he  settled  in  Hongkong, 
where  he  has'been  very  successful  in  business. 
About  fifteen  years  ago  he  was  made  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace  by  the  Government.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital  the 
District  Watchmen's  Association,  and  the 
Po  Leung  Kuk  connnittees.  Mr.  Tseung 
Sz  Kai,  who  h;is  several  sons  in  the  Colony, 
has  a  family  house  in  his  native  town,  Amoy. 


MR.  TONO  LAI  CHUEN,  J. P.,  who  occupies 
the  post  of  compradore  to  the  Holland-China 
Trading  Company,  is  a  native  of  the  Hung- 
shan district  of  China.  His  father,  a  well- 
known  merchant  both  in  that  district  and 
in  the  neighbouring  Portuguese  Colony  of 
Macao,  was  for  many  years  connected  with 
the  Yun  Loong  tea  hong  of  the  latter  place. 
Mr.  Tong  Lai  Chuen  has  resided  in  Hong- 
kong for  upwards  of  thirty-three  years,  and 
during  that  time  has  been  actively  connected 
with  several  companies.  Before  joining  the 
Holland-China  Trading  Company  as  head 
of  the  Chinese  department,  he  was  com- 
pradore to  the  firm  of.  Messrs.  Petit  &  Co., 
Bombay  merchants.  He  occupies  a  promi- 
nent place  among  his  fellow  countrymen, 
and  has  always  been  to  the  fore  in  charitable 
movements.  On  several  occasions  he  has 
been   on   the   committees  of   the  Tung   Wah 


Hospital  and  the  Po  Leung  Kuk,  and  in  1906 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Typhoon  P'und 
connnittee.  To  the  District  Watchmen's 
committee  his  assistance  has  been  invalualMe. 
His  interest  in  public  affairs  led  to  his  appoint- 
ment as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  Colony 
some  three  years  ago.  He  is  the  owner  of 
a  considerable  amount  of  landed  property  in 
the  Colony,  including  his  residence,  Nos.  67 
and  69,  Wyndham  Street.  He  has  a  large 
family.      Most  of   his  sons  are  still  at  school. 


MR.  WONO  KAM  FUK,  J.P.— It  may  readily 
be  understood  that  the  duties  of  compr.idore 
in  .so  large  a  concern  as  the  Hongkong  and 
Kowloon  Wharf  and  Godown  Company  re- 
quire for  their  satisfactory  discharge  qualities 
of  no  mean  order,  for  the  Company's 
employes  run  into  several  hundreds,  and 
the  compradore  is  responsible  for  the  whole 
of  the  Chinese.  In  Mr.  Wong  Kam  Fuk  the 
Conipany  have  a  man  of  shrewd  business 
ability.  Born  in  the  Colony  and  educated 
at  Queen's  College,  he  entered  their  service, 
after  a  brief  period  of  employment  in  an 
insurance  office,  and  was  stationed  at  West 
Point,  until  he  was  transferred  to  his  present 
position,  a  good  many  years  ago.  He  also 
liolds  the  managing  directorship  of  a  Chinese 
company  running  a  service  of  steamers  to 
West  River,  and  is  interested  in  a  cotton  yarn 
business.  He  has  served  on  the  connnittee 
of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital,  and  is  at  present 
a  member  of  the  Po  Leung  Kuk  committee. 
Some  three  years  ago  the  Government  recog- 
nised his  ability  by  appointing  him  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  the  Colony. 


MR.  S.  W.  TSO.— p-or  some  time  there 
was  only  one  Chinese  solicitor  practising  in 
Hongkong — Mr.  Tso  Seen  Wan,  or,  as  he  is 
more  generally  known  amongst  Europeans, 
Mr.  S.  W.  Tso.  He  was  born  at  Macao,  and 
received  his  education  in  England  at  Chelten- 
ham College  from  1886  to  1890.  After  having 
served  articles  with  a  firm  of  solicitors  at 
Cheltenham  and  London  he  qualified  as  a 
Solicitor  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  England 
in  1896.  In  the  same  year  he  returned  to 
Hongkong,  and  was  admitted  as  a  Solicitor  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Colony.  Amongst 
tile  Chinese  lie  does  a  great  deal  of  work, 
and  has  come  to  be  regarded  by  them  in 
much  the  same  light  as  the  Hon.  Dr.  Ho 
Kai — as  a  friend  and  adviser  in  foreign 
matters,  quite  as  much  as  professional  prac- 
titioner. Mr.  Tso  is  highly  respected  among 
all  sections  of  the  community. 


MR.  OTTO  KONO  SING,  after  receiving  an 
excellent  education  at  Newington  College, 
Sydney,  New  South  Wales,  decided  upon  a 
legal  career,  and  in  due  course  qualified  as  a 
solicitor  in  Australia.  He  then  proceeded 
to  lingland  for  a  couple  of  years,  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  1903.  In  the  follow- 
ing year  he  returned  to  Hongkong,  and  since 
that  date  lias  been  practising  as  a  Solicitor 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Colony.  In  his 
college  days  Mr.  Otto  Kong  Sing  was  a  well- 
known  footballer,  and  played  for  the  first 
college  team  during  several  seasons  with 
considerable  success. 


DR.  WAN  TUN  MO,  one  of  the  leading 
Chinese  doctors  in  the  Colony,  was  born  in 
Hongkong,  and  received  his  early  e:lucation  at 


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180     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONOKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Queen's  College.  After  completing  his  course 
as  a  Government  student  at  the  Tientsin 
Chinese  Government  College,  he  was  ap- 
pointed surgeon  to  the  Imperial  Chinese 
Navy.  Subsequently,  while  still  in  the  Govern- 
ment service,  he  became  assistant  professor 
of  his  old  college.  For  some  years  he  was 
associated  ivith  Dr.  Kerr,  of  Canton,  but 
upon  arrival  in  Hongkong  he  joined  the  staff 
of  the  Alice  Memorial  and  N'ethersole  Hos- 
pitals, commencing  private  practice  in  the 
Colony  about  eight  years  ago.  Dr.  Wan  Tiin 
Mo   does  a  great  deal  of  writing  in  his  spare 


time.  He  is  connected  with  the  literary  staff 
of  a  Chinese  magazine  published  in  Hong- 
kong, is  the  author  of  several  works  in 
Chinese,  and  has  translated  various  text-books 
now  in  use  among  Chinese  students. 


DR.  KWAN  SUM  YIN  has  the  distinction 
of  being  the  Chinese  medical  practitioner  of 
longest  standing  in  the  Colony.  He  received 
his  English  education  at  the  Diocesan  School, 
and  was  the  first  graduate  of  the  Hongkong 


MR.  TONO  LAI  CHUEN,  J.P. 

MB.  TONG  LAI  CHUEN'S  FATHER. 


College  of  Medicine.  In  1893  lie  was  ap- 
pointed house  surgeon  to  the  Ncdicrsolc  Hos- 
pital, but  resigned  this  post,  after  three  years, 
to  enter  the  service  of  the  Chinese  Govern- 
ment at  Nanking  as  an  army  surgeon.  He 
served  the  Imperial  Government  for  four 
years,  and  then,  ten  years  ago,  when  Euro- 
pean methods  were  little  known  among  the 
Chinese,  returned  to  Hongkong  and  com- 
menced private  practice.  His  surgery  is  at 
No.  i8a,  Stanley  Street. 


DR.  HO  KO  TSUN,  who  now  has  a  large 
private  practice  in  llic  Colony,  has  held  quite 
a  number  of  public  appointments.  Born  in 
1878,  he  was  educated  at  Queen's  College, 
and  received  his  professional  training  at  the 
Hongkong  College  of  Medicine,  being  awarded 
a  Belilios  Scholarship.  He  w.is  the  acting 
house  surgeon  at  the  Tung  VVah  Hospital 
from  1901  to  1902  ;  the  first  laboratory  assis- 
tant to  the  Government  Bacteriologist,  1902-3, 
and  the  resident  surgeon  at  the  Nethersole 
and  Ho  Min  Ling  Hospitals  from  1903  to  1906. 
For  some  time  he  was  the  Medical  Officer 
in  charge  of  the  Chinese  Public  Dispensary, 
Eastern  District,  and  it  was  this  position 
wliich  he  resigned  in  order  to  commence 
private  practice.  Dr.  Ho  Ko  Tsun  is  a  Li- 
centiate in  Medicine  and  Surgery  of  the 
Hongkong  College  of  Medicine,  and  is  tutor 
in  osteology  and  surgery  to  tlie  college.  His 
publications  include,  "  A  Treatise  on  First  Aid 
to  the  Wounded,"  and  "  Simple  Remedies  in 
various  Emergencies  "  (both  in  Chinese),  and 
a  work  on  Malaria.  He  is  president  of  the 
Tai  Yuk  Hok  Hau,  and  a  lecturer  on  Hygiene 
to  the  same  institution  (Physical  Training). 


DR.  HO  NAI  HOP,  alias  Ho  Lokkum,  who 
has  one  of  the  most  extensive  practices  in  the 
Colony,  received  the  whole  of  his  medical 
training  in  Hongkong.  He  studied  English 
at  Queen's  College,  and  in  1894  entered  the 
Hongkong  College  of  Medicine.  After  be- 
coming a  Licentiate  of  Medicine  and  Surgery 
in  1898  he  received  the  Government  appoint- 
ment of  medical  officer  in  charge  of  the  New 
Territory.  Here  he  had  a  large  and  varied 
experience,  for  at  that  time  he  was  the  only 
doctor  resident  in  the  district.  His  head- 
quarters were  at  the  Government  Offices  at 
Taipo,  and  he  attended  members  of  all 
nationalities,  visiting  out-stations  and  villages 
as  his  services  were  required.  He  resigned 
in  1903  in  order  to  commence  private  practice, 
and  very  soon  established  a  high  reputation 
for  himself  in  the  island.  Among  the 
appointments  which  he  holds  is  that  of 
surgeon  to  the  Hongkong  Milling  Company, 
Ltd. 


DR.  COXION  TO.— With  the  spread  of  the 
knowledge  of  European  methods  of  surgery 
and  of  medicine  there  has  come  into  existence 
in  China,  during  the  last  ten  or  fifteen  years,  a 
new  class  of  professional  men — properly  quali- 
fied native  medical  practitioners.  Amongst 
the  Chinese  there  have,  of  course,  been 
"doctors"  for  many  hundreds  of  years,  but 
these  were  not  necessarily  men  who  had 
made  the  treatment  of  human  ills  a  scientific 
study,  but  rather  those  who  had  had  handed 
down  to  them  luore  or  less  valuable  prescrip- 
tions. With  the  establishment  of  the  Hong- 
kong College  of  Medicine  for  Chinese  the 
new  state  of  affairs  was  inaugurated,  and 
there  is  now  a  corps  of  thoroughly  qualified 
Chinese   medical  men  with   extensive   private 


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182    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


practices  in  Hongkong.  Amongst  the  first  of 
these  gentlemen  is  Dr.  Coxion  To,  or,  as  he 
is  described  in  his  diploma.  To  Ying  Fan, 
house  surgeon  to  the  Alice  Memorial  Hos- 
pital. He  graduated  in  the  year  1899,  and 
was  immediately  appointed  house  surgeon 
to  the  Xelhersole  Hospital,  and  afterwards 
to  his  present  post,  which  requires  a  man  of 
ability  and  expei  ience.  He  is,  at  the  same 
time,  proprietor  of  the  pharmacy  in  Queen's 
Road,  and  carries  on  an  extensive  private 
practice  in  the  Colony. 


MR.  SHE  POSHAM,  who,  in  spite  of  many 
business  responsibilities,  has  still  found  time 
to  take  a  prominent  part  in  the  public  affairs 
of  the  Colony,  was  born  in  Hongkong  in 
1870,  and  was  educated  at  the  Old  Central 
School,  now  known  as  Queen's  College.  On 
finishing  his  studies,  he  joined  the  Hongkong 
and  Kowloon  Wharf  and  Godown  Company, 
Ltd.,  in  whose  service  he  remained  for  several 
years.  In  1895  he  accepted  the  position  of 
compradore  and  caterer  to  the  Hongkong 
Hotel,  and  had  complete  charge  of  the 
Chinese  department,  including  some  three 
hundred  servants.  Mr.  She  Posham  was  in 
1906  a  director  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital, 
and  devoted  a  considerable  amount  of  time 
and  money  to  relieving  sufferers  by  the  dis- 
astrous typhoon  of  that  year,  and  towards 
establishing  the  San  Francisco  Earthquake 
Fund.  He  has  taken  part  in  many  other 
public  movements  of  one  form  and  another. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  reception  committees 
on  the  occasions  of  the  visits  of  the  Duke 
and  Duchess  of  Connaught  and  of  Prince 
Arthur  of  Connaught.  and  on  both  occasions 
was  responsible,  with  one  or  two  other 
Chinese  gentlemen,  for  the  splendid  decora- 
tions at  the  Ko  Shing  Theatre  in  honour 
of  Their  Royal  Highnesses.  In  his  spare 
moments  Mr.  She  Posham  is  an  enthusiastic 
and  successful  amateur  photographer.  His 
series  of  views  of  the  landing  of  Prince 
Arthur  of  Connaught  were  the  best  in  the 
Colony.  A  nicely  bound  set  of  Ihem  was 
forwarded  to  His  Royal  Highness,  who 
returned  his  thanks  for  the  gift. 


MR.  KUNQ  KWANQ.TO,  who  is  also 
known  as  Mr.  Kung  Sui  Tong,  has  devoted 
himself  very  largely  lo  the  study  of  Chinese 
literature,  and  possesses  a  library  of  some- 
thing like  400,000  volumes.  He  is  a  native 
of  the  Namhoi  district,  his  forefathers  having 
from  very  early  days  resided  in  the  province 
of  Kwangtung.  and  he  is  the  seventieth 
descendant  of  Confucius.  He  was  born  in 
the  twelfth  year  of  the  Emperor  To  Kwong 
(1832).  His  father,  Mr.  Kung  Kai  Fang,  was 
a  scholar  of  the  highest  order,  being  in  the 
degree  of  Hanlin,  and  in  his  day  accumulated 
a  large  collection  of  literary  treasures,  some 
of  them  dating  back  two  thousand  years. 
This  collection  Mr.  Kwang-To  has  con- 
siderably augmented.  It  is  of  interest  to 
note  that  the  largest  work  ever  written  in 
the  Chinese  language  was  composed  in  the 
time  of  the  Emperor  Wing  Lock,  and  com- 
prised 22,<,oo  volumes.  This  book  is  now 
non-existent,  even  in  the  impeiial  library, 
but  of  the  second  largest  work,  the  Tai  Shi 
Chap  Sing  (Chinese  Encyclopaedia),  consisting 
of  10,000  volumes,  compiled  in  the  present 
dynasty,  Mr.  Kwang-To  is  the  proud  possessor 
of  a  complete  copy.  Mr.  Kung  is  himself  a 
scholar  of  wide  attainments,  and  has  compiled 
a  work  relating  to  the  Tong  dynasty — a 
hook  which,  it  is  acknowledged,  could  never 


have  been  written  without  far-reaching  re- 
search into  the  library  at  his  command. 
It  is  a  Chinese  saying  that  only  a  man  who 
has  walked  10,000  miles  and  read  10.000  books 
can  be  called  a  hero.  Mr.  Kung  has  fully 
entitled  himself  to  this  distinction,  for  he 
has  climbed  to  the  summits  of  four  of  the 
five  highest  mountains  in  China,  and  his 
six-volume  account  of  the  ascent  of  the 
Taiwa  is  fit  to  rank  with  tales  of  the  most 
daring  adventurers. 

MR.  LAU  PUN  CHIN.— A  most  important 
post,  and  one  which  can  only  be  filled  by  a 
financier  of  ripe  experience,  is  that  of  com- 
pradore to  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Banking  Corporation  at  their  head  oftice  in 
Hongkong.  Indeed,  so  great  are  the  respon- 
sibilities of  the  position,  and  so  large  is  the 
guarantee  required,  that  when  the  office 
became  vacant  two  years  ago  some  difticiilty 
was  encountered  in  finding  a  suitable  man 
to  fill  it.  The  choice  fell  upon  Mr.  Lau  Pun 
Chin,  who,  during  twenty  years'  residence 
in  the  Colony — for  the  greater  part  of  which 
he  conducted  the  Chinese  business  of  Messrs. 
Chater  and  Mody — had  shown  himself  a 
singularly  able  financier.  Mr.  Lau  Pun  Chin, 
who  is  38  years  of  age,  is  a  native  of  Chin 
San,  near  ihe  neighbouring  port  of  Macao. 
He  was  educated  in  English  at  a  private 
school,  and  then  went  through  a  course  of 
study  at  Queen's  College,  Hongkong.  His 
interests  are  not  confined  to  his  financial 
duties,  for  he  is  a  member  of  the  committee 
of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital,  and  of  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Horticultural  Society,  in  the 
promotion  of  which  he  has  borne  a  con- 
siderable part,  whilst  as  a  member  of  the 
Chinese  Club  he  keeps  in  close  touch  with 
the  social  life  of  his  fellow  countrymen.  He 
has  erected  in  his  native  village  two  schools 
— the  Chin  San  Lans  School  in  1902,  and 
the  Kung  Too  College  in  1904 — many  of  the 
scholars  from  which  have  been  taken,  after 
examination,  to  the  Imperial  Military  College 
at  Wang  Po  by  the  Viceroy  of  Canton. 
Several  of  them  have  continued  their  studies 
in  Europe,  whilst  others  have  proceeded  to 
Japan.  Mr.  Lau  Pun  Chin  is  a  director  of 
the  Fook  Sin  Tong  Hospital  at  Chin  San,  and 
for  several  years  has  paid  two  Chinese  for 
vaccinating  applicants  free  of  charge.  In 
this  way  more  than  two  thousand  poor 
Chinese  have  been  vaccinated  annually. 


MR.  HO  WING  TSUN.— The  compradore 
and  manager  of  the  Chinese  business  of  the 
Banque  de  I'lndo  Chine  at  Hongkong  is 
Mr.  Ho  Wing  Tsun,  who  comes  of  an  old- 
established  Cantonese  family.  Born  in 
Hongkong,  he  was  educated  at  Queen's 
College,  and  speaks  and  writes  English 
fluently.  On  leaving  school  he  entered  the 
service  of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Banking  Corporation,  and  when  he  left  ten 
jears  later  he  held  the  post  of  assistant 
compradore.  He  received  his  present  appoint- 
ment on  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Kwok  Sin 
Lau,  an  old  and  tried  servant  of  the  institu- 
tion, who,  after  devoting  twenty  years  of  his 
life  to  the  service  of  the  French  banks  at 
Hongkong,  is  now  enjoying  the  well-earned 
fruits  of  his  labours.  Mr.  Ho  Wing  Tsun  is 
married,  and  the  members  of  his  family  are 
receiving  a  first-class  English  education. 


MR.  CHAU  NOAN  TINO,  compradore  to  the 
Netherlands-India     Commercial     Bank,    is    a 


native  of  the  Hungshan  district  of  China. 
He  came  to  Hongkong  in  1885  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Government  Central  School 
(now  Queen's  College)  two  years  later.  In 
June,  1892,  after  having  been  for  two  years 
in  the  first  class,  he  left  that  institution,  and 
became  a  count  shroff  in  the  employment  of 
the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Banking  Cor- 
poration for  seven  years.  Then  for  a  short 
time  he  was  engaged  as  compradore  to  the 
Stockton  Milling  Company.  Later  he  became 
compradore  to  the  Pacific  Oriental  Trading 
Company,  now  Messrs.  A.  B.  Moulder  &  Co., 
a  position  which  he  held  for  five  years,  until 
in  November,  1906,  the  Nederlandsch-Indische 
Handelsbank  opened  a  branch  here  and 
appointed  him  to  take  charge  of  their 
Chinese  business  and  staff. 


MR.  lU  KU  UN  has  occupied  the  position 
of  compradore  to  the  International  Banking 
Corporation  ever  since  the  bank  opened  a 
branch  in  the  Colonv  in  1903.  The  post  is  a 
responsible  one,  involving  the  control  of  the 
whole  of  the  Chinese  staff  and  the  guarantee 
of  all  the  Chinese  business,  but  the  preliminary 
training  of  Mi'.  lu  Ku  Un  was  such  as  to  fit 
hini  admirably  for  the  duties.  The  son  of 
Mr.  lu  Yuek  Chi,  a  merchant  of  the  Colony, 
he  received  his  education  at  Queen's  College. 
Afterwards  he  joined  the  Chartered  Bank  for 
seven  years,  eventually  becoming  second  com- 
pradore. It  was  this  post  which  lie  vacated  in 
order  to  take  up  his  present  position. 


MR.    NO    HON    TSZ,    who    is    a    son    of    a 

merchant  formerly  carrying  on  business  for 
manv  vears  in  the  Colony,  received  an  ex- 
cellent education  at  Queen's  College,  and  now 
has  a  variety  of  interests  in  the  commercial 
and  industrial  life  of  the  community.  He  is 
the  assistant  manager,  and  does  the  English 
business,  of  the  Yuen  Fat  Hong,  the  oldest 
and  one  of  the  most  important  Chinese  houses 
in  the  Colony.  In  addition,  he  owns  two  silk 
piece-goods  shops  at  Canton.  Vov  the  last 
two  years  he  has  held  the  post  of  compradore 
of  the  National  Bank  of  China,  in  which  he  is 
assisted  by  his  brother,  Mr.  Ng  Long  Chow. 
Mr.  Ng.  Hon  Tsz  takes  great  interest  in  public 
affairs  and  is  a  member  of  the  committee  of 
the  Tung  Wah  Hospital. 


MR.  MOK  TSO  CHUN.  One  of  the  largest 
firms  in  the  whole  of  the  East  is  that  of 
Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire,  and  the  posi- 
tion of  chief  compradore  at  the  Hongkong 
branch  is  one  of  great  responsibility.  It  is 
held  by  Mr.  Mok  Tso  Chun,  a  native  of  the 
Hungshan  district,  who  came  to  the  Colony 
at  an  early  date,  and  has  been  with  the  firm 
for  about  thirty-thiee  years.  His  father, 
Mok  Se  On,  was  surety  for  the  former  com- 
pradore of  the  firm,  Ng  u  Hip.  Mr.  Mok 
Tso  Chun  is  very  well  known  amongst  the 
Chinese  business  community,  and  takes  a 
great  interest  in  local  affairs.  He  was 
formerly  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Tung 
Wah  Hospital,  and  has  served  on  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Po  Leung  Kuk. 


MR.    WONG    CHEW     TONG.  —  When     the 

Staiulurd  Oil  Company  first  started  busniess 
in  the  Colony,  some  fourteen  years  ago,  Mr. 
Wong  Chew  Tong  came  to  Hongkong  from 
the    Company's    branch    at    Yokohama,    and 


PROMINENT    MEMBERS   OF    THE    CHINESE    COMMUNITY,    HONOKONO. 
I.    Chow  Hixg  Ki.  2.    Lai    Pix  Chix.  v    Woxg  Chku  Tong.  4.    Chixg  Kixg  Sin. 

5.     WOXG   KAM   FUK,  J^P.  6.      lU   KU   UN.  ■     7.      HOTUNG,   I.P.  8.     CHUN  TOXG 


9.    IP  Shux  Kam.  10.    Ng  Li  Hing. 

14.    Lau  Chu  Pak,  J.P. 
18.    cheung  tseung  che. 

19.    Yung  Hix  Poxg.  J.P. 
22.    Chau  Ngax  Ting.  23.    N'g  Hox  Tsz. 


27.    Ho  Wixg  Tsun. 


28.    Lo  Cheung  Shiu. 


II.    Dr.  Ho  Ko  Tsux.  12.    Dr.  kwax  Sum  Yin.           13.    Wong  Lai-Sang. 

15.    Sin  Tak  Fan,  16.    Tseuxg  Sz  Kai,  J  P. 

President,  Chinese  Club.  17.    Ho  FooK,  J.P. 

2  J.    Ho  KoM  ToxG,  J.P.  21.^  Dr.  Wan  TUn  Mo. 

24.    S.  W.  Tso.  "."25.    DR.  Ho  Nai  Hop,  L.M.S.H.           26.    She  Posham. 


29.    Dr.  Coxion  To. 


30.    MoK  Tso  Chun. 


184     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


now  holds  the  responsible  position  of  com- 
pradore  in  charge  of  the  Chinese  staff  and 
business.  He  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  locjil 
charities,  and  his  services  in  years  gone  by 
have  been  given  to  the  committees  of  the 
Tung  Wah  Hospital  and  of  the  Po  Leung 
Kak. 


MR.  CHUN  TONQ,  also  known  as  Mr.  Chun 
Chik  Yu,  has  been  conipradore  to  the  historic 
firm  of  Douglas  Lapraik,  now  known  as  the 
Douglas  Steamship  Company,  since  1889.  A 
native  of  the  Hungshan  district  of  China, 
he  was  one  of  the  first  Chinese  students  to 
proceed  to  America  for  the  completion  of  his 
education,  his  father.  Mr.  Chun  Kong,  being 


at  that  time  Consul  for  China  at  the  Hawaiian 
Islands.  Mr.  Chun  Tong  is  assisted  as  com- 
pradore  of  the  Douglas  Company  by  his 
brother,  Mr.  Chun  Keng  Yue,  who  takes  a 
very  active  part  in  shipping  matters  in  the 
Colony.  Mr.  Chun  Tong  was  formerly  a 
member  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital  committee, 
but  of  recent  years  has  devoted  his  time 
almost  exclusively  to  commercial  matters. 
He  and  his  brother  have  been  prominently 
connected  with  the  Canton-Hankow  Railway 
Hue,  and  have  fought  on  the  side  of  the 
merchants  of  the  Colony  throughout  the 
quarrel  which  has  taken  place  during  the 
past  two  years  or  so  regarding  that  much- 
talked-of  project.  Mr.  Chun  Keng  Yue  is 
this     year     vice-president     of     the     Chinese 


THE   LATE   LIj)  SINQ. 
LI  •  POi  LTTNO. 


LI    T8Z    MINO. 


LI    PO    CHUN. 


Chamber  of  Commerce.  The  eldest  son  of 
Mr.  Chun  Tong  is  Mr.  Chun  Wing  Sen,  who 
is  at  present  a  student  in  America,  where  he 
is  making  excellent  progress,  having  passed 
his  preliminary  course  some  four  years  under 
the  ordinary  term.  Whilst  at  the  High 
School  in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  he  displayed 
no  little  literary  ability,  and  for  some  time 
edited  the  School  Chronicle. 


MR.  IP  SHUN  KAM.— The  position  of  com- 
pradore  to  the  Hongkong  branch  of  the  firm 
of  Messrs.  Reiss  &  Co.  is  held  by  Mr.  Ip 
Shun  Kam,  who  conies  of  a  family  which 
has  been  connected  with  the  firm  for  upwards 
of  fifty  years.  His  father,  Mr.  Ip  Kiu  Shek, 
was  conipradore  to  the  firm  at  Canton  in  the 
early  days  of  the  famous  "  factory  sites,"  whilst 
his  uncie,  Mr.  Ip  Chuk  Kai,  held  a  similar 
position  in  the  Hongkong  branch.  Mr.  Ip 
Shun  Kam,  who  is  also  known  as  Mr.  Ip 
Tung,  received  an  fcinglish  education  at 
Queen's  College.  On  leaving  that  institution 
he  joined  his  uncle  as  an  assistant,  and  in 
course  of  time  succeeded  him  as  conipradore. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Chinese  Chamber  of 
Commerce  and  of  the  Chinese  Club. 


MR.  CHOW  HINQ  KI,  the  conipradore  to 
the  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha,  has  lived  in  the 
Colony  for  about  thirty  years,  and,  during 
most  of  that  time,  has  been  connected  with 
shipping.  He  received  an  English  education 
at  Queen's  College,  and,  on  leaving  that 
establishment,  started  business  with  a  shipping 
firm  styled  the  Wo-kee  Company.  In  those 
days  he  also  looked  after  the  Nyko  Chinese 
business  at  this  port,  and  when  this  Japanese 
firm  opened  a  branch  here  became  their  com- 
pradore,  in  which  position  he  is  now  assisted 
by  Mr.  Chun  Yui  Tong.  Mr.  Chow  Hing 
Ki  has  been  connected  with  the  Nippon 
Yusen  Kaisha  for  over  fifteen  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  consulting  committee  of  the 
China  Provident  Loan  and  Mortgage  Company, 
Ltd.,  for  which  Messrs.  Shewan,  Tomes  & 
Co.,  are  the  local  managers.  Although  his 
time  is  too  fully  occupied  now  to  allow  of 
participation  in  public  affairs,  he  served  for- 
merly on  the  committee  of  the  Po  Leung  Kuk. 
He  is  an  influential  and  respected  member 
of  the  Chinese  mercantile  community. 


MR.  CHINQ  KINO  SIN,  compradore  to  the 
important  German  house  of  Messrs.  Carlowitz 
&  Co.,  is  a  son  of  Mr.  Ching  Kong  Kin, 
a  merchant  and  trader,  resident  in  the  Colony 
for  about  forty  years.  Upon  completing  his 
education  at  St.  Joseph's  College,  Mr.  Ching 
King  Sin  entered  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Carlowitz 
&  Co.,  and  about  a  year  ago  he  was  promoted 
to  his  present  position,  in  which  he  is  respon- 
sible for  the  whole  of  the  Chinese  staff  and 
the  Chinese  business  of  the  firm.  Mr.  Ching 
King  Sin  is  a  member  of  the  Chinese  Club. 


THE  BROTHERS  LI  are  the  sons  of  Mr. 
Li  Sing,  for  many  years  one  of  Hongkong's 
best  known  merchants,  who  died  on  May  8, 
1900,  leaving  pioperty  valued  at  upwards  of 
six  million  dollars  to  be  divided  between  his 
eight  sons.  He  was  the  descendant  of  an  old 
family— coming  from  the  town  of  San  Wui, 
in  Kwangtung.  His  speculations  were  very 
successful,  and  his  generosity  was  propor- 
tionately great.     He  was  one  of  the  founders 


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186    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


of  the  Tunj;  Wah  Hospital,  of  the  District 
Watchmen's  Committee,  and  of  several  other 
public  institutions.  He  subscribed  largely  to 
the  building  of  a  bridge  near  his  native  town 
and  the  raising  of  the  adjacent  river  bank  to 
prevent  the  river  from  overflowing  at  flood 
time  and  damaging  the  property  of  the  agri- 
culturists of  the  district.  The  construction  of 
the  river  walls  involved  an  expenditure  of 
something  like  100,000  dollars,  but  the  whole 
of  the  improvement  was  carried  out  free  of 
cost  to  the  locality.  Atiout  the  beginning  of 
the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Tung  Chi  several 
thousand  people  took  passage  on  board  a 
foreign-owned  vessel  bound  for  California. 
While  on  the  vo\-age  a  storm  was  encoun- 
tered and  the  ship  struck  a  rock.  When  this 
sad  news  was  telegraphed  to  Hongkong  Mr. 
Li  Sing  at  once  chartered  a  steamer,  loaded 
her  with  provisions,  and  despatched  her  to 
the  wreck.  All  the  shipwrecked  people  were 
saved  and  brought  back  to  China.  This  cost 
Mr.  Li  Sing  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars.  In 
the  same  reign  Mr.  Li  Sing  founded  a  corn- 


highly  educated,  and  has  a  sound  knowledge 
of  English.  Mr.  Li  Po  Yung,  or  Li  Tsz 
Ming,  sixth  son  of  the  late  Mr.  Li  Sing, 
was  born  on  April  20,  1881.  He  is  a  British 
subject  by  birth,  and  takes  great  interest  in 
public  affairs.  In  1897,  when  he  was  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  he  travelled  in  the  noitli 
of  China,  visiting  Shanghai,  Tientsin,  Chefoo, 
Peking,  and  other  cities  and  ports.  He  was 
married  in  Canton  in  the  following  year,  and 
has  two  children,  a  daughter  and  a  son,  born 
in  1903  and  1905  respectively.  Well  educated 
in  Chinese,  he  has  also  a  fair  knowledge  of 
English.  He  is  taking  care  of  his  patrimony, 
and  employs  a  part  of  his  leisure  in  translating 
English  books  into  Chinese.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  editorial  staff  of  a  Chinese 
magazine.  Slow^  to  make  a  promise,  he  is 
careful  to  keep  his  word,  like  his  late  father. 
Mr.  Li  Po  Chun,  otherwise  Li  Tsz  Hi,  the 
eighth,  or  youngest  son  of  the  late  Mr.  Li 
Sing,  w'as  born  on  August  15,  1887,  and  is 
also  a  British  subject.  From  his  father  he 
inherited  a  considerable  amount  of  properly. 


THE   RESIDENCE    OF    MB.    CHEUNG    TSEUNG    CHE,    CAINE   ROAD. 


pany  called  the  Wa  Hop  Company,  which 
laid'  a  telegraph  cable  from  Hongkong  to 
Canton.  This  was  afterwards  purchased  by 
the  Chinese  Government,  and  formed  the  first 
telegraph  line  laid  in  the  province  of  Kwang- 
tung.  Mr.  Li  Sing  was  the  first  Chinese 
gentleman  to  form  a  fire  or  marine  insurance 
company  in  Hongkong.  The  Tseoung  On 
Fire  Insurance  Company  and  the  On  Tai 
Marine  Insurance  Company  owed  their  forma- 
tion to  him.  Most  of  the  sons  of  Mr.  Li  Sing 
are  British  subjects,  and  the  firm  of  Li 
Brothers,  which  now  manages  a  large  portion 
of  the  estate,  is  composed  of  Mr.  Li  Po  Lung 
(sometimes  known  as  Li  Wai  Tong),  who 
lives  at  Medway  House,  Kennedy  Road  ;  Mr. 
Li  Po  Yung  (known  also  as  Li  Tsz  Ming),  of 
Richmond  House.  Robinson  Road  ;  and  Mr. 
Li  Po  Chun,  or  Li  Tsz  Hi,  who  resides  in 
Caine  Rtad.  Mr.  Li  Po  Lung  was  lately  one 
of  the  dircdors  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital, 
and  has  shown,  and  still  takes,  a  great  interest 
in  the  public  affairs  of  the  Colony.  He  has 
travelled  a  good  deal  in  China  and  Japan,  is 


He  is  careful  to  keep  up  the  traditions  of  the 
family,  and,  as  a  keen  business  man,  is  very 
like  his  father.  In  the  year  1903,  when  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age,  he  travelled  in  Japan 
and  saw  the  Exhibition  that  was  held  there  in 
that  year.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  mairied 
Miss  Wong,  a  lady  of  many  accomplishments 
and  of  thrifty  habits,  who  was  well  able  to 
look  after  his  domestic  affairs  for  him.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  was  blessed  with 
a  daughter.  Mr.  Li  Po  Chun  is  a  deep- 
thinking  man,  persevering,  courageous  and 
discreet.  He  is  liberal-minded  and  always 
ready  to  make  sacrifices  for  the  benefit  of 
others.  A  great  deal  of  his  time  is  devoted 
to  the  study  of  both  Chinese  and  English 
literature.  AH  three  brothers  are  recognised 
as  men  who  have  done,  and  are  willing  still 
to  do,  much  in  the  public  service. 


MR.    CHEUNG    TSEUNG    CHE   comes  from 
family   which    has   lived   in    Hongkong   for 


four  generations.  He  was  born  in  the 
Colony,  educated  at  Chinese  schools,  and 
now  liolds  a  prominent  place  both  in  the 
public  and  commercial  life  of  the  community. 
Some  thirty-five  years  ago,  in  partnership 
with  his  brother,  he  established  the  well- 
known  shipcliandling  business  of  Messrs. 
Robert  Jack  &  Co.,  which  is  one  of  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  the  Colony.  The 
firm  occupy  extensive  premises  at  No.  41, 
Connaught  Road,  overlooking  the  harbour. 
Mr.  Cheung  Hoi  having  died  some  years 
ago,  Mr.  Cheung  Tseung  Che  is  now  the 
sole  manager.  Among  other  important 
contracts  which  Messrs.  Robert  Jack  &  Co. 
hold  is  one  for  supplying  the  Empress 
(Canadian  Pacific  Railway)  line  of  steamers, 
and  they  do  a  considerable  trade  as  general 
shippers  and  coal  merchants.  Mr.  Cheung 
Tseung  Che  is  a  director  of  the  French  line 
of  steamers  running  to  Canton,  and  has  a 
variety  of  other  interests  in  the  Colony.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital 
Committee,  and  follows  the  progress  and 
development  of  that  institution  with  the 
closest  interest.  His  eldest  son,  Cheung 
U  Kow,  gives  him  great  assistance  in  the 
management  of  the  business.  Their  private 
residence.  No.  53,  Caine  Road,  was  formerly 
occupied  by  Sir  Paul  Chater,  and  is  one 
of  the  finest  in  the  island. 


MR.  QOH  LI  HINQ,  who  is  also  known 
in  Hongkong  as  Mr.  Ng  Li  Hing,  is  an 
old  resident  of  the  Colony,  and  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Fokienese  community.  Leaving 
his  home  in  Fokien  early  in  life,  he  spent 
many  years  in  travel,  and  was  connected 
with  mercantile  houses  in  Java,  Sumatra, 
and  the  Straits  Settlements.  He  has  now 
been  away  from  his  native  province  for 
upwards  of  half  a  century,  and  during  the 
last  thirty  years  has  resided  in  Hongkong, 
where  he  has  attained  to  an  influential 
position  as  head  of  the  well-known  and 
old-established  firm  of  Goh  Guan  Hin, 
No,  64,  Bonham  Strand  West,  which  carries 
on  a  large  business  as  general  merchants 
and  importers.  Mr.  Ng  Li  Hing  is  also 
chairman  of  the  financial  company  known 
as  the  Hongkong  and  Manila  Yuen  Shing 
Exchange  and  Trading  Company,  Ltd.,  which 
has  branches  at  Manila,  Singapore,  Shanghai. 
Amoy,  and  Penang  ;  he  is  the  proprietor  of 
a  newly  established  brewery  at  Wongnei- 
chung  ;  and  he  is  connected  with  numerous 
other  enterprises  in  the  Colony.  He  bears 
his  part  in  public  movements,  and  has  served 
on  the  committees  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital, 
and  the  Po  Leung  Kuk.  To  the  hospital 
he  recently  presented  a  large  piece  of 
valuable  land  at  Kowloon,  to  be  used  as  a 
cemetery  for  the  Fokienese  community.  Of 
his  family,  one  son,  Mr.  Ng  Kai  Sui,  is  at 
present  studying  in  London,  while  his 
grandsons  are  either  students  or  agriculturists. 
The  other  members  of  his  family  live  with 
him  at  his  beautiful  residence  in  Caine  Road. 


MR.  TSANO  KING.— There  are  few  men 
more  widely  known  than  Mr.  Tsang  King 
in  the  business  circles  of  the  Colony.  He 
came  to  Hongkong  some  forty-five  years 
ago,  frotn  Canton,  and  for  the  last  thirty-six 
years  has  been  engaged  here  as  a  contractor. 
He  frequently  employs  as  many  as  five  thou- 
sand men,  and  has  erected  a  large  number 
of  important  buildings.  Amongst  these  are 
the  Hongkong  Rope  Factory ;  the  Goverinnent 
Civil  Hospital;  the  Asylum;  Sir  Paul  Chafer's 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     187 


beautiful  residence,  and  his  bungalow  at  Kow- 
loon  ;  the  Kowloon  Waterworks  ;  Tytam 
Reservoir  and  Waterworks ;  two-thirds  of 
the  Praya  Reclamation  (the  foundation  stone 
of  which  was  laid  by  the  Duke  of  Connaught)  ; 
the  Military  Batteries  at  Stonecutter's  Island, 
the  Central  and  South  Batteries  ;  Gap  Rock 
Lighthouse  ;  the  Taikoo  Ship  Yard  ;  Cause- 
way Bay  Breakwater  ;  the  Aberdeen  Paper 
Works  and  Waterworks  ;  the  Wanchai  Gap 
Waterworks  ;  the  Steam  Laundry  ;  the  Ice 
House  ;  the  Kowloon  Wharf  and  Godown 
Companies'  premises  ;  the  Water  Police  Sta- 
tion, Kowloon  ;  No.  i  Dock,  Hongkong  Dock 
Company  ;  the  Time  Ball  at  Kowloon  ;  and 
the  Oil  Tanks  and  Powder  Magazine.  Mr. 
Tsang  King  is  the  sole  owner  of  a  great 
block  of  godowns  at  Kennedy  Town,  erected 
by  his  own  firm  and  having  a  storage  capa- 
city of  200,000  feet.  In  the  management  of 
his  extensive  business  he  is  now  assisted  by 
three  of  his  sons,  the  eldest  Tsang  Loi  Chiu, 
being  at  present  in  charge  of  the  Kowloon 
Waterworks  construction.  Tsang  Kee  and 
Tsang  Ping  are  helping  in  other  ways. 


MR.    SIN    TAK    FAN.  —  Hard    work    and 
honest    endeavour,    followed    by   steady   and 


well-earned  promotion,  is,  in  brief,  the  record 
of  Mr.  Sin  Tak  Fan.  Born  on  December 
20,  1856,  he  was  educated  at  the  Government 
Central  School  (now  Queen's  College)  under 
Dr.  Frederick  Stewart,  and,  while  there, 
carried  off  many  prizes,  including  the  Smith 
Prize  (or  translation  and  handwriting. 
Having  finished  his  scholastic  course,  he  was 
appointed  an  assistant  teacher,  and  continued 
in  that  capacity  until.  1878,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Registrar-General's  Depart- 
ment as  fourth  clerk.  Later  on,  he  was 
promoted  to  be  acting  first  clerk  and  inter- 
preter. Leaving  the  service  in  1880,  he 
received  an  appointment  with  the  legal  firm 
of  Messrs.  Stephens  &  Holmes  as  chief  clerk 
and  translating  interpreter.  In  1882  he  again 
improved  his  position  by  joining  Mr.  Creasy 
Ewens  as  managing  clerk  and  interpreter. 
Messrs.  Ewens  &  Harston,  as  the  firm  is 
now  styled,  are  among  the  leading  solicitors 
in  the  Colony,  and  Mr.  Sin  Tak  Fan  is  a 
well-known  figure  in  legal  circles.  He  has 
been  twice  married,  and  has  eight  sons  and 
seven  daughters.  He  is  president  of  the 
Hongkong  Chinese  Club  for  the  third  time, 
and  is,  also,  a  member  of  the  Man  Ming 
Club,  which  was  founded  in  1904  by  some 
local  Chinese  merchants  and  scholars  for 
the   promotion  of   social   intercourse  and  the 


improvement   of    intellectual   and   moral   dis- 
cipline. 


MR.  WONQ  LAl-SANfl.— By  perseverance 
and  keen  business  instincts  Mr.  Wong  Lai-Sang 
has  gained  not  only  a  comfortable  position  for 
himself  but  a  good  reputation  among  both 
Europeans  and  Chinese.  A  native  of  Hong- 
kong, he  was  born  in  1863  and  was  educated 
at  tile  Central  .School.  He  joined  the  Great 
Northern  Telegraph  Company,  Shanghai,  as 
an  operator  in  i88o,  and  remained  with  the 
company  for  nine  years.  Subsequently  he 
entered  the  service  of  the  Public  Works 
Department,  Hongkong,  and,  after  twelve 
years'  experience,  accepted  the  position  of 
managing  clerk  to  Mr  E.  M.  Hazeland,  an 
architect.  This  position  he  still  occupies, 
and  at  the  same  time  carries  out  the  duties 
of  managing  partner  of  the  Tai  Kwong  Com- 
pany, who  do  a  large  business  in  gasoline 
lamps.  He  is  married  to  a  sister  of  Mr. 
Chan  Kai  Ming,  secretary  to  the  Opium 
P'arm,  Hongkong,  and  has  one  son,  who, 
thanks  to  his  father's  clear  realisation  of  the 
advantages  which  follow  upon  such  an 
equipment,  has  been  given  a  thoroughly 
sound  English  education. 


HARBOUR   AND    SHIPPING. 


By  Commander  Basil  Taylor,  R.N.,  Harbour  Master. 


OXGKONG  Harbour,  now  re- 
cognised as  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  world,  and  actually 
accommodating  more  shipping 
than  any  other,  was,  prior  to 
the  British  occupation,  of  no 
account,  and  but  little  used 
except  by  Chinese  fishermen  (and  pirates) 
and  an  occasional  war  junk.  Its  capabilities 
as  a  desirable  anchorage  do  not  appear  to 
have  received  practical  recognition  until  1834. 
when  Lord  Napier,  appreciating  its  strategical 
and  commercial  possibilities,  recommended  its 
acquisition  by  the  British  Government.  At 
that  time  a  considerable  amount  of  trade 
was  carried  on  in  British  vessels  with  Canton 
and  Whampoa,  and  a  certain  number  of 
British  merchants  were  resident  in  the  former 
city.  Circumstances,  into  which  it  is  not 
necessary  here  to  enter,  caused  the  British 
community  in  Canton  to  lose  the  goodwill 
of  the  Chinese  authorities,  with  the  result 
that  they  were  expelled  from  the  city  and 
British  shipping  from  the  river.  The  former, 
with  the  Chief  Commissioner  of  British 
Trade  in  China— Captain  Elliot,  R.N.— took 
refuge  at  Macao,  then,  as  now,  a  Portu- 
guese settlement,  while  the  shipping  anchored 
in  Hongkong  Harbour.  This  occurred  in  1839. 
Captain  Elliot  appears  to  have  held  but  a 
poor  opinion  of  the  value  of  Hongkong  as  a 
dependency  of  the  British  Crown,  or  of  the 
safety  of  the  hartx)ur,  for  he  recommended 
the  purchase  from  Portugal  of  Macao  in 
preference  to  it.  However,  nothing  came  of 
his  proposals,  fortunately  for  British  trade  in 
the  Far  East,  for  Macao  could  not  accommo- 
date a  fraction  of  the  shipping  now  using 
Hongkong  Harbour,  even  were  there  water 
enough  to  allow  a  modern  ocean  vessel  to 
enter  ;  Macao  Hartiour  is  small,  and  no  vessel 
drawing  more  than  14  feet  can  enter  at 
any  state  of  the  tide. 

In    August,    1839,  the    Canton    authorities, 


emboldened  no  doubt  by  the  successful  issue 
of  their  anti-British  action  in  March, 
threatened  to  carry  the  matter  still  further, 
and  to  make  an  attack  in  force  upon  Macao, 
with  a  view  to  the  expulsion  thence  of  the 
British.  As  it  was  felt  that,  being  virtually 
undefended,  Macao  was  in  no  condition  to 
repulse  such  an  attack,  and  that  Portugal,  not 
being  a  party  to  the  quarrel,  it  was  not  right  or 
politic  to  involve  her,  the  British  community 
headed  by  Captain  Elliot  and  his  staff,  left 
Macao  for  Hongkong,  leaving  behind  only  a 
few  sick. 

On  arrival  it  was  found  that  no  food  was 
obtainable,  a  boycott  being  maintained  by 
three  war  junks  anchored  off  the  Kowloon 
Peninsula ;  and  it  was  reported  that  all  sources 
of  water  supply  were  poisoned.  The  natives, 
however,  being  perfectly  willing,  even  anxious, 
to  furnish  supplies,  the  war  junks  were 
attacked  and  driven  away,  and  the  boycott  put 
a  stop  to. 

As  there  were  no  buildings  of  any  kind  on 
the  north  shores  of  the  island,  residence  on 
shore  was  at  first  out  of  the  question,  and 
the  shipping  in  the  harbour  afforded  an  asylum 
for  the  whole  community.  A  few  buildings 
shortly  appeared,  principally  of  the  matshed 
type,  but  nothing  of  a  permanent  character 
was  attempted,  in  view  of  the  great  uncertainty 
prevailing  as  to  the  future  of  the  island. 

Shortly  after  this,  the  activity  on  the  part  of 
the  Chinese  having  abated,  the  Commissioner 
and  staff,  together  with  many  of  the  merchants 
with  their  families  returned  to  Macao,  whence 
Captain  Elliot  continued  his  opposition  to  the 
harbour  of  Hongkong,  and  in  October,  1839, 
in  spite  of  vigorous  protests  from  eighty-six 
British  vessels  then  anchored  there,  and  the 
representatives  of  twenty  mercantile  firms, 
eleven  insurance  companies,  and  I>loyds  agent, 
he  ordered  all  the  shipping  to  leave  and  to 
repair  to  Tongku,  an  island  off  the  entrance 
to   Deep   Bay,   in   the   mouth   of   the   Canton 


River.     And  Hongkong  was  evacuated. 

The  following  year,  1840,  an  expeditionary 
force  arrived  from  home  and  Hongkong  was 
once  more  occupied,  this  time  for  good, 
though  it  did  not  become  a  British  possession, 
even  nominally,  until  1841,  and  not  actually 
a  British  Colony  before  1843. 

As  we  have  seen,  the  shipping  interest  was 
quick  to  realise  the  value  and  importance  of 
the  harbour,  though  the  authorities  held 
different  views.  However,  in  January,  1841, 
Lieutenant  William  Pedder  R.N.,  was  appointed 
Harbour  Master  and  Marine  Magistrate. 
This  officer  had  many  difficulties  to  contend 
with  at  first.  His  authority  was  very  limited 
and  his  staff  of  the  smallest,  and  he  appears 
to  have  been  dependent,  for  transport  pur- 
poses, upon  native  boats,  captured  from  the 
Chinese. 

Harbour  Office. — His  office  was,  originally, 
as  were  all  Government  offices,  on  board  a 
ship  in  the  harbour.  I  consider  it  very  prob- 
able, though  there  are  no  records  to  show  it, 
that  a  temporary  harbour  office  was  erected 
on  shore  very  early  in  the  history  of  the 
Colony ;  certainly  there  are  indications  that 
there  was  such  a  building  in  1841,  but  its 
nature  and  site  are  unknown.  In  1843  it 
appears  that  a  room  in  Mr.  Pedder's  house, 
built  at  his  own  expense  on  the  hill  named 
after  him,  was  used  as  a  harbour  ofiice. 
Later,  about  1845,  a  brick  building  was 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  City  Hall, 
and  this  was  occupied  by  the  harbour  depart- 
ment until  1866.  In  that  year  a  permanent 
building  of  brick  and  stone,  erected  upon 
reclaimed  ground  some  1,400  yards  to  the 
westward  of  the  old  ollice,  was  opened.  This 
collapsed  in  1873,  and  the  staff  of  the  office 
took  up  their  quarters  in  a  temporary  wooden 
erection  close  to  the  Sailors'  Home,  another 
1,300  yards  west,  until  the  office  was  rebuilt 
and    re-occupied   in    1874.     There    the    work 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     189 


continued  to  be  done  until  1906,  under  diffi- 
culties, in  later  years,  owing  to  want  of  room 
— for  the  staff  had  increased  with  the  work  to 
be  done,  though  not  in  the  same  proportion  ; 
in  insanitary  surroundings — for  the  building 
had  become  old  and  decayed,  and  was  built 
in  on  every  side  with  lofty  native  tenement 
houses  ;  and  lack  of  a  view  of  the  harbour — 
for  a  new  reclamation  had  been  made  in 
front  of  it,  and  was  built  upon— a  fine  new 


Pedder,  the  first  Harbour  Master,  held  the 
appointment  until  1854,  when  he  retired,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Captain  T.  W.  Watkins,  R.N. 
This  officer  died  in  1858,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  A.  L.  Inglis,  who  received  the  addi- 
tional appointment  of  Emigration  Officer 
during  the  same  year,  and  in  1859  was 
appointed  Principal  Officer  of  Customs,  a  title 
still  held  by  the  harbour  master,  though 
Hongkong   is,   and  always   has   been,   a   free 


HONGKONG    HARBOUR. 


Chinese  Brick  Juxk. 
Chinese  Cargo  Boat. 


market  directly  in  front  effectually  blocking 
out  all  sight  of  the  harbour.  In  July,  1906, 
the  present  oftice,  commenced  in  1901,  was 
completed  and  opened.  This  building  is 
situated  350  yards  to  the  eastward  of  the  old 
office,  fronting  on  the  harbour,  and  is  in  every 
way  satisfactory,  being  lofty,  commodious, 
excellently  arranged,  and  conveniently  placed. 

Harbour       Masters. — Lieutenant      William 


Chinese  Coolie  Boat. 
Chinese  Trading  Juxk. 

port.  The  object  in  giving  him  the  appoint- 
ment would  appear  to  be  that  he  may  have 
control  of  the  Mercantile  Marine  Office  under 
the  Board  of  Trade.  Mr.  Inglis  held  the  post 
until  186 1,  when  Mr.  Henry  George  Thomselt, 
Navigating  Lieutenant,  R.N.,  became  Harbour 
Master,  Marine  Magistrate,  and  Emigration 
and  Customs  Officer.  In  1867  he  became 
Superintendent  of  the  Government  Gunpowder 
Depot.     In   Captain   Thoinsett's  time,   which 


lasted  from  1861  until  1888,  many  changes 
occurred.  The  shipping  using  the  port  in- 
creased from  1 ,300,000  to  6,400,000  tons.  The 
staff  of  the  department  in  1861  consisted  of 
the  harbour  master,  one  boarding  officer,  and 
three  clerks,  one  of  whom  was  in  charge  of 
the  Mercantile  Marine  Office.  Beyond  these 
there  were  a  few  lK>atmen,  and  the  signalman 
at  the  Peak  Signal  Station,  which  was  opened 
in  that  year.  In  1888  the  staff  comprised  the 
harbour  master,  assistant  harbour  master,  two 
boarding  officers,  two  junk  inspectors,  five 
clerks,  one  shroff,  one  Chinese  and  one  Indian 
interpreter,  two  Chinese  writers,  the  Peak 
signalman,  and  officer  in  charge  of  the 
Government  Gunpowder  Depot,  t)esides  boat- 
men, &c.  In  1861  all  the  work  of  the 
department  afloat  was  done  in  pulling  boats. 
In  i888  there  were  four  steam  launches  be- 
longing to  the  department. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  more  im- 
portant events  of  this  period  : — 

In  1862  there  was  a  strike  of  cargo-boat 
men  to  protest  against  registration  which 
an  enactment  of  that  year  made  compulsory. 
In  1863  the  Sailors'  Home  was  opened.  This 
establishment  was  started  by  the  leading 
mercantile  firms  in  the  Colony,  viz.  :  Messrs. 
Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  ;  Gibb,  Livingston 
&  Co. ;  Dent  &  Co. ;  Russel  &  Co.  ;  Fletcher 
&  Co. ;  Oilman  &  Co. ;  Augustine  Heard  &  Co. ; 
The  Peninsular  and  Oriental  Steam  Naviga- 
tion Company  ;  Messrs.  John  Burd  &  Co.  ; 
HoUiday,  Wise  &  Co.  ;  David  Sassoon  &  Co. ; 
Smith,  Kennedy  &  Co.  ;  Birley  &  Co.,  and 
others.  These  firms  and  certain  individuals 
subscribed  to  erect  the  building,  the  land  was 
given  by  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson,  and  the 
Government,  though  declining  to  subscritie, 
reduced  the  Crown  rent  payable,  to  a  nominal 
sum.  This  establishment  had  certain  ups 
and  downs  to  begin  with,  but  is  now  on  a 
firm  basis,  pays  its  own  way,  and  has  been 
largely  patronised  by  both  officers  and  men 
of  the  mercantile  marine.  Owing  to  the 
gradual  falling  off,  indeed,  almost  elimination, 
of  the  sailing-ship  trade,  and  to  the  fact  that 
few  European  seamen  are  discharged  here 
from  steamers,  the  number  of  men  stopping 
at  the  home  has  greatly  diminished  of  late 
years,  but  officers  have  increased  in  numbers. 
The  home  is  well  managed,  comfortable,  and 
conveniently  situated,  and  the  charges  are 
very  moderate. 

During  this  same  year,  the  Messageries 
Maritimes  Company's  steamers  began  to  call 
at  Hongkong,  carrying  mails,  and  a  regular 
steam  service  was  also  started  with  British 
North  Borneo.  The  Peninsular  and  Oriental 
Steam  Navigation  Company  had  been  calling 
fortnightly  with  mails   since   1845. 

In  1865  the  Hongkong,  Canton,  and  Macao 
Steamboat  Company  was  formed,  and  steamers 
started  running.  In  1866  the  Hongkong  and 
Whampoa  Dock  Company  commenced  busi- 
ness. These  two  companies,  among  the  first 
large  local  enterprises,  are  still  among  the 
most  important  in  the  Colony. 

In  1867  the  Canton  authorities  instituted 
what  was  known  as  the  "blockade"  of  Hong- 
kong. Chinese  cruisers  patrolled  all  (he 
neighbouring  waters,  levying  taxes  upon  all 
junks,  &c.,  with  the  object  of  destroying  the 
trade  of  the  port.  This  continued  until  1886. 
As  will  be  seen  later,  the  blockade,  though 
an  inconvenience,  did  not  affect  the  trade  to 
any  appreciable  extent,  as  the  shipping  in- 
creased, during  its  operation,  from  2,500,000 
to  6,500,000  tons. 

In  1869  the  opening  of  the  Suez  Canal  had 
the  effect  of  sending  increasing  numbers  of 
vessels  to  the  Far  East,  and  greatly   contri- 
buted to  the  future  prosperity  of  the  Colony. 
In  1871  the  Hongkong  and  Kowloon  Wharf 


HONGKONG 


HONGKONG 


IHI(0)SI©IS®B!© ; 

i9oa 


192    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  Godown  Company  was  formed,  and  still 
continues  to  be  the  leading  Arm  in  that  line 
of  business. 

In  1874  an  Ordinance  was  passed  to  regulate 
emigration  from  the  Colony.  This  business 
is  a  most  flourishing  one,  and  brings  in  quite 
a  respectable  income  to  the  Government. 
Last  year  (1907)  105,967  emigrants  left  the 
Colony,  each  paying  25  cents  (about  6d.)  for 
medical  examination. 

In  1875  the  first  lighthouse  in  the  Colony 
was  lit  and  light  dues  were  first  imposed. 
This  subject  is  treated  of  later. 

In  1879  the  first  Merchant  Shipping  Con- 
solidation Ordinance  was  passed.  Previous 
to  this  there  had  been  many  little  Acts  passed 
dealing  with  separate  details,  now  these  were 
all  consolidated  in  one  measure,  with  additions 
and  alterations.  There  were  further  Ordi- 
nances passed  in  1891  and  1899  for  the 
same  purpose.  The  latter  did  not  come  into 
force  until  1903. 

In  1883  the  Observatory  at  Kowloon  was 
opened,  and  in  the  following  year  the  time 
ball,  dropped  at  i  p.m.  local  time,  was 
instituted. 

In  1884  the  cargo- boat  men  again  struck 
work  in  consequence  of  certain  of  their 
number  having  been  fined  for  refusing  to 
work  for  French  ships.  At  the  time  France 
was  at  war  with  China,  and  pressure  had 
been  brought  to  bear  from  Canton  in  order 
to  establish  a  boycott  in  the  Colony. 

In  1888  Captain  Thomsett  retired,  and  his 
place  was  taken  by  Commander  Robert 
Murray  Rumsey,  R.N.,  who  held  the  several 
appointments  until  1903.  During  his  regime 
many  important  events  occurred,  the  principal 
among  them  being  the  passing  of  1889 
Emigration  Ordinance.  This  measure,  still 
in  force,  was  intended  to  place  emigration 
upon  a  more  satisfactory  basis,  but  it  is  so 
involved  that  it  is  difficult  to  say  what  it 
means.  Certain  amendments  enacted  from 
time  to  time  have  introduced  new  details, 
but  have  failed  to  render  the  measure 
clearer  or  more  coherent. 

In  1894-95  'he  China-Japan  War  affected 
the  Colony  slightly. 

In  1895  a  signal  station  was  erected  on 
Blackhead's  Hill,  above  Chin  sal  chui  Point, 
and  in  1900  another  was  built  upon  the 
summit  of  Green  Island. 

The  acquisition  of  the  New  Territories  in 
1898  has  necessitated  the  establishment  of 
seven  additional  branch  harbour  stations,  of 
which  there  are  now  eleven  in  all,  viz.,  at 
Aberdeen,  Stanley,  and  Shaukiwan,  on  the 
Island  of  Hongkong ;  Hunghom  and  Sam 
Shui  Po,  on  the  Kowloon  Peninsula  ;  Taipo, 
Long  Ket,  Sai  Kung,  and  Deep  Bay,  in  the 
New  Territories  on  mainland  ;  and  at  Tai  O 
on  Lantau  Island,  and  at  Cheung  Chau,  on 
the  island  of  the  same  name  in  the  New 
Territories. 

During  Captain  Rumsey's  time  the  follow- 
ing titles,  with  corresponding  duties,  devolved 
upon  the  Harbour  Master : — Collector  of 
Light  Dues,  Registrar  of  Shipping,  Super- 
intendent of  Imports  and  Exports  (Opium), 
and  Agent  for  the  Commercial  Intelligence 
Department  of  the  Board  of  Trade. 

During  this  period  also  the  tonnage  of  the 
shipping  entering  the  harbour  increased 
from  6,500,000  to  10.750,000  tons. 

In  January,  1904,  Captain  Rumsey  retired. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Captain  Lionel  Aubrey 
Walter  Barnes-Lawrence.  R.N.,  who,  in 
February,  arrived  from  Gibraltar,  where  he 
had  held  the  post  of  Captain  of  the  Port. 
During  his  tenure  of  office  the  work  of  the 
department  was  greatly  increased  by  the 
Russo-Japanese  War.  Enforcement  of 
neutrality     devolved     principally     upon     the 


Harbour  Department,  while  the  search  for 
contraband  of  war,  in  the  absence  of  any 
Customs  staff,  rendered  the  work  onerous. 
Considerable  trouble  was  also  experienced 
with  European  crews  of  vessels  bound  for 
the  seat  of  war,  many  of  them  refusing  to 
proceed  any  further  in  their  ships,  in  circum- 
stances which  were  held  to  be  unwarranted 
by  the  facts.  In  one  or  two  of  these  cases, 
during  the  later  stages  of  the  war,  the  Courts 
at  home  have  since  decided  that  the  men 
were  justified  in  their  refusal. 

During  the  war,  in  spite  of  the  complete 
absence  from  the  harbour  of  ships  belonging 
to  the  belligerents,  the  shipping  returns 
showed  no  decrease.  This  was  due  to  the 
enormous  influx  of  tramp  steamers  of  many 
nationalities,  principally  British,  which  arrived 
to  take  up  the  Japanese  trade  in  these  waters. 

In  consequence  of  the  Brussels  Sugar 
Convention  of  1903  further  duties  devolved 
upon  the  department  in  the  following  year, 
the  Harbour  Master  becoming  "  Fiscal 
Authority,"  in  order  to  issue  certificates  of 
origin  of  sugar  exported  from  the  Colony. 

In  1904,  also,  an  Ordinance  was  passed 
providing  for  the  examination  and  licensing 
of  pilots.  Previous  to  this,  there  were  a 
certain  number  of  Chinese  who  called  them- 
selves pilots,  but  had  no  certificates  or 
anything  else  to  show  that  they  were  in  any 
way  qualified  for  the  work,  nor  had  they 
any  authority  to  charge  for  their  services. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  1  believe  they  made  no 
charge  as  a  rule,  so  long  as  the  custom  of 
the  ship  brought  in  was  given  to  the  particu- 
lar "  Compradore  "  in  whose  employment  the 
pilot  was.  Ten  Europeans  and  13  Chinese 
passed  the  necessary  examination  and  were 
given  certificates,  and  a  scale  of  charges  was 
laid  down. 

In  1905  the  much-needed  improvements  of 
the  Colony's  lighthouse  service  were  com- 
menced by  the  erection  of  the  new  light  at 
Green  Island. 

In  July,  1906,  the  staff  moved  into  the 
new  Harbour  Offices.  In  September  a  dis- 
astrous typhoon  struck  the  Colony,  which  it 
found  all  unprepared  to  meet  it.  Among  the 
many  victims  was  Captain  Barnes-Lawrence, 
who  died  some  days  later  from  the  effects 
of  exposure.  He  may  well  be  said  to  have 
perished  at  his  post.  In  the  following  month 
the  British  river-steamer  Hatikcnv  was  burnt 
alongside  her  wharf,  nearly  in  front  of  the 
Harbour  Office,  and  many  Chinese  were  burnt 
or  drowned. 

The  year  1907  saw  the  commencement  of 
the  railway  to  Canton,  a  work  which  those 
who  favour  it  appear  to  think  will  bring 
new  prosperity  to  the  Colony.  As  the  Colony 
depends  entirely  upon  shipping  for  its  exis- 
tence, I  do  not  feel  so  hopeful.  The  telegraph 
cable  ground  has  been  moved  further  east, 
thus  providing  more  room  in  the  harbour, 
improved  typhoon  signals  have  been  instituted, 
and  further  improvements  have  been  made 
in  the  lighting  of  the  waters  of  the  Colony. 

Typhoons. — From  time  to  time  the  Colony 
has  been  visited  by  these  most  destructive 
storms,  and  has  suffered  greatly  by  them. 
Few  years  pass  without  one  or  more  making 
a  near  approach  to  us,  with  the  result  that 
the  work  of  loading  and  unloading  cargo  is 
totally  suspended  for  a  time,  the  lighters  and 
cargo-boats  making  for  shelter  at  the  first 
indication  of  danger.  P'ortunately,  the  centres 
of  the  storms  usually  succeed  in  passing  well 
clear  of  us,  but  on  fifteen  occasions  since 
the  British  occupation  it  has  passed,  if  not 
actually  over  the  island,  very  close  to  it. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  these  fifteen  storms, 
with  the  amount  of  damage  done  by  them  : — 


July  21-22,  1841.— Considerable  damage. 

July  25-26,  1841.— Considcr.-ible  damage. 

August  31  to  September  i,  1848. — Consider- 
able  damage. 

August  8,  1867.— Praya  wall  destroyed. 
Several  large  vessels  and  many  junks 
lost,  with  considerable  loss  of  life. 

September  26,  1870. —Great  loss  of  life  and 
property. 

September  2,  1 871. —Damage  to  shipping 
and  houses. 

September   22-23,    1874.— Thirty-five   Euro- 
pean ships  and  two  thousand  lives  lost 
in  six  hours,  and  over  5,000,000  dollars' 
worth  of  damage  done  to  property. 
October  14,  1881.— Damage  to  small  craft. 
May   29-30,    1889.— Great   storm,  in   which 
33'il  inches  of  rain  fell  (1616  inches  in 
seven  hours).     The  principal  thorough- 
fares  on   the    low   level   were   flooded, 
and  much  damage  was  done  to  property. 
October  5,   1894.— Damage  in  the  harbour. 
Gap  Rock  Lighthouse  lantern  (133  feet 
above   sea)   badly   damaged.     "The   lan- 
tern glasses  and  lenses  were  broken  by 
water,  and  the  lighthouse  and  quarters 
flooded. 
July  29,  1896. — Considerable  damage  to  ship- 
ping and  property. 
November     9,     1900. — H.M.S.     Sandpiper, 
dredger     Canton     liivcr,     ten     steam 
launches,  over  one  hundred  junks,  and 
innumerable   small   boats   sunk   or   de- 
stroyed, and   over  three   hundred  lives 
lost  in  three  hours. 
September    18,    1906. — One    hundred    and 
forty-one   European    vessels    foundered 
or  badly  damaged,  2,413  Chinese  craft 
lost,  15  Europeans  (including  Anglican 
Bishop  and  Harbour  Master)  and  some 
ten  thousand  Chinese  lost  their  lives  in 
about  an  hour  and  a  half. 
September  28,  1906. — Gap  Rock  Lighthouse 
considerably  damaged.      One  Japanese 
steamer  (damaged  in  typhoon  of   18th) 
foundered    in    harbour,    several    junks 
sunk,  and  some  lives  lost. 
September    13-14,    1907. — Further   damage 
to  Gap  Rock  Lighthouse,  a  few  small 
craft  damaged   in    harbour,  and    three 
lives  lost. 
In   consequence   of  the   many  reclamations 
that  have  been  made  in  the  harbour,  all  the 
little    shallow   nooks  and   corners,   and    little 
bays,   where   boats  could    take    shelter    have 
gradually  disappeared.     In   1883,  in  order   to 
afford   an   artificial   shelter   for   these  craft,  a 
breakwater,     1,400    feet    long    was    built    in 
Causeway   Bay,   enclosing  an   area    of    some 
100  acres.      This   shelter   is   now  insufficient, 
the  number  of  craft  requiring  shelter  having 
greatly    increased    while    the    available    area 
has  been  greatly    diminished    by    silting    up, 
and  by  further  reclamations.     The  Causeway 
Bay    shelter,    also,    is    in    the    wrong    place, 
being  situated  near   the  eastern   limit   of  the 
harbour.     As   the   wind  in   the  initial   stages 
of   a  typhoon   almost  invariably  blows  from 
the    eastward,    the    boats    to     the    westward 
find    it    very  difficult   to   make   their  way  to 
shelter     to     windward.      A     new    shelter    is 
contemplated,   but   I   fear   the    proposed    site 
will  be  no  improvement. 

Reclamations.— Very  early  in  the  history 
of  Hongkong  as  a  British  possession  there 
were  reclamations  of  parts  of  the  harbour, 
and  these  have  steadily  increased  in  number 
and  size  until  a  decided  alteration  has  been 
made  in  the  shape  and  size  of  the  liarbour, 
as  the  published  series  of  charts  shows.     The 


THE    HONGKONG    AND    WHAMPOA    DOCK    COMPANY,    LTD. 

View  of  the  Docks  at  Kowloon.  SmpBuiLDrac  Yard. 

"Empress  of  Japan'  in  Dock.  H.M.S,  •Powerful  "  ix  Dock  No.  i. 


[See  page  lq6.] 


194      T^VENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


following:   is  a   list    of    the   several    dates    of 
reclamations  : — 

1851.  First  Pr;>ya  Keclamatioii  scheme 
partly  carried  out. 

1857.  First  Pra\-a  Reclamation  scheme  con- 
tinued. 

1864.  Shaukiwan  Koad.  involving  Reclama- 
tion, laid  out. 

1867.  500  feet  of  sea-wall  built  at  KowUx^n. 

1868.  2.700  feet  of  sea-wall  built  on  Victoria 

side,  from  Wilnier  Street  to  Bonham 

Strand. 
1873.     Eastern  Pra>"a  partly  constructed. 
1884.     23  acres  reclaimed  at  Causeway  Bay. 
1886.     22  acTes  reclaimed  at  Kennedy  town. 

1889.  Second      I'raya      Reclamation      Bill 

passed. 

1890.  Duke  of  Connaught  laid  the  founda- 

tion stone. 

1891.  8i  acres  reclaimed  at  Kennedy  town. 
1900.  Naval  Yard  Reclamation  commenced. 
1904.     Praya  Reclamation  completed. 

The  Bxtttt  of  the  Harbour.— The  harbour 
limits  are.  on  the  west,  a  line  drawn  from 
the  west  point  of  the  island  of  Hongkong  to 
the  west  point  of  Green  Island,  thence  to 
the  west  point  of  Stonecutter's  Island,  and 
along  the  north  shores  of  that  island  to  the 
east  point,  and  thence  across  to  the  harbour- 
master's station  at  Sam  Shui  Po ;  and.  on  the 
cast,  a  line  drawn  from  North  Point  to 
Kowloon  City  Pier.  The  harbour  comprises 
7-34  nautical  square  miles  at  low  water,  and 
of  this  area  3'5  square  miles  have  a  depth  of 
over  4i  fathoms.  The  greatest  depth  is 
14  fathoms.  The  anchorage  varies  from 
5  to  9  fathoms. 

LI{litboH«e8. — In  1875  the  first  lighthouses 
in  the  Colony  were  established.  A  first-order 
fixed  light  on  Cape  D'Aguilar,  the  south- 
eastern point  of  the  island,  was  first  lit  on 
April  16th,  and  a  fourth-order  fixed  light, 
with  red  sector,  on  Green  Island  was  erected 
on  July  1st  in  that  year.  These  were  followed 
by  a  sixth-order  fixed  light,  with  red  sectors, 
on  Cape  Collinson.  the  eastern  point  of  the 
island,  on  March  1.  1876. 

These  three  lights  remained  the  only  ones 
in  the  vicinity  until  1892.  with  the  exception 
of  a  small,  fixed  red  light  on  a  rock  in  the 
Chung  Chau  Channel,  six  miles  SW.  of 
Green  Island.  This  was  installed  and 
maintained  by  the  Chinese  Imperial  Maritime 
Customs.  In  1892  a  first-order  revolving 
light  was  exhibited  on  Gap  Rock,  in  Chinese 
territory,  30  miles  south  of  the  island.  The 
negotiations  with  the  Chinese  Government 
in  connection  with  this  light  were  most 
troublesome.  It  was  originally  proposed  to 
place  it  on  the  Great  Ladrone,  14  miles 
WNW.  of  its  present  position,  but  the 
Chinese  would  not  hear  of  it.  Other  islands 
were  suggested,  but  the  only  one  that  they 
would  consent  to  allot  was  Gap  Rock,  a  most 
unsuitable  spot,  being  a  tiny  bare  rock,  with 
not  even  a  blade  of  grass  on  it,  over  which 
the  sea  sweeps  in  bad  weather.  On  three 
occasions  the  lantern  has  been  seriously 
damaged  by  the  sea,  and  the  precious  store 
of  fresh  water  frequently  becomes  contamin- 
ated with  salt.  Undoubtedly  Great  Ladrone 
is  the  place  for  the  light,  and  I  cannot  help 
thinking  that  it  will  eventually  go  there,  if 
it  is  not  first  swept  into  the'  sea. 

In  1893  the  Chinese  Government  opened  a 
lighthouse  on  Waglan  Island,  five  and  a  hall 
miles  SSE.  from  Cape  Collinson.  and  three 
miles  SE.  by  E.  from  Cape  D'Aguilar.  This 
is  a  first-order  double  flashing  light.  In 
consequence  of  this  light  being  lit  Cape 
D'Aguilar  light  became  superfluous,  and  was 
discontinued  in  l8(/>. 


As  soon  as  this  happened  it  was  suggested 
by  the  Harlwur  Master  that,  having  this  first- 
order  light  in  our  hands,  we  should  use  it  to 
improve  our  lighting  by  putting  it  on  Green 
Island  to  replace  the  fourth-order  light,  while 
the  latter  should  replace  the  sixth-order  light 
at  Cape  Collinson.  Nothing,  however,  was 
done. 

In  1900  Waglan  was  taken  over  by  the 
Hongkong  Government,  together  with  the 
light.  I  suggested  that  as  we  were  controlling 
a  lighthouse  (Gap  Rock)  in  Chinese  territory, 
and  the  Chinese  Government  was  maintaining 
one  (Waglan)  in  British  territory,  it  would  he 
a  good  idea  to  end  this  anomaly,  whicla  had 
existed  for  two  years,  by  exchanging  stations. 
The  Chinese  Government,  however,  declined 
to  take  over  Gap  Rock. 

In  1905  the  first-order  light  from  Cape 
D'Aguilar  was  at  last  exhibited  from  a  new 
tower  on  Green  Island.  The  light  was  fitted 
with  an  occulting  apparatus,  which  renders 
it  distinctive.  In  the  same  year  a  sixth-order 
red  fixed  light  was  exhibited  on  Mawan 
Island,  five  miles  NW.  of  Green  Island. 

In  1907  the  old  Green  Island  light  (fourth- 
order)  was  placed  on  the  old  tower  at  Cape 
Collinson,  and  lit  on  October  ist,  with  an 
occulting  apparatus  to  render  it  distinctive. 
The  sixth-order  light  from  Cape  Collinson 
will  shortly  be  exhibited,  with  an  occulter, 
from  the  summit  of  the  hill  at  Chinsalchin 
Point,  on  the  Kowloon  Peninsula. 

In  addition  to  the  above  there  are  two 
small  red  lights  shown  in  the  eastern  entrance 
to  the  harbour,  and  two  automatic  oil-lit 
buoys,  with  red  lights,  to  mark  the  western 
end  of  the  central  fairway  through  the 
harbour. 

Shipping.  —  The  first  year  in  which  any 
record  of  shipping  entering  the  harbour  was 
kept  was  1844.  In  that  year  538  ships, 
aggregating  189,257  tons,  entered.  These 
ships  averaged  352  tons  each,  and  were, 
almost  without  exception,  sailing  ships.  In 
the  following  year  the  Peninsular  and 
Oriental  Company  started  a  monthly  service 
in  steamers,  which  carried  the  mails  be- 
tween London  and  Hongkong  in  forty-eight 
days,  mails  and  passengers  being  conveyed 
between  Alexandria  and  Suez  by  the  Mah- 
mondieh  Canal,  the  Nile,  and  the  desert, 
until  the  Canal  was  opened  in  1871. 


The  shipping  steadily  increased,  with  occa- 
sional pauses,  and  even  retrograde  movements 
in  1854,  1857,  1874,  1879,  1884,  1889,  1894, 
1896  and  1906.  until,  in  1907,  the  arrivals 
reached  the  grand  total  of  8,249  vessels  of 
10,156,396  tons  net  register.  This  excludes 
all  junks  and  all  vessels  engaged  in  local 
trade.  In  1844,  therefore,  the  daily  average 
entry  was  something  under  one  ship.  Last 
year  it  amounted  to  rather  more  than  22  ships, 
of  an  average  tonnage  of  1,231  tons,  or,  if 
river  steamers  are  eliminated  (for  there  were 
none  in  1H44),  the  average  tonnage  of  ships 
entering  in  1907  was  1,785  tons. 

The  total  tonnage  of  shipping,  including 
junks  and  steam  launches  (but  excluding 
lighters,  cargo  boats,  passenger  boats,  water 
boats,  &c.,  and  fishing  craft  of  all  l<inds), 
entered  and  cleared  in  the  Colony  during 
1907,  amounted  to  507,634  vessels  of  36,028,310 
tons,  made  up  as  shown  in  the  following 
table  :— 


No. 

Toniiajle. 

British  ocean-going  ships 

3, 75*' 

7,216,169 

Foreign     „ 

4,621 

7,720,875 

British  river  steamers    ... 

6,828 

4,630,364 

Foreign    „ 

1.310 

743.992 

Steamships  under  60  tons 

i,58t 

70,021 

Junks        

29,564 

2,651,470 

Total  foreign  trade ... 

47,660 

23,032,891 

Steamships  under  60  tons 

local  trade 

419,202 

11,216,532 

Junks  in  local  trade 

40,772 

1,778,887 

Total 

507,634 

36,028,310 

This  forms  a  record  for  Hongkong  and  exceeds 
that  of  any  port  in  the  world. 

Trade. — As  Hongkong  is  a  free  port,  except 
for  the  small  charges  made  for  light  dues, 
there  is  no  Customs  staff,  and  it  is  impossible 
to  say  what  the  value  of  the  imports  and 
exports  amounts  to.  Even  the  quantities  can- 
not be  estimated  with  any  approximation  to 
accuracy  in  the  case  of  any  cargo  except 
opium   and   sugar. 

The  cargo  imported  in  European-constructed 
vessels,  however,  was  returned  as  follows  in 
1905,  1906,  and  1907  : — 


Articles. 

1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

Tons. 

Tons. 

Tons. 

Beans        

2,113 

3,360 

Coal           

1,083,987 

97  J. 365 

1,004,867 

Cotton  Yarn  and  Cotton           

32,949 

41,871 

25,461 

Flour         

54,508 

79,635 

146,722 

Hemp        

26,784 

23.356 

30,479 

Kerosine  (bulk) 

43,4" 

43,932 

43,880 

(case)  

74,506 

28,937 

36,729 

Liquid  Fuel         

850 

5,850 

3,272 

Lead          

800 

... 

Opium       

2,983 

3.286 

2,800 

Rattan       

3,430 

12.531 

9,520 

Rice          

566,171 

624,369 

956,060 

Sandalwood         

3,386 

2,561 

6,406 

Sulphur     ...         ...         

... 

100 

510 

Sugar        ...         ...         

311,787 

482,178 

... 

Wheat      

... 

20,666 

Timber      

66,324 

52,242 

84.854 

General 

1,594,862 

1,653,604 

1,701,772 

•%. 


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196     TT\^ENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  total  import  cargo  for  1907  amounted 
to  5,033,000  tons,  including  that  carried  in 
local  trade  vessels. 

The  exports  amounted  to  3,254,000  tons. 
Some  3,396,000  tons  also  passed  through  with- 
out breaking  bulk. 

The  total  amount  of  bunker  coal  shipped 
here  during  the  year  was  758,497  tons. 

As  to  opium,  what  is  supposed  to  be  an 
accurate  record  of  all  opium  and  products  of 
opium  arrixing  in,  and  exported  from,  the 
Colony  is  kept,  and  may  be  taken  as  sub- 
stantially accurate,  lor  the  excise  work  in 
this  particular  commodity  is  done  by  employes 
of  the  opium  farmer,  who  pays  a  large  annual 
fee  to  the  Government  for  the  monopoly  of  the 
trade.  To  check  him,  however,  the  imports 
and  Exports  Office  keep  a  record  of  where 
each  chest  of  opium  in  the  Colony  is  stored, 
and  surprise  visits  are  paid  to  all  opium  ware- 
houses by  the  Harbour  Master,  in  his  capacity 
as  Superintendent  of  Imports  and  Exports,  to 
see  that  the  stock  corresponds  with  the  record. 
The  quantity  of  raw  opium  of  all  kinds 
imported  during  the  year  1907  was  40,842^ 
chests,  as  against  47,566}  chests  in  1906.  The 
exports  were  42,702  chests,  against  47,575} 
chests  in  1906.  There  are  six  different  kinds 
of  opium  dealt  with  in  the  Colony,  and  the 
atx>ve  totals  are  made  up  as  follows  : — 


reported,  as  certificates  of  origin,  issued  here, 
are  not  required  in  other  ports.  The  exports 
of  sugar  are,  therefore,  "  lumped "  with  the 
other  items.  Imports  of  sugar  during  1907 
amounted  to  292,527}  tons,  a  falling  off  of 
nearly  200,000  tons  as  compared  with  the 
previous  year. 

The  only  other  forms  of  trade  with  which 
we  interfere  are  warlike  stores  and  dangerous 
goods.  The  former  on  arrival  are  placed 
under  the  supervision  of  the  police,  and  cannot 
be  exported  without  a  special  export  permit 
from  the  Government.  The  latter  are  dealt 
with  under  somewhat  stringent  regulations, 
and  there  are  two  dangerous  goods  anchorages 
for  the  accommodation  of  ships  with  such 
goods  on  board.  Petroleum  and  products  of 
petroleum  are  stored  in  various  out-of-the-way 
parts  of  the  Colony,  while  the  Government 
maintains  a  magazine,  called  the  Government 
Gunpowder  Depot,  in  which  all  explosives  have 
to  be  stored. 

All  other  kinds  of  goods  imported  and 
exported  come  and  go  without  let  or  hindrance. 
The  masters  of  vessels  report  on  arrival,  and 
before  departure,  the  approximate  quantity  of 
cargo  carried,  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  its 
nature.  But  the  returns  cannot  be  regarded  as 
in  any  way  even  an  approximation  of  the 
truth,  and   the  value  of  the  goods   I   cannot 


Description. 

Value  for 
Chest 

Imports. 

Value. 

Exports. 

Value. 

Malwa 

Patna 

Benares          

Persian           

Turkish           

Chinese          

$ 

1,000 

1,025 
1,000 

900 
600 
700 

Chests. 

5,II9i 

23,220 

10,232 

2,217 

4 

50 

$ 

5,119.500 

23,800,500 

10,232,000 

1,991,300 

2,400 

35,000 

Chests, 

5,700 

22,404 

10,621 

3,846 

25 

106 

5,700,000 
22,964,100 
10,621,000 

3,461,400 

15,000 
74,200 

Total 

40,842} 

141,180,700 

42,702 

$42,835,700 

The  reduction  is  undoubtedly  due  to  the 
Anti-Opium  Crusade  in  China.  In  addition 
to  this,  8,938  chests  of  opium  of  various  kinds 
passed  through  the  harbour  without  being 
landed. 

The  products  of  opium  dealt  with  during  the 
year  amounted  to : — 


Exports, 


Morphia  

Opium  Skin    

Compounds  of  Opium 


lbs. 

9,469 

57,958 

9.454 


As  to  sugar,  the  figures  can  claim  to  be 
sutMtantially  correct  for  imports,  but  the 
exports  cannot  be  so  easily  determined,  for  the 
following  reason.  All  sugar  arriving  in  the 
Colony  has  to  be  covered  by  a  certilicate  of 
origin,  which  is  delivered  to  the  Superinten- 
dent of  Imports  and  Exports.  It  sometimes 
happens  that  sugar  arrives  without  such  a 
certificate.  Certain  procedure  is  adopted  in 
such  cases  in  order  to  prevent  the  export  of  the 
sugar  concerned  until  the  certificate  arrives. 
In  the  case  of  exports,  only  such  sugar  as  is 
l)eing  exported  to  a  port  belonging  to  a 
signatory    of     the     Brussels    Convention    is 


attempt  to  estimate.  The  Annual  Reports  of 
the  Harbour  Master  give  very  exhaustive 
details  of  the  origin  and  destination  of  the 
cargoes,  as  of  the  shipping  using  the  port,  and 
many  other  matters  of  interest. 

The  figures  collected  for  1907  give  the 
following  totals  : — 

Imports         5,032,689  tons. 

Exports         3,254,308     „ 

Transit  cargo  {i.e.,  carried  on 
in  the  same  ship) 3,395,888     „ 

Bunker  coal  shipped  ...       758,497     „ 

Passenger  Trade. — This  is  a  very  large  item, 
and  runs  into  big  figures,  the  totals  being: 
arrivals,  6,057,869 ;  departures,  5,299,743.  The 
majority  of  this  traffic,  however,  is  local 
between  places  within  the  Colonial  waters. 
The  foreign  passenger  traffic  shows  respect- 
able figures,  viz.,  arrivals,  1,395,191,  and 
departures,  1,306,256.  To  the  latter  must  be 
added — 

Em  Itration.  — Under  this  heading  there 
were  105,967  Asiatic  (principally  Chinese) 
deck  passengers  sent  to  various  parts  of  the 
world  during  1907.  The  majority  of  these 
went  to  the  Straits  Settlements,  where  they 
are  employed  in  mining,  on  rubber  and  other 
plantations,  and  in  various  trades.  Others 
went  to  Canada,  the  United  States,  Chile,  and 
the  Eastern  Archipelago.     The  thousands  of 


Chinese  who  went  to  the  Transvaal  a  few 
years  ago  are  now  returning,  gradually,  in 
a  state  of  unusual  affluence,  after  having 
experienced  such  treatment  in  South  Africa 
as  to  lead  tliein  to  express  great  regret  at 
leaving  their  so-called  "slavery"  for  their 
native  "freedom"  {i.e.,  poverty,  bamboo,  and 
tyranny). 


THE  HARBOUR  MASTER.— A  biographical 
sketch  of  Commander  Basil  Taylor,  R.N., 
appears  under  the  heading  "  Executive  and 
Legislative  Councils,"  on  the  latter  of  which 
he  has  a  seat  in  the  absence  from  the  Colony 
of  the  Captain  Superintendent  of   Police. 


THE    HONQKONQ   AND    WHAMPOA   DOCK 
COMPANY,    LTD. 

The  history  of  the  Hongkong  and  Whampoa 
Dock  Company,  Limited,  is  one  of  the  most 
romantic  in  the  industrial  annals  of  the 
Colony,  covering  as  it  does  a  peiiod  of  forty- 
four  years,  and  interwoven  as  it  is  with  the 
story  of  the  development  and  progress  of 
British  influence  in  China.  In  the  days  of 
sailing  vessels  there  were  mud  docks  at 
Whampoa,  in  the  Canton  Kiver,  owned  by 
Chinese,  but  the  advent  of  the  Peninsular 
and  Oriental  steamers  and  the  fast  vessels 
owned  by  the  great  opium  houses  necessi- 
tated a  change.  Not  caring  to  entrust  the 
docking  and  repair  of  their  vessels  to  the 
Chinese  without  European  supervision,  the 
Peninsular  and  Oriental  Company  appointed 
Mr.  John  Couper,  an  Aberdonian  of  re- 
markable foresight,  to  act  as  their  repre- 
sentative in  Whampoa  and  to  look  after 
their  vessels  when  in  dock.  Speedily  realis- 
ing the  possibilities  of  the  future,  Mr.  Couper 
leased  the  docks  from  their  Chinese  owners, 
and  prospering  exceedingly,  was  enabled  to 
build  a  new  dock,  to  which  he  gave  his 
own  name.  In  1856,  however,  as  one  of 
the  results  of  the  trouble  arising  out  of  the 
Arrow  affair,  the  Couper  Dock  was  more  or 
less  destroyed  by  Chinese  troops,  and  the  fate 
of  the  enterprising  Scotchman  himself,  who 
was  kidnapped  by  the  mob,  was  never  known. 
When  peace  was  concluded  Mr.  Couper's 
son,  who  was  indemnified  to  the  amount  of 
$120,000,  took  prompt  steps  to  rebuild  the 
dock,  and  eventually  sold  it  to  what  has 
since  become  the  Hongkong  and  Whampoa 
Dock  Company. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  John  Lamont,  another 
Scotchman,  had  built  a  dock  on  the  south 
side  of  the  island,  at  Aberdeen,  and,  finding 
it  a  success  and  noting  the  growing  impor- 
tance of  Hongkong  as  a  shipping  and  com- 
mercial centre,  he  began  the  construction  of 
the  Hope  Dock,  of  much  larger  dimensions. 
Mr.  Lamont  was  joined  by  Mr.  David  Gillies, 
but  when  the  Hope  Dock  was  nearing  com- 
pletion the  whole  of  the  Aberdeen  enterprise 
was  absorbed  by  the  Hongkong  and  Whampoa 
Company,  Mr.  Lamont  retiring  and  Mr. 
Gillies  remaining  in  the  service  of  the  new 
owners. 

The  Company  was  formed  in  1863  with  a 
capital  of  $240,000,  the  first  acquisition  being 
made  in  that  year  ;  the  Lamont  and  Hope 
Docks  were  purchased  in  1865  ;  and  two 
years  later  the  capital  was  increased  to 
$750,000.  The  original  founders  were  Mr. 
James  Whittal,  head  of  the  firm  of  Messrs. 
Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  ;  Mr.  (now  Sir) 
Thomas  Sutherland,  then  local  agent  of  the 
Peninsular     and    Oriental     Company ;     and 


198    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Mr.  Douglas  Lapraik,  head  of  the  shipping 
company  of  that  name.  The  Whanipoa 
establisJiment  was  extended  by  the  construc- 
tion of  a  large  dock  for  the  repair  of  the  mail 
steamers  of  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental  and 
Messageries  Maritimes  Companies  ;  and,  in 
the  year  following  the  opening  of  the  Suez 
Canal,  the  capital  was  niised  to  $1,000,000, 
to  enable  the  Company  to  acquire  the  Union 
Docks  Company's  property.  In  about  1875 
the  Whampoa  projierty  as  then  existing  was 
made  over  to  the  Chinese  Government  for 
the  sum  of  $80,000  upon  condition  that  only 
upon  ships  under  the  Chinese  flag  should 
repairs  be  executed.  The  Company  was  at 
that  time  passing  through  a  critical  period, 
owing  in  part  to  mismanagement,  and  largely 
to  the  competition  offered  by  two  slips  owned 
by  Captain  Sands,  and  by  the  Cosmopolitan 
bock  Company.  Mr.  Gillies,  who  had  left 
the  Company's  service  for  two  or  three  years, 
was  asked  to  return  and  undertake  the  secre- 
tarial management  of  the  concern.  The 
Sands'  slips  and  the  Cosmopolitan  Dock 
were  absorbed,  and  then  Mr.  Gillies  initiated 
the  \'ast  development  of  new  docks  and 
workshops  upon  which  the  more  recent 
prosperity  of  the  Company  has  been  based. 

The  size  of  steamships  on  the  Far  Eastern 
runs,  and  of  the  men-of-war  on  the  China 
station,  steadily  increased,  and  even  larger 
vessels  were  contemplated.  To  meet  the 
growing  requirements  a  new  dock,  the  No.  i, 
or  Admiralty  Dock,  was  built  at  Kowloon. 
It  cost  over  $1,000,000,  towards  which 
the  British  Government  granted  ;t25iOOO. 
in  consideration  of  the  right  of  priority  of 
entrance  for  a  period  of  twenty  years — a 
privilege  which  expires  in  1908.  Not  only 
did  this  tine  dock  estiiblish  practically  for  all 
time  the  supremacy  of  the  Company's  docks 
in  Chinese  waters,  but,  indirectly,  its  exis- 
tence has  t)eiietited  the  Colony  by  making 
possible  the  employment  on  Eastern  trade 
routes  of  vessels  of  the  large  capacity  with 
which  we  are  familiar  at  the  present  day. 

Mr.  Gillies  retired  in  1901,  after  twenty-six 
years'  service  with  the  Company,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  VV.  Dixon,  a  man  of  con- 
siderable ability.  The  present  chief  manager 
is  Mr.  R.  Mitchell,  who  has  been  with  the 
Company  for  many  years.  He  possesses  a 
thorough  practical  knowledge  of  the  work,  and 
has  had  the  advantage  of  a  scientific  training. 
As  manager  of  the  Kowloon  establishment 
he  proved  so  valuable  that  in  1907  he  was 
given  the  position  which  he  now  fills. 

Reference  having  been  made  to  the  growth 
of  the  Company,  a  survey  of  the  properties 
controlled  by  it  may  now  be  given.  There 
are  first  the  following  docks  and  slipways  : — 


The  docks  are  of  granite,  and  are  fitted 
with  every  appliance  in  the  way  of-  caissons, 
powerful  centrifugal  pumps,  &c.,  wliich 
enable  them  to  be  pumped  out  in  three  hours. 
The  extensive  workshops  at  the  Kowloon, 
Cosmopolitan,  and  Aberdeen  Docks  are  fitted 
with  every  facility  and  appliance  necessary 
for  the  repair  of  ships  and  steam  machinery. 
The  engineers'  shops  are  supplied  with  a 
large  plant  of  the  latest  types  of  tools  in 
the  way  of  planing,  milling,  and  screwing 
machines,  lathes,  electric  cranes,  &c.,  and  are 
capable  of  executing  the  largest  class  of 
work  with  despatch.  Attached  lo  the  ship- 
wrights' department  is  a  steam  saw-niill,  with 
circular  band,  and  vertical  saws,  while  a 
complete  plant  of  machinery  of  the  most 
modern  and  improved  type  enables  all  classes 
of  woodwork  to  be  underlaken.  The  black- 
smiths' shops  are  furnished  with  powerful 
steam  hammers,  cranes,  and  other  appliances 
requisite  to  the  forging  of  stern  posts  and 
crank  and  straight  shafting  of  the  largest 
size.  At  two  of  the  establishments  are 
powerful  lifting  shears,  with  steam  purchase, 
built  on  solid  granite  sea-walls,  alongside 
which  vessels  of  24  feet  draught  can  lie. 
The  shears  at  Kowloon  are  capable  of  lifting 
70  tons.  The  Company  is  prepared  to  tender 
for  the  construction  of  new  vessels,  the  ship- 
yard being  fully  equipped  with  modern  plant, 
including  hydraulic  flanging  and  bending 
machines,  electrically-driven  rolls,  punching, 
shearing,  angle  -  bevelling,  joggling,  and 
planing  machines,  capable  of  dealing  with 
the  heaviest  class  of  work.  Special  facilities 
are  provided  in  the  boiler-makers'  department, 
including  powerful  punching,  shearing,  hy- 
draulic riveting,  and  other  machines  ;  whilst 
in  the  foundry  are  cupolas  capable  of  casting 
up  to  100  tons.  An  extensive  galvanizing 
plant  has  been  installed  at  the  Kowloon 
establishment.  In  addition,  the  Company 
carries  a  heavy  stock  of  well-selected  material 
and  fittings  required  in  shipbuilding,  engine- 
room  outfits,  furnishings,  and  ships'  stores — 
altogether  of  the  value  of  about  $2,000,000. 

The  business  of  the  Company  is  carried  on 
by  a  board  of  directors  and  a  chief  manager 
and  secretary,  with  part  of  the  clerical  stiiff, 
in  the  head  office.  Queen's  Buildings.  At 
the  Kowloon,  Cosmopolitan,  and  Aberdeen 
establishments  there  is  a  European  staff  of 
eighty,  comprising  yard  managers,  draughts- 
men, clerks,  engineers,  shipbuilders,  boiler- 
makers,  blacksmiths,  carpenters,  coppersmiths, 
and  founders,  the  majority  of  whom  are 
selected  by  the  Company's  agents  in  England. 

The  number  of  Chinese  varies  considerably 
during  the  summer  and  winter  months  of  the 
year,  from  an  average  of  2,500  to  as  many  as 


Length  on 
Keel 

Breadth 

Depth  over 

sni  at 

Rise  of  Tide. 

Name  of  Dock  or  Slip. 

of 

Ordinary 

Blocks. 

Entrance. 

tIS 

Springs 

Neaps. 

KOWLOON. 

feet. 

ft.    in. 
(■86     0, 

ft.     in. 

ft. 

in. 

feet. 

No.  I  Dock,  Kowloon          

700 

top     1 

70    of 

bottom  ' 

30     0 

7 

6 

3 

No.  2  Dock,  Kowhxm          

371 

74    0 

18     6 

7 

6 



No,  3  Dock,  Kowltxtn           

264 

49     3 

14     0 

7 

6 

. — 

Patent  Slip,  No.  1,  Kowloon           

240 

60     0 

14     0 

7 

6 

, — 

Patent  Slip,  No.  2,  Kowloon           

220 

60     0 

12      0 

7 

6 

— 

TAI-KOK-TSUI. 

Cosmopolitan  Dock...          

466 

85     6 

20      0 

7 

6 

— 

ABERDEEN. 

Hope  Dock      

430 

84     0 

23     0 

7 

6 



Lamont  Dock 

333 

64     0 

16    0 

7 

6 

— 

4,500  men  in  the   busy  season  from  October 
to  March. 


MR.   JAMES    W.    GRAHAM,   a  member  of 

the  Institute  of  Naval  .■\rchitects,  is  the  acting 
manager  of  the  Kowloon  Dock,  owned  hy  the 
Hongkong  and  Whampoa  Dock  Company. 
His  experience  has  been  considerable,  as  he 
was  for  eleven  years  superintendent,  and  had 
previously  held  several  important  positions 
in  the  leading  yards  of  the  North  of  England. 
While  he  has  been  engaged  with  the  Coin- 
pany  they  have  built  some  very  large  ships, 
such  as  the  s.s.  Looii/i  Woo,  now  at  Shanghai, 
and  the  Kiiichan,  a  fine  steamer,  owned  by 
the  Hongkong,  Canton  and  Macao  Steamship 
Company,  which  is  at  present  running  be- 
tween Hongkong  and  Canton. 


MR.  THOMAS  NEAVE,  who  for  the  last 
three  years  has  held  the  position  of  super- 
intendent engineer  of  the  Hongkong  and 
Whampoa  Docks  at  Kowloon,  has  been  with 
the  Company  for  over  eight  years.  A  native 
of  Dundee,  Scotland,  he  served  his  apprentice- 
ship as  an  engineer  with  Messrs.  John  Smilh, 
of  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  an  old-established  firm 
of  general  engineers  and  millwrights.  After- 
wards he  was  engaged  with  Messrs.  Palmer 
&  Co.,  engineers  and  shipbuilders  at  Jarrow- 
on-Tyne,  England,  for  about  ten  years  as 
assistant  foreman  in  their  outside  engineering 
department.  He  was  mostly  einployed  on 
the  construction  of  battleships,  cruisers,  and 
torpedo  destroyers  for  the  British  Govern- 
ment. ,He  had  a  large  experience  with  the 
30-knot  class  of  destroyers  in  their  fitting-out 
trials,  and  was  connected  with  all  the  experi- 
mental trials  of  Mr.  Heed's  patent  water-tube 
boiler,  which  was  so  successful  in  these 
vessels.  But.  although  he  has  had  this  long 
and  varied  training,  Mr.  Neave  finds  that  the 
experience  to  be  obtained  by  working  at  the 
Whampoa  Dock  with  its  varied  shipping  is 
quite  exceptional. 

MR.  JAMES  GUY,  who  is  in  charge  of  the 
iTiachine  and  erecting  shops  of  the  Hongkong 
and  Whampoa  Dock  Company,  at  Kowloon, 
is  an  engineer  with  over  twenty-seven  years' 
experience  afloat  and  ashore.  He  has  been 
in  the  service  of  the  present  Company  for 
the  last  eigltt  j'ears,  during  which  time  he 
has  been  connected  with  the  building  of 
several  large  ships,  including  the  Loiiji  Woo, 
which  was  constiucted  on  the  Yarrow 
Shlick  Tweedie  principle,  and  is  a  great 
success.  She  is  at  present  trading  on  the 
Yangtsze. 


THE   HONGKONG  AND   KOWLOON   WHARF 
AND   GODOWN   COMPANY,    LTD. 

Twenty-three  years  have  passed  since  the 
value  of  Kowloon  as  a  site  for  storage 
godowns  became  evident  to  Sir  Paul  Chafer 
and  Mr.  Kerfoot  Hughes,  the  founders  of  the 
Hongkong  and  Kowloon  Wharf  and  Godown 
Company,  I^td.,  and  the  wisdom  of  their 
choice,  already  amply  vindicated,  will  be  still 
more  fully  demonstrated  when  the  Kowloon- 
Canton  Railway,  to  which  the  Company  will 
have  a  special  siding,  is  completed.  Hut  it 
was  not  the  advantages  offered  by  Kowloon 
for  the  establishment  of  a  depot  of  this  class 
which,  in  the  first  instance,  gave  promise  of 
success  to  the  Wharf  Company,  but  rather 
the     intolerable     exactions    of     the     Chinese 


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200      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


coolie  hongs  and  boat  people,  and  the  delays 
occasioned  to  European  traders  by  their  anti- 
quated methods  of  handling  cargo.  Often 
seven  or  eight  days  were  wasted  through 
these  methods,  and  the  advent  of  a  European- 
managed  concern  was  welcomed  by  the 
community  as  a  means  of  escape  from  such 
vexations.  Faced  with  competition,  the 
Chinese  changed  their  tactics,  and  an  endless 
struggle  ensued  between  the  rival  interests. 
The  coolies,  tallymen,  and  boat  people  would 
not  work  so  well  for  the  Company  as  they 
worked  for  their  own  countrymen  ;  and  when, 
as  their  business  extended,  the  Company 
needed  additional  lighters,  the  Chinese,  without 
reason  or  justitication,  gradually  raised  their 
charges  from  $4  a  load  to  $15.  and  the  Com- 
pany were  obliged  to  build  their  own  fleet  of 
lighters.  Similarly  the  c"oolie  hongs  combined 
to  raise  the  price  of  lalwur  ;  but  again  their 
purpose  was  defeated,  for  the  Company,  com- 
pelled to  import  its  own  labour  from  Swatow, 
has  continued  the  practice  ever  since.  The 
experience  of  the  Company  has  shown  clearly 
that  so  far  as  Hongkong  is  concerned  the 
much-\-aunted  cheap  Chinese  labour  has  no 
existence  when  it  comes  to  the  Europeans' 
demand,  and  that,  whilst  there  are  millions 
within  easy  reach  of  Hongkong  who  would 
be  willing  to  work,  lat>our  is  scarce  on 
account  of  the  guilds.  There  is  practically 
no  free  labour  in  the  Colony,  for  no  labourer 
or  mechanic  coming  to  Hongkong  on  his 
own  account,  without  the  introduction  of 
one  of  these  guilds,  would  be  likely  to  secure 
employment.  It  pays  the  European  to  employ 
better  supervised,  if  perliaps  more  expensive, 
labour  than  is  obtainable  from  the  ranks  of 
the  local  coolie.  Another  enemy  of  the  Com- 
pany has  been  the  Chinese  compradore,  a 
survival  of  the  e.irly  days  when  the  only 
persons  who  could  communicate  with  the 
ships  in  a  foreign  language  were  the  bumboat 
people — the  class  from  which  the  modern  com- 
pradore originally  sprang.  In  the  majority 
of  instances  the  compradore  is  the  real  retail 
trader  in  Hongkong,  the  foreigner  supplying 
capital  and  exercising  limited  supervision. 
And  so  it  was  with  tally-clerks,  but  this 
question  has  now  been  practically  solved  by 
the  Company.  The  system  in  vogue  of 
training  boys  to  become  tally-clerks  in  the 
Company's  own  private  school,  which  has 
an  average  attendance  of  forty,  has  shown 
the  most  encouraging  results.  "The  boys  are 
engaged  in  godown  work  during  the  fore- 
part of  the  day,  and  attend  school  during  the 
afternoon,  instruction  toeing  given  by  two 
Chinese  teachers  from  Queen's  College.  The 
Swatow  coolies,  specially  trained  for  godown 
work,  are  housed  on  the  premises.  Altogether 
about  fifteen  hundred  men  are  employed. 

The  premises  of  the  Company  could  hardly 
be  more  perfectly  situated  for  the  purposes 
for  which  they  are  required,  and  it  is  largely 
owing  to  their  development  that  the  aspect 
of  Kowloon  has  t>een  so  changed  within  the 
last  twenty  years.  After  the  first  few  years, 
amalgamation  with  the  Jardine  Wharf  was 
effected,  and  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental 
Company's  Wharf  at  West  Point  was  pur- 
chased. This  latter  was  afterwards  sold,  and 
only  Jardine's  godowns  were  allowed  to 
remain,  the  object  being  to  concentrate  the 
whole  of  the  business  on  the  Kowloon  side 
of  the  wafer.  The  next  step  in  the  progress 
of  the  Company  was  an  extensive  scheme  of 
reclamation  at  West  Point,  and  upon  the 
property  so  acquired  now  stands  a  large 
portion  of  the  existing  premises  in  that  part 
of  the  town  used  exclusively  for  Chinese 
business.  The  enterprise  prospered  as  soon 
as  the  reluctance  of  some  of  the  sea-captains 
and  others  to  use  the  Kowloon  wharves  had 


been  overcome,  and  improvements  and  en- 
largements succeeded  each  other  until,  at 
the  present  day,  no  other  firm  can  offer 
such  facilities  in  Hongkong.  The  wharves 
and  piers  range  from  250  to  600  feet  in 
length,  and  afford  berths  for  seven  ocean 
going  vessels  up  to  30  feet  draught.  A 
water  system  of  pure  filtered  water  from 
the  Government  mains  is  laid  on  to  each 
wharf,  so  that  vessels  alongside  can  obtain 
an  ample  supply  under  higli  pressure  at  all 
times.  The  buildings  occupy  the  entire 
western  side  of  tlic  peninsula,  and  form  one 
of  tlie  features  of  the  harbour.  The  godowns, 
which  have  a  storage  capacity  of  nearly 
500.000  tons,  are  arranged  so  as  to  give 
every  possible  facility  for  the  handling  of 
cargo.  There  are  shearlegs  for  hoisting 
loads  up  to  25  tons,  heavy-weight  cranes, 
and  trolley  lines  upon  which  cargo  may 
be  transported  to  any  part  of  the  premises. 
In  the  Company's  own  engineering  shops 
many  of  the  requisites,  such  as  turntables, 
trucks,  &c.,  formerly  in)ported,  are  now 
made,  and  repairs  of  all  kinds  are  carried 
out.  The  number  of  vessels  wharfed  averages 
from  thirty  to  forty  from  all  parts  of  the 
world  each  month.  Constant  dredging  is 
maintained  alongside  the  wharves  to  ensure 
accommodation  for  the  steamers  of  larger 
draught  now  employed  on  the  Far  Eastern 
trade  routes,  the  minimum  depth  at  lowest 
spring  tides  being  30  feet.  "The  Company 
has  a  fleet  of  85  lighters,  and  10  powerful 
launches  for  towing  them.  Some  of  these 
are  provided  with  steam  cranes  for  delivering 
cargo  at  riverain  ports  as  far  as  Canton,  and 
it  is  a  point  well  worth  noting  by  shippers 
at  home  that  heavy  or  awkward  cargo, 
including  all  kinds  of  railway  material,  can 
be  loaded  into  the  Company's  lighters  and 
taken  direct  to  their  destination.  Many  of 
the  lighters  are  new,  for  in  the  great 
typhoon  of  1906  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
original  fleet  was  destroyed.  The  Company 
was,  indeed,  one  of  the  greatest  losers  in 
the  havoc  wrought  on  that  occasion,  the 
total  damage  to  their  property  running  into 
many  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars. 
The  godowns  were  flooded,  and  severe 
damage  was  wrought  to  the  wharves  ;  but 
the  Company  met  their  losses  in  the  right 
spirit,  increased  their  capital  to  $3,000,000 
(Mexican),  and  turned  the  experience  to 
account  by  raising  the  floors  of  their 
premises  well  above  the  highest  flood  mark, 
and  by  rebuilding  the  wharves  more  sub- 
stantially. The  old  truck  lines  were  left  at 
the  former  level  to  act  as  drains  in  the 
event  of  further  floods. 

Another  extension  was  carried  out,  when 
further  capital  had  been  raised,  by  the 
acquisition  of  the  whole  of  the  Praya  front, 
and  the  removal  of  the  Star  Kerry  Wharf,  by 
which  greater  facilities  were  obtained  for 
handling  goods.  On  the  sea-wall  there  are 
now  three  new  lines  of  truck  rails,  and  one 
line  for  carrying  several  powerful  travelling 
cranes,  including  a  lo-ton  crane  of  40  feet 
radius  for  loading  timber.  Throughout  the 
godowns  every  precaution  is  taken  against 
fire,  including  a  complete  system  of  fire 
hydrants,  connected  with  the  Government 
mains,  a  powerful  Shand  &  Mason  steam 
engine,  and  electric  alarms.  Each  godown, 
in  addition,  is  provided  with  a  portable  hand- 
engine,  fire-buckets,  &c.  For  goods  of  a 
dangerous  nature  there  is  special  storage 
accommodation. 

The  business  of  the  Company  is  managed 
by  the  Hon.  Mr.  E.  Osborne,  the  secretary, 
who  has  been  connected  with  the  Company 
since  1889,  and  has  had  an  important  share 
in    its    development.      Mr.   R.   J.   Macgowan, 


who  has  general  charge  of  the  indoor  working 
staff,  has  been  with  the  Company  for  seven 
years.  Captain  Brown  has  charge  of  the 
outdoor  staff,  whilst  Mr.  T.  W,  Robinson  is 
the  superintending  engineer. 


THE    PENINSULAR    AND    ORIENTAL 
COMPANY. 

No  other  shipping  company  has  a  record  of 
the  same  length  of  public  service,  combined 
with  such  a  wide  range  of  operations,  as  the 
Peninsular  and  Oriental  Steam  Navigation 
Company.  Whether  in  point  of  tonnage  (and 
that  of  the  most  costly  description)  or  in  the 
extent  of  its  sphere  of  operations,  the  Company 
must  be  admitted  to  stand  at  the  head  of  all 
similar  enterprises.  Like  most  commercial 
undertakings,  the  Company  has  now  and  then 
experienced  serious  reverses,  and  on  more  than 
one  occasion  its  fortunes  have  been  at  a  rather 
low  ebb,  but  now,  after  nearly  three-quarters 
of  a  century's  work,  it  will  hardly  be  denied 
that  there  stands  to  its  credit  a  record  of 
valuable  service,  performed  in  a  spirit  of 
enterprise,  and  fraught  with  advantage  to  the 
commerce  of  the  Empire. 

The  Company  was  founded  in  1837,  although 
the  steamers  which  it  owned  had  actually  been 
running  to  the  Peninsula  a  year  or  two 
previous  to  that  date,  its  first  contract  being  a 
monthly  service  tietween  P'almouth  and 
Giliraltar.  At  that  time  it  was  known  as  the 
Peninsular  Company,  but  in  1840  it  became  the 
Peninsular  and  Oriental  Steam  Navigation 
Company,  incorporated  by  Royal  Charter. 
Seventy  years  ago  the  annual  trade  of  Great 
Britain  with  the  East  did  not  amount  probably 
to  more  than  ;4"2o,ooo,ooo.  To-day  it  is  almost 
equal  to  ;£25o,ooo,ooo.  To  what  extent  the 
Company  may  have  contributed  towards  the 
growth  of  this  vast  volume  of  commerce  it  is, 
of  course,  impossible  to  say,  but  when  it  is 
remembered  that  for  upwards  of  thirty-three 
years  the  Company  was  almost  the  exclusive 
carrier  by  steam  to  India,  China,  and  Australia, 
and  that  during  that  period  the  correspondence, 
the  exchanges,  tlie  transport  of  bullion  and  of 
the  more  precious  merchandise  (to  say  nothing 
of  the  conveyance  of  passengers),  depended 
entirely  upon  its  fleet,  it  is  evident  that  its 
influence  in  fostering  this  trade  has  been  equal 
to,  if  not  greater  than,  that  of  any  other  single 
agency  in  existence. 

The  shipbuilding  operations  of  the  Com- 
pany during  the  last  seventy  years  might  be 
considered  as  typical  of  the  development  of 
the  mercantile  marine  of  Great  Britain.  The 
service  commenced  with  two  or  three  very 
small  steamers,  of  which  one,  the  William 
Fau'cctt,  was  of  only  206  tons.  Three  of 
the  four  steamers  that  are  being  built  at  the 
present  time  are  of  11,000  tons  each,  and 
the  fleet  to-day,  including  these,  consists  of 
ninety  steamers,  aggregating  422,260  tons. 
PYom  these  figures  it  is  not  diflicult  to  realise 
how  the  Company  has  grown,  and  what  an 
important  place  it  holds  in  the  shipping 
world  to-day.  The  Government,  recognising 
its  stability  and  trustworthiness,  have  granted 
it  additional  powers  from  time  to  time  by 
Koval  Charters.  The  issued  capital  amounts  to 
;f  2, 320,000,  the  debenture  stock  to  ^"1,800,000, 
and  the  unissued  capital  to  ;^" i ,  1 80,000.  The 
last  available  report  shows  a  fair  result,  from 
a  financial  point  of  view,  of  the  previous 
half-year's  work,  and  a  dividend  at  the  rate 
of  5  per  cent,  per  annum  on  the  preferred 
stock,  and  7  per  cent,  per  annum  on  the 
deferred  stock,  was  declared   in  June,   1907. 

Such,  in  brief  and  broad  outline,  is  the 
general  history  of  the  Company.     But  turning 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     201 


more  particularly  to  the  trade  in  the  Far 
East,  which  more  nearly  concerns  the  pur- 
pose of  this  sketch,  it  will  be  found  that  in 
Hongkong,  as  elsewhere,  there  has  been  a 
wonderful  increase  in  the  volume  of  trade 
done.  The  first  Peninsular  and  Oiienlal 
steamer  to  leave  Hongkong  was  the  Lady 
Mary  Wood.  She  sailed  on  September  i, 
1845.  The  Company,  however,  had  been 
established  in  the  Colony  previously,  for  by 
this  date  they  owned  their  own  docks  and 
wharves,  and  had  private  shops  for  the  work 
of  re-fitting  their  vessels.  The  Lady  Mary 
Wood  was  a  vessel  of  about  650  tons  burden. 
Now  there  is  a  fortnightly  mail  service,  a 
fortnightly  intermediate  service,  and  altogether 
about  sixty  sailings  a  year  of  the  Company's 
boats  from  Hongkong  alone.  A  comparison 
between  the  freight  rates  and  passage-money 
then  and  now  will  also  show  what  an  im- 
mense advance  has  been  made  during  recent 
years.  In  1857  a  first-class  passage  from 
Hongkong  to  Southampton  cost  six  hundred 
dollars  when  the  dollar  was  equivalent  to 
4s.  lod.  or  5s.  ;  now  it  costs  about  half  that 
sum  in  sterling. 

It  is  amusing  to  read,  in  the  records,  that 
tea  and  articles  of  bulk,  but  of  small  value, 
could  be  taken  in  limited  quantities  by  special 
agreement  when  the  ships  had  room  at  a 
rate  of  from  ;£20  to  £2$  per  ton  of  40  cubic 
feet.  Now  numerous  vessels  leave  the  har- 
bour each  month  with  a  carrying  capacity 
of  between  nine  and  twelve  thousand  tons. 
Last  year  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental  Com- 
pany booked  nearly  2,000  passengers  at 
Hongkong,  landed  about  80,000  tons  of  cargo, 
and   shipped   nearly  150,000   tons   more. 

In  the  early  days  the  Company  was  known 
in  the  Colony  as  the  "  Tit-Hong,"  or  Iron 
House.  Their  headquarters  used  to  be  where 
Jardine's  wharf  is  now  situated,  and  around 
the  offices  was  a  very  handsome  iron  verandah. 
It  is  presumed  that  the  name  was  derived 
from  this  ornamental  struclure,  which  now 
adorns  a  house  on  the  Peak.  These  offices 
were  sold  and  pulled  down  in  about  1881, 
and  the  Company  moved  to  the  site  of  the 
present  Central  Market.  In  1887,  however, 
the  ground  was  sold  to  the  Government,  and 
the  Company  then  moved  into  its  palatial 
premises  at  No.  22,  Des  Voeux  Road. 

The  Hon.  E.  A.  Hewett  is  the  manager  of 
the  branch,  and,  as  Hongkong  is  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Company  for  the  Far  East, 
he  superintends  and  controls  the  whole 
of  their  trade  from  Penang  to  Yokohama. 
He  has  an  office  staff  consisting  of  eight 
Europeans  and  a  number  of  Chinese  and 
Portuguese. 


THE   NORDDEUTSCHER    LLOYD. 

The  excellent  service  maintained  by  the 
Norddeutscher  Lloyd  between  Europe  and 
all  the  chief  ports  east  of  Suez  dates  from 
the  contract  with  the  Imperial  German 
Government  for  the  establishment  of  mail 
steamship  lines  to  Eastern  Asia  and  to 
Australia,  that  was  signed  in  1885.  The 
Company  had  already  registered  a  series 
of  triumphs,  extending  over  nearly  thirty 
years,  on  the  trans-Atlantic  run,  and  it  was 
with  the  uttnost  confidence  that  the  stock- 
holders increased  their  capital  by  20,000,000 
marks  in  order  to  make  the  extensive  pre- 
parations demanded  by  the  new  contract. 
The  chief  point  to  be  considered  was  regularity, 
and,  keeping  that  point  always  in  view,  oiders 
were  placed  with  a  German  shipbuilding  firm 
for  several  new  steamers  with  speeds  of  from 
I2i  to  14  knots  an  hour,  and  for  the  re- 
construction of  several  existing  steamers  with  a 


view  to  their  use  in  the  tropics.  The  service 
was  inaugurated  with  the  steamer  Oder  in 
June,  1886,  the  occasion  of  her  departure  being 
marked  by  a  patriotic  demonstration,  attended 
by  representatives  from  the  highest  Imperial 
and  Bremen  governing  bodies,  the  Chinese 
Minister  in  Berlin,  and  numerous  members 
of  the  Federal  Council  and  the  Reichstag. 
About  twelve  months  later  the  Australian  mail 
line  was  opened  with  the  steamer  Salter. 
The  Imperial  Government  subsidised  the  new 
lines  on  two  main  conditions — the  first  that 
mails  should  be  carried  regularly,  and  the 
second  that  the  vessels  should  be  available 
when  required  for  the  transport  of  naval  reliefs 
and  military  forces.  The  subsequent  rapid 
development  of  the  Company's  interests  has 
been  due  to  the  care  exercised  in  seeing  that 
passengers  lacked  no  comforts  that  could 
possibly  be  supplied,  and  were  subjected  to 
no  restraints  other  than  those  absolutely 
unavoidable.  As  time  went  on  there  was  a 
gradual  improvement  in  the  design  of  the 
vessels  themselves,  until,  in  those  of  the  Prince 
class,  the  problem  of  the  best  type  of  steamer 


taste,  and  how  carefully  the  prices  have  been 
adjusted  to  suit  the  requirements  of  people 
of  average   means. 

By  their  unbounded  enterprise  the  Company 
have  succeeded  in  diverting  to  their  freight 
steamers  a  large  proportion  of  the  Eastern 
coasting  trade  to  such  an  extent  indeed,  that 
the  German  flag  now  claims  predominance 
in  Singapore  and  Bangkok.  In  view  of  their 
constant  expansion,  the  Norddeutscher  Lloyd 
have  now  established  a  special  bureau  of 
inspection  in  Singapore  and  Hongkong. 

In  European  waters  the  Company  have  two 
large  and  most  comfortable  steamers  running 
between  Marseilles  and  Alexandria,  three 
between  Marseilles  and  the  Black  Sea  ports, 
and  two  between  Alexandria  and  Conslanza. 

The  Norddeutscher  Lloyd  also  operate  the 
Austral-Japan  Line,  which  gives  sailings 
between  Japan  and  Sydney,  via  Hongkong 
and  New  Guinea,  and  in  connection  with 
which  there  is  an  excellent  service  of  small 
steamers  plying  among  the  lovely  islands  of 
the  South  Pacific. 

The  fleet  is  made  up  of  7  express  steamers 


THE    NORDDEUTSCHER    LLOYD.-S.S.    "  PRINZ    WALDEMAR." 


for  the  tropics  was  finally  solved.  They  were 
the  first  passenger  steamers  to  have  the  entire 
cabin  accommodation  above  the  upper  deck. 
The  next  advance,  so  far  as  the  Far  Eastern 
routes  were  concerned,  was  made  when  the 
Barbarossa  type  was  designed,  each  vessel 
of  which  class  can  accommodate  250  first 
saloon,  300  second  saloon,  and  1,600  steerage 
passengers.  In  1899  the  Government  subsidy 
was  increased,  and  fortnightly  sailings  to 
Eastern  Asia  were  substituted  for  the  former 
monthly  sailings,  the  Koiiig  Albert  opening 
the  new  service.  The  steamers  sail  from 
Bremen  or  Hamburg,  and  touch  at  Rotterdam, 
Antwerp,  Southampton,  Gibraltar,  Algiers, 
Genoa,  Naples,  Port  Said,  Suez,  Aden, 
Colombo,  Penang,  Singapore,  Hongkong, 
Shanghai,  Nagasaki,  Kobe,  and  Yokohama. 
For  the  benefit  of  the  tourist  the  Company 
issue  "all  round  the  world"  tickets,  which  give 
a  wide  choice  of  routes,  and  enable  the 
traveller  to  prolong  his  stay  at  any  place  his 
fancy  may  dictate.  The  growing  number  of 
applications  for  these  tickets  indicates  how 
well    the   Company   has   gauged   the   popular 


4 — the  well-known  leviathans,  the  Kron- 
prinzesscii,  Kaiser  Wilhelm  II.,  Kronpriiiz 
Wilhelm,  and  Kaiser  Wilhelm  der  Grosse — on 
the  Bremen-New  York  run,  and  3  sailing 
between  Naples,  Genoa,  and  New  York  ;  18 
imperial  mail  steamers,  which  maintain  the 
East  Asian  and  Australian  services,  and  are 
sometimes  employed  on  the  Atlantic  run 
during  the  sununer  months  ;  30  mail  steamers 
running  intermediately  on  the  main  lines, 
or  engaged  in  branch  services  ;  9  freight 
steamers,  used  on  the  Australian  or  South 
American  routes  ;  3  comfortable  steamers 
running  between  Australia  and  Japan,  and 
calling  at  German  New  Guinea  ports  ;  and 
12  vessels  on  the  stocks — a  total  of  80  ocean- 
going vessels.  Then  there  are  50  coasting 
steamers,  and  nearly  as  many  river  vessels, 
bringing  up  the  aggregate  to  177  steamers, 
with  a  total  horse-power  of  469,200,  and  a 
gross  register  tonnage  of  640,391,  or,  includ- 
ing the  steamers  now  building,  of  671,670 
horse-power  and  754,441  registered  tonnage. 
Two  training-ships,  on  which  cadets  are 
thoroughly  taught  the  theory  and  practice  of 


202     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


navigation,  and  over  200  lighters,  complete 
the  list — a  list  of  which  the  Company  is 
justly  proud. 

The  agents  in  Hongkong  are  Messrs. 
Melchers  &  Co.,  whose  offices  occupy  a 
prominent  position  overlooking  the  harbour. 


provision  of  exceptionally  large  cabins.  They 
run  from  Hamburg,  I'lii  Southampton,  Lisbon, 
and  Naples  (for  passengers  only)  to  Port 
Said,  Suez,  Colombo,  Pcnang,  Singapore, 
Hongkong,  Shanghai,  Kobe,  and  Yokohama, 
and    back    lid    the    same    ports    to    Naples, 


and   Captain    H.    Metzenthin,    marine    super- 
intendent. 


THE    NORDDEUTSCHER    LLOYD.— "  PRINCESS    ALICE." 


[See  page  201.] 


HAMBURO-AMERIKA    LINIE. 

The  local  branch  of  this  important  steamship 
Company,  whose  central  oliice  for  the  East 
is  at  Shanghai,  and  who  have  another  branch 
also  at  Tsingtau,  was  opened  in  1901.      The 


Plymouth,  Havre,  and  Hamburg.  The  fort- 
nightly freight  service  is  also  between  the 
above  ports,  but  the  ships  call  frequently  at 
Bremen,  Emden,  Rotterdam,  Amsterdam,  and 
Antwerp.  There  is  another  regular  freight 
service  between  New  York,  Boston,  &c.,  and 


THE   CANADIAN    PACIFIC   RAILWAY 
COMPANY. 

The  Canadian  Pacific  Railway  Company, 
organised  in  1881,  and  now  familiarly  known 
as  the  "  C.P.R.,"  is  a  carrying  company  of 
considerable  and  increasmg  importance,  not 
only  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  but  also  in 
many  other  parts  of  the  world.  In  tlic  earlier 
stages  of  its  existence  an  energetic  manage- 
ment foresaw  the  great  possibilities  of  trade 
with  China  and  Japan,  and  at  once  placed  a 
regular  line  of  chartered  steamers  on  the 
Pacific  to  run  between  Hongkong,  Japan,  and 
Vancouver.  The  experiment  proving  success- 
ful, and  the  indications  pointing  to  great 
expansion  of  the  trade  leferred  to,  the  Com- 
pany laid  down  three  of  the  most  beautiful 
steamers  the  ocean  has  ever  seen.  These 
vessels — the  Empress  of  India,  the  Eiuj^rcss  of 
Japan,  and  the  Empress  of  China — commenced 
their  sailings  on  the  Pacific  in  1891,  and  have 
since  maintained  a  regular  and  most  ellicient 
service,  becoming  world-renowned  for  Iheir 
comfort,  speed,  and  punctuality.  The  impor- 
tance of  the  C.P.  R.  Line  as  an  all-British 
route  was  quickly  recognised  by  the  home 
Government,  and  a  contract  was  entered  into 
for  the  carriage  of  mails  and  the  transporta- 
tion of  naval  and  military  passengers  and 
stores.  This  contract  has  been  carried  out 
with  unfailing  regularity  and  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  Govennnents  concerned.  A  few 
years  ago  it  became  apparent  that  the  service 
maintained  by  the  Empresses  was  insufticient 
to  cope  with  the  requirements  of  the  trade, 
and  the  Company  therefore  augmented  their 
Pacific  fleet  by  the  addition  of  three  inter- 
mediate vessels,  running  them  alternately 
with  the  regular  mail  steamers. 

The   regular   ports   of   call   for    the   Pacific 
steamers  are  Hongkong.  Shanghai,  Nagasaki, 


SALOON. 


GRAND    STAIRCASE. 


[Sec  putjc  201.] 


Company  run  a  fortnightly  freight  service 
from  Europe  to  the  Far  East  and  a  monthly 
passenger  service.  The  ships  employed  in 
the  passenger  service  are  of  the  most  modern 
type  and  are  fitted  up  with  every  comfort 
and  convenience,  a  prominent  feature  being 
the   non-existence  of    upper    berths    and  the 


the  Far  East,  via  Suez.  Coasting  steamers 
ply  between  Hongkong,  Tsingtau,  Nagasaki, 
and  Vladivostock,  and  between  the  Yangtsze 
ports,  Hongkong,  and  Canton.  The  manager 
of  the  Hongkong  branch  of  the  Company  is 
Mr.  C.  G.  Gok,  and  the  staff  includes  Messrs. 
G.  Boolsen,  G.  Priedemann,  F.  L.  Margrees, 


Yokohama,  Victoria,  B.C.,  and  Vancouver, 
B.C.,  and  the  period  of  mail  transit  between 
Hongkong  and  Vancouver,  including  calls  at 
the  various  ports  named,  is  only  eighteen 
days,  the  period  from  Yokohama  being  eleven 
days,  thereby  making  it  by  far  the  quickest 
route  to  the  Pacific  coast. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     203 


Not  content  with  the  results  attained  on 
the  Pacific,  the  Company,  in  more  recent 
years,  decided  to  extend  their  ramifications 
to  the  Atlantic,  and  acquired  a  fleet  of 
steamers  for  the  purpose,  thereby  enabling 
them    to     link     up    Great    Britain    and    the 


Mr.  D.  \V.  Ciaddock,  who  has  been  in  the 
Company's  service  for  over  sixteen  years,  is 
tlie  general  traffic  agent  for  China,  the  Straits 
Settlements,  India,  &c.  His  headquarters  are 
at  Hongkong.  Mr.  J.  Rankin,  is  agent  at 
Shanghai,  and   Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson   & 


DECK,    "  PHINCESS    ALICE." 


[See  page  201.] 


Francisco,  via  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  On  the 
completion  of  the  Panama  Railroad  between 
Aspinwall  (Colon)  on  the  Atlantic,  and  Panama 
on  the  Pacific,  in  i860,  the  steamers  ran  only 
from  San  Francisco  to  Panama,  connecting 
with  the  Vanderbilt  Line  from  Aspinwall  to 
New  York.  In  1865  the  Company  purchased 
the  Vanderbilt  Line,  and  in  the  following 
year  commenced  to  send  boats  between 
Shanghai  and  Yokohama,  via  the  Inland  Sea. 
On  January  1, 1867,  the  Colorado  left  San  Fran- 
cisco for  Hongkong.  She  was  the  first  of  a 
regular  line  of  steamers  to  cross  the  Pacific, 
and  was  followed  a  month  later  by  the  Great 
Republic.  The  old  paddle  steameis  were 
replaced  by  modern  screw  steamships,  as  the 
demands  of  the  traffic  required,  unlil,  in  1902, 
the  building  of  the  liners  Korea  and  Siberia 
marked  an  epoch  in  Irans-Pacific  shipping 
trade.  These  magnificent  sfeamers  have  each 
a  displacement  of  18,000  tons,  are  551  feet 
long,  and  have  an  indicated  horse-power  of 
18,000.  In  1903-4  the  Pacific  Mail  acquired 
the  still  larger  steamers  Mongolia  and  Maii- 
cliiiria.  each  with  a  displacement  of  27,000 
tons.  These  vessels  are  615  feet  long.  These 
four  ships,  in  conjunction  with  the  s.s. 
China,  a  vessel  capable  of  steaming  18  knots 
and  having  excellent  passenger  accommo- 
dation, maintain  a  schedule  of  weekly  sailings 
from  Hongkong  to  San  Francisco,  calling  at 
Shanghai,  Nagasaki,  Kobe,  Yokohama,  and 
Honolulu.  Tliis  route,  via  the  "  Paradise  of 
the  Pacific "  immortalised  by  Mark  Twain 
and  other  famous  writers,  is  exceedingly 
popular  among  travellers. 

The  Company's  agency  at  Hongkong  was 
established  in  1866,  Captain  K.  A.  Harris 
being  their  first  representative  in  the  Colony. 


Continent  with  the  Dominion  of  Canada, 
and,  with  their  Pacific  Line,  form  a  through 
service  with  the  Far  East.  Two  magnificent 
and  fast  steamers,  the  Empress  of  Britain  and 
the  Empress  of  Ireland,  of  15.000  tons  each, 
were  built  by  the  Company  in  1905,  for  the 
Atlantic  mail  and  passenger  service,  and  it 
was  not  long  before  they  became  first  favour- 
ites with  the  travelling  public.  The  advent 
of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railway's  Atlantic 
Line  placed  the  Company  in  a  position  to 
carry  passengers  and  mails  through  from 
England  to  Hongkong,  or  intervening  points, 
under  their  own  flag.  With  the  regular 
Pacific  service,  a  special  "  Overseas  Mail " 
train  across  Canada,  and  the  fast  Atlantic 
Empresses,  the  through  period  of  transit  is 
only  2gJ  days  from  Hongkong  to  London, 
and  22i  days  from  Yokohama.  This,  in 
itself,  is  an  achievement  to  be  proud  of,  but 
it  is  anticipated  that  in  the  near  future  even 
this  may  be  improved  upon.  The  increasing 
popularity  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railway  as 
a  through  route  to  England  is  evidenced 
by  the  continued  growth  in  the  number  of 
passengers  using  the  line. 

The  Company's  lines  run  through  the 
temperate  zone  throughout,  a  very  great 
consideration  to  residents  in  the  Tropics 
proceeding  home  on  leave.  No  route  offers 
a  more  varied  description  of  scenery,  and 
the  traveller,  for  pleasure  or  instruction,  or 
both,  has  every  opportunity  of  getting  what 
he  wants  when  travelling  over  this  system. 
Glimpses  of  China  and  Japan  are  obtained, 
even  by  those  passing  through  ■  on  a  con- 
tinuous journey,  while  any  desirous  of 
becoming  more  intimately  acquainted  with 
any  place  or  places  can  easily  arrange  their 
passage  in  a  way  to  meet  their  wishes. 
Those  seeking  for  health  derive  the  greatest 
benefit  from  the  invigorating  air  of  the 
Pacific  and  the  mountain  ranges  of  Canada. 


Co.,   represent    the   Company   at   the   various 
coast  and  river  ports  in  China. 


NIPPON   YUSEN   KAISHA. 

Japan  being  an  island  empire,  her  communi- 
cations  with    foreign   countries    are    entiiely 


THE   NORDDEUTSCHEB    LLOYD.— S.S.    "BORNEO." 


[See  p.ij;e  201.] 


THE  PACIFIC  MAIL  STEAMSHIP  COMPANY. 

The  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company  was 
founded  in  1848,  and  in  those  early  days  ran 
a  line   of  steamers  from   New   York   to   San 


maritime,  and  her  commercial  prosperity 
consequently  depends  largely  upon  the  enter- 
prise which  characterises  the  organisation  of 
her  merchant  service.  The  art  of  navigation 
has  been  practised  by  the  people  since  remote 


204     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


ages,  but,  as  is  well  known,  progress  was 
rudely  interrupted  by  the  conflict  between 
foreign  religious  propagandisni  and  Japanese 
civil  authority,  which  led  to  the  closure  of 
the  country.  Things  remained  thus  until  the 
middle  of  the  nineteenth  centur>-,   when  the 


Altogether,  the  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha  main- 
tains twenty-three  regular  services,  of  which 
nine  are  with  foreign  countries,  and  fourteen 
in  home  waters.  The  Company  is  agent 
for  the  Great  Northern  Steamship  Company, 
operating     the     new     twin-screw     steamship 


Yi  1,000,000,  and  a  fleet  of  78  steamers  aggre- 
gating 260,000  tons  gross,  the  majority  of 
them  new  and  furnished  with  everything 
necessary  to  the  comfort  of  passengers  and 
the  expeditious  handling  of  cargo.  The  Com- 
pany may  therefore  claim  to  be  not  only 
amongst  the  first  and  most  important  of 
Japanese  shipping  firms,  but  worthy  also  to 
rank  amongst  the  greatest  enterprises  of  its 
kind  in  the  world.  Mr.  T.  Kusumoto  is  the 
manager  of  the  branch  office  of  the  Com- 
pany at  Hongkong. 


[Sm  page  201] 


THE   NORDDEUTSCHER   LLOYD.— S.S.    "  YORCK." 


struggle  between  conservative  tendencies  and 
newly  developed  liberal  principles  ended  in 
the  re-openmg  of  the  country.  All  restrictions 
on  shipbuilding  were  withdrawn,  the  study 
of  navigation  received  earnest  attention,  and 
the  Government  not  only  encouraged  the 
construction  of  sea-going  vessels  at  home, 
but  began  also  to  purchase  steamers  abroad. 
In  1882  there  were  two  companies  —  the 
Mitsubishi  Company  and  the  Kyodo  Unyu 
Kaisha,  or  Union  Transportation  Company — 
in  receipt  of  State  aid.  But  a  trial  of  three 
years  demonstrated  the  inexpediency  of 
having  two  subsidised  rival  companies  in  the 
field,  and  in  1885  they  were  amalgamated 
into  the  present  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha,  or 
Japan  Mail  Steamship  Company.  During  the 
following  nine  years  the  bulk  of  the  coastwise 
carrying  trade  was  held  by  the  steamers  of 
this  Company.  Moreover,  regular  services 
were  maintained  between  Yokohama  and 
Kobe  and  the  large  ports  of  China ;  a  line  of 
steamers  plied  between  Japan  and  Bombay  ; 
and  vessels  flying  the  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha 
flag  made  frequent  voyages  to  Australia  and 
Hawaii,  carrying  emigrants.  The  China- 
Japanese  War  of  1894-95  finally  established 
the  Company's  reputation  for  efficiency,  and 
amply  justified  the  trust  hitherto  reposed  in 
it  by  the  State.  It  has  now  established 
steamship  sei  vices  to  America.  Europe,  and 
Australia,  and,  under  contract  with  the 
Japanese  Government,  it  maintains  regular 
mail  lines  ttetween  Japan  and  Europe,  be- 
tween Hongkong,  Shanghai,  Japan  ports,  and 
America,  and  between  Japan  and  Australia ; 
the  two  first  named  being  each  fortnightly 
and  the  latter  four  weekly.  There  are  also 
regular  weekly  services  between  Hongkong, 
Swatow  and  Bangkok,  and  a  tri-monthly 
service  from  Kobe  to  Bombay.  Regular  and 
frequent  services  are  maintained  from  Japan 
to  North  China,  Korea,  Vladivostock,  For- 
mosa,  &c.,   and   around   the  coast  of  Japan. 


Minnesota  between  Seattle,  Japan,  and  China, 
The  Minnesota  has  a  cubical  capacity  of 
28,000  tons,  and  is  by  far  the  largest  steamer 
running  to  the  Orient.  The  Company  also 
represents  in  the  Orient  the  Great  Northern 


TOYO   KISEN   KAISHA. 

Amongst  the  Japanese  sliipping  firms  having 
offices  at  Hongkong,  the  Toyo  Kisen  Kaisha 
occupies  a  prominent  place.  The  Company 
was  formed  only  ten  years  ago  at  Tokyo, 
Japan,  and  its  growth  has,  like  that  of 
Japanese  shipping  generally,  been  remarkable. 
At  the  present  time  the  Company  conducts 
the  mail  service  between  Hongkong,  Shan- 
ghai, the  Japanese  ports,  and  San  F"r,incisco, 
via  Honolulu,  under  contract  with  Ihe  Japanese 
Government.  The  steamers  on  this  run  h.ive 
earned  a  well-deserved  reputation  for  com- 
fort, speed,  and  punctuality,  and  are  at  the 
moment  one  of  the  most  popular  lines  in 
the  America-Orient  passenger  traffic.  The 
steamers  employed  are  the  Hongkong  Marti, 
Nifipon  Mam,  and  the  America  Mam,  each 
of  which  is  of  6,200  tons  gross.  But,  up-to- 
date  as  these  vessels  are,  their  capacity  has 
proved  too  small  for  the  ever -increasing 
demands  of  the  service,  and  they  are  to  be 
replaced  by  three  ships  of  14,000  tons  gross, 
which  are  being  constructed  in  Japanese 
shipyards.  Tliey  will  be  the  largest  steamers 
so  far  built  in  Japan.  They  are  being  fitted 
with  turbine  engines,  will  burn  liquid  fuel,  and 
in  every  other  respect,  will  be  as  thoroughly 


THE    NORDDEUTSCHER   LLOYD.— S.S.    "  ZITHEN." 


[See  page  201.] 


Railway,  whose  track  passes  through  some 
of  the  finest  scenery  in  America,  and  is  agent, 
as  well,  for  the  Nisshin  Kisen  Kaisha  (Japan- 
China  Steam  Navigation  Company).  It  has 
a  capital   of   Y22,ooo,ooo,  a  reserve   of   over 


equipped  as  Atlantic  liners.  It  has  been 
decided  to  call  one  the  Teuyo  Mam,  another 
the  Cliiyo  Mam,  while  the  name  of  the  third 
is  under  consideration.  The  first  one  is 
almost  ready,    and  the    others    will  ^be  com- 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     205 


pleted  at  short  intervals.  They  will  cer- 
tainly constitute  a  very  important  addition 
to  the  fleet,  but  the  Company's  enterprise 
does  not  end  in  tlieir  efforts  to  provide 
speedy  and  luxurious  transport  from  the 
Orient  to  America.  They  are  the  pioneers 
in  the  Hongkong  South  American  Line,  for 
the  only  communication  in  this  direction, 
before  they  established  a  regular  service, 
was  by  an  occasional  tramp  steamer  or 
sailing  vessel.  Their  venture  has  been  re- 
warded with  great  success,  and  they  now  run 
vessels  regularly  between  Hongkong,  Callao, 
and  Iquique,  via  Japanese  ports,  and  call  at 
Mexican  and  other  coast  ports  as  required. 
The  steamers  in  this  service  are  of  6,000  tons 
capacity  and  include  the  Kasato  Mam.  The 
Company  also  has  a  service  of  several  tank 
steamers  carrying  crude  oil  from  California  to 
the  Orient.  The  president  of  the  line  is 
Mr.  S.  Asano,  who  is  at  Tokyo,  Mr.  M.  Shiraishi 
and  Mr.  T.  Isaka,  are  managers  of  the 
Company's  business  at  headquarters,  while  the 
Hongkong  branch  is  under  the  control  of 
Mr.  K.  Matsda,  who  has  resided  in  the  Colony 
for  some  nine  years,  having  come  as  an 
assistant  and  being  shortly  afterwards  promoted 
to  his  present  position.  The  firm's  offices  are 
in  York  Buildings,  and  they  employ  a  staff 
of  Japanese  assistants  which  is  increasing  in 
number  year  by  year  as  the  business  of  the 
Company  grows.  The  new  steamers — both 
those  that  are  now  nearing  completion,  and 
others  that  are  under  construction — are  all 
to  be  christened  with  names  ending  in  "Yo" 
(meaning  ocean),  and  for  this  reason  the 
Company  may  be  known  as  the  "  Yo  Line " 
in  the  course  of  the  next  few   years. 


OSAKA   SHOSEN   KAISHA. 

A  QUARTER  of  a  Century  ago  there  were 
about  120  steamers  under  different  owner- 
ship running  out  of  Osaka  to  the  inland  and 
coast  ports  of  Japan.  Competition  between 
them  was  so  keen  that,  although  cargo  and 
passengers  were  plentiful,  the  owners  suffered 
heavy  losses.  At  this  juncture,  in  order  to 
prevent  a  crisis,  the  Japanese  Government 
advised  amalgamation.  This  advice  was 
wisely  acted  upon,  and  resulted  in  the  for- 
mation, on  May  i,  1884,  of  the  Osaka  Shosen 
Kabusluki  Kaisha  (Osaka  Mercantile  Steam- 
ship Company)  Limited  Liability  Company, 
registered  and  having  its  head  ofiice  in 
Osaka.  At  first  the  new  Company  encoun- 
tered much  difficulty  in  running  the  steamers 
at  a  profit,  but  gradually  the  conlidence  of 
the  general  public  was  obtained  and  the 
Company  entered  upon  an  era  of  prosperity. 
Regular  services  with  first-class  steamers 
were  started  to  all  inland  ports  and  coast 
ports  of  Japan,  to  North  China  and  Korean 
coast  ports,  Formosa  and  South  China,  Hong- 
kong, and  Shanghai,  via  China  coast  ports, 
and  between  Shanghai  and  Yangtsze  ports. 
This  latter  service,  however,  has  since  been 
transferred  to  the  Nisshin  Kisen  Kaisha, 
Occasional  service  is  maintained  between 
Japan  and  Java  ports,  &c.  Six  new  ships 
are  under  construction  (each  over  6,000  tons, 
and  to  have  a  speed  of  over  14  knots)  for  a 
trans-Pacific  service  which  is  to  be  inaugu- 
rated shortly.  At  the  present  day,  therefore, 
the  Osaka  Shosen  Kaisha  may  be  said  to  rank 
among  the  premier  steamship  companies  of 
Japan. 

The  first  subscribed  capital  of  the  Company 
was  Yi,042,265  in  1884,  but  in  1893  it  was 
increased  to  Yi, 800,000  The  replacing  of 
old  vessels  by  newly  built  steamers,  in  order 
to  meet  Government  requirements  in   respect 


of  subsidised  lines,  was  completed  in  1894, 
when  the  capital  was  further  increased  to 
Y2, 500,000.  In  1896,  the  Japan-Formosa  lines 
under  Government  subsidy  were  inaugurated. 
The  Yangts/.e  River  services  were  opened  in 
1898,  and  the  South  China  coast  lines  were 
started  in  the  following  year.  In  1900  it 
was  agreed  by  the  shareholders  to  raise 
the  capital  to  'Yi  1,000,000,  and  owing  to  the 
favourable  state  of  the  financial  market  the 
scheme  was  carried  out  successfully  in  Nov- 
ember, 1904.  The  present  capital  amounts 
to  Y  16.500,000,  of  which  Y15, 125,000  have 
been  paid  up.  The  balance  sheet  published 
in  June,  1907,  showed  a  net  profit  for  the 
previous  half-year  of  Y  1,059,896. 

To  meet  the  Company's  ever-widening 
sphere  of  activity  the  fleet  has  been  increased 
from  time  to  time.  In  1884,  the  Company 
owned  3  iron  and  steel  and  93  wooden 
steamers,  aggregating   17,056  tons  ;    while   in 


on   a   large  chartering  trade   to  all   ports  in 
the  East. 

The  Calcutta  Line,  which  has  been  operated 
for  many  years,  was  recently  extended  to 
Japan  ports,  and  is  run  by  three  new  steamers, 
of  which  the  Kntsani>  is  the  latest.  She  is  a 
thoroughly  up-to-date  vessel  of  4,895  tons, 
fitted  throughout  with  electric  light,  and 
provided  with  excellent  accommodation  for 
twenty-one  first-class  passengers  and  a  limited 
number  of  second.  The  Namsnn/i  and  the 
Fooksang,  also  providing  accommodation  for 
first  and  second-class  travellers,  are  comfort- 
ably appointed  modern  steamers  ;  whilst  there 
are  also  two  intermediate  steamers  on  the 
run,  the  Kiimsaiig  and  the  Laisang.  The 
combined  service  makes  regular  trips  from 
Calcutta  to  Hongkong  and  on  to  Japan,  giving 
a  departure  from  Calcutta  about  every  ten 
days.  All  Calcutta  steamers  carry  a  duly 
qualified  surgeon. 


NIPPON    YUSEN    KAISHA. 


[See  page  203.] 


The  S.S.  "Taxgo  Maru"- 
On  the  American  Run. 


1907  the  fleet  consisted  of  76  iron  and  steel 
and  33  wooden  steamers  of  108,037  gross 
tonnage.  At  the  present  time  10  steel  steamers 
of  42,450  tons  gross  are  under  construction. 

The  Company  has  had  offices  in  Hongkong 
for  many  years,  and  Mr.  T.  Arima,  the 
manager  of  the  branch,  is  one  of  the  best- 
known  members  of  the  Japanese  community 
in  the  Colony. 


MESSRS.   JARDINE,   MATHESON   &   CO.'S 
SHIPPING   DEPARTMENT. 

In  addition  to  their  other  widespread  business 
interests,  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Jardine,  Mathe- 
son  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  are  general  managers  of  the 
Indo-China  Steam  Navigation  Company,  Ltd., 
and  agents  for  several  shipping  lines,  carrying 


Saloon  of  S.S.  "Nikko  Maru  "— 
On  the  Australian  Run. 


The  Canton,  Hongkong  and  Tientsin  Direct 
Line  is  maintained  by  the  Cheoiigshiiig  and 
Chipshiiig,  of  1,980  and  1,984  tons  gross 
respectively,  which  were  specially  constructed 
at  home  for  this  service.  They  have  good 
passenger  accommodation  and  large  cargo 
carrying  capacity  on  a  light  draft,  and  are 
thus  able  to  proceed  up  the  Peiho  River  as 
far  as  the  Tientsin  Bund. 

The  Java  Line  gives  a  regular  service  be- 
tween Hongkong,  Singapore,  Samarang  and 
Sourabaya,  and  is  operated  by  steamers  of 
from  3,000  to  4,000  tons  capacity.  A 
steamer  also  runs  regularly  between  Hong- 
kong, Kudat,  Sandakan,  and  other  Borneo 
ports.  The  vessel  on  this  line,  the  Maiisaiig, 
is  specially  adapted  for  the  handling  of  heavy 
timber,  this  being  the  principal  cargo  carried. 

The  Hongkong  Manila  Line  is  maintained 
by  the  I.ooiigsaiig  and  Yuciisang,  which  give 
a  regular  sailing  from  each  port  every  Friday. 


206     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Three  new  steamers,  fitted  with  ample 
passenger  acxx>mmodation — the  C/ii)vs<ih^,  the 
HiiiifiiaHg.  and  ihe  Kwoiigsting — each  of  3,000 
tons,  ;ire  engaged  on  the  Canton,  Hongkong, 
and  Shanghai  service,  calling  at  the  coast 
ports  as  required,  but  usually  at  Swalow, 

The  Company  also  do  a  large  chartering 
business  between  Eastern  pons,  and  in  ihis 
the  Aniarii,  Chunking.  Fiiiisttng.  Hofsaiisi. 
Onsiini.  Siiistitig.  Hinsiing.  Fooshiiig.  and 
Yttlsliiiig  are  engaged.  These  steamers  are 
t>etwecii  3,000  and  4,000  tons  carrying 
capacity,  are  titted  with  'tween  decks  and 
side  ports,  and  are  in  every  respect  the  most 
suitable  t\-pe  of  IkkiI  for  the  safe  and  expedi- 
tious   handling    of    cargo.      The     Indo-China 


Company  employ  in  their  Eastern  service 
about  330  Europeans  —  captains,  ollicers, 
engineers,  doctors,  and  pilots. 

Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  also  act 
as  agents  in  China  and  Japan  for  Sir  T.  B. 
Koyden,  managing  owner  of  the  liidra  Line, 
Ltd.,  whose  sleamers  run  at  regular  inter- 
vals between  New  York.  Boston,  vii'i  the 
Suez  Canal  to  the  Straits,  Philippines,  China 
coiist  and  Japan,  returning  to  the  United  States 
bv  the  same  route.  The  vessels,  which  nni 
in  conjunction  with  the  other  New  York  lines, 
are  of  large  carrying  capacity,  are  fitted 
throughout  with  electric  light,  and  maintain  a 
speed  of  10-12  knots.     The  following  is  a  list 


of  the  steamers,  showing  tlit-ir  gross  tonnage  : 
India,  6,057  ;  IndravcUi.  5,805  ;  Iiidraiiuiyo, 
5,200;  Iiulrnsniiiliii.  ^.1^)7  ;  /(/(/nnciK//,  5,194  ; 
liidiniii.  4,994  ;  and  Iiidrnfiiirn,  4.899. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  the  firm 
represent  the  well-known  British  India  Steam 
Navigation  Company,  Ltd.,  and  the  Asiatic 
Steam  Navigation  Company.  The  British 
India  Company's  steamers  from  Rangoon  to 
Hongkong  and  China  ports,  via  the  Straits 
afford  superior  accommodation  for  first-class 
passengers,  and  are  fitted  with  electric  light 
throughout. 

•  Mr.  R.  Sulherland  is  in  charge  of  the  firm's 
shipping  department. 


[Sec  pafie  J04.] 


TlIK   HOXOKOXG  Okkice. 


TOYO   KISEN   KAI8HA. 


The  Yokohama  Offick. 


S.  AsAXO  (President). 
S.S.  "Tenvo  Maru."  built  in  Japan. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     207 


THE   CHINA   AND   MANILA   STEAMSHIP 
COMPANY,    LTD. 

Intending  visitors  to  Manila,  the  capital  of  the 
beautiful  Philippine  Islands,  can  hardly  do 
better  than  book  by  one  of  the  steamers  run  by 
the  China  and  Manila  Steamship  Company, 
Ltd.,  the  general  managers  of  which  are 
Messrs.  Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co.  The  service  is 
maintained  by  two  steamers,  tlie  Zafiro  and  the 
Kiibi,  each  of  3,000  tons,  and  with  first-class 
accommodation  for  fifty  saloon  passengers. 
The  table  is  excellent,  and  the  sleeping  and 
other  appointments  are  most  comfortable.  The 
vessels,  which  are  oHicered  by  Europeans  and 
carry  a  doctor,  make  weekly  sailings,  carrying 
cargo  as  well  as  passengers. 


THE  DOUGLAS  LAPRAIK  STEAMSHIP 
COMPANY. 

The  history  of  the  formation  of  the  Douglas 
Steamship  Company,  is  very  interesting.  The 
foundations  of  what  is  now  a  large  and 
important  undertaking  were  laid  by  Mr. 
Douglas  Lapraik,  who  carried  on  business  in 
the  Colony  as  a  watchmaker  and  jeweller. 
He  conceived  the  idea  that  there  was  profit 
to  be  made  in  trading  along  the  China  coast, 
and,  consequently,  in  conjunction  with  a  few 
friends  he  purchased  several  small  steamers 
and  started  upon  the  venture.  Upon  his 
death  he  left  his  interest  in  the  seven  vessels 
which  had  been  employed  in  the  trade  to 
his  nephew,  Mr.  John  Stewart  Lapraik,  and 
he,  on  July  28,  1883,  floated  the  Douglas 
Steamship  Company.  Since  then  the  general 
trade  of  the  Company  with  the  coast  ports 
and  P'ormosa,  has  largely  increased,  for, 
although  the  vessels  employed  have  dimin- 
ished in  number,  they  have  been  replaced 
by  several  of  far  greater  carrying  capacity. 
P"or  ten  years  Mr.  J.  S.  Lapraik  took  an 
active  interest  in  the  management  of  affairs, 
and,  after  his  death,  his  partner,  Mr.  Davis, 
assumed  control.  He  was  succeeded  by- 
Mr.  Lewis,  who,  in  1900,  was  joined  by 
Mr.  H.  P.  White,  the  present  manager  at 
Hongkong.  Formerly  the  headquarters  of  the 
Company  were  situated  on  the  Praya,  or 
Connaught  Road  as  it  is  now  called,  but  they 
have  since  been   removed   to   Douglas  Street. 


MESSAGERIES  CANTONAISES. 

The  organisation  of  the  "  Messageries  Can- 
tonaises "  shows  that  the  French  are  far 
from  being  disinterested  spectators  of  the 
commercial  life  and  development  of  the 
Chinese  provinces  around  tlieir  beautiful 
Colony  of  Tonkin,  The  Company  which  was 
floated  in  1907  by  the  Compagnie  Fran(,aise 
des  Indes  et  de  I'li-Ntreme- Orient  is  sub- 
sidised by  the  Government  of  Indo-Cliina, 
and  retains  the  French  postal  service  between 
Hongkong,  Canton,  and  Wuchow  (Kwangsi). 
Under  supervision  from  the  Paris  head- 
quarters it  operates  the  steamships  Paul 
Beau  and  Charles  Hardouin,  both  of  which 
are  speedy  and  comfortable.  The  Paul  Beau 
is  named  after  the  Governor-General  of 
Indo-China,  and  the  Charles  Hardouin  after 
the  late  Consul-General  for  France  at  Canton, 
who  actively  occupied  himself  in  the  founda- 
tion of  the  line.  The  two  steamers  are  of 
1,900  tons  each.  They  were  built  at  Nantes 
in  1904.  and  have  a  speed  of  14  knots. 
The  registered  office  of  the  "  Messageries 
Cantonaises  "  is  at  Canton,  and  the  agents  in 


THE    INDO-CHINA    STEAM   NAVIGATION   COMPANY,   LTD. 

(Messrs   J.irdiiie.  Mathcsoii  &  Co..  Genenil  Manaiiers.) 

P80ME.\ADE  Deck  of  the  "  KtTSANG."  [Sec  page  205.] 

S.S.  "  LAISAXG." 
SALOOX   of  the  "  KUTSANG." 


VIEWS    OF    THE    S.S.    "ZAFIRO,"    OF    THE    CHINA    AND   MANILA    STEAMSHIP    COMPANY,    LTD. 
[See  page  ao?.]  (Mesvs.  Shewan,  Tonics  &  Co ,  General  Manaj^ers.) 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     209 


Hongkong  are  the  well-known  firm  of  Messrs. 
Barretto  &  Co.  The  local  director  of  the 
Company  is  Captain  P.  A.  Lapicque,  of  the 
French  Naval  Reserve. 


JAV.'^.CniNA.JAPAN    LIJN. 

Tourists  in  the  East  would  be  well  repaid 
for  a  visit  to  Java,  for,  in  addition  to  its 
natural  beauties,  this  island  contains  ruins 
of  magnificent  temples,  relics  of  a  past  and 
wonderful  civilisation,  which  fill  the  beholder 
with  pleasure  and  surprise.  The  recent  com- 
pletion of  a  good  railway  system  makes  it 
possible  to  pass  quite  quickly  through  the 
island,  and  the  Java-China-Japan  Lijn  have 
established  a  regular  and  excellent  three- 
weekly    service    between    Java,    China,    and 


staff  includes  Messrs.  H.  J.  van  den  Bosch, 
R.  J.  F.  van  der  Voort,  G.  Otien,  J.  Jonck- 
heer,  H.  Westhoff,  and  H.  van  Zuylen 
(marine  superintendent). 


ment  of  the  combined  companies  is  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Chau  Sin  Ki. 


THE   "KWONQ"   RIVER   STEAMERS. 

There  are  several  excellent  services  of  night 
steamers  between  Hongkong  and  Canton. 
That  wonderfully  interesting  city  is  brought 
within  easy  access  of  the  Colony,  and,  even 
though  the  tourist  is  able  to  spend  but  a  few 
days  in  this  part  of  the  world,  he  will  find 
himself  amply  repaid  for  a  visit  by  the  many 
strange  and  curious  sights.  The  journey 
may  be  accomplished  easily  and  comfort- 
ably, on  eitlier  of  the  steamers  Kivong 
Tung      or     Kwoiig     Sai     operated     by     the 


MELCHERS  &  CO. 

So  much  depends  upon  the  manner  in  which 
the  business  of  a  large  steamship  line  is 
conducted  in  foreign  ports  that  great  care 
is  exercised  in  the  appointment  of  agents. 
The  distinction  of  representing  the  North 
German  Lloyd  Steamship  Company  in  Hong- 
kong is  enjoyed  by  Messrs.  Melchers  &  Co., 
a  large  firm  of  exporters,  importers,  and 
shipping  and  insurance  agents.  A  branch  of 
this  business  was  established  in  the  Colony 
in  1866  by  Mr.  Hermann  Melchers,  the 
present  head  of  the  house  in  Bremen,  and 
since  then  other  branches  have  been  opened 


[See  page  207.] 


SALOON  OF  THE  S.S.  "PAUL  BEAU." 


S.S.  "PAUL  BEAU"  AND  "CHARLES  HAE.DOUIN." 


Japan.  They  have  six  large  6,000  ton 
steamers — TJikini,  Tjipauas,  Tjitiialii,  Tjili- 
woiig,  Tjilaljap,  and  Tjibodas^M  of  which 
are  fitted  throughout  with  electric  light  and 
offer  accommodation  for  a  limited  number 
of  saloon  passengers,  who  may  rest  assured 
that  their  convenience  and  comfort  will 
receive  every  consideration  from  the  oHicials. 
The  Company  also  take  cargo  to  all  ports 
in  Netherlands  Indies,  and  are  the  agents 
for  the  Sabang  Bay  Coaling  Station,  Pulo 
Weh  Island,  North  Sumatra.  The  bay  is 
completely  sheltered  from  wind  and  sea 
throughout  the  year,  and  steamers  passing 
that  way  can  always  replenish  their  bunkers 
and  obtain  a  supply  of  fresh  water. 

The  offices  of  the  Java-China-Japan  Lijn 
are  in  York  Buildings,  Hongkong.  Mr. 
P.  J.   R.   Bisschop   is   the   manager,  and  the 


Yuen  On  and  the  Shiu  On  Steamship 
Companies,  Ltd.  The  steamer  from  Hong- 
kong leaves  the  Company's  wharf  at  nine 
o'clock  every  evening,  Saturday  excepted, 
and  arrives  at  its  destination  about  6.30  the 
following  morning.  The  steamer  from  Can- 
ton leaves  the  Shameen  at  5.30  every  evening, 
Sunday  excepted,  and  reaches  Hongkong 
about  midnight.  The  boats  are  commanded 
by  fi^uropean  captains  and  officers.  They 
are  large  and  comfortable,  scrupulously  clean, 
and  lighted  throughout  by  electricity,  while 
the  well-equipped  first-class  cabins  are  all 
fitted  with  electric  fans.  The  fare  to  Canton 
and  back  is  only  $8,  and  meals  are  provided 
at  very  reasonable  rates.  The  boats  are 
second  to  none  on  the  river,  but  they  are, 
by  far,  the  cheapest.  They  are  owned  by 
Chinese  capitalists,  and  the  general  manage- 


in  Canton,  Shanghai,  Chinkiang,  Hankow, 
Ichang,  and  Tientsin.  The  partners  are 
Hermann  Melchers  and  Adalbert  Korff 
(Bremen),  C.  Michelau  and  A.  Widmann 
(Shanghai),  and  J.  Bandow  and  G.  Friesland 
(Hongkong).  Their  representatives  in  London 
are  Messrs  Runge,  Wolters  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  for 
their  trade  is  extensive  and  is  constantly 
increasing,  so  that  agents  in  large  business 
centres  are  a  necessity.  Besides  acting  for  the 
Norddeutscher  Lloyd,  Messrs.  Melchers  &  Co. 
represent  the  East  Asiatic  Company,  Ltd., 
Copenhagen  ;  the  Russian  East  Asiatic  Com- 
pany, Ltd.,  St.  Petersburg  ;  the  Swedish 
East  Asiatic  Company,  Ltd.,  Gothenburg  ; 
the  Russian  Volunteer  Fleet,  St.  Petersburg  ; 
the  Russian  Ministry  of  Finance,  St.  Peters- 
burg ;  the  Deutsche  Dampfschifffahrts  Ges- 
ellschaft  ''  Hansa,"  Bremen  ;  the  New  Guinea 


210     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Company,  Berlin  ;  the  Germanischer  Lloyd, 
Berlin  ;  the  Bremen  underwriters  ;  the  Ko>"al 
Fire  and  Life  Insurance  Company,  Liver- 
pool ;  the  United  Swiss  Marine  Insurance 
Comp;iny,  Manchester  ;  the  Basler  Tr;»nsport 
Versicherungs  Gesellschaft.  Basel  ;  Allge- 
meine  Versicherungs  Gesellschaft  "  Helvetia  "; 


the  Transport  Versicherungs  Gesellschaft 
•'  Schweiz  "  ;  the  Internationale  Lloyd  Versi- 
cherungs Aclien  Gesellschaft  ;  the  Assurance 
Company,  "  Mercur  "  ;  Societe  d'Enlrepots 
de  Transports  ;  and  La  Aseguradora  Espanola. 
In  the  ahsence  of  Mr,  J.  Bandow,  Mr.  G. 
Friesland  is  the   manager   of  the  Company's 


business  at  Hongkong,  and  his  assist.ints 
include  Messrs.  A.  Lamperski  (who  signs  per 
pro.).   C.   Ahrendt,    H.  Warnsloh.   K.  Keulter, 

E.  Jesnitzer,      O.    Meyer,     H.    Korten,     and 

F.  Steinhoff.  The  manager  of  the  branch 
at  Canton  is  Mr.  P.  Suedliaiis. 


S.S.    KWONG    SAI. 
8,8,   KWONO   TUNG, 


[See  page  209.] 


SALOON,   KWONG   TUNO. 


EUROPEAN    BUSINESS^  COMMUNITY. 


JARDINE,   MATHESON    &   CO. 

The  founder  of  this,  the  premier  British 
mercantile  house  in  the  Far  East,  was  Dr. 
William  Jardine,  at  one  time  an  officer  in 
the  service  of  the  Honourable  East  India 
Company.  Associated  with  him  from  its 
earliest  days  were  Messrs.  James  Matheson 
(afterwards  Sir  James  Matheson,  Bart.,  of  the 
Lews)  and  Hollingworth  Magniac. 

Dr.  Jardine  was  a  southern  Scot,  whose 
forbears  for  many  generations  had  resided 
in  Annandale,  Dumfriesshire.  Mr.  James 
Matheson  hailed  from  the  west  coast  of  Ross- 
shire,  where  his  family  had  long  been  estab- 
lished, and  owned  property.  Mr.  Magniac 
was  the  descendant  of  a  Swiss  merchant  who 
had  settled   at    Macao  towards  the  close  of 


the  eighteenth  century,  obtaining  employ- 
ment there  from  an  old-established  firm 
named  Beale  &  Keid,  in  which  concern  he 
became  a  partner,  the  firm's  name  being  then 
changed  to  Beale  &  Magniac,  and  later  to 
Magniac  &  Co. 

In  the  early  days  of  this  business  con- 
nection. Dr.  Jardine  made  trading  voyages 
between  India  and  China,  Mr.  James  Matheson 
remaining  in  India  to  attend  lo  the  disposal 
of  produce  brought  by  his  friend.  Dr.  Jardine, 
from  the  Far  East,  whilst  in  Macao  and 
Canton  Mr.  Magniac  acted  as  agent  for  the 
sale  of  goods  imported  by  the  doctor  from 
India  and  the  Straits.  As  time  went  on  the 
business  carried  on  by  these  gentlemen  in- 
creased so  considerably  that  in  1827  Dr. 
Jardine  and  Mr.  Matheson  found  it  necessary 


to  take  up  residence  permanently  in  Macao, 
moving  up  to  Canton  in  the  season,  as  was 
the  custom  in  those  early  days,  and  there 
conducting  their  business  tlirough  the  medium 
of  the  "  licensed "  house  of  Magniac  &  Co., 
in  which  both  became  interested. 

In  1832,  the  trading  monopoly  of  the  East 
India  Company  came  to  an  end,  the  firm  of 
Magniac  &  Co.  was  dissolved,  and  business 
tliereafter  was  carried  on  by  the  tliree  above- 
named  gentlemen  under  the  style  of  Jardine, 
Matheson  &  Co. 

Dr.  Jardine  left  China  in  1838,  the  business 
initiated  by  him  having  by  this  time  assumed 
vast  proportions.  His  commercial  operations 
were  conducted  throughout  with  sagacity  and 
judgment,  and  he  was  a  man  of  great  strength 
of   character  and   of    unbounded    generosity. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     211 


He  was  the  shipper  of  the  first  cargo  of 
"  free  teas "  to  London  on  the  expiry  of  the 
close  monopoly  of  the  East  India  Company. 
The  "hong"  merchants  with  whom,  cliieHy, 
he  transacted  his  business  were  "  Mowqua " 
and  "  Conseequa."  though  old  books  still  in 
the  possession  of  the  firm  show  that  large 
transactions  in  tea  and  silk  were  put  through 
also  with  the  well-known  "  hong  merchant 
Howqua."  One  of  the  firm's  chief  con- 
stituents in  India  was  Jamsetjee  Jejeebhoy, 
who  later  became  the  celebrated  Parsee 
Baronet.  His  business  transactions  with 
Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  were  on  a  colossal 
scale. 

On  Dr.  Jardine's  departure  from  Canton, 
the  entire  foreign  community  entertained  him 
at  a  dinner  in  the  dining  room  of  the  old 
East  India  Company's  factory,  about  eighty 
persons  of  all  nationalities  being  present. 
Dr.  Jardine  was  succeeded  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  firm  by  Mr.  James  Matheson, 
who  finally  left  China  in  1842.  Mr.  James 
Matheson  was  a  gentleman  of  great  suavity 
of  manner  and  the  personification  of  benevo- 
lence. Following  Mr.  James  Matheson  came 
his  nephew,  Alexander  (afterwards  Sir  Alex- 
ander Matheson,  Bart.,  of  Ardross),  who  had 
received  his  early  business  training  in  India, 
joining  his  uncle  in   Canton  in   1835. 

In  1842,  having  been  driven  out  of  Macao 
owing  to  the  shortsighted  policy  of  the  Portu- 
guese authorities,  the  firm  transferred  its 
headquarters  to  the  then  almost  barren  island 
of  Hongkong,  where  the  isolated  promontory 
and  hill  of  East  Point  were  purchased,  sub- 
stantial offices,  godowns  and  dwelling  houses 
erected,  and  a  slipway  laid  down  for  the 
hauling  up  and  repairing  of  the  fleet  of 
schooners  and  brigs  employed  by  the  firm  in 
the  coasting  trade  of  that  day.  The  offices 
erected  at  that  lime  continued  to  be  used  as 
such  by  the  firm  until  the  year  1864,  when 
a  move  was  made  to  a  more  central  part  of 
the  town,  the  buildings  thereafter  being  used 
as  junior  mess  quarters.  The  dwelling  houses 
erected  for  the  senior  and  junior  partners 
at  East  Point,  now  probably  the  oldest 
houses  in  the  Colony,  are  situated  on  a  hill 
some  200  feet  in  height  overlooking  the 
harbour,  and  surrounded  by  an  unusually 
large  compound  containing  a  very  fine  avenue 
of  trees.  Though  erected  nearly  seventy 
years  ago,  hese  houses  are  still  in  excellent 
condition,  their  wide  verandahs,  spacious  and 
lofty  rooms  and  passages,  and  finely  dressed 
stone  exterior  bearing  evidence  of  the  good 
work  performed  by  the  Chinese  workmen 
of  1842. 

On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Alexander 
Matheson  in  1852,  the  firm  was  successively 
ruled  by  Messrs.  Andrew,  David,  Joseph,  and 
Robert  (afterwards  Sir  Robert  Jardine,  Bart., 
of  Castlemilk)  Jardine,  all  nephews  of  the 
founder  of  the  house,  and  all  of  whom 
worthily  maintained  their  uncle's  reputation 
for  shrewdness  and  business  capacity  com- 
bined with  benevolence,  love  of  sport,  and 
hospitality. 

With  the  advent  of  steam  and  telegraphs, 
the  method  of  conducting  business  in  the 
Far  East  underwent  radical  change,  and  to 
a  very  great  extent  the  "  merchant "  was 
displaced  by  the  "commission  agent."  Those 
controlling  the  policy  of  Jardine,  Matheson 
&  Co.  were,  fortunately,  shrewd  enough  to 
fall  into  line  with  the  altered  state  of  affairs 
before  it  was  too  late,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disaster  which  overtook  so  many  of  the  grand 
old  China  houses. 

From  its  early  days,  a  fundamental  principle 
of  the  "  Muckle  Hoos "  has  been  that  its 
senior  positions  should  be  filled,  and  the 
controlling   influence    exercised,    by    the    im- 


mediate relations  and  descendants  of  its 
founders.  So  far,  there  has  never  been 
wanting  a  cadet  of  either  family  successfully 
to  guide  the  destinies  of  the  enterprise  so 
well  initiated  by  these  shrewd  and  able  Scots. 

With  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  the 
Colony  of  Hongkong  those  connected  with 
Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  have  ever  been 
closely  identified.  Streets  bear  the  name  of 
long-departed  partners,  the  City  Hall  was 
built  mainly  owing  to  the  public-spirited 
generosity  of  Sir  Robert  Jardine,  while  on 
the  Legislative  and  Executive  Councils  it  has 
been  seldom  indeed  that  the  firm's  repre- 
sentative has  not  held  a  seat. 

For  the  past  forty  years  the  active  manage- 
ment of  the  firm's  affairs  has  been  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  William  Keswick,  M.P.,  a 
kinsman  of  Sir  Robert  Jardine.  Under  his 
management  the  firm  has  prospered  and 
extended  its  branches  to  every  Treaty  port 
in  China,  to  Japan,  and  to  the  United  States. 


Mr.  John  Macgregor,  Sir  Edward  Alford,  Mr. 
A.  P.  MacEwen,  Mr.  C.  W.  Dickson,  Mr. 
Robert  Inglis,  Mr.  W.  J.  Gresson,  Mr.  Henry 
Keswick,  Mr.  David  Landale,  Mr.  W.  A.  C. 
Cruickshank,  Sir  R.  W.  Huchanan-Jardine, 
Bart.,  Mr.  James  McKie,  Mr.  C.  H.  Ross. 


BUTTERFIELD   &   SWIRE. 

The  firm  of  Butterfield  &  Swire  commenced 
business  at  Shanghai  in  1867,  and  opened  an 
office  at  Hongkong  in  1870.  To-day  it  has 
branches  at  Canton,  Swatow,  Amoy,  Foo- 
chow,  Ningpo,  Chinkiang,  Nanking,  Wuhu, 
Kiukiang,  Hankow,  Ichang,  Chefoo,  Tientsin, 
and  Newchwang,  and  at  Kobe  and  Yokohama 
in  Japan.  Messrs.  Buttertield  &  Swire  are 
managers  in  the  East  for  the  China  Naviga- 
tion Company,  Ltd.,  for  the  Taikoo  Sugar 
Refining  Company,  Ltd.,  and  for  the  Taikoo 
Dockyard     and     Engineering     Company     of 


JABDINE,   MATHESON    &    CO.'S    OLD    PREMISES. 

(Deniolislied  October,  1907.) 


In  1905.  Sir  Robert  Jardine  died,  and  for 
family  reasons  the  firm  was  then  turned  into 
a  private  Limited  Liability  Company,  the  first 
governing  director  being  the  present  Baronet, 
Sir  R.  W.  Buchanan-Jardine,  with  Messrs. 
Wm.  Keswick,  M.P.,  W.  J.  Gresson,  and 
Henry  Keswick  as  its  managing  directors. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  partners  in  this 
firm  from  its  commencement  to  the  present 
day  : — Dr.  William  Jardine,  Sir  James 
Matheson,  Bart.,  Mr.  H.  Magniac,  Sir  Alex- 
ander Matheson,  Bart.,  Mr.  Andrew  Johnstone, 
Mr.  H.  Wright,  Mr.  Andrew  Jardine,  Mr. 
Wm.  Stewart,  Mr.  A.  G.  Dallas,  Mr.  David 
Jardine,  Mr.  Joseph  Jardine,  Mr.  A.  C.  Maclean, 
Mr.  Donald  Matheson,  Mr.  A.  Perceval,  Sir 
Robert  Jardine,  Bart.,  Mr.  J.  C.  Bowring,  Mr. 
M.  A.  Macleod,  Mr.  J.  Macandrew,  Mr.  James 
Whittall,  Mr.  Wm.  Keswick,  Mr.  H.  St.  L. 
Magniac,  Mr.  R.  A.  Houstoun,  Mr.  E.  Whittall, 
Mr.  F.  Bulkeley-Johnston,  Mr.  J.  J.  Keswick, 
Mr.  Wm.  Paterson,  Mr.  John  Bell-Irving, 
Mr.  Herbert  Smith,  Mr.  James  J.  Bell-Irving. 


Hongkong,  Ltd.  The  China  Navigation 
Company's  fleet  of  over  sixty  steamers,  with 
its  headquarters  at  Shanghai,  is  chiefly  em- 
ployed trading  on  the  coast  and  rivers  of 
China.  Regular  services  are  also  maintained 
between  Shanghai  and  Japan,  Hongkong  and 
Australia,  and  Hongkong  and  the  Philippines. 
The  Taikoo  Sugar  Refining  Company's 
refinery,  situated  at  Hongkong,  has  capacity 
for  producing  a  large  quantity  of  refined 
sugar.  The  Taikoo  Dockyard  and  Engineer- 
ing Company's  works,  situated  on  the  island 
of  Hongkong,  within  half-an-hour's  journey 
of  the  city  of  Victoria,  are  extensive  and 
modern,  fully  equipped  for  every  description 
of  building  and  repair  work.  The  dry  dock 
measures  750  feet  on  the  blocks,  and  there 
are  also  three  patent  slips,  each  capable  of 
accommodating  vessels  up  to  3,000  tons 
register.  Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire  are 
agents  in  China  and  Japan  for  the  Ocean 
Steamship  Company,  Ltd.,  and  for  the  China 
Mutual  Steam  Navigation  Company,  Ltd. 


MESSRS.    SHEWAK,   TOMES   &    CO.'S   OFFICES. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     213 


SHEWAN,  TOMES    &   CO. 

In  not  a  few  departments  of  human  activity  it 
is  possible  to  point  to  the  past  and  say,  "They 
were  giants  in  those  days."  but  the  men  of 
stature  in  the  mercantile  world  are  with  us 
now,  and  for  the  reason  that  the  ever  extending 
ramifications  of  commerce  have  called  them 
into  existence.  The  iirm  of  Messrs.  Shevvan, 
Tomes  &  Co.,  of  Hongkong,  Canton.  Shanghai, 
Tientsin,  Kobe,  London,  and  New  York,  with 
its  agencies,  in  Amoy,  Foochow,  p'ormosa, 
Hankow,  Manila,  and  the  Straits  Settlements  is 
an  example  of  the  widespread  character  of  the 
business  in  which  a  modern  house  may  find 
itself  engaged.  Messrs.  Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co., 
are  general  managers  of  the  China  and  Manila 
Steamship  Company,  Ltd.,  the  American  Asiatic 
Steamship  Company,  the  Green  Island  Cement 
Company,  Ltd.,  the  Hongkong  Rope  Manu- 
facturing Company,  Ltd.,  the  China  Provident 
Loan  and  Mortgage  Company,  Ltd.,  the  China 
Light  and  Power  Company,  Ltd.,  the  Equitable 
Life  Assurance  Society,  of  the  U.S.A.,  and  the 
Canton  Land  Company,  Ltd.  ;  whilst  they  are 
agents  for  the  "  Shire  "  Line  of  Steamers,  Ltd., 
the  Yangtsze  Insurance  Association,  Ltd.,  the 
Insurance  Company  of  North  America,  the 
Batavia  Sea  and  Fire,  North  British  and 
Mercantile,  Reliance  Marine,  Union  Marine, 
World  Marine,  Law  Union  and  Crown,  York- 
shire Fire  and  Life,  Fireman's  Fund,  and 
Federal  Insurance  Companies,  the  Electric 
Traction  Company  of  Hongkong,  Ltd.,  the 
Chinese  Engineering  and  Mining  Company, 
Ltd.,  the  Shanghai  Pulp  and  Paper  Company, 
Ltd.,  and  the  Tacoma  Grain  Company.  All 
these  divergent  interests  are  controlled  from 
the  head  office  in  Hongkong,  an  imposing 
structure  known  as  St.  George's  Buildings, 
with  a  magnificent  frontage  overlooking  the 
harbour.  The  firm  deals  with  the  bulk  of 
the  articles  exported  from  Canton,  through 
Hongkong — raw  silk,  silk  piece  goods,  tea, 
matting,  fire-crackers,  palm-leaf  fans,  cassia, 
cassia  buds,  cassia  oil,  rhubarb,  aniseed,  gin- 
seng, rattan,  and  preserves.  This  department 
is  managed  by  Mr.  A.  A.  Cordeiro.  Imports 
for  the  trade  include  cottons,  woollens,  shir- 
tings, and  white  goods,  flannelettes,  drills, 
handkerchiefs,  all  kinds  of  builders'  hardware, 
Belgian  window-glass,  glass-ware  of  every 
description,  bar  and  rod  iron,  nail  rod  iron, 
wire  nails,  yellow  metal,  bamboo  steel,  Swe- 
dish rolled-steel,  hoop  iron,  paper  in  pulp  and 
sheets,  lubricating  oils,  flour,  hemp,  raw  sugar, 
Australian  and  Japanese  coal,  wines  and  spirits 
of  every  kind — in  short,  almost  everything  that 
can  be  deemed  necessary  to  meet  ordinary 
demands.  In  addition  to  the  large  quantities 
of  goods  imported  upon  commissions,  chiefly 
placed  by  Chinese  houses,  the  firm  carries  a 
heavy  stock  in  readiness  to  meet  all  inquiries. 
The  import  department  is  divided  into  separate 
branches,  working  respectively  under  Messrs. 
S.  Moore,  J.  Coulthart.  and  P.  Kunge.  The 
Green  Island  Cement  Company,  for  which  the 
firm  are  the  general  managers,  is  the  subject 
of  another  article  in  this  volume,  and  it  will 
here  suffice  to  mention  that  the  quality  of 
the  cement  produced  at  the  factory  is  not  to 
be  surpassed.  Mr.  R.  Henderson  has  general 
charge  of  this  department,  while  the  interests 
of  the  Rope  Manufacturing  and  the  China 
Light  and  Power  Companies  are  attended  to 
by  Mr.  L.  L.  Campbell.  The  former  has  been 
established  for  upwards  of  twenty  years,  and 
the  factory  turns  out  millions  of  pounds  of  rope 
annually,  the  market  for  the  output  embracing 
Japan,  the  Straits  Settlements,  India,  and 
Australia.  The  China  and  Manila  Steamship 
Company,  Ltd.,  which  is  operated  by  the  firm, 
has  two  first-class  boats  on  the  Manila  run. 
The  shipping  department  is  managed  by  Mr. 


George  Moffatt,  whilst  the  large  loan  and 
storage  business  of  the  Provident  Loan  and 
Mortgage  Company  is  conducted  by  Mr.  J.  A. 
Young.  Enough  has  been  said  to  show  how 
gigantic  are  the  undertakings  of  Messrs. 
Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co. 

1# 


world.  A  branch  of  the  undertaking  was 
opened  in  Hongkong  in  August,  1894,  by  Mr. 
George  Henry  Wheeler,  who  had  formerly 
been  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Kussel  &  Co., 
at  Shanghai.  Since  1898,  in  spile  of  con- 
siderable competition  from  the  Asiatic  Petro- 
leum Company,  and  the  Maatschappij  tot  Mijn- 
bosch-en     Landbouwexploitatie     in     Langkat, 


MESSRS.    LANE,    CRAWFORD    &    CO.'S    PREMISES. 


[See  page  214.] 


THE  STANDARD  OIL  COMPANY 
OF  NEW  YORK. 

The  extent  of  the  highly  remunerative  busi- 
ness carried  on  by  the  Standard  Oil  Company, 
of  which  Mr.  J.  D.  Rockefeller,  the  great 
American  millionaire  is  the  head,  forms  the 
subject   of    comment   in   many   parts   of    the 


their  trade  has  increased  several  hundred  per 
cent.  Since  1903  the  Company  have  extended 
their  operations  very  considerably,  and  are 
now  erecting  large  plants  at  Foochow,  Amoy, 
Swatow,  Canton,  Haippong,  Saigon,  Tourane. 
Bangkok,  Manila,  and  Hongkong  (Lai  Chi 
Kok)  which  control  numerous  small  stations. 
The  Hongkong  branch  is  now  known  as  the 

U 


214     TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


South  China  Department,  and  covers  the  dis- 
trict of  China  as  far  cast  and  north  as 
Foochow,  and  includes  Formosa  and  the 
PhiHppines,  Indo-China.  and  Siam. 

In  February,  1895,  the  present  general 
manager.  Mr.  J.  W.  Bolles.  joined  the  Hong- 
kong branch  as  chief  assistant  to  Mr.  Wheeler, 
liaving   previously   been  manager  of    one  of 


China  ;  W.  D.  Kraft,  second  assistant  manager  ; 
F.  H.  McHugli,  chief  accountant,  and  several 
olhers  from  the  American  olilices. 


2i 


KESSBS.   CALBBECK,   HACGREOOR   &    CO. 
The  Maxagkk's  Office.  The  Dditlixi;  Dei-ahtmext. 


the  Company's  interests  in  Virginia,  U.S.A. 
In  June  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  W.  B.  Walker, 
the  present  assistant  manager  came  to  the 
office  as  an  assistant,  and  from  time  to  time 
the  itaff  has  been  augmented  by  Messrs.  D.  H. 
Cameron,  now  manager  at  Canton  ;  L.  I. 
Thomas,  now  manager  of  the  coast  port,  at 
Amoy ;   W.  W.  Clark,  now  manager  ol   Indo- 


LANE.  CRAWFORD   &   CO. 

Hongkong  has  not  many  departmental  stores 
where  the  purchaser  can  go  from  room  to 
room  and  find  everything  that  he  may  rcquiie 
wiih  the  minimum  amount  of  trouble  and  loss 
of  time.  But  at  the  establishment  of  Messrs. 
Lane,  Crawford   &  Co.  anything   from  a  pin 


to  an  anchor  can  be  purchased.  It  was  in 
1850 — only  a  few  years  after  the  British  took 
possession  of  Hongkong — that  Messrs.  T.  A. 
Lane  &  Ninian  Crawford  started  the  business. 
Until  1905  they  occupied  promises  situated 
on  the  old  Praya.  and  extending  riglit  tlirougli 
to  Queen's  Road  Central.  Alllunigli  large, 
these  premises  were  found  to  be  inadequate 
and  entirely  unsuited  to  present-day  require- 
ments, and,  consequently,  the  present  hand- 
some block  of  buildings  was  erected  for  the 
tirm  by  the  Hongkong  Land  Investment 
Company,  from  the  designs  of  Messrs.  Leigh 
&  Orange.  The  main  entrance  is  in  Ice 
House  Street,  within  a  sliort  distance  of  the 
Kowloon  Ferry  Wharf  and  in  the  centre  of 
the  European  business  quarter.  The  show- 
rooms occupy  three  floors  and  cover  an  area 
of  20,000  square  feet,  the  departments  em- 
bracing ship-cliandlery,  grocery,  outfitting, 
hardware,  furnishing  and  upholstery,  tailoring, 
millinery,  and  piano  and  musical  instruments. 

In  describing  their  activities  in  various 
directions  the  fact  is  worthy  of  note  that 
Lane,  Crawford  &  Co.  were  the  first  to 
supply  tlie  shipping  of  the  port  with  fresh 
water,  and  for  many  years  their  fleet  of 
sailing  water  boats  was  well  known  to  every 
vessel  visiting  the  harbour.  Recently,  in 
order  to  keep  pace  with  the  increased  require- 
ments of  the  port,  they  have  used  steam  water 
boats,  and  this  part  of  the  business  is  now 
merged  in  the  Union  Water  Boat  Company, 
Ltd.  In  the  early  eighties  a  severe  drought 
was  experienced  in  the  Colony,  and  the 
shortage  of  water  caused  much  suffering 
among  the  poorer  classes  of  Cliinese.  Lane, 
Crawford  &  Co.  thereupon  placed  their  w.iter 
boats  at  the  Government's  disposal,  and  for 
this  disinterested  service  they  received  public 
thanks. 

The  present  partners  in  the  business  are 
Messrs.  A.  H.  Skelton,  Duncan  Clark,  and 
F.  C.  Wilford.  The  firm  employs  a  large 
staff  of  Europeans,  who  are  accommodated 
in  splendid  quarters. 


CALDBECK,  MACQREQOR    &   CO. 

Thk  firm  of  Messrs.  Caldbeck,  Macgregor 
&  Co.,  established  in  1864,  is  the  largest 
and  best  known  in  the  wine  and  spirit  trade 
in  the  East.  The  headquarters  are  in  Kan- 
goon  Street.  Crutched  Friars,  London,  and 
there  are  branches  in  Glasgow,  Shanghai, 
Hongkong,  Singapore,  and  Tientsin  ;  whilst 
agencies  have  been  established  at  Port 
Arthur,  Chef  00,  Weihaiwei,  Kiaochau, 
Hankow,  Foochow,  Taiwan,  Canton,  Macao, 
the  Philippines,  British  North  Borneo,  and 
Penang.  The  Hongkong  brand),  which  was 
opened  in  1889,  is  managed  by  Mr.  C.  J. 
Lafrentz,  one  of  the  managing  partners  of 
the  firm  ;  whilst  Mr.  Frank  Lannnert  is 
assistant  manager  and  signs  f>cr  pni.  Messrs. 
A.  G.  da  Roclia,  and  C.  J.  M.  Pereira  are 
assistants,  and  there  is  a  large  staff  of  men 
engaged  in  the  godowns  and  in  the  bottling 
department,  which  latter  is  under  the  charge 
of  Europeans.  An  extensive  trade  is  done 
with  the  armv  and  navy,  with  the  numerous 
local  clubs  and  hotels,  and  with  the  leading 
residents  of  the  Colony.  Over  a  hundred 
and  fifty  British  men-of-war  have  been 
supplied 'bv  the  firm  since  1878,  and  about 
fifty  military  messes  have  dealt  with  the 
firm  since  1890.  Nearly  a  hundred  finited 
States  warships  also  appear  on  the  list  of 
patrons.  The  firm  undertakes  contracts  on 
special  terms,  allowing  in  full  for  uncon- 
sumed  stocks  returned  in  good  order.  The 
firm   has   a  special   cable   code   for  out-ports. 


SPERRY    FLOUR    COMPANY. 


[See  page  216,3 


SPERRY  Mills  in  Stockton. 
General  View  of  Mills. 


Union  Mills  in  Stockton. 


21 «    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


its  telegraphic  address  beiii};  "  Caldbeck, 
Hongkonj;."  The  wines  and  spirits  supplied 
by  Messrs.  Caldbeck,  Macgregor  &  Co.,  are 
all  ol  good  qiulity,  but  the  connoisseur  will 
agree  that  their  V.O.S.  whisky  merits  par- 
ticular mention.  The  loc";il  otfice  is  at  No. 
15.  Queen's  Kiwd. 


SPERRY    FLOUR   COMPANY. 

The  Sperry  Flour  Company  has  been  in- 
terested in  the  Hour  trade  of  the  Colony  for 
upwards  of  forty  years — a  period  considerably 
longer  than  any  other  similar  company — and 
during  the  whole  of  this  time  it  has  lost  no 
opportunity  of  studying  the  requirements  of 
Eastern  buyers,  with  the  object  of  pushing 
business  throughout  the  Empire  of  China, 
Starting  in  1852  with  a  small  mill  at  Stock- 
ton that  had  a  capacity  of  100  barrels, 
the  Company — incorporated  in  1884,  and 
reincorporated  under  the  laws  of  California 
in  1892 — now  has  a  larger  output  than  any 
other  Hour-milling  enterprise  on  the  Pacific 
coast.  There  are  eleven  mills,  ten  of  them 
situate    in    California    and    one    in    Tacoma, 


is  in  the  centre  of  the  valley  of  that  name, 
reputed  to  be  one  of  the  best  wheat-growing 
districts  in  California,  The  total  capacity  of 
the  mill  is  2,000  barrels,  or  200  tons,  a  day, 
and  there  is  warehouse  accommodation  for 
10,000  tons  of  flour  and  20,000  tons  of  wheat. 
The  mill,  which  has  a  larger  capacity  than 
any  other  in  the  State,  has  been  continuously 
operated  since  March,  1882,  under  the  same 
management,  and  the  highest  standard  of 
efficiency  has  been  maintained  throughout 
by  the  introduction  of  the  latest  type  of 
machinery",  to  keep  pace  with  modern  inven- 
tions. The  mill  is  situated  on  the  banks  of 
a  tributary  of  the  San  Joaquin  River,  and  is 
in  close  touch  with  the  port  of  San  Francisco 
both  by  water  and  rail,  the  cost  of  transporta- 
tion thus  being  nominal.  The  best  known 
brands  of  the  Company  are  the  Crown, 
Brown  Bear,  Crescent,  and  Orient.  The  first 
of  these  is  the  finest  flour  exported  fioni 
America,  and  enjoys  a  high  reputation 
throughout  the  East.  The  Company,  who 
formerly  were  represented  in  Hongkong  by 
agents,  opened  an  office  in  Queen's  Buildings 
about  seven  j'ears  ago,  to  deal  with  the 
growing  volume  of    business   in   the   Orient. 


THE    STOCKTON    MILLING   COMPANY. 


Washington,  with  a  daily  capacity  of  10,000 
barrels,  or  40,000  sacks.  The  Company's 
chief  brands  of  flour  are  Sperry's  xxx  or 
Green  Girl,  Pioneer  or  Mandarin,  Anchor, 
Charm,  Day,  and  Junk. 

The  president  of  the  Company  is  Mr. 
Horace  Davis,  and  the  managing  directors 
are  Messrs.  James  Hogg  and  H.  B.  Sperry. 
The  headquarters  are  at  No.  133,  Spear  Street, 
San  Francisco.  There  are  branches  at  No.  13, 
Nanking  Road,  Shanghai,  where  Mr.  J.  R. 
Hargreaves  is  manager ;  and  at  No.  24, 
Robinson  Road,  Singapore,  where  Mr.  C.  E. 
Richardson  is  in  charge.  The  office  at  No.  7, 
Redder  Street,  Hongkong,  however,  exerciries 
a  controlling  influence  over  the  whole  of  Ihe 
Asiatic  business,  and  here  Messrs.  W.  S.  Allen 
and  G.  V.  Hayes  are  the  resident  managers, 

THE   STOCKTON   MILLING   COMPANY. 

Many  thousands  of  tons  of  flour  are  consigned 
to  Hongkong  each  year  by  the  Stockton 
Milling  Company,  whose  mills  are  located  at 
Stockton,  in  the  county  of  San  Joaquin,  which 


Their  representative  in  the  East  is  Mr.  T.  W. 
Hornby. 


QIBB,    LIVINGSTON    &    CO. 

It  was  in  1836  that  Messrs.  Gibb,  Living- 
ston &  Co.  established  themselves  in  Canton. 
They  extended  their  operations  to  Hongkong 
and  Shanghai  as  soon  as  these  places  were 
opened  to  trade,  and,  subsequently,  established 
a  branch  at  Foochow.  Their  business  in- 
creased rapidly,  and  now,  as  general  mer- 
chants and  agents,  their  house  is  amongst 
the  most  important  and  best-known  in  the 
Colony.  Their  many  agencies  at  Shanghai, 
include  the  Shanghai  Land  Investment  Com- 
pany ;  the  China  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
Ltd.  ;  the  North  British  and  Mercantile  Fire 
Insurance  Company;  the  "Allianz"  Vers. 
Aklien  Ges.  in  Berlin  ;  United  States  Lloyds ; 
Indemnity  Mutual  Marine  Insurance  Company, 
Ltd.  ;  Lloyds  London  ;  the  London  Salvage 
Association  ;  the  Liverpool  Salvage  Associa- 
tion ;  the  Maritime  Insurance  Company,  Ltd., 
Liverpool  ;  the  Underwriting  and  Agency 
Association  (composed  of  underwriting  mem- 


bers of  Lloyds  only)  ;  the  Eastern  and  Aus- 
tralian Steamship  Company  ;  and  the  Hen 
Line  of  Steamers.  In  Hongkong  they  are 
agents  for  the  British  Nortli  Borneo  Govern- 
ment ;  the  Hongkong  Electric  Company  ;  the 
Ben  Line  of  Steamers  ;  the  Eastern  and 
Au^t^alian  Steamship  Company,  Ltd.  ;  the 
South  African  Line  of  Steamers  ;  the  Austra- 
lian Alliance  Association  Company  (Marine)  ; 
the  Northern  Fire  and  Life  Assurance  Com- 
pany ;  the  North  Queensland  Insurance  Com- 
pany, Ltd.  ;  the  Slianghai  Land  Investment 
Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  Shanghai  Gas  Company, 
Ltd.  ;  the  Shanghai  Tug  and  Lighter  Com- 
pany, Ltd.  ;  and  the  VVciliaiwei  Land  and 
Building  Company,  Ltd.  At  Foochow  their 
agencies  include  the  Union  Insurance  Society, 
of  Canton,  Ltd.  ;  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental 
Steam  Navigation  Company  ;  the  Ben  Line 
of  Steamers  ;  the  Eastern  and  Australian 
Steamship  Company  ;  and  the  North  Britisli 
and  Mercantile  Insurance  Company.  Tlie 
firm's  offices  in  Hongkong  are  situated  in 
York  Buildings. 


BRADLEY   &   CO. 

The  firm  of  Bradley  &  Co.  was  first  eslab- 
lished  in  Swatow,  and  now  has  branches  in 
various  parts  of  China.  The  trade  carried  on 
by  the  Company  covers  a  very  wide  area, 
and  consists  chiefly  of  coal,  shipping,  and 
general  imports.  There  is  a  branch  of  the 
business  in  Shanghai,  and  in  1893  offices 
were  opened  in  Hongkong.  This  policy  of 
extension  has  been  amply  justified  by  results. 
The  partners  in  the  firm  are  Messrs.  T.  W. 
Richardson  (Swatow),  R.  H.  Hill  (London), 
A.  Macgowan  (Swatow),  A.  Forbes  (Hong- 
kong), and  G.  A.  Richardson  (Shanghai).  Mr. 
A.  Forbes  is  the  partner  in  charge  of  the 
Hongkong  branch. 


HONGKONG'S  OLDEST  GERMAN  HOUSE. 

The  firm  of  Siemssen  &  Co.  is  but  a  few 
years  junior  to  the  Colony  itself.  The  his- 
tory of  the  Company  dates  from  1846,  when, 
according  to  a  circular  still  preserved  in  the 
Hongkong  office,  Mr.  G.  T.  Siemssen,  who 
up  till  that  time  had  been  connected  with 
Messrs.  T.  E.  Vidal  &  Co.,  of  Batavia,  as 
manager  of  their  China  department,  decided 
to  start  business  in  China  on  his  own  account. 
Supported  by  prominent  firms  like  Messrs. 
Fredk.  Huth  &  Co.,  of  London,  and  R.  L. 
Fould  &  Fould  Oppenheim,  of  Paris,  he 
chartered  the  good  sailing  ship  Paul  for  a 
voyage  to  Canton,  loading  her  with  every 
class  of  goods  that  seemed  likely  to  be  sale- 
able   in    China.       He   arrived   at    Canton    in 

1847,  and  met  with  such  success  that  a  year 
later  he  had  completed  arrangements  for  the 
opening  of   offices  in  Canton.     On  January  1, 

1848,  Messrs.  Siemssen  were  permanently 
established  in  the  city.  In  1855,  only  twelve 
years  after  the  then  pirate-infested  and  barren 
island  of  Hongkong  had  been  formally  ceded 
to  Great  Britain,  Messrs.  Siemssen  extended 
their  operations  to  the  Colony.  At  this  time 
on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Victoria 
there  was  merely  a  straggling  village  with 
but  few  European  business  houses,  less  than 
half  a  dozen  of  which  remain  at  the  present 
day.  Siemssen  &  Co.  are  thus  in  the  proud 
position  of  being  the  pioneer  firm  of  the 
many  powerful  German  houses  which  now 
conduct  operations  in  the  Colony,  In  1865, 
the  headquarters  of  the  house  were  trans- 
ferred to  Hamburg,  where  Mr.  G.  T.  Siemssen 


illlii'tiiit 


n„ 


SIEMSSEN    &    CO. 


Hasdlixg  Mattixg. 

G.  T.  SlEMSSEX  (Founder). 
Thk  Offices. 


The  Old  Premises  ox  Waier  Front. 
Waldemar  Nissex  (Founder). 

THE   KOWLOOX  GODOWXS. 


218    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


retained  the  management  until  his  death 
in  November,  1886.  In  the  meantime  Mr. 
Woldemar  Xissen  had  joined  the  firm 
(1855I  and  \-arious  branches  had  l'>een  estab- 
lished in  China  under  the  control  of  other 
partners,  whom  Mr.  Siemssen  had  taken  into 
the  business.  Mr.  Nissen  became  senior 
partner  after  Mr.  Siemssen's  death,  and 
superintended  the  affairs  of  the  Company 
at  the  head  office  until  he  also  passed  away 
in  18^.  Mr.  Albert  Gueltzow  who  was  ad- 
mitted to  partnership  in  1864,  ne.xt  became 
head  of  the  tirm  and  is  at  present  directing 
operations  from  Hamburg.  The  senior  part- 
ner in  the  East  is  Mr.  N.  A.  Siebs,  who  joined 
the  house  as  a  shipping  clerk  in  1865  and 
t>ecame  a  partner  in  1881.  To  the  energy 
of  these  gentlemen  Hongkong  owes  the 
existence  of  one  of  its  leading  houses. 

As  the  firm's  business  expanded  fresh  fields 
were  exploited  from  time  to  time  and  new 
partners  were  taken  into  the  house.  The 
year   1886  saw   Mr.  Arnold  Fuchs,  who  was 


prominently  connected  with  luinierous  com- 
mercial enterprises  for  the  development  of 
the  Colony  and  the  East  generally,  and  the 
resident  senior  parlner  in  Hongkong  holds 
a  seat  on  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Hong- 
kong and  Shanghai  Banking  Corporation  ;  tlie 
Hongkong  and  Whanipoa  Dock  Company  ; 
the  Hongkong  Land  Investment  and  Agency 
Company  ;  tlie  Hongkong  and  Kowloon 
Wharf  and  Godown  Company  ;  the  China 
Fire  Insurance  Company  ;  the  Hongkong, 
Canton  and  Macao  Steamboat  Company,  &c. 

BARRETTO   &   CO. 

The  boycott  of  American  flour  by  llic  Chinese 
in  1905-6  gave  a  big  fillip  to  the  trade  in 
Australian  flour,  and  prominent  amongst  the 
firms  to  benefit  by  this  were  Messrs.  Barretto 
&  Co.,  whose  business  was  established,  in 
1895,  by  Messrs.  A.  A.  H.  Botelho  and    F.  D. 


MESSRS.    BARRETTO    &    CO.'S    OFFICE. 


admitted  to  partnership  in  1899,  first  become 
connected  with  the  Company.  In  1907,  when 
Mr.  Siebs  was  absent  on  leave,  the  Hongkong 
branch  was  under  the  control  of  Mr.  Fuchs, 
while  Mr.  Charles  Brodersen,  who  entered 
the  firm  in  1883.  and  became  a  parlner  in 
1899.  and  Mr.  Otto  Struckmeyer,  who  joined 
in  1889  and  was  made  a  partner  in  1903, 
were  managing  the  Shanghai  branch  with 
control  over  the  northern  offices.  The  Com- 
pany have  fine  premises  at  No.  2,  Praya 
Central,  Hongkong,  and  branches  at  Canton, 
Shanghai,  Hankow,  Tientsin,  and  Tsingtau, 
with  agencies  in  London,  Lyons,  and  New 
York.  They  are  well  known  as  bankers, 
general  merchants,  importers  and  exporters, 
shipping  and  insurance  agents,  engineers  and 
contractors  for  the  complete  equipment  of 
railways  and  factories,  &c.,  and  the  name  of 
"Seem-Sun"  is  familiar  to  probably  every 
Chinese  merchant  of  any  importance  doing 
business  with  foreigners  in  North  and  South 
China.    The  members  of  the  firm  have  been 


Barretto.  The  headquarters  are  in  Queen's 
Buildings,  and  as  merchants,  commission 
and  shipping  agents,  and  wholesale  importers 
and  exporters  their  operations  cover  an  exten- 
sive field  and  are  increasing  year  by  year. 
Probably  more  flour  from  the  Australian 
Commonwealth  has  passed  through  their 
hands  latterly  than  through  those  of  any 
other  firm  in  the  Colony.  They  are  well 
represented  all  over  the  world,  and  are  the 
agents  in  South  China  and  Hongkong  for 
the  Compagnie  Fran<;aise  des  Indes  et  de 
I'Exlreme-Orient  ;  Compania  Trasatlantica 
Royal  Spanish  Mail  Line  (passengers'  depart- 
ment) ;  the  Gresham  Life  Assurance  Company; 
Lloyd  Platino  (F'ire  and  Marine)  ;  Victoria 
General  Insurance  Company  ;  La  Xacional 
(Marine  Insurance)  ;  and  the  Wine  Growers' 
Supply  Company.  They  have  recently  started 
the  Imperial  Brewing  Company,  Ltd.,  in  the 
Colony,  and  have  succeeded  in  placing  the 
French  service  of  night  steamers  to  Canton 
on  a  paying  basis. 


DODWELL   &   CO. 

Messrs.  Dodwei.l  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  were  estab- 
lished in  Hongkong  on  January  1,  1899,  the 
firm,  until  that  date,  being  known  as  Dodwell, 
Carlill  &  Co.  They  are  general  merchants, 
importers,  exporters,  and  general  and  shipping 
agents,  and  undertake  commission  business 
of  every  description.  Their  headquarters  are 
in  London,  and  they  have  branches  also  at 
Shanghai,  Hankow,  and  Foochow  in  China ; 
Yokohama  and  Kobe,  in  Japan  ;  Colombo, 
Ceylon  ;  San  Francisco,  Tacoma,  and  Seattle, 
U.S.A.  ;  and  Victoria  and  Vancouver,  British 
Columbia.  The  directors  are  Messrs.  George 
B.  Dodwell,  chairman,  A.  J.  H.  Carlill,  T.  M. 
Dermer,  F.  D'Iffanger,  F.  Dodwell,  H.  A.  J. 
Macray,  G.  H.  Medhurst,  G.  J.  Melhuish, 
G.  S.  "Thomson,  and  E.  S.  Whealler.  Mr. 
G.  H.  Medhurst,  who  is  a  member  of  the 
committee  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
is  the  manager,  and  Mr.  E.  G.  Barrett,  sub- 
manager,  of  the  Hongkong  branch. 

P.   BLACKHEAD   &   CO. 

1\  the  early  days,  before  the  establishment  of 
Hongkong  as  a  British  Colony,  Whampoa 
was  the  farthest  point  to  which  the  Chinese 
permitted  foreign  ships  to  proceed  up  llie 
West  Kiver.  Many  difticulties  were  experi- 
enced at  this  port  by  vessels  in  obtaining 
stores,  and  it  was  this  fact  which  led  to  the 
establishment  of  the  firm  of  F.  Blackhead 
&  Co.  by  Mr.  B.  Schwarzkopf.  Purchasing 
a  dismantled  Chinese  junk  of  suitable  propor- 
tions, Mr.  Schwarzkopf  commenced  busmess 
on  the  waters  of  the  harbour  in  1855.  There 
was  a  good  opening  for  the  new  venture,  but 
many  restrictions  were  placed  upon  foreign 
traders  by  Cliinese  oHicials,  and  there  was 
little  guarantee  of  piotection  against  the 
pirates  who  infested  the  Chinese  w,iters.  In 
spite  of  all  obstacles,  however,  Mr,  Schwarz- 
kopf built  up  a  thriving  trade.  But  when  the 
troubles  at  Canton  culminated  in  war  between 
England  and  China  the  business  was  removed 
lo  Hongkong,  and  here  it  has  remained, 
progressing  with  the  Colony  year  after  year. 
At  about  the  time  when  the  headquarters 
were  removed  from  Whampoa  to  Hongkong 
a  branch  was  established  in  the  Portuguese 
city  of  Macao,  where  there  was  great  activity 
in  shipping  circles  on  account  of  the  coolie 
trade.  This  branch,  however,  was  not  des- 
tined to  meet  with  overmuch  success,  for  in 
1874  the  many  abuses  of  the  coolie  traffic 
had  become  so  glaring  that  the  traffic  was 
abolished,  and  the  firm,  by  withdrawing, 
anticipated  the  steady  decline  in  Macao's 
importance  as  a  shipping  port. 

During  Mr.  B.  Schwarzkopf's  life  Messrs. 
Smith,  Schoenemann,  Hoeinike,  and  F. 
Schwarzkopf  were  admitted  as  partners,  and 
the  business  was  conducted  by  them  until 
1903,  when  Mr.  Smith  and,  later  on,  Mr. 
Schoenemann  left  for  Europe.  They  (lid  not, 
however,  live  long  after  their  return  to  the 
homeland.  The  firm's  offices  are  now  in  that 
magnificent  pile  on  the  water  front  known  as 
St.  George's  Buildings.  Here  they  stock 
everything  that  comes  under  the  heading  of 
ship's  stores,  for  they  are  contractors  to  the 
German,  Austrian,  and  Russian  Navies.  They 
are  also  interested  in  the  coal  trade  of  the 
Colony.  .Some  years  ago  they  acquired  a 
large  parcel  of  land,  known  as  Blackhead's 
Point,  at  Kowloon,  having  an  extensive  deep- 
water  frontage,  and  here  they  built  godowns 
and  a  pier  constructed  on  Differdingen  piles 
capable  of  accommodating  quite  large  vessels. 
For  many  years  a  conspicuous  feature  of  the 


3.    Mr.  James  Guy. 
2.    The  Late  Mr.  Chew  D.  Musse. 


PROMINENT    MEMBERS    OF    THE    EUROPEAN   BUSINESS    COMMUNITY,    HONGKONG 

I.    Dr.  a.  S.  Gomes. 


6.    Mr.  L.  M.  Alvares. 

14.    Mr.  E.  m.  Hazelaxd. 
19.    Mr.  a.  F.  Weiss. 


7.    Mr.  J.  W.  Graham,  8.    Mr.  A.  R,  Lowe, 

Actinj;  Manager.  Hongkong  and  Secretary, 

Whampoa  Dock  Co.,  Ltd.  Chamber  of  Commerce. 


II.    Mr.  G.  H.  Medhurst, 
Manager,  Dodwell  &  C{>. 


15.    Mr.  a.  Korhs. 

20.     Mh.  a.  Hickie, 
"China  Express,"  Hongkong. 


12.    Mr.  R.  Shewan. 
16.    Mr.  Gray  Scott. 


4.    Mr.  W.  S.  Bailey. 

5.    Mr.  J.  R.  Michael. 
9.    Mr.  f.  Lammert, 
Secretary, 
Victoria  Recreation  Club. 

10.    Mr.  Thcmas  Neave. 
13.    Mr.  a.  a.  H.  Botelho. 


17.    Mr.  F.  D.  Barretto. 

21.    Mr.  F.  Jorge, 
President,  Lusitano  Club. 


18.    The  Late  Mr  Danby. 
22.    Mr.  H.  Wicking, 


220    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


shipping  in  the  harbour  has  been  Messrs. 
Blackhead's  large  hulk,  bearing  an  advertise- 
ment of  the  famous  ••  Red  Hand  Brand "  of 
composition  for  the  t>otloms  of  iron  ships, 
for  which  the  firm  has  the  sole  agency  in 
the  Colony.  The  only  European  sail-making 
business  in  Hongkong,  also,  is  conducted  by 
Messrs.  Blackhead  &  Co.  Even  this  does 
not  exhaust  the  list  of  tlieir  industries,  for 
at  Shaukiwan  they  have  established  a  large 
soap  and  soda  factory,  details  of  which  are 
gi\-en  in  the  section  of  this  work  devoted  to 
industries. 

The  present  partners  in  the  firm  are  Messrs. 
F.  Schwarzkopf,  son  of  the  founder,  and  F. 
Hoehnke.  They  have  branches  at  Neishiem, 
Tsingtau,  and  Tsin.uifu,  where  the  business 
is  carried  on  under  the  st>-le  of  F.  Schwarz- 
kopf «k  Co. 


requirements  of  all  customers.  Smokers' 
requisites  of  every  kind  are  stocked  in  abun- 
dance. The  house  has  taken  the  lead  in 
other  directions,  too,  for  it  is  the  only  one 
importing  continental  fancy  goods,  including 
china,  table  and  wall  ornaments,  fancy  bas- 
kets, glass  vases,  and  ware  of  special  design, 
&c.  Other  lines  comprise  electro-plate,  toys, 
picture  postcards  (which  latter  the  firm  were 
the  first  to  introduce  into  tlie  Colony),  and 
the  well-known  •'  Divinice  "  brand  of  perfume, 
distilled  by  Messrs.  Wolff  &  Solin.  The 
firm  also  deal  largely  in  incandescent  gas 
fittings,  and  were  the  first  local  agents  for 
the  ••  Welsbach "  burners  now  in  general 
use.  This  does  not  by  any  means  exhaust 
the  list  of  agencies  held  by  the  firm— for  they 
represent  the  ''  Columbia  "  Cycle  Company, 
the  German  newspaper,  Oslusinlisclie  Lloyil, 
and  numerous  smaller  interests — but  enough 
has  been  said  to  show  the  extent  and  diversity 
of  the  trade  carried  on  by  them.    The  pro- 


[See  page  2:8.] 


MESSRS.    F.    BLACKHEAD    &    CO. 


The  Office. 


KRUSE   &   CO. 

It  was  in  1868  that  Mr.  Kruse,  a  shrewd 
man  of  business,  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
extensive  import  trade  in  tobacco,  cigars,  and 
fancy  goods  now  carried  on  under  the  style 
of  Kruse  &  Co.  by  Messrs.  C.  W.  Longuet 
and  J.  Meier.  Mr.  Kruse  died  in  1874,  and 
many  changes  of  partnership  followed,  but 
the  business  has  prospered,  and  to-day  the 
firm  is  the  leading  house  of  its  kind  in  the 
Colony,  with  a  carefully  guarded  reputation 
for  supplying  only  the  best  class  of  goods. 
Messrs.  Kruse  &  Co.  are  agents  for  Messrs. 
Valfiadis  &  Co.'s  and  Messrs.  A.  G.  Cousis 
&  Co.'s  Egyptian  cigarettes  ;  they  are  the 
sole  importers  of  the  "  Imperia  del  Mundo  " 
Manila  cigars  ;  they  import  the  special  brand 
known  as  "  El  Oriente "  direct  from  the 
factory  ;  and  they  are  the  only  firm  shipping 
cigars  direct  from  Havana  in  wholesale 
quantities  to  Hongkong.  They  deal  lx>th 
with  the  Tobacco  "Trust  and  with  independent 
companies,  and  are  thus  able    to  meet    the 


The  Hulk  "Jay," 
with  sail-making  department. 

prietors  visit  Europe  in  turn,  one  buying  goods 
in  Hamburg  whilst  the  other  is  supervising 
the  business  in  Hongkong. 


A.   S.   WATSON    &   CO.,    LTD. 

The  firm  of  A.  S.  Watson  &  Co.,  Ltd., 
chemists,  druggists,  aerated  water  manu- 
facturers, &c.,  is  one  of  the  largest  business 
concerns  in  the  Far  East,  consisting,  as  it 
does,  of  thirteen  European  shops  and  upwards 
of  forty  Chinese  branches,  giving  employment 
to  fifty  Europeans  and  five  hundred  Chinese. 
Its  origin  dates  back  to  the  cession  of  Hong- 
kong to  the  British,  when  a  naval  surgeon 
opened  what  became  known  as  the  Hongkong 
Dispensary  for  the  use,  principally,  of  sailors 
and  soldiers.  In  the  fifties,  new  premises 
were  opened  in  Queen's  Road,  the  concern 
having  by  that  time  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Mr.  A.  S.  Watson.  The  business — still 
only  that  of  a  chemist  and  druggist — was  sold 


in  1870  to  a  Mr.  Bell,  who,  in  turn,  made 
it  over  to  Mr.  Hunt  and  Mr.  John  D. 
Humpln-eys.  The  latter  gentleman  afterwards 
became  the  sole  proprietor,  and  in  1876  the 
first  step  was  taken  in  the  direction  of  expan- 
sion by  the  establishment  of  a  small  aerated 
water  factory.  Branches  were  opened  in 
various^  districts,  and  the  Chinese  name  of  the 
firm,  the  Tai-yeuk-fong,  became  known  all 
over  China.  In  1886  the  concern  was  floated 
as  a  limited  liability  company,  with  a  capital 
of  nearly  four  lakhs  of  dollars.  Mr.  John  D. 
Humplireys  ceased  to  be  general  manager  in 
1896,  and  his  firm  of  John  D.  Humphreys  & 
Son  became  general  managers.  The  capital 
was  raised  to  §600,000  in  i*'90,  and  was 
further  increased  in  1904  to  $900,000.  The 
present  partners  in  John  D.  Humphreys  &  Son 
are  Messrs.  Henry  Humphreys,  J.  A.  Jupp, 
and  E.  E.  Humphreys. 

The  chief  offices  and  premises  of  the  firm 
are  in  Alexandra  Buildings,  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  imposing  blocks  in  the  Colony,  built 
upon  the  most  approved  modern  lines.  In 
the  immediate  vicinity  are  the  Company's 
warehouses  and  soda  water  factory. 


WILLIAM   POWELL,    LTD. 

This  firm  of  general  drapers,  furnishers,  dress- 
makers, and  milliners,  was  founded  in  1884  by 
Mr.  William  Powell,  who  started  in  business 
for  himself  after  having  been  for  some  years  in 
the  employment  of  the  lirm  of  Sayle  &  Co.  It 
was  converted  into  a  limited  liability  company 
in  1901,  with  a  capital  of  §120,000,  which 
was  increased  in  1905,  to  §150,000,  when  the 
business  was  greatly  extended.  The  firm 
undertake  the  supply  of  everything  for  ladies', 
children's,  and  gentlemen's  wear,  and  of  house, 
ship,  and  hotel  furnisliing.  At  tlieir  furniture 
workshop  ,-it  Wancliai  a  large  staff  of  workmen 
is  employed  under  the  supervision  of  ex- 
perienced London  cabinct-niakers.  The  prin- 
cipal establishment  of  the  firm  is  situated  in 
Alexandra  Buildings.  There  is  also  a  special 
outfitting  department  for  gentlemen  in  Queen's 
Road  Central. 

WENDT   &   CO. 

Messrs.  Wendt  &  Co.'s  commercial  connec- 
tion with  Canton  dates  back  to  the  early  days 
of  business  with  the  Kwangtung  Province. 
Their  headquarters  were  formerly  in  that 
city,  and  although  the  proprietors  finding  of 
late  years  that  Hongkong  is  the  more  con- 
venient place  for  conducting  their  trade,  have 
carried  on  business  at  No.  6,  Ice  House  Street, 
the  firm's  name  of  Hing-sing  is  still  one  of  the 
best  known  among  the  European  hongs  on  the 
Shameen.  Goods  are  imported  from  Europe, 
America,  and  Australia,  and  an  important 
export  trade  is  done  in  Chinese  commodities. 
In  Canton  the  firm  are  agents  for  the  Aus- 
trian Llovd  Steamship  Company,  several  local 
steamship  lines,  the  Netherlands  Lloyd  Insur- 
ance Companv,  &c.  The  head  of  the  business 
is   Mr.  F.  A.  Wendt. 

THE   CHINA    EXPRESS   COMPANY. 

Lieut.  Waghorn,  a  statue  to  whom  has 
been  erected  at  his  birthplace,  Chatham,  and 
whose  bust  has  stood  for  many  years  at 
the  entrance  to  the  Suez  Canal,  may  be  con- 
sidered as  the  pioneer  of  the  overland  route 
to  the  East.  Always  of  an  adventurous 
disposition,  the  turning  point   in   his  career 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      221 


was  reached  when  he  visited  Calcutta  in 
1827,  and  convinced  the  authorities,  after 
much  difficulty,  that  there  was  a  better  way 
to  and  from  England  than  by  the  Cape  route. 
He  estabUshed  a  regular  service  of  caravans 
across  Egypt,  built  eight  halting-places  in 
the  desert  between  Cairo  and  Suez,  converted 
a  dangerous  path,  beset  with  robbers,  into 
secure  highway,  and  from  1827  to  1833 
carried  the  overland  mail.  Associated  with 
him  was  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Wheatley,  and  the 
firm  of  Wheatley  &  Co.  were  the  first  to 
develop  to  any  great  extent,  the  parcel- 
carrying  business.  Since  those  days  the 
trade  has  grown  by  leaps  and  bounds.  In 
Hongkong  Messrs.  McEwen,  Frickel  &  Co. 
were  largely  concerned  in  it.  Indeed,  this 
particular  department  grew  almost  too 
unwieldy  to  be  managed  successfully  in  con- 


THE   CHINA   MUTUAL   LIFE   INSURANCE 
COMPANY,   LTD. 

During  the  ten  years  of  its  existence  the 
China  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company,  Ltd., 
has  made  wonderful  progress,  and  to-day 
ranks  amongst  companies  of  longer  standing 
and  greater  pretensions.  It  is  incorporated 
under  the  Companies  Ordinances  of  the 
Hongkong  Government,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  tinancial  year,  March  31,  1907,  its 
accounts  sliowed  insurance  in  force  amount- 
ing to  $31,655,517,  assets  $4,989,042,  income 
$2.3?9,34i,  reserve  $4,296,721,  surplus  $526,575, 
and  total  security  to  policy  holders  $5,508,228. 
The  moneys  of  the  Company  are  carefully 
invested,  and  not  less  than  90  per  cent,  of 
the  surplus  must  be  distributed  as  dividends 
among  the  policy  holders.     Policies  are  issued 


of  selling  goods  to  the  Chinese,  and  the  firm 
are  open  at  all  limes  to  receive  goods  on 
consignment  for  which  prompt  settlements 
are  made.  The  firm  act  as  brokers,  sur- 
veyors, marine  appraisers,  and  appraisers  of 
goods  damaged  either  by  fire  or  water.  They 
conduct  their  auctions  in  Chinese  whenever 
there  is  a  purely  Chinese  audience  present. 
The  senior  partner  is  Mr.  Geo.  P.  Lammert, 
who  is  at  present  in  Shanghai.  He  is  a 
captain  in  the  volunteer  force  and  is  one 
of  the  best-known  vocalists  in  the  Colony. 
During  his  absence  the  business  in  Hong- 
kong is  managed  by  Mr.  H.  A.  Lammert, 
who  personally  conducts  all  the  sales.  He 
is  assisted  by  his  brother,  Mr.  L.  E.  Lammert. 
In  the  early  days  the  firm  occupied  premises 
upon  the  site  upon  which  Messrs.  Jardine, 
Matheson  &  Co.  are  erecting  their  new  hong. 


MESSRS.    KRUSE    &    CO.'S    PREMISES. 


junction  with  their  other  interests,  and  in 
July,  1907,  Mr.  S.  D.  Hickie,  who  had  been 
in  charge  of  the  business  for  several  years, 
purchased  it  outright  ;  now  there  is  probably 
no  Hongkong  firm  better  known  abroad  than 
the  "  China  Express  Company."  They  have 
connections  with  every  civilised  part  of  the 
globe,  and  there  is  certainly  no  question  as 
to  the  efficiency  of  their  organisation.  They 
have  about  eight  hundred  agencies  in  the 
principal  ports  and  cities  of  the  world,  each 
with  sub-agencies  for  the  distribution  and 
reception  of  goods.  Mr.  Hickie  also  carries 
on  a  general  export  and  import  business,  and 
offers  particular  facilities  to  small  importers. 
The  headquarters  of  the  China  h;xpress  Com- 
pany are  at  No.  3,  Duddell  Street. 


in  most  of  the  usual  forms — children's  endow- 
ment, limited  payment  life,  ordinary  life,  and 
endowment,  all  with  profits — and  they  are 
unconditional  and  incontestable  from  the  date 
of  issue.  The  head  offices  are  in  Shanghai. 
The  Hongkong  office  is  situated  in  the  Alex- 
andra Buildings,  Mr.  Lefferts  Knox  being  the 
district  manager. 

GEO.    P.   LAMMERT  &   CO. 

This  is  the  oldest  established  auctioneering 
firm  in  the  Colony.  It  was  founded  by  Mr. 
Geo.  R.  Lamhiert,  the  father  of  the  present 
partners,  and,  for  upwards  of  forty  years 
residents  in  Hongkong  have  been  accustomed 
to  go  to  Lanimert's  sale  rooms  for  bargains 
of  all  descriptions,    A  special  feature  is  made 


Now,  however,  their  auction  rooms  are  at 
No.  4,  Duddell  Street,  an  excellent  situation 
in  the  centre  of  the  town  and  less  than  five 
minutes'  walk  from  the  leading  business 
houses.  The  firm  are  agents  for  Milner's 
safes  and  several  London  firms  ;  their  tele- 
graphic   address   is    "  Lammert,    Hongkong." 

/d 

SOARES  &   CO. 

Twenty  years  ago  the  thriving  firm  of  Messrs. 
Soares  &  Co.,  was  founded  by  Mr.  A.  K.  J. 
Soares,  who,  devoting  his  energies  at  the  start 
to  the  real  estate  business,  soon  afterwards  saw 
the  possibilities  of  assisting  in  the  development 
of  the  China  trade.  So  successful  were  his 
efforts  that  the  firm  now  does  a  very  extensive 


999 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


business  in  rice,  besides  beinj;  a  large  exporter 
of  general  Chinese  products  to  Europe,  Africa, 
and  all  parts  of  North  and  South  America. 
Mr.  Soares,  who  recently  retired  from  active 
participation  in  the  affairs  of  the  tirm,  owns 
\-aluable  blocks  of  land  in  the  island  and  in  the 
neighbouring  peninsula  of  Kowloon.  In 
addition  to  its  own  business,  which  is  now 
conducted  by  Mr.  A.  M.  L.  Soares,  the  only  son 
of  the  founder,  the  tirm  represents  the  interests 
of  several  Macao  capitalists. 


up  an  extensive  connection  as  importers  and 
e.xixirlers  and  especially  as  flour  merchants. 
At  the  present  time  they  are  one  of  the  largest 
importers  in  the  Colony  of  Australian  flour, 
which  has  become  an  important  item  in  the 
local  market  during  the  past  tew  years. 
Australian  butter  and  dairy  products  are 
imported,  the  firm  being  in  touch  with  some  of 
the  leading  distributing  houses  in  Sydney, 
Melbourne,  and  Brisbane.  The  firm  deal  also 
in   American   flour  and  general  merchandise. 


GEO.    P.    LAMMERT. 


H.    A.    LAMMERT. 


[See  page  221.] 


CRUZ,    BASTO  &  CO. 

This  firm  was  founded  some  four  years  ago  by 
Mr.  A.  M.  da  Crat.  and  Mr.  J.  M.  K.  Basto, 
who  were  joined  later  by  Mr.  A.  D.  Barretto. 
All  three  partners  were  men  of  experience  in 
the  Colony,  and  they  were  not  long  in  working 


A  branch  of  the  business  is  situated  at  Canton, 
where  Chinese  silks  are  bought  direct  from  the 
weavers,  together  with  malting  and  other 
products  of  South  China.  Messrs.  Cruz,  Basto 
&  Co.,  are  one  of  the  leading  dealers  in  the 
camphor  trade  of  the  Colony,  bringing  the 
produce    from     the     Kokien    Province,    and 


disposing  of  large  quantities  locally,  besides 
shipping  it  in  bulk  to  India.  Tlic  head  offices 
are  in  Prince's  Buildings,  Hongkong. 


V.   P.   MUSSO   &   CO. 

Messrs.  V.  P.  Musso  &  Co.  have  a  large 
connection,  both  locally  and  in  Europe,  as 
general  agent:^,  importers,  and  exporters.  For 
many  years  they  held  a  contract  for  supplies 
to  the  Italian  N'avy  in  the  P'ar  East.  The 
firm  was  established  twenty-five  years  ago  by 
Mr.  D.  Musso.  an  Italian  gentleman,  who  for 
many  years,  right  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  was  one  of  the  well-known  merchants 
of  the  Colony,  and  held  a  prominent  position 
in  the  local  community  as  Consul-General 
for  Italy.  A  handsome  monument  to  his 
memory  has  been  erected  in  the  Catholic 
Cemetery  at  Happy  Valley.  For  a  time  his 
widow  carried  on  the  business,  but  latterly 
his  three  sons,  Messrs.  V.  P.,  L.  A.  and  F.  P. 
Musso  have  entered  into  it  as  partners.  They 
are  popular  in  commercial  circles  and  are 
well  known  in  the  field  of  sport.  The  business 
manager  of  the  firm  in  Hongkong  is  Mr.  L. 
Borello. 


L.   M.   ALVARES   &  CO. 

A  POPULAR  delicacy  at  home  is  the  preserved 
ginger  imported  largely  from  China.  Tlie 
Hing  Loong  ginger  factory  in  Canton  is 
noted  for  producing  some  of  tlie  finest 
qualities,  the  export  of  which  is  controlled 
by  Messrs.  L.  M.  Alvares  &  Co.,  of  No.  8a, 
Des  Voeux  Road,  Hongkong.  The  ginger  is 
prepared  by  a  secret  process  suggested  by 
Mr.  Alvares.  Another  important  business  in 
which  Messrs.  Alvares  &  Co.  are  engaged  is 
the  export  of  feathers,  which  are  purchased 
in  China  and  cleaned  in  the  firm's  own 
factory  at  Kowloon — the  only  establisliment 
of  its  kind  in  the  Colony — equipped  with  the 
latest  machinery,  and  housed  in  a  building 
specially  designed  to  meet  the  exacting 
requirements  of  the  Sanitary  Board.  The 
firm  do  a  considerable  and  important  business 
with  Europe  and  America,  and  have  an 
excellent  reputation  as  experts  in  the  selection 
of  Chinese  produce.  The  business  was  estab- 
lished in  1896  by  Mr.  L.  M.  Alvares,  the 
present  managing  partner,  wlio  was  educated 
at  St.  Joseph's  College,  Hongkong.  In  1903 
he  took  Mr.  J.  M.  Alves  into  partnership. 

1# 

JORQE   &   CO.. 

Messrs.  Jorge  &  Co.,  of  No.  5,  Zetland 
Street,  carry  on  the  business  of  general 
merchants,  importers,  and  exporters.  They 
deal  largely  in  China  produce,  and  make  a 
speciality  of  ginseng,  in  the  selection  of 
which  Mr.  K.  J.  V.  Jorge,  the  proprietor  and 
founder,  is  an  acknowledged  expert.  As  a 
tribute  to  Mr.  Jorge's  ability  in  this  direction 
it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  firm  is  the  only 
foreign  house  in  the  ginseng  trade  in  the 
Colony.  The  import  business  is  largely  in 
piece  goods,  which  are  disposed  of  amongst 
the  Chinese.  The  firm  has  extensive  trading 
relationships  with  leading  houses  throughout 
Europe  and  America,  and  important  connec- 
tions with  the  Philippines  and  Formosa.  Mr. 
Jorge  was  for  many  years  connected  with  the 
old  firm  of  Messrs.  Russell  &  Co.,  and  when 
that  house  was  discontinued  he  assisted  in 
the  promotion  of  the  present  large  business 
of  Messrs.  Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co.    Seven  years 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     223 


SIB,    SASSOON    J.    DAVID 

(Founder  of  the  Firm). 

ago  he  established  himself  as  head  of  Messrs. 
Jorge  &  Co.,  and  has  been  chiefly  responsible 
for  the  firm's  prosperity.  He  is  president  of 
the  Club  Lusitano,  the  only  Portuguese  club 
in  (he  Colony,  and  was  instrumental  in  pulling 
that  institution  through  its  recent  difliculties 
and  placing  it  once  more  on   a  sound  basis. 


ROZARIO   &   CO. 

The  extensive  business  carried  on  by  the 
well-known  firm  of  Messrs.  Rozario  &  Co. 
was  established  in  1857  by  Mr.  M.  C.  do 
Rozario.  It  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son, 
and  later  devolved  upon  Mr.  Joao  Joaquim 
Leiria,  the  present  head  of  the  firm.  Messrs. 
Rozario  &  Co.  are  great  exporters  of  valuable 
commodities  to  San  Francisco  and  Honolulu. 
Mr.  Leiria,  who  is  also  the  Portuguese  Vice- 
Consul  for  the  Colony,  may  be  found  at 
No.  47,  Wyndham  Street,  Hongkong. 


S.  J.   DAVID   &   CO. 

Mr.  a.  J.  David,  senior  partner  of  the  Far 
Eastern  branches  of  that  influential  firm  of 
Bombay  merchants  known  as  Messrs.  S.  J. 
David  &  Co.,  is  a  brother  of  Sir  Sassoon 
J.  David,  the  founder,  one  of  India's  best 
known  merchant  princes.  Sir  Sassoon  was 
a  pioneer  of  the  mill  industry  in  Bombay, 
where  he  now  holds  the  office  of  chairman 
of  the  Mill  Owners'  Association,  and  where 
his  vast  experience  has  led  to  his  election 
to  the  Municipal  Corporation,  the  Standing 
Committee,  the  Port  Trust,  the  Improvement 
Trust,  and  other  public  bodies,  and  lastly 
to  his  elevation  to  the  Shrievalty.  Mr.  A.  J. 
David  was  born  on  March  31,  1854,  and  was 
educated  at  Elphinstone  College,  Bombay. 
He  was  the  first  member  of  the  Jewish 
faith  to  pass  the  Matriculation  Exammation 
in  India  and  to  obtain  the  David  Sassoon 
Hebrew  Scholarship.     He  has  travelled  exten- 


A.   J.   DAVID 

(Senior  Partner  of   tlie  Far  Eastern  branches). 

sively  over  a  great  part  of  Europe,  and  also 
in  America  and  Japan.  He  came  to  China 
in  1878,  and  has  been  largely  responsible 
for     the     remarkable     success     achieved     by 


the  firm  in  this  part  of  the  world.  He 
married  Katie,  daughter  of  Mr.  S.  E.  Shellim, 
and  niece  of  Sir  Albert  Sassoon,  Bart.  He 
lives  at  No.  2,  Mount  Oough,  the  Peak,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Hongkong  Club.  The 
firm,  which  has  offices  in  Prince's  Buildings, 
carries  on  business  in  Indi.m  yarns  and  opium, 
and  is  probably  the  largest  importer  of  yarn 
in  the  Colony,  the  product  coming  from  its 
own  and  other  mills  in  Bombay.  The  Hong- 
kong blanch  holds  the  local  agency  for  the 
South  British  Insurance  Company.  Other 
branches  are  established  at  Shanghai  and 
Kobe. 


DISS   BROTHERS. 

Pkkhaps  by  contrast  with  cities  more  essen- 
tially tropical,  where  appearance  comes 
second  to  comfort,  Hongkong  will  strike  the 
visitor  as  a  "dressy"  place,  and,  if  he  be  in 
need  of  a  smart  outfit,  he  will  naturally  look 
round  for  a  high-class  tailoring  establish- 
ment. Such  a  one  is  that  of  Messrs.  Diss 
Brothers  in  Wyndham  Street.  The  partners 
are  Messrs.  G.  A.  and  A.  C.  Diss,  who  both 
received  their  training  in  the  West  End,  and 
have  since  been  connected  with  leading 
houses  in  Colombo  and  Singapore.  They 
are  members  of  a  family  of  five  brothers,  all 
of  whom,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  their 
father,  are  engaged  in  the  tailoring  trade. 
Together,  they  have  had  an  Eastern  experi- 
ence aggregating  half  a  century.  Messrs. 
Diss  Brothers  opened  business  in  Hongkong 
eight  years  ago,  and,  by  reason  of  their  skill 
and  experience,  they  have  gained  an  enviable 
reputation  for  good  and  careful  workmanship. 
They  are  the   only  exclusively  tailoring  firm 


224     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


in  the  Colony,  and,  while  executing  orders 
for  all  kinds  of  work  for  gentlemen,  Ihey 
specialise  in  riding-breeches  and  the  popular 
Jodhpore  styles.  Their  customers  have  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that,  by  frequent 
\isils  to  England,  the  firm  keep  in  close 
touch  with  the  fashions  at  home  and  on  the 
continent.  They  work,  also,  in  conjunction 
with  one  of  their  brothers,  who  carries  on 
business  in  Conduit  Street,  W.  He  buys  for 
them,  and  it  often  happens  that  when  their 
customers  retire  from  the  Colony  or  go 
home  on  leave  they  transfer  their  orders  to 
him,    the    name    itself    being    a     sufficient 


guarantee  that  they  will  be  well  served.  At 
Wyndham  Street  the  brothers  keep  a  large 
assortment  of  cloths  calculated  to  satisfy  the 
most  discriminating  and  fastidious,  and  if 
their  client  hesitates  in  his  choice,  they  are 
able  and  willing  to  offer  him  sound  advice 
which   he  is   not   likely   to    regiet   following. 

1# 
KELLY   &  WALSH,   LTD. 

The  firm  of  Kelly  &  Walsh,  Ltd.,  publishers, 
printers,    bookbinders,   booksellers,    and    sta- 


tioneis,  has  been  established  for  over  thirty 
years,  and  has  branches  in  Hongkong, 
Shanghai,  Singapore,  and  Yokohama.  The 
Hongkong  branch  was  formerly  situated  in 
Queen's  Koad  Central,  whence  it  was  removed 
a  few  years  ago  to  the  present  handsome 
premises  in  York  Building.  Chater  Road. 
The  local  printing  office  is  situated  in 
Duddell  Street,  and  is  thoroughly  well 
equipped.  Messrs.  Kelly  &  Walsh  carry  a 
very  large  stock  of  books,  and  make  a 
feature  of  those  dealing  with  the  P^ar  East. 


THE   ORIENTAL    MERCANTILE    COMMUNITY,   HONGKONG. 


DAVID   SASSOON   &   CO.,   LTD. 

The  firm  of  David  Sassoon  &  Co.  ranks 
amongst  the  three  or  four  oldest  houses 
in  the  Colony,  for  it  has  been  closely  and 
prominently  connected  with  the  business 
of  the  island  for  upwards  of  half  a  cen- 
tury. Its  special  lines  are  Indian  cotton  yarn 
and  Indian  opium,  the  latter  having  attracted 


the  founders  of  the  firm  from  Bombay  to 
Canton  before  Hongkong  was  in  the  hands 
of  the  British.  Mr.  David  Sassoon,  the 
founder  of  the  house,  was  born  in  Bagdad 
in  1792,  and  settled  in  Bombay  about 
1832.  His  father  enjoyed  the  proud  title 
of  Nassi,  Prince  of  the  Captivity,  and,  in 
virtue  of  thai,  w.is  head  of  the  Jewish  com- 
munity in  Mesopotamia.     After  having  been 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    HONGKONG   ORIENTAL   MERCANTILE 
COMMUNITY. 

I.    CBAf  Six  Kl  2.    Chan  Shu  Mixg.  3.    T.  Chee.  4.    No  Sau  Saxg. 

5.   The  lath  A.  Tax.  7.    Tsaxg   Kix<i.  9.    Chan  Ah  Yixo. 

6.    S.  MIXA.W.  8.    The  late  Huxg  Kwoxo  To. 

10.    Chau  yih  Noam.  11.    Sir  Cl-krimbhoy  Ebkahim,  J.P.  12.    M.  P.  Talaii. 


engaged  lor  many  years  in  the  opium  trade 
with  Canton  and  South  China,  Mr.  David 
Sassoon  sent  his  sons  to  open  branches  and 
extend  the  interests  of  the  firm.  They 
obtained  a  very  strong  hold  on  the  opium 
trade,  and  as  soon  as  the  trade  of  South 
China  began  to  come  througli  Hongkong  they 
established  their  headquarters  for  China  in 
the  Colony.  They  were  thus  first  in  the 
market,  and  have  retained  a  leading  position 
since.  Tlie  head  office  now  is  in  London, 
and  there  are  branches  at  Manchester, 
Calcutta,  Bombay,  and  Karachi,  as  well  as  in 
Hongkong  and  Shanghai.  In  the  early  days 
the  Company  owned  their  own  opium  clippers, 
but  these  have,  of  course,  long  since  dis- 
appeared. For  many  years  David  Sassoon 
&  Co.  have  represented  tlie  well-known  Apcar 
Line  of  steamers,  wliich  maintains  a  regular 
service  between  Calcutta  and  Hongkong,  and 
has  recently  extended  its  trips  to  Japan 
and  Shanghai,  sending  a  steamer  about  once 
every  ten  days.  The  firm  is  agent,  too,  for 
the  Norwich  Fire  Insurance  Company. 

Messrs.  David  Sassoon  &  Co.  hold  shares 
in  many  of  the  most  important  companies  in 
Hongkong.  Mr.  Edward  Shellim,  the  local 
manager,  has  a  seat  on  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Banking 
Corporation,  the  Hongkong  and  Kowloon 
Wharf  and  Godown  Company,  the  Hongkong 
I^and  Investment  Company,  the  Hongkong 
I^and  Reclamation  Company,  the  Canton 
Marine  Insurance  Company,  the  China  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  the  Hongkong  Iron 
Mining  Company,  &c.  The  firm  is  also  a 
large  property  owner  in  the  island.  It  will 
thus  be  seen  to  what  an  extent  the  enterprise 
has  grown. 

David  Sassoon,  the  founder  of  the  house', 
was  succeeded  by  his  son.  Sir  Albert  Sassoon, 
Bart.,  who  was  born  in  1818  and  died  in  1890. 
The  present  head  of  the  firm  is  Sir  Edward 
Sassoon,  Bart.,  M.P. 


E.   D.   SASSOON   &   CO. 

There  are  certain  businesses  in  Hongkong 
whose  rise  to  prosperity  and  importance  has 
synchronised  with  the  progress  and  develop- 
ment of  the  Colony  itself.  Among  the  historic 
firms  having  their  roots  right  down  at  the 
foundation  of  the  Colony,  that  of  Messrs.  E.  D. 
Sassoon  &  Co.  must  certainly  be  included.     It 


Sir  Edward  Sassoon,  Bart.,  M.P. 


DAVID    SASSOON    &    CO.,    LTD. 

S.S.  'Japan." 

The  late  David  Sassoon. 

Offices. 


226     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


is  an  offshcx)t  of  the  still  older  house  of  David 
Sassoon  &  Co.,  the  founder  beins  a  son  of  Mr. 
Da\id  Sassoon.  Like  the  parent  lirm,  Messrs. 
E.  D.  Sassoon  &  Co.  are  larjjely  interested  in 
Indian  opium  and  Indian  cotton  >-;»rn.  They 
also  have  a  large  Manchester  department  and 
act  as  commission   agents  and    bankers.     In 


The  head  office  is  at  Bombay,  and  there 
are  branches  in  London,  Manchester,  Karachi, 
Calcutta,  Hongkong,  Shanghai.  &c.  Mr.  ].  E. 
Sassixin  is  now  the  controller  of  the  business  at 
headquarters,  his  partners  being  his  brothers, 
Messrs,  E.  E.  Sassoon  and  M.  E.  Sassoon. 
The   whole   of   the   firm's   interests   in   South 


P.    F.    TALATI'S    OFFICES. 


India  they  own  five  big  mills — the  Jacob 
Sassoon  mill,  operating  100,000  spindles  and 
2.000  looms ;  the  E.  D.  Sassoon  mill,  the 
Alexandra  mill,  the  Rachel  SassfK)n  mill,  and 
the  E.  D.  Sassoon  Turkey  Red  Dye  Works. 
For  many  years  they  have  been  interested  in  a 
variety  of  undertakings  in  the  Colony,  and 
are  owners  of  considerable  property. 


China  are  supervised  from  Hongkong,  where 
Mr.  A.  J.  Raymond  is  in  charge.  His  post  is 
a  very  responsible  one,  including  as  it  does  a 
seat  on  the  directorate  of  the  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  Banking  Corporation,  and  on  the 
boards  of  several  other  local  companies,  but 
he  receives  able  assistance  in  the  manage- 
ment from  Mr.  C.  S.  Gubbay. 


P.   F.   TALATI. 

One  of  the  most  lengthy  records  in  the  Colony 
is  that  of  the  house  of  P.  F.  Tahiti,  which 
commenced  business  in  Hongkong  during 
the  early  years  of  the  British  occupation.  It 
was  founded  by  Mr.  F.  M.  Tahiti,  giandfather 
of  the  present  partners,  and  for  many  years 
bore  his  name.  On  his  death,  in  1868,  the 
house  came  to  be  known  under  llie  present 
style  of  P.  F.  Talati.  Essentially  Bombay  mer- 
chants, the  firm  have  branches  at  Calcutta  and 
Hongkong,  managed  by  the  partners,  Messrs. 
P.  F^.,  A.  B.,  and  M.  P,  Talati.  Their  exten- 
sive correspondence  with  their  many  agents 
has  continual  reference  to  precious  stones 
and  general  Eastern  produce.  An  extensive 
business  is  done  witli  Europe,  Africa,  Persia, 
and  India  in  silks,  metals,  drugs,  and  essential 
oils,  the  house  having  a  high  reputation  for 
the  quality  of  its  goods.  The  Hongkong 
branch  is  managed  by  Mr.  M.  P.  Tahiti,  of 
whom  a  biograpliical  sketch  follows. 


MR.  M.  P.  TALATI,  of  Wellinglon  Street, 
Hongkong,  who  was  born  in  Bombay  in 
1872,  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Parsee 
community  in  the  Colony,  and  a  trustee  of 
the  Hongkong,  Canton,  and  Macao  Zoroas- 
trian  Charily  Funds.  He  was  educated  at 
Elpliinstone  College,  and,  after  extensive 
travels,  joined  the  business  of  his  family,  who 
enjoy  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  highly  respected  Parsee 
families  in  Bombay.  He  is  now  a  partner 
in  the  house  of  P.  F.  Talati,  and  has  charge 
of  the  Hongkong  branch.  The  firm  holds 
the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  oldest 
trading  in  the  East.  Mr.  Talati  is  closely 
connected  with  the  "  Sirdar  Dawur  "  family, 
the  first  Parsee  family  of  Sural.  This  family 
is  held  in  esteem  by  the  British  community 
in  India  by  reason  of  the  services  which  it 
rendered  to  the  British  Government  in  the 
building  of  the  British  Empire.  Mr.  Talati 
married  Kuverbai  B.  Modi,  a  daughter  of 
Burjorji  E,  Modi  (the  son  of  Sirdar  Davur 
Eduiji  K.  Mody),  a  very  highly  respected 
judge  of  Surat,  by  whom  he  has  one 
son.  Having  good  business  connections 
with  almost  all  Eastern  ports,  Mr.  Talati  has 
extended  his  tr.iding  relations  to  Europe,  and 
is  now  working  with  many  well-known 
European   houses. 


E.   PABANEY. 

One  of  the  largest  trading  firms  between 
India  and  the  Far  East  is  that  of  E.  Pabaney, 
which  does  an  immense  business  in  opium, 
yarn,  cotton,  silk,  tea,  and  other  valuable 
merchandise.  The  firm  was  founded  by  Sir 
Currimbhoy  Ebrahim,  who  was  born  in 
Bombay  in  1840,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
went  into  business  there  on  his  own  account. 
Foreseeing  the  possibilities  of  the  Far  East, 
he  opened  a  branch  of  his  business  in 
Hongkong  in  1857.  The  success  of  the  ven- 
ture led  to  the  establislnnent  of  other  Far 
Eastern  branches,  and  to-day  the  firm  has 
an  enormous  stake  in  Oriental  commerce. 
Sir  Currimbhoy  Ebrahim  is  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  the  Khoja  community,  and  comes 
from  generations  of  traders,  his  fatlier  having 
been  an  owner  of  ships  trading  between 
India,  Arabia,  and  Africa.  He  has  ever  been 
mindful  of  the  obligations  which  devolve 
upon  leading  business  men,  and  his  public 
activities  led  to  his  being  made  a  Justice  of 
the    Peace    in    1883,   and,    more   recently,   to 


E.    D.    SASSOON 
(Founder  of   the  Firm). 


JACOB  SASSOON 

(The  present  head  of  the  Firm). 


THE    OFFICES   OF    E.  D.   SASSOON    &    CO. 


228    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


his  nomination  as  a  Tnistec  of  the  Port  of 
Bombay.  His  pri\'ate  tjenefactions  have  b>een 
on  a  targe  scale.  He  started  tlie  Khoja 
Orphanage  at  an  initial  cost  of  a  lakli  of 
rupees,  and  towards  the  Bombay  Museum 
Fund  he  contributed  the  magnilicent  donation 
of  three  lakhs  of  rupees.  Sir  Currinibhoy 
occupies  a  high  status  in  the  Mahomedan 
community,  holding  important  ofHces  in 
\-arious  organisations.  His  son,  Mr.  Fazul- 
bhoy  Currimbhoy  Ebrahim,  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  band  of  enthusiastic  and 
patriotic  Mahomedans  who  are  striving  to 
lit  their  community  worthily  to  play  its  part. 
Recently  he  appealed  toi  his  compatriots  to 
furnish  funds  for  the  establishment  of  a 
modem     secondary    school     at     Poona — the 


southern  Chinese  capital  until  the  time  of  the 
opium  war,  when  they  were  forced  to  remove 
to  the  neighbouring  Portuguese  Colony  of 
Macao.  At  that  time,  however,  the  Portuguese 
Government  did  not  encourage  foreigners  to 
settle  in  their  city  as  traders,  and  so  the 
Company  transferred  their  oftice  to  Hongkong 
as  soon  as  the  island  was  acquired  by  the 
British.  Messrs.  Cawasjee  Pallanjee  &  Co. 
are  general  importers  and  exporters  and 
commission  agents,  dealing  especially  in 
Chinese  silks,  Indian  opium,  and  cotton  yarn. 
The  founder  of  the  firm  was  Pestonjee 
Cawasjee.  who  died  at  Macao  shortly  after 
the  war  (i.e.,  in  1842).  The  present  proprietors 
— Messrs.  Kustonjee  Cooverjee,  Horniusjee 
Cooverjee,    Eduljee   Cawasjee,   and  Pestonjee 


TATA,    SONS   &   CO. 

This  firm  was  established  in  the  early  fifties, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  Bombay  houses  to 
open  a  branch  in  Hongkong.  In  India  the 
firm  does  a  large  business  in  cotton,  yarns, 
pearls,  and  metals,  and  acts  as  agents  lor 
the  Swadeshi  Mills,  the  Central  India  Mills, 
the  Ahniedabad  Advance  Mills,  the  Hydro- 
Electric  Company,  the  Tata  Iron  and  Steel 
Company,  the  Union  Fire  Insurance  Company 
of  Paris,  and  Ihe  South  British  Insurance 
Company.  The  Tata  Iron  and  Steel  Company 
is  the  biggest  Swadeshi  enterprise  in  India, 
having  a  capital  of  two  crores  and  thirty  lakhs 
of  rupees,  and  the  object  of  the  Hydro-Electric 
Company  is  to  supply  electric  power  to  some 


THE    LATE   MR.    CHAN    A    TONO 
(Founder  of  the  Firm). 


JOSEPH    CHAN    A   TONQ 
(Partner). 


PETER    CHAN    A   TONQ 
(Senior  Partner). 


appeal  being  backed  by  a  generous  donation 
of  a  lakh  of  rupees  from  his  father,  and  of 
two  lakhs  from  his  sister,  Khanumbhoy.  The 
Hongkong  branch  of  E.  Pabaney  is  situated 
in  Duddell  Street,  and  the  manager  is 
Mr.    Soomerbhoy   Mowjee. 


CAWASJEE   PALLANJEE   &   CO. 

Among  the  Bombay  merchants  carrying  on 
business  in  the  Colony  there  is  little  doubt  that, 
from  the  point  of  view  of  seniority,  Messrs. 
Cawasjee  Pallanjee  &  Co.  take  a  premier  place. 
Established  at  Canton  in  the  days  of  the 
Honourable  East  India  Company's  "  Factory 
Sites."  they  did  a  flourishing  business  in  the 


Cooverjee — are  his  descendants.  They  reside 
in  Bombay,  the  headquarters  of  the  firm,  which 
is  there  known  as  Cursetjee  Bomanjee  &  Co. 
There  is  a  branch  also  at  Shanghai.  The 
Hongkong  office  is  at  No.  22.  Stanley  Street, 
and  is  managed  by  Mr.  S.  C.  Khan,  who  has 
been  in  the  Colony  for  several  years.  He  is 
assisted  by  Mr.  S.  E.  Sethna,  son  of  Eduljee 
Cawasjee,  and  Mr.  F.  H.  Sethna,  the  son  of 
Hormusjee  Cooverjee.  Every  three  or  four 
years  the  manager  and  assistants,  if  they 
wish,  are  relieved.  Thus  Mr.  Khan  is  shortly 
going  to  Bombay,  and  will  be  relieved. by  Mr. 
D.  K.  Sethna,  a  son  of  the  late  Mr.  Cawasjee 
Pallanjee,  one  of  the  original  partners  of  the 
firm. 


fifty  mills  in  the  city  of  Bombay,  which  are 
at  present  run  by  steam-driven  machinery. 
The  electric  power  is  to  be  generated  from 
a  waterfall  at  Lanowlee,  some  80  miles 
from  Bombay.  Messrs.  Tata,  Sons  &  Co.'s 
headquarters  are  at  Bombay,  and  there  are 
branches  at  Shanghai,  Kobe,  Osaka,  New 
York,  Kangoon,  London,  Paris,  and  Tuticorin, 
as  well  as  Hongkong.  The  partners  in  the 
business  are  Messrs.  D.  J.  Tata,  K.  J.  T.  Tata, 
and  K.  D.  Tata.  One  resides  in  Bombay, 
another  in  Paris,  w-hile  the  third  spends  most 
of  his  time  travelling  between  the  various 
establishments.  The  offices  in  Hongkong  are 
at  No.  6,  Ice  House  Street,  and  the  manager 
here  is  Mr.  B.  D.  Tata.  In  Hongkong  the 
firm  trades  in  opium,  Indian  and  Japanese 
yarns,  Manchester  piece  goods,  and  sundries. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.    229 


CHAN   A   TONG. 

This  firm,  which  commenced  business  in 
1883,  has  been  responsible  for  the  con- 
struction of  many  of  the  principal  buildings 
in  Hongkong  and  the  coast  ports,  amongst 
them  being  the  Government  Buildings  at 
Taipo,  the  new  Harbour  Offices,  Central 
Market,  Tramway  and  Power  Station,  Koyal 
Dutch  Petroleum  Works,  Hok-iin  Cement 
Works,  Tytam  Reservoir,  Taikoo  Sugar 
Refinery  Reservoirs,  and  nearly  all  the  build- 
ings at  Quarry  Bay  belonging  to  Messrs. 
Butterfield  &  Swire,  the  godowns  and  retort 
house  of  the  Gas  Company,  the  German 
Consulate  at  Canton,  and  many  large  private 
residences.  The  firm  laid  the  foundations  of 
Jardine's  Cotton  Factory  at  Causeway  Bay, 
and  is  novv  engaged  in  the  erection  of  the 
new  Law  Courts.  It  has  quarries  of  its  own 
at  Ly-ee-mun  Pass,  and  supplied  dock  stones 
for  the  Naval  Yard  extension  as  well  as 
for  the  Praya  Reclamation.  Employment  is 
afforded  to  some  thousands  of  men.  The 
founder,  Mr.  Chan  A  Tong,  died  in  1904, 
aged  sixty  years.  His  eldest  son,  Mr.  Peter 
Chan  A  Tong,  is  the  head  of  the  concern, 
and  he  and  his  younger  brother,  Mr.  Joseph 
Chan  A  Tong,  are  the  only  partners  in  the 
business.  They  are  the  sole  proprietors  of 
the  business  of  Messrs.  C.  L.  King  &  Co., 
Florida  water  manufacturers,  whose  regis- 
tered trade-mark  "  Double  Dragon"  -  brand 
is  known  throughout  the  East.  .Mr. ''Peter 
Chan  A  Tong  is  a  director  of  the  Weldon 
House,  Ltd.,  Hongkong.  '  Both  brothers  are 
partners  in  the  foreign  -import  and  export 
firm  of  Messrs.  Fernandez  &  Co.,  carrying 
on  business  at'  the  above  atjdress.  The  firm 
has  a  brick  factory  at  Whampoa  worked 
by  English  machihery  of  the  latest"  design. 
Messrs.  Chan  A  Tonig '  are '  large  property 
owners,  most  of  the  European  houses  on 
both  sides  of  the  streets  at  Morrison  Hill 
Road  belonging  to  them,  and  they  are  owners, 
also,  of  several  graphite,  molybdenum,  and 
silver-lead  mines  in  Kwangsi  Province.  There 
is  a  branch  of  the  firm  at  Canton. 


A.   TAN. 

The  contracting  firm  of  A.  Tan  has  been 
established  in  the  Colony  for  about  half  a 
century.  The  founder,  a  native  of  the 
neighbouring  province  of  Kwangtung,  started 
business  in  a  small  way  in  Hongkong,  and  in  a 
comparatively  short  space  of  time  built  up  a 
large  and  remunerative  connection.  The  firm 
are  contractors  to  the  Government,  and  have 
been  entrusted  with  several  very  important 
undertakings  for  the  War  Department,  included 
among  which  are  alterations  to  numerous  forts 
and  barracks  in  the  Colony,  and  the  con- 
struction of  the  Gun  Club  Hill  Barracks, 
Kennedy  Road  Married  Quarters,  and  the 
Jubilee  Hospital  at  the  Peak.  The  firm  also 
built  the  Foo  Moon  Forts  at  Canton,  and 
carried  out  a  great  deal  of  work  in  the 
north  under  the  direction  of  the  late  Li 
Hung  Chang,  with  whom  Mr.  A.  Tan  made 
a  tour.  In  recognition  of  the  excellent  way 
in  which  the  contracts  for  the  Chinese 
Government  were  carried  through,  a  title  was 
conferred  on  Mr.  A.  Tan  by  the  Viceroy  of 
Canton.  The  business  is  now  conducted  by 
the  sons  of  the  former  proprietor,  for  Mr.  A. 
Tan  died  some  two  years  ago.  The  offices 
are  at  Nos.  63  and  65,  Queen's  Road  East,  and 
are  under  the  control  of  Chan  Sui  Wai, 
Young  A.  Tan,  and  Chan  How.  The  brothers 
have    all    been    taught    English    at    Queen's 


College,   and  are   well    qualified   to   maintain 
the  firm's  reputation  in  the  Colony. 


THE   YUEN   FAT   HONO. 

Thk  establishment  of  this  firm  in  the  Colony 
dates  back  forty-five  years,  and  during  the 
whole  of  that  time  it  has  occupied  a  leading 
position  amongst  the  Chinese  hongs  of  the 
Colony.  Its  founder  was  Mr.  Ko  Mah  Wah, 
a  native  of  Swatow,  where  the  family  house 
is  still  maintained.  The  present  proprietors 
of  the  business  are  his  sons,  Messrs.  Ko  Soon 
Kum,  Ko  Yick  Kum,  Ko  Fai  Seek,  and  Ko 
Wan  Kum.  The  first-named  lives  at  Hong- 
kong, whilst  his  brothers  visit  from  time  to 
time  the  various  places  in  which  the  firm 
has  interests.  The  firm  is  chiefly  concerned 
in   the   rice  trade,   both    import    and   export, 


KWONO   HEE   YINO. 

Mr.  Quan  Kai,  head  of  the  well-known  firm 
of  Kwong  Hee  Ying,  and  compradore  to  the 
Pacific  Mail,  Occidental  and  Oriental,  Toyo 
Kisen  Kaisha,  and  the  Portland  and  Asiatic 
Steamship  Companies,  is  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  up-to-date  Chinese  commercial 
men  in  the  Colony.  He  received  his  training 
in  Western  business  methods  in  America,  in 
which  country  he  resided  for  many  years. 
He  was  the  proprietor,  among  other  concerns, 
of  a  boot  and  shoe  factory  equipped  with 
all  the  latest  machinery  and  employing  some 
350  Chinese  and  70  Europeans.  So  well  did 
he  succeed  that  he  sent  for  his  brother  and 
his  nephew  to  join  him,  and  embarked  upon 
a  general  import  and  export  trade  between 
China  and  America.  Deciding  to  return  to 
China,  Mr.  Quan  Kai  secured  several  valuable 
agencies  in  San  Francisco,  and  for  some  years 
supplied  these  housesvvith  goods  from  Hong- 


KOH   YIELL  QlEC. 


THE    YUEN    FAT    HONQ. 


KoH  Kai  Shi'x. 

KOH  Mah  Wah  (Founder). 

KoH  Wan  Kum. 


KoH  Fai  Seck. 


and  in  the  handling  of  general  cargo.  It 
owns  five  rice  mills  at  Bangkok,  and  a  large 
part  of  the  product  of  these  mills  is  brought 
to  the  Colony.  The  Yuen  Fat  Hong  acts  as 
agent  for  the  Norddeutscher  Lloyd's  Bangkok- 
Hongkong  line  of  steamers,  and  has  a  branch 
ofiice  in  the  Siamese  port.  The  Hongkong 
offices  are  situated  at  No.  10,  Bonham  Strand 
West.  Mr.  Ko  Soon  Kum,  the  local  manager, 
is  a  large  property  owner  in  the  Colony, 
and  is  one  of  the  recognised  leaders  of  the 
Swatow  community.  He  is  a  Chinese  scholar, 
having  passed  a  high  degree  in  his  own 
language,  and  he  is  careful  to  see  that  his 
nineteen  children  receive  an  excellent  educa- 
tion. He  has  a  son  in  Siam  and  another 
in  Singapore.  In  addition  to  his  other 
interests,  he  is  chairman  of  the  Man  On 
Insurance  Company,  whilst  as  a  former 
member  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital  Com- 
mittee he  has  been  actively  associated  with 
practical  philanthropy. 


kong.  At  the  present  time  he  is  agent  for 
one  of  the  largest  American  flour-milling 
companies,  the  Portland  Flour  Mills  Company, 
of  Portland,  Oregon,  U.S.A.  The  fourteen 
mills  operated  by  this  firm  are  capable  of 
turning  out  some  15,000  barrels  of  flour  a 
day  ;  for  years  they  have  been  doing  a  very 
extensive  business  in  Hongkong,  and  the 
whole  of  their  trade  in  China,  the  Straits 
Settlements,  and  the  Philippine  Islands  is 
entrusted  to  Mr.  Quan  Kai.  Besides  having 
all  these  important  interests,  he  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  large  silk  store  in  Canton,  and 
carries  on  an  extensive  general  import  and 
export  trade.  The  Hongkong  office  of  Kwong 
Hee  Ying  is  No.  264,  Des  Voeux  Road  Central. 
At  Canton  the  business  is  carried  on  under 
the  style  of  Quan  Kai  &  Bros.,  the  partners 
being  Mr.  Quan  Kai,  his  brother,  Mr.  Quan 
Sam,  and  his  nephew,  Mr.  Quan  Jow.  Their 
branches  and  agencies  include  San  For  &  Co., 
Retalulen  ;    How  Sang   Chong,   Son  Sonate  ; 


230     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Quan  Kai  &  Co.,  Quezaltenango  ;  Gustavo  Lou 
Ya  Yea,  Guatemala  ;  and  How  On  Chong, 
Leon.  .Although  an  exceedingly  busy  man, 
Mr.  Quan  Kai  finds  time  to  undertake  various 
public  duties,  and  has  served  on  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Tung  Wah   Hospital. 


silver  and  jewellery  shops.  Among  these, 
none  has  been  established  longer  or  enjoys 
a  higher  reputation  than  that  owned  by  the 
firm  of  Wang  Hing.  The  business  was 
founded  by  the  father  of  the  present  pro- 
prietors    in     1854.       It    occupies    a    central 


and  trophies  for  local  races,  and  are  entrusted 
with  a  great  deal  of  the  silver  work  required 
by  local  societies.  They  may  always  be 
relied  upon  to  execute  commissions  with 
good  taste  and  despatch. 


KWONQ   HEE    YINQ. 

QuAX  Jow.  Quan  Jee  Ox. 

Premisbs  in  Des  Voeux  Road.  Quan  Kai. 

Portland  Flouring  Mills  Company. 


Quan  Sam. 


WANG   HINO. 

The  visitor  to  Hongkong  who  passes  along 
Queen's  Road  Central  for  the  first  time 
cannot  fail  to  be  attracted  by  the  number  of 
well-equipped  and  tastefully  arranged  Chinese 


position,  but,  notwithstanding  this  advantage, 
the  large  measure  of  public  favour  which 
the  firm  enjoy  would  not  have  been  secured 
unless  the  articles  offered  for  sale  had  always 
been  of  first-class  quality  and  workmanship. 
The   firm   supply   every  year  numerous  cups 


THE   FOOK   ON   INSURANCE   AND   QODOWN 
COMPANY,    LTD. 

This  firm,  which  is  doing  an  extensive  fire 
and  marine  insurance  and  godown  business, 
was  floated  as  a  public  company  in  1900  with 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     231 


a  locally  subscribed  capital  of  $r,ooo,ooo. 
It  is  a  purely  Chinese  uudeitaking, 
with  a  branch  at  Shanghai  and  agencies 
throughout  China  and  the  Straits  Settlements. 
The  present  directors  are  Messrs.  Kwan  Kai, 
Tang  Lai  Pun,  Yu  To  Sang,  Wong  Chung 
Leong,  and  Choi  Fuli  Sang.  The  secretary 
is  Mr.  Ng  Sau  Sang,  vvlio  has  occupied  the 
position  since  the  formation  of  the  Company. 
He  was  born  in  the  Colony,  was  educated 
at  the  Penang  Free  School,  and  has  served 
on  the  committee  of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital. 
The  assistant  secretary  is  Mr.  Yu  Chok  Sang. 
The  headquarters  of  the  Company  are  at 
No.  9,  Des  Voeu.x  Road  West. 


Fong  Sin-ting,  Wong  Chol<-king,  and  Li 
Pok-kwan.  Mr.  Chan  Shii-ming,  who  is  the 
permanent  secretary,  manages  the  business 
of  the  firm  ;  Mr.  W.  Cheuk-man,  who  is 
the  assistant  secretary,  takes  charge  of  the 
foreign  affairs  of  the  Company  ;  and  Mr. 
Chan  Ngoklim  is  chief  accountant.  Messrs. 
Deacon,  Looker  &  Deacon  are  the  solicitors 
of  the  Company,  whose  head  ofiice  is  at  Nos. 
24  and  26,  Bonham  Strand  West,  Hongkong. 


THE   VAN   ON   MARINE   AND   FIRE 
INSURANCE   COMPANY,    LTD. 

This  is   another  of    the   purely    Chinese    in- 
surance   companies    that    have    been    floated 


C.   AH   VINO   &  CO. 

Among  the  provision  and  coal  merchants,  steve- 
dores, and  general  storekeepers  of  Hongkong, 
Messrs.  C.  Ah  Ying  &  Co.,  Nos.  22  and  23, 
Connauglit  Road  Central,  hold  a  recognised 
position.  They  are  navy  and  military  con- 
tractors, ship  and  family  compradores. 
His  Majesty's  ship  canteen  tenants,  contrac- 
tors, wholesale  dealers  in  cigars,  tobacco,  &c. 
In  partnership  with  a  few  friends,  the  firm 
was  established  by  Mr.  Chan  Ah  Ying  at 
Weihaiwei.  The  headquarters  were  re- 
moved to  Hongkong  in  J897,  and  since  that 
time  other  branches  have  been  started  in 
Shanghai  and  Singapore.  The  agents  in 
England  are  Messrs.  Wm.  Miller  &  Co., 
Portsmouth.       The    firm's    cable    address    is 


INTERIOR    AND    EXTERIOR    VIEWS   OF    WANG    KING'S   PREMISES. 


THE   I   ON   MARINE   AND   FIRE   INSURANCE 
COMPANY,    LTD. 

This  company,  which,  as  its  name  implies, 
effects  only  marine  and  fire  insurances,  was 
floated  in  1899  with  a  capital  of  $1,000,000, 
the  whole  of  the  money  being  sub- 
scribed by  Chinese.  During  the  ten  years 
of  its  existence  it  has  established  an  exten- 
sive connection  and  a  good  reputation  both 
amongst  the  Chinese  of  the  Colony  and  in 
the  ports  of  China.  It  has  agencies  in  the 
Straits  Settlements.  Australia,  America,  Philip- 
pine Islands,  Japan,  Cochin  China,  and  the 
Treaty  ports  of  China.  The  directors  of  the 
Company  are  Messrs.  Tso  Yuk-shan  (chair- 
man),  Li   Shou-hin,   Ku   Fai-shan,   Li  Wai-u, 


during  recent  years.  It  was  formed  in  looi 
with  a  capital  of  $1,000,000,  the  whole 
of  the  monev  being  subscribed  locally.  The 
head  office  is  at  No.  303,  Des  Voeux  Road 
Central,  and  tliere  are  agencies  in  most  of 
the  largest  Chinese,  Japanese,  European, 
American,  and  Australian  seaports.  The 
management  is  vested  in  a  board  of  six 
directors,  and  one  of  the  promoters  of  the 
undertaking.  The  permanent  secretary  is  Mr. 
Chan  Yiit  Ngam,  a  native  of  Canton,  who 
has  been  connected  with  business  in  the 
Colony  for  many  years.  He  is  assisted  by 
Mr.  Chung  Chi  Nam,  whose  proficiency  in 
English   has  proved  of   great   service. 


"Ah  Ying,"  and  the  A. B.C.  code,  fifth  edition, 
is  used.  The  manager  and  part  proprietor  of 
the  business.  Mr.  C.  Ah  Ying,  started  busi- 
ness in  a  small  wav,  and,  by  honest  endeavour 
and  steady  application,  has  achieved  a  con- 
siderable measure  of  prosperity.  A  native 
of  Hongkong,  he  acted  as  mess-man  to  many 
of  Her  Majesty's  ships  on  the  China  station 
in  1881,  and  from  every  naval  officer  with 
whom  he  came  into  contact  he  received 
cordial  testimonials  as  to  his  trustworthiness 
and  business  ability.  He  is  now  a  landed 
proprietor  and  a  member  "f  all  the  leading 
clubs.  He  m  irried  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
Ng  Chak  San,  and  has  eight  children — four 
sons  and  four  daughters. 


232    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


T.  CHEE   &   CO. 

Mr.  T.  Cheb  is  the  head  of  the  firm  of 
T.  Chee  &  Co.,  merchants,  Des  Voeux  Road. 
The  Company  has  been  in  existence  for 
about  fifteen  years,  and  for  ne:»rly  half  this 
periixi  Mr.  Chee  has  lieen  in  control.  An 
extensive  business  is  done  in  all  classes  of 
goods,  and  especially  in  Manchester  piece 
goods  and  Australian  flour.  The  branch  at 
Canton  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
house  opened  by  a  British  subject  in  the 
native  city,  and  a  large  trade  is  carried  on 
there  now.  The  firm  are  the  agents  in  South 
China  for  the  Heini  food  products.  The 
head  of  the  business  is  a  well-known  figure 
in  the  field  of  sport,  and  acts  as  secretary 
of  the  Kowloon  Cricket  Club. 


of  the  firm  is  Mr.  Yakichi  Ataka,  of  Osaka. 
The  headquarters  are  at  Osaka,  Japan,  and 
branches  have  been  established  at  Tokyo  and 
other  places  in  that  country.  The  local  offices 
at  No.  3,  Queen's  Road  Central,  are  super- 
intended by  Mr.  S.  Minami. 


® 


THE   MITSUI   BUSSAN   KAISHA. 

The  history  of  the  house  of  Mitsui  is  an 
interesting  record  of  commercial  prosperity 
following  upon  the  unity  of  the  various 
branches  of  one  large  family.  The  present 
heads  of  the  firm  can  trace  their  descent 
from  Takashige  Mitsui,  who  held  the  title  of 


and  public  exchange  controller,  and  in 
recognition  of  their  services  in  this  connection 
were  granted  an  estate  in  Yedo.  In  1723, 
observing  the  oral  will  of  Takatoshi,  his  son, 
Hachirobei  Takahira,  laid  down  in  writing 
the  family  rules  by  which  he  and  his  five 
brothers  pledged  themselves  to  form  a  collec- 
tive body  of  partners  working  with  a  collective 
capital.  This  is  the  agreement  upon  which 
the  whole  undertaking  of  the  Mitsuis  is 
based  to-day.  According  to  the  social  institu- 
tions of  Japan,  the  unit  of  society  is  the 
family,  and  not  the  individual  as  in  Western 
civilisation.  Again,  by  the  laws  and  customs 
of  inheritance,  the  estate  of  the  father  descends 
to  the  first-born.  The  younger  sons  must  be 
adopted  into  another  family,  or,  failing  this, 
must  make  their  own  fortunes  independently. 


S.S.    "TSUBUGISAN    MARU." 


OFFICES    OF    THE    MITSUI    BUSSAN   KAISHA. 


ATAKA   &    CO. 

The  first  Japanese  firm  to  open  a  branch  in 
the  Colony  was  Messrs.  Ataka  &  Co..  whose 
business  is  that  of  general  importers  and 
exporters.  They  are  largely  interested  in 
coal,  yarn,  sugar,  rice,  cotton,  metals  and 
practically  every  kind  of  Japanese  and  colonial 
merchandise,  and  control  an  irregular  line  of 
cargo  steamers  running  txitween  Hongkong, 
Japanese  ports,  Saigon,  Rangoon,  and  Java. 
They  arc  also  the  agents  for  the  Japan  Ship- 
owners' Association,  which  has  the  charge  of 
a  fleet  of  over  130  vessels  aggregating  300,000 
tons  ;  for  the  Nippon  Marine  Transport  and 
Fire  Insurance  Co.  ;  the  Iwasaki  Coal  Mine  ; 
the  Kurukawa  Coal  -Mine,  and  for  the  Omi 
Cotton  Duck  Co.,  of  Japan,  of  whose  canvas 
they  sell  very  large  quantities.     The  proprietor 


"  Echigonokami,"  and  lived  as  the  feudal  lord 
of  Namadzuye  Castle  in  the  fifteenth  century, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  famous  Fujiwara 
clan.  Takashige  was  succeeded  by  Takat- 
sugu,  but  Takayasu,  the  son  of  Takatsugu, 
moved  to  Matsuzaka  in  Ise,  where  he  settled 
as  a  private  citizen,  and  laid  the  foundation 
of  the  present  Mitsui  firm.  It  was  not,  how- 
ever, till  the  time  of  Hachirobei  Takatoshi  that 
the  business  assumed  any  very  considerable 
dimensions.  Takatoshi  invented  the  system 
of  cash-retailing  ;  organised  the  system  for 
the  collection  and  remittance  of  money,  and 
also  the  carriers'  business,  when  economic 
science  was  in  a  very  rudimentary  stage  and 
monetary  transactions  were  almost  unknown 
in  the  country.  In  1687  the  Mitsuis.  repre- 
sented by  Takatoshi,  were  specially  appointed 
by  the  Tokugawa  Government  as  its  purveyor 


In  the  case  of  the  Mitsui  house,  however, 
from  the  oldest  to  the  youngest  there  is  not 
one  who  can  enter  an  absolute  claim  to  any 
particular  property.  The  Mitsui  house  is  a 
collective  body,  a  joint  association  consisting 
of  eleven  families  or  partners,  which  works 
with  the  collective  capital  of  the  eleven 
families,  in  their  joint  name,  and  under  the 
system  of  unlimited  joint  liability. 

With  the  restoration  of  the  Meiji  era,  an 
important  epoch  was  opened  in  the  history 
of  the  firm.  While  the  new  Government 
under  the  direct  control  of  the  Crown  was  in 
process  of  consolidation,  the  Mitsuis  acted  as 
its  principal  financing  agent,  and  it  was  in 
a  great  measure  due  to  this  that  Japan  was 
enabled  safely  to  negotiate  the  crisis  witli 
which  it  was  then  threatened.  As  a  reward 
for  this  and  other  services  Baron  Hachiroemon 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     -^33 


Mitsui,  the  present  head  of  tlie  house,  was 
cieated  a  peer,  and  other  members  were  given 
titles  of  various  degrees.  After  relieving  this 
financial  strain,  the  Mitsuis  applied  themselves 
with  new  energy  and  vigour  to  reforming 
their  business  undertakings  on  Western  lines. 
In  1876  tlie  old  Exchange  House  was  trans- 
formed into  a  bank  on  a  joint-stock  basis. 
This  was  the  first  private  bank  established  in 
Japan.  In  the  same  year  a  new  and  most 
important  undertaking  was  organised  for  the 
purpose  of  general  trading.  The  firm,  well 
known  as  Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha  in  the  East, 
and  as  Mitsui  &  Co.  in  Europe  and  America, 
is  the  outcome  of  this  enterprise.  In  J88g 
the  house  acquired  from  the  Government  the 
concession  of  the  Miike  Coal  Mines,  and 
Mitsui  Kozan  Kaisha  (the  mining  department) 
was  eslablished  in  order  to  control  these  and 
many  other  mines  owned  by  the  house.  Thus 
has  the  business  been  developed  gradually  until 
it  has  reached  its  present  flourishing  condition. 
It  is  now  difficult  to  give  anylliing  more  than 
a  general  idea  of  the  vast  sphere  of  influence 
which  the  Company  fill  in  the  economic  world 
of  Japan.  Their  operations  are  devisible  into 
three  distinct  departments,  namely,  Mitsui 
Ginko  (banking  department),  Mitsui  Bussan 
Kaisha  (foreign  and  domestic  trading  depart- 
ment), and  Mitsui  Kozan  Kaisha  (mining 
department).  These  departments  comprise 
ni^arly  every  branch  of  business  in  the  com- 
mercial and  industrial  world  —  hanking, 
mining,  home  and  foreign  trading,  shipping 
and  warehousing,  as  well  as  fisheries, 
agencies,  and  iron  and  enginfeering  works. 
The  Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha,  the  foreign  and  do- 
mestic trading  department,  has  its  head  office 
at  Tokyo,  and  branches  at  Yokohama,  Xagoya, 
Osaka,  Kobe,  Moji,  "Nagasaki,  Kuchinotzu, 
Taipeh,  Newchwang,  Tientsin,  Shanghai, 
Hongkong,  Singapore,  Bombay,  London,  and 
New  York.  It  has  representatives  at  Hakodate, 
Yokosuka,"Maizufu,  Kure,  Wakamatsu,  Karatsu, 
Kishima  (Suminoye),  Miike.'  Sasebo,  Seoul. 
Chemulpo,  Antung.  Vladivostock,  Harbin. 
Mukden,  Kanjvsh,  Tetsurei,  JTailien,  Tainan. 
Chefoo,  Hankow,  Tsingtau.  Fcjochow,  Amoy, 
Swatow,  Canton,  Calcutta,  Rangoon,  Manila. 
Saigon,  Bangkok,  Sonrabava,  Hamburg,  San 
Francisco,  and  Portland.  The  firm  has  a  fleet 
of  II  efficient  steamers,  all  100  Al,  of  gross 
tonnage  aggregating  over  26,500,  one  of  which 
is  almost  exclusively  engaged  in  the  transpor- 
tatio)i  of  the  Company's  own  merchandise. 
But,  besides  the  shipping  and  agency  business, 
the  Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha  also  does  an  im- 
mense trade  in  coal  as  sole  proprietors  of 
the  famous  Miike,  Tagawa,  Yamano,  Hondo, 
and  Ida  Coal  Mines,  and  as  sole  agents  for 
Kanada,  Ohnoura,  Ohtsuji.  Mameda,  Mannoura, 
Yoshio,  Tsubakuro,  Yunokibara,  and  other 
coals. 

The  branch  in  Hongkong  acts  as  agent 
for  the  Tokyo  Marine  Insurance  Company, 
Meiji  Fire  Insurance  Company,  Nippon  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  Government  Tobacco 
Monopoly,  Nippon  Brewery  Company, 
Shanghai  Spinning  Mill,  Nippon  Match 
Factory  Company,  Nitta  Leather  Belt  Com- 
pany, and  Shinagawa  Fire  Brick  Company. 
Tlie  manager  of  the  branch  is  Mr.  M. 
Kobayashi,  who  is  a  well-known  resident  of 
Hongkong  and  president  of  the  Nippon  Club. 


THE   MITSU   BISHI   COMPANY. 

Thk  well-known  Japanese  firm  trading  under 
the  name  oi  the  Mitsu  Bishi  Goshi  Kwaisha 
(Mitsu  Bishi  Company)  are  engaged  in 
numerous  undertakings,  such  as  banking, 
mining,  shipbuilding,  and  engineering.     Their 


head  offices  are  at  Tokyo,  and  they  have 
branches  at  Osaka,  Kobe,  Moji,  Nagasaki, 
Wakamatsu.  Karatsu,  Niigata,  Shanghai.  Han- 
kow, and  Hongkong.  The  banking  depart- 
ment has  the  largest  deposits  of  any  hank 
in  Tokyo,  and  its  credit  is  becoming  widely 
known  abroad.  The  Company's  mines  pro- 
duce gold,  silver,  and  copper  in  large 
quantities,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  metal 
is  treated  at  their  metallurgical  works  at 
Osaka.     The    precious    metals   are   refined  by 


to  several  of  the  leading  steamship  lines,  but 
they  also  supply  coal  to  the  Imperial  Japanese 
Navy,  the  Imperial  Arsenals,  the  State  Kail- 
ways,  &c.  For  the  conveyance  of  coal  to 
Shanghai,  Hongkong,  and  other  ports  the 
Company  own  a  fleet  of  six  colliers,  besides 
tugs,  launches,  junks,  and  lighters.  The 
Mitsu  Bishi  Dockyard  and  Engine  Works  are 
situated  at  Nagasaki  and  at  Kobe.  The 
former  extend  over  90  acres,  and  have  a 
frontage     of     about     8,000     feet     along     the 


OFFICES    OF    THE    YUEN    FAT    HONO. 


[See  p.tj!e  229-] 


electrolysis  to  almost  absolute  purity,  and 
the  copper  is  made  into  electrolytic  cathode 
of  the  highest  conductivity,  which  commands 
good  prices  on  the  Loudon  market.  The 
annual  output  of  the  electro  refinery  is  as 
follows  :-  -Refined  gold,  18,250  ozs.  ;  silver, 
498,700  ozs.  ;  copper  cathodes,  6,000  tons  ; 
and  copper  \itriol,  800  tons.  The  Company 
have  big  colliery  concessions  in  the  provinces 
of  Buzen,  Chikuzen,  and  Hizen,  with  a  total 
output  of  over  1,000,000  tons  annually.  Not 
only  are  the  Company  sole  contractors  of  coal 


western  shore  of  Nagasaki  Harbour.  There 
are  three  dry  docks  and  one  patent  slip,  and 
in  the  largest  dock  vessels  up  to  714  feet 
on  the  keel  can  be  accommodated.  The 
machinery  is  of  the  most  modern  type,  and 
is  driven  to  a  large  extent  by  electricity.  The 
shipyard  at  Tategami  has  seven  berths,  and 
an  annual  output  capacity  of  over  30,000  tons. 
The  Company's  dockyard  and  engine  works 
at  Kobe  were  opened  in  August,  1905.  and 
have  now  a  floating  dock  with  a  lifting 
power  of  7,000  tons,  but  before  long  another 


234     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Ngger  Hoaliiig  dock  with  a  lifting;  power  of 
12.000  tons  will  be  completed,  with  miiny 
workshops,  up-to-date  machine  tix)ls.  &c. 
The  Mitsn  Bishi  Paper  Mill  at  Takas;i>;o  has 
a  daily  output  of  70.000  lbs.  The  Company 
.ilso  do  a  \:iTfle  general  and  bonded  ware- 
house business,  and  have  extensive  landing 
.Tiid  delivery  agencies. 

The  Hongkong  branch  is  sitiuited  at  No. 
2.  Pedder  Street,  and  is  concerned  chiefly 
with  the  imp«irt  of  coal  for  distribution 
amongst  shipping  clients.  The  manager  is 
Mr.  T.  Matsuki.  who  has  been  many  years 
with  the  Company. 


it  was  in  order  to  lind  an  additiDnal  outlet 
for  this  that  the  Hongkong  branch  of  the 
business  was  opened  during  i<;o7.  The  tirni 
already  does  a  considerable  business  in  the 
Colony,  and  is  prepared  to  execute  orders  for 
bunkering  and  the  supply  of  coal  generally. 
Messrs.  Miyasiiki  &  Co.  were  formerly  con- 
tractors to  the  French  Mail  Line  at  the 
Japanese  ports,  and  at  the  present  time  they 
hold  contracts  from  some  of  the  largest  steam- 
ship lines  in  Japan.  Mr.  Y,  Kubo  the  manager 
of  the  Hongkong  branch,  is  a  nephew  of 
Mr.  Miyasaki,  the  head  of  the  Company. 


® 


and  make  a  special  feature  of  enhu^;enient 
and  bromide  work.  They  stock  a  large 
number  of  views  of  the  neighhourhoud  and 
of  South  China,  besides  cameras,  films,  a\ul 
printing  papers  of  all  kinds.  There  is  a 
special  department  for  developing  and  pri\it- 
ing  for  amateurs.  The  manager,  Mr.  \V, 
Cliong  Kai,  is  a  capable  photographic  artist. 
The  assistant  manager,  Mr.  Y.  Johnson,  who 
has  been  with  the  firm  since  it  was  first 
started,  has  had  experience  in  the  United 
States.  About  thirty  hands  are  employed  at 
the  head  office,  and  a  new  depot  was  opened 
recently  at  Xo.  8,  Heaconstield  Arcade,  chiefly 
for  the  sale  of  photographic  stores  for  ama- 
teurs. In  1904  the  firm  obtained  a  bronze 
medal  from  the  St.  Louis  Universal  Exposi- 
tion, and  in    1906  they  were  awarded  a  silver 


Y.  JOHXSOX. 

MIYASAKI  k  CO. 

This  Company  is  one  of  the  latest  additions 
to  the  Japanese  business  houses  of  Hongkong. 
The  firm,  which  is  an  old-establi-hed  one, 
owns  and  operates  the  Hoshu  Coal  Mine  in 
Japan,  which  turns  out  upwards  of  three 
hundred  tons  of   n<»>d  steam  coal  a  day,  and 


HBE    CHEUNQ    &    CO. 
The  Retail  Depot. 

MEE   CHEUNQ   &    CO. 

Messrs.  Mek  Chelnc  &  Co.,  of  Ice  House 
Lane,  Hongkong,  who  executed  a  contract  for 
Lloyd's  Greater  Britain  Publishing  Company 
in  a  manner  that  gave  every  satisfaction,  are 
one  of  the  oldest  photographic  firms  in  the 
Colony.     They  undertake  all  classes  of  work, 


Wax  Choxg  Kai. 

medal  at  the  Hongkong  Exhibition  held  at 
the  City  Hall.  On  the  occasion  of  the  visit 
of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Connaught  to 
the  Colony,  the  royal  party  were  photo- 
graphed by  Messrs.  Mee  Cheung,  and  copies 
of  the  photographs,  forwarded  to  Their  Koyal 
Highnesses,  were  cordially  acknmvledged  in 
a  letter  to  the  firm. 


^=^ 


VIEWS    OF    THE   GREEN    ISLAND    CEMENT    COMPANY'S   WORKS. 

(Messrs.  Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co.,  General  Managers.) 


[See  page  238.] 


238  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


For  example,  directly  one  of  the  numerous 
threads  passing  through  a  drawing  frame  is 
broken,  the  driving  belt  is  automalically 
thrown  on  to  the  loose  pulley,  and  the  atten- 
tion of  the  attendant  is  thus  immediately 
attracted. 

Power  is  supplied  by  engines  of  1,710 
indicated  horse-power,  by  Messrs.  J.  &  S. 
Wood,  and  transmitted  to  the  shafting  by 
means  of  thirty-six  cotton  ropes.  The  build- 
ings are  lighted  throughout  by  electricity, 
generated  on  the  premises.  \o  expense  has 
been  spared  to  render  the  buildings  fireproof, 
and  as  a  further  precaution  a  water  roof — 
probably  the  only  one  in  China — has  been 
placed  over  the  main  building.  The  tank  has 
a  capacity  of  9,000  gallons,  and  the  water  can 
be  distributed  at  need  to  patent  fire  extin- 
guishers in  any  part  of  the  enclosure.  The 
workpeople  are  well  cared  for,  airy  and 
comfortable  quarters  for  seven  hundred  having 
t>een  provided.  The  factory  has  been  estab- 
lished for  nine  years,  and  though,  during  that 
time,  many  difficulties  have  been  encountered 
— the  cotton  famine  in  India,  the  corner  made 
by  Sully  in  America,  and  the  Boxer  troubles, 
amongst  them — the  Company  has  prospered, 
and  yields  the  shareholders  a  satisfactory 
dividend.  The  manager  of  the  mill  is  Mr. 
A.  Shaw, 


THE  QREEN   ISLAND   CEMENT   COMPANY. 

In  the  construction  of  docks,  harbour  works, 
fortifications,  and  bridges,  and  in  countless 
other  ways,  Portland  cement  is  largely  used, 
and  practically  the  whole  of  the  local  supply 
is  provided  by  the  Green  Island  Cement 
Company,  the  general  managers  of  which 
are  Messrs.  Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co.  Started 
on  Green  Island,  near  Macao,  about  eighteen 
years  ago,  the  cement-making  industry  soon 
outgrew  the  facilities  offered  by  that  locality, 
and  in  1899  a  larger  and  more  fully  equipped 
factory  was  opened  in  the  Colony  of  Hong- 
kong, on  the  Kowloon  side  of  the  harbour. 
Year  by  year  the  plant  has  been  extended 
until  to-day  this  factory  occupies  an  area  of 
upwards  of  1,000,000  square  feet,  whilst  the 
machinery,  worth  as  many  dollars,  has  an 
output  of  nearly  8,000  tons  a  month. 
Business  is  still  carried  on  at  the  Green 
Island  factory,  which  has  an  out-turn  of 
nearly  2,000  tons  a  month,  making  the 
total  production  of  the  Company  something 
like  120,000  tons  annually.  The  Company 
also  has  a  factory  at  Deep  Water  Bay  for 
the  manufacture  of  bricks  and  drain  pipes. 
Green  Island  cement  is  considered  to  be 
fully  equal  to  that  of  the  best  English  and 
Continental  manufacture.  The  Admiralty 
engineers  regard  it  as  unsurpassed  in  fine- 
ness and  tensile  strength,  and  it  has  been 
employed  exclusively  in  the  erection  of  the 
dock  on  the  new  reclamation.  It  is  com- 
posed of  clay  and  crushed  limestone  mixed 
in  certain  proportions,  and  burned  in  a  kiln. 
The  clay  is  found  in  the  delta  of  the  Canton 
River,  and  the  limestone  is  brought  from 
the  neighbourhood  of  Canton.  The  materials 
are  unloaded  from  the  junks  into  overhead 
buckets,  which  convey  it  from  the  wharf  lo 
the  factory.  There  the  stone  is  pulverised 
in  a  series  of  crushing  mills,  the  first  of 
which  reduce  about  eiglit  tons  of  stone  per 
day  to  the  size  of  ordinary  road  metal,  and 
the  last,  called  "Griffin"  mills,  convert  it 
into  a  fine  powder.  The  clay  is  also  ground, 
and  the  two  ingredients  are  then  elevated 
to    the    top    floor   of    the    building,     where 


they  are  mixed  automatically.  A  further 
reduction  takes  place  in  the  tube  mills,  in 
which  the  powder  passes  through  a  rotating 
iron  cylinder  cont.iining  flints.  In  another 
m.ichine  the  powder  is  mixed  with  water, 
and  issues  in  a  continuous  strip,  of  oblong 
section,  which  is  sliced  off  into  bricks.  After 
being  stacked  for  eighteen  hours  in  drying 
tunnels,  these  bricks  are  fed  into  kilns, 
chiefly  of  the  rotary  type.  The  product  of 
these  kilns,  known  to  the  workers  as 
"clinker."  is  then  ground,  first  in  ball  and 
then  in  tube  mills,  and  the  resultant  powder, 
Portland  cement,  is  fed  into  specially  con- 
structed trucks  and  stored  in  bins  ready  for 
packing.  Bags  for  putting  up  tlie  cement 
are  purchased,  but  casks  are  made  on  the 
premises,  modern  coopering  devices  being 
employed.  Power  for  the  whole  of  the 
works  is  supplied  from  five  Babcock  &  Wilcox 
boilers,  the  engines  generating  500  and  350 
horse-power  respectively.  The  works  are  lit 
throughout  by  electricity. 

The  general  manager  of  the  factory,  Mr.  V. 
Uldall,  a  man  of  great  experience  in  the  trade, 
has  been  in  the  service  of  the  Company  for 
fifteen  years.  He  has  under  him  a  staff  of 
nearly  two  thousand  men  ;  but  if  the  persons 
indirectly  concerned  are  taken  into  account 
the  probability  is  that  the  enterprise  gives 
employment  to  upwards  of  three  thousand. 

The  chief  engineer  is  Mr.  A.  H.  Hewitt, 
who  joined  the  Company  in  that  capacity  in 
1889,  soon  after  its  inception,  and  has  since 
then  been  responsible  for  the  building  and 
running  of  its  factories.  He  commenced  his 
engineering  career  at  Messrs.  Maudsley,  Sons 
&  Field's  works,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
members  of  the  "Junior  Engineers,"  and 
became  an  Associated  Member  of  tlie  Institute 
of  Civil  Engineers  in  1895. 


THE   HONGKONG   PIPE,    BRICK,   AND   TILE 
WORKS. 

So  important  is  the  industry  carried  on  in 
connection  with  the  Green  Island  Cement 
Company  at  the  Deep  Water  Bay  Pipe.  Brick, 
and  Tile  Works,  that  mention  may  well  be 
made  of  it  under  a  separate  heading.  The 
works  are  admirably  situated  at  the  western 
end  of  the  bay,  just  opposite  Aberdeen.  The 
buildings  cover  a  large  area,  and  include 
kilns,  drying  sheds,  offices,  boiler  and  engine 
house,  and  everything  appertaining  to  works 
of  the  kind.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  works 
are  veins  of  the  clay  used  for  the  manufacture 
of  bricks,  pipes,  &c.,  and  the  raw  material 
can  thus  be  procured  at  nominal  cost.  The 
clay  is  first  ground  in  a  milling  machine, 
and  then  mixed  with  water  and  other  ingre- 
dients. It  is  next  forced  through  a  machine 
which  delivers  it  in  a  continuous  length  of 
oblong  section,  and  is  cut  up  by  means  of 
a  wire  cutter.  The  bricks  are  dried  by 
steam-heat,  and  then  fired  in  kilns  for  about 
twenty  days.  Of  the  fourteen  kilns  in  use 
three  have  a  capacity  of  30,000  bricks  each. 
Fire  bricks  go  through  practically  the  same 
process,  but  the  clay  of  which  they  are 
made  contains  from  Xo  to  90  per  cent,  of 
silica.  In  the  manufacture  of  pipes  finely 
powdered  clay  is  carefully  mixed  with  water 
to  a  certain  consistency,  and  the  compound 
is  passed  between  heavy  rollers  to  ensure 
complete  pulverisation,  and  then  into  the 
moulding  machine,  where  it  is  pressed  into 
the  required  shape.  The  pipes  are  dried 
and   then    burned    in    kilns    for   over   twenty 


days,  after  which  they  are  brought  to  a 
white  heat  and  glazed,  salt  and  sulphur 
being  the  chief  agents  employed  in  tliis  last- 
mentioned  process.  The  lime  required  for 
the  works  is  made  from  imported  stone,  and 
recently,  by  the  erection  of  another  kiln,  the 
output  was  increased  in  order  to  meet  a 
growing  local  demand  for  lime. 

The  superintendent  of  the  works,  Mr.  J.  B. 
Witchell,  who  has  been  with  the  Company 
for  about  ten  years,  has  been  responsible  for 
many  improvements,  tending  both  to  save 
labour  and  to  improve  the  quality  of  the 
products  of  the  works.  He  lives  on  a  hill 
overlooking  the  bay,  and  excellent  quarters 
have  been  provided  on  a  hill  opposite  for 
the  coolies  employed  at  the  works.  The 
general  managers  are  Messrs.  Shewan,  Tomes 
&  Co. 


THE  HONGKONG  ROPE  MANUFACTURING 
COMPANY. 

No  cordage  equals  in  strength  and  durability 
that  made  from  pure  Manila  hemp  fibre,  and 
it  is  no  inconsiderable  advantage  to  a  place 
like  Hongkong  that  it  should  possess  such  a 
factory  as  that  managed  by  Messrs.  Shewan, 
Tomes  &  Co.,  at  Kennedy  Town,  where  large 
quantities  of  this  fibre  are  used  in  the  making 
of  rope.  To  one  acquainted  with  the  process 
of  rope-making  in  the  old-fashioned  rope- 
walk,  the  rapidity  with  which  the  fibre  in 
this  factory  makes  its  journey  between  the 
bale  and  the  coiling  machine  is  surprising. 
The  raw  material  is  conveyed  on  a  private 
trolley  line  from  the  wharf  to  the  storage 
godown,  and,  when  required,  the  bales  are 
ripped  open  and  their  contents  passed  through 
a  series  of  preparing  machines — "spreaders" 
and  "dressers" — in  which  the  fibre  is  made 
ready  for  spinning.  On  the  "jennies"  the 
fibre  is  spun  into  yarn  of  from  one-sixteenth 
to  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  according 
to  the  size  of  rope  required,  the  yarn  being 
wound  on  bobbins  which  contain,  when  full, 
about  ten  pounds.  The  next  stage  in  the 
process  is  known  as  "  forming."  A  number 
of  bobbins  are  placed  on  the  machine,  and 
the  yarns  formed  into  a  "strand,"  the  thick- 
ness of  these  strands  depending  on  the 
number  of  yarns  in  each  and  governing  the 
size  of  the  rope.  The  final  process  is  that 
of  "  laying  "  the  strands  into  rope,  by  means 
of  an  ingenious  contrivance  fitted  with  auto- 
matic brakes  to  regulate  the  tension,  and, 
consequently,  the  hardness  of  the  rope. 
Usually  three  strands  are  twisted  together, 
but  where  more  roundness  or  evenness  is 
required,  as  in  ropes  for  pulley-blocks,  &c., 
four  strands  are  taken  and  twisted  round  a 
fifth,  which  is  known  as  the  "  heart."  An- 
other form  of  rope  for  which  there  is  an 
increasing  demand  is  the  "  cable,"  wliich 
consists  of  three  ropes  twisted  together  in  a 
laying  machine.  This  form  is  used  largely 
for  mooring  purposes,  and  in  oil  shafts  such 
as  those  at  Rangoon.  The  factory  can  turn 
out  cordage  of  from  half-an-inch  to  twelve 
inches  in  circumference,  capable  of  bearing 
strains  of  from  three  hundred  pounds  to  close 
upon  fifty  tons.  The  standard  length  is  120 
fathoms,  but  any  length  up  to  2,000  feet  can 
be  made  to  order.  The  superintendent  is 
Mr.  C.  Klinck,  who  has  been  twenty  years 
with  the  Company.  His  assistant  is  Mr. 
J.  Stopani,  and  the  labour  staff  employed 
numbers  about  one  hundred  and  seventy. 


HONGKONG    INDUSTRIES. 


SjOON  after  the  cession  of  Hong- 
kong; to  the  British,  Sir  H. 
Pottinger  told  a  connnittee  of 
Britisli  mercliants  wlio  were 
interested  in  tlie  China  trade 
that  ■'  Hongl<ong  was  merely 
to  be  looked  upon  as  a  sort 
of  bonded  warehouse  in  which  merchants 
could  deposit  their  goods  in  safety  until  it 
should  suit  their  purposes  to  sell  them  to 
native  Chinese  dealers,  or  to  send  them  to 
a  port  or  place  in  China  for  sale."  For 
many  years  this  description  of  the  Colony's 
place  in  the  scheme  of  things  Kar  Eastern 
held  good,  and  it  is  probable  that  even  to-day 
numbers  of  people  still  regard  Hongkong 
solely  in  this  light.  Within  recent  years, 
however,  the  Colony  has  given  promise  of 
becoming  a  manufacturing  centre  of  great 
and  increasing  importance. 

As  might  naturally  be  expected  in  a  port 
which  is  second  to  none  in  the  world  in  the 
magnitude  of  its  shipping,  shipbuilding,  dock- 
ing, and  marine  engineering  take  first  place 
among  local  industrial  enterprises.  The 
Hongkong  and  Whampoa  Dock  Company 
have  three  extensive  establishments — one  at 
Hunghom,  Kowloon,  another  at  Tai  Kok  Tsui, 
and  the  third  at  Aberdeen,  on  the  island 
of  Hongkong  itself.  The  Admiralty  have 
recently  constructed  a  dock  large  enough 
to  accommodate  any  battleship  afloat,  whilst 
Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire  have  built  an 
immense  dry  dock,  750  feet  on  tlie  keel- 
blocks,  at  Quarry  Bay,  which  is,  perhaps,  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  the  Far  East.  There 
are  three  sugar  refineries,  one  of  them — th;it 
at  Taikoo,  managed  by  Messrs.  Butterfield  & 
Swire— being  the  largest  refinery  under  one 
roof  in  the  world.  The  China  Sugar  Refining 
Company  has  establishments  at  East  Point 
and  at  Bowrington.  and,  in  connection  with 
the  former,  operates  a  large  distillery,  where 
quantities  of  rum  are  manufactured.  At 
Causeway  Bay  there  is  an  immense  cotton- 
spinning  factory,  with  55,000  spindles,  and 
quarters  for  seven  hundred  workpeople, 
under  the  management  of  the  well-known 
firm  of  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd. 
One  of  the  oldest  industries  in  the  Colony  is 
that  carried  on  by  the  Hongkong  Ice  Com- 
pany, who,  starling  as  importers  of  ice,  have 
since  become  manufacturers,  with  modern 
plant    and    an    extensive    range    of    insulated 


cold  stores.  In  the  Junk  Bay  Flour  Mills, 
Hongkong  has  not  only  a  growing  industry, 
but  a  valuable  asset  in  the  shape  of  a  guaran- 
teed food  supply  for  a  period  of  four  months, 
in  any  eventuality  such  as  w'ar  or  scarcity. 
The  mills  are  capable  of  producing  8,000 
sacks  of  flour  per  day.  The  enormous 
activity  of  builders  in  the  Colony  has 
created  a  demand  for  Portland  cement,  and 
this  the  Green  Island  Cement  Company  have 
for  many  years  supplied.  They  have  an 
annual  out-turn  of  something  like  120,000 
tons,  and  their  cement  is  acknowledged  to 
be  equal  to  that  of  the  best  English  and 
Continental  manufacture.  Brick  and  tile 
making  is  also  carried  on  under  the  same 
auspices,  but  the  demand  at  present  is  far 
in  excess  of  the  supply.  Messrs.  Shewan, 
Tomes  &  Co.,  the  general  managers,  have 
control,  also,  of  the  Hongkong  Rope  Manufac- 
turing Company,  at  wOiose  works,  in  Kennedy 
Town,  Manila  rope  is  made  to  meet  both  a 
local  and  a  growing  export  demand.  Elec- 
tricity for  light  and  power  is  supplied  to  the 
Colony  by  the  Hongkong  Electric  Light 
Company  and  by  the  China  Light  and  Power 
Company,  wdiich  has  a  branch  at  Kowloon. 
The  electric  light  has  by  no  means  displaced 
gas,  however,  the  older  form  of  illumiiiant  being 
supplied  by  the  Hongkong  and  China  Gas 
Company,  Ltd.,  who  produce  about  130,000,000 
cubic  feet  a  year,  and  undertake  practically 
the  whole  of  the  public  lighting.  Well- 
equipped  saw-mills  at  Yaumati,  operated  by 
the  China  Borneo  Company,  Ltd.,  have  a 
producing  capacity  of  1,000  cubic  feet  of  sawn 
timber  a  day  ;  and  there  are  innumerable 
small  mills  and  saw-pits  owned  and  worked 
entirely  by  the  Chinese.  Several  factories 
are  engaged  in  the  preserving  and  export 
of  that  toothsome  delicacy,  ginger.  The 
fienst  slem-ginger  from  the  Canton  district 
is  selected,  and  the  produce  finds  its  way 
to  all  parts  of  the  world.  Soap  boiling  is 
another  industry  to  which  attention  has  been 
turned.  Like  dyeing,  tanning,  the  manu- 
facture of  vermilion,  and  tin  smelting,  the 
industry  is  chiefly  in  the  hands  of  Chinese. 
In  dyeing,  the  Chinese  are  experts  ;  and 
there  are  numbers  of  tanneries,  the  produce 
of  which  is  used  locally  and  on  the  mainland. 
There  are  four  native  tin  refineries,  in  which 
most  of  the  ore  from  the  Yninian  district  is 
treated.     The  largest  has  an  output  of  eight 


tons  a  day.  Vermilion  is  obtained  by  sub- 
liming the  black  sulphide  obtained  from  (he 
heating  of  sulphur  with  quicksilver.  After 
the  red  sulphide  which  results  has  been 
ground  with  water  in  stone  mills,  the  ver- 
milion is  collected  and  dried  ready  for  the 
market.  Among  other  local  industries  which 
may  be  mentioned  are  those  of  paper  making, 
match  making,  feather  cleaning  and  packing, 
opium  boiling,  cigar  making,  glass  blowing, 
brewing,  dairy  farming,  and  soda  water  manu- 
facturing. Of  these  the  most  recent  is 
brewing,  introduced  by  the  Imperial  Brewery 
Company,  who  have  a  modern  and  up-to-date 
plant  at  their  new  premises  in  Happy  Valley. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Hongkong  mav 
justly  claim  to  be  regarded  as  something 
more  than  a  vast  godown,  or  as  a  clearing 
house  for  the  south  of  China. 


£) 


THE   CHINA   SUGAR   REFINING   COMPANY. 

For  thirty  years  the  China  Sugar  Refining 
Company,  of  which  Messrs.  Jardine,  Mathe- 
son &  Co.,  Ltd.,  are  the  general  agents,  have 
carried  on  an  extensive  industry  at  East 
Point,  where  their  works  cover  an  area  of 
several  acres,  and  their  proximity  to  the 
harbour  gives  them  uiu'ivalled  facilities  for 
shipping.  The  buildings  are  numerous,  the 
principal  structure  being  six  storeys  in  height. 
At  the  Company's  wharf  raw  sugar  is  received 
from  Java,  the  Philippines,  the  Straits  Settle- 
ments, and  various  Chinese  ports.  The  raw 
sugar  is  of  various  shades  of  brown,  and, 
though  apparently  clean,  contains  many 
impurities  which  it  is  the  business  of  the 
Company  to  remove.  The  sugar  is  tipped 
into  shutes  communicating  with  the  melt- 
ing pans,  in  which  as  much  as  possible  of 
the  various  substances  admixed  with  it  is 
removed.  The  pans  are  made  of  cast  iron, 
and  are  fitted  with  a  perforated  false  bottom. 
The  sugar  is  mixed  with  hot  water  and 
boiled,  the  heat  being  maintained  by  means 
of  steam  pipes.  It  is  kept  stirred  by 
mechanical  arms,  and  the  impurities  which 
are  thrown  to  the  surface  are  removed  by 
constant  skimming.  Then  the  sugar  is 
filtered  through  long  cotton  bags  of  close 
texture,  enclosed  in  hemp  sheaths,  and  a 
large  amotnit  of  clay  and   dirt,  the  presence 


286     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


of  which  would  hardly  be  suspected,  is  left 
in  the  filters  in  the  form  of  a  black  sediment. 
A  comparison  of  a  sample  of  the  sugar  at 
this  stage  with  a  sample  taken  fron)  the  first 
boiling  shows  how  far  the  refining  process 


A.  Rodger,  who  is  assisted  by  a  staff  of 
no  fewer  than  twenty-five  Europeans.  Em- 
ployment is  given  to  a  large  number  of 
Chinese   workmen. 


SUGAR    REFINERY. 


has  advanced  :  the  one  being  clear,  and  of 
an  amber  colour,  the  other  cloudy  and 
darkened  by  foreign  matter.  The  next  stage 
is  the  passing  of  the  viscous  fluid  through 
a  cylinder  filled  with  prepared  animal  char- 
coal, from  which  it  issues  a  clear,  transparent 
stream,  white  and  ready  to  go  through  the 
process  of  granulation.  The  liquid  is  run 
into  storage  tanks,  and  fed  into  large  copper 
vacuum  pans,  the  water  being  driven  off 
by  means  of  steam  circulating  through 
copper  coils.  The  boiling  completed,  the 
mixture  passes  into  centrifugal  machines,  in 
which  the  sugar  is  separated  from  the  syrup. 
These  machines  contain  a  perforated  cylinder, 
rotating  at  a  high  speed,  the  syrup  being 
forced  through  the  holes  into  an  outer 
receptacle.  The  resulting  sugar  is  white  and 
moist,  and  has  to  be  treated  in  large  revol- 
ving granulators,  or  driers,  before  it  is  finally 
ready  for  sifting  and  packing.  A  lower  class 
of  brown  sugar  is  extracted  from  the  syrup, 
which  is  returned,  with  some  colouring 
matter,  to  the  vacuum  tjoilers,  and  passes 
once  more  through  the  centrifugal  machines  ; 
each  repetition  of  the  process  giving  a 
different  grade  of  sugar.  After  all  the  crys- 
tallised sugar  has  been  extracted,  the  syrup, 
or  molasses,  is  either  marketed  as  such,  or 
sent  to  the  distillery  for  use  in  the  manu- 
facture of  spirits.  In  another  department 
of  the  refinery,  loaf,  cut>e,  and  powdered,  or 
icing,  sugars  are  made,  mechanical  means 
being  employed  in  moulding  the  cube  sugar. 
To  ensure  a  satisfactory  water  supply,  large 
sand  filter  beds  have  been  laid  down  on  the 
premises,  and  a  complete  condensing  appara- 
tus has  been  installed.  And  last,  but  by  no 
means  of  least  importance,  a  laboratory  is 
provided  in  which  European  chemists  make 
analyses  and  tests  of  the  sugar  at  various 
stages  of  its  refinement. 
The  direction  of   the  works  is  under  Mr, 


HONQKONG     COTTON-SPINNINO,     WEAVING, 
AND   DYEING   COMPANY,  LTD. 

CoTTON-spiNNiNG  in  all  its  stages  may  be 
seen  at  the  great  factory  at  Causeway  Ray, 
owned  by  the  Hongkong  Cotton-spinning, 
Weaving    and    Dyeing    Company,    Ltd.,    the 


general  managers  of  which  are  Messrs. 
Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd.  The  build- 
ings are  nine  in  number  and  cover  a  very 
large  area.  The  total  space  enclosed  is 
400,000  square  feet,  and  the  Company  has 
sufficient  ground  to  double  the  present  plant 
should  occasion  arise.  The  size  of  the  mills 
may  be  judged  by  the  fact  that  there  are 
over  55,500  spindles.  The  raw  cotton 
comes  principally  from  India,  while  China 
is  the  chief  market  for  the  manufaclured 
article.  The  bales  of  cotton  are  broken  open 
and  their  contents  fed  into  the  bale-breakers, 
which  remove  seed  and  other  impurities  from 
the  cotton  in  readiness  for  the  hopper  feeding 
machines,  in  which  a  straightening-out  process 
takes  place.  In  the  scutching  department  the 
cotton  is  freed  from  dirt,  leaves,  and  other 
impurities  by  means  of  powerful  fans,  and  as 
it  issues  from  the  scutching  machines  it  is 
wound  into  what  are  known  as  laps.  P'our 
of  these  laps  are  placed  on  a  second  machine 
and  made  into  one,  with  the  object  of  ensur- 
ing uniformity  of  thickness.  On  the  carding 
engine  the  cotton  is  combed  out  by  large 
cylinders,  covered  with  slightly  projecting 
wire,  and  working  to  the  thousandth  part  of 
an  inch,  while  in  the  drawing  frames  the 
carded  cotton  is  drawn  out  and  the  fibres  are 
placed  in  a  perfect  parallel  order.  In  the 
slubbing,  intermediate,  and  roving  frames  the 
cotton  is  twisted,  each  process  making  the 
thread  finer  and  at  the  same  time  stronger. 
The  spinning  and  reeling  fraines  complete 
the  process,  and  the  yarn  is  then  wound  into 
hanks  and  put  up  into  bundles,  which  arc 
.stamped  with  the  firm's  chop — the  dragon 
and  the  flag  labels  being  the  best  known — 
and  baled  ready  for  export.  There  are  170 
carding  engines,  21  sets  of  drawing  frames, 
21  sets  of  slubbing  frames,  and  30  inter- 
mediate frames,  to  mention  but  some  of  the 
departments.  The  whole  of  the  machinery 
is  by  Platts,  of  Oldham,  and  of  the  latest 
and  most  improved  pattern  known  in  the 
industries.  It  is  perfect  in  its  action,  and 
adjusted  with  such  nicety  that  even  children 
may  be  entrusted  with  some  of  the  operations. 


COTTON    MILLS   OF    THE    HONGKONG    COTTON-SPINNING,   WEAVING.  AND 

DYEING    COMPANY,   LTD. 

(Messrs.  Jardine,  Mathc-son  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  General  Managers.) 


spisnixg. 
Coiling. 


HONGKONG  ROPE  MANUFACTORY. 
(Messrs.  Shcwan,  Tomes  &,  Co.,  General  Managers.) 

Gexkral  View. 


L.tYIXll. 
KORMIXG. 


240     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


HONQKONQ   ICE  COMPANY,   LTD. 

In  the  opening  days  of  Hongkong's  history 
as  a  British  Colony,  ice  was  imported  from 
the  North  and  stored.  Later  on,  the  Tudor 
Ice  Company  imported  ice  from  America, 
a  saiUng  ship  arriving  annually  with  the 
Colony's  supply,  and  many  old  residents  can 
remember  the  ice  ship  lying  moored  close 
to  the  foot  of  Ice  House  Lane,  and  the  ice 
blocks  being  stored  in  the  present  Ice  Depot, 
which  gives  its  name  to  the  street  on  either 
side  of  Queen's  Road.  The  only  year  in 
which  the  ice  ship  failed  to  put  in  an  appear- 
ance was  during  the  American  Civil  War, 
when  it  was  captured  and  burned  by  one  of 
the  Confederate  cruisers.  The  importation  of 
American  ice  continued  until  1S74,  when  two 
young  Scotchmen,  Messrs.  Kyle  &  Bain, 
erected  one  of  Dr.  Kirk's  damp-air  machines, 
which  proved  so  complete  a  success  that  the 
Tudor  Company  were  compelled  to  withdraw. 
Later,   another   of    Kirk's    air    machines   was 


the  North,  as  well  as  local  produce.  The 
British  naval  and  military  forces  at  Hong- 
kong are  now  principally  supplied  with 
Australian  frozen  meat  from  these  stores. 
In  1884,  the  Company  purchased  from  the 
Government  the  property  in  town  known  as 
the  Ice  House.  A  portion  of  the  fjround- 
fioor  is  used  as  otfice  and  ice  depot,  the 
remainder  tieing  let  on  lease  to  suitable 
tenants.  The  Company  has  had  a  reinarkably 
successful  career,  the  capital  remaining  at 
$125,000 — the  renewals,  extensions,  and  new 
land  and  property  acquired  since  the  foniia- 
fion  of  the  Company  having  all  been  paid  for 
out  of  profits  made  during  the  intervening 
years.  Mr.  V\'ni.  Parlane.  who  is  still  with 
the  Company,  has  been  manager  during  the 
past  twenty-four  years. 


THE    HONOKONQ    ICE    COMPANY'S   (LTD.)   WORKS. 
(Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  <^.,  Ltd.,  General  Managers.) 


erected.  In  1879,  Messrs.  Kyle  &  Bain  sold 
their  property  to  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson 
&  Co.,  who  formed  the  business  into  a 
limited  company  with  a  capital  of  $125,000, 
and  now  act  as  general  managers.  The 
original  machines  and  also  some  later 
machines  have  long  given  place  to  three 
ammonia  compression  machines,  while  the 
ice-making  tanks  have  been  quadrupled  within 
the  past  twenty  years.  The  ice  is  made  on 
the  plate  system,  and  nothing  but  pure,  hard, 
transparent  crystal  ice  is  sold  by  the  Com- 
pany, which  is  believed  to  be  the  only 
company  in  Asia  producing  this  quality  of 
ice.  For  local  consumption  the  ice  is  carted 
to  the  town  depot,  but  to  shipping  it  is  sent 
direct  by  boat,  the  works  at  Causeway  Bay 
being  most  convenient  to  the  harbour.  In 
1^00  the  Company  extended  their  business 
by  building  a  range  of  insulated  cold  stores, 
now  of  a  capacity  of  50.000  cubic  feet.  These 
have  added  revenue  to  the  Company,  and  are 
largely  taken  advantage  of  for  storing  meat, 
butter,  &c.,  from   Australia,  and  game  from 


THE  JUNK  BAY  FLOUR  MILLS. 

One  of  the  largest  and  most  important  in- 
dustries, not  only  in  Hongkong  but  through- 
out the  East,  is  that  carried  on  at  the  Junk 
Bay  Flour  Mills  by  the  Hongkong  Milling 
Company,  under  the  management  of  Messrs. 
A.  H.  Rennie  &  Co.  The  story  of  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  mills  is  an  interesting  chapter 
in  the  development  of  the  Colony.  The 
scheme  had  its  origin  in  the  mind  of  Mr. 
A.  H.  Rennie,  who,  as  agent  for  an  important 
American  milling  company,  was  for  many 
years  the  leading  man  in  the  flour  business 
in  the  East.  Grasping  the  fact  that,  with 
the  spread  of  Western  ideas  in  China,  the 
demand  for  flour  must  increase  tremendously, 
Mr.  Rennie  perceived  the  immense  possi- 
bilities underlying  the  establishment  of  such 
a  concern  in  the  Colony.  The  necessary 
capital  ($  I  ,ooo,cxx))  was  privately  sub- 
scribed, several  of  the  most  prominent 
business  men  in  Hongkong,  including  Sir 
Paul  Chafer,  K.C.M.G.,  and  Mr.  H.  N.  Mody, 


taking  a  large  share  in  the  venture.  With 
untiring  energy  Mr.  Rennie  personally  super- 
intended every  detail  of  the  erection  of  the 
magnificent  pile  of  buildings  and  the  instal- 
lation of  the  intricate  and  scientific  plant, 
which  make  up  the  mills  to-day.  Many 
ingenious  devices  in  the  equipment  of  the 
mills  for  the  saving  of  time  and  labour  bear 
striking  testimony  to  the  fertility  of  Mr. 
Kennie's  invention. 

The  Company  having  acquired  some  435 
acres  of  land  on  the  shores  of  Junk  Bay,  with 
a  sea  frontage  of  2j  miles,  Mr.  Rennie 
turned  the  first  sod  in  May,  1905,  and  the 
work  was  pushed  forward  with  such  rapidity, 
in  the  face  of  many  difficulties,  that  in  Jaiuiary, 
1907,  the  mills  were  ready  for  forma!  opening 
by  the  Hon.  Mr.  F.  H.  May,  C.M.G.,  at  th.it 
time  the  oflicer  administering  the  govern- 
ment. The  magnitude  of  the  enterprise  is 
clearly  shown  by  the  fact  that  the  mills  are 
capable  of  producing  8,000  bags  of  the 
highest  grade  Hour  every  twenty-four  hours, 
wliich  means  that  about  6,000  tons  of  wheat 
pass  through  its  machines  every  month. 
This  entitles  them  to  rank  with  the  largest 
flour  mills  in  the  world.  The  godowns  are 
substantially  built  of  brick,  with  steel 
stanchions  and  principals  and  iron  roofs, 
and  have  a  storage  capacity  of  about  26,000 
tons  of  wheat,  250,000  bags  of  flour,  and 
10,000  bags  of  bran.  Elaborate  apparatus 
has  been  installed  to  facilitate  the  handling 
of  wheat  and  flour,  and  very  particular 
attention  has  been  given  to  ventilation.  The 
mill  is  a  five-storey  building,  and  the 
machinery  is  of  the  inost  approved  and 
modern  roller  plant,  with  complete  washing 
apparatus  and  electric  bleachers.  The  inotive 
power  consists  of  two  250  horse-power  and 
one  150  horse-power  Diesel  engines.  Electric 
lifiht  is  used  throughout,  and  special  pre- 
cautions have  been  taken  against  fire,  the 
buildings  being  shut  off  from  each  other  by 
fire-proof  doors,  while  an  abundant  supply 
of  water  at  about  double  the  pressure  of  that 
in  the  Hongkong  mains  is  procured  from 
the  Company's  own  reservoir  situated  about 
2}   miles  away. 

Both  in  the  godowns  and  in  the  actual 
milling  processes  the  utmost  cleanliness  is 
insisted  upon,  and  the  result  is  shown  in 
the  excellent  quality  and  colour  of  the  flour 
produced,  which  is  in  great  demand  not 
only  in  China  but  also  in  Japan,  Indo- 
China,  the  Straits,  Burmah,  and  India. 

The  mills  run  throughout  the  whole 
twenty-four  hours,  except  on  Sundays.  As 
Mr.  Rennie  appreciates  to  the  full  the  wisdom 
of  looking  properly  after  good  servants,  every 
possible  consideration  is  given  to  the  em- 
ployes, who  are  housed  in  bungalows  on  the 
hill  side  and  on  the  hulk  Maple  Leaf, 
formerly  a  sailing  ship,  moored  off  the  mill, 
which  is  electrically  lighted  and  supplied 
with  fresh  water  from  the  shore.  Strict 
precautions  are  taken  to  ensure  healthful 
conditions  on  board,  and  there  has  been 
practically  no  sickness  among  the  employes, 
who  number  about  125,  since  the  mills 
started. 

The  Coinpany  does  not  confine  its  attention 
to  flour,  for  a  plant  is  in  course  of  erection 
which  will  produce  24  tons  of  the  best 
quality  clear  ice  every  twenty-four  hours, 
and  the  establishment  of  a  brewery  and 
aerated  water  factory  is  also  under  con- 
sideration. 

The  mills  are  a  valuable  addition  to  the 
assets  of  the  Colony,  for  they  could  at  any 
time,  if  necessary,  supply  the  entire  popu- 
lation, including  naval  and  military  forces, 
with  food  for  a  period  of  at  least  four  months. 


242     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


MACDONALD   &   CO. 

As  Hongkong's  cximmercial  prosperity  de- 
pends almost  entirely  upon  shipping,  it  is 
but  natural  that  the  engineering  departments 
of  the  shipbuilding  and  shipping  trade  should 
have  reached  a  high  state  of  efficiency.  One 
of  the  leading  local  engineering  tirms  is  that 
of  Messrs.  Macdonald  &  Co.,  who  were  the 
first  to  undertake  (he  construction  of  steel 
piers  and  wharves.  The  firm  was  formerly 
known  as  Kinghorn  &  Macdonald,  but  in 
1903  it  was  established  under  its  present 
style.  The  offices  of  the  Company  are  in 
York  Buildings,  Hongkong,  the  works  are  at 
Kowloon.  The  equipment  of  the  works 
enables  all  classes  of  harbour  and  repair 
work  and  the  construction  of  marine  engines 
up  to  200  horse-power  to  be  carried  out. 
The  site  ocxupied  forms  part  of  the  land  that 
has  been  reclaimed  in  the  bay,  and  adjoins 
the  Kowloon-Canton  Railway  station  yard. 
It  has  a  good  water  frontage  of  400  feet  in 


that  had  suffered  damage.  The  Company  are 
agents  for  A.  R.  Brown,  MacFarlane  &  Co., 
Ltd.,  iron  and  steel  merchants,  of  Glasgow  ; 
C.  A.  Parsons  &  Co.'s  land  turbines ; 
Richardsons,  Westgarth  St.  Co.  ;  Lobiiitz  & 
Co.'s  dredgers,  &c.  ;  J.  &  E.  Hall's  refrigera- 
ting plants  ;  A  B  C  Coupler.  Ltd.  ;  Vulcan 
Crucible  Co.;  Glacier  Antifriction  Metal  Co.; 
Robert  Brown  &  Son,  Ltd.,  Paisley  ;  A.  &  J. 
Main  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  structural  engineers  and 
bridge  builders  ;  and  the  Elaterite  Paint  and 
Manufacturing  Company. 

Mr.  Donald  Macdonald,  M.I.Mech.E., 
M.l.M.E,  the  head  of  the  firm,  has  had 
a  long  and  valuable  training  in  various  en- 
gineering works.  He  served  his  apprentice- 
ship witti  Messrs.  Craig  &  Donald,  Johnstone, 
and  Messrs.  Denny  &  Co.,  Dumbarton.  In 
1878  he  was  appointed  junior  engineer  to  one 
of  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.'s  steamers 
on  the  China  coast,  and  four  years  later 
became  chief  engineer.  Since  then  he  has 
had  eighteen  years'  experience  in  the  Colony, 


WILKS   &    JACK'S    OFFICES.; 


length,  and  a  slipway  capable  of  taking 
vessels  up  to  150  tons.  During  the  past  year 
the  firm  has  carried  out  a  large  number  of 
contracts,  including  the  building  of  eight 
wooden  and  steel  lighters,  and  three  steam 
launches  of  25.  40,  and  50  tons  each.  Messrs. 
Macdonald  &  Co.  erected  two  steel  jetties  and 
two  steel  piers  at  Canton  (one  for  the 
Hamburg-Amerika  Linie).  the  principal  work- 
shops at  Messrs.  Bulterfield  &  Swire's  new 
dockyards  at  Quarry  Bay.  and  two  piers  at 
Tai  Kok  Tsui  for  Messrs.  Arnhold,  Karberg  & 
Co.  They  are  now  erecting  a  pier  for  the 
Standard  Oil  Company  at  Lai-chi-kok.  Under 
contract  with  the  Government,  the  firm  also 
built  Blake  Pier,  Hongkong's  principal  landing 
place.  They  removed  the  stone  barriers  in 
the  Canton  River,  which  were  put  down 
during  th«  first  war  to  prevent  foreign  ships 
from  entering  the  river,  and.  under  contract 
with  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  con- 
structed several  lighthouses  in  the  Canton 
and  West  Rivers.  After  the  great  typhoon 
of  September,  1906,  they  were  called  upon 
to  repair  many  of  the  lighters  and  launches 


seven  of  which  were  spent  in  the  service  of 
the  Hongkong  and  Whampoa  Dock  Com- 
pany, Ltd.  For  the  last  eleven  years  he  has 
been  in  business  on  his  own  account.  He 
is  surveyor  to  the  Bureau  Veritas,  British 
Corporation,  and  other  registers.  He  takes 
great  interest  in  the  Volunteer  movement, 
and  holds  the  commission  of  major  in  the 
local  corps.  His  address  is  York  Buildings, 
Hongkong. 


W.   S.   BAILEY   &   CO. 

This  well-known  firm  of  engineers  and 
shipbuilders  was  founded  in  1897  by  Mr. 
W.  S.  Bailey,  who  began  business  as  a 
consulting  engineer  and  importer  of  steam 
pumps  and  engineers'  requisites.  In  1900 
Mr.  Bailey  was  joined  in  partnership  by 
Mr.  E.  O.  Murphy,  and  the  present  works 
at  Kowloon  Bay  were  established.  The 
firm's  first  order  was  for  the  50-foot  steam 
launch     Ida,    and    was     received     from     the 


Hongkong  Steam  Laundry  Company.  From 
that  time  to  the  present  orders  have  flowed 
in  continuously,  and  it  has  been  necessary 
to  make  frequent  additions  to  the  premises 
and  plant  in  order  to  cope  with  the  increas- 
ing stream.  The  works  now  occupy  about 
six  acres,  and  have  a  sea  frontage  of  450  feet, 
so  that  eight  vessels  may  be  laid  down  at 
the  same  time.  When  established  only  three 
years  the  Company  received  the  order  for 
the  Canton  River  steamer  Kiiviig  Chow  (now 
the  Kjt'oiig  Sai),  of  600  tons  displacement 
and  200  feet  in  length.  The  boat  was  com- 
pleted a  year  later,  and  up  to  that  date  was 
the  largest  steel  vessel  built  in  the  Colony, 
In  1905  the  firm,  in  response  to  a  repeat 
order  from  the  same  owners,  undertook  the 
construction  of  the  steel  twin-screw  steamer 
the  Kwoiig  Tung,  and  while  engaged  upon 
this  contract  they  had  also  in  hand  four  iron 
barges,  each  of  600  tons  capacity,  for  Messrs. 
Markwald  &  Co.,  of  Bangkok,  besides  several 
smaller  vessels  and  general  work.  At  this  time 
upwards  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  men 
were  employed  in  the  yard.  Messrs.  W.  S. 
Bailey  &  Co.  have  recently  completed  the 
steel  cruiser  Looiig  Sheung  (Flying  Dragon) 
for  the  Imperial  Chinese  Navy.  On  the 
occasion  of  our  representative's  visit  over  a 
thousand  men  were  at  work,  and  there  were 
on  the  stocks  a  steel  twin-screw  lighter  being 
built,  under  Lloyds  100  Al  survey,  to  carry 
825  tons  dead  weight  at  a  speed  of  nine 
knots  ;  and  a  steel  oil  barge  150  feet  in  length 
for  the  Standard  Oil  Company  of  New  York. 
There  were  also  fifty-two  steel  buoys  under 
construction  for  the  Manila  Government.  At 
the  same  time  the  firm  were  erectmg  large 
oil  tanks  at  Haiphong  and  Saigon  for  the 
Standard  Oil  Company,  for  whom  they  had 
just  previously  completed  a  similar  installation 
at  Hongkong.  In  seven  years  the  firm  have 
turned  out  over  eighty  vessels,  including  stern- 
wheelers,  light  draught  vessels,  and  motor 
boats,  both  twin  and  single  screws. 

The  senior  partner,  Mr.  Bailey,  was  born 
in  Dublin  and  served  his  apprenticeship  as 
an  engineer  with  the  Australasian  Steam 
Navigation  Company,  of  Sydney,  N.S.W. 
He  came  to  Hongkong  in  1890  and  joined 
the  Hongkong,  Canton  and  Macao  Steamboat 
Company,  Ltd.,  in  whose  steamers  Hoiian 
and  Hciingshan  he  served  until  he  started  in 
business  for  himself.  Mr.  Bailey  is  a  member 
of  the  Institution  of  Mechanical  Engineers, 
London. 

Mr.  Murphy  is  of  Irish  parentage,  and  was 
born  in  Liverpool,  where  he  served  his 
apprenticeship  with  Messrs.  John  Jones  & 
Sons.  He  was  afterwards  junior  engineer 
in  several  vessels  of  the  White  Star  Line, 
and  arrived  in  Hongkong,  as  second  engineer 
of  the  Abyssinia,  in  1895.  For  the  next  five 
years  or  so  he  served  as  chief  engineer  in 
the  C.P.R.  liners  Empress  of  India,  Empress 
of  China,  and  Empress  of  Japan.  Mr.  Murphy 
is  a  Whitworth  scholar,  and  vice-president 
of  the  Institute  of  Marine  Engineers,  London. 


WILKS   &   JACK,    LTD. 

This  firm  was  founded  in  1902  by  Mr.  E.  C. 
Wilks,  M.I.Mech.E.,  as  a  manne  engineers' 
and  surveyors'  bureau.  Mr.  Wilks  was 
joined  In  1903  by  Mr.  W.  C.  Jack,  M.I.N.A., 
formerly  Ingenieur  en  Chef  of  the  Tonkin 
River  Mail  Service,  and  late  assistant  manager 
at  the  Kowloon  establishment  of  the  Hong- 
kong and  Whampoa  Dock  Company.  During 
the  five  years  of  their  association  as  E.  C. 
Wilks  &  Co.  the  firm   designed   and   superin- 


244    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


tended  the  construction  of  quite  a  number 
of  river  steamers  and  launches,  at  the  same 
time  taking  up  the  agency  of  the  General 
Electric  Company  of  England,  and  acting  as 
representatives  of  other  important  machinery 
makers  of  the  United  Kingdom,  amongst  them 
Thornycroft,  Allen.  Dudbridge,  and  Petter. 
In  December.  1906,  the  business  was  con- 
verted into  a  limited  liability  company,  under 
the  style  of  Wilks  &  Jack.  Ltd.,  with  the 
former  proprietors  as  general  managers. 
Operations  have  been  greatly  extended  since 
that  alteration.  New  offices  and  show  rooms 
have  t)een  opened  in  Des  Voeux  Road 
Central,  and  an  electro-plating  and  electric 
repair  workshop  has  l)een  started  in  Robert- 
son Road.  Kowloon.  The  show  rooms  are 
replete  with  all  the  latest  electric  appliances, 


varied  experience  of  marine  engineering  and 
shipbuilding  in  all  Its  phases,  undertake  the 
permanent  superintendence  of  steamers  and 
launches  running  from  the  fort,  inspect 
vessels  and  machinery  of  all  kinds  while 
under  construction,  and  estimate  for,  or 
superintend,  general  repairs.  They  also  sub- 
mit designs  and  estimates  for  steamships  and 
launches  for  sea  or  river  service,  and  make 
a  speciality  of  craft  of  lighter  draft  than  have 
hitherto  been  built  In  Hongkong.  Vessels 
are  Inspected  and  trial  trips  run  on  behalf 
of   prospective  purchasers. 


0 


and  there  is  a  consulting  committee  composed 
of  Wong  Pin  \Va,  Leung  Auk  Sang,  To  Lai 
Ting,  Chan  Tuen,  and  Yan  Sang  Hung.  The 
Company  build  ships,  carry  out  engineering 
work  of  all  descriptions,  inidertake  the  rais- 
ing of  steamers  and  general  salvage  work, 
and  have  a  number  of  steam  launches  for 
service  In  the  harbour.  The  engineering 
works  and  slipway  are  on  the  Kowloon  side 
of  the  water,  near  the  Cosmopolitan  Docks, 
while  the  ofiices  are  at  No.  48,  Connaught 
Road  Central.  The  manager  of  the  wt)rks  Is 
Mr.  To  Li  Ting,  and  the  assistant  manager, 
Mr.  Wong  Pin  Wa.  There  are  about  three 
hundred  employes. 

Mr.  Chan  Wan  Chi,  the  managing  director 
of  the  Company,  Is  the  son  of  a  Canton 
merchant.     He  was  apprenticed  to  the  Hong- 


Chak  Wan  Chi  (General  Manager). 


KWONO   HIP    LUNG    &    CO. 
The  Works  at  Kowloox. 


Wong  Fix  Wa  (Director). 


as  well  as  with  the  newest  types  of  incan- 
descent gas  fittings,  and  the  agency  for  the 
Welsbach  Company  has  been  secured.  The 
electro-plating  ateliers  are  up  to  date  In  every 
respect,  and  are  constantly  being  enlarged  to 
cope  with  the  increasing  demands  made  upon 
them.  The  machinery  In  stock  at  Hong- 
kong and  Kowloon  comprises  steam  dynamos. 
oil  and  gas  engines,  lathes,  pumps,  and  steel 
tools,  which  are  in  the  charge  of  Mr.  Percival 
H.  Nye,  electrical  engineer.  A  passenger 
launch,  tug  boat,  and  lightering  service  is 
also  run  in  the  harbour  under  the  supervision 
of  Captain  O.  B.  Wilks,  the  firm  being 
entrusted  with  important  Government  con- 
tracts in  this  branch  of  their  business.  The 
general  managers  having  a  complete  know- 
ledge of  local  requirements  and  a  long  and 


KWONO   HIP  LUNO   &   CO.,  LTD. 

The  engineering  work  done  by  Kwong  Hip 
Lung  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  compares  favourably  with 
that  carried  out  in  the  yards  under  European 
supervision.  The  business  was  established 
in  1877,  on  quite  a  small  scale,  with  a 
capital  of  only  $2,000,  by  Mr.  Chan  Wan  Chi 
and  some  friends.  An  office  was  opened  In 
Gllman  Street,  and  here  general  repairs  and 
engineering  work  of  all  kinds  were  executed. 
Owing  to  increasing  trade  larger  premises 
at  Wanchai  were  taken,  and  workshops  were 
established  at  Fook  Sun  Yong.  In  1890  the 
business,  which  had  extended  rapidly  in  all 
directions,  was  formed  into  a  limited  liability 
company,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000.  Mr. 
Chan   Wan    Chi    is    the    managing    director. 


kong  Dock  Company  for  eight  years,  and  it 
w.-is  after  leaving  this  employment  that  he 
started  in  business  on  liis  own  account.  He 
has  several  sons,  some  of  whom  are  now 
assisting  him  in  his  work,  Chan  Ah  Lun 
being  engineer  to  the  Company,  and  Chun 
Wei  Nam  assistant  engineer,  while  Chan 
Ah  Chui  is  an  architect. 


TUNO   TAJ   TSEUNQ   KEE   &   CO. 

This  well-known  firm  of  engineers  and  ship- 
builders was  originally  established  by  Mr. 
Choi  Chik  Nam,  in  1897,  for  the  purpose  of 
building  and  repairing  .steam  launches,  river 
craft,    &c.      Two    workshops    are    now    kept 


o 
o 


n 


246      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


busy — one  at  Yaumati,  and  the  other  at  Pra>-a 
East,  Wanchai — and  afford  employment  for 
close  upon  five  hundred  workmen.  The  firm 
holds  contracts  from  the  French  Government 


kong,  China,  and  Europe,  the  different 
varieties  including  billian,  selangen,  batu, 
camphor,  several  kinds  of  kruen,  and  cedar. 
In  Borneo  the  Company  has  two  l.irge  saw- 


[•4«»r. 


contented.  Locally  the  Company  operates 
well-equipped  saw-mills  at  Yaumati,  having 
a  capacity  of  i,ooo  cubic  feet  per  day. 

The  general  manager  of  the  Company  is 
Mr.  J.  Wheeley.  Mr.  W.  G.  Darby  is  the 
manager  in  Borneo,  and  Messrs.  Cape  and 
Jupp  are  the  out  door  superintendents.  Messrs. 
Bevaii,  Murray,  Thomas,  and  Schuider  are 
the  jungle  assistants,  while  Mr.  McCrath  is 
in  charge  of  the  saw-mills,  and  Mr.  Bridger 
of  the  engineering  shops  and  .slipway.  Mr. 
Kennett  is  the  saw-mill  manager  at  Yaumati. 


r.  BLACKHEAD  Si    CO.'S  SOAP  FACTORY. 


at  Saigon,  and  is  entrusted  with  the  execution 
of  repairs  for  the  Indo-China,  the  Hamburg- 
Amerika,  and  the  Japanese  lines  of  steamers. 
Upwards  of  a  hundred  steam  launches  have 
l)een  built  by  this  firm  for  Manila.  One 
launch  was  140  feet  in  length,  and  fitted 
with  triple-expansion  engines.  The  proprie- 
tor of  the  firm.  Mr.  I^n  Fat,  was  born  in 
the  San  On  Province,  China,  received  his 
education  in  Hongkong,  and  was  afterwards 
apprenticed  as  a  draughtsman  to  Messrs. 
Fenwick  &  Co.  for  nine  years.  He  was 
then  for  nearly  two  years  engineer  to  Messrs. 
Marty  &  Co.,  until,  in  1895,  ^'^  joined  Messrs. 
Tung  Tai  Tseung  Kee  &  Co.  as  manager. 
In  this  p<jsltion  he  remained  for  ten  years, 
when  he  purchased  the  business.  Mr.  Lan 
Fat  is  married  and  has  a  family  of  four  sons 
and  three  daughters.  At  Wanchai  the  busi- 
ness of  the  firm  is  managed  by  Mr.  S.  Ahmet, 
who  was  born  in  Macao  and  educated  at 
Queen's  College.  Hongkong.  He  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  five  years  at  the  Gordon 
Foundry,  East  Point,  and  then  joined  the 
Amoy  Engineering  Works.  Three  years  later 
he  entered  the  service  of  Messrs.  Tung  Tai 
Tseung  Kee  &  Co.,  becoming  assistant 
manager  in  1901,  and  receiving  his  present 
appointment  in  1905. 


THE  CHINA-BORNEO  COMPANY,   LTD. 

The  China-Borneo  Company.  Ltd.,  is  the 
only  local  company  engaged  in  the  timber 
trade.  It  was  formed  in  1888,  but  has  been 
twice  reconstructed.  Now  it  has  a  capital  of 
$720,000,  is  established  on  a  firm  footing,  and 
has  paid  good  returns  to  shareholders  for 
years  past.  The  Company  holds  valuable 
timber  concessions,  extending  over  some 
thousands  of  miles,  in  British  North  Borneo, 
and  from  there  it  supplies  timber  to  Hong- 


mills,  as  well  as  a  patent  slipway  and  en- 
gineering shops.  It  does  all  its  own  repairs, 
lays  its  own  jungle  railways,  builds  launches 
and   lighters,   and   does   general   engineering. 


F.  BLACKHEAD  &  CO.'S  SOAP  FACTORY. 

No  account  of  the  industrial  life  of  the 
Colony  would  be  complete  without  a  passing 
reference  to  the  manufacture  of  soap,  which 
is  a  comparatively  new  enterprise  so  far  as 
Europeans  are  concerned.  The  idea  of  start- 
ing a  soap  factory  in  Hongkong  originated, 
some  twelve  years  ago,  with  Mr.  Smith,  a 
former  partner  in  the  firm  of  Messrs.  F. 
Blackhead  &  Co.  An  admirable  site  was 
purchased  at  Shaukiwan,  a  little  village  about 
two  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Victoria,  and 
upon  this  some  excellent  buildings  were 
erected  and  equipped  with  the  necessary 
machinery,  including  large  boilers  made  by 
the  Hongkong  and  Whampoa  Dock  Company. 
Under  the  capable  supervision  of  a  gentleman 
who  had  formerly  been  connected  with  the 
soap  trade  in  Japan,  operations  were  quickly 
in  full  swing.  The  proprietors  found  that 
competition  with  Japanese,  Chinese,  and  im- 
ported soaps  was  very  strong,  but,  in  spite 
of  many  difliculties,  they  have  made  gratifying 
progress  by  producing  an  article  of  good 
quality  at  a  moderate  price.  From  time  to 
time  the  plant  has  been  added  to,  and  often 
between  sixty  and  seventy  Chinese  are  em- 
ployed,  for,   besides    the    manufacture   of   all 


CHOr    FONG'S    GINGER    FACTORY. 


[Sec  page  248.] 


The  labour  staff  numbers  about  a  thousand 
Malays  and  Javanese,  many  of  whom  were 
born  on  the  concession.  They  are  fed  and 
housed    by    the     Company     and     are     quite 


kinds  of  soap,  soda  crystals  and  disinfectants 
are  also  made.  The  raw  materials  are 
obtiiined  from  the  Philippines  and  adjacent 
islands.     After  the  various  ingredients  have 


LAN  Fat  (Proprietor). 


MESSRS.   TUNG    TAI   TSEUNG   KEE   &    CO.'S   WORKSHOPS. 


[See  page  245.] 
S.  Ahmet  (Manager). 


iTHE    CHINA-BORNEO    COMPANY,    LTD. 
View  on  the  Compaxy's  Timkek  Concession.  Lighter  and  Launch  built  by  the  Company. 

General  View  of  the  Saw-mills  at  Yatmati. 


248     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


been  anal\-sed  carefully  by  competent  ctiemists 
to  test  their  purity,  they  are  slowly  boiled 
and  stirrK-xl  for  a  given  length  of  time.  The 
liquid  is  then    forced,    by   a   rotation    pump, 


is  always  a  large  demand  for  it.  The  factory 
is  owned  by  a  local  private  company,  of 
which  Mr.  Yip  Yung  Soon  is  the  manager. 


LEITNQ   Hin    CHO 
(Managing  Partner). 


THE    MAN    LOONG   GINGER    FACTORY. 


into  collapsible  iron  forms.  Here  it  is  allowed 
to  cool,  and,  when  the  sides  of  the  forms  are 
taken  away,  the  solid  blocks  of  soap  remain. 
In  the  manufacture  of  some  soap  great  care 
has  to  be  taken  to  ensure  that  it  does  not 
cool  too  quickly.  When  the  solid  block  of 
soap,  weighing  about  two  tons,  is  obtained 
from  its  iron  form  it  is  cut,  by  wire,  into 
convenient  sizes,  and  then  by  a  simple  little 
machine  is  converted  into  whatever  shape 
may  be  desired.  A  Chinese  coolie,  with  a 
hand  machine,  stamps  the  tablet  with  the 
required  design,  and  the  soap  is  then  ready 
for  the  market. 

Mr.  Siebler  is  the  manager  of  the  factory. 
He  and  his  assistant  have  excellent  quarters 
over  the  factory  itself,  and  by  their  ability 
and  their  application  to  business  have 
deservedly  won  the  full  confidence  of  the 
proprietor. 


THE  CHOY   FONO   OINOER   FACTORY. 

The  Choy  Fong  Ginger  Factory,  situated  at 
No.  8,  Sai  On  Lane,  West  Point,  has  been 
established  in  the  Colony  for  about  fifty  years 
and  is  well  known  in  China  and  abroad  for 
the  excellence  of  its  products.  The  whole 
of  the  ginger  is  obtained  from  the  Canton 
district,  and  is  preserved  in  the  local  factory, 
which  is  equipped  with  the  most  approved 
appliances  and  a  boiling  pan  of  a  specially 
improved  pattern.  The  finished  article  is 
packed  in  several  styles  for  the  European 
market,  and.  as  dry  ginger  and  syrup  ginger, 
is  exported  largely  to  America.  Europe,  and 
Australia.  The  output  of  the  factory  during 
the  season  is  about  30,000  piculs  of  ginger, 
a  great  deal  of  which  goes  to  the  Chinese 
retail  shops  in  San   Francisco,   where  there 


THE   MAN  LOONG   GINGER   FACTORY. 

A  co.NsiDEKAULE  amount  of  ginger  is  exported 
from  the  Colony,  and  consequently  competi- 
tion is  so  strong  that  a  firm  wishing  to  hold 
a  high  place  in  Ihe  market  finds  it  nccess.nry 
to  exercise  extreme  care  that  its  productions 
are  of  the  highest  quality.     P'or  this  reason, 


the  Man  Loong  Ginger  Factory  has  only  to 
refer  to  the  volume  of  its  trade  to  prove  the 
excellence  of  its  manufactures.  The  firm  has 
been  established  in  the  Colony  for  forty  years 
and  exports  to  England,  America,  Germany, 
and  Australia,  preserved  ginger  and  all  kinds 
of  Chinese  fruits,  such  as  pears,  plums,  cum- 
quats,  and  chowchow.  The  ginger  comes 
from  Canton,  is  peeled  and  boiled  there,  and 
preserved  and  packed  at  the  factory.  No.  60, 
Temple  Street.  Yaumati.  Three  grades  only 
are  dealt  with — the  finest  choice  selected 
stem  ginger,  young  stem  ginger,  and  cargo 
ginger  and  these  are  packed  in  pure  syrup 
and  in  first  grade  Java  cane  sugar.  During 
the  season,  from  August  to  the  end  of  the 
year,  upwards  of  three  hundred  men  and 
women  are  employed.  The  Company  also 
manufactures  sugar-candy,  which  is  sent  largely 
to  Bombay  and  to  tlie  northern  ports  of  China. 
The  firm  sends  a  great  deal  of  its  products 
to  India  under  the  name  of  Sam  Shing,  and 
despatches  best  tliick  soy  to  London.  The 
managing  partner  of  the  firm  is  Mr.  Leung 
Hiu  Cho,  who  has  been  engaged  in  business 
in  the  Colony  for  a  number  of  years.  The 
offices  of  the  Company  are  situated  at  No.  13, 
Des  Voeux  Koad  West. 


THE   HING   LOONG   GINGER    FACTORY. 

Thkuk  are  many  ginger  factories  in  the 
Colony,  and  one  of  the  largest  and  best 
known  is  the  Hing  Loong  factory,  occupying 
Nos.  322  to  324,  Des  Voeux  Koad  West. 
The  ginger  requn-ed  by  the  factory  comes 
from  the  Canton  district,  and  the  care  exer- 
cised in  the  selection  of  the  raw  product  has 
given  the  firm  an  excellent  reputation  in  the 
markets  of  Europe,  America,  and  Australia. 
For  the  export  trade  only  the  finest  qualities 
of  stem  ginger  are  used.  When  cured  the 
product  is  put  up  in  heavy  stone  jars,  and 
carefully  packed.  The  business  is  managed 
by  Mr.  Wong  Chi  Chau,  the  managing  part- 
ner, who  started  the  Company  four  years 
ago.  Mr.  Wong  Chi  Chau  is  a  well-known 
man  In  the  Colony.     He  has  for  some  eight 


THE    IMPERIAL    BREWERY. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     249 

years  past  been  coinpradore  of  Messrs.  Alvares       factory.     Ttie  extent  of  the  business  may  be       Loong  works.     This  firm  also  deals  in  chow- 
&  Co.,  the  linn  which  undertakes  the  whole      judged  from  the  fact  that  in  the  busy  season       chow  and  cumquat  of  the  best  quality, 
business    of    exporting    the    produce    of    the      hundreds  of  men  arc  employed  in  the  Hing 

0 

THE   IMPERIAL  BREWING  COMPANY. 

An  industry  only  recently,  started  in  Hong- 
kong is  that  carried  on — under  the  general 
management  of  Messrs.  Barretto  &  Co. — by 
the  Imperial  Brewing  Company,  Ltd.,  which 
was  formed  in  1905,  and  commenced  opera- 
tions in  December,  1907,  as  soon  as  the 
necessary  plant  had  been  erected.  The 
premises  are  situated  in  the  Wongneichung 
Road,  and  the  equipment,  imported  from 
America  by  Mr.  F.  J.  Berry,  the  present  works 
manager,  and  erected  under  his  supervision, 
is  thoroughly  up  to  date,  and  makes  possible 
the  latest  scientific  methods.  The  brewing 
master  is  Mr.  A.  F.  Weiss,  a  graduate 
of  the  U.S.A.  Brewery  Academy,  under 
whom  are  employed  about  sixty  men. 
In  brewing  beer  the  first  desideratum, 
especially  in  a  hot  country  like  Hongkong, 
is  that  a  uniform  temperature  shall  be  main- 
tained, and  to  facilitate  this  a  refrigerating 
plant  has  been  installed.  The  famous 
Shevilier  malt  is  used,  and  it  is  first  crushed 
and  made  into  a  mash.  This  takes  place  at 
a  temperature  of  140°  F.,  which  is  slowly 
raised  in  the  course  of  an  hour  or  so  to 
167°  V.  An  hour's  rest  is  then  allowed,  after 
which  the  liquid  is  drawn  off,  and  run  into 
a  copper  kettle,  to  which  hops  are  added  in 
the  "  woert."  The  brew  is  brought  to  a 
boil  for  two  or  three  hours,  according  to  the 
brand  of  beer  required,  and  is  then  ready 
for  discharging  into  a  "  hop  jack."  This  is 
fitted  with  a  false  bottom,  and  the  clear  beer 
is  then  pumped  on  to  a  surface  cooler,  where 
it  remains  for  an  hour  or  two.  It  is  then  run 
over  a  Baudlet  cooler,  and,  while  at  a  tem- 
peniture  of  36°  F.,  yeast  is  introduced.  The 
beer  is  then  aerated  for  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
hours,  when  more  yeast  is  added.  The  froth 
caused  by  the  fermentation  is  removed,  the 
skimming  being  continued  until  tlie  fermen- 
tation ceases,  this  process  lasting  from  three 
to  eight  days,  according  to  the  strength 
required.  The  beer  is  matured  in  tanks  for 
several  months,  and  is  then  run  into  chip 
casks,  and  re-charged  with  kreausen.  Twelve 
or  fifteen  days  later  it  is  ready  for  filtration 
and  casking  or  bottling.  That  intended  for 
bottling  is  pasteurised  to  prevent  deterioration 
and  give  it  a  palatable  fullness.  The  brewery 
has  an  ample  supply  of  good  water  from 
the  public  mains  of  the  Colony,  but,  to  ensure 
a  service  in  the  event  of  this  breaking  down, 
a  reservoir,  capable  of  meeting  all  require- 
ments for  several  days,  has  been  erected. 
The  beer  brewed  is  of  excellent  quality,  as  is 
HING   LOONG'S   GINGER   FACTORY.  evidenced  by  its  already  wide  popularity. 


Z^ 


Y  2 


SPORT. 


By   J.   W.    Bains.    Sports  Editor  of  the  "  China  Mail." 


T  is  questionable  whether  in 
any  other  part  of  His  Majes- 
ty's dominions  sport  has  so 
many  adherents  proportion- 
ately as  are  to  be  found 
within  the  narrow  confines 
of  Hongkong.  Even  on  the 
most  sultry  day  in  midsummer,  when  the 
extreme  humidity  of  the  atmosphere  invests 
almost  every  one  with  a  feeling  of  lassitude, 
relief  is  gained  by  "a  dip  in  the  briny,"  and 
the  followers  of  aquatic  sports  may  be  num- 
l>ered  in  hundreds.  The  European  inhabitants 
of  the  Colony  sally  forth  in  launches  to  seek 
one  of  the  many  secluded  spots  where  the 
pellucid  waters  of  the  harbour  temptingly 
invite  a  plunge  into  their  cooling  depths. 
For  four  months  out  of  the  year  swimming 
holds  sway.  During  the  remainder  of  the 
year  almost  any  out-door  sport  may  be  fol- 
lowed, excluding,  of  course,  those  which  are 
dependent  upon  the  prevalence  of  extreme 
cold.  The  average  youth  in  Hongkong  has 
more  time  for  active  participation  in  sport 
than  he  has  at  home,  and  the  recreative 
centres  lie  within  easy  reach.  As  a  general 
rule  no  games  commence  before  five  o'clock 
on  week-days,  and  most  employers  allow  their 
assistants  an  opportunity  of  getting  away  from 
business  at  that  hour  and  have  not  yet  had 
cause  to  regret  their  leniency. 

Among  the  most  prominent  branches  of 
sport  are  horse-racing,  cricket,  football  (both 
Rugby  and  Association),  golf,  athletics,  yacht- 
ing, iawn  tennis,  and  swimming.  But,  in 
addition,  lawn  and  alley  bowls,  hockey,  rifle 
shooting,  snipe  and  pigeon  shooting,  racquets, 
turtle  hunting,  and  polo  receive  attention 
during  the  year.  So  keen  are  many  of  the 
youth  of  Hongkong  that  they  endeavour  to 
follow  several  branches  of  sport  during  the 
same  season,  but  it  cannot  be  said  that 
their  efforts  are  crowned  with  success,  p-rom 
September,  when  the  heat  of  summer  is 
waning,  until  the  birth  of  the  following 
summer  in  April,  all  out-door  sports  are  in  full 
swing,  and  it  is  quite  common  to  see  several 
football  and  two  or  three  cricket  pitches  in 
progress  at  the  same  time.  King  Sport  then 
holds  sway  over  a  densely  populated  area, 
for  Hongkong  has  few  level  spaces  which 
can  be  utilised  for  those  sports  which  require 
freedom  of  action  and  plenty  of  elbow  room, 
and,  as  a  natural  consequence,  the  existing 
areas  are  in  constant  demand.  The  most 
important  ground,  which  rejoices  in  the 
appropriate  title  of  Happy  Valley  (the  Chinese 
designation  being   VVongneichung   Valley),   is 


situated  slightly  to  the  e.ist  of  the  city  of 
Victoria.  Its  position  is  admirable,  though 
it  is  in  close  proximity  to  the  cemetery,  which 
occupies  the  slopes  of  the  hill  on  the  western 
side.  On  both  sides  the  hills  ri.se  sharply, 
converging  to  the  south,  and  forming  there, 
as  it  were,  an  immense  funnel.  Set  in  this 
picturesque  frame  the  ground  has  a  very 
pretty  appearance.  Here  we  find  the  premier 
golf  links,  the  racecourse,  football  arenas, 
cricket  pitches,  tennis  courts,  bowling  greens, 
&c.,  and  it  is  here  also  that  the  annual 
athletic  sports  promoted  by  the  Victoria 
Recreation  Club,  the  Chib  Lusitano,  and  tlie 
Royal  Garrison  Artillery  are  held.  The  Val- 
ley, however,  is  not  of  large  extent.  Oval 
in  shape  and  tapering  towards  the  south,  its 
extreme  length  is  less  than  half  a  mile,  while 
at  its  widest  part  it  does  not  exceed  440  yards. 
The  racecourse — seven  furlongs  long  with 
two  tracks — occupies  a  wide  strip  round  tlie 
inside  of  the  boundary,  but  it  does  not  reach 
right  up  to  the  northern  end,  for  tlie  Valley 
is  intersected  by  a  hedge,  on  the  northern 
side  of  which  are  the  Hongkong  Football 
Club's  ground  and  the  areas  reserved  for  the 
Civil  Service,  Craigengower,  and  Police  Clubs. 
This  section  of  the  Valley  is  kepi  in  admir- 
able condition.  Miniature  gardens  border  the 
bowling  greens  of  the  Police  and  Civil  Ser- 
vice Clubs,  and  the  turf  is  always  bright. 
The  remaining  portion  of  this  section-  the 
playing  area — is  very  hard,  so  much  so  that 
"  rugger "  players  are  somewhat  averse  from 
playing  upon  it.  The  long  dry  winter  absorbs 
all  the  moisture  which  a  generous  summer 
bestows  upon  the  parched  ground,  and  mid- 
way through  the  football  season  the  ground 
is  adainant.  Quite  a  number  of  players  have 
been  more  or  less  .seriously  injured  owing 
to  this  in  the  past,  and,  as  a  consequence, 
the  game  has  languished.  Still,  (Kcasional 
matches  are  played  between  the  Club  and 
the  Navy,  or  the  Services,  and  a  contest  takes 
place  annually  between  representatives  of 
England  and  Wales  on  the  one  side  and 
Scotland  and  Ireland  on  the  other.  On  the 
larger,  or  southern,  section  of  the  Valley  are 
the  golf  links,  racecourse,  naval  and  military 
football  and  hockey  grounds,  and  several 
cricket  pitches.  The  golf-house,  grand-stand, 
and  other  buildings  abut  upon  the  western 
side  of  the  racecourse. 

Next  in  importance  to  the  Valley  comes  the 
Hongkong  Cricket  Ground,  situated  in  the 
heart  of  the  city,  but  this  area  is  reserved 
entirely  for  members  of  the  Hongkong  Cricket 
Club  and  therefore  hardly  comes  within  the 


scope  of  public  recreation  grounds.  This 
ground  is  about  one  hundred  yards  from  the 
Praya  (water  front),  and  within  five  minutes 
of  the  principal  business  houses,  and  adjoins 
the  City  Hall  and  Hongkong  Club.  It  is 
kept  in  splendid  condition,  being  closed  from 
May  to  October  in  each  year,  and  during  the 
"  close  season "  the  groundsmen  (Cliinese 
coolies)  under  the  direction  of  a  sub-com- 
mittee of  members,  devote  a  considerable 
amount  of  attention  to  the  turf.  It  is  well 
that  this  is  done,  for,  in  addition  to  the  weekly 
cricket  matches  and  practice  at  the  nets,  the 
ainuial  tennis  tournaments  (also  confined  to 
members  of  the  Club)  are  held  here.  Up- 
wards of  a  hundred  games — excluding  practice 
matches^are  played  within  a  few  months  on 
this  ground,  and  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at, 
therefore,  that  the  turf  is  worn  bare. 

The  Polo  Ground  at  Causeway  Bay,  twenty 
minutes  from  the  Post  Oflice  by  tram,  is  the 
only  other  groimd  on  the  island  worth  refer- 
ring to ;  though,  to  be  sure,  there  are  the 
golf  links  at  Deep  Water  Bay,  on  the  southern 
side  of  the  island,  but  they  are  seldom  used 
even  by  the  members  of  the  Club.  The 
Causeway  Bay  ground  lies  idle  for  most  of 
the  year,  only  an  occasional  polo  match  or 
volunteer  gymkhan.a  being  held  upon  it. 

Across  the  harbour,  at  Kowloon,  there  are 
two  extensive  parks — the  King's  Park,  opened 
in  1905,  and  the  United  Services  Recreation 
Ground,  opened  in  1906.  The  former  is  the 
headquarters  of  the  Kowloon  Cricket  Club 
and  the  Kowloon  Bowling  Green  Club, 
whilst  the  latter,  as  its  name  implies,  is  re- 
served for  the  use  of  the  Army  and  Navy. 
Kowloon  has  a  great  future  before  it,  and 
althoiigli  tliere  is  little  likelihood  of  Happy 
Valley  being  deposed  from  its  position  as 
the  sporting  ground  of  tlie  Colony,  the  time 
seems  fast  approaching  when  its  position  will 
be  seriously  challenged  by  Kowloon.  The 
King's  Park  is  rapidly  being  brought  into  a 
condition  more  in  keeping  with  its  title,  and 
the  Kowloon  Cricket  Club  is  doing  excel- 
lent work  in  laying  out  that  portion  of  the- 
ground  which  is  vested  in  it.  Together  with 
the  recently  formed  Amateur  Athletic  Associa- 
tion, the  Kowloon  Club  is  forming  a  riuming 
track,  440  yards  round,  with  a  straight  100 
yards,  and  it  is  more  tlian  probable  that  all 
the  athletic  sports  will  be  held  on  this  track. 

The  Victoria  Recreation  Club.— The  "father" 
of  all  sporting  clubs  in  tlie  Colony  is  un- 
doubtedlv  the  Victoria  Recreation  Club,  which 
was  founded  on  October  25,  1849  (when   the 


THE    RACECOURSE. 


VICTORIA    RECREATION    CLUB    HOUSE. 


252     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONOKONO,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Colony  was  in  its  infancy),  under  the  name 
of  the  XHctoria  Regatta  Club.  The  promotion 
of  >-achting  races  seems  to  have  been  the 
sole  object  of  the  Club.     It  appears  to  have 


for  a  number  of  years  this  section  of  the 
Club  prospered,  assaults-at-arms  being  held 
annually,  as  well  as  other  competitions,  sucli 
as    boxing,   fencing,   &c.       This    section    lias 


'CHINA    MAIL"    HARBOUR   RACE    (SWIMMIN&). 


died  a  natural  death  in  1855,  but  was  revived 
five  years  later,  with  a  membership  of 
seventy-eight.  The  difficulty  of  obtaining  a 
suitable  boat-house  was  met  with  in  i86r, 
and  this  difficulty  continued  until  1907.  The 
first  regatta  was  held  in  1S49.  the  programme 
including  sailing  races  and  races  for  wherries. 
four-oared  gigs,  cutters,  house-boats,  &c..  and 
thenceforward  regattas  were  held  continuously 
with  the  exception  of  those  years  mentioned 
in  the  section  of  this  article  devoted  to  yacht- 
ing. Prizes  were  plentiful  and  valuable  in 
those  days.  In  the  1866  regatta  they  included 
the  Norwegian  Cup,  $100:  Ladies'  Purse, 
;f  18  :  P.  and  O.  Prize.  ;f50  :  Mr.  H.  M.  Gibbs. 
$150;  Bankers'  Prize,  $160;  American  Cup. 
$250 ;  Douglas  Challenge  Cup,  $500 ;  and 
two  others  at  $100  and  $50  each.  Swimming 
races  were  instituted  in  1866,  and  in  the 
following  year  "  scratch  "  rowing  races  were 
held  occasionally — distinct  from  the  regatta. 
In  1872  the  amalgamation  of  the  swimming, 
boat,  and  gj-mnastic  clubs  with  the  Victoria 
Recreation  Club  was  brought  about,  and 
thenceforward  the  Club  was  known  as  the 
Victoria  Recreation  Club.  The  then  Governor 
(Sir  Arthur  Kennedyl  was  the  first  president ; 
the  Hon.  Mr.  J.  Greig,  chairman ;  and  Mr. 
R.  Lyall.  hon.  secretarv-.  The  Club  started 
with  a  credit  balance  of  S82'69,  but  against 
this  there  was  a  sum  of  li.iio'oo  to  be  ex- 
pended on  repairs  to  the  boat-house,  &c.  The 
club-house  was  situated  close  to  the  water 
front,  and  the  typhoons  of  1872  and  1874  did 
a  great  deal  of  damage  to  it ;  the  repairs 
consequent  upon  the  1874  typhoon  costing 
over  $5,000.  Since  this  date  the  Club  has 
suffered  heavily  from  typhoons,  the  great 
t>'phoon  of  September  18,  1906.  demolishing 
the  Club  premises  at  Kowloon  and  doing 
damage  to  the  extent  of  about  $11,000.  A 
gymnasium   class   was   started   in    1882,   and 


since  been  dropped  owhig  to  want  of  enthu- 
siasm and  lack  of  space,  but  an  effort  is  now 
being  made  to  revive  interest,  as  the  Club's 
new  premises,  completed  in  the  early  part 
of  igo8,  afford  splendid  facilities  tor  gym- 
nastics.    The   first   athletic  sports  in  connec- 


tion with  the  Victoria  Recreation  Club  took 
place  in  1895  and  have  since  been  held 
annually,  being  recognised  as  the  premier 
athletic   sports   of    the   year. 

In  1900-1  the  club  premises  were  removed 
to  Kowloon,  as  the  Admiralty  required  the 
then  existing  site  in  connection  with  the 
scheme  for  constructing  large  docks  (since 
built),  but  a  promise  was  given  to  the  Club 
that  a  new  site  adjoining  the  docks  would 
be  granted  at  the  completion  of  the  work.  In 
the  early  part  of  1907,  after  considerable 
delay,  the  new  site  was  handed  over  to  the 
Club  and  a  handsome  building  has  been 
erected  upon  it,  commanding  a  splendid  view 
of  the  harbour  and  affording  excellent  facili- 
ties for  the  launching  of  boats,  swimming, 
and  gymnastics.  The  Club  promotes  swim- 
ming sports  in  the  summer,  atliletics  and 
rowing  in  the  winter,  and  members  of  the 
committee  are  usually  asked  to  lend  their 
assistance  in  promoting  sports  organised  by 
other  clubs.  Monthly  swimming  races  are 
held  during  the  summer,  and  the  swimming 
season  is  closed  with  a  three  days'  carnival, 
which  is  usually  well  attended,  ladies  being 
present  in  large  luimbers.  In  addition  to  the 
swimming  events  promoted  by  the  Club,  there 
is  an  amuial  race  across  the  harbour  from 
Kowloon  to  Hongkong — a  distance  of  just 
under  a  mile.  This  race  is  promoted  by  the 
proprietors  of  the  Cliiitn  Mail  newspaper,  and 
is  the  longest  swimming  race  held  in  the 
Colony.  It  may  here  be  mentioned  in  paren- 
thesis that  the  "China  Mail"  Company,  Ltd., 
offer  prizes  (or  yachting  races,  rifle  sliooting 
competitions,  running  races,  and  other  sports. 
Water  polo,  also,  is  fostered  by  the  Victoria 
Recreation  Club,  and  the  amiu;il  competition 
is  held  under  its  auspices,  although  there  is 
a  Water  Polo  Association.  This  competition 
is  open  to  any  club,  regiment,  or  man-of-war 
in  the  Colony,  and  it  creates  a  good  deal  of 
interest.  From  its  inception  in  1898  it  has 
been  won  by  the  Victoria  Recreation  Club 
team,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  when  the 
Hongkong  Volunteer  Corps  secured  the  shield. 
On  that  occasion,  however,  the  winning  team 


HONGKONG  AND  SHANGHAI  CRICKET  MATCH. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


253 


was  composed  of  members  of  the  Victoria 
Recreation  Ckib.  Tlie  present  Governor  of 
the  Colony  (Sir  Frederick  Lugard)  is  president 
of  the  Club,  Mr.  A,  Rodj^er  is  chairman,  and 
the  committee  is  composed  of  Messrs.  W. 
Logan,  H.  A.  Lammert,  E.  M.  Hazeland,  R.  W. 
Pearson,  J.  W.  Bains,  T.  C.  Gray,  T.  Meek, 
M.  Mclver,  J.  Rodger ;  R.  Henderson  (hon. 
treasurer),  and  F.  Lammert  (hon.  secretary). 
The  Club  is  a  cosmopolitan  club  and  has  a 
membership  of  over  three  hundred. 

0 
CRICKET. 

Exgi.axd's  "national  pastime,"  to  use  a 
time-honoured  phrase,  is  very  popular  in 
Hongkong.      The   game   is   played  for  a  full 


seating  accommodation  for  about  one  hundred 
spectators.  The  earliest  records  of  the  Club 
date  from  1863,  when  six  matches  were  played 
in  the  season.  The  most  important  events 
arranged  by  the  Club  are  the  inter-port 
matches  between  Hongkong,  Shanghai,  and 
Singapore.  There  is  great  rivalrv  between 
the  three  ports,  and  the  meeting  of  the  cricket 
elevens  arouses  great  interest.  The  matches 
are  played,  as  opportunity  affords,  either  at 
Hongkong  or  Shanghai,  for,  up  to  date,  no 
inter-port  match  with  Singapore  has  taken 
place  at  the  southern  port. 

The  first  inter-port  match  was  plaved  in 
Hongkong  against  Shanghai  in  P'ebruarv, 
1866,  when  the  local  eleven  compiled  430 
runs— the  highest  score  in  the  series — against 
Shanghai's  107  and  59.  In  the  following 
year    two    matches    were     plaved,    both     at 


Year. 

HOXGKONO. 

Shaxghai.           Won  by 

1902 

2^o,  157     ... 

239,  152  for  3  Shanghai. 

1903 

.1.36 

122,  191  ...    Hongkong. 

1904 

274,  109  for  6 

229.  151 

i<;o6 

46,  66 

130,  121  ...    Shanghai. 

1907 

261,  137  for  6 

212,  185  ...    Hongkong. 

Three  times  in  the  historv  of  inter-port 
cricket  has  a  team  from  the  Straits  Settlements 
visited  Hongkong,  and  on  each  occasion  a 
Shanghai  team  also  journeyed  to  Hongkong 
and  a  triangular  contest  took  place,  the  Straits 
being  successful  in  winnmg  the  rubber  twice 
and  once  (in  1902)  earning  the  wooden  spoon 
The  results  of  the  matches  were  :— 
Year.    Hoxgkoxg.  Straits.  Won  by 

1897     216,  ii8      ...     413  ...    Straits. 

1902     192,  296      ...     253,  106  ...    Hongkong. 
1904     155.  no     ...     128,  232  ...    Straits. 


six  months  of  the  year — that  is  to  say,  from 
October  to  March — and  weekly  matches  take 
place  on  the  Valley,  and  on  the  Hongkong 
Club's  ground,  as  well  as  at  Kowloon.  The 
Hongkong  Cricket  Club  dates  back  to  1851, 
and  has  always  maintained  its  position  as 
premier  club,  though  to-day  it  does  not  supply 
the  most  interesting  cricket  of  the  year,  for 
the  League  Competition  has  usurped  that 
distinction.  The  Cricket  Club  is  extremely 
conservative  with  respect  to  its  ground,  and 
it  is  seldom  indeed  that  other  than  members 
of  the  Club  have  an  opportunity  of  using  it. 
Matches  are  played  weekly,  and  the  Club  is 
in  a  prosperous  financial  condition.  The 
Club  pavilion  is  a  neat  little  building  situated 
in  the  south-western  corner  of  the  ground, 
containing  a  large  dressing  room,  general 
room,  bar,  and  committee  room,  and  affording 


HONGKONG   CBICKET    GROUP. 

Shanghai,  and  the  northern  team  won  both, 
making  the  creditable  score  of  340  in  the  first 
match  against  Hongkong's  121  and  82.  F"or 
twenty-two  years  there  was  a  "  truce "  be- 
tween the  two  ports,  but  the  contests  were 
revived  in  1889,  since  which  year  eleven 
matches  have  been  played,  Hongkong  being 
successful  in  six.  The  complete  list  of 
matches  and  the  results  are  as  follow  : — 
Year.       HoNGKOXG.  Shanghai.  Won  by 

1866    430  ...     107,  59     ...    Hongkong. 

340  ...    Shanghai. 

200  ...  „ 

94,  55  for  7 

180,  300  ...    Drawn. 

163,  134 
112,  202 


Year. 

Shanghai. 

Straits. 

Won  by 

1897 

76, 

51 

, 

.. 

138 

.    Straits. 

1902 

227, 

no 

for 

9 

105, 

231  .. 

.    Shanghai. 

1904 

118, 

113 

.. 

93. 

190  .. 

.    Straits. 

1867 


121,  82 
109 

68,  80 

268,  72  for  3 
1892     429 

7«.  79       - 

1897  162,  201  for  9    173,  189 

1898  J79,  126      ...     203,     74 


I 
1891 


Hongkong. 

Shanghai. 

Hongkong. 


On  the  first  occasion  that  the  Straits  team 
visited  Hongkong  and  defeated  both  Shanghai 
and  Hongkong,  a  match  was  played  between 
the  Straits  eleven  and  a  combined  Hongkong- 
Shanghai  team,  the  Straits  winning  by  an 
innings  and  231  runs.  The  scores  were  : — 
The  Straits,  381  ;  Hongkong-Shanghai,  86  and 
64. 

In  addition  to  these  inter-port  matches  the 
Hongkong  Club  has  sent  teams  to  Swatow, 
Amoy,  and  Foochow,  but  these  trips  are 
looked  upon  more  as  pleasure  trips  than 
cricket  contests.  Any  reference  to  the  Hong- 
kong Club  and  inter-port  cricket  would  not  be 


254     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


complete  without  mentioning  the  lamentable 
disaster  which  occurred  in  1892.  when  the 
steamer  Bokhara,  on  which  the  Hongkong 
team  was  returning  from  Shanghai,  was 
wrecked.  Dr.  Lowson  and  Lieut.  Markhani 
were  the  only  two  memb)ers  of  the  team  to 
survive  the  calamity,  those  who  perished 
being  Major  Turner,  Captain  Dunn,  Captain 
Dawson,  Lieut.  G.  G.  Boyle,  Lieut.  Burnett, 
Quartermaster-Sergeant  Jeffkins,  Sergeant 
Mum/ord.  Sergeant  Donegan,  G.  S.  Purvis, 
C.  Wallace,  and  G.  E.  Taverner.  A  memo- 
rial shield  now  hangs  in  the  Cricket  Club 
pavilion,  on  which  is  engraved  the  names 
of  the  victims. 

The  league  Competition,  which  monopo- 
lises most  of  the  interest  manifested  in  cricket 
in  the  Colony,  is  open  to  all  local  clubs.  It 
was  commenced  in  1903,  and  has  proved  an 


two  new  clubs — the  Police  and  the  Civil 
Ser\-ice — and  yearly  the  competition  has 
grown  in  favour.  This  year  another  team 
(the  employes  of  the  Eastern  E.\tension 
Telegraph  Company)  entered,  making  a  total 
of  nine  competing  teams.  Since  its  inception 
the  shield  has  been  won  by  the  following 
teams  :— The  Army  Ordn.ince  Corps.  1903-4; 
Craigengower,  1904-5  ;  and  Kowloon,  1905  6 
and  1906-7.  Kowloon  was  also  second  in 
1904-5,  while  Craigengower  was  second  in 
1905-6  and  1906  7.  The  Hon.  Mr.  T. 
Sercombe  Smith,  then  First  Magistrate  of 
Hongkong,  was  the  first  president  of  the 
League,  and  he  occupied  the  position  until 
he  left  the  Colony  in  1906.  Mr.  A.  E.  Asger, 
the  tirst  honorary  secretary,  still  holds  that 
position. 

The    Craigengower    Club    was    formed    in 


CHINESE    (OR    LOBCHA)   RIOGED    CRtTISINO   YACHT, 


immense  success.  Prior  to  the  year  men- 
tioned there  were  a  number  of  cricket  clubs 
in  the  Colony,  but  onlv  "friendly"  matches 
were  played.  The  members  of  the  Craigen- 
gower Club,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of 
the  junior  clubs,  annually  competed  for  a 
shield  presented  by  the  late  Hon.  Mr.  E.  R. 
Belilios.  This  shield  had  to  be  won  thrice 
in  all,  or  twice  in  succession,  before  becoming 
the  property  of  any  individual,  and  in  1903 
Mr.  R.  Basa  won  it  for  the  third  time.  At 
the  suggestion  of  Mr.  A.  E.  Asger,  honorary 
secretary  of  the  Craigengower  Club,  a  com- 
petition on  league  principles  was  started  in 
October.  1903,  eight  clubs  entering.  The 
difficulty  of  providing  a  shield  was  overcome 
by  the  generosity  of  the  Soiilh  China  MorniitH 
Post.  The  introduction  of  the  League  Com- 
petition was  responsible  for  the  formation  of 


1894  and  at  first  was  confined  to  past  mem- 
bers of  the  old  Victoria  English  School,  taking 
its  name  from  the  school-house,  but  in  1901 
the  Club  was  reconstituted  so  as  to  admit 
others  as  members.  The  club-house  at  the 
Valley  is  well  situated,  and  the  Club  has 
played  cricket  and  tennis  there  since  its 
formation.  Mr.  W.  D.  Braidwood,  the 
schoolmaster,  has  been  its  president,  and 
Mr.  A.  E.  Asger  has  been  the  honorary 
secretary  from  the  first. 

The  Police  Club  was  formed  in  1904,  and 
cricket  forms  the  chief  recreation  of  the 
members,  though  tennis  and  lawn  bowls  also 
obtain  a  fair  share  of  attention.  Champion- 
ship tournaments  in  both  lawn  bowls  and 
tennis  are  held  annually,  as  well  as  handi- 
caps. Inspector  W.  Withers  is  the  honorary 
secretary. 


The  Civil  Service  Club,  also,  was  formed 
in  1904,  and  its  objects  are  much  the  same  as 
those  of  the  Police  Club.  Since  its  formation 
the  plot  of  land  on  which  the  club-house 
stands  has  undergone  a  great  transformation, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  prettiest  spots  on  the 
Valley.  Mr.  L.  E.  Brett  is  the  honorary 
secretarv. 


YACHTING. 

The  fullest  advantage  is  taken  of  the 
splendid  natural  facilities  for  yachting  which 
are  possessed  by  Hongkong  in  the  wide  ex- 
panse of  sheltered  waterways  and  the  steady 
monsoon  which  prevails  during  the  winter. 
Yachting  has  been  associated  with  the  Colony 
for  the  past  si.xty  years  or  thereabouts,  the 
first  regatta  being  held  in  1849,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Victoria  Regatta  Club  (now 
known  as  the  Victoria  Recreation  Club).  On 
that  occasion  six  cutter-rigged  yachts,  includ- 
ing a  craft  described  as  an  imitation  Andaman 
catamaran  (the  Ghost),  engaged  in  a  race 
within  the  confines  of  the  harbour.  The 
GItost  led  the  Heet  when  running  before 
the  wind,  but  when  it  came  to  beating  she 
promptly  capsized.  Indeed,  any  one  reading 
through  the  old  records  dealing  with  yachting 
in  the  early  days  cannot  fail  to  be  impressed 
with  the  number  of  mishaps,  in  the  nature 
of  capsizes,  which  occurred  in  those  early 
days.  The  first  large  yacht  of  which  there 
is  any  mention  is  the  Heather  Bell,  of 
thirty-three  tons.  After  the  regatta  of  1850 — 
at  which  the  Governor's  Cup  was  competed 
for — interest  in  regattas  seems  to  have 
died  out,  for  up  till  1861  only  two  regattas 
were  held  (in  1853  and  1854).  Each  regatta 
was  followed  by  a  regatta  ball,  one  of  the 
Colony's  most  successful  social  functions,  and 
this,  also,  was  afterwards  dropped.  The  first 
"  ocean  "  race — round  the  island— was  sailed 
in  1864,  Mr.  R.  F.  Havvke's  Mayflower 
winning.  This  race  was  due  to  the  gener- 
osity of  Messrs.  Douglas  &  Co.  in  presenting 
the  Douglas  Challenge  Cup.  In  the  following 
year  the  Mayflower  won  again.  At  this 
period  yachts  varying  from  nine  to  thirty- 
three  tons  competed  together,  the  nine-tonner 
being  appropriately  named  Mosquito.  In  1868 
a  race  to  Macao  was  organised  and  seems  to 
have  aroused  considerable  interest,  a  river 
steamer  being  chartered  to  follow  the  race, 
but  the  closing  stages  of  the  contest  took 
place  after  night  had  fallen.  The  yachts 
were  divided  into  two  classes  two  years 
later — under  and  over  fifteen  tons— for  the 
Yacht  Club  (now  known  as  the  Royal  Hong- 
kong Yaclit  Club)  had  sprung  into  existence, 
and  had  taken  over  from  the  V.R.C.  most 
of  the  control  of  yachting.  The  first  regatta 
held  under  the  auspices  of  the  new  Club  was 
in  1870.  Thenceforward  the  sport  assumed 
greater  importance,  and  eight  years  later 
open-boat  racing  took  place  on  Saturday 
afternoons.  These  boats  belonged  to  merchant 
vessels,  mercantile  firms,  and  men-of-war, 
and  for  some  years  the  contests  proved 
popular.  Eventually,  however,  they  were 
discontinued,  presumably  through  lack  of 
management.  Smaller  boats  were  gradually 
being  introduced  into  the  Club,  and  the  Club's 
popularity  increased,  and  in  the  late  seven- 
ties we  find  boats  of  two,  three,  and  four 
tons  competing,  and  successfully,  too.  Their 
success  dinnned  the  popularity  of  the  larger 
craft,  and  gradually  the  races  for  the  larger 
yachts  were  discontinued. 

A  new  factor  in  the  yachting  world  arose 
in  1890,  when  the  Corhithian  Sailing  Club — 
an  offshoot  from  the  V.R.C. —was  inaugurated 
and  Mersey  canoes  (20  by  5  by  3  feet)  were 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     255 


introduced  into  the  Colony.  Tliis  Club  gave 
a  very  decided  fillip  to  yachting,  and  thirteen 
yachts  gathered  round  the  commodore's 
yacht,  varying  in  rating  from  '34  to  loo. 
For  the  smaller  class  of  boats  shorter  courses 
were  necessary,  and  the  new  Club's  first 
race  was  over  a  12-mile  course.  In  the 
following  year  this  Club  seems  to  have  been 
reconstituted  and  merged  into  the  Hongkong 
Yacht  Club,  and  still  another  new  class  of 
boats,  from  i'3  to  i'4  rating,  was  introduced. 
An  attempt  was  made  in  1892  to  sail  these 
small  vessels  round  the  island,  but  as  the 
Hon.  Mr.  K.  H.  May,  C.M.G.,  says  in  his 
book  on  "  Yachting  in  Hongkong,"  "  The 
experience  of  the  helmsmen  was  such  that 
the  Club  has,  up  to  the  present,  wisely 
decided    not    to    have    another."       So    far, 


and  carry  a  sail  area  of  450  square  feet. 
They  are  easy  to  handle,  are  admirable  sea 
boats,  and  possess  a  fine  turn  of  speed. 

The  Championship  class  continued  to  im- 
prove and  reached  the  highest  point  it  has 
yet  attained  in  iyo2,  when  the  Dioiic  and 
Vernon  (still  the  champion  yachts  in  the 
harbour)  were  launched.  The  yachts  were 
designed  by  the  late  Mr.  A.  E.  Payne.  They 
vary  from  22  to  21  feet  on  the  water-line, 
have  a  beam  of  about  6  feet  and  a  depth  of 
about  4  feet  6  inches,  with  a  sail  area  of 
from  530  to  550  square  feet,  and  are  known 
as  24-linear  raters.  They  have  proved  them- 
selves to  be  splendid  yachts,  but  the  expense 
attached  to  them  has  proved  an  insuperable 
obstacle  to  the  formation  of  a  large  fleet, 
and  only  three  boats  in  all  have  been  built. 


brings  the  sail  down  with  a  run,  and  to  take 
in  a  reef  all  that  is  needed  is  to  loosen  the 
halyard  and  lower  the  sail  as  far  as  is 
requisite.  The  boom  crosses  the  mast  and 
is  made  fast  with  a  piece  of  rope  which 
prevents  it  falling  on  deck  when  the  hal- 
yard is  loosened,  but  still  allows  sufficient 
play  for  hauling  in  or  paying  out  the  sail. 
The  sail  is  hauled  up  by  means  of  the 
halyard.  In  a  full-sail  breeze  these  boats 
bowl  along  merrily  and  have  been  known 
to  outstrip   the   finer-built  yachts. 

Kacing  takes  place  on  Sundays,  though 
endeavours  have  been  made  since  1902  to  have 
the  races  decided  on  Saturdays.  It  is  worthy 
of  passing  comment  that  although  golf  in  the 
public  recreation  grounds  and  yachting  in  the 
harbour  are  allowed  on  Sunday  by  the  authori- 


H.  K.  C.  Y.  C. 


apparently,  no  championship  events  had  been 
sailed,  but  in  1892  a  series  was  commenced 
which  has  been  continued  up  to  the  present 
day,  and  no  doubt  the  efforts  of  the  commo- 
dore (Mr.  F.  H.  May)  were  in  large  measure 
responsible  for  this  new  departure.  In  the 
previous  season  the  Admiralty  warrant  for 
Hying  the  Blue  Ensign  was  granted  to  the 
Club,  and,  later  on,  permission  to  adopt  the 
title  of  "  Royal  "  was  received.  Championship 
races  proved  extremely  interesting  and  the 
class  was  well  established,  but  still  another 
design — known  as  the  one-design  class — was 
introduced.  The  fleet  now  numbers  five  (in 
all  seven  were  built),  and  the  design  was 
made  by  the  late  Mr.  A.  E.  Payne.  These 
boats  are  about  31  feet  over  all,  about  6  feet 
in  beam,  have  fin  keels  and  fin  rudders,  with 
approximately    17   cwt.   of   lead   on   the  keel, 


Mr.  May's  Dioiic  won  the  championship  in 
1903,  1905,  1906.  and  1908,  losing  to  Mr.  H.  P. 
Tooker's   Vernon  in   1904  and  1907. 

In  addition  to  the  yachts  already  referred 
to,  there  is  a  type  of  racing  craft  peculiar  to 
Hongkong,  known  as  the  Chinese-rigged  sea- 
going cruisers,  and  these  are  ideal  boats  for 
week-end  trips  round  the  neighbouring  islands. 
In  addition  to  being  fairly  speedy,  they  are 
splendid  sea  boats  and  roomy.  The  Kukubnrra 
(late  Dorothy)  was  the  pioneer  of  the  class. 
She  is  54  feet  long,  12  feet  in  beam,  and  draws 
only  3  feet  10  inches.  She  contains  a  spacious 
cabin,  pantry,  and  lavatory,  has  accommodation 
for  a  crew  of  five,  and  carries  a  dingey  on 
davits.  One  of  the  most  striking  features  of 
this  type  of  vessel  is  the  ease  with  which  it 
can  be  handled  in  ordinary  weather  by  two 
men.     A   simple    slackening    of    the    halyard 


ties,  cricket,  tennis,  &c.,  are  forbidden  on  the 
public  recreation  grounds.  Rather  a  fine  dis- 
tinction is  thus  made. 

Though  the  one-design  class  of  the  Royal 
Hongkong  Yacht  Club  are  inexpensive  as 
yachts  go,  both  as  regards  initial  cost  and  up- 
keep, only  a  few  enthusiasts  patronised  the 
type,  and  in  1904  it  became  apparent  that  a 
new  and  cheaper  type  was  necessary.  This  led 
to  the  formation — or  revival — of  the  Corinthian 
Yacht  Club.  Messrs.  E.  M.  Hazeland  and 
M.  Mclver,  both  of  whom  are  keenly  interested 
in  yachting,  were  the  founders  of  the  Corinthian 
Club  and  introduced  the  type  of  boat  known  as 
the  Severn  one-design.  These  little  boats  are 
only  19  feet  long,  with  a  good  beam.  They 
are  somewhat  "tubby"  in  appearance,  and 
the  sail  area  is  limited  to  250  square  feet,  but 
with  even  this  restricted  area  a  good  speed  is 


256     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


attained.  Since  the  building  of  the  Gael  and 
Sinti  by  Messrs.  Mclver  and  Ha/.eland  respec- 
tively, ten  other  similar  l>oats  have  l>eeii  added 
to  the  fleet,  so  that  there  are  more  Corinthian 
one-desifjn  yachts  in  the  Colony  than  any 
other  class  oif  txats,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the 
racing  is  keener.  This  design  holds  gtxxl  until 
igoQ  without  structural  alterations,  and  it  is 
unlikely  that  any  alterations  will  then  be  made, 
though  it  is  probable  that  a  larger  design  will 
be  introduced.  The  Club  has  proved  a  great 
success,  and  the  memtiership  roll  now  contains 
170  names.  In  addition  to  the  one-design 
class  of  txats  there  are  twelve  other  yachts  of 
varving  size  which  compete  in  handicap  races, 
and,  further,  the  Club  has  the  distinction  of 
being  the  first  to  hold  motor-boat  races  in  the 
Colony.     Mr.  J.  Hand,  of  the  Hongkong  and 


sport.  From  the  earliest  days  of  the  Colony 
rifle  sluxiting  has  been  popular,  particularly 
among  the  military  and  navy,  and  of  later 
years  the  civilian  has  taken  to  it  kindly,  until 
to-day  a  team  of  civilians  (including  Volun- 
teers) could  be  selected  which  would  hold 
its  own  against  a  like  number  of  naval  or 
military  men. 

The  Hongkong  Rifle  Association  was  formed 
about  the  year  1886,  and  contiiuied  in  a  hap- 
hazard manner  until  1905.  when  it  was  wound 
up  and  the  Hongkong  Volunteer  KiHc  Club 
took  over  the  control  of  rifle  shooting  in  the 
Colony.  During  the  earlier  years  of  its 
existence  the  Hongkong  Rifle  Association  did 
good  work,  but  after  a  few  years  interest 
flagged  and  on  several  (x;casions  the  Associa- 
tion was  on  the  verge  of  disbandment.     The 


CHINESE   (OB   LOBCHA)   BIOQED    CBUISING    YACHT. 
(Feachou  to   Hongkong.) 


Whampoa  Dock  Company,  was  the  first  on  the 
water  with  a  racing  motor,  and  though  the 
class  of  boats  raced  with  here  would  not  com- 
pare with  Xafier  //,  &c.,  they  are  very  speedy 
and  reliable.  Races  are  held  fortnightly,  or 
oftencr,  and  are  usually  well  contested,  the 
time  allowances  providing  close  contests.  The 
Corinthian  club-house  is  built  on  land  leased 
from  the  Government  at  the  nominal  rent  of 
$1  per  year. 


RIFLE   SHCX)TING. 

Rifle  shooting  is  more  of  a  duty  than  a 
pastime  in  Hongkong,  but  the  number  of 
competitions  which  are  fired  off  annually 
warrants  its  inclusion  under  the  heading  of 


Rifle  Association  was  the  originator  of  the 
inter-port  contests  between  Hongkong,  Shang- 
hai, Singapore,  and,  occasionally,  Penang, 
which  are  continued  up  to  the  present  day 
and  which  have  been  responsible  for  some 
good  shooting.  The  first  match  was  fired 
in  1889,  Shanghai  winning,  and,  excepting 
1890,  matches  have  been  held  annually. 
From  1889  to  1894  Martini-Henry  rifles 
were  used,  and  in  1895  I^e-Metfords  were 
introduced,  though  at  the  present  time  it 
is  permissible  to  use  the  new  short  Army 
rifle.  The  record  score  was  made  in  1899 
by  Hongkong— 952,  out  of  a  possible  1,050 
— the  individual  scores  being: — two  each  of 
100  and  95,  and  one  each  of  98,  97,  96,  94, 
91,  and  86.  The  conditions  are  ten  shots 
at   200,    500,  and   600   yards,    Bisley   targets. 


The  record  individual  score  in  these  com- 
petitions was  made  by  Mr.  A.  \V.  Studd. 
of  Shanghai,  in  ux/>.  His  score  of  103 
included  34  at  200,  35  at  500,  and  34  at 
600 — only  two  points  below  the  possible 
aggregate  of  105.  Scrgeaiit-Major  Davis, 
R.M.L.I.,  shooting  for  fioiigkong  in  1903, 
scored  102,  getting  a  possible  at  200,  33  at 
500.  and  34  at  600  yards. 

The  United  Services  Rifle  CUib  holds  an 
annual  meeting,  at  which  members  of  the 
Volunteer  Reserve  and  the  Volunteer  Corps 
compete,  and  the  Volunteers  also  hold  an 
ainiual  three  days'  meeting.  Lieut.  Mowbray 
S.  Northcote,  of  the  Hongkong  Volunteer 
Corps,  is  the  secretary  of  the  Rifle  Club,  and 
through  his  efforts,  together  with  the  co- 
operation of  Shanghai,  Singapore,  and  Penang, 
a  beautiful  shield  has  been  procured  for  the 
inter-port  contests.  Up  to  date  Hongkong 
has  won  ten  out  of  seventeen  contests,  and 
h.ave  been  .second  thrice,  and  third  five  times; 
Singapore  has  won  four  firsts,  eight  seconds, 
and  six  thirds  ;  Shanghai  has  won  four  times, 
been  .second  and  third  seven  times  each  ; 
while  Penang,  which  has  competed  only  four 
times,  has  been  fourth  on  each  occasion. 
The  complete  record  is  as  follows:  — 

1889  :      Shanghai,   819  ;    Singapore,  777  ; 
Hongkong,  774. 

1890  :      No  niatcli. 

1891  :      Hongkong,  867  ;    Shanghai,  830  ; 
Singapore,  741. 

1892  :       Hongkong,  835;    Shanghai,  810; 
Singapore,   752. 

1893  :       Hongkong,  822  ;    Shanghai,  802  ; 
Singapore,  768. 

1894  :       Hongkong.  823;  Singapore.  817; 
Shanghai,  760. 

1895  :      Singapore,  934  ;    Shanghai,   903  ; 
Hongkong,  879. 

1896  :    Hongkong,    916  ;    Shanghai,   900  ; 
Singapore,  870. 

1897  :    Singapore,    934,    Hongkong,    91ft  ; 
Shanghai,  860. 

1898  :    Hongkong,   934  ;  Singapore,   923  ; 
Shanghai,  893. 

1899  :  Hongkong,    952  ;    Singapore,   926  ; 
Shanghai,  887. 

1900  :    Hongkong,  930  ;    Singapore,   909  ; 
Shanghai,  900. 

1901  :    Hongkong,  901  ;    Singapore,   884  ; 
Shanghai,  841  ;  Penang,  721. 

1902  :    Shanghai,   926  ;    Singapore,   893  ; 
Hongkong.  870  ;   Penang,  861. 

1903  :    Singapore,   927  ;    Shanghai,    915  ; 
Hongkong.  891  ;  Penang,  750. 

1904  :    Singapore,  919  ;    Hongkong,  919  ; 
Shanghai,  908. 

1905  :    Hongkong,   923  ;    Shanghai.    889  ; 
Singapore,  800. 

1906  :    Shanghai,    936  ;    Singapore,   909  ; 
Hongkong.  891  ;  Penang,  821. 

1907  :    Shanghai,   943  ;    Hongkong,   938  ; 
Singapore,  929, 

The  formation  of  the  Hongkong  Volunteer 
Reserve  Association  (referred  to  in  another 
section)  gave  a  very  decided  impetus  to  rifle- 
shooting,  and  fortnightiv  competitions  are 
held  on  the  King's  Park"  Rifle  Range.  The 
most  important  competition  is  that  for  the 
"Governor's  Cup,"  a  fine  trophy  presented 
by  His  Excellency  Sir  Matthew  Nathan,  late 
Governor  of  the  Colony.  The  conditions 
of  the  contest  are  : — Twelve  monthly  shoots 
at  200  and  500  yards  alternately,  each  four- 
teen shots,  the  best  six  to  count  ;  three  at 
200  yards,  and  three  at  500  yards.  The 
competition  for  1907-8,  which  was  con- 
cluded   in    March,    1908,    produced    excellent 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     257 


shooting,  the  winner  (Mr.  A.  E.  Jenkins,  a 
young  Australian)  putting  up  a  record  for 
the  Colony.  Mr.  Jenkins  was  on  scratch, 
and  out  of  84  sliots  he  scored  74  "  bulls' 
eyes  "  and  ten  "  centres, "  <  an  aggregate  of 
410  out  of  the  possible  420.  At  the  200- 
yards  range,  shooting  at  the  6-inch  "invisible 
bull,"  his  scores  were  : — 

Oct.  1907—5-5-5-5-5-4-4-5-5-5-5-5-5-5  ='■'« 

Dec.  1907—5-5-5-5-5-4-5-5-4-4-5-5-5-5  =f>7 

Feh.  1908—5-5-5-5-5-4-5-5-5-5-4-5-4-5  =(V 

A  total  of  202  out  of  a  possible  2io. 

At  500  Mr.  Jenkins  did  even  better,  being 
only  two  off  the  highest  possible  score,  as 
under : — 

Jan.    1907—5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5  =70 
Nov.  1907—4-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5  =69 
Mar.  1908—5-5-4-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5  =69 
A  total  of  208  out  of  a  possible  210. 

In  addition  to  these  fnie  scores  one  of  69  was 
counted  out  at  the  500-yards  range. 


HORSE-RACING. 

The  "  sport  of  kings  "  occupies  a  prominent 
place  in  the  affections  of  sportsmen  in  Hong- 
kong. There  is  only  one  race  meeting  a  year 
— in  t'ebruary — but  during  the  four  days  over 
which  it  e.xtends  business  is  practically  sus- 
pended in  the  Colony. 

The  racecourse  has  already  been  referred 
to.  There  is  a  large  grand-stand  from  which 
an  excellent  view  of  the  racing  can  be  obtained, 
and,  in  addition,  there  are  two  blocks  of  build- 
ings, the  upper  tioor  of  each  being  divided 
into  compartments  and  let  out  to  owners  and 
their  friends.  China  ponies  are  the  only 
horses  raced,  though  at  various  times  "  walers," 
as  horses  imported  from  Australia  are  termed, 
have  been  introduced.  The  China  ponies  range 
from  12.3  to  13.2  hands  in  height,  and  in  most 
of  the  races  are  weighted  as  per  size.  For 
their  size  they  carry  staggering  imposts — from 
10  stone  9  lbs.  to  1 1  stone  4  lbs.  being  the  usual 
weights— and  on  top  of  this  there  may  be 
penalties  of  from  7  lbs.  to  10  lbs. 

The  races  are  for  two  classes  of  ponies,  to 
wit,  subscription  griflins  and  China  ponies. 
The  former  are  brought  down  from  North 
China  and  drawn  for  by  those  members  of  the 
Jockey  Club  who  have  subscribed  towards  the 
cost,  while  China  ponies  are  either  old  griflins 
— if  the  term  may  be  permitted— or  ponies 
imported  independently  of  the  Jockey  Club, 
which  have  run  at  meetings  elsewhere  in 
China.  In  all,  upwards  of  thirty-five  races  are 
contested  annually,  the  principal  being  the 
Hongkong  Derby,  the  Challenge  Stakes,  and 
the  Champions.  Tlie  distances  vary  from  five 
furlongs  to  two  miles,  and  among  the  best 
times  yet  recorded  by  China  ponies  or  subscrip- 
tion griffins  in  the  Colony  are  the  following : — 


Distance. 

Time. 

Poxy. 

YEAR. 

Half-mile 

54  sees. 

Punch 

1902 

Three- 

I  mm. 

Tuber  Rose 

I8q8 

quarters 

30i  sees 

Mile  and  a 

2  mins. 

> 

i 

Glory 

1901 

quarter 

25  sees. 

Bay  Ronald 

1902 

Mile  and  a 

3  mms. 

Ardent 

1 801 

half 

I2i  sees 

Mile  and 
three- 

3  mins. 

\ 

Zephyr 

1891 

quarters 

48  sees. 

] 

Polka 

1904 

Two  miles 

4  mms. 
,  23  sees 

Sinbad 

1898 

Most  of  the  owners  adopt  assumed  names, 
and  great  rivalry  has  existed  in  the  past  be- 
tween the  "Roses,"  owned  by  Mr.  "Hiixey." 
and  the  "  Kings,"  owned  by  Mr.  "  Potts,"  hut 
the  latter  stable  has  now  withdrawn  from  the 
sport.  The  leading  owners  are  Messrs. 
"  Bu.xey,"   "  John  Peel  "  and  F.   B.   Marshall. 


verandahs  or  roofs  and  sustained  severe  in- 
juries, and,  in  more  than  one  case,  been  killed 
outright.  A  very  fine  distinction,  however,  is 
drawn  on  the  course.  While  bookmakers  are 
debarred,  the  pari-mutuel  (or  totalisator)  and 
sweeps  are  permitted.  From  the  money  which 
passes  through  the  pari-mutuel  and  sweeps  the 


VIEWS    ON    THE    LAWN. 


Amateur  jockeys  only  are  permitted  to  ride, 
and  there  are  no  bookmakers  on  the  course. 
Betting  is  illegal  in  the  Colony  and  many  a 
poor  unfortunate  Chinaman  has  been  haled 
before  the  magistrate  for  indulging  in  a  game 
of  Ng  Pau,  or  Fan-tan,  while  others,  in  en- 
deavouring to  escape  a  raid,  have  fallen  from 


promoters  deduct  10  per  cent.,  and  the  Jockey 
Club  gets  a  good  proportion  of  that  amount. 
The  dividends  paid  by  the  pari-mutuel  on  the 
whole  are  small ;  in  one  instance  this  year 
(1908),  in  the  case  of  a  dead  heat  for  first  place, 
those  who  had  backed  one  of  the  tirst  two 
ponies  received  $480  back  for  each  $5  invested 


258     TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


— a  loss  of  20  cents— while  in  several  other 
instances  only  the  sum  laid  out  was  returned. 
Occasionally  a  high  dividend  is  paid,  but  it  is 
only  occasionally. 

buring  the  summer  months  gymkhanas  are 
held  monthly  and  provide  goixi  sport.  Hurdle 
racing  was  tried  in  1907.  but  China  ponies 
cannot  jump  and  simply  crashed  through  the 
brushwood  hurdles  or  baulked.  Consequently, 
these  events  were  cut  out.  and  Hat  racing  is  all 
that  is  now  indulged  in. 


FCXDTBALL, 

Rrc.BY  and  Association  are  played  in  the 
Ct>lony,  but  the  followers  of  Association  far 
outnumlnrr  the  "  rugger  "  men.  Every  Satur- 
day altcrnixMi  and  on  many  week-days  during 
the  season  .\ssociation  is  played  at  Happy 
Valley,  whereas  a  Rugby  game  does  not  take 
place  more  than  once  a  fortnight,  if  so  often. 


1905. — Royal  West  Kents. 
i<Xi6.— H.M.S.  Diiiilcm. 
1907. — Royal  .\rtillery. 

This  competition  is  played  on  the  "cup- 
tie"  system,  and  usually  takes  place  in  the 
early  part  of  the  year. 

Another  competition,  which  is  reserved 
for  military  teams,  is  the  Garrison  Football 
League,  established  in  1907  8,  and  played  on 
the  league  principle.  The  Middlesex  teams 
proved  too  strong  for  their  opponents  and 
won,  but  the  competition  supplied  a  number 
of  interesting  games.  A  Naval  League, 
playing  matches  at  Hongkong.  Weihaiwei, 
Tientsin,  and  other  ports  at  whicli  the  vessels 
of  the  Heet  call,  is  organised  annually  by  the 
naval  authorities,  but  most  of  the  games  are 
played  in  Northern  China.  Being  confined 
solely  to  the  ships  of  the  Heet,  interest  in  the 
competition  is  slight. 


WINNER    COMING    IN. 


The  leading  civilian  club  is'  the  Hongkong 
Football  Club,  whose  headquarters  are  at  the 
Valley,  and  this  Club  promotes  the  annual 
Shield  Competition.  Though  the  Club  has  a 
large  membership  roll  there  are  only  about 
twenty-five  players,  so  that  the  range  of 
selection  is  small.  The  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  p-ootball  Club  is  the  only 
other  civilian  team  .of  any  prominence,  and 
the  matches  between  these  two  clubs  are 
always  keenly  contested.  The  military  teams 
are  numerous  and  have  won  the  shield  more 
often  than  the  navy  or  civilian  teams.  The 
competition  was  commenced  in  1897,  and 
the  winners  to  date  are  : — 

1897. — H.M.S.  Ceuliirion. 

1898.— "G"  Co..  King's  Own  Rifles. 

1899. — Hongkong  Club. 

1900. — "G"  Co.,  Royal  Welsh  ^"usiliers. 

1901. — Royal  Artillery,  Siege  Team. 

1902.— "H"  Co.,  Royal  Welsh  P'usiliers. 

1903. — H.M.S.  Glory. 

1904.-H.M.S.  Albion. 


GOLF. 


The  Royal  Hongkong  Golf  Club  is  a 
flourishing  institution  with  a  membership  of 
about  four  hundred.  It  was  in  May,  1889, 
that  the  Golf  Club  was  formed,  Captain 
Rumsey,  R.N.  (afterwards  Harbour  Master  of 
the  Colony)  being  the  first  captain,  and  Sir 
William  Des  Voeux  (the  then  Governor)  the 
first  president.  A  site  for  the  links  was  pro- 
cured at  Happy  Valley  and  a  nine-holed  course 
laid  out,  the  eighth  hole  being  a  difficult  one, 
hence  its  name  of  "  misery."  The  first 
match  of  any  importance  was  played  in 
March,  1890,  over  eighteen  holes,  between 
six  members  of  the  Club  and  six  from  the 
91st  Regiment,  then  stationed  here.  The 
civilian  team  won  easily.  Since  then  many 
important  competitions  have  been  played, 
there  being  an  annual  competition  on  the 
"  cup-tie "  system  for  the  championship  of 
the  Club,  and  this  competition  usually  attracts 
a    large    number    of    entrants.       Mr.    T.    S. 


Forrest,  the  present  champion,  is  undoubtedly 
the  best  player  in  the  Colony,  and  he  has 
won  the  championship  no  less  than  five 
times.  Mr.  E.  J.  Grist  was  last  year's 
champion,  and  Lieut. -Col.  Dumhleton  was 
this  year's  runner  up.  Competitions  are  held 
fortnightly  throughout  the  year  at  the  Valley, 
the  Captain's  Cup  being  the  most  popular. 
An  attractive  course,  used  mainly  by  the 
ladies,  was  laid  out  at  Deep  Water  Hay,  but 
it  is  seldom  used. 


■WILD  BIRDS  AND  GAME. 

It  is  doubtful  if  even  the  resident  of  Hong- 
kong is  aware  of  the  variety  of  sport  which 
can  be  obtained  in  the  pursuit  of  wild  birds 
and  game  within  the  confines  of  the  Colony. 
On  the  island  itself  but  little  shooting  can  be 
done,  but  the  New  Territory  teems  with  bird- 
life  at  different  seasons  of  the  year,  and  offers 
excellent  opportunities  to  the  man  who  cares 
to  tramp  o'er  the  paddy-fields  with  his  dogs 
and  gun.  Among  the  varieties  of  the  feathered 
Hocks  which  are  to  be  found  are  snipe,  teal, 
plover,  wild  duck,  woodcock,  partridge,  quail, 
curlew,  heron,  cranes,  pigeon,  doves,  water- 
rail,  egrets,  divers,  kestrels,  hawks,  and 
eagles.  Some  of  these,  however,  are  met 
with  only  rarely.  Snipe,  in  season,  are  plenti- 
ful, and  one  of  the  best  grounds  is  that  in  the 
Shap-pat-lieung  Valley,  near  Deep  Water  Bay. 
As  the  name  signifies,  there  are  eighteen 
streams  in  this  valley  which  enter  the  bay, 
and  all  around  are  paddy-fields,  where  the 
snipe  rest  during  their  migrations.  The  bird 
does  not  breed  in  the  Colony,  but  the  fact 
that  there  are  three  distinct  varieties  of  the 
bird,  and  tliat  there  seem  to  be  four  distinct 
seasons,  has  given  rise  to  two  theories  as 
to  whence  they  come  and  whither  they  go. 
The  first  of  the  snipe  are  seen  late  in  August — 
tlie  last  Sunday  of  which  month  is  the 
opening  of  the  season,  though  September  ist 
is  the  "  official  opening " — and  they  can  be 
obtained  until  March,  or  even  April,  and  a 
stray  couple  may  be  seen  occasionally  at  any 
time  during  the  year.  One  set  of  theorists 
say  that  the  Colony  gets  a  proportion  of  the 
snipe  going  south  to  Bangkok  and  the  Straits, 
while  the  other  declare  that  it  is  Australian 
snipe  on  their  flight  norllnvards  which  visit 
the  Colony.  It  is  quite  possible  that  both  are 
right.  It  is  generally  considered  tliat  the 
early  snipe  are  flying  north,  after  which  there 
is  a  break  ;  that  the  December  snipe  are 
bound  south  ;  and  that  those  met  later  on, 
at  Chinese  New  Year,  are  returning  from 
Bangkok  to  the  north,  a  second  instalment 
arriving  in  the  spring.  The  three  varieties 
are  known  as  the  pin-tail  or  jack-snipe,  the 
painted  snipe,  and  the  solitary  snipe,  the 
latter  variety  being  the  largest.  With  such 
suitable  country  as  is  met  with,  it  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  good  bags  are  plentiful. 
The  snipe  rest  in  the  paddy-fields  in  ordinary 
weather,  but  during  :in  excessively  wet  season, 
when  the  paddy-fields  are  more  or  less 
flooded,  they  are'  to  be  found  on  the  higher 
ground,  in  the  sweet-potato  patches  and  the 
young  bamboos.  One  sometimes  hears  of  a 
partv  of  tliree  or  four  guns  bringing  back  two 
hundred  couples,  but  it  is  seldom  authenti- 
cated. The  average  run  of  sportsmen  may, 
however,  depend  on  eighty  or  one  hundred 
couples  a  day  for  three  or  four  guns,  but  there 
have  been  certified  bags  of  one  hundred  and 
fiftv  couples  for  three  guns— a  good  day's 
work,  it  will  be  conceded.  Six  or  seven 
years  ago,  just  about  the  time  that  tlie  British 
took  over  the  New  Territory,  snipe  could  be 
shot  within  a  couple  of  minutes'  walk  of  the 


SCENES    ON    THE    RACECOURSE. 


260      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


harbour,  but  the  development  of  the  Kowlooii 
Peninsula  and  the  consequent  absorption  of 
the  rice-lields  have  driven  them  away.  Tlie 
early  residents  in  Kowloon  who  liandled  a 
gun  often  obtained  two  or  three  couples  in 
the  early  morning. 

\Vo<xicock  are  scarc-e.  but  are  found  at 
Shap-pat-heung.  and  it  is  asserted  that  they 
have  bred  on  the  island.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
they  arc  seldom  found,  and  can  hardly  be 
said  to  be  plentiful.  Migratory  quail  usually 
arrive  just  when  the  paddy  is  being  cut,  or 
shortly  after,  and  settle  down  among  the 
paddy  or  in  the  long  grass  on  the  hills.  For 
quail  and  partridge,  dogs  are  necessary,  and 
experience  has  proved  that  the  home-bred 
dog  is  not  of  much  use  in  Hongkong  ;  the 
going  is  far  too  heavy — there  are  tix)  many 


will  be  tempted  to  have  a  shot  at  them,  as 
well  as  at  hawks,  kestrels,  and  a  stray  eagle. 
There  are  no  pheasants  in  the  neighbourhood, 
hut  a  cross  crow-pheasant  is  sometimes  seen. 
This,  however,  is  carrion.  The  beautiful 
egret,  which  is  much  sought  after  on  account 
of  its  wonderful  plumage,  is  occasionally  to 
be  found. 

The  only  deer  which  roam  the  hills  are 
the  barking,  or  hog  deer,  and  they  are  but 
seldom  seen.  They  are  to  be  found  on  Lantao 
Island,  at  Shatin,  and  also  on  the  island  of 
Hongkong  itself,  but  here  they  are  more  or 
less  protected.  The  Chinese  "  wonk "  dog 
prt>ves  very  useful  after  deer  and  wild  pig, 
but  for  a  successful  hunt  one  needs  the  co- 
operation of  the  villagers  to  organise  a  large 
drive.      Very   few   people   seem   to   have   the 


LAWN   BOWLS. 

Lawn-  bowls  started  in  Hongkong  in 
quite  an  "  innocent "  sort  of  way,  said 
a  prominent  supporter  of  bowls.'  when 
approaclied  by  the  writer,  the  formation  of 
the  Kowloon  Howling  Green  Club  in  igoo 
being  the  result  of  a  casual  conversation 
among  a  few  Scotchmen  resident  in  Kow- 
loon. These  few  enthusiastic  gentlemen, 
prominent  amongst  wlioni  were  Messrs.  T. 
IVtrie,  A.  Ritchie,  J.  Gait,  T.  Skinner,  G.  K. 
Edwards,  J.  Macdonald,  and  A.  Milroy,  soon 
formed  a  club  and  secured  a  very  desirable 
site  in  Kimberley  Koad,  but  the'  increasing 
value  of  land  in  Kowloon  necessitated  their 
removal.  After  making  representations  to 
the  Government,  the  newlv  formed  Club  suc- 


HONQKONG  AND  SHANGHAI  FOOTBALL  TEAMS. 


hills  to  climb  and  the  undergrowth  is  very 
thick.  In  consequence,  dogs  have  to  be 
trained  locally,  and  they  are  quite  a  success, 
though  were  a  l<x:al  dog  transported  to 
England  he  would  drive  every  one  mad  with 
his  impetuosity.  To  follow  the  dogs  success- 
fully f<jr  a  day  in  this  sort  of  country  is  no 
mean  achievement,  for  one  must  be  in  good 
condition  and  a  tine  walker.  There  are 
thousands  of  doves  to  be  obtained,  as  well  as 
pigeons— of  the  latter  the  blue  rock  variety 
are  the  most  common. 

Round  about  Deep  Bay^near  Samchun 
and  the  mouth  of  the  Shap-pat-heung — the 
wild  fowl  congregate,  teal,  in  particular,  and 
wild  duck,  as  well  as  the  varieties  mentioned 
above.  Herons,  pelicans,  the  paddy-bird, 
divers.  &c.,  hardly  come  within  the  province 
of  sport,  but  occasionally  one  of  the  party 


time  to  get  away  for  this  sport,  which  involves 
at  least  a  couple  of  days  absence,  and  it  is 
hard  work.  The  members  of  the  police  force 
who  are  stationed  in  the  territory  have  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  both  deer  and  pig  at 
different  times.  Two  pests  infest  this  part  of 
the  country,  in  the  shape  of  civet  cats  and 
foxes,  and  no  doubt  these — together  witli  the 
hawks— tend  to  keep  birds  from  breeding. 
The  hawks  are  particularly  daring  and 
voracious,  and  it  is  not  an  unusual  occurrence 
for  the  villagers  to  lose  chickens  from  their 
very  dofir  steps.  Rabbits  and  hares  are  con- 
spicuous by  their  absence,  and  though  efforts 
have  been  made  to  introduce  the  former 
thev  have  not  been  successful. 


ceeded  in  obtaining  a  piece  of  land  in  King's 
Park,  which  was  at  that  time  a  swamp. 
This  had  to  be  drained,  and  the  necessary 
expenditure  for  drainage  and  turfing  almost 
ruined  the  Club.  It  managed  to  struggle  on. 
however,  being  well  supported  by  the 
members,  the  number  of  whom  was  steadily 
increasing,  and  then  once  more  came  the 
order,  "  Move  on  "  —  this  time  from  the 
Government,  for  the  King's  Park  scheme  had 
been  approved  and  the  Bowling  Club's 
corner  was  required  for  a  cricket  ground, 
though  the  Government  placed  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Club  another  and  better  site  on 
the  road  side,  mucli  larger,  and  providing 
space  for  two  full-size  bowling  greens,  as 
well  as  two  tennis  courts.  The  provision  ()f 
tennis  courts  paved  the  way  for  the  addition 
of  ladies  into  the  Club  as  honorary  members, 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      261 


and  to-day  the  ladies  avail  themselves  freely 
of  this  privilege.  This  second  removal  found 
the  Club  with  very  low  funds,  but  the  issue 
of  debentures,  wliich  were  loyally  taken  up 
by  members,  soon  produced  enough  cash  for 
draining,  levelling,  and  laying-out  the  land. 
All  this  was  slow  work,  but  finally  the 
end  was  reached,  and  to-day  the  premises 
of  the  Club  are  among  the  prettiest  in  the 
island,  for  among  the  ranks  of  the  members 
are  several  enthusiastic  gardeners,  who 
have  done  much  towards  beautifying  the 
enclosure. 

Competitions  during  the  first  season  or  so 
were  naturally  restricted  to  members  only, 
but  the  success  of  the  Club  led  to  the 
inauguration  of  two  more  bowling  clubs — 
one  by  the  Civil  Service  and  the  other  by 
the  Police  Recreation  Club.  This  paved  the 
way  for  inter-club  contests,  the  first  of 
which  was  played  between  Kowloon  and 
the  Civil  Service,  and  won  by  the  Kowloon 
team.  As  this  match  was  played  on  the 
Kowloon  Club's  ground  with  bowls  lent  by 
the  home  team,  it  could  not  be  regarded  as 
a  fair  test,  and  since  then  six  matches  have 
been  played,  each  club  winning  three.  The 
police  have  played  Kowloon  several  times, 
but  have  not  yet  succeeded  in  lowering  the 
colours  of  the  premier  club.  The  employes 
of  the  Cosmopolitan  Dock  have  also  started 
a  bowling  green,  but  so  far  they  have  not 
entered  into  the  arena  of  inter-club  com- 
petitions. So  popular  has  the  pastime 
become  that  at  the  time  of  writing  a 
proposal  is  on  foot  to  institute  a  shield 
competition,  to  be  held  annually  on  league 
principles.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that, 
although  the  ancient  game  of  bowls  is  not 
purely  a  Scotch  game,  as  all  readers  of 
English  history  are  aware,  most  of  the 
players  in  the  Colony  are  either  Scotchmen 
or  North  of  England  men. 

In  connection  with  both  the  Police  and 
Civil  Service  Clubs  it  should  be  pointed  out 
that  most  of  the  members  who  play  bowls 
are  also  interested  in  cricket  and  tennis,  and 
that,  as  a  natural  consequence,  during  the 
season  for  cricket  and  tennis,  lawn  bowling 
suffers.  The  game  of  bowls  is  played  all 
the  year  round  on  the  Kowloon  ground,  but 
great  difficulty  is  experienced  in  keeping  the 
greens  in  good  condition  during  the  dry 
season,  although  the  greens  are  in  use 
alternately.  Kowloon  can  boast  of  being  the 
premier  lawn  bowls  club  in  the  •  Far  East, 
and  its  position  is  being  strengthened 
annually.  The  game,  as  played  in  the 
Colony,  is  not  the  English  game  with 
ground  rings  ;  but  biased  bowls  are  used  on 
a  levelled  lawn  ;  what  is  known  as  No.  3 
bias  being  chiefly  used.  The  prospects  of 
the  game  are  exceedingly  bright  and  more 
clubs  are  expected  to  take  up  this  quiet 
form  of  recreation. 

Among  the  competitions  which  are  annually 
promoted  by  the  Kowloon  Club  are  those 
for  the  Championship,  the  President's  Prize, 
and  the  Vice-President's  Prize,  while  spoon 
competitions  are  almost  of  weekly  occur- 
rence. Prizes  are  provided  by  members  of 
the  Club  and  their  friends  for  outside  com- 
petitions, and  the  keenest  of  interest  is 
shown  in  these  contests. 

ALLEY    BOWLS. 

The    ancient    game     of     alley     bowls     finds 
little    favour    in    Hongkong,    the    only   clubs 


making  a  feature  of  the  pastime  being  the 
Hongkong  Club  and  the  Club  Germania. 
Half-yearly  competitions  take  place  between 
these  two  institutions,  and  the  matches  are 
always  keenly  fought. 


RACQUETS. 

OxLY  the  members  of  the  Hongkong  Cricket 
Club  seem  to  take  any  interest  in  racquets, 
and  beyond  the  annual  competitions  very 
little  is  heard  of  the  game.  The  game  has 
been  played  in  the  Colony  since  1861,  when 
the  Hongkong  Racquet  Court  Club  was 
formed.  Apparently  difficulties  beset  the  Club 
at  the  very  outset,  hut  in  1869  it  was,  to  a 
certain  extent,  reconstructed.  The  rules  and 
regulations  were  revised  and  came  into  force 
towards  the  end   of   the   year.      The   players 


military,  naval,  and  civilian.  The  civilian 
team  is  run  by  the  Hongkong  Hockey  Club, 
and  under  the  auspices  of  this  Club  an  annual 
competition  for  a  challenge  cup  is  held. 
Mr.  J.  Barton,  the  donor  of  the  cup.  has  been 
president  of  the  Hockey  Club  since  its  forma- 
tion in  December,  1891.  Occasional  matches 
are  played  during  the  winter  months,  but 
public  interest  is  not  aroused  until  the  com- 
petition commences,  though  when  the  Canton 
team  visits  the  Colony,  or  when  the  Hongkong 
team  journeys  to  Canton,  considerable  interest 
is  taken  in  the  result.  The  military  teams, 
particularly  the  Indian  regimental  teams, 
practise  assiduously  and  are  really  expert 
players.  For  the  last  two  years  the  I  lyth 
Mahrattas  Light  Infantry  have  won  the  cup, 
the  civilian  club  being  knocked  out  in  the 
first  round  last  season.  The  naval  teams 
play  spasmodically  and  seldom  make  a  good 
show  in  the  competition. 


a 


HONGKONG'S!  CHAMPION    BILLIARD    PLAYER. 


were  then  divided-  into  two  classes,  and  for 
several  years  the  Club  prospered.  Twenty- 
six  years  after  the  reconstruction,  however, 
the  Club  was  wound  up  and  the  court,  &c., 
handed  over  to  the  Hongkong  Cricket  Club, 
together  with  $114-26,  the  balance  in  hand. 
With  this  money  tlie  Cricket  Club  purchased 
a  championship  challenge  cup.  Since  the 
winding  up  of  the  Club,  the  courts  have  been 
carried  on  by  the  Cricket  Club  and  the  annual 
competitions  are  still  held. 


HOCKEY. 

Hockey  is  a  somewhat  strenuous  game  and 
does  not  receive  a  great  deal  of  attention  in 
the   Colony,  though    there  are   several   teams. 


LAWN    TENNIS. 

Lawn  tennis  is  a  game  which  is  well 
adapted  for  a  climate  like  Hongkong,  and  it 
is  played  almost  throughout  the  year.  Most 
of  the  cricket  clubs  hold  annual  competitions, 
and  there  are  several  tennis  clubs  of  a  semi- 
private  nature  in  the  Colony.  The  premier 
tennis  tournament  is  that  played  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Hongkong  Cricket  Club,  but 
as  the  championship  is  not  open  to  the 
public  it  cannot  be  considered  a  champion- 
ship of  the  Colony,  though  the  winner  would 
have  little  difficulty  in  substantiating  his  claim 
as  champion  if  the  leading  players  of  other 
clubs  were  to  issue  a  challenge.  The  game 
was  introduced  into  the  Hongkong  Cricket 
Club  in  1877. 


HEALTH    AND    HOSPITALS. 


By    the    Hon.    Dr.    J.    M.    Atkinson,    Principal    Civil    Medical    Officer. 


HEALTH. 

|N  the  c.irly  years  of  the 
Colony  Hongkong  had  an 
unenviable  reputation  for  un- 
healthiness.  Frequent  out- 
breaks of  malignant  malarial 
fever  occurred  ;  indeed,  there 
is  a  record  of  such  an  out- 
break in  June  of  1841,  the  first  year  of 
British  occupation.  In  1843,  between  May 
and  October,  24  per  cent,  of  the  troops  and 
ID  per  cent,  of  the  European  civilian  popula- 
tion died  of  fever.  In  1850,  136  men  of  the 
59th  Regiment  died  out  oi^  a  strength  of  568. 
mostly  from  fever.  Dysentery,  also,  has 
been  extremely  severe,  especially  in  1854. 
The  death-rate  in  1861  amongst  the  European 
and  American  residents  was  as  high  as  648 
per  1.000.  Hospitals  were  established,  and, 
along  with  gradual  improvement  in  sanitary 
matters,  health  conditions  slowly  improved, 
but.  still,  in  1871  the  death-rate  amongst  the 
European  and  American  residents  was  303 
per  1. 000. 

Prior  to  1883  the  sanitation  of  the  Colony 
was  under  the  control  of  the  Surveyor- 
General  and  the  Colonial  Surgeon,  and, 
owing  to  frequent  changes  in  the  incumbents 
of  these  posts,  there  was  no  continuity  of 
action,  and  confusion  reigned.  In  1882,  Mr. 
Osbert  Chad  wick  was  sent  to  inquire  into, 
and  report  on,  the  sanitary  condition  of  the 
Colony.  One  result  of  this  was  the  establish- 
ment in  1883  of  a  Sanitary  Board,  and  the 
passing  of  an  ordinance  to  enable  the  Board 
to  carry  out  the  many  sanitary  improvements 
which  were  required.  This  Board  was  re- 
constituted by  Ordinance  24  of  1887.  It  is 
an  ad\isor>'  and  consultative  body,  and  is 
composed  of  four  ofiicial  members,  two 
members  elected  by  the  ratepayers,  and  four 
members  (two  of  them  Chinese)  appointed 
by  the  Governor.  It  has  an  adequate  staff, 
and  such  progress  has  been  made  that 
Victoria  is  now  the  cleanest  town  east  of 
Suez. 

Owing  to  the  conformation  of  the  site  on 
which  the  city  of  Victoria  stands,  with  the 
hills  rising  rapidly  from  near  the  sea-shore 
up  to  a  height  of  1,860  feet,  there  was  very 
little  land  near  the  harbour  available  for 
building  purposes.  At  first,  when  the  popu- 
lation was  small  and  the  houses  were  only 
one  or  two  storeys  in   height,  the  available 


space  was  adequate.  Hut  when,  with  ad- 
vancing prosperity,  the  population  increased, 
too  many  houses  were  allowed  to  be  built  ; 
the  original  one  or  two-storeyed  ones  were 
heightened  without  reference  to  the  admis- 
sion of  fresh  air  and  sunlight  into  the  rooms  ; 
each  room  was  sub-divided  by  partitions  into 
cubicles,  generally  without  windows,  a  family 
very  often  living  in  one  of  these  cubicles  ; 
and  due  provision  for  open  spaces  was  not 
made.  The  result  was  that  in  the  quarter 
where  the  Chinese  lived  great  overcrowding 
occurred,  and  the  areas  and  houses  became 
extremely  insanitary.  Thus,  in  the  native 
quarter  all  the  conditions  favouring  the  out- 
break and  spread  of  epidemic  disease  were 
present. 

Small-pox  has  been  endemic  every  winter, 
and  occasionally  epidemics  have  occurred. 
There  was  a  serious  outbreak  in  1888,  over 
98  cases  being  admitted  to  the  hospital 
during  the  winter  of  that  year. 

Cholera  has  also  occasionally  occurred,  but 
the  worst  epidemic  disease  which  has 
attacked  the  Colony  is  plague.  This  first 
broke  out  in  1894,  undoubtedly  being  intro- 
duced from  Canton.  Once  introduced,  it 
rapidly  spread,  and  was  responsible  for  2,552 
deaths  in  that  year,  Trade  was  greatly 
interfered  with,  and  the  outbreak  is  estimated 
to  have  produced  a  temporary  exodus  of 
100,000  Chinese. 

It  was  in  this  epidemic  of  1894  that  the 
ftlngue  bacillus  was  discovered  by  Professor 
Kitasato,  of  Japan,  who  had  come  to  Hong- 
kong to  investigate  it.  Later,  Dr.  Yersin 
made,  quite  independently,  a  similar  discovery. 
Measures  were  immediately  taken  to  com- 
bat the  disease.  In  1895  the  resumption  of 
one  of  the  most  overcrowded  and  plague- 
stricken  portions  at  Taipingshan  was  com- 
pleted, illegal  basements  were  done  away 
with  or  were  so  altered  as  to  be  rendered 
legally  inhabitable,  back-to-back  houses  were 
prohibited,  narrow  lanes  and  passages 
were  opened  out,  and  other  insanitary  areas 
were  resumed.  The  provision  of  an  adequate 
amount  of  light  and  ventilation  in  Chinese 
houses  was  insisted  upon,  and  a  general 
concreting  of  the  ground  surfaces  of  all  the 
Chinese  houses  was  carried  out  with  a  view 
to  the  exclusion  of  rats. 

Although  we  have  had  the  disease  with  us 
more  or  less  every  year  since,  the  outbreaks 
in  the   last  few  years  have  been  much  less 


severe,  e.g.,  the  average  yearly  number  of 
cases  for  the  last  three  years  has  been  479 
as  against  an  average  of  1,290  for  the  three 
years  1898  1900. 

It  is  an  almost  hopeless  task  to  expect  to 
stamp  out  plague  entirely  in  Hongkong, 
seeing  how  liable  the  Colony  is,  from  its 
geographical  position,  to  re-infection  from 
the  neighbouring  countries.  The  disease  is 
now  practically  endemic  in  Canton,  Southern 
China,  Swatow,  Amoy,  Formosa,  and  the 
Philippines. 

Since  1899,  as  a  result  of  the  Anopheles 
theory  of  malaria,  active  anti-malarial 
measures  were  instituted.  Nullahs  have 
been  drained,  the  breeding-pools  of  mos- 
quitoes have  been  done  away  with,  swampy 
land  has  been  sub-soil  drained,  and  rice- 
tields  have  been  resumed,  particuliu'ly  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  police  stations,  and 
lately,  in  connection  with  the  Kovvloon- 
Canton  Railway  operations.  By  these  means 
and  by  the  prophylactic  administration  of 
quinine,  the  number  of  admissions  for 
malaria  to  our  two  largest  hospitals  has 
fallen  from  an  average  of  1,036  for  the  five 
years  1897-1901  to  531  in  the  quinquennium 
1902  6. 

There  can  be  no  question  that  the  health 
of  the  Colony  has  improved  very  much  of 
late  years,  and  for  Europeans  living  in 
European  houses,  especially  at  the  Peak, 
this  is  now  one  of  the  healthiest  of  the 
British  Colonies. 

The  death-rate  has  fallen  steadily  since 
1901,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following 
figures  : — 

Total 
Non-Chinese.    Chinese.     Population. 
I90I  ...  20-50  2377  2305 

1907  ...  1546  2252  2212 

One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  in  dealing 
with  the  Chinese  is  that  they  will  not  notify 
cases  of  infectious  disease.  They  prefer  to 
hide  the  case,  and,  when  the  patient  has 
died,  to  watch  their  opportunity  and  "dump" 
the  body  in  the  street.  This  is  no  doubt 
due  in  large  measure  to  the  dread  they  have 
of  the  necessary  disinfecting  operations. 
The  percentage  of  "dumped"  bodies  in  1903 
was  as  high  as  327.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
as  the  Chinese  become  imbued  with  Western 
methods  they  will  become  more  enlightened 
in  this  respect,  but  this  leavening  process  is 
sure  to  be  a  very  slow  one. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     263 


Ground  for  hope,  however,  is  furnished  by 
the  fact  that  we  have  been  able  to  obtain 
the  co-operation  of  the  Chinese  in  the 
"cleansing  operations"  which  are  carried 
out  every  winter  now  as  an  anti-plague 
measure. 

The  appended  table  shows  the  cases  of 
notifiable  disease  recorded  among  the  different 
sections  of  the  community  during  1907  : — 


Total. 

Grand 
Total. 

European... 



) 

Plague < 

Chinese    ... 

234 

^240 

Others      ... 

6 

) 

[■European... 

4« 

) 

Typhoid            ...^ 

Chinese    ... 

12 

73 

Others      ... 

13 

I 

European... 

1 

Cholera < 

Chinese    ... 

72 

74 

Others      ... 

I 

f  European... 

14 

Small  Pox 

Chinese    ... 

314 

341 

Others      ... 

13 

(■European... 

16 

) 

Diphtheria        ...i 

Chinese    ... 

23 

43 

Others      ... 

4 

1 

[■European... 

) 

Puerperal  Fever  < 

Chinese    ... 

3 

3 

Others      ... 

— 

I 

Scarlet  Fever  ... 

European... 

I 

I 

'  — 

775 

The  following  table  of  population,  births, 
and  deaths  is  given  for  the  purpose  of  ready 
coinparison  with  similar  tables  given  in  the 
reports  from  other  colonies  : — 


pital  is  in  the  Government  Civil  Hospital  com- 
pound. It  was  built  in  1897  and  contains  beds 
for  private  and  ordinary  patients  of  all  nationali- 
ties. The  Hospital  Ship  Hygciii,  built  locally 
in  1891  for  the  reception  of  patients  suffering 
from  infectious  diseases,  was  utilised  especially 
for  plague  during  the  first  outbreak  of  the 
disease  in  1894  ;  since  then  it  has  been  used 
chiefly  for  cholera  and  small-pox.  The  In- 
fectious Diseases  Hospital  at  Kennedy  Town 
was  formerly  a  police  station.  In  1894,  during 
the  first  outbreak,  it  was  converted  into  a 
plague  hospital  and  has  since  been  used  for 
infectious  diseases. 

The  Victoria  Hospital  for  Women  and 
Children,  situated  at  the  Peak,  1,000  feet  above 
the  sea-level,  contains  41  beds,  and  provides 
accommodation  for  private  patients,  wives  of 
Government  servants,  children,  and  natives.  It 
was  built  by  the  community  to  cominemorate 
the  late  Queen's  Jubilee,  and  was  handed  over 
to  the  Government  to  maintain. 

The  military  have  a  large  hospital  situated 
between  Kennedy  and  Bowen  Koads.  The 
navy  have  two  hospitals  on  Morrison  Hill,  viz., 
the  Royal  Naval  Hospital  and  a  small  hospital 
for  infectious  diseases.  These  two  institutions 
are  administered  by  a  Deputy  Inspector-General 
and  two  naval  surgeons. 

The  Chinese  have  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital, 
where  they  can  be  treated  by  their  own  native 
doctors  or  by  Western  metliods  (this  has  a 
branch  plague  hospital  at  Kennedy  Town),  and 
the  Alice  Memorial  and  Nethersole  Hospitals, 
which  are  managed  by  the  London  Missionary 
Societv.  The  former  was  built  as  a  meinorial 
to  his  wife  by  the  Hon.  Dr.  Ho  Kai,  C.M.G. 

There  are  also  two  hospitals  at  the  Peak — 
the  Peak  Hospital,  a  private  institution,  and  the 
Matilda  Hospital  at  Mount  Kellett.  The  latter, 
opened  in  January,  1907,  was  built  and  endowed 
by  the  late  Mr.  Granville  Sharp  in  memory  of 


Europeans 

and 

Whites. 

£ 

n 

1 
< 

East 
Indians. 

Chinese 
and 

Malays. 

Mixed 

and 

Coloured. 

Total. 

Number 

of   Inhabitants  in   1907 

10,025 

13 

4,102 

311.057 

4,160 

329.357 

Births 

152 

— 

44 

1,144 

80 

1,420 

Deaths 

114 

2 

85 

7,009 

76 

7,286 

Immigrants 

— 

— 

— 

145,822 

— 

— 

Emigrants 
Inhabitants  in  1906 

— 

— 

— 

105,967 

— 

— 

(Census  Report) 

12.525 

13 

4,229 

307,701 

4,170 

328,638 

Increase     

or 

— 

— 

— 

3.356 

— 

719 

Decrease 

2,500 

— 

127 

— 

10 

— 

HOSPITALS. 

Hongkong  is  well  supplied  with  hospitals. 
Those  of  the  Government  Medical  Department 
consist  of  : — 

The  Government  Civil  Hospital  and  its 
annexes,  viz.,  the  Lunatic  Asylum,  the  Maternity 
Hospital,  the  Infectious  Diseases  Hospital  at 
Kennedy  Town,  the  Hospital  Ship  Hygein.  and 
the  'Victoria  Hospital  for  Women  and  Children. 
The  Government  Civil  Hospital  is  situated  at 
the  west  end  of  the  town  and  has  150  beds. 
It  contains  wards  for  private  paying  patients, 
Government  servants,  police,  sailors  of  every 
nationality,  and  Asiatics.     The  Maternity  Hos- 


his  wife,  and  is  intended  for  destitutes  of  any 
nationality  other  than  Portuguese  and  Chinese. 


THE  aVIL  MEDICAL  AND  SANITARY 
DEPARTMENTS. 

The  Hongkong  Civil  Medical  Department 
consists  of  the  Principal  Civil  Medical  Officer, 
who  is  the  administrative  head  of  the  Medical 
and  Sanitary  Departments,  Inspector  of  Hos- 
pitals, and  in  medical  charge  of  the  Victoria 
Hospital  for  Women  and  Children  ;  the 
Health  Officer  of  the  Port  and  Inspector  of 
Emigrants,  and  an  assistant  ;  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Government  Civil  Hospital  and 


its  annexes,  and  the  assistant  superintendent  ; 
two  assistant  surgeons  who  divide  the  duties 
of  medical  officer  to  Victoria  Gaol,  medical 
officer  in  charge  of  the  Infectious  Diseases 
Hospital  and  the  Hyf<cia,  inspecting  medical 
officer  to  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital,  and 
medical  officer  in  charge  of  the  subordinate 
staff  of  the  Civil  Service  ;  the  medical  officer 
to  the  Kowloon-Canton  Railway,  who  also 
does  duty  as  medical  officer  to  the  New 
Territory  ;  two  bacteriologists  who  are  in 
charge  of  the  Bacteriological  Laboratory  and 
Vaccine  Institute,  one  of  them  being  also 
medical  officer  in  charge  of  the  Public 
Mortuary  ;  two  analysts  in  charge  of  the 
Analytical  Laboratory,  in  which  is  done 
medico-legal  work,  work  under  Food  and 
Drugs  Act,  examination  of  petroleum,  &c., 
imported  into  the  Colony,  as  well  as  a  variety 
of  other  analytical  work  (the  junior  also  acts 
as  apothecary  to  the  Civil  Hospital)  ;  and  a 
nursing  staff  consisting  of  a  matron  and 
thirteen  sisters,  with  five  probationers. 

It  was  in  1890  tliat  a  matron  and  five  sisters 
arrived  from  England  to  take  over  the 
nursing  in  the  hospitals  of  the  department — 
a  duty  which  had  previously  been  entrusted 
to  Chinese  attendants,  supervised  by  European 
wardmasters,  and  was  very  unsatisfactorily 
performed.  Hongkong,  it  may  be  mentioned, 
was  the  first  colony  to  introduce  home- 
trained  nursing  sisters. 

In  addition  to  the  Medical  there  is  the 
Sanitary  Department,  which  has  the  following 
staff  : — The  medical  oflicer  of  health,  two 
assistant  medical  ofiicers  of  health,  a  colonial 
veterinary  surgeon,  two  sanitary  surveyors, 
and  twenty-two  sanitary  inspectors. 


THE  TUNG  WAH  HOSPITAL. 

The  largest  and  by  far  the  most  important 
charitable  institution  in  the  Colony  is  un- 
doubtedly the  Tung  Wah  Hospital.  Not  only 
does  it  carry  out  the  usual  functions  of  a 
hospital,  as  understood  by  Europeans,  but, 
in  common  with  all  charitable  institutions 
throughout  China,  it  discharges  many  other 
duties  and  exercises  great  infiuence  over  the 
Chinese  community.  Almost  any  question 
affecting  the  welfare  of  the  people,  even 
inatters  regarding  the  relationship  of  the 
Government  with  the  Chinese,  may  be  re- 
ferred to  the  committee,  who  are  regarded 
in  much  the  same  light  as  public  representa- 
tives. The  committee,  of  which  the  Registrar- 
General  of  Hongkong  is  the  permanent 
chairman,  consists  of  sixteen  members,  who 
are  elected  annually  by  the  various  guilds 
and  associations  of  the  Colony. 

The  hospital  was  founded  in  1870,  the 
foundation-stone  being  laid  by  His  Excellency 
the  Governor  on  April  9th  of  that  year.  The 
site  in  Po  Yan  Street  was  presented  by  the 
Government,  who  also  voted  a  substantial 
sum  of  money  to  supplement  the  public  sub- 
scriptions by  which  the  cost  of  building  was 
defrayed.  The  premises  have  been  enlarged 
from  time  to  time,  and  now  afford  good 
accommodation  for  224  patients.  In  the  early 
days  all  diseases,  whether  infectious  or  not, 
were  treated,  but  now  that  special  infectious 
hospitals  have  been  provided  this  policy  has 
been  abandoned.  Patients  in  the  institution 
have  the  choice  of  European  or  Chinese  treat- 
ment, and  there  appears  to  be  a  growing 
feeling  in  favour  of  the  former.  The  hospital 
is  visited  daily  bv  a  Government  doctor.  Dr. 
Jew  Hawk,  a  Chinese  trained  in  America,  is 
the  resident  medical  officer,  and  there  are, 
also,  four  Chinese  practitioners  and  a  large 
Chinese  staff.     To  use  their  own  description. 


2(54     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  Chinese  dixtors  are  cither  "  external "  or 
••  internal  "  :  N>th  are  represented,  and  there 
is  one  who  has  made  a  special  study  of  skin 
diseases.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  the 
Chinese  diK'tors,  as  a  rule,  have  not  been 
through  any  recognised  course  of  training, 
the  qualifications  upon  which  the  people  set 
most  store  being,  app.irently.  the  fact  of  a 
man's  father  having  pnictised  as  a  doctor 
and  handed  down  more  or  less  valuable 
prescriptions  to  his  son.  Dr.  Jew  Hawk, 
however,  has  had  a  gixxl  training  in  both 
surgical  and  medic;»I  work.  He  spent  nine- 
teen years  in  Americ-a.  and  recently  obtained 
his  M_A.  degree  from  the  Chinese  Government. 
For  the  last  live  years  he  has  been  in  charge 
of  the  Tung  Wah  Hospital,  and  some  idea 
of  the  heavy  and  exacting  nature  of  his 
responsibilities    may   be    gathered    from    the 


THE  HONGKONG  COLLEGE  OF 
MEDIQNE. 

This  College  had  its  inception  at  a  meeting 
held  in  the  Alice  Memorial  Hospital  on 
August  30.  1S87.  The  inauguration  took 
place  on  the  first  of  the  following  October,  at  a 
largely  attended  public  gathering  in  the  City 
Hall,  presided  over  by  His  Excellency 
Major-Geiieral  Cameron.  C.B.,  the  oflicer 
administering  the  government.  A  grant  of 
Si. 000  was  made  by  the  directors  of  the  Tung 
Wah  Hospital  for  the  purchase  of  anatomical 
models  and  other  teaching  appliances  :  and. 
five  years  later,  namely,  on  July  23,  1892, 
the  first  two  students  who  had  completed 
the  prescribed  course  of  study  were  presented 
with  diplomas  by  His  Excellency  Sir  William 
Robinson.  K.C.M.G.     Since  that  date  31  other 


College  was  incorporated  in  nyoy.  but  up  to 
the  present  time  it  has  had  no  permanent 
local  habitation,  instruction  being  given  in 
various  public  institutions.  Neither  has  there 
been  any  regularly  paid  staff  devoting  itself 
entirely  to  the  training  of  the  students.  An 
effort  is  now  being  made  to  provide  suitably 
equipped  buildings,  the  property  of  the 
College,  and  specially  qualified  lecturers 
whose  whole  time  shall  be  given  to  the 
more  distinctly  scientific  subjects,  such  as 
anatomy  and  physiology,  in  order  that  the 
work  may  be  facilitated  and  extended,  and 
the  institution  recognised  by  the  General 
Medical  Council  of  Great  Britain.  For  this 
purpose  a  minimum  capital  sum  of  $150,000 
is  required  as  an  endowment.  A  site  adjacent 
to  the  hospitals  of  the  Colony  has  been 
reserved  bv  the  Government,  which   has  also 


HONGKONG    COLLEGE    OP    MEDICINE. 


fact  that  last  year  the  total  admissions  to 
the  institution  numbered  3.200.  Of  these. 
1.815  chf>se  European  treatment,  and  1.3K5 
desired  and  received  medical  attendance 
according  to  Chinese  methods.  In  addition 
63.640  out-patients  were  treated  for  all  man- 
ner of  diseases,  and  in  this  department  again 
European  medicines  were  largely  used.  The 
cost  of  carrying  on  such  an  extensive  work 
is  naturally  considerable,  but  the  funds  are 
materially  assisted  by  the  generosity  of  the 
Government,  which  makes  a  grant  of  drugs 
and  pays  the  salary  of  the  resident  docior. 


students  of  the  College,  chiefly  Chinese,  have 
qualified  to  practise  medicine,  surgery,  and 
midwifery.  Altogether  102  students  have  been 
enrolled,  over  30  of  whom  are  passing  through 
the  curriculum  at  the  present  time.  Before 
being  allowed  to  matriculate  the  students  are 
required  to  pass  a  preliminary  examination,  the 
standard  of  which  has  been  raised  gradually, 
until  now  it  is  considered  equivalent  to  that 
required  by  the  General  Medical  Council  of 
Great  Britain,  and  the  curriculum  and  pro- 
fessional examinations  correspond  as  closely 
to  those  recommended  by  the  General 
Medical  Council  as  is  possible  under  existing 
conditions.  A  minimum  curriculum  of  study 
of  five  years  is  required,  and  for  the 
encouragement  of  the  students  several  scholar- 
ships   are     offered     for     competition,       The 


paid  an  annual  grant  of  $2,500  to  the  College 
since  1902  ;  Mr.  Ng  Li  Hing  has  generously 
offered  to  spend  $50,000  in  the  erection  of 
suitable  buildings  ;  and,  towards  the  end  of 
n;o6.  a  bequest  valued  at  $10,000  was 
received  under  the  will  of  the  late  Mr.  Tang 
Chuk  Kai.  Plans  have  been  approved  for 
the  erection  of  the  College  buildings,  and 
the  work  was  commenced  in  Jaiuiary,  1908. 


THE  P.C.M.O. — A  biographical  sketch  of  the 
Hon,  Dr.  J.  M.  Atkinson,  the  Principal  Civil 
Medical  Oflicer.  will  be  found  in  the  Execu- 
tive and  Legislative  Councils  section. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     265 


DR.  FRANCIS  CLARK,  the  Mcdiail  Ollicer  of 
Healtli  for  Honfjkimj;,  was  horn  on  June  23, 
1864,  and  educated  at  St.  Paul's  School,  at 
Durham  University,  and  at  St.  Bartholomew's 
and  Middlesex  Hospitals.  He  had  a  dis- 
lin>;uished  career  as  a  student,  obtaining  the 
Entrance  Science  Scholarship  at  the  Middlesex 
Hospital  in  1882,  and  the  Hetley  Scholarship 
and  the  Governor's  Clinical  Scholarship  in  1885. 
He  secured  the  bachelor's  degree  in  1892. 
and  the  doctor's  degree  in  1900,  and  holds  the 
diplomas  of  M.K.C.S.  and  L.K.C.P.  (Lond.),  and 
D.P.H.  (Cantab).  After  spending  a  few  years  in 
private  practice  he  was  for  some  time  Assistant 
Medical  Superintendent  of  Croydon  Union 
Inlirmarv.  and  then  Assistant  Medical  Ofticer 
of  Health  to  the  Port  of  Tyne.  In  1893  he 
obtained  the  appointment  of  Medical  Officer  of 
Health  and  Superintendent  of  the  F"ever  Hos- 
pital, Lowestoft.  Two  years  later  he  came  to 
Hongkong  as  Medical  Officer  of  Health.  In 
l8(X)  he  was  made  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
has  on  occasion  served  on  both  the  E.\ecutive 
and  Legislative  Councils.  He  has  been  Dean 
and  Lecturer  of  the  Hongkong  College  ol 
Medicine  lor  Chinese  for  more  than  ten  years, 
and  was  president  of  tlie  Hongkong  and  China 
Branch  of  the  British  Medical  Association  in 
1899  and  1905.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Hon. 
Society  of  the  Middle  Temple,  a  Fellow  of  the 
Koyal  Sanitary  Institute,  and  a  member  of  the 
Pathological  and  Clinical  Societies,  London. 
His  contributions  to  Medical  Literature  have 
been  numerous  and  include  "The  Germ  Theory 
of  Disease,"  "  Ambulance  Notes,"  "  The  Ven- 
tilation, and  P'lushing  of  Sewers  in  relation  to 
Health,"  Annual  Health  Reports,  1893-  1907, 
and  Plague  Reports,  1896-1901.  He  has  also 
written  upon  "  The  Duties  and  Difficulties  of 
Port  Medical  Inspectors "  for  the  British 
Medical  Joitniol  (1893),  and  contributed  other 
articles  to  various  medical  journals,  including 
one  upon  "  The  Notification  of  Measles"  to  The 
Medical  Majinzine.  Dr.  Clark's  chief  recrea- 
tion is  yachting,  and  he  has  been  commodore 
of  the  Corinthian  Yacht  Club  since  its  forma- 
tion. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Hongkong 
and  of  the  Koyal  Societies  Clubs.  In  1889  he 
married  Gertrude,  eldest  daughter  of  the  late 
PVancis  Andrews,  of  Wallington,  Surrey,  and 
Denver,  Colorado.  U.S.A.,  formerly  manager 
of  the  Agra  Bank,  Hongkong.  His  residence 
is  "  Kingsclere,"  Hongkong. 

DR.  0.  P.  JORDAN,  M.B.,  CM.  (Edln.), 
M.R.C.S.  (Eng.),  is  the  senior  medical  man 
practising    in    the    Colony.     For    twentv-two 


years  he  has  had  a  private  practice,  and  for 
nineteen  he  has  held  the  position  of  Health 
Ofticer  of  the  Port  and  Inspector  of  Immi- 
grants. He  is  a  nephew  of  Sir  Paul  Chafer, 
and,  like  Sir  Paul,  has  been  prominently  con- 
nected with  public  affairs  for  many  years. 
His  views  on  the  progress  of  the  Colony  are 
interesting.  He  considers  that  the  health  of 
the  community  has  been  greatly  improved 
during  the  last  ten  years,  and  notes  with 
satisfactitm  that  malarial  fever,  which  was 
most  prevalent  when  he  first  came  to  the 
Colony,  has  now  almost  entirely  disappeared. 
When  Dr.  Jordan  first  became  acquainted 
with  the  Government  Medical  Department 
the  staff  consisted  of  three  doctors,  now  it 
numbers  eleven.  Dr.  Jordan  has  witnessed, 
among  other  reforms,  a  great  improvement  in 
the  housing  of  the  poorer  class  of  the  Chinese 
population.  Dr.  Jordan  is  the  Right  Wor- 
shipful District  Grand  Master  of  the  District 
Grand  Lodge  of  Scottish  Freemasonry  in 
Hongkong  and  South  China.  He  is  an  en- 
thusiastic collector  of  articles  of  vertu,  and 
his  house  in  Bowmen  Road  contains  many 
interesting  curios. 


MR.  FRANK  BROWNE,  Ph.C,  F.C.S.,  J.P., 

the  Government  Analyst,  Hongkong,  was 
born  on  January  10,  1863.  Before  coming 
to  the  Colony  to  take  up  his  present  duties, 
in  1893,  he  was  demonstrator  in  the 
laboratories  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society 
and  won  a  medal  for  chemistry.  In  1894 
he  was  selected  to  undertake  special  work 
in  connection  with  the  suppression  of  plague, 
and  for  his  services  he  received  a  letter  of 
thanks  and  a  medal  from  the  community  of 
Hongkong.  Again,  for  similar  services  in 
1899  1901,  he  was  the  recipient  of  letters  of 
thanks  from  the  Sanitary  Board.  In  1898 
he  was  appointed  secretary  to  the  Hongkong 
Liquor  Commission.  An  enthusiastic  sports- 
man, Mr.  Browne  is  a  qualified  referee  of  the 
London  Football  Association  and  president 
of  the  Hongkong  Football  Club.  He  has 
published  several  papers  on  scientific  subjects. 


ti 


DR.  WILLIAM  HUNTER,  M.B.,  CM.  (Aber.l, 
F.R.I. P.M.  (Lond.),  who  has  been  the 
Government  Bacteriologist  since  the  early 
part  of  1902,  is  the  director  of  the  Bacterio- 
logical Institute,  the  medical  officer  in  charge 
of  the  Government  Public  Mortuary,  and 
lecturer    in     pathology    and    bacteriology    at 


the  School  of  Medicine  for  Chinese.  For 
carrying  out  the  duties  connected  with  these 
positions  he  is  eminently  fitted  by  a  ripe 
scholarship  and  a  wide  experience.  Born  on 
May  25,  1875,  Dr.  Hunter  is  the  son  of  the 
late  Rev.  W.  Hunter,  of  Macduff,  Banft'shire, 
Scotland.  He  was  educated  at  Milne's 
Institution.  Fochabers ;  Robert  Gordon's 
College  ;  King's  College  ;  Marischal  College, 
Aberdeen  ;  the  University  of  Leipzig,  the 
University  of  Berlin,  and  at  the  West 
London  Hospital,  His  medical  training  was 
thus  as  complete  as  possible,  and  the 
distinctions  gained  during  this  period  of 
tutelage  were  numerous.  He  was  the  James 
Anderson  Medallist  and  Scholar,  besides 
being  the  most  distinguished  medical 
graduate  of  Aberdeen  University  in  1896. 
In  the  same  year  he  won  John  Murray's 
Medal  and  Scholarship,  and  from  1897  99  he 
was  the  holder  of  the  George  Thompson 
Travelling  Fellowship.  The  various  appoint- 
ments which  he  has  held  include  those  of 
medical  and  surgical  officer.  Royal  Infirmary, 
Aberdeen  ;  laboratory  assistant.  Pathological 
Department,  Aberdeen  University  ;  clinical 
assistant.  National  Hospital  for  the  Paralysed 
and  Epileptic,  London  ;  and  laboratory 
assistant,  Neuropathological  Laboratory,  King's 
College,  London.  He  was  assistant  bacterio- 
logist at  the  London  Hospital  in  1900  I,  and 
director  of  the  Pathological  Institute  there 
in  the  latter  year.  In  1903,  Dr.  Hunter  was 
appointed  by  the  Government  of  Hongkong 
a  member  of  the  commission  to  inquire  into 
the  excessive  infantile  mortality  among  the 
Chinese.  He  is  a  member  of  the  British 
Medical  Association,  a  member  of  the  Neuro- 
logical and  Physiological  Societies  of  Great 
Britain,  and  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Institute 
of  Public  Health,  London.  His  numerous 
publications  on  medical  subjects  include 
'■  Epidemic  and  Epizootic  Plague,"  Hong- 
kong, 1904;  "A  Research  into  the  Etiology 
of  Beriberi"  (jointly),  1906;  Reports  of  the 
Government  Bacteriologist  for  the  years  1902 
to  1906  inclusive ;  many  contributions  to 
medical  literature  from  the  year  1897,  chieHy 
contained  in  Journal  of  Anatomy,  1907; 
Brain,  1899  ;  Journal  of  Pathology,  1900  ; 
Journal  of  State  Medicine,  1900;  Centralhlatt 
dcr  Bakteriologie,  1901-5  ;  Lancet,  1901-5  ; 
British  Medical  Journal.  1902  6  ;  Journal  of 
I'rcvcuti'ix  Medicine.  1905  ;  and  Journal  of 
Tropical  Medicine,  1905.  Dr.  Hunter  married, 
in  1902,  Marie  Alice,  daughter  of  James  Rae, 
of  Culter,  Aberdeenshire.  He  resides  at 
"  Mountain  View,"  the  Peak,  Hongkong. 


z  3 


POLICE,  PRISONS,  AND  FIRE   BRIGADE. 

By    Captain    F.   W.    Lyons,    Acting    Captain-Superintendent    of    Police,    Hongkong. 


[HE  earliest  allusion  to  the 
Hongkong  police  is  to  be 
found  in  Mr.  Tarrant's  "  Early 
History  of  Hongkong."  and 
relates  to  an  incident  which 
occurred  in  December,  1842, 
when  a  Mr.  Fearon  having 
hoisted  a  flag  on  a  marine  lot  to  which  claim 
was  also  laid  by  the  Admiral  on  behalf  of 
the  Government.  "'  The  Land  Officer  went  to 
the  place  with  some  policemen  and  hauled 
the  flag  down."  The  next  reference  (in  the 
same  year)  is  to  the  European  police  suffer- 
ing much  from  malarial  fever,  which  was 
attributed  to  their  night  duty,  as  they  always 
reported  themselves  sick  in  the  morning. 
There  were  at  that  time  nearly  thirty 
European  constables,  and  their  efforts  were 
supplemented  by  those  of  watchmen,  em- 
ploved  by  European  householders  and  by  the 
leading  commercial  houses.  One  firm,  that  of 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  employed 
twelve  of  these  watchmen  at  a  cost  of 
£60  a  month.  The  watchmen  signified  their 
alertness  by  beating  bamboo  drums,  but  as 
this  was  not  conducive  to  peace  and  quiet- 
ness at  night  the  practice  was  put  a  stop  to 
by  an  ordinance.  The  result  of  this  prohibi- 
tion, however,  was  said  to  be  an  increase  in 
crime.  Armed  burglars  made  several  entries 
into  the  houses  of  merchants  during  1843, 
and  even  Government  House  was  invaded, 
whilst  piracies  and  daylight  robberies  were 
of  frequent  occurrence.  A  slight  check  was 
imposed  on  the  marauders  by  an  enactment 
that  all  Chinese  abroad  after  dark  should 
carry  lanterns. 

In  1844  Captain  Haly,  of  the  Madras 
Native  Infantry,  was  appointed  Superinten- 
dent of  Police,  evidently  in  addition  to  his 
military  command,  for  it  is  recorded  that 
when  he  was  required  with  his  regiment. 
Captain  Bruce,  of  the  Royal  Irish  Regiment, 
acted  for  him  in  the  civil  capacity.  In  the 
same  year  it  was  decided  that  a  properly 
constituted  police  force  .should  be  organised. 
On  July  3rd  the  Colonial  Secretary  issued  a 
circuUr  to  the  principal  merchants  on  the 
subject,  inviting  their  suggestions,  and  point- 
ing out  that  the  chief  difficulty  was  to  find 
a  class  of  men  suitable  for  street  work,  as 
the  exposure  proved  fatal  to  the  British. 
The  result  was  the  appointment  of  Mr.  C. 
May,    an    inspecior    of    K    Division    of    the 


Metropolitan  Police,  to  the  command  of  the 
force,  at  a  salary  of  ;f50o  a  year,  with  two 
Serjeants  at  ;£r250  a  year  each.  Instructions 
were  given  that  the  force  should  be  raised 
from  the  military  and  marines  in  China, 
that  good  pay  should  be  offered,  and  that 
any  man  who  misconducted  himself  should 
be  sent  back  to  the  ranks  of  any  regiment 
in  Hongkong.  Accordingly  a  force  of  78 
Europeans,  34  Indians,  and  48  Chinese  was 
formed  upon  the  model  of  the  Royal  Irish 
Constabulary  and  dressed  in  uniforms  of 
riHe-green,  which  led  to  their  being  dubbed 
'■  the  greencoats  "  by  the  Chinese.  Whether 
these  numbers  included  the  harbour  police 
is  not  apparent  ;  presumably  they  did  not, 
for  the  latter  were  placed  under  the  Chinese 
Revenue  Service,  in  accordance  with  a  clause 
in  a  Treaty.  Crime,  however,  showed  no 
appreciable  abatement,  for  the  reason,  as 
stated  by  Dr.  Eitel  in  his  "  Europe  in 
China,"  that  "  Sir  J.  Davis  found  himself 
handicapped  in  his  efforts  to  suppress  crime 
(like  every  successive  Governor  of  Hongkong) 
by  the  constant  influx  of  criminals  from  the 
mainland."  In  anotlier  passage  the  rev. 
gentleman  observes  :  "  The  failure  of  the 
police  to  prevent  crime  was  unavoidable,  as 
the  extraordinary  activity  of  Chinese  criminals 
was  the  natural  corollary  of  the  Taiping  and 
Triad  Rebellions,  and  as  the  police  force 
was  deficient  in  numerical  strength  from 
financial  considerations." 

Sir  J.  Bonham  organised  a  detective  depart- 
ment in  1848,  and  placed  in  charge  of  it  Mr. 
D.  R.  Caldwell,  as  assistant  superintendent  ; 
but  the  police  force  itself  had  been  seriously 
reduced  in  numbers — whether  as  a  result  of 
economy  or  from  casualties  is  not  clear.  It 
comprised  only  134  men,  and  contained  48 
Europeans  less  than  in  1844.  while  the 
whole  personnel  of  the  force  was  unsuitable. 
The  Europeans  had  no  previous  police 
experience,  and  left  discipline  behind  when 
they  left  their  regiments  ;  the  Indians  from 
Bombay  and  Madras  were  not  of  the  proper 
stamp  ;  and  the  Chinese,  taken  from  among 
the  lowest  classes,  were  underpaid.  Some 
advance  was  made  in  1850  and  in  the 
next  three  years,  for  during  that  period  less 
serious  crime  was  connnitted.  With  the 
completion  of  the  Central  and  West  Point 
Police  Stations  in  1857  still  more  progress 
was   made,   and   in   the    following    year    the 


Governor,  Sir  J.  Bowring,  expressed  the 
opinion  that  the  appearance,  discipline,  and 
gerieral  efficiency  of  the  force  had  greatly 
improved.  In  1859  a  station  was  built  at 
Stanley,  and  in  the  following  year  another 
was  opened  at  Shaukiwan,  Two  others  were 
built  in  1862. 

Hitherto  the  Indian  constables  had  been 
obtained  from  the  native  regiments,  but  in 
1861  or  1862  the  Superintendent.  Captain 
W.  Quin,  who  had  served  in  the  Army  and 
in  the  Bombay  police,  resolved  to  try  Bombay 
and  Madras  as  recruiting  grounds.  By  1865 
the  strength  of  the  Hongkong  force  had  been 
raised  to  610,  including  76  Europeans,  369 
Indians,  and  16^  Chinese.  The  Administrator, 
tlie  Hon.  Mr.  \V.  T.  Mercer,  reported  that  the 
Indian  contingent  had  proved  a  failure,  hut 
this  was  denied  by  the  Superintendent,  who 
pleaded  that  they  had  not  been  given  a  fair 
trial,  and  at  the  same  time  condemned  the 
proposal  to  employ  Chinese  police.  In  1867, 
Sir  R.  MacDonnell  assured  the  Secretary  of 
State  that  he  had  not  seen  in  any  colony  a 
body  of  men  so  ineffective.  In  1869  district 
watclnnen  were  employed,  and  although,  as 
a  con.sequence.  an  unfortunate  friction  resulted 
between  the  Captain-Superintendent  and  the 
Registrar-General,  the  men  were  found  to  be 
very  useful,  and  to  this  day  district  watchmen 
are  employed  as  auxiliaries.  In  the  meantime 
the  Indians  in  the  police  force  were  replaced 
by  men  from  the  Punjaub,  and  a  police  school 
was  established.  Public  dissatisfaction  with 
the  police  eventually  resulted  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  Connnission  of  Inquiry,  which  sat 
in  1872,  and  recommended  the  payment  of 
higher  wages,  the  formation  of  a  detective 
staff,  and  the  provision  of  facilities  for  Euro- 
peans and  Indians  to  learn  Chinese. 

In  1873  the  office  of  Assistant  Superinten- 
dent was  abolished,  and  replaced  by  that  of 
Chief  Inspector,  and  a  station  was  huilt  at 
Yaumati.  The  growing  efficiency  of  the 
Chinese  constables  was  noticed  at  this  time, 
and  they  were  given  credit  by  the  Captain- 
Superintendent  for  arrests  that  could  not 
have  been  achieved  by  Europeans  or  Indians. 
Their  latent  possibilities  were  again  shown  in 
1886,  when  ;f  1,000  in  gold  coins  was  recovered 
by  the  smartness  and  perseverance  of  a 
Chinese  detective. 

In  1877  and  1878  there  was  again  a  marked 
increase  in  crime,  and  life  and  property  were 


HONaKONG-OIVIL    SERVANTS    AND    PUBLIC   REPRESENTATIVES. 


4.    Dk.  Jordan, 
Port  Medical  Ofticer. 


1.    Mr.  a.  G.  M.  Fletcher, 
Clerk  of  Councils. 

5.    Fung  Wa  Chux, 
Member  of  the  Sanitary  Board. 

c).    Mr.  F.  Brovvx, 

Analyst,  Civil  Hospital. 


2.    Mr.  a.  Shelton  Hooper, 
Member  of  the  Sanitary  Board. 

6.    Captaix  F.  W.  Lyons, 
Deputy  Supciintendent  of  Police. 


3.     Mr.  F.  G.  FiGG, 
Director  of  Observatory. 

7.     Dr.  Stedmax, 
Medical  Board. 


12.    Mr.  S.  T.  Duxx, 

Superintendent,  Botanical  land  Forestry  Department. 

14.    Mr.  H.  R.  Philips, 
Local  Auditor. 


10.    Dr.  Fraxcir  Clark,  M.D.,  D.P.H.. 
Medical  Officer  of  Health. 

15.      LlKUTEXAXT   C.    W.    HeCKWITH.  if).      MR.    C.    McJ.    MESSER. 

Assistant  Harbour  Master.  Acting  Postmaster-General. 


II.    Mr.  P.  N.  H.  Toxes, 
Assistant  Director  of  Public  Works. 


8.    Mr.  E.  D.  C.  Wolfi^ 

Acting  Inspector  of  School?, 


13.      Mb.    PlHLLIP  JACK^ 

Actir.g  Land  Officer. 

17.    Mr.  H.  P.  Tooker, 

E-xecutive  Engineer. 


268     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


insecure.  The  Superintendent  attributed  the 
increase  to  famine  and  Hoods  in  China,  and 
to  the  high  price  of  rice  in  Hongkong,  whilst 
at  a  public  meeting  held  on  the  cricket  ground 
in  1878  the  increase  was  ascribed  to  undue 
leniency  towards  the  criminal  classes,  the 
suspension  of  public  flogging,  and  the  re- 
duction in  the  numbers  of  persons  deported. 
In  the  same  year  the  Superintendent  of  Police 
and  several  of  his  men  were  wounded  by 
armed  burglars,  and.  later,  a  body  of  robbers 
took  possession  of  Wing  Lok  Street.  In  1879 
there  was  an  attack  on  Hunghom. 

The  erection  of  a  water  police  station  was 
begun  in  1879.  and  steam  launches  were 
obtained  for  harbour  work.  The  station, 
opened  in  1884.  occupied  an  advantageous 
site   at   Tsim-tsa-tsui,  which  in  the  old  days 


light  at  night  was  again  put  into  force,  and 
resulted  in  a  great  diminution  in  nocturnal 
crime.  The  total  population  of  the  Colony 
had  by  this  time  increased  to  248,498,  while 
the  police  force  numbered  627.  A  gaming 
scandal  in  1897  led  to  a  searching  investi- 
gation by  the  Captain-Superintendent  ;  one 
European  inspector  was  convicted  and  sen- 
tenced to  six  months'  hard  labour,  while 
others  and  some  European  Serjeants,  together 
with  19  Indian  and  26  Chinese  police,  were 
dismissed  for  taking  bribes.  In  the  following 
year,  too,  27  Indian  police  were  sent  to  gaol 
for  a  week  for  insubordination  ;  but  the 
cloud  was  not  without  its  silver  lining,  for 
two  European  and  seven  Chinese  members 
of  the  force  were  rewarded  by  the  Governor 
for    courage,    promptness,    and    intelligence ; 


Two  new  stations  were  established  on  the 
mainland  in  1900,  at  Sai  Kung  and  Sha  Tau 
Kok,  and  one  on  the  island  at  Kennedy 
Town  ;  the  force  was  re-armed  with  -303 
Martini-Enlield  carbines,  and  three  Maxim 
guns,  now  on  board  the  petrol  launches, 
were  added. 

A  second  Assistant  Superintendent  of  Police 
was  appointed  in  1901.  On  the  promotion  of 
Mr.  F.  H,  May,  C.M.G.,  to  tlie  office  of  Colonial 
Secretary,  in  1902,  Mr.  F.  J.  Badeley  was  made 
Captain-Superintendent,  and  Captain  F.  W. 
Lyons,  late  of  the  Perak  police.  Federated 
Malay  States,  was  appointed  Deputy  Superin- 
tendent. 

The  typhoon  of  September,  1906,  played 
great  havoc  with  the  police  launches  and  fire- 
float,  and  demolished  the  police  station  at  Sam 


J'  r 


THE    BAEKACKS. 


THE    KOWLOON    WATEE.    POLICE. 


had  been  the  scene  of  battles  between  the 
Puntis  and  Hakkas,  and  from  which  pro- 
montory the  Chinese  batteries  had,  in  1839, 
opened  fire  on  merchant  ships  in  Hongkong 
harbour,  obliging  them  to  leave— an  outrage 
magnified  by  the  Chinese  chroniclers  into  a 
great  victory.  New  stations  were  built,  also, 
at  Aberdeen,  Tsat  Tze  Mui,  and  Kennedy 
Town  in  1891.  Major-General  Gordon  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Deane  as  Captain-Superintendent, 
and  was  followed  in  1893  by  Mr.  F'.  H.  May, 
now  Colonial  Secretary.  The  year  1895  saw 
added  to  the  Captain-Superintendent's  respon- 
sibilities the  control  of  the  Fire  Brigade  and 
the  Gaol,  which,  for  reasons  of  economy,  were 
made  sub-departments  of  the  police  depart- 
ment Towards  the  end  of  the  year  the 
regulation  requiring  the   Chinese   to  carry  a 


two  Indians  for  rescues  from  drownnig  ; 
two  Indians  for  arresting  burglars  ;  and 
three  Chinese  watchmen  for  activity  and 
intelligence. 

The  acquisition  of  the  New  Territory  in 
March,  1899,  extended  the  scope  of  police 
work  very  considerably,  and  necessitated 
the  enrolment  of  two  N.C.O.'s  and  22  men 
of  the  Royal  Welsh  Fusiliers  as  special 
constables  for  duty  in  the  newly  acquired 
area  pending  the  enlistment  of  additional 
police.  New  stations  were  built  at  Taipo, 
Autau,  and  Pingshan.  Crime  increased, 
partly  owing  to  the  disturbed  condition  of 
the  neighbouring  provinces,  and  partly  to  the 
activity  of  secret  societies.  Gang  robberies 
were  frequent,  some  18  occurring  on  the 
island   and   some   25   in   the   New   Territory. 


Shui  Po.  F'ortunately  there  was  no  loss  of  life 
amongst  the  police  and  crews,  thoiigh  there 
were  some  very  narrow  escapes.  The  members 
of  the  force — Europeans,  Indian  and  Chinese 
— were  commended  by  His  Excellency  Sir 
Matthew  Nathan,  who  said,  "  Many  hundreds 
of  Chinese  lives  were  saved  by  the  police 
in  the  island,  in  Kowloon,  and  in  the  New 
Territories  during  and  immediately  after  the 
storm," 

The  totiil  strength  of  the  police  force  on 
December  31,  1907,  was  1,041  men,  namely, 
128  Europeans,  410  Indians,  and  503  Chinese. 
The  total  expenditure  on  the  force  for  the 
twelve  months  was  $520,170. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     269 


CRIME. 

During  1907,  u.540  cases  were  reported 
to  the  police,  ;iii  increase  of  355  per  cent. 
over  the  total  for  the  preceding;  twelve 
months.  Of  this  number  3,306  related  to 
serious  offences,  a  decrease  of  -81  per  cent.  ; 
and  out  of  2,036  persons  arrested,  1,592 
were  convicted.  Fourteen  murders  were 
reported — a  greater  number  than  in  any 
year  during  the  past  decade — and  in  connec- 
tion with  them  24  persons  were  arrested 
and  16  convicted.  There  were  6  gang 
robberies,  3  of  which  took  place  in  the 
New  Territory,  and  in  3  cases  no  arrest 
was  made.  The  police  failed,  also,  to  m;ike 
arrests  in  15  out  of  24  cases  of  street  and 
highway    robbery.       Reports     were    received 


THE  FIRE  BRIGADE. 

Allowing  that  the  probability  of  an  extensive 
tire  in  the  more  elevated  residential  areas 
of  the  Colony  is  comparatively  remote,  it 
may  safely  be  affirmed  that  Hongkong  is  now 
adequately  insured  against  the  recurrence  of 
such  serious  conflagrations  as  those  of 
1851,  1867,  1878,  and  1904.  In  1851  a  large 
area  north  of  Queen's  Koad  was  destroyed, 
30  lives  were  lost,  and  472  Chinese  families 
were  rendered  homeless.  This  turned  public 
attention  to  the  question  of  fire-extinguishing 
appliances,  but  it  was  not  until  1856  that 
volunteer  European  and  Chinese  tire  brigades 
were  formed.  The  brigades  even  then  were 
but  ill-equipped,  and  this,  no  doubt,  explains 
whv     in    the    outbreak    which    occurred    to- 


la,145,000,  one  conflagration  alone,  in  which 
47  houses  were  destroyed,  being  responsible 
for  nearly  half  this  sum.  The  tire  at  the 
Kowloon  godowns  in  1904  wrought  damage 
estimated  at  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars, 
whilst  in  the  burning  of  the  river  steamer 
Hiinkoiv  over  one  hundred  lives  were  lost. 

These  severe  lessons  have  not  been  dis- 
regarded. In  1895  the  Fire  Brigade  was 
made  a  sub-department  of  the  police  depart- 
ment, and  slowly  but  surely  its  efficiency  has 
since  been  raised.  Towards  its  maintenance 
a  rate  of  |  per  cent,  is  levied  on  certain  parts 
of  the  Colony.  The  force  comprises  Europeans 
selected  from  the  police,  and  permanent 
Chinese  firemen.  The  police-firemen,  who 
receive  a  retaining  fee  in  consideration  of 
their  services,  are  required  to  attend  monthly 


DETACHMENT    OF    INDIAN    POLICE. 


of  the  commission  of  18,234  minor  offences, 
and  10,506  arrests,  resulting  in  9,991  convic- 
tions, were  effected.  One  hundred  and 
forty-seven  gambling  warrants  were  executed, 
and  in  each  case  a  conviction  followed. 
No  fewer  than  2,781  search  warrants  for 
prepared  opium  were  executed  by  the  police 
and  excise  officers  of  the  opium  farmer,  and 
in  787  cases  opium  was  found,  and  1,057 
persons  were  apprehended.  By  the  finger- 
print system  185  recidivists  were  identitied. 
One  hundred  and  eighty-three  beggars  were 
deported  to  Canton,  31  were  dealt  with  bv 
the  police  magistrate,  and  3  were  sent  to 
the  Tung  Wah   Hospital. 

The  estimated  value  of  the  property 
reported  as  stolen  during  the  yeai:  was 
$141,354,  and  of  that  recovered  by  the  police, 
$18,787. 


wards  the  latter  end  of  November,  1867,  500 
houses  were  demolished  before  the  fire  could 
be  got  under  control.  An  ordinance  was 
passed  in  the  following  year  establishing  a 
volunteer  fire  brigade,  under  a  superintendent, 
in  which  both  police  and  civilians  were  en- 
rolled. In  1878  occurred  a  terrible  outbreak, 
involving  the  destruction  of  368  houses  in  the 
centre  of  the  town,  which  demonstrated,  in  tlie 
opinion  of  the  community,  the  absence  of  all 
system  in  the  management  of  the  Fire  Brigade. 
The  tire  began  on  Christmas  Day  and  raged 
for  about  forty-eight  hours,  damaging  over  a 
million  dollars'  worth  of  property.  Extensive, 
but  less  serious  fires,  broke  out  in  1881  at  Tai- 
pingshan,  where  36  houses  were  burned,  and 
in  1884  at  Hunghoni,  where  two  outbreaks 
occurred  in  one  week.  Of  recent  years  the 
tires  of  1902  involved  losses  aggregating  over 


courses  of  instruction  in  general  work  and 
an  annual  re-qualifying  course.  Those  of  the 
men  who  display  special  aptitude  are  further 
trained  in  handling  the  steamers  and  the 
floating  fire-engine,  in  order  that  there  shall 
be  no  lack  of  engineers  and  engineer-drivers. 
The  permanent  Chinese  firemen,  who  are 
quartered  at  the  various  stations,  are  trained 
in  the  ordinary  brigade  exercises  and  as 
mechanics.  Under  normal  circumstances  the 
brigade  could  muster  about  20  Europeans  and 
26  Chinese  to  a  fire,  without  distressing  the 
police  force.  The  Captain-Superintendent  of 
Police,  Mr.  Francis  Joseph  Badeley,  is  ex 
officio  Superintendent  of  the  Fire  Brigade, 
other  police  ofticers  carrying  out  tlse  duties 
of  deputv  superintendent  and  assistant  super- 
intendent respectively.  The  engineer  is  Mr. 
D.   Macdonald,  of  Messrs.  Macdonald  &  Co. 


270    TW^ENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  practical  work  trf  the  brigade  is  under 
Ihe  charge  of  an  assistant  engineer  and  station 
iirticer.  a  pt>st  to  which  Mr.  A.  Ume.  formerly 
of  the  London  Fire  Brigade,  was  appointed 
in  March.  IQ04. 


THE   PRISON. 

A  SMALL  granite  prison,  built  in  1841,  was 
the  second  permanent  building  erected  on 
the   island  ;   but,  though   small,  the  gaol   was 


HONGKONG    FIRE    BRIGADE. 


The  headquarters  of  the  brigade  are  at  the 
Central  Fire  Station  in  Queen's  Road,  to 
which  are  attached  the  sub-stations  at  the 
Clock  Tower  and  at  Nam-pak-hong.  It  is 
equipped  with  two  steamers,  extension  ladders, 
and  dispatch  boxes,  which  latter  combine 
hose  reels  with  cases  of  tirst-aid  appliances. 
Street  lire-alarms  are  distributed  through  the 
commercial  parts  of  the  city,  and  the  station 
is  also  in  communication  with  the  telephone 
exchange,  which  ensures  the  speedy  receipt 
of  intelligence  as  to  the  whereabouts  of  any 
outbreak  which  may  occur.  In  addition, 
there  is  a  lire  station  at  every  police  station, 
equipped  in  two  cases  with  a  steamer,  and 
in  others  with  hydrant  appliances  ;  whilst  a 
self-propelling  floating  station  is  always  in 
readiness  for  use  in  the  harbour,  or  as  an 
auxiliary  to  the  land  steamers.  The  fire-float 
was  sunk  in  the  typhoon  of  September,  1906, 
but  was  raised,  and  was  available  for  use  by 
September  of  the  following  year.  The  esti- 
mates for  1908  provide  for  another  fire-Hoat 
at  a  cost  of  $50,000,  and  this  will  give  in- 
creased safety  to  shipping  and  to  the  buildings 
on  the  sea-front.  As  to  the  water  supply, 
there  are  altogether  700  hydrants  in  the  three 
districts — the  Peak,  Victoria,  and  Kowloon. 
The  freshwater  supply  is  supplemented,  as  far 
as  the  range  will  permit,  by  sea  water  pumped 
from  the  floating  station  into  portable  dams 
or  tanks,  and  from  thence  by  the  steamers 
to  the  scene  of  operations.  The  steamers  and 
other  appliances  are  drawn  wherever  they 
are  needed  by  coolies,  who  are  paid  by  time. 

At  the  Central  Fire  Station  there  are  work- 
shops with  a  complement  of  carpenters,  fitters, 
sail-makers,  and  blacksmiths,  able  to  execute 
repairs  of  all  kinds  with  the  exception  of 
heavy  engineering  work. 

During  the  year  1907  there  were  39  fires 
and  77  incipient  fires,  which  together  did 
damage  to  the  extent  of  $216,267,  and  the 
brigade  was  called  out  56  times. 


never  full,  for  all  minor  offences  coniniilted 
by  Chinese  were  punished  by  "  bambooing." 
The  average  number  of  prisoners  was  about 
60.  The  prison  for  Europeans  was  64  feet 
bv   30  feet,   divided   into  two   rows   of  cells, 


twelve  in  luunber.  There  were  two  blocks 
for  Chinese,  a  portion  of  one  of  these  being 
used  for  prisoners  awaiting  trial.  The  Chief 
Magistrate,  at  that  time  Captain  Caine, 
was  also  Superintendent  of  the  Gaol.  The 
sentences  were  not  for  long  terms  of 
imprisonment,  one  record  showing  two  for 
four  years,  two  for  three  years,  four  for 
two  and  a  half  years,  twenty-three  for  two 
years,  twenty-four  for  one  year  and  a  half, 
two  for  a  year,  and  the  remainder  for 
shorter  terms,  A  small  yard,  7X  feet  by 
30  feet,  was  provided  for  exercise.  The 
prisoners,  who  enjoyed  far  better  health  on 
the  average  than  the  civil  and  military 
comnninities,  were  chiefly  employed  in  road- 
making,  their  hours  of  work  being  from 
6  a.m.  to  5  p.m.  An  hour  was  allowed  for 
breakfast  and  for  the  midday  meal  ;  the 
purveyor  receiving  one  dollar  and  a  half  per 
man  per  mensem  for  food.  Public  Hoggings 
were  of  frequent  occurrence,  one  lunidred 
lashes  often  being  administered,  but,  in  spite 
of  these,  the  prison  had  its  attractions  for 
the  half-starved  loafers  from  Canton.  In 
those  early  days  another  punishment  of  the 
Chinese  consisted  in  cutting  off  the  queue, 
but.  as  it  was  found  that  discharged  prisoners 
contrived  to  splice  new  ones  on  directly 
they  were  released,  they  were  ordered  to  be 
shaved,  so  that  they  might  bear  the  mark  of 
incarceration  for  a  longer  time. 

In  1862,  in  order  to  relieve  the  congestion 
of  the  Victoria  Gaol,  280  long-sentence 
prisoners  were  placed  on  a  hulk  anchored 
off  Stonecutter's  Island,  to  assist  in  building 
a  prison  on  that  island.  The  experiment 
was  anything  but  successful.  Thirty-eight 
prisoners  were  drowned  by  an  accident. 
There  were  frequent  attempts  at  rescue  on 
the  part  of  friends  of  the  prisoners,  and,  as 
several  of  the  convicts  escaped  from  the 
hulk,  and  by  means  of  the  drains,  from 
Victoria  Gaol,  an  inquiry  into  the  manage- 
ment  of   these  establishments    was    held.      As 


VICTORIA   GAOL    GROUP. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     271 


a  result,  an  expert  was  appointed,  but  lie 
does  not  seein  to  have  been  a  suitable 
superintendent,  for  he  did  not  remain  lonj;. 
In  1S64  a  hundred  prisoners  escaped  in  junks, 
after  disabling  their  j;uards.  The  Stone- 
cutters Gaol  was  finished  in  that  year.  Mr. 
K.  Doujjlas  succeeded  the  "expert,"  and  the 
gaol  became  known  as  the  "  Douglas  Hotel." 
In  the  working  of  the  establishment  matters 
improved  considerably  under  a  rigoious 
system  of  discipline,  reduced  diet,  severe 
labour,  and  the  substitution  of  the  "  cat "  for 
the  rattan.  The  Victoria  Gaol  having  been 
reconstructed  in  1865,  that  on  Stonecutter's 
Island  was  abandoned  in  1870  for  financial 
considerations.  One  of  the  most  effective 
measures  taken  against  crime  was  that  of 
publicly  branding  and  deporting  prisoners, 
with  their  consent,  and  on  the  condition 
that  they  were  to  be  flogged  and  sent  back 
to  serve  their  original  sentences  if  they 
returned.  Twice  this  system  was  discon- 
tinued, and  twice  it  was  re-introduced  owing 
to  the  serious  increase  in  all  classes  of  crime 
during  its  suspension  ;  and  its  final  abolition 
in  1880  was  only  made  possible  by  the  fact 
that  its  operation  had  practically  rid  the 
island  of  that  class  of  the  population  whose 
room  was  more  to  be  desired  than  their 
company.  The  number  of  prisoners  in  1871 
was  556;  in  1872,  596;  and  in  1874,  398. 
Mr.  Douglas  died  in  the  latter  year,  and 
was  succeeded  as  superintendent  by  Mr. 
Tonnochv,  who  was  followed  bv  Mr.  Tomlin 
in   1875. 

The  Victoria  Gaol  has  been  considerablv 
enlarged  since  its  reconstruction  in  1865. 
three  up-to-date  halls  having  been  added 
during  the  past  few  years.  These  halls  are 
capable  of  accommodating  231  prisoners, 
whilst  the  old  structure  contains  283  cells, 
35  of  which  form  the  female  prison.  The 
prison  is  conducted  entirely  on  the  separate 
system.  Indoor  labour  convicts  are  employed 
in  the  manufacture  of  coir  matting,  mats, 
brooms,  clothing,  boots,  shoes,  cabinet-making, 
printing,  book-binding,  string-making,  &c., 
but  short-sentence  prisoners  are  given  un- 
productive work  to  perform,  such  as  crank 
labour,  stone-carrymg,  and  shot  drill.  There 
are  three  large  yards  for  exercise.  There  is 
a    branch    prison    at    Causeway    Bay,    where 


prisoners  pronounced  unfit  for  hard  labour 
are  confined  in  association  when  there  is 
insuflicient  accommodation  for  them  in 
Victoria   Gaol. 

Mr.  R.  H.  A.  Craig,  the  assistant  superin- 
tendent in  charge  of  the  gaol,  was  appointed 
in  1894,  after  fifteen  years'  service  in  the 
Home  Convict  Department.  He  is  at  present 
on  leave,  and  Mr.  C.  A.  D.  Melbourne  is 
acting  for  him. 


THE  CAPTAIN  ■  SUPERrNTENDENT  OF 
POLICE.— A  biographical  sketch  of  Mr.  F.  J. 
Badeley,  the  Captain-Superintendent  of  Police, 
will  be  found  under  the  heading  "  Executive 
and  Legislative  Councils."; 


CAPTAIN  F.  W.  LYONS,  Deputy  Superin- 
tendent of  Police,  Hongkong,  was  born  on 
December  26,  1855,  and  was  educated  at 
Portarlington  and  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin. 
He  entered  the  Army  as  a  second  lieutenant 
in  1878,  and  served  in  the  Zulu  War  in 
South  Africa  from  1878  to  1880,  being 
present  at  the  capture  of  Sekukuni's  strong- 
hold, and  receiving  a  medal  and  clasp.  In 
1884  he  was  promoted  captain,  and  in  the 
following  year  proceeded  to  the  Soudan, 
where  he  served  through  the  Egyptian 
Campaign,  receiving  the  medal  and  the 
Khedive's  Star.  In  1885  he  was  appointed 
adjutant,  and  from  1887  to  1890  was  adju- 
tant of  the  2nd  Vol.  Batt.  Royal  Highlanders. 
Upon  retiring  in  1890  he  was  appointed 
captain  in  the  Reserve  of  Ofticers.  In  1891 
he  entered  the  Police  Force  of  the  Straits 
Settlements  as  Assistant  Superintendent,  and 
two  years  later  became  Assistant  Commis- 
sioner of  the  Perak  Sikhs.  From  1893  to 
1895  he  acted  as  Captain-Superintendent  of 
Police  and  Prisons,  Selangor,  and  he  served 
during  the  disturbances  in  Pahang  in  1894. 
He  was  present  at  the  attack  upon,  and 
capture  of,  the  rebels'  stockades  at  Jeram 
Ampai,  and  was  struck  by  a  bullet,  which, 
however,  glanced  off  a  pocket-book,  inflicting 
only  a  severe  bruise.  For  his  services  in 
Pahang  he  received  the  thanks  of  the  Secre- 


tary of  State  for  the  Colonies.  He  acted  as 
Chief  Police  Officer  of  Perak  from  iqoo  to 
1902,  when  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Super- 
intendent of  Police,  Hongkong.  On  two 
occasions — H)0i  4  and  i(p7-8— he  has  acted 
as  Captain-Superintendent  of  Police  for  the 
Colony.  Captain  Lyons  is  connected  by 
marriage  with  two  colonies,  his  wife  being 
a  daughter  of  Mr.  G.  O.  Matherson,  of 
"  Rosedale,"  Pietermaritzburg,  who  was  one 
of  the  first  commanding  officers  of  Volun- 
teers in  Natal  ;  while  his  sister  is  married  to 
the  Inspector-General  of  Police,  Straits  Settle- 
ments. He  is  a  member  of  the  Army  and 
Navy  (Pall  Mall)  and  Hongkong  Clubs,  is  a 
steward  of  the  Hongkong  Jockey  Club,  and 
resides  at  the  Central  Police  Station,  Hong- 
kong. 


MR.  PHILIP  PEVERIL  JOHN  WODEHOUSE, 

Assistant  Superintendent  of  Police,  was  born 
in  September,  1877,  and  was  educated  at 
Elizabeth  College,  Guernsey.  His  father,  the 
Hon.  Mr.  H.  E.  Wodehouse,  C.M.G.,  was 
for  about  thirty  years  in  the  service  of  the 
Colony,  and  for  a  considerable  time  prior 
to  retiring  on  pension  was  Chief  Police 
Magistrate.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Executive  and  Legislative  Councils,  and  was 
decorated  for  services  in  connection  with 
the  Colonial  Exhibition  in  1887,  when  he 
went  to  England  in  charge  of  the  Hongkong 
and  South  China  exhibits.  Mr.  P.  P.  J. 
Wodehouse  entered  the  Civil  Service  on 
leaving  school  in  1897.  After  spending  a 
year  or  two  in  the  Registrar-General's  Office, 
he  was  appointed  Assistant  Superintendent 
of  Police,  and  was  sent  to  India,  attached 
to  the  Punjaub  police,  to  pass  in  Hindu, 
having  already  qualified  in  Cantonese. 
Mr.  Wodehouse  has  twice  been  in  charge 
of  the  general  census  of  the  Colony,  and 
during  the  past  three  years  has  been  associated 
with  Mr.  Badeley  in  the  development  of  the 
finger-print  system  for  the  identification  of 
habitual  criminals.  In  this  connection  he 
went  through  a  course  at  Scotland  Yard, 
Henry's  system  being  the  one  in  use  there. 
Hockey,  tennis,  and  swimming  are  the  chief 
recreations  of  his  leisure.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Grosvenor  Club,  Piccadilly. 


NAVY,  ARMY,  AND  VOLUNTEERS. 


THE    NAVV. 


|OR  inany  years  Hongkong  has 
been  the  headquarters  of  the 
China  Squiidron.  which  has 
been  gradually  reduced  since 
1902.  all  the  battleships  being 
withdrawn  in  1905.  This 
change  became  possible  after 
the  Kusso-Japanese  War.  when  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  Japan  undertook  to  a  large 
extent  the  duties  formerly  performed  by  the 
British  fleet,  the  need  for  the  maintenance 
of  such  a  strong  British  squadron  in  these 
waters  ceased  to  exist.  It  is.  perhaps,  need- 
less to  say  that  this  retrenchment  was  not  at 
all  popular  with  Britishers  in  the  Kar  East. 
The  squadron  in  Far  Eastern  waters 
includes  at  the  time  of  writing  six  armoured 
or  protected  cTuisers.  six  attached  ships,  ten 
river  gunboats,  seven  torpedo-boat  destroyers. 
and  two  vessels  of  the  surveying  service. 
Of  the  river  boats,  three  patrol  the  waters  of 
the  West  River.  Canton,  and  the  remainder 
are  stationed  on  the  upper  and  lower  reaches 
of  the  Yangts/.e-Kiang.  There  are  always 
one  or  two  of  the  smaller  cruisers  at 
Shanghai,  which  the  vessels  of  larger 
draught  cannot  reach.  The  Tamar,  a  vessel 
of  the  older  type,  has  been  fitted  up  at 
Hongkong  to  receive  relief  crews  and 
provide  quarters  for  them  until  they  can  be 
alUx.'ated  to  the  different  warships  to  which 
they  are  to  be  attached,  and  her  white- 
painted  hull  is  quite  a  conspicuous  feature 
in  the  harbour.  The  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  Eastern  Fleet  is  Vice-Admiral  the  Hon. 
Sir  Hedworfh  Lambton.  K.C.V.O.,  C.B..  who 
arrived  in  the  Colony  on  March  20.  1908, 
relieving  Admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  Arthur  W. 
Moore.  His  flagship  is  the  Kin^  Alfred,  but 
when  he  has  occasion  to  visit  places  where 
the  flagship  cannot  go  he  hoists  his  flag  on 
his  yacht,  the  Alacrity. 

The  business  of  the  fleet  is  to  show  the 
British  flag,  and  to  carry  out  tiring  and  rifle 
exercise.  Heavy  gun  practice  is  usually  held 
in  Mirs  Bay.  while  the  naval  rifle-range  is 
situated  on  Stonecutter's  Island.  The  China 
Squadron  has  achieved  distinction  for  its 
remarkable  shooting.  In  1907  the  Kin^ 
Alfred  headed  the  shooting  list  of  the  fleet 
with  a  world's  record,  while  the  squadron 
itself  headed  the  shooting  list  for  the  British 
Navy. 


The  work  of  coaling,  provisioning,  docking. 
and  fitting  out  the  different  vessels  in  readi- 
ness for  commission  necessitates  the  upkeep 
of  a  large  establishment,  and  only  recently 
the  Xaval  Yard  at  Hongkong  has  been 
greatly  extended.  Soon  after  the  Colony 
was  ceded  to  Great  Britain,  part  of  the 
work  of  the  Land  Committee  appointed  in 
1842  was  to  fix  the  extent  of  the  ground  to 
be  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  naval 
authorities.  Extensions  were  made  from 
time  to  time,  and  eventually  practically  the 
whole  of  the  stores  and  workshops  were 
concentrated  upon  a  site  on  the  East  Praya. 
In  1901  by  far  the  largest  extension  was 
begun,  but  before  detailing  the  nature  of  the 
scheme  it  is  necessary  to  mention  that  when 
the  Hongkong  and  Whampoa  Dock  Com- 
pany extended  their  premises  at  Kowloon. 
they  were  subsidised  by  the  Admiralty  to 
the  extent  of  ;f20,ooo  per  annum  for  the  u,se 
of  No.  1  Dock,  commonly  known  as  the 
"Admiralty  Dock."  priority  of  entrance  for 
British  warships  being  thus  secured.  For 
some  years  the  Admiralty  under  this 
arrangement  enjoyed  facilities  which  they 
could  nowhere  else  procure  in  the  East.  In 
1901.  as  the  term  for  which  the  subsidy  was 
granted  was  drawing  to  a  close,  the 
Admiralty  decided  upon  the  erection  of  their 
own  d<x;k  premises  in  Hongkong,  and  the 
work,  designed  to  be  completed  in  1904  5, 
is  still  in  progress.  The  delay  has  been  due 
to  the  difficulties  experienced  by  the  con- 
tractors in  obtaining  a  foundation.  The 
scheme  grew,  through  successive  Naval  Acts, 
from  a  moderate  proposal,  involving  the 
expenditure  of  ;£340.ooo,  to  one  estimated  to 
cost  ;£i, 275,000.  The  final  scheme  provided 
for  the  increase,  by  reclamation,  of  the  area 
of  the  dockyard  from  4I  to  39  acres ;  the 
construction  of  a  tidal  basin  of  i)\  acres  in 
extent,  with  a  depth  of  30  feet  at  low-water 
tides,  and  a  total  length  of  wharfage  of 
2.900  feet ;  the  building  of  a  dry  dock,  550 
feet  in  length  on  the  keel  blocks,  95  feet 
wide  at  the  entrance,  and  30  feet  over  the 
sill  at  low  spring  tides  ;  and  the  erection  of 
extensive  workshops.  The  dockyard  lies  on 
the  Hongkong  side  of  the  harbour.  The 
people  of  the  Colony  were  very  adverse  to 
the  drx;k  being  on  the  island,  and  a  protest 
was    made    to    the    Home    Government    in 


wliich  a  site  on  the  Kowloon  side  was 
suggested.  The  main  objection  raised  was 
that  the  water  front,  which  the  public 
desired  to  be  continuous  from  one  end  of 
the  city  of  Victoria  to  the  other,  would  be 
interrupted.  There  was  also  the  objection 
to  having  the  smoke  and  noise  of  a  dock- 
yard so  close  to  the  centre  of  a  very  busy 
city ;  and  it  was  pointed  out  that  Kowloon 
offered  even  greater  advantages.  The  pro- 
test, however,  was  of  no  avail.  It  is 
expected  that  the  new  dock  will  be  in  use 
during  1909.  In  addition  to  the  extensive 
premises  on  the  island,  there  is  a  torpedo 
depot  at  Kowloon. 

Commodore  Kobert  H.  S.  Stokes.  K.N., 
has  charge  of  all  the  naval  establishments 
in  Hongkong,  and  when  the  Admiral  is 
away  from  Hongkong  he  acts  as  senior 
officer  of  the  southern  portion  of  the  station, 
and  is  responsible  for  any  ships  that  may  be 
in  the  harbour.  He  resides  on  board  the 
Tamar,  where  comfortable  quarters  are  also 
provided  for  his  secretary  and  other  members 
of  his  staff.  He  has  a  summer  residence  on 
the  Peak,  where  he  hoists  his  Hag  during 
the  hot  weather  that  prevails  from  June  to 
November. 

The  China  station  has  the  reputation  of 
being  a  fairly  healthy  one.  the  transfer  of 
the  squadron  to  Weihaiwei  in  the  summer 
months  making  a  change  from  which  both 
officers  and  men  derive  considerable  benefit. 
There  is  a  large  and  well-equipped  Naval 
Hospital,  situated  on  Mount  Shadwell.  in  the 
Wanchai  district  of  Hongkong ;  and  at  Yoko- 
hama there  is  also  a  hospital,  which,  though 
less  valuable  than  in  the  days  prior  to  the 
abolition  of  extra-territoriality,  is  still  used 
when  the  squadron  is  cruising  in  Northern 
waters. 

The  comfort  and  well-being  of  the  men  is 
attended  to  in  every  possible  way.  They 
have  a  flourishing  canteen  at  East  Praya, 
the  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Institute  is  much 
frequented  by  them,  and  in  course  of  time  a 
branch  of  the  Seamen's  Institute  will  be 
established  in  the  Colony.  For  out-door 
sports  they  have  a  splendid  recreation  ground 
at  Happy  Valley.  The  principal  sporting 
event  of  the  year  is  the  Fleet  Regatta,  which 
is  held  during  the  visit  north. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     273 


ADMIRAL  SIR  ARTHUR  WILLrAM  MOORE. 
K.C.B.,  K.C.V.O.,  C.M.O.,  until  rt-cciitly 
Conimaiidi;r-iii-ChiL*f  of  the  China  station, 
was  born  on  July  30,  1847,  and  entered  the 
Navy  at  the  age  of  thirteen.  He  served  in 
the  Egyptian  War  of  1882,  and  attained  the 
rank  of  captain  t\v(3  years  later.  In  1889  he 
was  chosen  as  one  of  England's  represen- 
tatives at  the  Anti-slavery  Congress  held  at 
Brussels,  and  in  1890  91  was  a  member  of 
the  Australian  Defence  Committee.  From 
1898  to  1901  he  was  a  Lord  Commissioner 
of  the  Admiralty,  and  for  the  following  three 
years  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  and  West  Coast  of  Africa  station. 
He  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
China  station  after  being  for  some  time 
second  in  command  of  the  Channel  Fleet. 
He  was  created  a  full  admiral  in  October, 
1907,  and  relinquished  his  active  duties  last 
March,  his  successor  on  the  China  station 
being  Admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  H.  Lambton, 
K.C.V.O.,  C.B 

VICE-ADMIRAL  THE  HON.  SIR  HED- 
WORTH  LAMBTON,  who  succeeded  Admiral 
Sir  .-Vrthur  Moore  in  the  command  of  the 
China  station,  in  the  early  part  of  1908,  is 
the  third  son  of  the  second  Earl  of  Durham. 
Born  on  July  5,  1856,  he  entered  the  Navy 
at  the  age  of  si.xteen  years.  He  served 
through  tile  Egyptian.  War,  and  was  present 
at  the  bombardment  of  Alexandria  in  1882, 
receiving,  in  recognition  of  his  services,  the 
medal  with  two  clasps,  the  second  class 
Medjedie,  and  the  bronze   star.     Seven   years 


later  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
captain,  and  from  1894  to  1897  he  acted  as 
private  secretary  to  the  First  Lord  of  the 
Admiralty.  As  commander  of  the  Naval 
Brigade  in  Ladysmith  his  name  was  brought 
very  prominently  before  the  public  ;  he 
showed  himself  to  be  an  officer  of  great  initia- 
tive and  resourcefulness.  In  1900  he  contested 
Newcastle  in  the  Liberal  interest,  and  in 
the  same  year  was  created  a  C.B.  From  1901 
to  1903  he  was  in  command  of  the  royal 
yacht  ;    during    the    first    year   of   his    service 


COMMODORE    ROBERT   H.   S.   STOKES,  R.N. 


in  this  capacity  he  was  made  a  Commander 
of  the  Victorian  Order,  and  in  1903  became 
a  Commander  of  the"  Legion  of  Honour. 
Three  years  later  he  was  advanced  to  the 
knighthood  of  the  Victorian  Order. 


COMMODORE  ROBERT  H.  S.  STOKES. 
R.N..  who  has  charge  of  the  naval  estiiblish- 
ments  in  Hongkong,  arrived  in  the  Colony 
on  April  18,  1907.  The  eldest  son  of  the 
late  Sir  Robert  Baret  Stokes,  C.B.,  of  Dro- 
multon  More.  County  Kerry,  he  was  born  on 
August  5,  1855.  He  joined  the  Royal  Navy 
in  1869.  He  served  during  the  Egyptian 
War,  1882,  as  lieutenant  of  the  Enfilirntcs, 
receiving  the  Egyptian  medal  and  the 
Khedive's  bronze  star.  While  commander 
of  H.M.S.  Royal  Arthur,  Hagship  of  Rear- 
Admiral  H.  V.  Stephenson,  C.B.,  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Pacific  station  from  1893  to 
1896,  and  previous  to  the  occupation  of 
Corinto,  Nicaragua,  by  the  British  naval  forces, 
in  April  1895,  he  was  deputed  to  proceed  to 
Managua,  the  capital  of  Nicaragua,  and 
deliver  to  the  Government  of  that  republic 
despatches  from  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl 
of  Kimberley,  Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign 
Affairs,  and  Rear-Admiral  Stephenson,  C.B. 
For  this  service  he  received  the  approval  of 
the  Admiralty.  In  1905  he  was  made  an 
ollicer  of  the  Legion  of  Honour  by  the  French 
Government.  Commodore  Stokes  has  quarters 
on  board  the  receiving  ship  Taiiinr,  but 
during  the  hot  weather  resides  at  the  Peak. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Junior  United  Service 
Club,  St.  James's,  London. 


MILITARY. 


HoXGKONG  is  the  great  collecting  and  dis- 
tributing centre  for  the  commerce  of  the 
F"ar  East,  and  as  such  is  of  great  strategical 
importance.  It  is  the  headquarters  of  His 
Majesty's  ships  on  the  China  station,  and  is 
provided  with  dockyards  and  all  the  necessary 
facilities  for  refitting  and  coaling.  It  would 
be  in  the  future,  as  it  has  already  been  in 
the  past,  the  undoubted  base  of  any  military 
operations  which  might  have  to  be  under- 
taken in  the  Far  East.  In  these  circumstances 
it  is  maintained  as  one  of  the  most  modern 
and  up-to-date  fortresses  in  the  world,  and 
ranks  in  this  respect  with  Malta  and  Gibraltar. 
Batteries  provided  with  the  latest  types  of 
armament  command,  for  miles  to  seaward, 
the  approaches  to  both  the  Green  Island  and 
Ly-ee-mun  entrances  to  the  harbour.  The 
western  entrance  is  protected  by  three  batteries 
on  Stonecutter's  Island  and  two  forts  on 
Belcher  and  Fly  Points,  from  which  a  tre- 
mendous converging  fire  could  be  maintained, 
completely  commanding  the  .Sulphur  Channel. 
Pine  Wood  Battery,  on  the  hill  above  and 
west  of  Richmond  Terrace,  has  a  wide  range 
of  fire.  The  Ly-ee-mun  Pass  is  defended  by 
two  forts  on  the  Hongkong  side  and  another 
on  Devil's  Peak  on  the  mainland,  and  if 
vessels  survived  that  fire  they  would  then 
have  to  face  the  batteries  at  North  Point  and 


Hunghom,  which  completely  command  the 
eastern  entrance.  Another  battery  on  the 
bluff  at  Tsim-tsa-tsui,  Kowloon,  commands 
the  whole  of  the  centre  of  the  harbour,  while 
not  only  on  the  island  itself,  but  also  on  the 
mainland,  may  be  seen  the  military  roads 
constructed  zig-zag  on  the  steep  hill-sides 
for  the  purposes  of  rapid  communication  and 
concentration.  Every  modern  appliance  of 
war  is  in  evidence  ;  the  play  of  the  search- 
lights, the  booming  of  great  guns,  the  march 
and  mancEuvres  of  troops,  are  of  such  daily 
repetition  as  to  pass  without  comment  or 
notice. 

The  garrison  of  Hongkong  has  varied 
according  to  the  political  requirements  of  the 
moment,  and  at  present  is  composed  of  :  — 
Three  companies  Royal  Garrison  Artillery  ; 
four  companies  Hongkong- Singapore  Bat- 
talion, Royal  Garrison  Artillery  (this  is  a  local 
corps,  of  which  the  gunners  are  enlisted  in 
India  ;  the  companies  are  either  Sikhs  or 
Punjabi  Mahomedans)  ;  two  companies  Royal 
Engineers  (attached  to  one  of  these  companies 
is  a  "  native  portion  "  of  sappers  and  miners — 
that  is  to  say,  Chinese  ;  these  men  are  en- 
listed for  long  terms  of  service,  and  make 
most  satisfactory  soldiers)  ;  one  British  In- 
fantry Battalion  ;  two  battalions  from  the 
Indian  Army  ;   detachments  of  Army  Service 


Corps,  Royal  Army  Medical  Corps,  Army 
Ordnance  and  Accounts  Departments — in  all, 
roughly,  about  4,000  officers  and  men. 

In  addition  to  the  above  '•  Imperial  "  troops, 
Hongkong  possesses  a  Volunteer  Corps  and 
a  Volunteer  Reserve  Association. 

The  command  is  that  of  a  Major-General, 
and  the  present  holder  of  the  appointment 
is  Major-General  R.  G.  Broadwood,  C.B., 
P.S.C,  whose  biography  appears  in  the  Execu- 
tive and  Legislative  Councils  section.  In 
military  parlance,  Hongkong  is  described  as 
the  "  South  China  "  command,  to  distinguish 
it  from  the  "  North  China "  command— (.e., 
the  troops  at  Tientsin,  Peking,  &c.,  which 
are  quite  separately  organised  and  com- 
manded. 

The  Colony  of  Hongkong  contributes  to- 
wards the  expense  of  maintaining  the  imperial 
garrison  to  the  amount  of  20  per  cent, 
of  its  net  revenue,  and  also  bears  the  entire 
cost  of  the  local  Volunteers.  Quite  recently 
there  has  been  a  certain  amount  of  discussion 
on  the  question  of  the  amount  paid  to  the 
Imperial  Government.  It  has  been  repre- 
sented by  certain  unolticial  members  of  the 
Legislative  Council  that,  chiefiy  owing  to 
the  attitude  of  the  present  Government  in 
the  matter  of  the  opium  trade,  tiie  Colony 
has   to  face  the  prospect  in  the  near  future 


274    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


of  a  much  reduced  revenue.  It  has  been 
said  that  the  Colony  is  already  sutliciently 
taxed,  and  that  the  pereentajje  paid  is 
excessive  as  representing;  the  Colony's  in- 
terests in  proportion  to  imperial  require- 
■ments. 

To  arrive  at  a  just  estimate  of  the  propor- 
tionate share  of  any  colony  in  the  matter  of 
contribution  towards  imperial  defence  is  a 
difficult  matter,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that. 
large  as  is  the  amount  paid  by  Hongkong. 
it  is  a  small  fraction  of  the  expenditure  on 


the  imperial  military  garrison  and  on  the 
local  naval  establishments  which  is  borne 
by  llic  Home  Government. 

The  following  figures  for  the  year  ending 
December  31.  iip(),  will  give  the  reader  an 
idea  of  the  amount  involved  :  — 

£  s.  d. 
Colonial  contribution  ...  137.41/)  o  o 
Cost  of  Volunteers     8,839    o     o 


Total  paid  by  Colony 


£:i46.335     o    o 


The  amount  shown  in  the  Hongkong  Blue 
Book  for  1906  as  being  disbursed  by  the 
Imperial  Government  in  military  expenditure 
for  the  same  period  is  ;f282,023  r7s.  lod. 
This  l.itter  sum.  it  is  believed,  includes  the 
"  North  China "  command  disbursements, 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  excludes  the  cost  of 
all  direct  supplies  from  home  arsenals  and 
ordnance  depots  ;  and,  further,  has  no 
reference  to  naval  expenditure. 


MAJOR-GENERAL    BROADWOOD    AND    STAFF. 


THE   HONGKONG  VOLUNTEER   CORPS. 
By  Major  Arthur  Chapman,  Cominandant. 


The  enthusiastic  Volunteer  movement  which 
swept  through  the  Mother  Country  in  the 
sixties  had  an  echo  in  this  distant  British 
possession.  The  suggestion  that  a  Volunteer 
Cfrrps  should  be  formed  in  Hongkong  was 
first  made  in  a  letter  published  in  the  China 
Mail  on  January  31.  i860.  On  March  i,  1862, 
a  public  meeting  was  held  in  the  Court 
House — there  was  no  City  Hall  in  those 
days — and    it   was   unanimously   resolved    to 


form  a  Volunteer  Corps  and  to  obtain  legal 
sanction  from  the  Government.  The  result 
was  the  passing  of  Ordinance  No.  2  of  1862, 
by  which  any  gentleman  resident  in  the 
Colony,  irrespective  of  nationality,  could  be 
enrolled  a  member  of  the  corps.  A  battery 
of  artillery  was  first  organised,  and  in 
December,  1862,  a  band  was  formed.  In 
the  spring  of  1863  a  rifle  company  was 
added,    and    in    December,    1864,    Volunteers 


were  enrolled  from  among  the  foreign  resi- 
dents at  Canton  in  a  rifle  company  attached 
to  the  Hongkong  Corps.  On  February  7, 
1863.  -Sir  Hercules  Robinson,  the  Governor, 
sanctioned  an  annual  outlay  of  ;^I95  on 
condition  that  there  were  at  least  seventy-five 
effective  members  of  the  corps. 

On  September  15,  1864,  the  Governor 
ordered  the  Volunteers  to  patrol  the  streets 
of    the    Colonv    to    quiet    the    minds    of   the 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      275 


Chinese  public  and  to  quell  any  disturbance 
which  niifjht  arise.  The  circumstances  which 
gave  rise  to  this  order  were  very  deplorable. 
At  that  time  there  were  about  three  hundred 
European  sailors  starving  in  the  Colony 
owing  to  the  employment  of  Malay  sailors 
in  preference  to  Europeans.  On  Monday, 
September  I2th,  the  European  sailors 
attacked  a  boarding-house  in  Hollywood 
Road,  which  was  occupied  by  Malays.  There 
was  a  terrible  light,  knives  were  used,  and 
three  Europeans  were  killed.  Later  in  the 
evening,  a  number  of  soldiers  belonging  to 
the  99th  Regiment  joined  in  the  affray,  and 
on  the  following  evening  a  soldier  was  shot 
by  an  Indian  policeman  whose  identity  was 
never  established.  An  inquiry  was  held  into 
tlie  conduct  of  the  soldiers,  and,  as   a  result 


On  June  i,  iS66,  the  corps  was  disbanded 
by  Sir  Richard  MacDonnell  owing  to  the 
non-attendance  of  members,  and  it  was  not 
re-organised  until  1877,  when  Sir  John  Pope- 
Hennessy  was  Governor.  In  1882  it  was 
again  disbanded,  and  re-organised  by  Mr. 
William  Marsh. 

It  was  disbanded  a  third  time  in  1893,  and 
was  immediately  reformed  by  His  Excellency 
Sir  G.  Digby  Barker,  C.B.,  placed  under  the 
supervision  of  the  military  authorities  in 
England,  and  made  subject  to  the  Army  Act 
in  the  same  way  as  the  Volunteers  in  the 
British  Isles.  It  consisted  then  of  a  field 
battery  of  7-pounder  R.M.L.  guns,  and  a 
machine-gun  company  of  Maxim  guns.  The 
strength  on  reconstruction  was  92. 

In   1895  the  first  camp  of   instruction   was 


were  at   Tsim-tsa-tsui    with    half   a   company 
of  the  Royal  Welsh  Fusiliers. 

Piquets  were  thrown  out,  and  the  guns 
took  up  strong  positions,  the  hills  being 
swept  by  search-lights  from  torpedo  de- 
stroyers. The  force,  by  its  prompt  appearance,  • 
prevented  any  disturbance,  and  returned  to 
Hongkong  early  next  morning.  Exactly  a 
month  after,  the  corps  was  called  upon  to 
assist  in  the  taking  possession  of  Old  Kow- 
loon  City  from  the  Chinese,  and.  owing  to 
the  presence  of  the  troops,  the  opposition 
which  was  expected  did  not  take  place.  On 
these  two  occasions  the  Volunteers,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  (now  Major]  Chapman, 
did  yeoman  service  and  amply  justified  their 
existence.  The  calls  on  the  services  of  the 
corps,  showing   its   value    and   the   necessity 


OFFICERS    OF    THE    HONGKONG    VOLUNTEER    CORPS,    1907. 


of  their  unfortunate  interference,  they  were 
ordered  to  Kowloon,  and  the  Volunteers  were 
directed  to  mount  guard  at  the  barracks. 
On  the  igth  the  Volunteers  were  called  upon 
by  the  Governor  to  patrol  the  streets  in 
order  to  re-assure  the  minds  of  the  natives. 

On  Saturday,  November  19,  1864,  the 
Volunteers,  in  response  to  an  invitation  from 
His  Excellency  the  Governor  of  Macao, 
proceeded  to  the  Portuguese  Colony  fully 
equipped  and  armed,  and  remained  there 
until  the  following  Monday.  There  were  on 
parade,  including  both  artillery  and  rifles, 
109  members.  At  the  close  of  1864  the 
corps  had  a  strength  of  267  of  all  ranks, 
including  the  Canton  detachment  of  91,  and 
67  honorary  members. 

From  this  time  up  to  the  year  1893  the 
Volunteers     had     a    very     chequered    career. 


held  at  Stonecutter's  Island,  where  the  camp 
has  since  been  held  each  year,  with  the 
exception  of  1900,  when  the  corps  went 
under  canvas  at  Kowloon. 

In  the  beginning  of  1899  the  corps  had  a 
strength  of  12  officers  and  169  non-commis- 
sioned officers  and  men.  In  the  spring  of 
that  year,  when  many  of  the  regular  troops 
were  called  away  to  Taipohu,  owing  to  the 
disturbances  in  the  hinterland,  the  Volunteers 
were  required  to  guard  against  a  danger 
nearer  home,  and  the  corps  has  every  reason 
to  be  proud  of  its  response  to  the  summons. 
An  attack  by  disaffected  Chinese  on  Yaumati 
and  Kowloon  was  threatened  and  expected 
on  April  j61h.  The  order  to  mobilise  reached 
the  Volunteer  headquarters  at  10  p.m. 
(Sunday),  and  by  midnight  7  officers  and 
87    men    with    3    Maxim    guns    of   the   corps 


for  its  existence,  exercised  an  excellent  effect 
on  recruiting.  During  the  s;»me  year  two 
additional  machine-gun  companies,  one  en- 
gineer company,  and  an  infantry  company 
were  formed,  and  the  total  strength  on  March 
31,  1900,  had  risen  to  311  of  all  ranks.  The 
six  obsolete  7-pounder  R.M.L.  guns  and  the 
Martini-Henry  carbines  were  replaced  by  six 
2'5-inch  R.M.L.  mountain  guns  and  L.E. 
magazine  rifles  and  M.E.  carbines.  The 
Boxer  troubles  and  the  feeling  of  unrest 
throughout  China  brought  fresh  recruits,  and 
at  the  beginning  of  the  financial  year  of  1901 
the  strength  was  366  of  all  ranks. 

On  May  14,  1902,  a  contingent  of  forty 
members  of  the  corps  under  the  command 
of  Major  A.  Chapman  proceeded  to  England 
to  represent  the  Colony  at  the  coronation  o£ 
H.M.    King    Edward   VII.       They    travelled 


VOLUNTEER    CAMP,    STONECUTTER'S   ISLAND. 


^\v^\\\'^//^^Ns^^^/gavm\\mm\\WJMm^^ 


'"'"'■"W/illll|||(t^^;^j;>^j)lWJ^ 


THE  MOUNTED  TROOP  ON  PARADE. 


VOLUNTEER  HEADQUARTERS. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.    277 


via  Canada,  and  on  arrival  at  home  were 
encamped  at  the  Alexandra  Palace  together 
with  other  colonial  contingents.  The  Hong- 
kong and  China  contingent,  under  Major 
Chapman's  command,  included  in  addition  to 
the  Volunteers,  detachments  of  the  Hongkong 
and  Singapore  Battalion,  Royal  Garrison  Artil- 
lery ;  the  Hongkong  Regiment  ;  Hongkong 
Suhmarine  Miners;  and  1st  Chinese  Regiment 
(from  Weihaiwei).  The  contingent  was  in- 
spected by  General  Dorward,  and  by  General 
Fukushima  on  board  the  R.M.S.  Empress  of 
Japan  ;  by  H.E.  Lord  Minto,  the  Governor- 
General  of  Canada,  General  Parsons,  and 
Colonel  Roy,  in  Canada  ;  by  General  O'Grady 
Haly,  on  board  the  s.s.  Tunisian  ;  by  H.R.H. 
the  Duke  of  Connaught  and  Lord  Roberts, 
Commander-in-Chief,  at  the  Alexandra  Palace  ; 
and  by  H.M.  the  Queen  and  H.R.H.  the 
Prince  of  Wales.  The  contingent  furnished 
guards  of  honour  to  Their  Majesties  on  Coro- 
nation Day  ;  to  H.R.H.  Princess  Christian  ; 
and  to  Lord  Kitchener  on  his  arrival  in 
London  ;  and  were  inspected  by,  and  received 
coronation  medals  from,  H.M.  the  King  at 
Buckingham  Palace, 

In  1902  the  field  battery,  machine-gun,  and 
infantry  companies  were  changed  into  gar- 
rison artillery,  with  the  result  that  there  was 
a  falling  off  in  numbers.  This,  however, 
was  to  be  expected  owing  to  the  change  in 
the  composition  of  the  corps,  which  was 
naturally  not  acceptable  to  all  the  former 
members.  On  March  31,  1903,  the  strength 
was  274  of  all  ranks.  In  1904  the  six  2'5-inch 
R.M.L.  guns  were  replaced  by  15-pounder 
B.L.  guns,  and  the  whole  corps  was  re-armed 
with  the  new  pattern  army  rifle  (M.L.E. 
short)  and  the  latest  pattern  bandolier  equip- 
ment. 

The  mounted  troop,  a  valuable  addition  to 
the  Volunteer  Corps,  was  raised  in  1905,  the 
numbers  on  March  31st  of  that  year  being 
20.  The  troop  is  organised  on  sniiilar  lines 
to  those  on  which  the  Company  of  Shanghai 
Light  Horse  was  formed,  and  has  a  present 
strength  of  40  members.  The  Volunteer 
Reserve  Association,  which  consists  of  men 
over  thirty-tive  years  of  age,  and  has  for  its 
principal  object  the  encouragement  of  rifle- 
shooting,  is  under  the  presidency  of  Sir  Henry 
Berkeley,  K.C.,  and  was  formed  in  1905.  It 
had  a  membership  on  March  31st  of  154.  The 
members  on  March  31,  1907,  had  increased 
to  248.  To  H.E.  Sir  Matthew  Nathan  is  due 
the  credit  of  starting  the  mounted  troop  and 
the  Volunteer  Reserve  Association. 

Major-General  F.  B.  Slade,  C.B.,  R.A.,  in- 
spected the  artillery  units  at  gun-practice  at 
Sywan  on  February  4,  1905,  and  reported 
that  "  the  practice,  considering  the  foggy  state 
of  the  weather,  was  decidedly  good,  both 
from   the  field  and  machine  guns." 

The  new  headquarters  were  commenced 
in  June,  1905,  and  opened  on  December  15, 
1906.  The  building  was  paid  for  out  of  the 
corps  funds,  with  the  addition  of  a  grant  from 
the  Government  of  $5,000.  All  the  rooms  are 
well  furnished  ;  the  officers'  and  sergeants' 
mess-rooms,  reading  and  billiard  rooms,  and 
canteen,  together  with  a  well-equipped  gym- 
nasium, have  been  completely  fitted  up  out 
of  private  funds  at  no  cost  to  the  public  purse. 

The  mounted  troop  went  into  camp  near 
to  Sheung  Shui  in  the  New  Territories  at 
Christmas  time,  1906  and  1907. 

On  February  9,  1906,  the  corps  formed  a 
guard  of  honour  at  Government  House  to 
H.R.H.  Prince  Arthur  of  Connaught.  K.G., 
and  on  February,  6,  1907,  had  the  honour 
of  furnishing  a  guard  of  honour  on  the 
occasion  of  the  visit  to  the  Colony  of  T.R.H. 
the  Duke  of  Connaught,  Inspector-General  of 
the   Forces,  the  Duchess  of   Connaught,  and 


Princess  Patricia.     The  mounted  troop  formed 

the  escort  to  Their  Royal  Highnesses. 

On   March   31,    1907,   the   corps   numbered 

290   of  all  ranks.     The  establishment  of  the 

corps  is  : — 

Staff 8 

Mounted  Troop       43 

Artillery  Companies  ...  312 
Engineer  Company  ...  60 
Band 23 

Total  of  all  ranks      446 

The  strength  on  January  31,  1908,  was 
292.  There  is  no  band  at  present,  but  it  is 
hoped  that  this  valuable  adjunct  to  the  corps 
will  soon  be  resuscitated.  The  formation  of 
an  infantry  company  as  an  addition  to  the 
corps  has  recently  been  sanctioned  and  steps 
are  being  taken  to  recruit  it.  A  telephone  and 
field  telegraphs  section  is  also  being  raised 
to  augment  the  existing  engineer  company. 

The  corps  possesses  some  handsome  and 
valuable  trophies  for  shooting  &c.,  of  which 
the  following  may  be  mentioned  : — 


MAJOR    ARTHUR    CHAPMAN. 

For  Gun  Competition. 

Challenge  Cup,  presented  by  H.E.  Sir 
Hercules  Robinson. 

Challenge  Cup,  presented  by  Captain  E.  D. 
Sanders. 

For  Machine  Gun  Competition. 
Challenge    Shield,    presented   by   H.E.   Sir 
W.   J.   Gascoigne,   C.M.G. 

For  Rifle  (Team)  Shooting. 

Challenge  Shield,  presented  bv  H.E.  Sir 
H.  A.  Blake,  G.C.M.G. 

Challenge  Cup,  presented  by  Mr.  J.  J. 
P'rancis,   Q.C. 

Challenge  Cup,  presented  by  Mr.  R.  Cooke. 
For  Riki.e  (Individual)  Shooting. 

Challenge  Cup,  presented  by  the  Hon, 
Mr.    J.    J.    Keswick. 

Challenge  Cup,  presented  bv  H.E.  Sir 
F.  J.  D.  Lugard,  K.C.M.G.,  C.B.,"  D.S.O. 

For  General  Efficiency. 

Challenge  Cup,  presented  by  H.E.  Sir 
Matthew  Nathan,    K.C.M.G. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  honorary  colonels 
and  commandants  of  the  corps  since  its 
reconstruction  in  1893. 


Honorary  Colonels. 
1893.— H.E.  Sir  William  Robinson,  G.C.M.G. 
1899.— H.E.  Sir  Henrv  A.  Blake,  G.C.M.G. 
1904.— H.E.  Sir  Matthew  Nathan,  K.C.M.G. 
1907. — H.E.   Sir    Frederick    J.    D.    Lugard, 
K.C.M.G.,  C.B.,  D.S.O. 

Commandants. 
1893.— Lieut.-Colonel  F.  Jerrard,  D.A.A.G. 
1894. — Major  A.  R.  Pemberton,  Rifle  Brigade. 

'?'^]  Lieut.-Colonel  Sir  John  W.  Carrington, 

i^ij       C.M.G. 

1899.— Colonel  R.  B.  Mainwaring,  Rifle 
Brigade   (acting). 

1900. — Major  M.  M.  Morris,  R.G.A.  (acting). 

1902.— Captain  (local  Major)  C.  G.  Pritchard, 
R.G.A. 

1907. — Major  Arthur  Chapman,  V.D. 
Officers,  1908. 

Hon.  Colonel  :  H.E.  Sir  F.  J.  D.  Lugard, 
K.C.M.G.,  C.B.,  D.S.O. 

Commandant :  Major  Arthur  Chapman,  V.D. 

Second  in  Command  :  Major  Donald  Mac- 
donald. 

Staff  Officer:  Captain  A.  J.  Thompson,  R.G.A. 

Captains  :  D,  Macdonald,  1st  Cinque  Ports 
R.G.A.  (Vols.),  attached;  J.  H.  W.  Armstrong, 
Hon.  A.D.C. ;  T.  Skinner ;  G.  G.  Wood,  3rd 
V.B.  the  Essex  Regiment,  attached  ;  G.  P. 
Lammert  ;   W.  A.  Crake,  and  W.  Nicholson. 

Surgeon-Captain  :    C.    P'orsyth. 

Lieutenants  :  Mowbrav  S.  Northcote,  W.  M. 
Scott,  J.  A.  T.  Plummer,  E.  D.  C.  Wolfe, 
C.  H.  Ross,  H.  W.  Kennett,  and  J.  S.  Gubbay. 

Surgeon-Lieutenant  :    J    W.  Hartley. 

Second  Lieutenants  :  F.  O.  Reynolds  and 
G.  Blood. 

Corps  Sergeant-Major  :   W.  Higby. 

Staff  Armourer-Sergeant  :   G.  W.  Avenell. 


MAJOR  ARTHUR  CHAPMAN,  who  entered 
the  Hongkong  Government  service  in  1889 
as  the  Assessor  of  Rates,  and  holds  that 
position  still,  was  born  at  York  on  Decem- 
ber I,  1861.  For  many  years  past  he  has 
taken  the  greatest  interest  in  the  Volunteer 
movement.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
1st  East  Riding  of  Yorkshire  Royal  Garrison 
Artillery  (Volunteers),  and  he  joined  the 
local  corps  in  Hongkong  in  1893.  When 
that  corps  was  disbanded  his  was  the  flrst 
name  to  be  sent  in  for  enrolment  in  the 
present  force.  Immediately  elected  lieutenant 
by  the  popular  vote  of  the  men,  he  was 
promoted  captain  in  1897,  and  major,  second 
in  command,  in  1899.  He  had  charge  of  the 
Hongkong  and  China  contingent  that  went 
home  for  the  King's  coronation,  the  con- 
tingent consisting  of  detachments  of  the 
Hongkong  and  Singapore  Battalion  Artillery, 
Hongkong  Regiment.  Hongkong  Submarine 
Miners,  and  the  Chinese  Regiment  from 
W'eihaiwei.  He  was  acting-commandant  of 
the  Hongkong  Volunteer  Corps  in  1901,  in 
1902,  and  during  a  portion  of  1903,  1905, 
and  1906.  His  appointment  as  commandant 
dates  from  April  2,  1907.  On  two  occasions 
he  was  in  charge  of  the  Volunteers  during 
disturbances  in  the  New  Territories.  He  is 
the  possessor  of  the  Colonial  Auxiliary  Forces' 
long  service  medal,  the  Colonial  Auxiliary 
Forces'  officers'  decoration  (V.D.),  and  the 
Coronation  medal.  He  also  received  a  letter 
of  thanks  and  a  medal  from  the  community 
of  Hongkong  for  services  rendered  during 
the  great  plague  epidemic  of  1894.  On  the 
outbreak  of  the  disease  Major  Chapman  was 
one  of  the  first  civilians  to  \olunteer  for 
plague  dutv,  and  it  was  his  example  that 
induced  others  to  join  the  search  parties. 
He  is  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  Colony. 


A  A 


THE  FOREIGN  TRADE  OF   CHINA. 


HE  commencement  of  trade 
reliifions  between  China  and 
the  rest  of  the  world  is  in- 
separably bound  up  with  the 
modern  history  of  the  country, 
and  is  fully  traced  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  In  the 
present  article,  which  seeks  to  show  the 
tendency  of  trade  during  recent  years,  it  will 
suffice  therefore  to  recall  that  the  "  discovery 
of  the  Far  East "  was  made  about  the  year 
151 1  bv  the  Portuguese,  who  were  followed 
by  the  Spanish  in  1575,  the  Dutch  in  1622, 
the  English  in  1635,  the  Russians  (by  over- 
land caravan  routes)  in  1658,  the  French  in 
1728,  and  the  Americans  in  1784  ;  whilst 
later  came  the  Swedes,  Danes,  and  Belgians. 
Until  1834.  China  dictated  the  terms  upon 
which  foreign  trade  was  permitted,  but  the 
result  of  the  British  'I'reaty  of  1842  and  of 
other  treaties  of  later  date  was  a  complete 
reversal  of  this  position. 

Of  the  old  trade  of  China  little  is  known, 
for  practically  the  only  records  of  its  scope 
are  to  be  found  in  the  archives  of  the  East 
India  Company,  who  enjoyed  an  absolute 
monopoly  until  1834.  The  few  articles  im- 
ported were  wanted  only  in  small  quantities, 
and  consisted  for  the  most  part  of  woollens, 
quicksilver,  lead,  opium,  and  various  sundries. 
Cotton  manufactures,  which  now  form  so 
large  a  proportion  of  the  imports,  could  not, 
in  the  days  of  hand-looms,  compete  with 
Chinese  productions.  In  exchange,  tea,  silk, 
naiikeens,  and  curiosities  were  received. 
Practically  the  whole  trade  was  on  a  cash 
basis,  individual  merchants  sometimes  stock- 
ing as  much  as  a  million  dollars'  worth  of 
specie. 

The  development  of  the  new  trade  has 
been  marked  more  especially  by  an  enormous 
intTease  in  the  number  of  articles  for  which 
a  demand  has  been  created,  as  well  as  in 
the  number  of  those  exported. 

The  net  value  of  the  foreign  trade  of  China 
for  each  of  the  ten  years  ending  December 
31,  1907.  is  shown  in  the  appended  table  : — 


Net  Imports. 

Exports. 

TotaL 

Taels. 

Tacts. 

TaeU. 

i8g8 

209,579,3.^4 

159,037,149 

368,616,483 

i8<» 

264.748,456 

195,784,832 

460,533,288 

1900 

211,070.422 

I58,99f),752 

370,067,174 

1901 

268.302,918 

169,656,757 

437,959,675 

1902 

315.363,(^5 

214,181,584 

529,545489 

1903 

326.739,133 

2i4,3524<i7 

541,091,600 

IQOJ 

344,060,608 

239.4«6,683 

583,547,291 

I9OS 

447,100,791 

227,888,197 

674,988,988 

1906 

410,270,082 

236,456,739 

646,726,821 

1907 

416401,369 

264,380,697 

680,782,066 

The  net  imports  represent  the  value  of 
goods  imported  direct  from  foreign  countries 
less  the  value  of  those  re-exported  to  foreign 
countries.  The  exports  include  only  Chinese 
produce  exported  abroad. 

As  will  be  seen  from  the  above  table,  the 
net  value  of  the  foreign  trade  of  China  has 
increased  by  nearly  yo  per  cent,  in  the  last 
decade.  In  1907  it  showed  an  advance  of 
527  per  cent,  upon  that  for  1906,  net  im- 
ports contributing  Tls.6,131,287  to  this  result, 
and  exports,  Tls.  27,923,958, 

The  value  of  foreign  goods  re-exported 
to  foreign  countries  during  1906  was 
Tls.  18,020,205  and  during  1907  Tls.  12,670,293, 
the  gross  value  of  foreign  trade  for 
those  two  years  amounting  respectively  to 
Tls.  682,767,231     and     Tls.  706,122,652.       Ob- 


viously, however,  the  figures  showing  the 
net  and  not  tlie  gross  trade  are  those  upon 
which  tlie  volume  of  China's  foreign  trade 
must  be  calculated. 

Tlie  value  of  China's  total  trade  with  Great 
Britain  and  other  countries  cannot  be  gauged 
with  any  approximation  to  accuracy.  A  large 
transhipment  trade  takes  place  at  Hongkong, 
and,  as  there  are  no  Customs  at  that  port,  it 
is  impossible  to  ascertain  either  the  original 
source  of  the  commodities  received  from  it, 
or  the  real  destination  of  those  sent  to  it. 
The  following  statement  of  the  value  of 
China's  direct  trade  with  Hongkong  and  with 
Great  Britain  since  1900,  supplies  the  only 
available  data  upon  which  any  estimate  of 
China's  whole  trade  with  Great  Britain  can 
be  formed  : — 


HONGKONG. 

GREAT    BRITAIN. 

Imports. 

Exports. 

Total. 

Imports. 

Exports. 

TotaL 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

1900 

93,846,617 

63,(^61,634 

157,808,251 

45,467,409 

9,356,428 

54.823,837 

1901 

1 20,329,884 

71,435-103 

191,764,987 

41,223,538 

8.561.045 

49.784.583 

1902 

133,524,169 

«2,657,375 

216,181,544 

57,624,610 

10,344,375 

67,968,985 

1903 

136,520,433 

8(),i(;5,6os 

225,716,058 

50,603,772 

10,024,095 

60,627,867 

1904 

141,085,010 

86,858,017 

227,(^3,027 

57,220,(;55 

15,269,963 

72.4(^,918 

1905 

148,071,198 

81.452,643 

22l),523,«4I 

86472,343 

I  8,064,270 

104,536,613 

1906 

144,936,957 

82,740427 

227,677,384 

78,738,2(^2 

13,298,315 

92,036,607 

1907 

155,642,016 

97,226434 

252,868,450 

77,562,700 

12,107,645 

89.670.345 

Until  1905  no  distinct  record  was  kept  of  China's  direct  trade  with  various  European 
countries,  except  Great  Britain  and  Russia.  The  total  net  values  of  the  trade,  including 
imports  and  exports,  with  the  leading  European  countries  since  that  year  are  given  below  : — 


»905. 

1906. 

1907. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

T.iels. 

Great  Britain           

104,536,613 

92,036,607 

89,670,345 

Russia           

11,449.129 

9.341.027 

18,114,559 

France          

22,683,867 

29,640,638 

33,817,211 

Germany      

20,223,724 

23.105,154 

22,286,595 

Belgium        

11,821,020 

15,396,712 

14,559,700 

Italy 

8.595.098 

8.722,941 

8,646,887 

Netherlands 

1.961.331 

1,947,096 

2.335.544 

Austria  and  Hungary         

1,828,622 

3,605481 

2,283,180 

Other  countries       

49S.IOO 

259,804 

958,445 

TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      279 


Chief  among  countries  other  than  European  ma> 

be  mentioned 

:— 

1905- 

1906, 

1907. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Tads. 

Macao 

7.745.616 

10,394,983 

9.935.S7S 

French  Indo-China 

3,978,264 

5.554.719 

10,916,895 

Singapore,  Straits,  &c.... 

7,864,569 

7,398,562 

9.407.153 

Dutch  Indies      

5,036,850 

5.919.293 

6,646,776 

British  India      

37.51s.977 

34,068,752 

36,093.542 

Japan  and  Formosa      ... 

96,780,211 

94.357.287 

96,808,886 

Korea      

3,939,628 

1,811,037 

3,663,764 

Canada    

2,794.049 

5,192,127 

1,831,840 

United  States  of  America 

(including  Hawaii) 

103,947,610 

70,107,637 

63,501,136 

The  share  of  the  total  direct  foreign  trade  enjoyed  by  the  principal  ports  in  China  during 
1906-7  was  as  undermentioned  : — 


igo6. 

1907. 

Port. 

Imports. 

Exports. 

Total. 

Imports. 

Exports. 

Total, 

Taels. 

Tads. 

Taels. 

Tads. 

Taels. 

TacU. 

Shanghai    ... 

225,043,251 

1 18,990,510 

344,033,761 

192.765,079 

131.963.587 

324,728,666 

Canton 

25,966,599 

39,340,675 

65.307.274 

29,645.236 

51,061,088 

80,706,324 

Kowloon     ... 

21.380,564 

14,394.072 

35.774.636 

29,820,314 

16,192,146 

46,102,460 

Tientsin 

40,102,558 

5.143.764 

45.246.322 

38,919,614 

3,304,192 

42,223,806 

Hankow 

16,632,854 

8,524,107 

25,156,961 

19,404,900 

12,278,314 

31.683.214 

Swatow 

13,931,030 

6,315.372 

20,246,402 

17,9.39.571 

6,901,165 

24,840,736 

Lappa 

10,465,301 

4,918,642 

15.383.943 

12,541,216 

4.567.569 

17,108,785 

Amov 

11,525,687 

2,105,258 

13,630,945 

11,946,367 

2,194,267 

14.140,634 

Foochow     ... 

6,331.357 

5.241.894 

11.573.251 

6,752,854 

6,643,099 

13.395.953 

Newchwang 

6,009,058 

7,256,366 

13,265,424 

5,440,915 

7,685,580 

13,126,495 

Dairen 

— 

— 

— 

10,143,892 

2,205,677 

12,349,569 

Chefoo 

7,906,839 

4,806,654 

12,713.493 

6,620,215 

3,299,002 

9,919,217 

Mengtsz 

5.680,859 

5,144,005 

10,824,864 

S.973.115 

3,563.329 

9,536,444 

Kiaochau     ... 

7,019,263 

3.540.123 

10,559,386 

7.297.944 

887,226 

8,185,170 

IMPORTS. 

The  net  values  in  round  tigures  of  the  chief  items  of  import  at  intervals  of  ten  years 
each  from  1864— the  first  year  in  which  Reports  on  Trade  were  issued  by  the  Statistical 
Department  of  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs — down  to  1904  are  appended  : — 


1864. 

1874- 

1884. 

1894. 

1903. 

1904. 

Tads. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Opium         

20,000,000 

3 1 ,000,000 

26,000,000 

34.000,000 

44.000.000 

37.000.000 

Cotton  manufactures 

7,000,000 

2  1 ,000,000 

22,000,000 

52,000,000 

129,000,000 

124,000,000 

Woollen         „ 

5,000,000 

4,500.000 

3,500,000 

2,500,000 

3,500,000 

3,500,000 

Metals         

2,000,000 

4,000,000 

3,500.000 

8,500,000 

15,500,000 

20,500,000 

Coal 

— 

— 

1,500,000 

3,000,000 

7.500,000 

8,000,000 

Kerosene  Oil 

— 

— 

1,500,000 

8,000,000 

15,500,000 

27,000,000 

Sundries,  unclassed 

17,000,000 

10,500,000 

14,000,000 

55,000,000 

112,000,000 

125,000,000 

These  imports  were  derived  from  the  following  sources  : — 


1864. 

1874- 

1884. 

1894. 

1903. 

1904. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Tads. 

Hongkong 

17,000,000 

26,000,000 

30,000,000 

83,000.000 

136,000,000 

141,000,000 

India           

16,000,000 

20,000,000 

16,000,000 

20,000,000 

34,000,000 

32,000,000 

Great  Britain 

11,000,000 

22,000,000 

17,000,000 

30,000,000 

50,000,000 

57,000,000 

Japan           

2,000,000 

3,000,000 

4,000,000 

8,500,000 

50,500,000 

50,000,000 

Continent  of  Europe 

— 

— 

1,500,000 

6,000,000 

12,000,000 

28,000,000 

United  States 

— 

— 

2,500,000 

9,000,000 

25,000,000 

28,000,000 

Other  countries    ... 

6,000,000 

3,500,000 

3,000,000 

9,000,000 

18,000,000 

20,000,000 

The  main  headings  under  which  net  im- 
ports were  classified  in  1906  and  1907  are  to 
be  found  below  : — 


1906. 

1907. 

Tads. 

Taels. 

Opium     

32,285.377 

28,653,653 

Cotton  goods     ... 

152.727,845 

118,915,923 

Woollen  and 

cotton  mixtures 

2,269,812 

2.5.53.805 

Woollen  goods ... 

4.382,958 

4.345.001 

Miscellaneous 

piece    goods  ... 

3,062,711 

3.288,583 

Metals     

17,289,855 

19,942,285 

Sundries 

198,251,524 

238,702,119 

Total  ... 

410,270,082 

416,401,369 

These  figures  need  some  explanation,  for 
tliey  do  not,  at  first  sight,  seem  consistent 
with  the  trade  depression  which  has  pre- 
vailed in  China  for  the  past  two  or  three  years, 
or  with  the  decrease  of  TIs.  1,221,707  in  the 
import  revenue.  The  explanation  is  to  be  found 
in  the  inclusion  among  "sundries"  of  certain 
e.xception.il  items,  namely.  Hour,  rice,  and 
railway  plant,  which  were  responsible  for  an 
increase  of  Tls.31, 720,822.  If  this  sum  be 
deducted  it  will  be  seen  that  the  value  of 
what  may  be  termed  the  normal  import  trade 
amounted  only  to  TIs.  385,680,547  a  decrease 
of  TIs.  24,589,535 — a  figure  which  much  more 
accurately  represents  the  state  of  trade.  This 
result  is  reflected  in  the  Customs  revenue, 
because  flour,  rice,  and  railway  plant  are  duty 
free. 

That  there  has  not  been  any  sensible 
diminution  so  far  in  the  quantity  of  opium 
ing  the  anti-opium 
apparent    from    the    following 


imported. 

notwithi 

movement. 

IS    app; 

return  : — 

Year. 

Piculs. 

i8<j8     ... 

49.752 

1899    ... 

59,161 

1900    ... 

49.279 

1901     ... 

49.484 

1902    ... 

50.764 

Year. 

Piculs. 

1903      . 

•      58.457 

1<;04      . 

•      54.752 

k;05      . 

.      51.920 

1906      . 

■      54.117 

1907      . 

.      54.584 

The  sources  of  supply  are  shown  below 


1906 
1907 


Malwa. 


Piculs. 

14.368 
17,394 


Patna. 


Piculs. 

2547« 
24,129 


Benares.    Persian       Total. 


Piculs. 

13.475 
11.568 


Piculs.       Piculs. 

796  i  54,117 
1,493  i  54,584 


The  foreign  opium  is  distributed  principally 
through  Shanghai  and  Canton,  which  in  1907 
imported  15,722  and  10,404  piculs  respectively. 

Of  the  cotton  goods  imported,  the  chief 
items,  including  those  which  are  principally 
responsible  for  the  large  decrease  of 
Tls.33, 81 1,922,  may  be  tabulated  as  follows: — 


1906. 

1907. 

Tads. 

Tads. 

English    grey    shirt- 

mgs           

11,228,716 

8,551.571 

American  grey  sheet- 

ings            

19,847,714 

1,325,070 

Shirtings,      white. 

plain          

11,736.011 

12,007,818 

American  drills 

7,002,031 

571,754 

Cotton  Italians,  plain, 

fast  black 

6,550,093 

9,400,762 

Cotton      Italians, 

figured 

5,607,906 

5,211.682 

Indian    cotton    yarn 

46,109,724 

40.423,206 

Japanese     „          „ 

16,649,172 

14,170,684 

280     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


In  1905.  cjitton  manufactures  were  im- 
fKirted  to  the  \-alue  t>f  TIs.  181,45^.953,  and 
represented  40  per  cent,  of  all  imports ;  in 
1906  they  represented  57  per  cent. ;  and  in 
iqo/.  i/  per  cent.  The  falling  off,  noticeable 
more  particularly  in  plain  goods  of  American 
origin,  was  due  to  previous  over-stocking. 
Cotton  yam  is  used  chiefly  to  give  a  strong 
warp  to  a  coarse,  durable  fabric,  the  weft 
of  which  is  of  hand-spun  Chinese  cotton. 

The  increase  of  TIs.  2,652,430  in  the  net 
\-alue  of  metals  imported  was  caused  by  large 
increases  in  copper  ingots,  slabs,  and  ore, 
tin  slabs,  and  other  items  ;  though  there  was 
a  considerable  falling  off  in  copper  bars,  rods, 
unclassed  copper,  and  nail  rod  iron. 

As  already  stated,  the  importations  of  flour 
and  rice,  included  among  "  sundries,"  were 
exceptional,  the  former  rising  from  1,784,681 
piculs  in  igo6  to  4,414,383  piculs  in  1907, 
and  the  latter  from  4,686452  to  12,765,189 
piculs.  owing  to  the  failure  of  the  crops  in 
China.  There  was  an  increase  in  kerosene 
oil  of  32,596,665  gallons  over  the  quantity 
1128.687,690  gallons)  imported  in  1906, 
American  oil  being  solely  responsible  for 
this.  Of  other  sundries,  tea  from  India  and 
Ceylon  increased  by  48,888  piculs,  while  sugar 
declined  by  821,871  piculs.  The  principal 
items  included  among  "  sundries "  were  as 
follows  : — 


1906. 

1907. 

Tael». 

Taels. 

Cigarettes     ... 

... 

5,846,781 

3.714760 

Coal 

... 

8,631419 

7,613,866 

Fish      and      fishery 
products 

8,125,721 

8,352-907 

Flour 

6.295.753 

13.984.546 

Machi  nery 
fittings 

and 

5.730,221 

6,022,421 

Matches 

... 

5,139,808 

4,895,792 

Kerosene  (Amer 

can) 

7.132,179 

13.205,392 

Railway    plant 
materials  ... 

and 

11439,806 

12,804,628 

Rice 

11.749,590 

34417.307 

/  brown 

... 

10,457,089 

8477.943 

Sugar  i   white 

... 

8.526,409 

7,348,220 

V.  refined 

... 

8,866,573 

8,635,161 

Timber,     hard 
soft  wood 

and 

5,397,166 

6,126,303 

Rice  bran,  aniline  dyes,  artificial  indigo, 
leather,  medicines.  Borneo  and  Sumatra 
kerosene,  paper,  household  stores,  candy 
sugar,  tea.  wines,  spirits,  and  beer  represented 
upwards  of  TIs.  2,000,000  each. 


EXPORTS. 


A  comparative  statement  of  the  fael  values 
of  each  of  the  principal  articles  of  export 
from  China  during  the  past  half  century 
discloses  the  fact  that  unclassed  commodities 
have  increased  twenty-five  fold,  silk  between 
six  and  seven  fold,  and  raw  cotton  four  fold 
while  tea  has  remained  stationary. 


1864. 

1874. 

1884. 

1894. 

1903. 

1904. 

Silk 

Tea 

Cotton,   raw           

Beans  and  bean  cake 

Sundries,  unclassed 

• 

Taels. 
12.000,000 

29,000,000 

6,000,000 

4,000,000 

Taels. 
26,000,000 

40,000,000 

1,000,000 

7,000,000 

Taels, 
23,000,000 

29,000,000 

1,000,000 

14,000,000 

Taels. 
42,500,000 

32,500,000 
7,000,000 
3,000,000 

43,000,000 

Tucls. 
74,000,000 

26,000,000 

13,000,000 

1 1 ,000,000 

90,000,000 

Taels. 
78,000,000 

31,000,000 

24,000,000 

8,000,000 

99,000,000 

The  sources  from  which 

these  exports  were  derived  were  :  — 

1864. 

1874. 

1884. 

1894. 

1903- 

1904. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels, 

Taels. 

Hongkong 

7,000,000 

12,000,000 

1 7,500,000 

50,000,000 

89,500,000 

88,000,000 

Great  Britain          

33,000,000 

38,000,000 

20,000,000 

12,000,000 

10,500,000 

1 5,000,000 

Continent  of  Europe 

1,000,000 

7,000,000 

10,000,000 

19,000,000 

34,000,000 

44,000,000 

Russia           

— 

2,500,000 

5,500,000 

11,000,000 

13,000,000 

5,000,000 

United  States  of  America... 

3,500,000 

7,000,000 

8,000,000 

16,500,000 

20,000,000 

27,000,000 

Japan           

— 

2,000,000 

2,000,000 

8,500,000 

30,000,000 

38,000,000 

Other  countries      

3,500,000 

5,500,000 

4,000,000 

11,000,000 

18,000,000 

23,000,000 

The  exports  in  1907  were  worth  27,923,958 
taels,  or  ir8i  per  cent,  more  than  those  in 
1906.  Tea  and  silk,  which  are  referred  to  in 
detail  elsewhere,  showed  gratifying  increases. 
The  exportation  of  tea  for  the  year  amounted 
to  1,610,025  piculs,  valued  at  TIs.  31,736,011, 
as  compared  with  1,404,028  piculs,  valued  at 
TIs.  26,629,630,  in  1906.  The  value  of  silk  and 
silk  products  in  1907  exceeded  by  25  per  cent. 
that  for  1906.  The  quantity  of  bean  cake  rose 
from  3,916,043  piculs  to  4,182,009  piculs,  but 
the  increase  in  value  was  even  greater,  owing 
to  a  strong  demand  in  Japan,  Sugar  con- 
tinued to  decline,  and  it  is  not  likely,  in  the 
face  of  strenuous  foreign  competition,  that 
the  industry  will  long  survive. 

The  following  native  products  were  ex- 
ported to  foreign  countries  in  1906  and  1907 
in  quantities  exceeding  TIs.  5.000,000  in 
value  : — 


1906. 

1907. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Silk  (all  products) 

71,295.525 

89,084,034 

Tea 

26,629,630 

31,736,011 

Cotton  (raw)    

11,631,138 

16,959,737 

Skins  (undressed) 

10,389,251 

12415,017 

Bean  cake        

7,064,108 

9,148,310 

Minerals           

5,175,722 

5,090,117 

Oils        

5,527,821 

4,926,088 

Seeds     

5.896,485 

5,134,053 

Straw  braid     

8,650,861 

6,819,092 

Wool     

5,499,342 

4,531,013 

THE  BALANCE   OF   TRADE. 

The  movement  of  treasure  during  1907 
showed  importations  of  gold,  silver,  and 
copper  amounting  to  TIs.  15,469,559,  and 
exportations  amounting  to  TIs.  44,108,664. 
The  imports  were  received  chiefly  from 
Japan  (TIs.  7,060,019),  and  Hongkong  and 
Macao  (TIs.  6,157,455),  whilst  of  the  exports, 
TIs.  24,167,089  went  to  Hongkong  and  Macao, 
TIs.  10,500,401  to  India  (including  Burma, 
&c.),  and  TIs.  7,764,434  to  Europe,  The 
moveinent  of  treasure  abroad  was  exceptional. 

The  balance  of  trade  shows  an  excess  of 
net  foreign  imports  over  exports  of  57  per 
cent,  in  1907,  as  against  74  per  cent,  in  1906, 
97  per  cent,  in  1905,  43  per  cent,  in  1904, 
31  per  cent,  in  1903,  28  per  cent,  in  1902, 
and  27  per  cent,  in  1901. 

China's  gross  assets  and  liabilities  may 
thus  be  tabulated  : — 


LIABILITIES. 
Taels, 


Taels. 


Value  of  merchandise 

imported  in  1907  ... 

Loans  and  indemnities 

Invisible  liabilities 

(1903  estimate) 

Total 


416.401,369 
38,500,000 

30,000,000 


486,901,369 


Among  less  important  items,  beans,  bristles, 
camphor,  fire-crackers  and  fireworks,  mats 
and  matting,  medicines,  nankeens,  paper, 
provisions  and  vegetables,  dressed  and  made- 
up  skins  and  furs,  and  tallow,  represented 
upwards  of  TIs.  2,000,000  each. 


ASSETS. 

Value  of  merchandise 

exported  in  1907  ...  264,380,697 
Net  export  of  treasure 

from  commercial 

area  (which  includes 

Hongkong! 21,427,693 

Invisible    assets    (1903 

estimate  less  certain 

deductions)...         ...     147,000,000 


Total 


432,808,390 


Difference  to  be  accounted  for  ...     54.092,979 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      281 


In  order  to  make  a  proper  comparison  of 
the  sterling  values  of  trade  in  various  years,  it 
is  necessary  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  Haikwan, 
or  Customs  tael,  the  unit  in  which  the 
Customs  revenue  and  all  values  are  stated,  has 
a  varying  sterling  equivalent  carefully  calcu- 
lated on  the  average  value  of  the  tael  each 
year.  Thus  the  tael  was  worth  6s.  8d.  in  1864; 
6s.  4d.  in  1874  ;  5s.  yd.  in  1884  ;  3s.  2d.  in 
1894;  2s.  lojd.  in  1898;  3s.  ojd.  in  1899; 
2s.  i^d.  in  1900  ;  2s.  ii-^gd.  in  1901  ;  2s.  7^d. 
in  1902  ;  2s.  7^d.  in  1903  ;  2s.  lojd.  in  1904; 
o^A.  in  1905  ;  3s.  3jd.  in  1906  ;  and 
3d.  in  1907. 


3s. 
3s. 


shipping  represented  2083  of  the  total,  about 
the  same  as  before,  a  loss  in  tonnage  of 
foreign  type  being  balanced  by  an  increase 
in  junk  tonnage.  Of  the  merchandise  carried, 
British  ships  claimed  the  largest  share,  with 
4629  per  cent,  of  the  total.  They  were  fol- 
lowed by  the  Chinese  with  2521  per  cent., 
the  Japanese  with  1235  per  cent.,  the  German 
with  879  per  cent.,  and  the  French  with 
394  per  cent.  In  the  same  order,  the  con- 
tributions of  the  leading  nationalities  to  the 
total  dues  and  duties  are  British,  53'87  per 
cent.;  Chinese,  1596  per  cent.;  Japanese,  1356 
per  cent.;  German,  914  per  cent.;  and  French, 
3  55  per  cent. 


THE   CARRYING    TRADE. 

The  development  of  the  carrying  trade 
since  1864  and  the  share  borne  by  the  various 
nations  engaged  in  it,  are  shown  in  the 
following  table  : — 


FOREIGN    POPULATION. 

The  total  foreign  population  in  the  Treaty 
ports  is  estimated  at  69,852,  and  the  number 


1864. 

1874. 

1884. 

1894. 

1903. 

1904. 

Tons. 

Tons. 

Tons. 

Tons. 

Tons. 

Tons. 

British          

2,862,214 

4,738,793 

12,152,949 

20,496,347 

28,122,987 

35,095,658 

American     

2,609,390 

3,184,360 

2,140,741 

129,127 

559.686 

1,293,416 

French         

93.099 

137,253 

93.963 

348,291 

1,178,200 

1,699,121 

German       

580,570 

530,377 

939.765 

1,983,605 

7.310,427 

8,187,871 

Japanese       

756 

480 

215.IOS 

379,044 

7,965.358 

6,238,918 

Norwegian 

38,195 

22,507 

10,455 

288,051 

1,136,056 

2,922,826 

Other  foreign         

396,673 

197,784 

460,197 

458,290 

1,106,466 

910,385 

Chinese       

64,588 

494,237 

2.993.613 

5.539.246 

9,911,209 

16,407,352 

Total    

6,635485 

9,305,801 

18,806,788 

29,622,001 

57,290,389 

72,755,547 

CHINESE    POPULATION. 

The  population  of  China  cannot  be 
estimated  with  any  approach  to  accuracy. 
In  1876  Hippisley  placed  it  at  270,000,000, 
and  in  1904  Kockhill  corroborated  this 
estimate.  In  1894  Popoff  computed  the 
figure  at  421,800,000,  while  in  i<x>3  Parker 
set  it  down  at  385,000,000.  The  Statistical 
Department  of  the  Inspectorate  of  Customs 
gives  the  following  approximation  for  1907: — 


Province. 

Population. 

Shengking  ... 

16,000,000 

Chihli 

29,400,000 

Shantung     ... 

38,000,000 

Szechwan    ... 

79,500,000 

Hunan 

22,000,000 

Hupeh 

34,000,000 

Kiangsi 

24,534,000 

Anhwei 

36,000,000 

Kiangsu 

23,980,000 

Chekiang     ... 

11,800,000 

Fokien 

20,000,000 

Kwangtung... 

32,000,000 

Kwangsi 

8,000.000 

Yunnan 

8,000,000 

Other  Provinces,. 

IShansi,      Shensi,) 

Kansu,        Honan,              55.ooo,ooo 

and      Kweichow)/ 

Total 

438,214,000 

The  most  thickly  populated  of  the  Treaty 
ports  are  Canton,  900,000 ;  Tientsin,  800,000 ; 
Hankow,  778,000  ;  Chungking,  705,000  ; 
Shanghai,  651,000  ;  Foochow,  624,000  ;  and 
Soochow,  500,000. 


The  shipping  statistics  for  1907  show  that 
of  217,932  entries  and  clearances,  with  a  total 
tonnage  of  80,109,424,  the  share  taken  by 
the  principal  nationalities  engaged  in  the 
carrying  trade  from  and  to  foreign  countries, 
and  between  the  Treaty  ports  of  China,  was 
as  follows  : — 


of  firms  at   2,595.     The   various   nationalities 
are  represented  as  follows  : — 


Entries  and 
Clearances. 

Total  Tonnage. 

British 

27.495 

33,316,618 

Chinese 

147.193 

16,686,305 

Japanese 

29,296 

15,598,213 

German 

5.864 

6,639,767 

trench 

5,072 

4.712,188 

Norwegian 

1,110 

1,067,110 

American 

549 

1.045.899 

The  tonnage  of  British  shipping,  when 
compared  with  that  in  1906  (33.450,560  tons), 
showed  a  slight  decline,  but  even  more 
noticeable  is  the  reduction  in  the  British 
percentage  of  the  whole  shipping,  viz.,  from 
44  to  4159  per  cent.  German  tonnage  fell 
from  986  to  829  per  cent.  ;  while  P'rench 
advanced  from  47  to  588  per  cent.  ;  and 
Japanese  from  15  to  1947  per  cent.     Chinese 


Firms. 

Persons. 

American    

115 

2,862 

Austrian 

17 

259 

Belgian 

9 

292 

Brazilian      . 

1 

British 

490 

9.205 

Danish 

14 

197 

Dutch 

16 

286 

French 

99 

2,201 

German 

239 

3.553 

Italian 

21 

854 

Japanese 

1,416 

45.610 

Korean 

41 

Norwegian  . 

5 

182 

Portuguese  . 

57 

3,188 

Russian 

24 

479 

Spanish 

70 

266 

Swedish 

2 

157 
219 

Non-Treaty   Powers 

1 

2.595 

69,852 

THE    CHINESE    IMPERIAL    MARITIME    CUSTOMS. 


[HE  Chinese  Imperial  Maritime 
Customs  Service  is  the  only 
department  of  the  Chinese 
(jovernnient  that  is  organised 
on  Western  lines,  and  pro- 
duces any  statistical  returns. 
It  therefore  forms  the  chief 
security  which  China  has  to  offer  when 
seeking  to  negotiate  a  loan.  The  magnitude 
of  its  operations  may  be  gauged  from  the 
fact  that  its  revenue  during  1907  amounted 
to  upwards  of  live  millions  sterling,  and  that 
it  afforded  employment  to  some  thirteen 
thousand  foreigners  and  natives. 

The  Oricin  of  the  Service. 

The  origin  of  the  Customs  may  really  be 
traced  back  to  the  Treaty  of  Nanking,  between 
Great  Britain  and  China,  in  1842.  Prior  to 
that  date  the  foreign  trade  of  China  was 
conducted  through  the  medium  of  the 
co-hong,  a  corporate  body  of  Chinese 
merchants  who  were  given  an  absolute 
monopoly  of  all  dealings  with  foreigners,  and 
were  held  responsible  for  their  debts  and 
good  behaviour.  Under  this  system  the 
foreign  merchant  was  obliged  to  submit  to 
many  exactions  in  order  to  satisfy  the  cupidity 
of  the  members  of  the  co-hong,  who,  in  turn, 
had  to  pay  heavily  to  the  Chinese  officers 
from  whom  they  received  their  privileges.  It 
was  these  exactions,  and  the  injustices 
generally  imposed  upon  foreigners  in  the 
prosecution  of  trade,  that  led  to  the  series 
of  warlike  operations  that  Great  Britain 
waged  against  the  Chinese.  Upon  the 
conclusion  of  hostilities  the  Chinese  undertook, 
by  the  Treaty  of  Nanking,  to  open  live  ports 
to  foreign  trade  and  establish  at  them  "  a  fair 
and  reasonable  tariff  of  export  and  import 
customs  and  other  dues."  It  was  further 
provided  under  the  same  instrument  that 
"  when  British  merchandise  shall  have  once 
paid  at  any  of  the  said  ports  the  regulated 
customs  and  dues,  agreeable  to  the  tariff 
to  be  hereafter  fixed,  such  merchandise  may 
be  conveyed  by  Chinese  merchants  to  any 
province  or  city  in  the  interior  of  the  Empire 
of  China  on  paying  a  further  amount  as 
transit  duties."  This  amount  was  to  be  a 
certain  percentage  ad  valorem. 

The  I.stroduction  of  the  Foreign 
Element. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  the  Chinese 
Customs  House  in  the  native  city  of  Shanghai 
was  closed,  owing  to  the  occupation  of  the 
city  by  the  Taeping  rebels,  that  the  Foreign 
Customs  were  established.  An  arrangement 
was  then  come  to  under  which  the  foreign 
merchants  declared  to  their  consuls  the  nature 


of  the  merchandise  imported  and  exported, 
and  deposited  at  the  consulates  bonds  for 
the  duty  leviable  thereon,  which  was  on  a 
mixlerate  5  per  cent,  basis.  These  responsi- 
bilities soon  became  irksome  to  the  consuls, 
and  an  agreement  was  entered  into  on 
June  29,  1H54,  between  the  Shanghai  Taoutai, 
Wu  Kien  Chang,  who  was  a  refugee  in  the 
foreign  concession,  .ind  the  British,  French, 
and  American  Consuls,  under  which  it  was 
decided  to  introduce  a  foreign  element  into 
the  Customs  House  establishment.  The 
object  of  this  innovation  was  to  remove  the 
difficulty  which  had  been  experienced  by 
the  Superintendent  of  Customs  in  obtaining 
"  ofticials  with  the  necessary  qualifications 
as  to  probity,  vigilance,  and  knowledge  of 
foreign  languages  required  for  the  enforce- 
ment of  a  close  observance  of  treaty  and 
customs-house  regulations."  Following  upon 
this  a  board  of  three  foreign  inspectors  w'as 
constituted,  composed  of  Captain  (afterwards 
Sir|  Thomas  F.  Wade.  Mr.  Arthur  Smith, 
and  Mr.  L.  Carr.  who  represented  the  British, 
French,  and  American  communities  respec- 
tively. Captain  Wade  was  the  only  one 
who  had  any  knowledge  of  the  Chinese 
language,  or  any  aptitude  for  the  duties  of 
the  position,  and  upon  his  shoulders  fell 
the  chief  burden  of  organising  the  new  oflice. 
Upon  his  resignation  a  year  later  to  take 
up  the  appointment  of  Chinese  Secretary  of 
Legation  at  Peking,  his  place  was  filled  by 
Mr.  Horatio  Nelson  Lay,  who  was  equally 
well  equipped  for  the  duties  of  the  oflice,  and 
who,  like  his  predecessor,  was  practically  in 
control. 

Apparently  the  new  authority  discharged 
its  duties  with  greater  diligence  than  the 
Chinese  had  done,  for  upon  the  arrival  in 
Shanghai  of  the  American  Minister,  Mr.  Peter 
Parker,  in  August.  1856.  the  American  mer- 
chants presented  a  memorial  to  him.  in  which 
they  asked  for  a  return  to  the  old  order  of 
things.  They  pleaded  that  under  the  new 
institution,  which  was  not  intended  to  be 
permanent,  they  were  placed  at  "  great  dis- 
advantage in  comparison  with  other  ports," 
adding  :  "  Customs-house  business  in  China 
under  Chinese  supervision  is  conducted  with 
a  facility  which  greatly  aids  in  the  dispatch 
of  business  and  the  ready  lading  of  ships 
when  haste  is  of  importance,  while,  with 
the  minute  and  in  some  cases  vexatious 
regulations  established  by  the  inspectors,  this 
advantage  disappears,  and  this,  in  itself,  is 
no  small  item  in  the  account  against  us." 
In  these  circumstances  "  the  expediency  and 
justice  of  abolishing  the  present  system  "  was 
urged. 

Due    consideration    was    accorded    to    this 


representation,  but  the  result  was  not  quite 
what  those  who  framed  it  anticipated. 
Instead  of  reverting  to  the  old  regime,  it 
was  decided  to  establish  stricter  control  over 
other  ports  open  to  foreign  trade.  Under 
the  Rules  of  Trade  drawn  up  in  November, 
1858,  by  the  Tariff  Commission,  as  one 
outcome  of  the  Treaty  of  Tientsin,  it  was 
agreed  that  one  uniform  system  for  the 
collection  of  duties  should  be  enforced  at 
every  port,  and  to  this  end  it  was  provided 
that  the  high  officer  appointed  by  the 
Chinese  Government  to  superintend  foreign 
trade  should,  from  time  to  time,  either  himself 
visit,  or  send  a  deputy  to  visit,  the  different 
ports.  He  was  empowered  to  select  any 
British,  French,  or  American  subject  to  aid 
him  "  in  the  administration  of  the  'customs 
revenue  ;  in  the  prevention  of  smuggling  ; 
in  the  definition  of  port  boundaries  ;  or  in 
discharging  the  duties  of  harbour-master  ; 
also,  in  the  distribution  of  lights,  buoys, 
beacons,  and  the  like,  the  maintenance  of 
which  shall  be  provided  out  of  the  tonnage 
dues."  Under  this  article  Mr.  Lay  was 
appointed  Inspector-General  of  Customs,  and 
when  in  June,  i86i.  he  returned  to  England 
on  leave,  Customs  Houses  had  been  opened  in 
seven  different  ports.  While  in  England  Mr. 
Lay  was  commissioned  to  procure  a  Heet  of 
gunboats  for  the  repression  of  rebellion  and 
piracy,  and  the  demand  which  he  and  his 
commander.  Captain  Sherard  Osborne,  made, 
that  this  fleet  should  be  directly  and  solely 
under  the  orders  of  the  central  and  not 
provincial  authorities,  brought  his  rule  to  an 
end.  The  ships  were  sold,  and  Mr.  Lay 
was  "  permitted  to  resign." 

The  Beginning  of  the  Present  Regime. 

It  was  then  that  Mr.  Robert  Hart,  who 
during  Mr.  Lay's  absence  had  discharged 
the  duties  of  Acting  Inspector-General  in 
conjunction  with  Mr.  Fitzroy,  received  the 
substantive  appointment  on  November  30, 
1863.  In  May  of  the  following  year  the 
Inspectorate-General  was  transferred  from 
Shanghai  to  Peking,  where  it  has  since 
remained. 

The  task  with  which  Mr.  Robert  Hart  was 
confronted  on  taking  office  was  one  of 
considerable  difficulty.  He  had  to  centralise 
the  work,  which  had  hitherto  been  carried 
on  independently  at  the  different  ports  by 
each  commissioner,  acting  conjointly  with 
a  Chinese  superintendent,  and  to  reconcile 
the  Imperial  Government  to  a  uniform 
system  of  administration  which,  though 
designed  to  promote  its  interests,  was 
distinctly  alien.  Among  the  questions  to  be 
decided      were      the      regulation      of      the 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     283 


coast-wise  traffic  and  inland  transit  trade  ; 
the  exemption  of  imports,  upon  which  an 
original  duty  had  been  paid,  from  further 
taxation  ;  pilotage  ;  lighting  of  the  coast  ; 
emigration  ;  the  ton  equivalents  of  various 
lasts  and  metric  and  other  tons ;  the  com- 
pletion and  publication  of  statistics  ;  and, 
above  all,  the  proper  dovetailing  of  the 
foreign  and  Chinese  sides  of  the  administra- 
tion. All  these  questions  were  settled,  as 
Mr.  H.  B.  Morse  points  out  in  his  excellent 
work  on  "  The  Trade  and  Administration  of 
the  Chinese  Empire,"  upon  lines  which  have 
endured.  In  short,  under  the  administration 
of  Mr.  Robert  Hart,  who  was  knighted  in 
1882,  "  there  was  developed  a  strong,  loyal, 
well-organised,  and  cosmopolitan  service." 

As  showing  how  thoroughly  cosmopolitan 
are  the  ranks  of  the  Customs  Department, 
it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  foreign 
staff,  numbering  altogether  1,387  persons, 
includes  representatives  of  twenty  different 
nationalities.  The  British  Empire  has  738 
representatives,  while  Germany,  which  comes 
next,  can  claim  170.  No  fewer  than  12,389 
Chinese  find  employment  in  the  service. 
These  figures,  compared  with  those  for  1875, 
when  only  424  foreigners  and  1,417  Chinese 
were  employed,  afford  striking  evidence  at 
once  of  the  growth  of  the  trade  of  the 
Chinese  Empire  and  of  the  organisation 
which  controls  it. 

The  Chinese  Customs  collect  duty  not  only 
on  foreign  imports,  but  also  on  exports  and 
imports  from  and  to  different  ports  in  China. 
They  also  collect  tonnage  dues  on  shipping, 
transit  dues  exempting  from  further  taxation 
foreign  imports  conveyed  inland,  and  native 
produce  from  inland  marts  intended  for 
export  to  foreign  countries,  and  likin  on 
foreign  opium. 

The  Organisation  of  the  Service. 

The  service  is  organised  in  four  departments, 
under  the  Inspector-General  of  Customs  and 
Posts,  namely,  the  Revenue  Department, 
Marine  Department,  Educational  Department, 
and  Postal  Department. 

The  Revenue  Department  is  divided  into 
three  branches  : — the  In-door  Staff,  or  execu- 
tive, controlling,  and  clerical  branch  ;  the 
Out-door  Staff,  or  inspecting  and  preventive 
branch  ;  and  the  Coast  Staff,  or  preventive 
cruiser  branch.  It  furnishes  employment  to 
1,151  foreigners  and  4,480  Chinese,  or  about 
one-half  the  total  number  of  the  employes 
in  the  Customs  service 

The  Revenue  Department — the  Chinese 
Customs  proper — has  exceptional  difficulties 
to  contend  with,  by  reason  of  the  extra- 
territorial rights  enjoyed  by  foreign  mer- 
chants, and  because  there  is  no  competent 
tribunal  before  which  a  revenue  case  can  be 
tried,  the  Chinese  courts  being  ruled  out, 
while  there  are  obvious  objections  to  the 
jurisdiction  either  of  the  consul  concerned, 
or  the  Commissioner  of  Customs.  For  clan- 
destine trading  a  ship  may  be  prohibited 
from  further  trading  along  the  coast  ;  for  a 
false  manifest  a  fine  not  exceeding  Tls.  500 
may  be  inflicted  upon  proof  of  the  offence 
before  the  Customs,  and  the  consul  of  the 
nationality  under  whose  flag  the  ship  sails  ; 
for  certain  offences  the  privilege  of  clearing 
before  the  payment  of  all  import  duties  on 
the  ship's  cargo  may  be  withdrawn  ;  and  for 
a  false  declaration  on  the  part  of  an  importer 
the  goods  are  liable  to  confiscation. 

The  movement  of  goods  in  China  is  taxed 
at  every  point,  but  provided  that  the  payment 
of  an  import  duty  within  the  last  three  years 
can  be  proved,  exemption  is  afforded  if  the 
goods  are  removed  to  any  of  the  other 
Treaty  ports.    At  Shanghai  the  great  volume 


of  the  re-export  trade  has  led  to  the  adoption 
of  "  importers'  passes,"  by  which  an  importer 
is  enabled  to  convey  his  rights  to  a  purchaser. 
Provided  the  goods  remain  in  their  original 
packing,  they  may  be  re-exported  to  another 
Treaty  port,  either  by  the  original  importer 
or  by  the  purchaser,  without  paying  import 
duty  on  arrival  at  their  destination.  If  re- 
exported a  second   time  the  goods  are  again 


any  port,  but  if  the  cargo  is  destined  for 
another  Chinese  port  a  "duty  proof"  is 
issued,  and  upon  arrival  only  a  half  duty,  or 
"coast  trade  duty"  is  levied.  In  the  event 
of  the  goods  being  re-exported  this  charge 
is  refunded.  If  the  goods  arc  then  to  be 
conveyed  to  a  third  Chinese  port,  the 
repayment  of  the  "  coast  trade  duty "  is 
demanded  upon  their  arrival.     If  sent  inland. 


SIR   ROBERT   HART,    BART.,|  iG.C.M.G.,    INSPECTOR-GENERAL. 


covered  by  an  "  exemption  certificate."  UpoJi 
imports  intended  for  any  place  other  than  a 
Treaty  port  the  purchaser  may  either  pay 
likin  en  route,  or  pay  half  the  import  duty 
additional,  and  obtain  a  "transit  pass  in- 
wards." Likin  is  payable  on  Chinese  produce 
brought  to  a  Treaty  port,  but  a  "  transit  pass 
outwards "  is  issued  upon  payment  of  a  half 
duty  if  the  goods  are  intended  for  shipment 
abroad.     Export  duty  is  paid  on  shipment   at 


these  goods  have  no  "  transit  pass  "  privilege. 
The  payment  of  "  tonnage  dues "  exempts  a 
ship  from  further  payment  for  four  months  ; 
this  period  may,  however,  be  extended  by 
any  time  spent  in  effecting  repairs  in  a 
Chinese  port. 

Foreign  opium,  and  such  native  opiuin  as 
comes  under  the  cognisance  of  the  Customs, 
having  paid  duty  and  likin,  is  labelled  by 
the  department,   and,  so  long   as   the   lat>els 


284    TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


remain  intact,  is  exempt  from  all  further 
pa>incnf. 

The  Commissioner  of  Customs  at  each  port 
exercises  supervision  over  the  native,  or 
regular.  Customs,  a  task  which  demands 
the  exercise  of  tact  and  diplomacy,  for  he 
has  to  hold  evenly  the  balance  between  the 
foreign  powers,  in  whose  interests  he  has 
to  watch  the  due  payment  of  indemnity 
funds,  and  the  Chinese  Government,  from 
whom,  though  their  servant,  he  has  to  secure 
the  due  fulfilment  of  treaty  obligations.  The 
difficulties  of  his  position  are,  moreover, 
increased  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  the 
native  Customs  offices  are  conducted  in  accord- 
ance with  Chinese  methods,  and  control  a 
purely  Chinese  trade. 

There  is,  however,  one  important  set-off 
against  the  difficulties  in  both  the  foreign 
and  the  native  Customs  ;  the  Commissioner 
is  not  responsible  for  handling  the  revenue. 
The  properly  constituted  authority  for  this 
purpose  is  the  Customs  Bank,  and  the  respon- 
sibilitv*  of  the  Commissioner  ceases  when 
he  has  obtained  a  receipt  certifying  the 
payment  of  the  amounts  due.  and  has  reported 
the  amount  of  the  revenue  so  derived.  The 
Chinese  Superintendent,  and  not  the  Foreign 
Commissioner  of  Customs,  directly  controls 
the  revenues  of  the  bank. 

The  Coast  Service  is  under  the  general 
control  of  the  Inspector-General  as  regards 
the  disposition  of  the  various  vessels  in  the 
several  districts,  and  under  the  control  of 
the  Commissioner  in  whose  district  they  are 
stationed  as  regards  the  work  immediately 
in  hand.  There  are  6  revenue  steamers, 
officered  by  a  special  coast  staff,  4  revenue 
cruising  launches,  21  revenue  launches,  and 
9  sailing  craft,  officered  by  men  detached 
from  the  revenue  staff,  the  Coast  Inspector 
bein^  responsible  for  the  personnel  and 
materiel  of  the  vessels.  The  duties  of  the 
revenue  fleet  are  preventive,  but  the  vessels 
are  chiefly  used  in  connection  with  the 
lighting  and  surveying  of  the  coast. 

The  Makine  Department  is  divided  into 
three  branches,  employing  altogether  98 
foreigners  and  577  Chinese.  The  Engineers' 
Branch,  under  the  Engineer-in-Chief,  under- 
takes the  construction  and  maintenance  of 
lights.  Of  these  there  are  now  14  of  the 
first  order,  39  occulting,  flashing,  or  revolving 
lights,  53  other  lights,  4  light-vessels,  and  22 
light-txKits.  The  Harbours  Branch,  at  the 
head  of  which  is  the  Coast  Inspector,  is 
charged  with  coast  work,  surveying,  sea  and 
river  conservancy,  the  selection  of  new  sites 
for  lights,  and  technical  control  of  harbour 
work  and  pilotage  in  China  generally. 
Buoys  (of  which  there  are  iii)  and  beacons 
(of  which  there  are  105)  are  also  under  the 
general  supervision  of  the  Coast  Inspector. 
At  Shanghai  only  is  there  a  Harbour  Master; 
in  other  ports  the  duties  of  this  office  are 
undertaken  by  the  Tide  Surveyor,  who  is, 
under  the  Commissioner,  in  control  of  the 
out-door  staff.  The  Lights  Branch,  under 
which  58  foreign  and  244  Chinese  light- 
keepers  are  employed,  is  controlled  by  the 
Commissioners  of  the  districts  in  which  the 
lights  are  situated,  or,  in  some  instances,  by 
the  Coast  Inspector. 

The  Education  Department  is  only 
indirectly  connected  with  the  Customs,  which 
supplies  the  necessary  funds.  Until  1902. 
when  the  institution  was.  by  imperial 
decree,  merged  in  the  Peking  University, 
the  Inspector-General  nominated  to  vacant 
chairs  in  the  Peking  College,  and  frequently 
•'  lent "  men  from  the  Customs  for  temporary 
instruction  ;  but  the  college  was  actually 
directed  by  Dr.  W.  A.  P.  Martin,  who  had 
been  connected  with  it  for  many  years. 


The  Postal  Department,  organised  under 
the  Revenue  Department  in  1876,  was  made 
a  separate  branch  in  1896,  and  is  now  practi- 
cally distinct  from  the  Customs,  except  that 
the  Inspector-General  is  still  at  the  head  of 
it,  and  at  each  port  the  Commissioner  exer- 
cises the  functions  of  a  district  postmaster,  and 
generally  supervises  the  work.  The  Imperial 
Chinese  Postal  Service  is,  however,  dealt 
with  minutely  in  a  separate  article. 

Revenue  Collections. 

The  progress  of  the  Customs  may  be  seen 
from  the  following  comparative  statement  of 
revenue  collections  from  1864.  when  reports 
on  trade  were  first  issued  :  — 

Taels. 

1864 7.872.257 

1874 11.497.272 

1884 13,510,712 

1894 22,523,605 

1904 31.493.156 

1905 35,111,004 

1906 36,068,595 

1907 33.861,346 

The  advances  during  1864-74-84  were  due 
to  the  gradual  growth  of  trade.  Within  the 
next  decade  the  rise  is  partly  attributable  to 
the  imposition  of  likiii  on  opium  in  1887  ;  and 
between  1894  and  1904  a  marked  increase 
followed  the  inclusion  in  the  list  of  dutiable 
articles  of  many  things  which  had  formerly 
been  free.  This  broadening  of  the  tariff  basis 
was  carried  out  in  1901-2,  under  the  Inter- 
national Protocol,  which  was  the  outcome 
of  the  Boxer  troubles.  Then  during  the 
recent  American  boycott,  many  Chinese 
merchants,  who  openly  subscribed  to  the 
movement,  clandestinely  laid  in  large  stocks 
of  American  goods  ;  hence  the  increased 
revenue  collections  for  1905-6,  followed  by 
a  corresponding  reduction  in  1907,  owing 
to  the  surplus  stock  which  remained  in  hand 
throughout  China. 

The  table  given  below  apportions  the 
revenue  for  the  past  ten  years  between  the 
foreign  and  home  trades  : — 


of  Tls.  1.249,658,  or  356  per  cent.,  compared 
with  1905;  and  an  increase  of  Tls.  2,386,  u/j. 
or  752  per  cent.,  compared  with   1904. 

The   sums  contributed  by  tlic  various  ports 
during  the  twelve  months  were  as  under  : — 


Year. 

Foreign  Trade. 

Home  Trade. 

Total. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

T.aels. 

1898 

18,267,298 

4,236,099 

22,503,397 

1899 

21,437,891 

5.223.569 

26,661,460 

1900 

18,182,815 

4.691. 171 

22,873,986 

19OI 

19,860,900 

5,676,674 

25.537,574 

1902 

24,180,574 

5,826,470 

30,007,044 

1903 

24,054,785 

6,475.903 

30,530,688 

1904 

24,788,638 

6,704,518 

31,493,156 

1905 

27.544.295 

7.566.709 

35,111,004 

1906 

29,272,481 

6,796,114 

36,068,595 

1907 

28,147,405 

5.713,941 

33,861,346 

The  headings  under  which  the  revenue  is 
classified  may  be  seen  from  the  following 
statement  relating  to  1907  :— 

Taels, 
Import    duty    (exclusive 

of  opium)       13,240,173 

Export    duty    (exclusive 

of  opium)      9,304,453 

Coast  trade  duty  (exclu- 
sive of  opium)  ...         1,768,982 
Opium      duty      (import, 
export,       and       coast 

trade 1,789,269 

Tonnage  dues 1,321,192 

Transit  dues      ...         ...         2,066,400 

Opium  likin       4,370,877 

Total     ...     33,861,346 


Port. 

Collection. 

Taels. 

Shanghai          

11,007,454 

Canton 

3,281,725 

Tientsin            

3.215,494 

Hankow            

2,928,163 

Swatow 

1,530,85b 

Chinkiang        

1,265,567 

Kiaochau          

9.34.623 

Foochow 

914.305 

Anioy 

887,436 

Kiukiang          

756.025 

Ningpo 

686,466 

Hangchow       

685,646 

Wuhu 

668,102 

Chefoo 

633.243 

Newchwang    

594.413 

Wucliow 

469.569 

Chungking        

447,030 

Kowloon           

.393,773 

Lappa    

368,451 

Kiungchow       

285,449 

Nanking 

265,629 

Mengtsz            

203,527 

Samshui           

185.727 

Chinwangtao 

154,722 

Santuao 

142,814 

Dairen 

140,738 

Antung 

122,770 

Kongmoon       

118,578 

Changsha         

117,733 

Pakhoi 

114,817 

Soochovv           

105,461 

Wenchow         

50,893 

Tengyueh          

49,111 

Ichang  

48,616 

Yochow 

31,541 

Nanning           

24,092 

Shasi     

14,390 

Lungchow        

7,7.35 

Szeniao 

7.427 

Tatungkow       

1,224 

This   is  a   decrease   of  Tls.  2,207,249,  or  612 
per  cent.,  compared   with   1906 ;   a  decrease 


The  revenue  derived  from  native  Customs 
from  November  7,  1904,  to  November  5, 
1907,  amounted  in  all  to  Tls.  10,496,311 — an 
average  of  about  Tls.  3,500,000  a  year. 
The  contributing  ports  were  Newchwang, 
Tientsin,  Chefoo,  Ichang,  .Shasi,  Kiukiang, 
Wuhu,  Shanghai,  Ningpo,  Santuao,  Foochow, 
Amoy,  Swatow,  Canton,  Kongmoon,  Samshui, 
Wuchow,  Kiungchow,  and  Pakhoi. 

From  the  date  of  their  establishment  down 
to  1907  the  Customs  have  yielded  a  total  of 
Tls.  830,092,651. 

CHINESE    IMPERIAL    POSTAL 
SERVICE." 

Early  in  the  "  sixties,"  during  the  first  few 
winters  after  foreign  representatives  took 
up  their  residence  at  Peking,  the  Legation 
and  Customs  mails  were  exchanged  betvveen 
Shanghai  and  the  capital  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Tsung-li-yamen,  by  means  of  the 
Government  couriers  employed  for  the  trans- 
mission of  ofticial  despatches.  It  was  then 
found  convenient  to  arrange  that  the  Customs 
should  undertake  the  responsibility  of  making 
up  and  distributing  these  mails — a  practice 
which,  for  the  overland  service  during  the 
winter  months,  involved  the  creation  of  postal 

»  This  article  is  abridged  from  reports  on  the  work  of 
the  Post  Ofi'ice  in  ig04  and  1906  issued  by  I  he  Statistical 
department  of  the  Chinese  Imperial  Customs  Service  by 
order  of  the  Inspector-General  of  Customs  and  Posts, 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     285 


departments  at  the  Inspectorate  and  in  the 
Custom  Houses  at  Shanghai  and  Chinkiang  ; 
and,  similarly,  for  the  transmission  of  mails 
by  coast  steamers  during  the  open  season, 
the  opening  of  quasi-postal  departments  in 
the  Tientsin  and  other  coast  port  Custom 
Houses. 

At  that  early  date  it  could  be  seen  that  this 
might  form  the  nucleus  of  a  National  Post 
Ofiice.  This  idea  had  already  so  much  in- 
gratiated itself  in  the  official  mind  that  in 
1876,  when  the  Chefoo  Convention  was  being 
negotiated,  the  Tsung-li-yamen  authorised 
the  Inspector-General  to  inform  the  British 
Minister,  Sir  Thomas  Wade,  that  it  was 
prepared  to  sanction  the  establishment  of  a 
National  Postage  System,  and  willing  to 
make  it  a  treaty  stipulation  that  postal 
establishments  should  tie  opened  at  once. 
Unfortunately,  the  insertion  of  the  postal 
clause  was  omitted  from  the  official  text  of 
the  Treaty,  and  thus  the  project  was  post- 
poned sine  die. 

Meanwhile;  however,  the  experiment  was 
persevered  with,  and  it  received  warm  en- 
couragement from  the  Imperial  Commissioner, 
Li  Chun-t'ang,  who  proinised  to  "father" 
it  officially  as  soon  as  it  proved  a  success. 
Hence  the  more  formal  opening  of  postal 
departments  at  various  Custom  Houses,  the 
1878  experiment  of  trying  a  native  post  office 
alongside  the  Customs  post,  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  Customs  couriers  from  Taku  to 
Tientsin,  and  from  Tientsin  to  Peking,  and 
the  Customs  winter  mail  service  overland 
from  Tientsin  to  Newchwang,  Chefoo,  and 
Chinkiang,  as  well  as  the  introduction  of 
Customs  postage  stamps  in  1878. 

The  growing  importance  of  the  service 
thus  quietly  built  up  was  recognised  by  the 
foreign  administrations  having  postal  agencies 
in  China.  In  1878  China  was  formally  in- 
vited to  join  the  Postal  Union.  In  the  same 
year,  while  on  a  visit  to  Paris,  the  Inspector- 
General  was  "  sounded "  by  the  French 
Minister  for  Foreign  Affairs  as  to  a  possible 
way  of  withdrawing  the  French  Post  Office  in 
Shanghai  ;  and  while,  more  than  once,  the 
British  Postmaster-General  at  Hongkong 
expressed  his  readiness  to  close  the  Hong- 
kong Post  Office  agencies  along  the  coast, 
arrangements  were  actually  discussed  for  the 
absorption  by  the  Customs  Department  of  the 
Municipal  Post  Office  at  Shanghai.  But  no 
definite  response  to  these  overtures  could  be 
given  before  the  Chinese  Government  had 
declared  its  intention  to  undertake  national 
responsibilities  ;  and  the  Customs  Department 
continued  to  satisfy  only  certain  wants  and 
prepare  the  system  for  further  development, 
till,  twenty  years  after  the  Chefoo  Convention, 
the  decree  of  March  20,  1 80,  appeared. 
This  decree  created  an  Imperial  Post  for 
all  China,  to  be  modelled  on  Western  lines. 
The  organisation  and  management  were 
confided  to  Sir  Robert  Hart,  who,  from  that 
date,  has  acted  in  the  double  capacity  of 
Inspector-General  of  Customs  and  Posts. 

This  long  hesitation  on  the  part  of  the 
Chinese  Government  formally  to  recognise 
and  foster  an  institution  known  to  have 
worked  with  such  profitable  results  in  foreign 
countries  may  be  a  matter  of  surprise  to  some 
people.  But  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that 
from  times  immemorial  the  Chinese  nation 
has  possessed  two  postal  institutions — one, 
the  I  Chan  (or  Imperial  Government  Courier 
Service),  deeply  rooted  in  official  routine  ; 
the  other,  the  native  posting  agencies,  long 
used  and  respected  by  the  people.  Both 
give  employment  to  legions  of  couriers,  and 
are  still  necessary  to  the  requirements  of 
an  immense  nation  ;  they  can  neither  be 
suppressed,   transformed,   nor  replaced    at    a 


stroke.  The  imperial  decision,  therefore, 
only  gave  final  sanction  to  a  new  and  vast 
undertaking,  but  abolished  nothing.  It  is 
through  competition  and  long  persevering 
efforts  that  the  two  older  systems  must 
gradually  be  superseded  and  the  implantation 
of  the  National  Post  Office  patiently  pursued. 
These    two   systems   deserve   more   than   a 


requirements,  in  exchange  for  which  very 
poor  services  are  secured.  The  memorialists 
themselves  recognised  if,  and  strongly  re- 
commended the  gradual  abolition  of  the  I 
Chan.  It  can  thus  be  seen  that  as  soon  as 
the  Imperial  Post  Office  is  ready  to  under- 
take the  responsibility,  the  Governnient 
Courier     Service    will     yield     its    place    and 


SIR    ROBERT    E.    BREDON,    K.C.M.G., 

Deputy  Inspector-General. 


passing  notice.  The  first  is  wholly  main- 
tained by  the  State  through  provincial  con- 
tributions from  ordinary  local  taxes.  In  1902, 
the  two  Yangtsze  Viceroys,  in  a  joint 
memorial  subinitting  their  own  plans  for  a 
National  Post,  estimated  the  total  cost  of  this 
service  at  some  Tls.  3,000,000  amuially. 
It    is  an    enormous    sum,    far    above    actual 


disappear.  It  has  already  lost  much  of  its 
importance,  steam  communicalion  along  the 
seaboard  and  the  rivers  having  long  rendered 
its  functions  obsolete  on  manv  imperial 
routes.  The  rapid  growth  of  inland  steam 
navigation  and  the  buil.iing  of  raihvav  lines 
are  so  inany  impioveuK-nls  in  internal  com- 
munications of  which  the  Imperial  Post  Office 


286    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


takes  keen  advantage,  and  which,  before  long, 
must  result  in  the  dis;ippear.ince  of  this 
semce. 

Far  more  obstructive  to  rapid  progress  will 
native  postal  agencies  prove.  These,  also, 
have  had  a  long  life,  but.  unlike  the  I  Chan, 
they  are  wholly  independent  ;  they  consider 
letter  traffic  as  their  legitimate  business,  and 
will  die  hard.  Their  innumerable  ramifica- 
tions— fast  couriers,  or  rapid  "  post-boats,"  as 
the  style  of  countrj-  decides — extend  to  all 
parts  of  China  a  veritable  network  of  postal 
connections  which,  with  their  slow  wavs,  have 
for  centuries  answered  the  requirements  of 
busy  and  thrifty  communities.  These  posting 
agencies  are  essentially  shop  associations,  for 
the  most  part  engaged  also  in  other  trades. 
The  transmission  of  parcels,  bank  drafts,  and 
sycce  is  the  most  lucrative  part  of  their 
postal  operations.  They  lix  the  limit  of  their 
responsibilities  and  adjust  their  rates  as  they 
please,  the  latter  having  frequently  to  be 
bargained  for.  One  characteristic  rule  is 
that  half  the  charge  is  paid  by  the  sender 
and  half  by  the  addressee.  This  practice 
often  leads  to  extra  demands  on  delivery 
when  the  second  half  of  the  charge,  the 
Chiu-txu  or  chiu-li  {pour  boire)  is  claimed. 

These  agencies,  unfettered  by  legislation, 
mdispensable  to  the  people,  flourished  un- 
disturt>ed  at  all  places  till,  some  fifty  years 
ago,  the  appearance  of  steam  brought  also  for 
those  working  at  places  along  the  coast  and 
the  rivers  a  new  order  of  things.  Yet  for 
a  long  time  no  particular  notice  was  taken 
of  their  doings,  and  when  sup.-rvision  over 
them  became  necessary  they  were  found  to 
have  organised  themselves  into  strong  bodies 
holding  a  monopoly  for  the  transmission  by 
steamers  of  all  inter-port  native  correspon- 
dence. With  these,  conveniently  styled  the 
lun-ch'nan  hsin-chn  (or  "steamer  letter 
hongs"),  the  Imperial  Post  Office  came  into 
direcf  contact  as  soon  as  the  decree  of  1896 
called  upon  them  to  recognise  the  new 
institution.  But  from  the  first  a  most  con- 
siderate policy  was  adopted  towards  them 
and  the  ordinary  native  establishments  of 
the  interior.  It  was  recognised  by  the 
Inspector-General  that  they  were  necessary, 
and  it  was  therefore  decided  to  encourage 
their  continuance  and  development.  In  order 
to  regularise  matters  and  bring  all  into  line, 
it  was  decided  to  begin  with  the  registration 
of  such  firms  as  have  business  houses  at  the 
Treaty  ports,  to  arrange  for  the  carriage  of 
their  inter-port  mails,  to  require  all  who  thus 
registered  to  send  such  inter-port  mail  matter, 
&c.,  through  the  Imperial  Post  Office,  and  to 
affiliate  them  as  agents  of  the  Imperial  Post 
Office  for  the  conveyance  of  letters,  &c.,  to 
and  from  places  inland.  Special  regulations 
have  been  drawn  up  in  this  sense  for  their 
guidance  and  observance,  and  while  their 
constituents  will  continue  to  pay  them  as 
before  for  transmitting  correspondence  at 
native  rates  fixed  by  themselves,  such  firms, 
on  the  other  hand,  pay  a  transit  fee  to  the 
Imperial  Post  Office,  which  has  undertaken 
the  conveyance  of  their  inter-port  mails 
according  to  special  tariff.  Accordingly,  these 
native  establishments — of  which  more  than 
three  hundred  have  already  been  registered — 
will  continue  for  some  time  to  work  almost 
independently  alongside  the  Imperial  Post 
Office,  but  they  will  eventually  be  absorbed 
and  gradually  merged  in  the  public  postal 
service  of  the  Empire  without  being  incon- 
venienced or  suppressed. 

Another  difficulty,  also  special  to  China,  is 
found  in  the  foreign  post  offices  established 
in  the  Treaty  ports.  At  the  present  day  their 
presence  and  increasing  number  affect  not  a 
little    the    imperial    administration.    Two    or 


three  of  different  nationalities  were  originally 
established  at  Shanghai,  the  terminus  port  of 
foreign  mail  boats,  and  were  required  there, 
and  are  still,  for  the  p.issing  of  international 
correspondence  abroad.  But  they  have  since 
opened  branches  at  numerous  ports,  with  tlie 
result  that  French,  British,  German,  and 
Japanese  post  offices  are  now  found  doing  a 
work  for  which  the  National  Post  Office 
alone   would  suflice. 

The  headquarters  of  the  Imperial  Post 
Office  are  at  Peking,  where  all  postal  affairs 
are  dealt  with  by  the  Postal  Secretary,  under 
the  Inspector-General  of  Customs  and  Posts. 
The  18  provinces  and  Manchuria  have 
been  divided  into  postal  districts  now  38  in 
number,  each  of  which  is  under  the  imme- 
diate supervision  of  a  postmaster.  The  head 
office  of  each  district  is  at  the  Treaty  port  of 
that  district,  except  in  the  case  of  Peking, 
where  the  head  office  of  the  large  Peking 
district  is  situated.  Certain  large  districts 
have  been  sub-divided  into  sub-districts,  of 
which  there  are  now  live,  each  under  the 
direction  of  a  district  inspector,  who  resides 
in  the  provincial  capital  in  that  sub-district. 
Each  head  or  sub-head  ollice  has  under  it  a 
certain  number  of  branch  offices,  inland 
agencies,  and  box  offices.  All  branch  offices 
established  at  important  places  undertake  the 
transmission  of  small  sums  of  money  by 
means  of   a   money  order   system. 

The  Imperial  Post  Office  is  to  be  found 
now  in  every  provincial  capital  of  the 
Empire,  in  most  prefectural  and  district 
cities,  and  in  the  more  important  smaller 
centres  and  towns  throughout  China,  the 
total  number  of  establishments  on  December 
31,  1907,  being  2,541. 

Communication  between  imperial  estab- 
lishments is  kept  up  by  means  of  contract 
steamers  on  the  coast  and  large  rivers  ;  by 
railways  where  they  exist ;  by  steam-launches, 
junks,  of  hong-boats  on  the  inland  water- 
ways ;  and  by  mounted  or  foot  couriers  on 
the  numerous  overland  routes,  which  now 
measure  over  101,000  li  (33,000  miles)  in 
length.  Where  steam  communication  is 
available  operations  are  greatly  facilitated, 
and  transport  is  cheaper  ;  hence  certain  tariff 
distinctions  between  steam-served  and  non- 
steam-served  places. 

Communication  by  couriers  of  a  kind  to 
fulfil  the  requirements  of  a  postal  service 
built  up  on  Western  lines  has  naturally 
been  no  easy  matter  in  a  vast  country  like 
China,  in  which  every  variety  of  geographi- 
cal features  is  presented  and  public  roads 
are  utterly  neglected.  Old-established  trade 
routes  are  usually  followed,  even  at  the  cost 
of  extra  distance,  as  offering  greater  safety 
for  the  couriers  and  as  capable  of  convenient 
sub-divisions  into  stages,  from  the  number  of 
towns  and  villages  found  on  them.  Stages 
are  generally  limited  to  100  li  (33  English 
miles),  and  the  couriers  run  according  to 
schedule  on  fixed  days  ;  but  on  the  main 
routes  speed  is  accelerated  as  much  as  pos- 
sible, daily  despatch  being  ensured  on  them 
for  light  mails,  and  an  every  two-days',  or 
semi-weekly,  service  for  heavy  mails.  For 
light  mails  night  and  day  foot  couriers  are 
used  in  some  parts  and  mounted  couriers 
in  others,  raising  the  speed  to  200  li  (or 
65  miles)  per  day.  The  couriers  are  the 
employes  of  the  Imperial  Post  Office  and 
wear  uniforms  or  badges. 


THE  INSPECTOR-OENERAL.— Sir  Robert 
Hart,  Bart.,  G.C.M.G.,  Inspector-General  of 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs  and  Posts,  has 
for     many     years     been     one     of    the    most 


remarkable  figures  in  China.  He  has  filled 
with  great  distinction  a  very  difficult  and 
onerous  post,  and  liis  success  may  be 
ascribed  to  the  fact  tliat  in  him  are  to  be 
found,  in  conjunction  witli  scholarly  attain- 
ments, those  attributes  of  the  born  adminis- 
trator— initiative,  courage,  and  organising 
ability.  No  foreigner  has  ever  wielded  such 
power  in  the  Celestial  Empire.  He  has  en- 
joyed the  implicit  confidence  of  the  Chinese 
Government  in  respect  of  internal  domestic 
questions,  and  his  iiitluence  has  time  and 
again  liad  important  bearing  on  matters  of 
international  moment.  He  has,  indeed,  aptly 
been  described  as  "the  permanent  trustee  of 
foreign  interests  in  China,"  and  as  "the 
acknowledged  intermediary  between  Western 
nations  and  the  China  Government."  To  him 
we  owe  many  of  the  existing  treaties  and 
conventions.  His  skill  in  the  handling  of 
commercial  problems,  his  sound  judgment 
on  questions  of  policy,  but,  still  more,  his  inti- 
mate knowledge  of  the  Chinese,  and  of  their 
language  and  literature,  have  compelled 
respect  and  admiration  ;  while  his  equity, 
courtesy,  and  innate  personal  charm,  have 
won  the  love  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  been  brought  into  coEitact.  The  high 
opinion  in  which  he  has  been  held  by  the 
Chinese  Government  was  strikingly  shown 
when,  some  years  ago,  an  American  syndi- 
cate came  forward  with  an  offer  "to  farm" 
the  Customs.  The  terms  appeared  to  be 
advantageous,  but  the  board  under  whom  Sir 
Robert  worked  submitted  the  offer  to  him 
without  comment.  After  reading  it  through, 
he  expressed  satisfaction  that  it  should  have 
been  made,  because  it  had  been  his  inten- 
tion to  ask  for  an  increase  of  expenditure. 
The  board,  without  more  ado,'  dismissed  the 
proposal  of  the  American  syndicate,  and 
sanctioned  the  disbursements  advised  by  Sir 
Robert  Hart. 

Sir  Robert  was  born  at  Milltown,  County 
Armagh,  on  February  20,  1835,  and  is  thus 
about  the  same  age  as  the  Dowager  Empress 
of  China.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Henry 
Hart,  of  Lisburn,  County  Antrim,  and  Ann, 
second  daughter  of  John  Edgar,  of  Bally- 
bray.  He  was  educated  at  Queen's  College, 
Taunton  ;  Wesley  College,  Dublin  ;  and 
Queen's  College,  Belfast.  He  took  the  B.A. 
degree  as  early  as  1853,  and  the  M.A. 
degree  in  1871,  the  honorary  degree  of 
LL  D.  being  conferred  upon  him  by  the 
University  of  Michigan  in  1882.  In  1854 
he  entered  the  Consular  service  in  China, 
and  on  his  arrival  in  Hongkong,  he  was 
appointed  Supernumerary  Interpreter  to  the 
British  Superintendency  of  Trade.  In  the 
same  year  he  was  transferred  to  Ningpo, 
where  he  became  Assistant  at  the  British 
Consulate.  Three  years  later  he  proceeded 
to  Canton,  where  he  held  successively  the 
posts  of  Second  Assistant  to  the  British  Con- 
sulate, Secretary  to  the  Allied  Commissioners 
for  the  Goverinnent  of  the  City,  and  Inter- 
preter to  the  British  Consulate.  In  1859 
came  that  change  in  his  career  which  marked 
the  beginning  of  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
life-histories  in  the  annals  of  modern  China; 
he  left  the  Consular  service,  having  obtained 
special  leave  to  do  so,  in  order  to  join  the 
Chinese  Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  in 
which  he  had  been  offered  the  appoint- 
ment of  Deputy  Commissioner  of  Canton. 
During  1861  63  he  was  Officiating  Inspector- 
General  ;  then  for  a  few  months  he  was 
Commissioner  at  Shanghai,  with  charge  of 
the  Yangtsze  Ports  and  Ningpo;  and  later  in 
the  same  year,  1863,  he  was  confirmed  in 
the  appointment  of  Inspector-General.  From 
that  date  he  has  held  the  post  continuously, 
for  his  tenure  of  the  office  of  British  Envoy 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     287 


Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary 
to  the  Emperor  of  Cliina  and  the  King  of 
Korea  in  1885,  can  hardly  be  called  a  break, 
as  it  was  only  of  some  two  months'  duration, 
at  the  end  of  which  brief  interval  Sir  Robert 
yielded  to  the  appeal  of  the  Chinese  Govern- 
ment and  returned  to  his  former  position. 

Sir  Robert  Hart  has  more  decorations  from 
the  Chinese  Government  than  any  other 
foreign  civilian.  He  received  the  brevet  title 
of  An  Ch'a  Ssu  (Provincial  Judge),  with  civil 
rank  of  the  third  class,  in  1864  ;  the  brevet 
title  of  Pu  Cheng  Ssu  (Provincial  Treasurer) 
with  civil  rank  of  the  second  class,  in  1869; 
the  Order  of  the  Red  Button  of  the  First 
Class  in  1881  ;  the  Order  of  the  Double 
Dragon,  Second  Division,  First  Class,  and 
the  distinction  of  the  Peacock's  Feather,  in 
1885  ;  Ancestral  Rank  of  the  First  Class  of 
the  First  Order  dated  back  for  three  genera- 
tions, with  Letters  Patent,  in  1889  ;  and  the 
brevet  title  of  Junior  Guardian  of  the  Heir 
Apparent  in  1901.  In  1902  he  was  received 
in  audience  by  the  Empress  Dowager  and 
Emperor.  The  edict  sanctioning  Sir  Robert's 
application  for  leave  in  the  current  year  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  brevet  rank  of  President 
of  a  Board  in  token  of  appreciation  of  his 
eminent  services.  At  the  hands  of  the  British 
Government  he  has  received  signal  recogni- 
tion, being  created  a  Knight  Commander  of 
the  Order  of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George  in 
1882,  a  Knight  Grand  Cross  of  the  same 
order  in  1889,  and  a  baronet  in  1893.  To 
mark  their  appreciation  of  his  services  in 
connection  with  the  successful  issue  of  the 
negotiations  between  France  and  China  in 
June,  1885,  the  French  Government  made 
him  a  Grand  Officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honour. 
Other  decorations  which  Sir  Robert  has  re- 
ceived include  those  of  Chevalier  of  the  Order 
of  Wasa,  Sweden-Norway,  1870 ;  Knight 
Grand  Cross,  Order  of  Francis  Joseph, 
Austria,  and  Commander,  Order  of  Pius  IX, 
Rome,  1885  ;  Knight  Grand  Cross,  Order  of 
Christ,  Portugal,  1888  ;  Knight  Grand  Cross, 
Order  of  the  Polar  Star,  Sweden,  1894  ; 
Knight  Grand  Cross,  Order  of  Orange  Nassau, 
Holland,  1897  ;  Order  of  the  Crown,  First 
Class,    Prussia,    1900  ;    Knight   Grand   Cross, 


Order  of  the  Crown  of  Italy,  1907  ;  Knight 
Grand  Cross,  Order  of  St.  Olav,  Norway, 
1908.  Sir  Robert  Hart's  calm  courage  under 
adverse  circumstances  of  health  during  the 
defence  of  the  Legations  at  Peking  against 
the  Boxers  in  1900  will  not  soon  be  for- 
gotten, and  it  will  long  be  a  matter  for  regret 
that  all  oflicial  records  of  his  failhful  and 
distinguished  services  were  lost  irrevocably 
when  the  Inspectorate-General,  with  all  its 
archives,  was  destroyed  by  the  rebels. 

In  May,  1906,  two  Chinese  officials  were 
appointed  respectively  Administrator-in-Chief 
and  Vice-Administrator  of  Customs,  and  this 
led  to  strong  protests  by  the  British  Minister, 
as  their  appointment  was  looked  upon  as 
involving  the  supersession  of  Sir  Robert 
Hart,  though  Sir  Robert  Hart  himself  never 
supported  that  view.  Sir  Robert  is  now  on 
leave,  and  the  duties  of  Inspector-General  of 
Customs  have,  in  his  absence,  devolved  upon 
the  Deputy  Inspector-General,  Sir  Robert  E. 
Bredon,  K.C.M.G. 

A  man  of  great  learning.  Sir  Robert  Hart 
has  done  much  to  further  the  spread  in  the 
West  of  a  general  knowledge  of  the  Far 
East,  as  a  patron  of  Oriental  museums  in 
England  and  on  the  Continent,  as  well  as  in 
his  authoritative  work,  "  These  from  the  Land 
of  Sinim,"  which  was  published  in  1901.  In 
i866  Sir  Robert  married  Hester  Jane,  eldest 
daughter  of  Alexander  Bredon,  M.D.,  of 
Portadown,  and  by  this  marriage  has  one 
son  and  two  daughters.  When  in  China 
Sir  Robert  resides  at  Peking  ;  his  London 
addresses  are  38,  Cadogan  Place,  S.W.,  and 
the  Athenaeum  Club. 

SIR     ROBERT     BREDON,     K.C.M.G.,     the 

Deputy  Inspector-General  of  the  Chinese 
Imperial'  Maritime  Customs,  is,  like  Sir 
Robert  Hart,  an  Irishman.  It  was  originally 
intended  that  he  should  follow  his  father  in 
the  medical  profession,  but,  although  he 
obtained  first  place  in  the  examination  for 
the  Army  Medical  Staff,  first  place  in  the  linal 
examination  for  students  at  Netley  Hospital, 
and  was  appointed  to  the  97th  Regiment,  all 


in  one  year,  1867,  he  retired  after  six  years' 
service  and  joined  the  Chinese  Imperial 
Maritime  Customs.  He  has  held  his  present 
substantive  appointment  since  1898,  and  is 
now  Acting  Inspector-General  in  the  absence 
of  Sir  Robert  Hart.  He  was  closely  associated 
with  the  negotiations  leading  up  to  the 
Mackay  Treaty,  and  is  generally  credited 
with  the  responsibility  for  Article  8,  the  most 
important  of  all  the  articles  in  that  instrument. 
A  loyal  servant  of  the  Chinese  Government, 
he  has  incurred  the  displeasure  of  a  certain 
section  of  the  foreign  community,  but  has 
never  acted  in  any  way  unworthy  of  a  British 
subject.  He  was  present  with  his  wife  and 
family  in  the  British  Legation,  Peking,  during 
its  siege  and  bombardment,  and  received  the 
China  medal  and  clasp.  He  was  created  a 
K.C.M.G.  early  in  1904,  and  his  other  decora- 
tions include  those  of  an  Officer  of  the 
Legion  of  Honour  (France)  ;  Commander  of 
the  Order  of  Olaf  (Norway)  ;  Second  Class, 
Sacred  Treasure  (Japan)  ;  Second  Division, 
Second  Class,  Double  Dragon  (China)  ;  and 
Second  Class,  Crown  of  Prussia,  with  star. 
His  writings,  which  have  been  naturally 
limited  by  his  many  activities  in  other 
directions,  coinprise  various  papers  in  Cus- 
toms publications  on  Chinese  railway  and 
financial  questions,  including  some  in  Chinese. 
Born  on  February  4,  1846,  at  Portadown, 
Ireland,  Sir  Robert  is  the  eldest  son  of 
the  late  Alexander  Bredon,  M.D.,  and 
Katherine,  daughter  of  the  late  Joseph 
Breadon,  R.N.,  of  Stanstead,  Canada.  He 
was  educated  at  the  Royal  School,  Dun- 
gannon,  and  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin, 
where  he  was  an  honoursman  in  both 
classics  and  mathematics,  and  obtained  the 
degree  of  M.A. 

He  is  also  a  Bachelor  of  Medicine  and 
a  Master  of  Surgery.  In  1897  he  married 
Lily  Virginia,  youngest  daughter  of  Thomas 
Crane  Banks,  of  San  Francisco,  U.S.A.,  and 
has  one  daughter.  His  address  is  the  Inspec- 
torate-General of  Customs,  Peking,  China. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Shanghai  Club,  the 
Shanghai  Country  and  Race  Clubs,  the  Peking 
Club,  and  the  Junior  United  Service  Club, 
London. 


'^^^^^ 


Tvr=^^:=^^ 


THE   CURRENCY   OF   CHINA. 


HINA  can  boast  the  most 
ancient  financial  system  in 
the  world.  Currency  in  one 
form  or  another  has  existed 
in  the  country  from  pre- 
historic times.  Records  dat- 
ing from  about  the  year  1122 
B.C.  show  that  ninety  years  previously  one  ol 
the  rulers  of  the  Chow  dynasty  passed  an 
enactment  for  making  copper  pieces  a 
medium  of  exchange  according  to  their 
weight  Knife  and  spade  money,  so  named 
from  its  resemblance  to  those  implements, 
was  in  time  superseded  by  round  coins  with 
a  squ.ire  hole  in  the  middle,  such  as  are  in 
circulation  to-day.  Eventually  the  Chinese 
Government  assumed  the  prerogative  of 
"casting  coins  of  regular  shapes  and  sizes, 
and  of  constant  weights"  (British  Museum 
Catalogue). 

Some  thirteen  centuries  ago,  during  the 
Tang  dynasty,  a  standard  bi-metallic  system 
of  silver  and  copper  coinage  was  introduced 
— the  ratio  being  10  silver  equal  1,000  copper, 
which  continues  in  theory  to  this  day. 
Token  money  was  introduced  only  as 
recently  as  1851-61,  the  coins  varying  in 
value  from  5  to  1,000  cash.  The  last  token 
coin  issued  was  the  copper  cent,  sometimes 
inscribed  "  100  to  the  dollar,"  but  more  often 
"representing  10  cash."  They  have  now 
depreciated  in  value  to  7  cash  each,  or  about 
124  to  the  dollar. 

Chinese  Note  Issues. 

There  are  no  records  to  show  when 
private  issues  of  bank  notes  were  (irst  made 
amongst  the  Chinese.  To-day  there  are 
innumerable  firms  who  issue  paper  money 
which  finds  ready  acceptance  within  the 
radius  of  the  firms'  reputation.  Government 
notes  appeared  first  during  the  Tang  dynasty, 
about  806821  A.D.,  the  "bonds"  being 
redeemable  at  the  provincial  capitals.  These 
were  followed  by  notes,  serving  the  purposes 
of  bills  of  exchange,  issued  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Sung  dynasty.  True  paper 
money  was  introduced  some  years  later  in 
what  is  now  the  province  of  Szechwan,  each 
note  representing  a  thousand  cash  or  one 
tael  of  pure  silver.  The  issue  was  guaranteed 
by  a  number  of  wealthy  houses,  but,  these 
becoming  bankrupt,  the  Emperor  annulled 
the  notes  and  reserved  lo  himself  the  right 
to  issue  bank-bills.  By  degrees  banks  were 
established  in  many  provinces,  but  the  notes 


issued  by  the  banks  of  one  province  were 
not  circulated  in  another.  During  the  twelfth 
and  early  in  the  thirteenth  centuries  the  coun- 
try was  flooded  with  notes,  the  natural  conse- 
quence being  a  depreciation  in  their  value. 
Then  came  the  Mongol  dynasty,  and  it  is 
estimated  that  during  the  108  years  for  which 
it  endured  notes  to  the  value  of  40,000,000 
taels  were  issued  on  an  average  each  year  ! 
The  resultant  evils  of  this  depreciated  paper 
currency,  together  with  the  incidence  of 
heavy  taxation,  brought  about  the  rebellion 
which  overthrew  the  Mongol  dynasty. 
Although  the  first  Ming  Emperor  found  him- 
self face  to  face  with  grave  financial  difficul- 
ties, he  succeeded  in  solving  them  and  in 
placing  the  imperial  finances  on  a  sound 
basis.  The  circulating  notes  of  the  Ming 
Empire  measured  about  13^  inches  by  8J 
inches,  and  were  printed  on  mulberry-bark 
paper.  Among  other  information  conveyed 
in  the  design  was  that  "  To  counterfeit  is 
death.  The  informant  will  receive  250  taels 
of  silver,  and,  in  addition,  the  entire  property 
of  the  criminal."  From  the  early  years  of 
the  fifteenth  down  to  the  middle  of  the  nine- 
teenth centuries  no  Government  notes  were 
issued.  In  1853  two  kinds  of  notes — cash 
notes  and  silver  notes — were  forced  into 
circulation  by  the  Emperor  Hienfung,  who 
compelled  the  Stale  officials  to  receive  part  of 
their  salaries  in  this  currency.  The  cash  notes 
of  this  issue  were  of  four  denominations, 
namely — 500,  1,000,  1,500,  and  2,000  cash 
respectively ;  and  the  silver  notes  were  for 
various  values  ranging  from  one  tael  to  fifty. 
From  1862  there  was  no  issue  of  Government 
paper  until  about  1902,  when  several  of  the 
provinces  issued  notes,  the  circulation  of 
which,  however,  is  almost  entirely  local. 

Dollars  and  Subsidiary  Coins. 

Dollars  of  foreign  manufacture  have  been 
in  circulation  in  China  since  the  beginning 
of  the  eighteenth  century.  The  first  of 
which  there  is  any  record  is  the  Spanish 
carolus,  or  "pillar"  dollar.  Then  came  the 
Mexican  dollar,  which  at  once  found  favour, 
and  has  never  been  superseded.  An  Ameri- 
can "  trade  dollar "  was  introduced  in  the 
seventies,  but  as  it  was  a  few  grains  heavier 
than  the  Mexican,  the  Chinese  promptly 
consigned  it  to  the  crucible  ;  while,  later, 
the  Japanese  yen  enjoyed  a  measure  of 
popularity  until  it  was  placed  on  a  gold 
basis. 


Some  years  ago  the  Chinese  Government, 
having  tailed  to  mint  cash  at  a  profit,  turned 
their  attention  to  silver,  and  many  millions 
of  dollars,  900  fine,  were  issued  ;  but  these 
coins,  having  only  a  provincial  guarantee, 
were  accepted  by  weight,  and  not  by 
count  as  were  the  Mexican  dollars.  Then 
lo-cent  and  20-cent  pieces  were  minted  in 
silver,  800  fine,  and  these  are  now  largely 
circulated  at  rates  varying  from  no  cents 
to  114  cents  to  the  dollar. 

The  Tael. 

Before  the  introduction  of  Mexican  dollars, 
and  of  provincial  dollars  of  the  same  value, 
silver  was  current  in  Cliina  only  by  weiglit, 
and  it  would  be  hard  to  find  a  better 
synonym  for  "complexity"  than  the  word 
"  tael,"  the  generic  term  for  that  which  is 
still  the  real  silver  unit  of  the  country, 
whether  of  weight  or  value. 

Of  taels  in  weight  there  are  two  principal 
standards,  the  Kuping  or  Treasury  tael  and 
the  Tsaoping  or  commercial  tael,  their 
relationship  being  usually  that  100  Kuping 
taels  equal  102  Tsaoping  taels.  The  normal 
standard  Kuping  tael  is  575  8  Troy  grains  of 
silver,  1,000  fine,  i.e.,  chemically  pure  as 
shown  by  the  crude  methods  of  the  touch- 
stone, or  of  crucible  assaying,  as  practised 
in  China.  The  Tsaoping  tael  is  565-65 
grains  of  999  fine. 

Taels  of  value,  or  currency,  are  innumer- 
able. Practically  every  commercial  centre 
has  its  own  local  taels — sometimes  a  score 
in  number — all  accepted  as  current  in  the 
place,  though  one  is  usually  recognised  as  a 
standard  in  dealing  with  other  places,  or  in 
cases  where  no  stipulation  is  made  as  to  the 
exact  tael  to  be  used.  It  will,  however, 
suffice  to  mention  the  three  principal  ones, 
viz.,  the  Canton  tael,  the  Shanghai  or  Con- 
vention tael,  and  the  Haikwan  or  Custoins 
tael.  The  first  named  has  a  standard  weight 
of  579**5  {grains,  and.  Canton  having  been 
the  first  place  to  import  foreign  silver,  this 
tael  is  still  exclusively  used  as  a  standard 
for  all  dealings  in  foreign  bar  silver,  the 
basis  being  that  100  Troy  ounces  equal 
82781  taels.  The  Shanghai  tael,  the 
legitimate  banking  and  trading  currency  of 
the  commercial  metropolis  of  China,  equals 
520968  grains  of  998  fine,  or  519926  grains 
of  1,000  fine.  The  Haikwan  tael — S79197 
grains,  of  1,000  fine — is  the  currency  in 
which    duties    are    levied    by    the    Imperial 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     289 


Maritime  Customs,  but  it  is  a  purely  fictitious 
and  non-existent  currency.  Ttie  practice  is 
to  pay  all  Customs  obligations  in  local 
currency  at  a  rate  of  conversion  settled  on 
the  opening  of  each  Customs  office.  Thus  in 
Shanghai  Ilf40  Shanghai  taels  are  usually 
taken  as  equal  to  loo  Haikvvan  taels,  and  a 
merchant  would  give  his  cheque  in  payment 
of  Customs  duties  on  that  basis.  In  dis- 
charging its  foreign  obligations  the  Imperial 
Government  reckons  the  equivalence  of  the 
several  currencies  as  follows  : — lOo  Haikwan 
(Customs)  taels  equal  101642335  Kuping 
(Treasury)  taels,  equal  I09'6  Shanghai  taels. 
Although  these  and  other  rales  of  conversion 
are  practically  fixed,  there  is  absolutely  no 
fixed  standard  by  which  the  exact  value  of 
any  tael  can  be  determined,  for  in  some 
instances  the  fineness  or  quality  of  the  silver 
is  fictitious,  and  its  acceptance  is  maintained 
only  by  the  prestige  of  the  large  trade 
interests  of  the  particular  centre  to  which  it 
applies. 

Sycee. 

The  actual  form  in  which  silver  passes 
from  hand  to  hand  is  that  known  as  sycee. 
Bullion  is  imported  in  the  form  of  bar  silver, 
and  converted  into  oval  ingots,  called 
"  shoes "  on  account  of  their  resemblance  to 
a  Chinese  shoe.     These  sycee  ingots  vary  in 


weight  from  49  to  54  taels,  the  average 
being  about  50  taels  ;  while  for  fractional 
currency  obovoid  lumps  weighing  two  or 
three  taels  are  employed.  The  shoes  are 
stamped  with  the  name  of  the  melting 
station  and  of  the  workmen  who  made  them, 
and  their  weight  and  fineness  are  determined 
with  sufficient  accuracy  for  all  local  purposes 
at  weighing  stations  established  by  the 
Bankers'  Guilds  at  the  principal  centres. 

Currency  Reform. 

The  question  of  currency  has  long  engaged 
the  attention  of  the  Chinese  Government, 
the  principal  foreign  powers,  and  financiers 
and  merchants  having  cominercial  relations 
with  the  Empire.  Under  the  Mackay  Treaty 
of  1902  China  promised  "  to  take  the 
necessary  steps  to  provide  for  a  uniform 
national  coinage  which  shall  be  legal  tender 
in  payment  of  all  duties,  taxes,  and  other 
obligations  throughout  the  Empire  by  British 
as  well  as  Chinese  subjects." 

The  position  at  the  present  moment  is 
admirably  summarised  in  a  paper  contributed 
by  Mr.  H.  B.  Morse  to  the  "Journal  of  the 
North  China  Branch  of  the  Royal  Asiatic 
Society."  In  this  Mr.  Morse  says  :  "  The 
currency  in  China  is  at  the  top  a  weight 
pure  and  simple,  and  at  the  bottom  a  coin 
which   stands   on   its   own    feet,    and  neither 


receives  support  from,  nor  absolutely  gives 
it  to,  any  other  unit  in  the  series.  At  the 
top  is  the  tael  (call  it  the  '  ounce,'  and  it 
will  be  better  realised),  in  which  payments 
are  made  in  precisely  the  same  way  that 
delivery  is  taken  of  a  lot  of  silver  bars. 
Then  comes  the  dollar,  which,  though  a 
coin,  is  nowhere  legal  tender,  and  of  which 
the  specimens  from  the  Chinese  mints  are 
inscribed,  not  generally  '  dollar  '  or  '  yuen,' 
but  merely  '  72-hundredths  of  a  tael.'  Though 
so  inscribed,  dollars  are  nowhere  fixed  in 
terms  of  taels  of  silver,  but  are  quoted  at 
rates  which  vary  from  day  to  day  according 
to  the  demand  and  supply,  fluctuating  within 
a  range  of  6  or  more  per  cent.  Then 
come  subsidiary  coins,  fractional  to  the 
dollar,  but  subject  to  a  fluctuating  rate  of 
exchange  such  that  the  dollar  may  this  year 
change  for  no  cents  and  next  year  for  95 
cents  in  small  coin.  Next  comes  the  copper 
cent,  inscribed  at  the  mints  of  some  provinces 
as  worth  '  one-hundredlh  of  a  dollar,'  and  of 
others  as  worth  '  ten  cash,'  but  never  treated 
as  correlated  to  the  dollar  ;  whether  con- 
sidered in  its  relation  to  the  dollar  or  to 
the  cash,  it  is  a  token  coin  worth  intrin- 
sically less  than  half  its  nominal  value.  Last 
comes  the  copper  cash,  the  currency  of  the 
people,  with  a  present-day  value  of  the  ten- 
thousandth  part  of  a  pound  sterling." 


THE    SILK    INDUSTRY. 


[HE  introduction  of  the  silk 
industry  amongst  the  Chinese 
is  ascribed  to  Hwang  Ti,  who 
nourished  about  the  year  2697 
B.C.  Coming  down  to  historic 
times,  it  is  recorded  that  in 
the  thirteenth  century  woven 
silk  rolls  were  accepted  at  a  fixed  rate  of 
conversion  as  tribute,  or.  with  silver,  as  pay- 
ment for  the  salt  tax  ;  while  Kublai  Khan,  one 
of-  the  Mongol  Emperors,  issued  notes,  known 
as  ••  Kiao-chao."  which,  with  a  face  value  of 
Tls.  1. 000,  represented  TIs.  1,000  worth  of 
silk. 

The  growth  of  silk  is  considered  by  the 
Chinese  as  next  in  importance  to  that  of 
rice  ;  and  just  as,  according  to  the  rites  of 
Confucius,  the  Emperor  opens  the  season  of 
husbandry  by  holding  the  plough  for  one 
furrow,  so  the  Empress  every  year  inaugurates 
the  process  of  hatching  silkworms  and  gather- 
ing mulbwrry  leaves.  The  industry  in  all  its 
branches  —  silkworm  rearing,  reeling,  and 
weaving — is  almost  entirely  in  the  hands  of 
the  peasantry,  and  gives  employment  to 
thousands  of  families. 

The  life-history  of  the  silkworm  is  a 
wonderful  illustration  of  the  devious  ways 
in  which  nature  does  her  work.  The  silk- 
worm moth,  which  belongs  to  the  family  of 
bombici,  lays  thousands  of  eggs,  and  dies 
soon  after  fulfilling  this  function.  Incubation 
is  fostered  by  Italian  and  other  continental 
silk-farmers  by  means  of  carefully  regulated 
incubators,  and  before  the  eggs  are  selected 
a  microscopic  examination  is  made  of  the 
moths  for  the  purpose  of  eliminating  eggs 
laid  by  diseased  moths.  In  China  no  such 
elaborate  precautions  are  taken,  although  the 
eggs  are  sometimes  exposed  to  frost  to 
destroy  the  weaklings.  The  first  of  the  silk- 
worms make  their  appearance  in  about  eight 
or  ten  days,  and  are  collected  on  tender 
mulberry  leaves  and  placed  in  trays,  on 
which  finely  chopped  leaves  are  scattered  to 
serve  as  food.  In  five  or  six  days — according 
to  the  species  and  to  the  climatic  conditions 
— the  silkworm  goes  to  sleep,  waking  up 
twenty-four  hours  later  with  a  new  skin.  A 
second  period  of  eating,  lasting  four  or  five 
days,  is  followed  by  a  second  sleep  of  twenty- 
four  hours,  and  a  second  change  of  skin. 
After  the  third  period  of  feeding  the  silk- 
vi-orm  sleeps  for  forty-eight  hours,  and  issues 
from  this,  its  last  hibernation,  with  its  third 
skin,  and  an  almost  insatiable  appetite. 
During  the  following  eight  days  it  more 
than   quadruples  its    size,    attaining  a    maxi- 


mum length  of  about  three  inches  and  a  girth  contains  about  six  hundred  yards  of  filament, 

of  about  an  inch  and  a  half.     The  silk  fluid  or  takes   from   seventy    to    eighty    hours.     P^irst 

jelly   begins    to    form    in    the    body    of    the  a    sort    of    nest,    or    bag,    of    loosely-drawn 

larv:e,   and   towards   the   close  of   the  period  threads  is  attached  to  a  number  of  sticks  of 


A     MAQNIFICENT     SPECIMEN     OF     NATIVE     SILK 
EMBROIDERY 

(originally  intended  for  the  St.   Louis  Exhibition),  and  now  in  the 
possession  of  K.  K.  Toeg,  Shanghai. 


the  skin  becomes  distended  and  semi-trans- 
parent. The  silk  in  the  body  of  the  worm 
is  a  viscous  substance  which  only  becomes 
the  silk  as  seen  in  the  cocoon  on  exposure 
to  air.    The  spinning  of  the  cocoon,  which 


straw  or  twigs,  and  then  the  actual  cocoon  is 
commenced,  the  worm  ejecting  the  filament 
from  its  inoutli  and  winding  from  the  outside 
to  the  inside  of  the  cocoon,  so  that  it  entirely 
shuts    itself    in.     As    the    silk    is    ejected    it 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      291 


passes  throujih  two  sacs  contaiiiiiif;  a  tjumniy 
substance,  whicti,  gradually  hardening,  causes 
the  filaments  to  adhere  to  each  other  and 
makes  the  wall  of  the  cocoon  practically 
impervious  to  air.  Left  to  itself,  the  silkworm 
becomes  transformed  in  five  or  six  days  into 
a  pupa,  or  chrysalis,  and  in  a  further  five  or 
six  days  into  a  moth.  When  the  moth  is 
ready  to  emerge  it  ejects  upon  the  wall  of 
the  cocoon  a  fluid  which  acts  as  a  solvent  on 
the  gummy  substance  holding  the  filaments 
of  silk  together,  and  then  gradually  makes 
its  way  out,  pushing  the  filaments  aside  with- 
out breaking  a  single  one.  The  moths,  male 
and  female,  are  unable  to  fly,  their  bodies 
being  out  of  all  proportion  to  the  size  of 
their  wings.  They  can  walk  but  slowly,  and 
they  are  nearly  blind.  For  commercial  pur- 
poses, the  development  is  not  allowed  to 
proceed  beyond  the  chrysalis  stage,  except 
in  the  case  of  a  small  percentage  of  the 
finest  cocoons,  which  are  kept  for  supplying 
the  next  season's  crop  of  eggs.  The  reason 
for  this  is  that  the  "  pierced  "  cocoons,  from 
W'hich  the  moths  have  made  their  exits, 
are  worth  comparatively  little,  as  the  silk 
cannot  be  unwound  from  them.  In  Europe 
the   development   is   stopped    by    killing    the 


allowing  only  those  silkworms  to  survive 
which  show  themselves  to  be  the  most 
vigorous  by  being  the  first  to  wake  out  of 
each  successive  sleep. 

The  silk  products  of  China  may  be  classed 
roughly  as  raw  white,  raw  yellow,  wild  silk, 
and  piece  goods.  The  range  of  the  silk- 
worm is  from  Lat.  22°  N.  to  beyond 
Lat.  40°  N,,  the  very  finest  qualities 
of  white  silk  being  derived  from  the 
provinces  of  Kiangsu  and  Chekiang,  which 
lie  between  Lat.  27°  and  35°  N.  Yellow  silk 
comes  almost  entirely  from  Shantung  and 
Szechwan,  while  wild  silk  is  obtained  from 
Shantung,  Chihii,  and  Manchuria.  Piece 
goods  come  from  all  the  silk  farming  dis- 
tricts, and  Shantung  pongees  are  drawn 
chiefly    from    the   neighbourhood   of   Chefoo. 

The  value  of  silk  exports  in  1864,  the  year 
in  which  detailed  trade  reports  were  first 
issued  by  the  Statistical  Department  of  the 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  was,  in  round 
figures,  Tls.  12.000,000.  In  1874  the  value 
had  increased  to  Tls.  26.000,000  ;  in  1894,  to 
Tls.  42.500.000  ;  and  in  1904  to  Tls.  78,000,000. 
It  must,  however,  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
tael  in  1864  was  worth  6s.  8d.,  whereas  in 
1874,    1894.    and    1904     it    fell     in     value    to 


RAW   WHITE   SILK. 

Raw  white  silk,  the  tsatlee  silk  of  the 
European  market,  is  produced  by  hand- 
reeling  at  the  Chinese  silkworm  farms. 
The  custom  for  centuries  has  been  for 
each  farmer  to  reel  his  own  cocoons, 
his  whole  family  taking  part  in  the  industry. 
The  process  is  of  the  most  primitive  kind. 
Little  care  is  taken  to  ensure  cleanliness, 
and  the  product  is  so  uneven  in  reeling 
that  it  does  not  fetch  nearly  so  high  a 
price  as  the  product  of  the  steam  filatures 
— the  difference  being  often  as  much  as 
Tls.  300  or  Tls.  400  per  picul.  The  silk 
is  brought  into  the  market  by  collectors, 
hundreds  of  whom  are  engaged  in  this 
work.  The  raw  silk  is  made  up  into  hanks 
of  nine  pounds,  and  exported  in  bales  of 
one  picul  each.  When  it  reaches  its  destin- 
ation, in  Europe  or  elsewhere,  it  is  passed 
through  a  "throwing"  mill,  in  which  three 
or  four  threads  are  combined.  The  product, 
known  as  "  thrown "  silk,  is  boiled  to 
remove  the  residue  of  the  gum,  and  is 
then  ready  for  the  loom.  The  best  white 
silk  comes  from  the  districts  surrounding 
Shanghai,  which  contribute  by  far  the  largest 


1903.               1 

1904. 

1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

Piculs. 

Value. 

Piculs. 

Value. 

Piculs. 

Value. 

Piculs. 

Value. 

Piculs. 

Value. 

Raw   White          

Steam  Filature     ... 

„       Yellow       

„      Wild           

Cocoons 

Waste        

Refuse  Cocoons 

Piece  Goods        

Shantung  Pongees        

Products,  unclassed        

19.341 
43,979 

9.375 
22,128 
19.430 
79.882 
16,879 
14.708 

5,499 

Taels. 

11,603,374 

31,284,941 

3,649.601 

4,673,434 

2,704,268 

5.016,637 

402,503 

12,096,173 

1,688,737 

1,170,035 

34.238 
47.287 
10.374 
33,527 
11,015 
66,893 

14.719 
14,187 

3,487 

Taels. 

19,581,790 
28,526,115 

3.357,323 
9,861,668 

945,685 

3,014,202 

400.519 

10.600,800 

1,162,568 

804,742 

24,270 

45.347 
10,718 

25,584 
14,207 
87,167 
20,806 
12,390 

3,337 

Taels. 

13,524,010 

27,395.999 
3,866,402 
8,639,062 
1,344,286 
4,288,525 

555.818 
8,897,627 
1,041,123 

841,211 

27,224 
45,821 

11,886 

25.555 
11,608 

74.224 
16,970 

1 1. 755 
3,742 

Taels. 

16,485,481 
29,614,449 
3,214,873 
6,372,970 
1,089,872 
3,208,162 
450,254 
8,474.750 
1,279,104 
1,105,610 

28,556 
50,296 
13,465 
23,896 
14,263 
107,859 

22,104 

14,653 
5,843 

Taels. 

17,804,464 

39,047.350 

4,746.366 

6.292,933 
1.300,072 
5,439,771 

571,999 

10,602,514 

2.323,638 

954,927 

231,221 

74,289,703 

235.727 

78,255,412 

243,826 

70,394,063 

228,785 

71,295,525 

280,935 

89,084,034 

chrysalides,  either  by  baking  the  cocoons  or 
by  drying  them  in  hot  air.  The  baking 
method  is  employed  in   China    in    the    case 

.of  cocoons  sold  to  the  steam  filatures,  so 
that  the  cocoons  may  be  kept  for  longer 
periods,  and  more  time  devoted  to  sorting 
them  ;  but  the  Chinese,  having  no  know- 
ledge of  this  drying  process,  are  obliged  to 
reel  their  cocoons  at  once,  and  the  killing 
of  the  chrysalides  is  only  incidental  to  the 
reeling  process,  in  which  boiling  water  is 
used. 

Silkworms  are  liable  to  several  diseases, 
and  in  Europe  great  care  is  exercised  to 
secure  the  utmost  cleanliness  at  every  stage 
of    rearing.     The    most    dreaded    scourge   is 

_that  known  as  calcino,  which  does  not 
manifest  itself  until  the  second  period  of  the 
silkworm's  existence.  The  disease  is  due  to 
a  bacillus,  and  is  so  rapid  in  its  effects  that  a 
whole  crop  may  be  completely  destroyed  in 
two  days.  In  China,  where  less  care  is 
taken,  a  very  large  percentage  of  silkworms 
are  lost  through  various  diseases.  No 
microscopic  examination  is  made  of  the 
moths,  and  the  only  semblance  to  any  form 
of  elimination  of  weaklings  are  the  prac- 
tices  of   exposing  the  eggs   to   frost,  and  of 


6s.    4d.,    3s.    2d.,    and    2s.    lod.   respectively.       proportion    of    the   value   exported.      Among 
The    nn:intifv   niid    v;ihie    of    all   silk   nrodncfs       other      conlribiitini/     Customs      districts      are 


The  quantity  and  value  of  all  silk  products 
exported  during  the  years  1903-7  inclusive 
may  be  tabulated  as  above. 


other  conlributing  Customs  districts  are 
Shasi.  Hankow,  Chinkiang,  Hangchow,  Lappa, 
and  Wuchow.  The  following  table  shows 
the  principal  Customs  districts  from  which 
the  raw  white  silk  is  exported  and  the 
chief  places  to  which  it  is  taken  : — 


R 

AW     WHITE. 

Original  Export  from  principal  Customs  Districts. 

1905- 

1906. 

1907. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels, 

Shanghai      

11,283,931 

14,859,895 

15.370,172 

Canton          

885,917 

568,040 

852,938 

Chief  Countries  to  which  Exported. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Hongkong 

1,144.530 

761,208 

1,091,569 

Great  Britain           

186,032 

186,225 

442.771 

France         

3,757,286 

6,011,658 

7,294,691 

Italy 

3,115,539 

3,409.071 

2,688,203 

U.S.A.  (including  Hawaii) 

3,968,136 

5,262,881 

5.282,138 

292     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


STEAM  FILATURE  SILK. 

Raw  white  steam  filature  silk  is  by  far 
the  most  valuable  of  silk  exports,  accounting 
for  TIs.  39,047,350  of  the  total  of  Tls.  89,084,034 
exported  durint;  1907.  There  are  tilatures 
at  Shanghai,  Canton,  Soochow,  and  Hang- 
chow,  the  best  prices  being  realised  by  the 
products  of  the  Shanghai  filatures.  The 
cocoons  are  collected  in  the  farming  districts, 
and  the  tilatures  have  to  pjiy  exorbitant  prices 
for  them  ;  but,  owing  to  the  superior  pro- 
cesses employed,  the  tilatures  are  able  to 
reel  off  silk  worth  from  Tls.  700  to  Tls.  800 
per  picul.  while  the  native  hand-reeled  silk 
is  worth  only  about  Tls.  500  per  picul.  The 
cocoons  used  in  Shanghai  are  brought  chiefly 
from  Wusieh  district  in  the  Kiangsu  Province, 
where  the  silk  is  by  nature  the  finest  in  the 
world  ;  and  from  Showshing.  in  Chekiang 
Province,  where  it  is  almost  as  good  in 
quality  but  not  of  so  brilliant  a  white.  The 
cocoons  are  sorted  according  to  district,  size, 
and  colour  ;  the  waste  silk — the  loose  silk 
bag  or  nest  in  which  the  cocoon  is  suspended 
— is  picked  off  by  hand  and  forms  one  of 
the  by-products,  and  the  cocoons  are  then 
reeled.  In  the  process  of  reeling  the  silk 
the  cocoons  are  first  placed  in  bassiues,  which 
are  filled  with  water  kept  at  about  boiling 
point  by  means  of  steam.  The  cocoons  float 
on  the  surface,  and  the  water  acts  as  a 
solvent  upon  the  gum  in  them,  enabling  the 
••  brushing  girls "  to  collect  the  loose  ends 
of  silk.  The  cocoons  are  then  ladled  out  to 
two  reeling  women,  who  sit  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  bassiiie  table,  and  each  woman 
takes  some  live  or  more  and  passes  the 
filaments  over  guides  and  on  to  the  reeling 
machine.  In  passing  through  the  guides  the 
filaments  are  twisted  together,  and  the  thread 
thus  produced  is  the  raw  silk  of  export.  It 
takes  from  3,000  to  3,500  cocoons  to  reel 
one  pound  of  silk,  and,  like  the  hand-reeled 
product,  the  steam  filature  silk  is  hanked  into 
bundles  of  nine  pounds  and  made  up  into 
bales  of  one  picul  each.  Canton  steam  fila- 
ture silk  is  not  of  such  fine  quality  as  that 
produced  at  Shanghai,  and  realises  from 
Tls.  150  to  Tls.  200  per  picul  less  in  the 
market.  The  principal  producmg  districts 
and  places  of  destination  are  shown  in  the 
accompanying  table. 

YELLOW    SILK. 

Raw  yellow  silk  originates  in  the  provinces 
of  Szechwan  and  Shantung,  the  chief  produ- 
cing districts  being  Chefoo,  Kiaochau,  Chung- 
king. Ichang,  Shasi,  Hankow,  Shanghai, 
Pakhoi,  and  Tengyueh.  The  export  consists 
entirely  of  hand-reeled  silk,  which  is  collected 
from  the  farmers  in  the  same  way  as  other 
products.  The  export  values  for  the  past 
five  years  are  given  in  the  appended  tabular 
statement. 

WILD   SILK. 

Wild  silk  comes  principally  from  New- 
chwang  and  Chefoo,  other  contributing 
districts  being  Antung,  Darien,  Chinwangtao, 
Kiaochau,  Shanghai,  Canton,  and  Lappa.  It 
is  the  product  of  a  silkworm  fed  upon  oak 
leaves,  and  is  very  coarse  in  comparison  with 
white  and  yellow  silk.  The  cocoons  are 
about  three  times  as  large  as  those  of  other 
species,  and  are  pear-shaped,  for  the  reason 
that  they  are  slung  from  twigs.  The  piece- 
goods  manufactured  from  this  silk,  which 
is  of  much  the  same  colour  as  a  pale 
cocoanut  fibre,  are  known  as  tussahs. 

COCOONS. 

Cocoons  form  only  a  small  item  of  export. 
Shanghai,  Canton,  L^ppa,  and  Hangchow  are 


RAW    WHITE     STEAM     FILATURJE. 


Oi  iginal  Export  from  principal 
Customs  Districts. 

1903. 

1904. 

1905- 

lyo6. 

1907. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Shanghai      

8,095,183 

8,112,638 

8.335770 

8,195.187 

10,948,298 

Canton          

21,838,478 

19,137,988 

17,848,318 

20,336,761 

27,192,402 

Cliief  Countries  to  wliicli 
Exported. 

Tads. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Hongkong 

21,838,478 

19,137,988 

17,848,318 

20,336,761 

27,192,402 

Great   Britain         

18,620 

10,462 

6,668 

7,030 

— 

France         

— 

— 

4.755.513 

6,027,783 

7,239.592 

Italy 

— 

— 

754.663 

962,573 

1,034,770 

U.S.A.  (including  Hawaii)... 

2,559-925 

4,356,128 

3,960,105 

2,280,302 

3.573,948 

RAW     YELLOW. 


RAW   WILD. 


Original  Export  from  principal 
Customs  Districts. 

1903. 

1904. 

1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

TaeU. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Kiaochau 

416,280 

1,137.765 

335.144 

519.934 

1,477,908 

Chungking 

1,304,836 

1,179,224 

1,684,238 

1,496,957 

1,778,169 

Hankow      

1.315,778 

1,105,203 

1,350,622 

1.577,550 

2,142,740 

Cliief  Countries  to  whicli 
Exported. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Hongkong 

134.198 

43.347 

65.444 

26,039 

126,248 

British  India         

930.285 

1.193,267 

1,493,086 

1.020,437 

1 ,964,406 

Great  Britain        

7,980 

9.954 

— 

— 

— 

Turkey,      Persia,      Egypt, 
Aden,  Algeria,  &c. 

808,820 

851.304 

488,248 

583,302 

1,363,966 

France        

— 

— 

807,678 

878,578 

764.444 

Italy            

— 

— 

999.775 

688,732 

503,082 

Original  Export  from  principal  Customs 
Districts. 

1903. 

1904. 

•905- 

1906. 

1907. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Newchwang      

1.259.634 

1.821,344 

1,786,567 

1.549.753 

1,192,536 

Chefoo 

2,669,130 

3,246,329 

3.330.297 

3,240,649 

2,492,294- 

Chungking         

85.387 

223,542 

271.509 

108,080 

i  125,764 

Shanghai            

22,772 

221,938 

78,363 

'   57,248' 

.  ■  49.7  M 

Canton 

254.405 

201,141 

187,911 

73.459  1 

•  64,077, 

Lappa      

662,026 

823,617 

603,879 

736,174 

758.270 

Chief  Countries  to  which  Exported. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Tads. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Hongkong          

275.928 

292,811 

206,226 

80,946 

79.674 

Great  Britain     

28,232 

74.195 

83.791 

34,002 

8,316 

France    

— 

— 

3,002,288 

2,139,097 

2,534.025 

Italy        

— 

— 

1,280,294 

1,083,334 

798.408 

Japan  (including  Formosa)     

689,492 

483,207 

1,443,880 

1,132,217 

915,460 

United     States     America     (including 

507,374 

1,410,287 

1.551.404 

937,351 

980,968 

Hawaii)       

TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     293 


thf  chief  contributing  centres,  but  practically 
all  the  producing  districts  furnish  their  quota. 
The  value  of  the  export  is  a  little  over 
Tls,  1,000,000  a  year,  Japan  (including  F'ormosa) 
being  the  chief  customers. 

WASTE   SILK. 

Waste     silk    includes    a    variety    of     by- 
products.    One  of  these   is   the   fluffy   silken 
nest    in    which    the   cocoon    hangs.      This   is 
picked    off    before    the   silk   on    the    cocoon 
can    be    reeled,  and    is    known    as    "  floss " 
silk.        "  Frisson,"    or     ■'  husk "     silk    is     the 
impure   silk    coming    first    from    the   cocoon 
during    the    brushing   and    reeling    process  ; 
it    is    the    most    valuable   of    all    the   waste 
products,     being     worth     from     Tls.  loo     lo 
Tls.  150  per   picul,  according  to  the   market. 
Then    there   is    what    is    known    as    "  boiled 
waste,"  i.e.,  the  inner  layer  or  two  of  silk  in 
a    cocoon    which    cannot    easily    be    reeled. 
The  chrysalis  and   the  skin   of   the   silkworm 
are    picked  out   and    themselves    form  a   by- 
product    as     manure  ;     while     the     "  boiled 
waste "   is    washed,  baled,  and    exported   for 
use  in    the  manufacture  of     '.'  noil "    yarn   as 
distinct   from   cotton    yarn.      Again,   amongst 
the  cocoons  there  sometimes  occur  what  are 
known     as     "  doubles,"     formed     when     two 
silkworms  enclose  themselves  in   one  cocoon. 
Although    the    silk    is    perfectly    good,    these 
"  doubles "     have     to    be    classed    as     waste, 
because   they  are   difficult  to   unwind.      The 
"  perforated  "  cocoons  from  which   the  moths 
have    emerged   are   also  useless    for    reeling, 
though    the   silk   is    unimpaired  ;    and,  lastly, 
a   small  percentage   of   cocoons   is   spoiled  by 
the  agency  of  a   parasite   which   inhabits   the 
body    of    the   silkworm,   and,   on   coming    to 
maturity,    eats    its    way    out    of    the    cocoon. 
The     table    shows     the     principal     districts 
from   which   waste   silk   is  exported  and  the 
countries  to  which  it  is  sent. 

PIECE    GOODS. 

Silk  piece  goods  are  woven  on  hand-looms 
by  small  weavers,  who  either  buy  raw  silk 
from  the  farmers  and  sell  the  manufactured 
articles  themselves,  or  weave  to  order  silk 
supplied  them  by  merchants.  The  whole  of 
the  producing  districts  contribute  to  this 
heading  of  export,  but  the  figures  given 
below  do  not  afford  any  indication  of  the 
amount  of  silk  actually  woven  in  the  countrv, 
for  by  far  the  greater  proportion  of  the 
finest  silk — that  woven  from  the  first  crop 
of  raw  silk — finds  a  market  within  the  borders 
of  the  Empire  among  the  ofticial  and  wealthy 
classes.  Between  two  and  three  hundred 
kinds  of  silk  piece  goods  are  woven  in  the 
provinces  of  Kiangsu  and  Chekiang,  the 
industry  centring  chiefly  round  Soochow, 
Wusieh,  and  Nanking  in  the  former  province, 
and  around  Showshing  and  Hangchow  in 
the  latter.  Each  weaver  produces  one  par- 
ticular kind  of  silk,  and  the  various  des- 
criptions are  bought  by  collectors  sent  out 
by  Chinese  silk  brokers,  who  classify  them 
and  dispose  of  them  to  Chinese  and  foreign 
merchants.  From  the  districts  named  come 
all  the  very  finest  white  pongees,  brocades, 
plains,  crepes,  &c.,  as  well  as  the  bulk  of 
the  heavier  kinds  and  coarse  common  silks. 
The  Canton  products  are  in  less  variety  and 
of  poorer  quality.  Yellow  silk  piece  goods 
are  derived  principally  from  Szechwan  and 
Shantung  Provinces.     Formerly  the  dves  used 


WASTE. 


Original  Export  from  principal 

Customs  Districts. 

1904. 

1905. 

1907. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taeta. 

Newchwang          

125,458 

i75,'^|<^'3 

185.334 

115.104 

256,190 

Chefoo        

227,661 

165,042 

194.575 

1(X),200 

219,526 

Hiaochau    

224,285 

218,665 

331.841 

187,4c/) 

51.078 

Kaiikow     

236,241 

260,253 

244.988 

186,617 

115.246 

Shanghai 

1,127,285 

896,296 

925.823 

7.35.7OJ 

962,790 

Hangchow 

49.967 

174.613 

357..598 

446,657 

552,293 

Canton        

2470,595 

1,468,381 

1,849,469 

1413412 

2,702,570 

Wuhu         

~ 

___ 

— 

90,997 

97.459 

Chief    Countries    to    which 

Exportt.d. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Taels. 

Hongkong 

2,437,f)OI 

1.454.776 

1,849.469 

1413..5.38 

2.705475 

Great   Britain         

638, 1. H 

286,428 

764,568 

620,446 

589.516 

trance        

— 

— 

1.280,841 

838,785 

1,653,405 

Italy             

~ 

~ 

235.363 

206,189 

403,886 

SILK 

PIECE    GOODS. 

Original  Export  from  principal 
Customs  Districts. 

■903- 

1904. 

•905. 

1906. 

1907. 

Nanking     

Chinkiang 

Shanghai 

Soochow     

Hangchow 

Canton        

Kowloon     

Taels. 

1,510,938 
542.440 

6,254,522 
316,270 

1,472,167 

8,306,361 

773.127 

Taels. 
2,281,457 

759,000 
6,992, 1 9<^ 

403.180 

!  .776.703 
6,222,172 

521,555 

Taels. 

2.123,725 

889,621 

7,184,251 

776.753 
2,244,824 
5,^)3,424 

394.014 

Taels. 
2.538,429 

781,801 
5,958,056 

811,982 
1,774.496 
5,603,934 

413,175 

Taels. 
2,497,099 

657.491 
5,823,854    • 
1,088,637 
1 ,805,529 
6,836,420 

457.435 

Chief  Countries  to  which 
Exported. 

Hongkong 

Singapore,  Straits,  &c.     ... 

Great  Britain         

Korea         

Taels. 

10,526,012 

435.192 

56,878 

639,269 

Taels. 

8,427,129 
395.059 
118,635 

713.013 

Taels. 

7,098,082 

343.899 
79,012 

7i7.6<M 

Taels. 

6,708,002 

345.741 
89,9^)0 

4.39.883 

Taels. 

8.383.035 
413.740 
124,313 
907.584 

SHANTUNG  PONGEES. 


Original  Export  from  principal 
Customs  Districts. 

1903. 

1904- 

«905. 

1906. 

1907. 

Chefoo         

Kiaochau    

Shanghai 

Taels. 
2,005,920 
1,521 
10,143 

Taels. 
1,178,587 
56.735 
9.632 

Taels.    ■ 

1,076,519 

79.401 

32.348 

Taels. 
1,178,906 
271,000 
47,141 

Taels. 
1.352,610 
1.1.36,414 
12,751     ■ 

Chief  Countries  to  which 
Exported. 

Hongkong 

Great  Britain        

France         

Taels. 

359.746 
262,770 

Taels. 

378,304 
110,647 

Taels. 

389.745 
125,899 
202,041 

Tacts. 

371.424 
248,432 

399.793 

Taels. 

500,464 

384.246 

1,032,055 

in  colouring  silk  were  purely  Chinese  vege- 
table dyes,  which  kept  their  colour  well,  and 
rendered  the  silk  more  durable  ;  but  now, 
owing  to  the  demand  for  cheaper  silk,  foreign 
dyes  are  largely  employed.  Of  recent  years 
the  foreign  market  has  shown  a  preference 
for  machine-made  Japanese  and  Eiuopean 
silks,  because  of  their  superior  finish,  but 
the  product  of  the  hand-looms  of  China  will 
probably  never  be  excelled  for  strength  and 
durabilitv. 


SHANTUNG    PONGEES. 

Shantung  pongees  are  commonly  known 
as  "  Chefoo "  silk,  and  are  made  from  wild 
silk,  the  produce  of  silkworms  fed  upon 
oak  leaves.  They  are  esteemed  for  their 
cheapness  and  durability,  and  are  much  used 
by  Europeans  in  the  Far  East  for  summer 
wear.  From  the  foregoing  tabular  stiitement 
it  will  be  seen  that  Chefoo's  predominance 
is  now  being  challenged  by  Kiaochau. 


^[^1 


TEA. 


By  H.  T.  Wade. 


ROM  time  almost  immemorial 
the  words  China  and  tea  have 
bieen  so  intimately  associated 
that  when  the  one  of  them 
is  mentioned  the  other  imme- 
diately and  almost  involun- 
tarily suggests  itself  ;  and 
possibly  in  the  whole  range  of  the  history 
of  commerce  there  is  no  other  known  in- 
stance where  the  product  is  so  thoroughly 
identitied  with  the  land  of  production  as  is 
the  article  tea  with  its  parent  home,  China. 
Arid  surely,  if  for  no  other  reason,  China 
would  seem  to  have  a  prescriptive  and 
justifiable  right  to  call  herself  the  home  of 
the  tea  plant  by  reason  of  the  long  centuries 
in  which  tea  was  a  national  beverage  before 
its  virtues  and  its  value  became  known  to 
other  countries  of  the  world.  Anyhow  it  is 
on  authentic  record  that  tea  was  extensively 
cultivated  for  drinking  purposes  in  China  in 
A.tJ.  350,  while  it  is  quite  possible  to  tielieve 
that  it  was  well  known  to  the  inhabitants 
many  years  before  that  date.  Again,  China 
is  further  identified  with  the  tea  plant  by 
having  furnished  the  very  name  by  which 
the  world-renowned  product  is  universally 
known— tea. 

On  the  other  hand  there  are  not  wanting 
those  who  claim  Assam  as  the  original  home 
of  the  plant  because  the  shrub  happens  to  be 
indigenous  to  that  part  of  India  ;  but  when 
one  remembers  the  contiguity  of  Assam  with 
the  Chinese  province  of  Yunnan,  where 
undoubtedly  tea  grows,  both  lying  on  the 
same  parallels  of  latitude,  Assam's  special 
claim  to  the  honour  would  not  appear  to  be 
any  too  strongly  substantiated.  Indeed.  Japan 
might  equally  well  put  in  a  claim  to  be  con- 
sidered the  parent  land  of  tea,  for  the  two 
varieties,  Tlica  Assamica  and  Then  sinensis, 
can  both  be  traced  back  to  very  remote 
times,  '•  the  iirst  still  growing  wild  in  India 
and  the  other  occurring  still  wild  in  Southern 
Japan."  On  the  authority  of  the  writer  of 
the  article  on  tea  in  the  "  Encyclopaedia 
Britannica "  we  have  it  that  "  no  strictly 
wild  tea  plants  have  been  discovered  in 
China,  but  an  indigenous  tree  (Thea  Assamica) 
is  found  in  Assam,  and  that  it  differs  in  many 
respects  from  the  China  plant  in  that  it  is  a 
tree  attaining  to  a  height  of  fifteen  to  twenty 
feet  and  that  its  leaves  reach  a  length  of 
nine  inches  and  upwards,  while  the  leaf  of 
the  Chinese  plant  never  exceeds  four  inches 
in  length."     This  rather  emphatic  statement 


seems  open  to  doubt,  for  it  is  competent  for 
any  one  to  see,  what  the  present  writer  has 
frequently  seen,  tea  trees  of  a  height  of 
twenty  feet  or  more  growing  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  Treaty  port  of  Kiukiang  in 
the  province  of  Kiangsi  ;  while  the  leaves  of 
the  gnarled  trees  in  the  old  time  tea 
orchards  of  Yunglowtung  and  Yunglowsze 
in  the  •  province  of  Hupeh,  which  form  a 
large  component  part  of  the  heterogeneous 
mixture  which  goes  to  make  up  tea  bricks 
for  the  markets  of  Thibet,  attain  to  a  length 
not  one  whit  less  than  that  ascribed  to  the 
Assam  plant.  But  be  these  facts  as  they 
may  the  solid  fact  remains  incontrovertible 
that  for  nearly  fifteen  hundred  years— that 
is  from  a.d.  350  to  A.D.  1838 — China  tea, 
and  China  tea  alone,  was  recognised  as 
the  article  of  commerce  known  as  tea,  and 
that  "  China  has  been  the  fountain  head 
whence  the  tea  culture  has  spread  to  other 
countries."  And  even  at  the  present  day 
by  far  the  most  highly-prized  and  the 
highest-priced  teas  from  India  and  Ceylon 
are  produced  from  plants  of  indisputably 
Chinese  origin.  Coming  to  dates  more  with- 
in the  compass  of  common  knowledge,  we 
know  that  it  is  only  seventy  years  ago  since 
it  was  discovered  that  the  tea  plant  was 
indigenous  to  the  East  India  Company's 
territories  in  Upper  Assam,  and  that  during 
Lord  Hardinge's  Governor- Generalship  of 
India  tea  plantations  were  successfully  estab- 
lished on  the  Himalaya  range,  worked  by 
natives  from  the  tea  districts  of  Kokien 
supplied  with  plants  and  seeds  and  all  the 
paraphernalia  necessary  for  manufacturing 
the  article.  A  little  later  fresh  supplies  of 
"  men  and  arms "  were  sent  over  to  India, 
and  under  the  skilful  guidance  of  Mr.  Robert 
Fortune,  well  known  in  China  for  his 
charming  books  of  travel  in  the  tea  countries 
of  China,  the  industry  was  prosecuted  with 
enlightenment  and  vigour.  The  last  fifty 
years  have  witnessed  the  expansion  of  this 
great  enterprise  to  this  very  day,  when  its 
proportions  are  stupendous  and  really  phe- 
nomenal when  considered  in  conjunction 
with  the  marvellous  development  of  the 
tea  trade  in  Ceylon. 

Though  deprived  of  her  pride  of  place  by 
the  united  activities  of  India  and  Ceylon  as 
the  greatest  producers  of  tea  for  export 
purposes  yet  China  holds  a  great  place  as  a 
producing  country. 

Take  the  figures  for  the  year  1907. 


Lbs. 

The  total  output  of  Indian  tea  was  213,722,195 

„  „  Ceylon       „         182,220,611 

„  Java  „  27,760,000 

China        „         134,198,100 

(not  including  80,563,500  lbs.  brick  557,900,906 

tea). "  ■^- — 

The  consumption  of  tea  in  China  is 
estimated  to  be  5  lb.  per  head  which,  if 
correct,  would  necessitate  the  addition  of  the 
stupefying  amount  of  2,000.000,000  lbs.  to  the 
certified  export  figures.  On  the  other  hand 
the  internal  consumption  of  tea  in  India  and 
Ceylon,  insignificant  as  it  is,  affects  no 
calculation. 

While  it  is  undeniable  that  China  has  been 
fairly  ousted  from  the  home  trade  by  her 
virile  offspring,  and  tliat  "  the  consumption 
of  China  tea  in  tlie  United  Kingdom  barely 
reaches  6,000.000  lbs.  or  2'i  per  cent,  of  the 
whole  quantity  consumed  as  compared  with 
4'3  per  cent,  in  1904  (Hosie)  in  the  United 
Kingdom,  though  the  direct  export  to  the 
United  Kingdom  is  more  than  double  that 
amount,  yet  happily  other  markets  still  remain, 
and  while  the  direct  export  to  foreign 
countries  during  the  past  ten  years  has  varied 
but  little,  averaging  as  it  has  done  196,576,670 
lbs.  per  annum,  signs  are  not  wanting  of  a 
more  favourable  disposition  towards  China 
tea  in  England,  and  of  a  desire  on  the  part 
of  exporters  from  Cliina  to  push  tlieir  wares 
more  energetically  by  freer  advertising  and 
reasonable  appeals  to  the  common  sense  of 
the  consumer.  The  average  cost  of  China 
tea  is  yearly  coming  more  into  line  w'ith  the 
laying  down  prices  of  British-grown  leaf. 
Hitherto  that  average  has  been  much  too  high. 
This  stumbling  block  once  removed,  and  a 
little  more  attention  directed  to  consistent 
manufacture,  the  future  of  China  tea  in  the 
home  markets  should  not  be  absolutely 
hopeless.  The  situation  has  not  inaccurately 
been  summed  up  in  the  words  of  an  editorial 
of  a  Ceylon  planting  paper,  "  the  way  in 
which  the  China  trade  has  steadily  gone  back 
is  not  at  all  conclusive  prool  that  there  can 
be  no  important  recovery  under  changed 
conditions  and  methods.  In  other  words  the 
swing  of  the  penduluin  may  be  witnessed  in 
this  department  of  agriculture  and  commerce 
as  well  as  in  any  other,  seeing  that  China 
tea  has  suffered  no  radical  injury."  But  this 
large  and  important  question  may  be  well 
left  here  for  later  consideration. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     295 


THE    PLANT. 

A   very   large   majority  of   people  are   still 
possessed  of    the   idea   that   black   and   green 
teas    come   from   distinct   varieties   of   plants. 
For  a  time  there  may  have  been  some  reason 
for  entertaining  this   view   because   originally 
black  tea  alone  was  traded  in,  and  that  came 
from    Kwangtung    and    the    north    and  west 
parts   of    the    province    of     Fokien,    and    was 
shipped  from  the  one  port  of   Canton.      Sub- 
sequently when  green    tea  became  an    article 
of  foreign  trade    it    was   discovered    that   this 
new  departure  was  grown   and   made    in  the 
more    northern    provinces    of    Chekiang   and 
Anhwei.     To  the  black  tea  botanists  gave  the 
scientitac  name  of  Then  Boliea  because  largely 
grown  on    the    range   of    hills   of   that   name. 
The  latter  was  designated   Then  viiiilis  from 
the  comparative    greenness   of   its    leaf.      But 
the  plants  have  now  long  been  known  to   be 
of    one    and    the    same    description,     though 
Chinese  rarely  make  both  kinds  of  tea,  black 
and  green,  in   one   district.     Two  notable  ex- 
ceptions to  this  general  rule  are  to  be   found 
in  the  provinces  of  Chekiang  and  Anhwei,  in 
the  former  of   which  are  made    the  Pingsuey 
and     Hoochow      green      teas    as     also     the 
Wenchow   black   teas,   and   in   the   latter   the 
well-known     green     teas     of     Moyune     and 
Fychow  and   the   new  celebrated    black   teas 
known    as    Keemuns.     Yet,    as    early    as   in 
1846  Fortune  wrote  :  "  It  is  now  well  known 
that  the  fine  Moning  districts  near  the  Poyang 
Lake,    which   are   daily   rising   in    importance 
on  account  of   the  superior  character  of   their 
black    teas,    formerly    produced   nothing    but 
green   teas."     Similarly,    the    period    is    well 
within   the   writer's    remembrance   when   the 
district  which  produces   the  popular   Keemun 
teas  of  to-day  was  famous   for  the  excellence 
of  its  growth  of  green  tea.     At  one  tiine  green 
and  black  teas  were  made  indiscriminately  at 
Canton   from   Bohea,   at   the   pleasure   of  the 
manufacturer  and  according  to  demand.     The 
Chinese,    as    is    well    known,    do   not    drink 
coloured  green   teas,  but   only   the   sun-dried 
article,  and  are   said  to  express  surprise   that 
civilised    nations    should    so    unnecessarily   go 
out   of    their   way    to   take    poison    when    the 
genuine,    unadulterated     article     is    at     their 
disposal,  and  more  often  than  not  at  a  lower 
price.      It   is    now  well  known   that  it  is   not 
necessary  to  invoke  the  aid  of  Prussian   blue 
and   other  colouring  materials  to  produce  an 
even  coloured  green  tea,  for  that  result  may  be 
simply  obtained  by  stopping  the  fermentation 
before  it  begins  to  discolour  or  darken  the  leaf, 
as  is  done  in  the  case  of  India  and  Ceylon  green 
teas.     The  only  sane  reason  advanced  for  the 
colouring  or  facing  of  the  leaf  is  that  it  is   a 
protection  against  any  fermentation  that  might 
set  up  on  the  voyage  and  so,  possibly,  render 
the   article    unmarketable.      And   that    reason 
was  framed  in  the  long-past  sailing  ship  days, 
when    teas    were    packed   into   a   stuffy    hold 
and    buffeted    day    after    day    during    a    six 
months'  voyage.     But  fashion  and  utility  have 
much  to   answer   for   its   insane   continuance. 
It  is  not  known  with  certainty  that  teas  were 
faced    or    coloured   earlier   than    1S32,    when 
the   remission   of   the   tea   duties   in   America 
took  place.     But  coloured  they  most  distinctly 
were  then  to   please  a  fancy   which  has  con- 
tinued ever  since   across  the  Pacific,  and   the 
practice   has  been   kept  up  by   the   utilitarian 
Chinese  not  only  to  maintain    uniformity  and 
brightness  of  colour,  but   under  cover  of  the 
"  fake  "  to  disguise  inferior  leaf. 

PICKING    AND    MANUFACTURE. 

Tea  is  grown  in  an  absolutely  different 
way  in  China  from  that  which  obtains  in 
India  and  Ceylon.      In  these  latter  countries 


large  plantations  are  to  be  seen  covering 
many  acres  of  carefully  tended  and  cultivated 
plants  under  one  management.  The  produce 
of  each  estate  is  manufactured  into  the  trade 
article  entirely  by  machinery,  and  the  busy 
work  goes  on  uninterruptedly  for  ten  months 
in  the  year.  In  China  there  are  no  planta- 
tions worthy  of  the  name.  The  plant  is 
cultivated  for  the  most  part  on  the  slopes  or 
bases  of  hills,  generally  in  small  patches 
around  the  endless  farmsteads,  where  the 
drainage  is  quick  and  the  necessary  moisture 
unfailing.  The  small  tea  patch  is  the 
farmer's  heritage.  The  leaves  are  picked  by 
the  members  of  his  family,  and  the  pre- 
liminary sun-drying  is  performed  round  the 
hamlet.  This  busy  time  seldom  lasts  much 
longer  than  a  fortnight,  when  the  produce  is 
bought  up  by  the  middleman,  who,  when  he 
has  bought  a  sufficiency  of  the  sun-dried 
leaf,  takes  it  to  the  firing  house  for  assort- 
ment and  treatment.  A  second  picking  takes 
place  towards  the  middle  of  May  and  lasts 
from  ten  to  twelve  days,  and  the  third  crop 
is  gathered  in  August.      The  maximum  time 


fickle  spring,  until  it  finds  a  purchaser.  It  is 
not  the  small  farmer  and  first  manipulator 
who  gets  overpaid.  The  big  country  profit 
goes  to  the  middleman.  But  under  any  and 
all  circumstances  the  grower  makes  a  profit, 
varying  only  in  degree,  and  consequently  is 
a  contented  man.  And  those  variations  are 
seldom  very  serious.  In  this  connection  the 
following  comparisons  are  interesting.  In 
1848  the  price  of  ordinary  leaf  in  the  country 
was  80  cash  a  catty,  or  about  $4  per  picul, 
for  the  number  of  cash  to  the  tael  in  those 
days  was  much  the  same  as  it  is  now.  In 
1908  it  was  70  cash.  In  1848  good  common 
Congou  realised  upon  the  Shanghai  market 
$i)  to  $10  per  picul.  In  1908  similar  teas 
cost  $12  to  $14  per  picul.  In  1848  exchange 
was  6s.  8d.  per  tael,  and  the  lay-down  cost 
in  London  of  common  tea  at  $10  per  picul 
was  8jd.  per  lb.  where  its  market  value  was 
8d.  To-day  at  the  exchange  of  2s.  4}d. 
common  Congou  lays  down  at  4jd.,  and  is 
worth  about  4d.  per  lb. 

Reverting   to   the   picking   of  the   leaf,  the 
young    leaves    gathered    early    in    April    are 


SIFTING    THE    TEA. 


expended  upon  securing  the  whole  of  the 
three  crops  is  well  within  two  months, 
whereas,  as  we  have  seen,  five  times  that 
length  of  time  is  occupied  in  India  and 
Ceylon  in  securing  their  annual  supply.  In 
China  the  principal  tea  districts  lie  within 
the  comparatively  narrow  limits  between  the 
25th  and  31st  degrees  of  North  latitude, 
while  British-grown  plantations  extend  over 
the  wide  range  from  28°  to  7°  North.  And 
yet  tea,  which  is  a  great  industry  in  China, 
may  be  regarded  in  the  light  of  a  by-product. 
It  in  no  way  interferes  with  or  displaces 
any  of  the  cereal,  vegetable,  or  fruit  crops. 
It  requires  little  or  no  attention  and  receives 
but  a  modicum.  That  China  tea  should  so 
long  have  maintained  a  standard  of  excel- 
lence, considering  the  indifference  which 
attends  its  culture  and  the  vicissitudes  which 
the  sun-dried  leaf  undergoes  on  its  search  for 
a  market,  is  little  short  of  marvellous — for  it 
is  thrust  into  light  cotton  bags  and  bandied 
about  from  cottage  to  village  and  from 
village  to  town,  and  exposed  to  many  of 
those  changes  of  weather  so  common  in  the 


covered  with  a  whitish  down  and  are  known 
by  the  name  of  pekoe.  Only  a  very  limited 
quantity  of  this  costly  article  is  manufactured 
for  export,  probably  not  more  than  10,000 
chests,  which  is  consumed  chiefly  on  the 
continent  of  Europe  and  in  Persia.  While 
it  is  the  most  costly,  it  is  at  the  same  time 
the  least  fragrant  and  most  insipid  of  all 
teas.  This  picking  over,  the  general  picking 
commences,  and  this,  unfortunately,  is  not 
carried  on  with  any  reasonable  regard  to 
future  supplies.  The  aim  of  the  native  would 
seem  to  tie  to  get,  and  to  get  immediately, 
as  much  leaf  off  the  shrub  as  he  can. 
There  is  none  of  the  science  in  picking 
which  obtains  in  India.  In  China  the  leaves 
are  picked  off  wholesale  with  any  amount 
of  stalk.  In  India  due  care  is  taken  that  the 
lowest  leaf  in  a  "flush"  or  shoot  shall  be  so 
nipped  off  as  to  leave  the  bud  in  its  axil 
uninjured  on  the  branch,  as  from  it  the  next 
flush  will  then  develop,  and  the  supply  so 
continued.  There  is  a  good  description,  of 
how  the  leaves  should  be  plucked,  and  what 
special    grade   of   tea   the    leaves    supply,   in 


296     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Colonel  Money's  "Cultiv-ation  and  Manufacture 
of  Tea,"  which  might  well  be  taken  to  heart 
in  China.  He  s;iys  that  "  the  three  leaves 
at  the  growing  point,"  by  which  I  understand 
that  he  means  the  three  topmost  leaves  of 
the  plant,  "  and  the  whole  shtxit  down  to  the 
stem  in  the  order  of  their  age  give  Howery 
pekoe,  pekoe,  pekoe  Souchong,  Souchon}", 
and  Congou.  Were  the  flush  further  de- 
veloped another  leaf  might  be  taken  which 
might  be  classed  as  t>ohea."  When  a 
sufficiency  of  leaf  has  been  picked,  it  is 
thrown  into  large  flat  basket-trays  and 
exposed  to  the  sun.  As  the  leaves  begin  to 
darken  and  curl  up  they  are  gathered  up 
and  manipulated  into  balls.  When  there  is 
a  very  large  quantity  of  leaf  to  be  twisted, 
and  not  too  much  time  to  do  it  in,  the 
twisting  is  done  by  the  feet.  And  this,  and 
the  treading  the  fired  leaf  into  the  chests 
in  which  it  is  packed,  are  the  only  senti- 
mentally dirty  elements  in  the  manufacture  of 
China  lea.  The  operation  is  simple  enough. 
A   horizontal   bamboo   is  atili.xed   to  two  per- 


shallow  trays  to  dry  off  all  moisture.  They 
are  then  thrown  into  the  air  and  tossed  about 
and  patted  till  they  become  soft  :  a  heap  is 
made  of  these  wilted  leaves  and  left  to  lie  for 
an  hour  or  more,  when  they  become  moist 
and  dark  in  colour.  They  are  then  thrown 
on  the  hot  pans  for  live  minutes  and  rolled 
on  the  rattan  table  previous  to  exposure  out- 
of-doors  for  three  or  four  hours  on  sieves, 
during  which  time  they  are  turned  over  and 
opened  out.  After  this  they  .get  a  second 
roasting  and  rolling  to  give  them  their  final 
curl.  When  the  charcoal  fire  is  ready,  a 
basket,  shaped  something  like  an  hour-glass, 
but  about  three  feet  high,  is  placed  endwise 
over  it,  having  a  sieve  in  the  middle,  on  which 
the  leaves  are  thinly  spread.  When  dried  five 
minutes  in  this  way  they  undergo  another 
rolling,  and  are  then  thrown  into  a  heap 
until  all  the  lot  has  passed  over  the  fire. 
When  this  firing  is  finished  the  leaves  are 
opened  out  (not  untwisted,  of  course)  and  are 
again  thinly  spread  on  the  sieve  in  the 
basket  for  a  few  minutes,  which  finishes  the 


THE    COLLECTING    BASKETS. 


pendicular  poles.  The  operators,  supported 
and  steadied  by  the  bamboo,  gather  the 
sun-dried  leaf  and  work  it  into  a  ball — often 
as  large  as  an  Association  football — with 
their  feet.  When  a  sufficient  "  twist "  has 
l>een  obtained,  the  ball  is  broken  up,  the 
leaves  thrust  into  cotton  bags  and  hawked 
about  the  nearest  marts  for  sale.  Any  one 
who  has  seen  the  Chinese  irrigate  their 
fields  with  chain-pumps  worked  by  the  feet 
will  easily  understand  how  the  "  twist "  may 
be  given  to  tea.  The  writer,  when  in  Sung 
Yang,  in  the  province  of  Hupeh,  on  a  tea 
visit,  was  much  struck  with  the  speed 
with  which  the  twist  was  thus  given  to  the 
leaf.  The  real  manufacture  of  tea  only 
begins  when  it  reaches  the  firer's  hands, 
and  the  operation  has  been  so  well  described 
by  many  writers,  notably  by  Fortune  (whose 
account,  written  more  than  sixty  years  ago, 
is  about  the  best  and  truest  existent  to-day), 
Wells  Williams,  Sir  John  Davies,  and  Dyer 
Ball,  that  a  reference  to  any  of  these 
authorities  is  all   that  is   needed. 

"  The   leaves    are    first    thinly    spread    on 


drying  and  rolling  for  most  of  the  heap,  and 
makes  the  leaves  a  uniform  black.  They  are 
now  placed  in  the  basket  in  greater  mass 
and  pushed  against  its  sides  by  the  hands  in 
order  to  allow  the  heat  to  come  up  through 
the  sieve  and  the  vapour  to  escape  ;  a  basket 
over  all  retains  the  heat,  but  the  contents  are 
turned  over  until  perfectly  dry  and  the  leaves 
become  uniformly  black." 

Thus  much  for  the  manufacture  of  black 
tea,  from  which  may  be  gathered  the  main 
fact  that  often  a  considerable  time  may 
elapse  after  the  sun-drying  process  and 
before  the  teas  are  put  into  the  firing  pans. 
Thus  it  is  that  black  teas  are  heavily  fer- 
mented. 

Different  altogether  is  the  course  of  pro- 
cedure in  regard  to  green  teas,  whose  leaves 
are  roasted  almost  immediately  after  they 
are  gathered,  and  dried  off  quickly  after  the 
rolling  process.  When  the  leaves  are 
brought  in  from  the  gardens  or  patches 
they  are  lightly  spread  out  on  flat  bamboo 
trays  in  order  to  dry  off  any  superfluous 
moisture,   and   are  left  exposed  for  an   hour 


or  two,  according  to  the  state  of  the  weather. 
The  roasting  pans  having  been  properly 
heated,  a  quantity  of  leaves  is  thrown  into 
them  and  deftly  and  rapidly  shaken  up  by 
hand.  As  they  become  affected  by  the  heat 
they  begin  to  make  a  spluttering,  crackling 
noise  and  become  quite  moist  and  Haccid, 
while  at  the  same  time  they  give  out  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  vapour.  After  a  few 
minutes  the  leaves  are  withdrawn  and 
placed  upon  the  rolling  table.  Here  men 
take  up  as  much  leaf  as  they  can  handle 
and  press  it  into  the  form  of  a  ball.  This 
is  rolled  upon  the  rattan  table,  and  squeezed 
so  as  to  get  rid,  as  Fortune  says,  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  sap  and  moisture.  And  herein 
lies  one  of  the  great  differences  between  the 
Indian  and  Chinese  process.  In  the  latter  a 
good  deal  of  the  life-blood  of  the  leaf  is 
lost.  In  the  former  it  is  most  carefully  re- 
tained. As  soon,  then,  as  the  requisite  twist 
is  obtained  the  teas  are  at  once  returned  to 
the  roasting  pan,  where  they  are  kept  in  a 
state  of  constant  move  by  deft  hands.  In  an 
hour  or  two  the  leaves  will  be  found  to  be 
well  dried  and  the  colour  fixed,  which  is  of 
a  dull  green  at  first  but  becomes  brighter 
afterwards.  From  the  foregoing  it  will  be 
noticed  that  the  hand  seems  to  have  most 
to  do  in  the  case  of  green  teas,  and  the  fire 
in   that  of  black. 

The  leaves  are  now  ready  to  receive  their 
unnatural  green  colour.  In  his  all-informing 
book.  "The  Middle  Kingdom."  Dr.  Wells 
Williams  says  in  respect  of  this  artificial 
colouring  that  "  the  first  tea  sent  to  R;urope 
was  from  Fohkien  and  all  black,  but  as  the 
trade  extended  some  of  the  delicate  hyson 
sorts  were  occasionally  seen  at  Canton, 
shipped  to  England  and  America,  and  their 
appearance  was  appreciated  in  those  countries 
as  more  and  more  was  sent.  It  was  found, 
however,  very  difficult  to  maintain  a  uniform 
tint.  If  cured  too  slightly  the  leaf  was  liable 
to  fermentation  during  the  voyage  ;  if  cured 
too  much  it  was  unmarketable,  which  for  the 
manufacturer  was  worse.  Chinese  ingenuity 
was  equal  to  the  call."  In  short,  it  faced 
the  hysons.  For  we  have  it  on  record  that 
when  the  Bostonians  on  December  16,  1773, 
summarily  threw  overboard  the  tea  cargoes 
of  the  Darimoiilh,  Eleanor,  and  Beaver,  only 
amounting,  it  is  true,  to  342  packages,  the 
contents  were  known  to  have  been  hysons. 
In  reference  to  that  event  Dr.  Holmes  has  it 
that— 

"The  waters  in  the  rebel  b.iy 
Have  kept  the  tea-leaf  savour — 
Our  old  Xorth-Enders  in  their  spray 
Still  taste  a  Hyson  Havour," 
The  notion  that  green  tea  derives  its  colour 
from  being  cured  in  copper  pans  is  not  wholly 
dead  yet.  and  the  question  is  often  asked  how- 
tea  obtains  its  green  colour.  The  operation  is 
simple  enough  and  may  be  seen  any  day  in 
Shanghai  when  the  faking  of  what  are  called 
Shanghai  packed  green  teas  is  going  on. 
Williams  concisely  describes  it  :  "A  quantity 
of  Prussian  blue  is  pulverised  to  a  very  fine 
powder  and  kept  ready  at  the  last  roasting. 
Pure  gypsuin  is  burned  in  the  charcoal  fire  till 
it  is  soft  and  fit  for  easily  triturating.  P'our 
parts  thereof  are  then  thoroughly  mixed  with 
three  parts  of  Prussian  blue,  making  a  light 
blue  powder.  About  five  minutes  before 
finally  taking  off  the  dried  leaves  this  powder 
is  sprinkled  on  them,  and  instantly  the  whole 
panful  of  two  or  three  pounds  is  turned  over 
by  the  workman's  hands  till  a  uniform  colour 
is  obtained.  His  hands  come  out  quite  blue, 
but  the  compound  gives  the  green  leaves  a 
brighter  green  hue."  The  compound,  if  dele- 
terious, is  only  so  in  an  infinitesimal  degree, 
and  bears  the  proportion  of  about  one  pound  of 
the  powder  to  two  hundred  pounds  of  tea,  and 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     297 


as  gypsum  is  not  a  dangerous  or  irritating  sub- 
stance, "  being  constantly  eaten  by  the  Chi- 
nese," and  forms  the  hulli  of  the  preparation, 
the  remaining  ingredient  does  not  count  for 
much.  And,  curiously  enough,  it  is  just  that 
scum  from  the  gypsum  which  rises  on  infusion 
of  the  tea,  quite  innocuous,  which  so  exercises 
the  minds  of  the  Americ:m  food  inspectors, 
whose  illogical  action  is  the  cause  of  so  much 
embarrassment  to  shippers  of  green  tea  to  the 
States  to-day.  Kor  even  the  choicest  gun- 
powders are  "  shut  out  "  from  the  American 
markets  with  the  same  airy  nonchalance 
as  would  be  the  rankest,  most  highly  faced 
Twan-kay.  Nor  does  this  inspection  law 
extend  only  to  green  teas.  All  black  teas 
must  be  up  to  a  certain  standard  or  they  will 
not  be  admitted  into  the  States.  But  there  is 
nothing  fixed  about  that  standard,  which  seems 
to  be  lowered  or  raised  ainiually  at  the 
caprice  of  the  Inspection  Board,  and,  more- 
over, it  is  very  uncertain  in  its  application  ;  for 
it  is  on  record  that  counterparts  of  teas  that 
have  been  unhesitatingly  admitted  into 
America  have  been  as  ruthlessly  rejected. 
The  one  taken,  the  other  left,  and  yet  one  and 
the  same  tea.  And  here  again  the  choicest 
black  teas  are  not  always  exempt  from 
suspicion  and  rejection,  for  it  is  a  matter  of 
common  knowledge  that  "  when  the  inspection 
law  was  first  enacted  in  the  United  States  of 
America  the  first  inspector  appointed  to  New 
York  City  thought  fit  to  reject  as  unfit  for 
consumption  a  small  shipment  of  part  of  the 
very  choicest  Souchong  produced,  on  the 
ground  that  the  Havour  was  foreign  to 
tea,  and,  consequently,  that  the  tea  was 
inadmissible  under  the  standards  of  purity 
approved  by  the  New  York  Tea  Board." 
But  it  would  seem  that  the  reign  of  coloured 
green  teas  was  approaching  its  end.  Five  of 
the  health  commissioners  appointed  by  the 
authorities  at  Washington,  whose  function 
it  is  to  put  an  end  to  adulteration  of  any 
kind,  have  taken  up  amongst  others,  the 
question  of  green  tea  adulteration,  and  two 
of  the  five,  two  years  ago,  voted  against  any 
further  importations  of  "faced"  tea.  Possibly 
some  definite  action  in  this  connection  will 
be  taken  under  the  new  Presidential  regime. 
It  is  not  possible  to  gauge  with  any  great 
certainty  the  volume  of  the  brick  tea  business, 
but  its  known  proportions  are  enormous.  The 
rich  province  of  Szechwan,  in  the  far  west  of 
China,  furnishes  an  abundance  of  good  tea, 
which  is  exported  overland  to  Siberia.  This 
brick  tea  is  cured  by  pressing  the  damp  leaves 
in  a  mould  into  the  form  of  a  brick  or  tile, 
8  to  12  inches  long  and  about  1  inch 
thick.  The  brick  tea  for  Thibet  is  composed 
of  the  coarsest  leaves,  and  of  stalks  moistened 
by  steaming  over  boiling  water,  and  then 
wedged  into  a  mould  until  dry  and  hard  ;  the 
pressing  and  drying  being  assisted  by  sprink- 
ling the  mass  with  rice  water.  The  foregoing 
are  the  native  methods  of  making  brick  tea, 
but  the  brick  tea  manufactured  by  certain 
Russian  firms  in  Koochow,  Kiukiang.  and 
Hankow  is  altogether  a  superior  article.  It  is 
not  composed  so  much  of  leaf  as  of  the 
fannings  that  have  been  separated  from  the 
leaf  by  winnowing,  and  good  strong  whole- 
some dust  imported  from  India  and  Cevlon. 
In  his  report  on  the  foreign  trade  of  China 
for  the  year  1906,  the  commercial  attache. 
Sir  Alexander  Hosie,  writes  :  "  In  1905,  India, 
Ceylon,  and  Java  sent  4,906,800  lbs.,  mostly 
dust  and  sittings,  for  blending  with  China  teas, 
principally  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  and 
tablet  tea  ;  in  1906  they  sent  8,767,200  lbs., 
in  1907.  15,000.000  lbs."  The  bricks  which 
emanate  from  the  Russian  factories  are 
hydraulically  pressed,  into  bricks  appetisingly 
faced    with    British-grown     dust,    that    from 


Ceylon  imparting  a  rich  chocolate  colour  to 
the  brick,  each  brick  being  stamped  with  a 
special  design  or  with  Chinese  chop  characters. 
They  are  usually  packed  in  bamboo  baskets  to 
contain  72  bricks  of  2j  lbs.  each,  or  56  bricks 
of  2j  lbs.  each.  These  teas  are  shipped  by 
steamer  to  Vladivostock  and  then  dissemi- 
nated by  rail  through  Mongolia  and  Siberia. 
The  following  figures  show  the  remarkable 
increase  in  the  export  of  this  article  : — 

In  1867...  8,441.466  lbs.  passed  the  Customs. 

In  1886. ..49,361,600    „ 

In  1907. ..80,563,433    „ 

Of  this  quantity,  37}  per  cent.,  or 
30,020,100  lbs.  were  green  tea  dust.  How 
much  further  this  expansion  of  the  brick  tea 
trade  will  go  it  is  difticult  to  conjecture. 
The  Trans-Siberian  Railway  must  gradually 
take  away  much  of  the  traffic  from  the  old 
caravan  routes,  while  its  feeders  will  tap 
new  districts.  It  is  well  known  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Siberia  and  Central  Asia  make 
a  soup  of  these  brick  teas,  possibly  because 
a  drinking  infusion  of  them  were  wellnigh 
an    impossibility,   but   it   may   be   that   when 


demand.  The  demand  came,  but  it  came 
very  late  in  the  year,  in  November  in  fact, 
yet  China  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  She 
put  upon  the  London  market  3,000,000  lbs. 
of  very  common  Congou  in  the  space  of  a 
couple  of  months  which  otherwise  had  not 
been  exported,  and  2,810,933  lbs.  of  dust, 
which  was  10  per  cent,  more  than  the 
aggregate  of  the  previous  year's  export. 
This  fact  is  merely  adduced  to  exhibit 
China's  potentiality  in  the  matter  of  supplies, 
and  her  ability  to  meet  any  sudden  or 
extraneous  demand  for  tea. 

THE  DIFFERENT  KINDS  OF  CHINA 
TEA. 

Bi.ACK  Teas. 

Broadly  speaking,  there  are  two  kinds  of 
China  tea,  black  and  green,  but  these  are 
subject  to  very  distinct  subdivision.  The 
black  teas  from  the  North  of  China  are  quite 
distinct  and  different  from  the  "  red  "  teas  of 
the  South.  The  choicest  Northern  teas  are 
the     Keemuns,     which     are    grown     in     the 


PACKING   THE   CHESTS. 


they  become  acquainted  with  leaf  tea 
brought  on  for  distribution  by  the  main  rail- 
way line  and  its  arteries,  there  will  not  be 
that  inclination  for  the  wretched  hotch-potch 
now  supplied  to  them  in  the  commoner 
brick  teas.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  well 
known  that  the  preparation  of  brick  tea  for 
Thibet  is  receiving  much  attention  at  the 
hands  of  Indian  planters,  who  have  volun- 
tarily submitted  to  a  self-imposed  tax  to  be 
devoted  to  pushing  their  productions  amongst 
the  Thibetans. 

It  is  significant  of  the  elasticity  of  the  so- 
called  moribund  China  tea  trade  how  easily 
the  article  in  any  of  its  forms  can  be 
supplied  when  the  demand  arises  for  it. 
Take  tea  dust,  for  instance,  which,  as  has 
already  been  shown,  continues  to  be  in 
increasing  demand  for  brick  tea.  Last  year, 
1907,  the  impression  obtained  that  there 
would  be  a  deficiency  more  or  less  marked 
in  supplies  of  leaf  from  India  and  Ceylon, 
and  that  the  void  thus  occasioned  would 
bring  common  China  tea  and  dust  for  blend- 
ing    purposes     into,     at     least,     temporary 


province  of  Anhwei,  and  the  Ningchows  and 
Monings  from  Kiangsi,  and  represent  about 
one  quarter  of  the  total  production  of  the 
North.  But  the  great  bulk  comes  from  the 
two  provinces  separated  from  each  other  by 
the  Tungting  Lake,  Hupeh  and  Hunan. 
From  the  first  come  those  teas  generally 
known  as  Oopacks  and  named  after  the 
particular  districts  in  which  they  are  grown, 
Sungyangs,  Yangloutungs,  Tongsans,  Ichangs, 
and  Cheongshukais.  From  the  latter  the 
distinctive  Oonahm  teas,  Oanfas.  Lilings, 
Nipkasees,  Wunkais,  Lowyongs.  and  Shun- 
tams.  Practically  all  the  South  China 
congous  are  grown  in  the  province  of 
Fokien,  and  consist  principally  of  Panyongs, 
Packlums.  Souchongs,  Soomoos,  Suey  Kuts, 
antl  a  number  of  minor  districts.  The  most 
desirable  of  these  are  Panyongs,  Packlums, 
Soomoos,  and  Souchongs,  the  last  named 
being  the  favourite  teas  on  the  continent  of 
Europe.  Russia  takes  but  little  tea  from  the 
South  of  China,  the  water  and  method  of 
serving  making  the  Northern  teas  more 
palatable.     F"oochow  Oolongs  have  a  delicate 


298     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


but  ni>t  such  an  aromatic  tlavour  as  the 
Fonnos;»n  tea  of  the  same  name.  '•  Oolongs 
have  some  of  the  characteristics  of  black 
tea  combined  with  cert;iin  of  the  cup 
qualities  of  green  teas,  and  therefore  in 
a  measure  somewhat  resemble  a  blend  of 
the  two."  The  other  \-arieties  of  Southern 
teas  are  Scented  Capers,  Scented  Orange 
Pekoes,  Pouchongs,  Kooloos,  and  Flowery 
Pekoes.  The  fragrance  of  all  scented  tea  is 
not  natural,  but  is  imparted  by  tiring  the 
leaf  with  a  sort  of  jasmine  flower,  called  by 
the  Chinese  "  Mok-lee."  In  inferior  teas  the 
scenting  flower  is  strewn  over  the  top  of 
the  tea  when  packed  and  removed  after  a 
day  or  two.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the 
scent  so  applied  is  not  long  retained. 
••  Flowery  Pekoes  are  white,  velvety  tipped 
teas  with  no  fragrance  and  are  unfermented, 
and  are  used  only  on  the  continent  of  Europe 
and  in  Persia.  These  teas  are  made  only 
from  the  earliest  buds  of  young  leaves  in  the 
Packlum,  Chingwo,  and  Panyong  districts. 
Scented  teas  generally  possess  but  little  cup 
merit." 


made  up  entirely  for  style  to  catch  the  eye  — 
the  American  eye.  The  Hoochows,  which 
are  confined  almost  entirely  to  gunpowder 
makes,  draw,  when  good,  a  water  not  unlike 
the  Yenshu  district  teas  of  Japan. 

A  third  kind  of  green  tea  which  can  always 
be  made  to  order  in  any  quantity,  and  is 
made  largely  for  the  continental  markets 
of  Europe  in  tlie  form  of  small  leaf  Sowniee, 
goes  by  the  name  of  Shanghai  packed.  Its 
chief  constituent  element  is  Pingsuey  leaf, 
with  sometimes  a  very  modest  admixture  of 
country  tea  to  "  bring  up  or  brighten  the 
infusion."  Though  not  at  all  "  desirable  " 
teas,  yet  a  very  considerable  business  is  done 
in  them,  while  a  new  outlet  has  been  found 
for  them  by  Parsee  buyers,  who  blend 
certain  grades  to  cheapen  the  cost  of  their 
extravagantly  high-priced  Hysons. 

Formerly  country  green  teas  came  to 
market  in  the  shape  of  full  chops  of  500  to 
1,000  half  chests.  Now  they  arrive  for  the 
most  part  minus  the  Hysons,  which  are 
almost  entirely  taken  for  Batoum,  and  which 
aggregate     the    large    total    of    130,000    half 


PUTTING  THE  "CHOP"  ON  THE  CHESTS. 


Green  Teas. 

As  with  black  teas  so  with  green.  The 
dividing  line  between  green  teas  of  Anhwei 
and  those  of  Chekiang  is  broad  and  distinct. 
The  former  are  known  as  country  teas,  and 
in  order  of  merit  and  popularity  are  the 
Moyunes,  Tienkais,  and  Fychows.  Although 
very  similar  in  make  and  appearance  they 
are  wholly  dissimilar  in  their  liquoring 
qualities.  The  Moyunes  have  a  most  delicate 
flavour,  emphasised  by  a  slight  but  acceptable 
bumtness.  The  Tienkais  are  wanting  in  any 
marked  cup  merit,  but  the  infusion  is  of  a 
very  delic-ate  yellow  colour.  The  Fychows 
are  of  a  lower  grade  altogether,  not  so  well 
made  in  the  leaf,  and  drawing  a  comparatively 
strong,  rather  rank  and  smoky  water. 

The  Chekiang  teas  comprise  the  Pingsueys, 
Hoochows,  and  Wenchows.  These  latter 
arris'e  here  from  the  Chekiang  port  of  Ningpo, 
and  in  make  somewhat  resemble  the 
Fychows.  The  Pingsueys  are,  with  the 
exception  of  the  allied  Hoochows,  very 
metallic  in  the  cup— brassy  was  a  term 
applied   to    them    in    earlier    days— and    are 


chests.  The  modest  quantity  of  green  tea 
which  is  now  shipped  to  Bombay,  about 
1,000,000  lbs.  is  made  up  of  the  lower 
kinds  of  Hysons  and  a  small  proportion  of 
choice  Chun-mees,  the  highest  type  of  Young 
Hysons.  Whether  the  export  trade  in  green 
tea  to  Russia  will  increase  is  a  question 
which  time  alone  can  decide.  Meantime,  the 
tendency  is  towards  increase.  Regarding 
America,  unless  some  wonderful  increase  in 
the  general  consumption  take  place,  the 
prospects  are  anything  but  encouraging,  for 
British-grown  teas  are  but  too  visibly 
growing  into  favour,  and  so  ousting  the 
China  article,  possibly  as  some  compensation 
for  the  cold  water  thrown  upon  the  attempts 
to  foist  foreign  made  green  teas  upon  her 
markets.  The  manufacture  of  Indian  and 
Ceylon  green  tea  has  not  been  a  success, 
despite  the  advantage  of  a  "  cess  "  under 
which  it  was  started. 

A  full  chop  of  green  tea  consists  of  several 
grades  of  leaf,  of  different  make  and  flavour, 
well  known  in  their  order  of  make  as 
Gunpowders,      Imperials,      Hysons,      Young 


Hysons,  Hy.son  skin,  and  Twaii-kay,  and  the 
derivation  of  those  names  is  not  without 
its  interest.  Dr.  Wells  Williams  tells  us  that 
"  Gunpowder  and  Imperial  are  foreign  made 
terms  ;  the  teas  are  known  as  Siaou  Chu 
(small  leaf)  and  Ta  Cliu  (large  leaf)  by  native 
dealers.  The  first  is  rolled  to  resemble 
shot  " — rather  an  Irish  way  of  putting  it. 
The  native  names  for  Imperial  are  the 
equivalents  of  "  Sore  crab's  eyes,  sesamum 
seeds,  and  pearls.  Hyson  is  a  corruption  of 
Yu-tsien,  before  the  rains,  and  of  Hi-chun, 
meaning  flourishing  spring."  Young  Hyson, 
of  course,  and  Hyson  skin  explain  themselves, 
while  Twan-kay  is  said  to  be  the  name  of 
a  district. 

Black  teas  as  a  rule  derive  their  names 
from  the  districts  from  which  they  come.  A 
list  was  once  made  of  the  "  localities,  each 
furnishing  its  quota  and  peculiar  product, 
amounting  in  all  to  forty-five  for  black,  and 
nine  for  green.  The  area  of  these  regions 
is  about  470,000  square  miles." 

Until  comparatively  late  years  green  teas 
arrived  in  full  chops,  and  were  shipped  off 
m  their  entirety.  At  first  began  the  selling 
out  of  the  Hysons  to  Bombay  buyers  at  such 
prices  as  would  materially  lessen  the  cost 
of  the  original  chop.  The  opening  of  Batoum 
ruined  the  Bombay  market,  and  so  great  has 
been  the  demand  for  Hysons  for  the  newer 
market,  and  so  high  the  prices  paid,  that  the 
natives  now  seldom  include  the  Hyson  in  a 
chop,  but  send  it  down  to  Shanghai  three 
weeks  ahead  of  the  arrival  of  the  bulk  there. 
Later  again  Batoum  and  France  have  made 
such  inroads  into  the  young  Hyson  grades 
that  a  special  preparation  of  them  has  been 
made,  commonly  designated  small  leaf 
Sow-mees.  And  as  the  demand  for  special 
lines  continues  to  increase  so  much  the 
nearer  comes  the  day  when  the  "  chop,"  as  a 
chop,  will  cease  to  exist.  The  green  tea 
"  chop  "  will  not  recognise  itself  in  the  near 
future,  any  more  than  now  do  the  once 
distinctive '  teas,  Ganfa,  Cheongshukai,  and 
Shuntam,  amongst  many  others,  recognise 
themselves.  An  extra  demand  upon  any  one 
special  district  naturally  leads  to  its  being 
supplied  by  tea  nominally  only  from  that 
district.  The  extra  quantity  required  is 
usually  made  up  from  an  admixture  of  leaf 
from  contiguous  districts  ;  this  has  noticeably 
been  the  case  with  Ganfa  and  Shuntam 
teas,  when  extra  supplies  of  each  have  been 
found  in  mutual  borrowings.  And  the  fair 
name  of  Moning  covers  a  multitude  of  sins. 

SOME  EXPORT  FIGURES. 

It  is  not  necessary,  nor  would  it  serve 
any  practical  end,  to  furnish  here  in  detail 
the  progressive  export  of  tea  from  China 
since  the  opening  of  the  Treaty  port  of 
Hankow  in  the  sixties,  triumphant  as  that 
progress  was  until  the  culminating  year  1886, 
when  the  direct  export  to  foreign  countries 
amounted  to  the  great  total  of  295,626,800  lbs. 
Then  China  began  to  feel  seriously  the  effect 
of  competition  With  British-grown  teas,  as 
shown  by  the  figures  of  T906,  when  only 
187,217,100  lbs.  were  exported.  So  that  in 
the  space  of  twenty  years  had  occurred  the 
visible  shrinkage  of  108,409.700  lbs.,  or  63 
per  cent.  This  difference,  it  is  true,  was 
somewhat  reduced  last  year,  1907.  when, 
owing  to  a  temporarv  demand  in  England, 
the  export  rose  to  214,683,333  lbs.  ;  but  for 
the  past  decade,  1898  to  1907,  tlie  average  of 
196,500,000  lbs.  has  been  maintained  ;  an 
average  not  likely  to  be  disturbed  for  some 
time  unless  any  further  phenomenal  expansion 
should  take  place  in  British-grown  production 
to  the  expulsion  by  so- much  of  China  tea, 
or  consumption   outstrip  the   general   average 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     299 


production,   and   so  create  a   demand    which 
China  is  well  fitted  to  supply. 

Meantime,   to   those   who   have    not    made 
themselves    acquainted    with    the    volume    of 
China's   direct   exportation   of   tea  to   forcij;n 
countries,  and  are  unaware  of  the  multiplicity 
and   nature   of   her   customers,  the  followin}; 
abstract    from    the    Imperial    Maritime    Cus- 
toms    returns     will     reveal     information     of 
peculiar  interest. 

As  has  been  stated  above,  the  total  export 
in  1907    was    214,683,333     lbs.,    which     was 
distributed  as  follows  : — 

Lbs. 
European  Russia        ...         ...     25,000,000 

Russia:  Russia  and  Siberia  ...     25,500,000 
Russia:  Pacific  ports  ...     81,250,000 

United  States  of  America      ...     27.000,000 
Great  Britain   ...         ...  ...     21,000,000 

Hongkong        ...         ...  ...      13,250,000 

North  Sea  ports  ...         ...       7.750,000 

Mediterranean  ports 4,350,000 

Canada 1,750,000 

Japan  and  Korea         ...         ...       1,500,000 

British  India    ...         ...         ...       1,250,000 

Macao 1,100,000 

Australia  and  New  Zealand  ...  950,000 

French  Indo-China    ...         ...         920,000 

Singapore  and  Straits  ...  550,000 

Turkey,  Persia,  Egypt  ...  500,000 

Siam      475,000 

South  Africa    ...         ...         ...         250,000 

Central  and  South  America  ...  180,000 

Dutch  Indies    ...         ...         ...  125,000 

Other  countries  33.333 


214,683,333 


It  is  very  difficult  to  trace  the  destination 
of  teas  exported  from  Hongkong  and  Macao, 
nearly  14,500,000  lbs.,  but  the  presumption 
is  that  the  bulk  of  it  goes  to  America,  and 
limited  quantities  to  Australia,  South  Africa, 
and  England. 

Figures  and  facts  have  been  adduced  to 
show  sufficiently  that  China  is  still  a  great 
tea  producing  country,  and  a  factor  to  be 
reckoned  with  in  the  future  production  of 
the  article.  It  is  unfortunately  true  that  the 
great  markets  of  England  and  Australia 
have  been  lost  to  her,  the  latter,  perhaps, 
irrecoverably,  for  India  and  Ceylon  supply 
exactly  the  article  that  the  Commonwealth 
requires—something  dark  and  strong  and 
cheap.  With  England  the  prospect  is  more 
hopeful,  and  there  are  those  who  do  not 
hold  with  Sir  Alexander  Hosie  that  "  the 
English  taste  has  become  so  perverted  and 
insensible  of  the  delicacy  and  cleanness  of 
flavour  characteristic  of  China  tea,  that  the 
market  can  never  be  recovered  even  by 
reduced  price." 

THE  DECLINE  OF  THE  TRADE 
WITH  ENGLAND. 

The  decline  has  come  entirely  from  the 
competition  with  India  and  Ceylon.  Not 
only  has  the  English  market  been  almost 
entirely  lost  to  China,  but  that  of  Australia, 
with  the  largest  per  capita  consumption  in  _ 
the  world,  has  become  hopelessly  so.  China ' 
tea  no  longer  presents  a  fair  mercantile 
risk.  Formerly  it  was  dealt  with  in  the 
London  market  by  merchants  in  the  same 
manner  as  other  products  which  require  from 
importers  a  knowledge  of  markets.  The 
merchant  could  find  reasons  for  holding  or 
selling  as  the  case  might  be,  but  as  he  dis- 
covered year  after  year  that  his  knowledge 
was  of  no  avail  he  gradually  withdrew  from 
the  trade  and  allowed  it  to  pass  into  the 
hands  of  the  dealers,  who,  through  their 
special  agents,  have  become  importers  them- 
selves,   as    also    to    those    who    have    special 


outlets  for  certain  teas,  and  conduct  their 
business  almost  entirely  by  telegraph.  This 
giving  London  "  firm  offers  "  or  "  refusals  " 
for  a  certain  time  has  reduced  the  trade,  as 
far  as  China  is  concerned,  to  a  very  poor 
commission  business.  Although  finest  China 
tea  is  returning  fair  profits  at  the  time  of 
writing,  it  is  only  because  it  is  not  in  over 
supply  and  is  being  judiciously  managed. 
Last  year  finest  China  tea  was  in  rather  too 
full  supply,  with  the  consequence  that  the 
importer  who  had  not  his  special  outlet  and 
had  missed  his  chance  of  sale  on  arrival  had 
finally  to  put  up  with  fabulous  losses  of  50 
per  cent,  or  more.  To  attempt  to  hold  China 
tea  nowadays  is  fatal,  even  the  very 
commonest  and  cheapest  kinds.  In  a  book- 
let written  by  the  agent  in  China  of  the 
"  Pure  China  Tea  Importing  and  Distributing 
Company,"  appears  the  following  brief  but 
very  informing  view  of  the  present  position 
of  the  article,  with  the  causes  that  have 
brought  it  about  : — "  It  is  but  a  few  years  since 
Indian,   Ceylon   and   Java   teas    took    up    the 


a  falling  market,  has  continuously  forced  the 
pace  and  driven  the  tea  into  the  consumer's 
teapot.  The  demand  from  the  masses  for 
strong  tea  was  met  by  the  extra  strength  from 
the  British-grown  varieties.  This  demand 
exists  mainly  from  English  tea  drinkers  of 
middle  and  lower  classes,  who  have  always 
insisted  that  all  their  beverages  should  be 
pungent,  strong  and  stimulating,  whether  it 
be  porter,  ale,  coffee  or  other  liquor,  regard- 
less of  the  effect  upon  the  nervous  system. 
The  increased  demand  for  other  than  China 
tea  is  entirely  due  to  this  and  not  to  any 
desire  for  quality  or  flavour,  but  merely  for 
strength  in  the  cup."  That  strength  is  kept 
in  the  leaf  by  the  foreign  method  of  rolling. 
In  China  the  sap  is  expressed  in  the  native 
efforts  to  get  curl  and  twist  in  the  sun-dried 
leaf  by  their  mode  of  manipulation,  and  con- 
sequently much  of  the  real  strength  of  the  tea 
is  lost.  To  retain  that  sap  without  the  aid  of 
machinery  is  a  question  which  may  yet  be 
solved  by  native  genius  when  once  properly 
centred    upon    the    great    advantage    to     be 


TEA   READY   FOR    SHIPMENT. 


leading  positions  in  the  world's  markets,  and 
whilst  to  the  casual  observer  it  might  appear 
that  this  position  has  been  attained  solely 
by  their  superior  merits,  it  is  a  well-known 
fact  in  the  tea  trade  that  this  is  not  the  cause. 
The  advent  of  Indian,  Ceylon  and  Java  teas 
found  the  existing  method  of  disposing  of 
shipments  to  be  too  slow,  and  the  crops  from 
these  countries  continuing  to  arrive  practically 
throughout  the  whole  year,  it  was  necessary 
to  dispose  of  the  product  quickly  at  auction 
at  the  best  price  it  would  fetch,  the  direct 
result  being  that  the  article  has  been  literally 
forced  into  consumption.  In  this  manner 
the  merchant  was  bound  to  sell  because  other 
shipments  were  following  close  upon  the  one 
in  hand.  The  broker  who  bought  in  the 
auction  sale  was  compelled  to  get  rid  of  his 
purchases  immediately  to  the  large  wholesale 
dealer,  who  in  turn  was  compelled  to  let  go 
to  the  exporter  and  small  dealer  who  again 
were  forced  to  get  rid  of  their  holdings  to 
the  blender  and  shopkeeper.  Every  pound 
bought  had  to  be  paid  for  in  a  very  short 
time,  and  this  fact,  coupled  with  the  fear  of 


gained  by  the  effort.  At  present  this  sap, 
the  life-blood  of  the  leaf,  is  almost  entirely 
lost.  It  is  not  difficult  to  imagine  that  it  is 
quite  possible  to  save  some  of  this  natural  and 
much  desired  strength  and  return  it  to  the  leaf 
before  the  final  firing. 

As  for  the  Chinese  process  being  a  dirty 
one,  as  so  strenuously  urged  by  the  Indian 
planter  to  the  detriment  of  China  tea,  the 
objection  to  the  manipulation  of  tea  by  hand 
(and  by  feet)  instead  of  by  machinery  has 
about  the  same  logic  on  its  side  as  has  the 
objection  to  the  grape  being  trodden  under 
foot  before  the  wine  is  produced.  No  one 
gives  much  thought  to  the  fact  when  drink- 
ing a  favourite  claret.  Machinery  has  been 
tried  in  China,  both  at  Foochow  and  at 
Hankow,  but  has  not  proved  successful  owing 
to  the  lack  of  a  continuous  supply  of  leaf  to 
keep  it  going.  Nor  is  it  obvious  that 
machinery  can  ever  be  made  use  of  in  China, 
save  perhaps  in  the  thickly  planted  green  tea 
districts  of  Chekiang,  for,  "  owing  to  the 
peculiar  nature  of  the  Chinese  laws  as  to 
inheritance  and  probably  also,  in  some  degree, 


300     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


to  the  despotic  genius  ol  the  Gt)vcrnmciit 
landed  propert>-  is  much  divided  throughout 
the  Empire  :  and  so  it  is  that  tea  is  grown 
in  gardens,  or  patches  or  plantations  of  no 
great  extent."  I'ntil  such  time  as  large  are:is 
of  tea  land  can  be  leased  or  owned,  culti- 
vated and  carefully  managed  as  they  are  in 
India.  Ceylon,  and  Java  to-day,  there  can 
be  nothing  similar  to  an  Indian  plantation  or 
a  Ceylon  estate  in  China,  where  the  land  is 
owned  by  the  foreigner,  the  plants  tended 
and  culti\'ated  by  the  foreigner,  the  leaves 
picked  day  by  day.  and  day  by  day  manu- 
factured by  machinery  on  the  spot. 

More  might  l>e  done  immediately  for  the 
improvement  of  China  tea  had  shippers  such 
a  vested  interest  in  the  article  which  has 
given  them  some  cxmtrol  over  it  <i/»  initio. 
In  India  and  Ceylon  everything  belongs  to 
the  planter,  land,  produce,  machinery,  besides 
control  over  the  manufacture.  It  is  in  his 
power  to  make  such  a  quality  of  tea  as  he 
may  have  a  special  market  for.  In  his  hands 
lie  the  power  to  increase  or  reduce  the  out- 
put and  to  regulate  shipments,  and  a  com- 
bination has  been  actually  entered  into  by  the 
Indian  and  Ceylon  growers  to  adopt  a 
common  policy  to  regulate  the  quantity  made, 
shipped  and  sold  on  the  London  market 
■•  Growers  are  no  longer  independent  units. 
but  an  organised  l>ody  acting  in  concert  with 
a  definite  aim."  In  China  it  is  a  case  of  each 
shipper  for  himself.  It  is  only  those  who 
have  witnessed  the  opening  of  the  Hankow 
tea  market  in  the  month  of  May  who  can 
form  any  idea  of  the  conduct  of  the  business. 
They  will  have  seen  the  extraordinary  and 
irregular  prices  paid,  and  the  speed  with 
which  the  article  is  shipped  off  to  markets 
too  often  quite  unable  to  deal  with  more  than 
a  moderate  quantity,  a  speed  which  may  be 
gauged  by  the  fact  that  some  600.000  half 
chests  out  of  a  possible  total  supply  of 
800.000  half  chests  of  Congou  are  afloat 
within  the  very  limited  time  of  six  weeks. 
And  in  due  time  from  across  the  seas  comes 
the  effort  to  sell,  with  the  result  that  such 
fluctuations  in  prices  occur  as  are  unknown 
and  impossible  in  any  other  article  of  produce 
in  the  known  world.  It  is  this  absolute 
inability  to  control  prices  in  any  degree 
which  has  driven  the  genuine  old  exporter 
from  the  field,  and  is  one  of  the  causes  of 
the  decline  of  the  China  tea  trade.  To  such 
fluctuations  the  British-grown  article  is  never 
subject  l>ecause  shipments  are  regulated,  and 
the  quantity  offered  for  sale  at  one  time  on 
the  home  market,  although  large,  never 
excessive.  The  cost  of  production  in  India 
and  Ceylon  varies  but  little.  A  good  season 
may  bring  out  a  larger  supply  of  leaf  than 
usual,  and  so  lessen  the  cost  of  the  article. 
In  China  neither  quality  nor  quantity  materi- 
ally affect  prices  which  alone  are  determined 
by  the  caprice  of  buyers,  for  the  tea-man 
once  having  brought  his  produce  to  market 
must  perforce  sell  it  or  ship  it.  And  he  is 
much  too  wise  to  do  the  latter.  Very  inter- 
esting is  a  comparison  of  the  average  prices 
realised  for  a  season's  yield  of  British-grown 
tea.  and  the  average  prices  paid  for  China  tea. 

In  1904  the  average  obtained,  according  to 
the  Daily  Telegraph,  for  all  the  Indian  and 
Ceylon  tea  sold  in  London  was  7jd.  per  lb. 
for  the  former  and  7d.  for  the  latter.  In 
1905  the  prices  were  respectively  7jd.  and 
7}d.     In  1906,  8}d.  and  8d. 

According  to  the  Customs  returns  the 
average  value  of  black  tea  from  all  China 
was  for  the  following  decades  :  — 

1862  to  187 1 $247.1  per  picul. 

1872  to  1881 $1999 

1882  to  1891 $1664 

1892  to  1901 $2025        „ 


It  would  be  very  diflicult  with  any  accuracy 
to  determine  the  average  laying-down  cost  of 
tea  in  any  of  these  decennial  periixls  because 
of  the  fluctuations  in  exchange  ;  but  the 
prices  paid  to  the  native  tea-men  were  on  a 
marked  decline  for  the  thirty  years  from  1862 
to  ii;oi.  a  decline  that  no  British  planter 
could  understand  and  a  depreciation  unknown 
to  British-grown  produce.  And  anomalous 
as  it  may  appear,  despite  the  very  low  aver- 
age price  at  which  China  tea  has  been  laid 
down  in  London  this  year,  the  article,  save 
for  a  moderate  quantity  of  finest  quality  tea, 
is  practically  unsaleable. 

Is  It  possible  to  recover,  at  least,  a 
part  of  the  lost  trade  with  Eng- 
land P     And  If  so,    how? 

This  is  a  question  to  which  the  answers  are 
as  numerous  as  they  are  varied,  strongly  con- 
firming the  lafinism  of  long  centuries  ago, 
qiiof  homines,  tot  scntcntiiv,  tliat  the  number  of 
opinions  was  limited  only  by  the  number  of 
men  capable  or  otherwise  of  forming  them. 

There  are  those  who  look  upon  the  future 
of  the  tea  trade  with  England  as  hopeless. 
There  are  again  those  who  think  the  present 
limited  trade  will  drag  on  for  years  under 
much  the  same  conditions  as  now  exist.  The 
Indian  view  of  the  prospects  of  China  tea  are 
thus  summarily  dismissed  in  an  article  on  the 
Indian  tea  companies,  in  the  Daily  Telegraph 
of  August  17,  igo8  : — "  China's  export  may 
be  expected  to  decline  if  India's  advance." 
Everything  points  to  an  Indian  advance, 
though  "as  regards  Ceylon  the  opinion  pre- 
vails that  its  output  will  not  increase."  But  let 
India  t;ike  heed  lest  she  has  but  "  scotched  the 
snake,  not  killed  it."  for  China  is  a  land  of 
surprises.  And  there  are  a  few,  very  few, 
who  think  that  a  part  of  the  lost  trade  may 
be  recovered.  Amongst  these  last  I  am  con- 
tent to  take  a  humble  place  and  believing  in 
the  adage  that  "  she  may  have  been  asleep 
but  is  not  dead  yet,"  I  think  that  China, 
imbued  with  the  spirit  that  is  now  making 
for  a  new  China,  will  rise  to  the  grand 
occasion,  and  through  her  all-powerful  ofli- 
cials  not  only  make  the  effort  to  resuscitate 
her  tea  trade,  but  even  to  extend  it  materi- 
ally. And  for  whatever  they  may  be  worth 
I  submit  the  following  suggestions  as 
possible  aids  towards  the  extrication  of  the 
trade  from  the  slough  of  despond  in  which 
it  is  at  present  so  hopelessly  floundering  : — 

1st.— The    effort    must    be    made     to 
cheapen   the   cost   of    the  article. 

{a)  This  end  might  in  a  measure  be  attained 
could  some  combination,  such  as  that  which 
regulates  output  and  shipments  in  India,  be 
entered  into  not  to  pay  such  inordinate 
prices  for  that  great  bulk  of  tea  which 
fills  up  the  space  between  choicest  and 
commonest  descriptions. 

(fc)  In  India  there  is  no  tax  on  the  pro- 
duction or  export  of  tea  ;  in  China  there  is 
a  specific  export  duty  of  $125  per  picul, 
based  on  an  average  value  of  Tis.  25,  and  a 
series  of  taxes  on  the  article  from  the  place 
of  production  to  the  port  of  shipment,  levied 
by  the  local  oflicials  and  generally  known  as 
likin,  which  amounts  on  the  average  to 
rather  more  than  the  export  duty,  "  with 
something  added  for  irregular  levy  and  delay 
and  loss  of  interest."  * 

Obviously  no  industry  thus  burdened  can 
compete  with  a  rival  free  of  all  burden.  And 
strange  to  say,  with  the  knowledge  that  these 
internal   taxes   are   illegal   and  abolished   by 

*  Morse.  "The  Trade  and  Administration  of  ttie 
Chinese  Empire." 


Treaty,  which  in  their  place  imposes  a  transit 
duty  of  one  half  of  the  export  duty,  namely. 
$0'625  per  picul.  the  natives  are  content  to  be 
mulcted  rather  than  incur  the  displeasure  of 
the  local  officials,  and  the  consequent  penalties 
and  lets  and  hindrances  to  the  prosecution 
of  tlieir  legitimate  trade.  Nothing  could 
be  clearer  on  this  head  than  the  words  of 
the  supplementary  Commercial  Treaty  with 
China,  which  was  ratified  at  Peking  on  July 
28,   1903  : — 

Preamble. — "  The  Chinese  Government 
recognizing  that  the  system  of  levying 
likin  and  other  dues  on  goods  at 
the  place  of  production  &c.  &c.  &c. 
undertake  to  discard  completely  this 
means  of  raising  revenue." 
Art.  VIII. — "The  total  amount  of  taxa- 
tion leviable  on  native  produce  for 
export  abroad  shall,  under  no  cir- 
cumstances, exceed  7J  per  cent.  aU 
valorem." 

It  is  possible  that  natives  will  sooner  or 
later  resent  the  fact  that  their  produce  is 
being  illegally  taxed,  while  it  is  not  only  to 
the  interest  but  it  is  actually  the  duty  of 
all  those  engaged  in  the  tea  trade,  whether 
foreigner  or  native,  to  obtain  their  Treaty 
rights.  That  a  little  perseverance  will  go  a 
long  way  towards  attaining  this  end  is  proved 
by  the  fact  that  the  present  writer,  in  the 
month  of  June  this  year  (1908),  actually  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  tea  down  from  the  country 
free  of  all  burdens  except  the  legitimate  tax 
imposed  by  Treaty,  viz..  one  half  of  the  export 
duty  per   picul. 

What  has  been  attempted  by  an  individual 
single  handed,  who  takes  this  opportunity  of 
thanking  the  Consuls-General  of  Shanghai 
and  Hankow  and  tlie  Consul  at  Kiukiang  for 
their  whole  hearted  and  inspiriting  support 
of  his  action,  might  be  carried  into  general 
and  permanent  effect  by  the  combination  and 
co-operation  of  all  those  engaged  in  the  trade 
to  insist  upon  their  Treaty  rights.  Had  the 
Chinese  Government  properly  fulfilled  its 
Treaty  obligations  there  would  have  been 
saved  last  season  to  the  export  trade  in  leaf 
tea  and  dust  no  less  a  sum  than  Haikwan 
TIs.  621.981  (as  per  Customs  returns),  or 
roughly  ;£f90,ooo  sterling,  while  exporters  of 
brick  and  tablet  teas  would  have  enjoyed  an 
abatement  on  82,000,000  lbs.  of  the  article 
so  manufactured.  Surely  this  is  a  betterment 
which  shippers  as  a  body  should  at  once 
make  an  efl'ort  to  obtain. 

2nd.— Greater   strength    must    charac' 
terlse  China   tea. 

At  first  sight  it  does  not  appear  very 
obvious  how  strength  can  be  imparted  to 
the  leaf,  but  when  it  is  suggested  that 
this  end  may  in  a  degree  be  attained  by 
returning  to  the  leaf  before  its  final  firing 
some  of  that  precious  sap  wherein  lies  the 
strength  now  largely  lost  through  the  existing 
native  methods  of  manipulation,  the  experi- 
ment should  certainly  be  worth  the  trial. 
Inventive  native  genius  should  surely  be 
able  to  manufacture  a  rolling  machine  to  be 
worked  by  hand  which  would  answer  all 
the  purposes  which  the  Indian  machine  is 
supposed  to  meet,  or  in  any  case  to  devise 
some  means  whereby  the  loss  of  strength 
of  the  tea  may  be  minimised.  For  great 
and  natural  original  strength  is  in  the  leaf 
undoubtedly.  Again,  greater  strength  and 
increased  productiveness  might  be  ensured 
were  those  tactics  followed  which  have  been 
so  successful  in  India  and  Ceylon,  viz., 
replacing  worn-out  sections  of  the  patches 
or  gardens  by  newly  planted  areas  on  more 
fertile  soil,  and  by  more  scientific  manuring. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     301 


The  system  now  adopted  in  India  is  called 
"  Green  manuring."  It  has  been  ascertained 
that  leguminous  trees,  shrubs,  and  annual 
green  crops  provide  the  organic  matter 
and  the  nitrogen  required  by  the  tea  bush 
for  its  fullest  development.  And  China  is 
rich  in  this  resource,  with  her  bean  and 
pea  fields,  her  Scsamnm  and  kindred 
vegetable  plants.  A  little  local  official 
pressure,  the  terror  of  the  agriculturist's 
life,  in  this  direction  would  soon  result  in 
a  productiveness  without  increased  planting 
which  would  benefit  both  grower  and  tax- 
collector  alike. 

3rd.  —  Regulated,    not    hurried    ship- 
ments. 

It  is  a  time-honoured  belief  that  because 
tea  arrives  in  almost  unwieldy  quantities  in 
the  markets  of  China  within  a  month  that 
it  must  be  philanthropically  shipped  off 
without  delay  to  relieve  the  local  congestion. 
Further,  buyers  are  actuated  by  the  fear 
that  if  they  do  not  buy  tea  immediately  it 
is  offered  on  the  market  they  will  miss 
their  opportunity,  and  be  left  out  in  the 
cold  until  another  tea  season  comes  round. 
The  result  of  these  ill-consideredly  hurried 
shipments,  while  usually  disastrous,  is  at 
the  same  time  preventable.  Why,  for  instance, 
cannot  the  native  tea-man  be  made  to  hold 
his  stock  in  China  for  a  few  weeks  instead 
of  delegating  that  task  to  the  foreign 
exporter,  who  has  to  carry  his  holdings, 
whether  in  America  or  England,  for  months, 
and  sometimes  for  years  .>  Here,  again,  a 
lesson  may  well  be   learnt  from   the   Indian 


shipper.      Rational     combination     to     retard 
shipments  should  not  be  impossible. 

4th.     A    more  serious  pushing  of   the 
article  and  insistent  advertising. 

There  can  be  no  question  of  the  superiority 
of  China  tea  in  the  ;esthetic  properties  of 
aroma  and  flavour,  while  it  is  distinctly  a 
more  wholesome  beverage  and  superior 
dietetic  nutrient.  While  Indian,  Ceylon,  and 
Java  teas  contain  an  excessive  amount  of 
tannin,  the  fruitful  mother  of  dyspepsia,  only 
an  insignificant  amount  is  found  in  China 
tea.  The  consensus  of  opinion  of  the  leading 
medical  authorities  in  the  world  has  pro- 
claimed in  favour  of  China  tea  above  all 
other  teas.  These  important  facts  should 
be  brought  home  to  the  great  tea  drinking 
public  of  Great  Britain  in  some  less  lym- 
phatic manner  than  that  adopted  by  the 
self-constituted  China  Tea  Association.  Tea 
should  be  advertised,  as  Indian  and  Ceylon 
teas  have  been  advertised,  and  as  strikingly 
and  as  appealingly  as  the  merits  of  patent 
medicines  are  made  known.  Even  for  this 
purpose  should  a  voluntary  tax  be  levied  as 
in  India.  China  must  vigorously  fight  India, 
Ceylon,  and  Java  with  their  own  weapons 
if  she  would  get  back  even  a  part  of  that 
trade  which  once,  and  not  so  long  ago, 
was  all  her  own. 

An  independent  step,  but  one  quite  in  the 
right  direction,  is  now  being  taken  by  a  private 
enterprise  well  fitted  financially  and  with 
ability  to  carry  its  project  to  a  successful 
issue.  The  Pure  China  Tea  Importing  and 
Distributing  Company,  with  its  buying 
agencies  in    Hankow   and    Shanghai,   and    a 


London  distributing  office,  are  prepared  to 
place  in  the  hands  of  those  requiring  it 
strictly  choice  pure  China  tea  packed  in 
China  and  distributed  in  original  packages 
only  at  most  moderate  prices.  With  the 
aid  of  intelligent  pushful  travellers  and  a 
strong  advertising  appeal  to  the  common 
sense  of  the  great  body  of  tea  drinkers, 
there  can  be  little  doubt  of  ultimate  success. 
But  this  is  a  step  which,  at  its  inception, 
ought  to  have  been  taken  by  the  China  Tea 
Association,  who  should  have  canvassed  for 
funds  from  all  those  interested  in  the 
amelioration  of  the  trade,  and  so  got  them 
financially  interested  in  the  new  departure. 
But  there  is  yet  time  for  that  august  body 
to  take  the  matter  in  hand. 

I  am  strong  in  the  belief  that  with  a 
scientific  enrichment  of  the  soil  and  a  more 
intelligent  attention  to  the  growth  and 
cultivation  of  the  plant  the  resultant  extra- 
productiveness  would  largely  tend  to  the 
cheapening  of  the  initial  cost  of  the  leaf — 
a  cost  that  will  be  further  lessened  by  the 
removal  of  the  present  illegitimate  internal 
burdens  ;  that  a  saving  of  the  wastage  now 
occurring  by  reason  of  the  ancient  native 
method  of  manipulation  will  impart  a  much 
desired  strength  ;  and  that,  finally,  with  an 
article  not  comparing  unfavourably  in  cost 
and  strength,  but  comparing  only  too  favour- 
ably in  wholesomeness,  quality,  and  flavour 
with  the  British-grown  teas  of  India  and 
Ceylon,  properly  regulated  shipments,  and 
persistent,  strenuous,  intelligent  advertising, 
China  may  not  unreasonably  look  forward 
to  a  future  bright  with  promise  for  her 
naturally  magnificent  industry. 


COTTON. 


By   James    KERFOOT,    M.I.M.E.,    Manager   of    Ewo    Cotton    Mills,    Shanghai. 


[HE  spinning  of  cotton  into  yarn, 
and  the  weaving  of  that  yarn 
into  cloth,  are  industries 
which  have  existed  in  China 
for  over  a  thousand  years. 
Weaving  is  carried  on,  prac- 
tically, throughout  the  Empire, 
but  the  great  centre  for  spinning  has  been  the 
c-ounlry  where  cotton  is  grown  under  the  most 
favourable  conditions.  The  seaboard  round 
the  mouth  of  the  Yangtsze,  the  Hangchow 
B.iy,  and  Ihe  plains  of  the  Hupeh  Province. 
Il  is  in  the  last-named  districts  that  the 
mills  have  been  erected  for  treating  the  raw 
material  by  means  of  steam-driven  machinery. 
One  of  the  earliest  ventures  in  this  direction 
was  the  Chinese-owned  mill,  built  in  1891,  near 
Ihe  point  on  the  Yangtsze  Poo  Road,  Shanghai. 
This  has  always  been  regarded,  more  or  less, 
as  a  Government  venture.  Financially,  it 
has  never  l>een  successful.  The  management 
has  been  entirely  in  Chinese  hands,  and 
•'  squeezing  " — a  colloquial  expression  describ- 
ing the  pernicious  system  of  securing  illicit 
personal  commissions  from  every  kind  of 
business  transaction  has  been  notorious.  One 
example  of  this  will  serve  to  illustrate  the 
difficulties  of  producing  a  sound  balance 
sheet.  The  mill  had  not  been  built  long 
before  there  was  a  fire.  No  provision  had 
been  made  by  the  management  for  grappling 
with  such  an  emergcnc>',  and  as  the  municipal 
fire  brigade  was  not  allowed  to  render 
assistance,  the  employes  were  helpless.  As 
a  result,  the  premises  were  gutted.  It  was 
then  found  that  the  official  who  had  been 
entrusted  with  the  insurance  premiums  had 
considered  himself  entitled  to  a  considerable 
portion  of  Ihe  money.  Consequently  the 
policies  had  been  allowed  to  lapse,  and 
the  shareholders  suffered  heavy  loss. 

Subsequently  a  larger  mill  was  built  on 
the  same  site.  The  originators  claimed  for 
themselves  a  quasi  monopoly,  and  prohibited 
those  who  were  not  prepared  to  pay  a  fixed 
royalty  for  the  privilege  from  engaging  in 
any  similar  undertaking.  Although  certain 
Chinese  accepted  this  onerous  condition, 
foreigners  resented  it  as  an  undue  infringe- 
ment of  their  Treaty  rights,  and  Messrs. 
]ardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  imported  certain 
machines,  in  1893,  to  obtain  a  test  case.  It 
was.  however,  only  when  Japan,  after  her 
war  with  China,  had  inserted  in  the  Treaty 


of  Shimoneseki,  in  1895,  an  article  conceding 
to  Japanese  subjects  the  right  to  engage  in 
all  kinds  of  manufacturing  industries  in  tlie 
open  ports  of  China,  and  to  import  the 
neces!:ary  machinery,  that  foreigners  were 
afforded  an  opportunity  of  exploiting  these 
fields,  rich  in  their  possibilities  for  modern 
commercial  enterprise.  No  time  was  lost 
in  turning  this  particular  clause  in  the 
Jap.mese  Treaty  to  account.  No  fewer  than 
eleven  mills,  Chinese  and  foreign,  were 
erected  between  1896  and  1898.  In  1896  the 
mills  owned  by  the  Chinese  were  working 
some  120,000  spindles  and  850  power-looms. 
Before  Ihe  end  of  1908  there  will  be 
732,500  spindles,  and  2,500  power-looms  in 
operation. 

Weaving  has  not  expanded  at  the  same  rate 
as  spinning.  The  reason  for  this  is  a  simple 
one.  Nearly  every  homestead  in  the  country 
districts  contains  one  hand-loom  or  more 
operated  by  the  female  members  of  the 
household  in  their  spare  moments.  The  cost 
of  production  is  therefore  exceedingly  low. 
Large  quantities  of  coarse  cloth  are  placed 
on  the  market  by  this  means  at  a  price  at 
which  it  is  impossible  for  power-looms  to 
compete.  If  it  were  possible  to  spin  yarns 
of,  say,  from  2o's  to  24's  from  native  cotton, 
a  tremendous  expansion  would  take  place  in 
the  weaving  industry,  because  this  would 
allow  Chinese  mills  to  compete  against 
Japanese  and  American  cloths,  made  from 
American  and  better-class  Indian  cottons. 
At  Ihe  present  time  best  Chinese  cotton 
cannot  be  spun  successfully  into  higher  counts 
than  i6's  yarn  owing  to  its  short  staple. 

The  capital  invested  in  the  cotton  industry 
does  not  fall  far  short  of  ;£3,ooo,ooo,  taking 
into  consideration  land,  buildings,  and 
machinery.  But  from  a  foreign  point  of 
view,  when  due  allowance  has  been  made 
for  depreciation,  the  700,000  spindles  taken 
at  a  fair  market  price  would  not  be  worth 
much  more  than  half  this  sum,  or  15  taels 
per  spindle.  It  is  doubtful  whether  the 
shareholders  have  received  2j  per  cent,  per 
annum  on  their  capital.  In  the  foreign- 
managed  mills,  however,  the  machinery  and 
plant  have  been  maintained  in  good  condition, 
and  it  may  only  be  a  question  of  waiting 
a  few  years  before  the  cotton  industry 
comes  to  be  looked  upon  as  a  safe  invest- 
ment  yielding   from  7   to   10  per  cent.      So 


far  there  have  been  many  factors  militating 
against  the  profitable  working  of  the  mills. 
Foremost  among  these  has  been  a  lack  of 
working  capital.  The  mills  have  to  cover 
their  yarn  sales  immediately  they  are  made, 
as  it  would  be  unsafe  to  risk  the  fluctuations 
of  the  cotton  market,  which  are  due  to  the 
large  exports  of  raw  cotton  to  Japan, 
amounting  to  between  six  and  eight  hundred 
thousand  piculs  per  annum.  Owing,  also, 
to  the  se<isonable  character  of  the  market, 
the  yarn  had  to  be  stocked  for  months.  If 
such  a  precaution  were  unnecessary,  the 
interest  on  working  capital  would  go  a  long 
way  towards  paying  a  return  of  3  or  4  per 
cent,  on  the  money  invested.  Another  factor 
adversely  affecting  the  fortunes  of  the 
Chinese  mills  has  been  their  failure  to 
obtain  supplies  of  raw  cotton  at  reasonable 
prices.  The  estimates,  made  at  the  lime 
when  foreign  capital  was  about  to  embark 
on  the  new  enterprise,  were  based  on  the 
belief  that  cotton  would  never  go  beyond 
1 150  taels  per  picul,  as  for  years  its  price 
had  remained  stationary  at  ifoo  taels. 
Japan's  increased  requirements,  and  the 
demands  made  by  the  increasing  number  of 
spindles  in  China,  had  not  been  anticipated. 
In  1903  and  1904  tlie  price  of  Chinese 
cotton  was  90  per  cent,  aljove  the  figure  on 
which  the  original  calculations  were  founded. 
The  mills,  loo,  have  to  contend  against  the 
"dumping"  of  surplus  stocks  of  yarn  by 
Japan  and  India,  and  the  high  price  of  Ihe 
commonest  coal  also  increases  the  cost  of 
working  to  a  large  extent.  At  the  beginning, 
the  labour  question  presented  some  difliculty, 
but  the  women,  having  worked  cotton  and 
yarn  in  their  homes,  make  apt  pupils,  and, 
unless  the  foreign  mills  start  working  dining 
the  night,  tliere  are  now  sufficient  hands 
obtainable,  except  for  a  few  months  in  the 
summer.  When  the  quality  of  cotton  used 
is  taken  into  consideration,  the  Chinese 
operative,  under  foreign  supervision,  is  quite 
as  cheap  and  as  expert  as  operatives  in 
Japan  and  India.  The  foreign  mills  are 
worked  during  the  day  only,  from  6  a.m.  to 
7.30  p.m.,  and  unless  the  margin  of  profit  is 
at  least  10  taels  per  bale,  it  is  far  belter  not 
to  h.ive  night  work,  for  this  not  only  means 
an  increase  of  more  than  100  per  cent,  in 
depreciation,  but,  also,  the  production  of  a 
poorer  quality  of  yarn. 


Preparing  Koving  for  Spinning. 
Weaving  Cloth. 


COTTON. 

Opening  or  Willowing  Cotton. 


Extracting  Seed  from  Lint  Cotton. 
Spinning  three  threads  simultaneously. 


THE    FLORA    OF    CHINA. 


|HI\A  possesses  what  is  prob- 
ably one  of  the  largest  flora 
hi  the  world.  "The  most 
moderate  estimate  cannot  put 
the  whole  flora  as  containing 
less  than  twelve  thousand 
species,"  says  Sir  W.  T. 
Thiselton  Dyer  in  the  "  Index  Florae  Sinen- 
sis," which  enumerates  8,271  species,  4,230 
of  which  are  endemic,  or  not  known  to 
occur  outside  the  Chinese  Empire. 

The  popular  cry  that  China  requires 
nothing  from  abroad,  having  all  that  she 
needs  within  her  own  boundaries,  is  no 
empty  boast  so  far  as  her  vegetation  is 
concerned.  Lying  between  about  45°  N. 
latitude,  where  the  winters  are  Arctic,  and 
about  15°  N.  latitude,  where  the  climate  is 
equatorial,  she  has  an  extensive  range  of 
climate.  From  the  high  line  of  mountains 
in  Szechwan,  whose  peaks  are  covered  with 
perpetual  snow,  to  the  flat  alluvial  plains  on 
the  Pacific  coast,  it  is  possible  for  lier  to 
cultivate  practically  all  known  plants.  Not 
only  is  her  flora  one  of  the  richest  in  a 
general  sense,  but  it  is  also  one  of  the  most 
extensive,  in  so  far  as  decorative  plants, 
suited  to  the  gardens  of  Great  Britain,  are 
concerned,  and  this  survey  will  t^e  chiefly 
confined  to  remarks  on  some  of  the  most 
popular  of  the  hundreds  of  garden  plants 
that  have  tieen  introduced  from  China  to 
Britain. 

Our  knowledge  of  Chinese  flora  from  a 
decorative  point  of  view  only  dates  back  to 
1843,  when  Robert  Fortune,  a  botanical 
collector  sent  out  by  the  Koyal  Horticultural 
Society,  arrived  in  Shanghai.  He  was  an 
intrepid  collector  and  overcame  considerable 
difiiculties  in  his  attempts  to  enrich  the 
gardens  of  the  old  country.  He  had,  of 
course,  a  new  field  to  explore,  and  though 
certain  facilities  for  obtaining  plants  were 
afforded  him  by  the  nurseries  in  Shanghai, 
it  is  to  his  own  personal  efforts  that  thanks 
are  due  for  a  great  number  of  our  most 
popular  flowers.  It  was  he  who  brought 
home  the  chrysanthemum,  which,  though 
divided  into  Chinese  and  Japanese  varieties, 
certainly  originated  in  China.  A  peculiarity 
which  is  generally  overlooked  in  discussions 
on  the  question  of  Japanese  and  Chinese 
forms  of  this  plant  is  very  obvious  to  those 
who  know  the  difference  between  the  two 
peoples.    The    Japanese    plant    is    light   and 


fantastic,  with  curved  twists  of  petals  ;  in 
other  words,  it  is  artistic,  and  typical  of 
what  the  Japanese  admire  in  art.  The 
Chinese  variety,  on  the  other  hand,  is  stiff, 
globular,  formal — like  the  Chinese  character, 
conservative  and  solid.  There  is  little  doubt 
that  each  race,  finding  the  Hower  adaptable, 
developed  in  it  peculiarities  to  suit  their 
tastes. 

Amongst  the  most  popular  garden  plants 
introduced  by  Fortune  are  the  following  : — 
Paeonies,  azaleas,  camellias,  Gardenia  for- 
tuuii  and  G.  radicans,  and  roses  in  many 
varieties.  The  Tea  rose,  and  its  consequent 
hybrids,  were  all  derived  from  Rosa  Indica, 
a  Chinese  species. 

Fortune's  greatest  work,  however,  was  the 
introduction  of  the  tea  plant  (Camellia  tkea], 
from  the  vicinity  of  Chekiang  to  India. 
After  completing  his  investigations  for  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society,  he  accepted  a 
commission  from  the  East  India  Company  in 
1848  lo  obtain  seeds,  plants,  and  full  informa- 
tion relative  to  the  cultivation  of  tea  in  China, 
with  a  view  to  starting  the  cultivation  of  tea 
on  the  Himalayas.  Up  to  that  time  the 
Chinese  had  guarded  the  secret  of  tea  pro- 
duction very  carefully,  and  it  was  commonly 
supposed  that  black  tea  was  made  from  the 
leaves  of  Tlica  lioliea,  grown  on  the  Foochow 
and  Canton  Hills,  and  that  green  tea  was 
the  product  of  Tltea  viridis  cultivated  in 
Chekiang.  Fortune's  investigations  revealed 
the  fact  that  black  and  green  tea  were  both 
the  product  of  the  same  plant,  Camellia  tliea, 
and  that  the  difference  in  colour  was  due 
simply  to  difference  in  the  methods  of  manu- 
facturing, i.e.,  drying,  &c.  On  August  lo, 
1885,  Fortune,  who  had  previously  shipped 
considerable  quantities  of  plants  and  seeds  to 
India,  left  Shanghai  with  eight  expert  tea 
cultivators  and  manufacturers  from  Fokien. 
From  their  arrival  dates  the  great  tea  industry 
in  India  and  Ceylon,  which  now  so  seriously 
threatens  the  China  tea  trade  with  extinction 
that  two  years  ago  Chinese  commissioners 
were  deputed  to  visit  Ceylon  in  order  to 
investigate  the  methods  in  vogue  there. 
From  the  fact  that  the  tea  plant  is  not  in- 
frequently found  growing  wild  in  Assam  but 
never  in  China,  it  may  be  inferred  that  India 
was  its  original  home.  The  probabilities  are 
that  the  Chinese  imported  the  plant  from 
Assam  centuries  ago,  and  that  through 
Fortune  they  merely  repaid  a  loan. 


NORTH    CHINA. 

The  vegetation  of  China  is  divisible  into 
three  well-defined  regions.  The  Northern, 
or  Temperate,  region,  extends  from  Shantung 
northwards.  This  is  the  home  of  numerous 
pines,  the  most  famous  of  which  is  the 
White  Barked  pine  (Piiiiis  l>iiiii>eaita),  so 
abundant  near  the  Ming  tombs  in  the  vicinity 
of  Peking.  This  tree  is  greatly  venerated, 
and  attains  a  great  age  and  size.  Its  stem, 
when  matured,  appears  as  though  it  were 
whitewashed,  and  forms  a  striking  object  in 
the  landscape.  The  Shantung  Province  and 
North  Honan  are  the  chief  fruit-growing 
areas.  Apples,  pears,  plums,  grapes,  persim- 
mons {Diospyros  kaki),  thorn  apples  (Cratea- 
geiis  fiiunatifida],  cherries,  apricots,  and  all 
other  temperate  fruits  are  grown  in  great 
variety.  A  plum-cot,  similar  to  the  famed 
Burbank  hybrid,  is  said  to  have  existed  for 
centuries  in  the  vicinity  of  Weihaiwei, 
while  other  peculiar  fruits  found  in  this 
locality  are  the  seedless  jujube  and  flat 
jujube,  the  apple-shaped  pear,  and  a  large 
peculiar  shaped  persimmon. 

Amongst  flowering  plants  the  more  familiar 
varieties  are  Anemone  Chinensis,  Lilinm 
eoncolor,  daphnes,  hawthorns,  Jasminum 
nndiflorum,  Foroytliia  siispensa,  the  China 
aster  (Callistefhns  hortensios),  Clematis  oricnt- 
alis,  Tlialictnim  minns,  Anemone  hefatica, 
Adonis  vernalis,  I'ltonia  alhiflora,  Chimonan- 
thns  /ragrans,  Delphininm  ^landiflora,  Aconi- 
liini,  and  Aquilegeia. 

CENTRAL    CHINA. 

The  central  region,  i.e.,  that  adjoining  the 
Yangtsze  Valley,  is  agriculturally,  and  also 
in  the  extreme  richness  of  its  flora,  unique. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Shanghai  the  flat  alluvial 
plains  are  devoted  to  agriculture,  the  rich 
soil  producing  excellent  crops  of  cotton,  rice, 
barley,  beans,  Sesamum  Indica  and  large 
supplies  of  vegetables.  At  Siccawei,  which 
is  the  chief  peach-growing  region,  good 
peaches  in  considerable  variety  are  produced, 
the  favourite  being  a  flat-fruited  variety. 
Unfortunately,  the  Chinese  do  ni)t  give  care- 
ful attention  to  their  cultivation,  with  the 
result  that  almost  every  other  fruit  has  a 
maggot  in  it.  The  peaches  are  plucked 
before  they  are  ripe  to  prevent  the  maggot 
from  developing  and  to  avoid  the  risk  of 
theft  ;    consequently,    a    really    ripe,    luscious 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      305 


peach — the  perfect,  delectable  fruit  that  is 
usually  pictured  —  is  unobtainable.  Indeed, 
foreigners  may  literally  be  said  to  be  starving 
whilst  in  the  midst  of  plenty,  so  far  as  this 
fruit  is  concerned. 

In  this  region  no  square  inch  of  land  is 
left  uncultivated,  consequently,  wild  flowers 
are  rarely  seen,  the  only  exceptions  being 
Anemone  Japoiiica,  Lycoris  squniiiigent,  L. 
nuiiatn,  L.  aura,  Loiiicera  gyiw-clilaiiiydca, 
and  Kosn  miiltifiora.  On  tlie  so-called  hills, 
situated  at  a  distance  of  about  20  miles 
from  Shanghai,  are  found  Ficus  rcpeiis, 
Tmclteleofennniii,  Janiiiiwiiles,  Harts-tongue, 
Royal.  Sword,  Pteris  cretica,  and  a  variety  of 
other  ferns,  and  two  forms  of  asparagus. 

Other  plants  which  are  natives  of  this 
region,  but  can  scarcely  be  said  to  occur  in 
a  state  of  nature,  are  Salix  habylonica,  Ilex 
coriitila,  Vibiiniiiiii  iiiacivceflialiiiii,  Ligiislriiiii 
lueidum,  L.  sinensis,  Ailanllins  glandnlosa, 
Stcrculia  Platanifalia,  Pterocarya  slenopera, 
and  Qnercns  serratta. 

The  hills  in  the  vicinity  of  Ningpo  and 
Hangchow  are  clad  with  azaleas,  Kliododen- 
dron  sinensis,  and  R.  Indieum,  like  the  hills  of 
Scotland  with  heather,  and  when  in  flower 
a  magnificent  effect  is  produced  by  the 
varied  coloured  blooms  which  appear  in 
great  piofusion.  The  natives  treat  the 
azaleas  as  scrub,  and  in  winter  remove 
every  branch  for  use  as  fuel.  Amongst  the 
azaleas  are  lilies  of  sorts  —  chiefly  Lilium 
Biowiiii,  which  is  found  in  many  varieties 
from  yellow  to  white.  Ferns  and  lycops, 
particularly  the  stag-horn  moss,  abound. 
Amongst  the  more  prominent  trees  are 
Castauofsis  Tibetiana,  a  large  evergreen 
chestnut,  the  leaves  of  which  frequently 
measure  from  twelve  to  fourteen  inches  in 
length,  and  four  inches  in  width.  This  tree 
is  a  handsome  object,  attaining  considerable 
dimensions,  and  appears  to  be  confined  to 
the  vicinity  of  Hangchow,  where  it  was 
first  discovered  by  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop 
Moule.  Ghditschia  sinensis  and  Gymnocladus 
sinensis,  the  large  pods  of  which  produce  a 
saponaceous  matter  and  are  employed  by 
the  natives  instead  of  soap,  are  abundant. 
Various  species  of  rhus,  from  one  or  more  of 
which  the  famed  Ningpo  varnish  is  obtained, 
are  more  or  less  cultivated. 

Castanea  saliva  (sweet  chestnuts),  and  some 
good  varieties  of  '■  Loquats "  [Eryobotyra 
Japoniea),  both  white  and  yellow  fruited 
forms,  are  grown  in  large  quantities  ;  whilst 
on  the  island  of  Pootoo,  Chinese  strawberries, 
the  fruit  of  the  Myrica  sapida,  are  cultivated 
for  the  Shanghai  market,  where  they  are 
purchased  by  both  natives  and  foreigners. 
Stillingia  sebifera  (the  tallow  tree)  is  grown 
in  considerable  quantities  all  over  the 
Chekiang  Province,  and  from  its  fruit  a 
saponaceous  matter  is  expressed  which, 
when  purified,  forms  a  high-class  tallow  that 
might  be  found  well  worth  the  attention  of 
soap-makers.  This  tree  is  cultivated  much 
in  the  same  manner  as  peaches,  that  is  to 
say,  the  larger  fruiting  varieties  which  yield 
the  greatest  amount  of  tallow  are  grafted  on 
to  the  seedling  stock. 

The  flora  of  the  Yangtsze  Valley  really  may 
be  said  to  begin  in  the  vicinity  of  Kiukiang, 
particularly  on  tiie  Kuling  Hills,  where  may 
be  found  such  plants  as  tulip  trees  (JJrio- 
dendron  tulipifera),  Lilium  speciosuni  var 
Formosana,  Zanlhoxylum  piperilum  (the  seeds 
of  which  are  used  as  a  condiment), 
Xantlwceras  sorbifolia,  Wistaria,  Viburnum 
tomenlosnni,  Vitus  inconslans  (better  known 
as  Amelopsis  Veilchii),  Anemone  japoniea, 
Altebia  qninlata,  Akebia  lobata,  and  a  host 
of  other  popular  flowering  shrubs. 

For  our  knowledge  of  the  rich  flora  of  the 


vicinity  of  Ichang,  we  are  in  the  first  place 
indebted  to  Dr.  Henry  -formerly  of  the 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs  .service,  and  now 
Professor  of  Arboriculture  at  Oxford  University 
(vide  the  "Index  Flora;  Sinensis") — whose  col- 
lection reached  the  large  number  of  15,700 
specimens,  each  represented  by  numerous 
duplicates,  amounting  in  all  to  150,000  sheets ; 
and,  later,  to  H.  E.  Wilson,  collector  to 
James  Veitch  &  Sons,  who  sent  to  London 
seeds  of  1,800  species,  30,000  bulbs  of  new 
and  rare  species  of  liliums,  and  living  roots 
of  various  herbs,  shrubs,  &c.  His  herbarium 
collection  comprised  20,000  dried  specimens, 
many  of  which  were  collected  in  the  higher 
reaches  of  the  Yangtsze  and  in  Szechwan. 

Ichang  is  the  home  of  Primula  sinensis, 
now  one  of  the  most  popular  winter  flower- 
ing greenhouse  plants  at  home.  It  is  found 
growing  on  the  face  of  the  rocks,  whilst 
another  popular  primula  P.  obconica.  is  found 
in  the  moist  valleys.  Other  notable  plants 
abounding  in  this  neighbourhood  are  Davidia 
involuerata,  probably  one  of  the  finest  flower- 
ing trees  extant,   Astelbie    Davidii,  Bnddleia 


and  Chinese  olives  (Canarinum  album). 
Typical  forms  of  this  vegetation  are  the 
banyans  and  other  forms  of  Ficus,  Ixoras, 
Murrya  exotica,  Hitusciis,  Rosa  sinensis,  Gar- 
cinia  mnlliflorum,  Hoya  carnosa.  Magnolia, 
Cliamapaca,  and  Canaga  adorala.  Orchids 
are  found  in  considerable  variety,  especially 
in  Yunnan  and  Hainan,  whence  large  con- 
signments have  been  sent  home  to  the 
English  market.  This  is  also  the  original 
home  of  the  beautiful  little  primula,  /'. 
Forbesii.  From  Foochow  large  quantities 
of  the  bulbs  of  the  sacred  lily,  or  joss 
flowers  {Narcissus  lazetta  var  Chinensis), 
are  exported  to  Europe,  America,  and  also  to 
other  parts  of  China.  On  the  hills  near  Foo- 
chow tea  is  grown  in  considerable  quantities. 
Foochow  poles,  derived  from  Cuuninghaniia 
sinensis,  are  very  largely  exported  from  here 
to  Central  China,  where  they  are  in  great 
deinand   for   building   purposes. 

Since  Formosa  has  been  handed  over  to 
the  Japanese,  the  cultivation  of  camphor  has 
received  more  attention  in  the  southern 
provinces,     and,     when     further     developed. 


THE    TALLOW   TREE. 


variabilis,  and  /?.  Asiatica.  Daphne  genkwa 
clothes  the  hills  here  like  azaleas  do  those  of 
Chekiang,  and  when  it  is  in  bloom  the  effect 
is  said  to  be  very  beautiful.  In  the  province 
of  Szechwan  the  opium  poppy  is  one  of  the 
chief  agricultural  crops.  Tobacco,  also,  is 
grown,  but  not  to  a  great  extent.  The  hills 
on  the  Thibetan  frontier  are  particularly 
noted  for  their  great  assortment  of  rhodo- 
dendrons as  well  as  for  various  rare  and 
beautiful  alpines,  such  as  Mcccnopsis  inlegri- 
folia  and  M.  punicia,  and  a  number  of  rare 
primulas. 

SOUTH     CHINA. 

In  Southern  China  the  climate  approxi- 
mates to  that  of  the  tropics,  consequently 
palms  in  variety,  tree  ferns,  and  other  plants 
of  a  tropical  nature  are  found  in  profusion. 
The  fruits  grown  in  this  region  which  iind 
their  way  into  the  Shanghai  market  are  Cilrus 
aurantium,  C.  decnmana,  C.  nohilis,  and  C. 
medica  (producing  oranges,  lemons  and  pume- 
loes),  Neplielium  lilchii  and  N.  longana  (the 
"  litchies  "),  bananas, guavas, mangoes,  wangpee 


this  industry  will  tend  to  give  a  inore  ample 
supply  of  this  coinmodity,  which  at  present 
is  obtained  almost  entirely  from  Formosa. 

Chief  among  the  botanists  who  have  con- 
tributed to  our  knowledge  of  the  Chinese 
flora  may  be  mentioned  Dr.  Hance,  whose 
herbarium,  containing  22,000  species,  is  now 
in  the  British  Museuin  ;  Dr.  Henry  Maries, 
H.  E.  Wilson,  Dr.  Faber,  R.  Fortune, 
and  Pere  Delavayi  and  several  other 
Jesuit  fathers.  With  the  publication  of  well- 
known  works  and  descriptions  of  plants  the 
names  of  F.  B.  Forbes,  W.  B.  Hemsley, 
C.  J.  Maximowicz,  Franchet  and  Brets  are 
best  known,  and  the  names  of  James  Veitch 
&  Son,  of  Chelsea,  and  Andrieux  Vilmorin, 
of  Paris,  are  prominently  associated  with 
the  introduction  of  large  numbers  of  Chinese 
plants  to  the  gardens  of  Europe. 

FIBRES. 

The  chief  fibres  produced  in  China  are  Cro- 
tolaria  (Sunn  hemp),  Bohemeria  nivca,  hemp 
[Cannabis    saliva),   Crocorhus,    and   Abutilion 

avcninaceac. 


306     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


AGRICULTURE. 

Agriculture  in  China  ranks  above  all  other 
induslries,  and  is  second  only  to  the  learned 
professions,  for  it  is  recognised  that,  in  a 
countrj-  with  so  large  a  (wpulatlon,  a  sufticienf 
supply  of  food  is  all-important.  Once  a  year 
the  Emperor  himself  ploughs  a  furrow. 
Agriculture  in  China  differs  from  agriculture 
in  Western  lands  in  that  it  is  more  akin  to 
horticulture  ;  it  is,  in  fact,  intensive  culture, 
on  small  holdings,  about  which  so  much  li.is 
been  heard  at  home  in  recent  years.  The 
land  is  handed  on  from  father  to  sons,  the 
original  area  thus  becoming  in  course  of 
time  a  collection  of  small  plots.  Cultivation 
is  mainly  by  manual  labour,  though  buffaloes 
are  frequently  employed  in  ploughing.  For 
manuring  purposes  night-soil  is  applied  in 
a  liquid  form  during  the  growing  season, 
and  bean-cake  is  also  largely  used  in  the 
same  way.  The  ashes  of  t>ean  and  cotton 
stalks  are  carefully  collected    for   use   when 


planting  bean  and  cotton  seeds.  A  form  of 
medicago  is  largely  grown  and  dug  into  the 
soil  in  a  green  state,  from  which  it  is  to  be 
inferred  that  the  Chinese,  through  actual 
practice,  have  discovered  the  enriching 
value  of  the  roots  of  leguminous  plants,  and 
have  for  ages  been  applying  the  principle 
of  our  "  recent  discovery  "  of  nitro-culture. 
The  land  generally  in  the  central  districts 
yields  two  crops  annually.  The  main  crops 
are  beans  (broad),  wheat,  barley,  and  rape 
during  the  winter  months,  and  Soja  hispida 
(oil  beans),  cotton,  sesamum,  and  rice  in  the 
summer.  Practically  all  the  more  common 
vegetables  of  Europe  are  grown  in  large 
quantities. 

ARBORICULTURE. 

Unfortunately,  forestry  does  not  exist  in 
China,  and  the  few  forests  which  remain 
intact  are  being  gradually  denuded.  This  is 
the    more    regrettable    since    it    would    be 


possible  to  grow  nearly  all  known  timbers,  as 
well  as  many  valuable  trees  that  are  confined 
to  China.  The  alTorestation  of  the  hills 
would  be  one  of  the  most  profitable  under- 
takings that  could  engage  the  attention  of 
China.  As  a  direct  asset  her  arboriculture 
in  some  years  would  be  woith  millions  of 
taels — probably  it  would  be  of  greater  value 
than  that  of  America — whilst,  indirectly,  the 
ameliorating  effect  of  trees  on  the  climate 
would  tend  to  put  an  end  to  the  floods, 
droughts,  and  famines  which  now  occur  with 
such  frequency. 

Bamboo  is  utilised  by  the  natives  to  an 
almost  unlimited  e.xtent.  With  it  they  can 
build  and  furnish  their  houses  completely, 
and  it  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that  it  is 
a  feature  of  the  landscape.  Roughly  speaking, 
there  are  about  forty  species  of  bamboo  in 
China,  ranging  from  the  small  Shantung 
variety  of  the  norlh  to  the  great  Dendrocalmiis 
of  the  south. 


A   QBOUP    OF    CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 


CEREMONIES    AND    CUSTOMS    OF   THE    CHINESE. 


By    S.    W.    TSO,    of    Hongkong. 


[ROM  the  cr.idle  onwiirds  the 
Chinese  are  surrounded  by 
social  customs  and  rehgious 
observances  so  interwoven  as 
to  be  ahiiost  indistinguish- 
able. When  a  child  is  born 
the  ceremony  of  bathing  the 
baby  lakes  place  on  the  third  day.  Accord- 
ing to  Chinese  reckoning,  this  may  be  after 
a  lapse  of  anything  from  twenty-five  to 
forty-nine  hours,  for  any  portion  of  a  day 
counts  as  a  day  which  the  child  has  seen. 
Age  is  reckoned  in  the  same  way.  Thus, 
a  child  born  on  December  31st  would  be 
two  years  of  age  on  the  following  day,  for 
he  would  have  lived  in  two  years.  The 
method  of  calculation  is  similar  to  that 
followed  in  regard  to  English  race-horses. 

The  bathing  is  followed  on  the  twelfth  day 
by  another  ceremony,  but  the  most  important 
of  these  early  functions  is  that  which  takes 
place  one  Chinese  moon,  or  lunar  month, 
from  the  date  of  birth.  The  infant  is  then 
considered  to  have  attained  a  position  in  the 
family,  and  becomes  recognised  as  a 
permanent  member ;  a  child  dying  before 
that  age  is  scarcely  given  a  name.  The  full- 
moon  festival  is  one  of  great  rejoicing, 
especially  in  the  case  of  an  eldest  male 
child.  Friends  send  presents  to  the  parents 
for  the  child,  and  the  parents,  in  return, 
invite  their  friends  to  a  feast  or  dinner,  and 
introduce  to  them  the  new  member  of  the 
family.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  this 
remark  applies  more  especially  to  male 
children,  for,  although  nowadays  in  Hong- 
kong and  some  of  the  larger  coast  ports  a 
female  child  usually  receives  some  recog- 
nition, in  the  interior  of  China  little  notice 
is  taken  of  girls,  except  occasionally  when 
the  firstborn  is  a  female.  It  may  here  be 
mentioned  that  the  practice  of  binding  the 
feet  of  girls,  in  accordance  with  a  distorted 
notion  of  beauty,  is  gradually  dying  out,  the 
Empress  of  China  having  expressed  her 
strong  disapproval  of  the  custom. 

NOMENCLATURE. 

A  Chinaman  may  have  five  names  or 
more.  One  name  is  given  to  him  in  child- 
hood by  the  father  ;  another  by  his  teacher 
when  he  is  old  enough  to  go  to  school  ; 
a  third  he  adopts  for  the  convenience  of  his 
friends  when  he  arrives  at  manhood  ;  and  a 
fourth  at  marriage.  This  last  is  the  name 
by  which  he  is  registered  in  the  ancestral 
hall,  or  temple  devoted  to  ances-tral  worship. 


Should  he  become  an  oificcr  in  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Government  he  will  receive  an 
official  name,  which  may  be  one  of  the 
names  by  which  he  has  been  known 
formerly,  or  may  be  a  new  name  alto- 
gether. In  China  a  business  is  generally 
carried  on  under  a  name  different  from  that 
of  the  proprietor,  but  in  Hongkong  this 
custom    is    falling    into    desuetude,    and   not 


the  surname  is  written  first,  and  is  followed 
by  the  individual  names,  as  in  an  alpha- 
betical directory.  A  similar  arrangement  is 
followed  in  addressing  letters — the  province 
is  written  first,  followed  by  the  town,  street, 
and  number  or  name  of  the  house,  and, 
last  of  all,  the  surname  and  name  of  the 
individual. 


"BOUND"    FEET. 


infrequently  now  a  man  employs  his  own 
name  in  the  designation  of  his  premises. 

Girls  generally  have  only  two  names — one 
a  maiden  name,  or  "  milk-name,"  as  it  may 
be  more  literally  rendered  from  the  Chinese  ; 
the  other  a  school  name.  Upon  her  marriage 
a  girl  places  the  surname  of  her  husband 
before  her  own,  so  that,  to  anglicise  an 
illustration,  if  a  Miss  Adam  married  a  Mr. 
Smith,  she  would   become  Mrs.  Smith-Adam. 

Children  receive  the  father's  surname,  or, 
more  properly  speaking,  the  surname  of  the 
father's  family  or  clan.     In  all  Chinese  names 


SCHOOL    DAYS. 

A  small  ceremony  characterises  the  first 
entrance  of  a  Chinese  boy  of  the  upper  and 
middle  classes  to  school.  It  begins  with  a 
form  of  religious  worship,  viz.,  the  worship 
of  Confucius  and  Wun  Chang,  the  god  of 
literature.  A  "school  fee"  is  paid  to  the 
teacher  who  imparts  the  first  lesson  to  the 
pupil,  a  dinner  is  generally  given  to  celebrate 
the  event,  and  the  child  receives  his  "  school 
name." 

Formerly  the  aim  of  all  study  was  the 
passing    of   State    examinations,   in    which  a 


308     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


series  of  degrees  were  txjnferred  for  literature 
and  composition,  but  these  examinations  are 
rapidly  being  done  away  with  throughout 
Cliina,  for  it  is  becoming  recognised  that  a 
knowledge  of   the  classics  or  the  ability  to 


the  prosfKfctive  bridegroom  is  sometimes 
allowed  to  see  his  future  wife  or  a  photo- 
graph of  her.  The  girl,  however,  is  rarely 
allowed  a  similar  privilege  ;  indeed,  she  is 
seldom   even   told   who  has  been  selected  as 


ARRIVAL    OF    MARRIAGE    PRL,;!,:. 

write  elegant  composition  does  not  by  itself 
fit  a  man  to  occupy  a  high  position  in  the 
State  or  in  the  commercial  world.  Gradually 
the  superior  advantages  of  Western  education 
are  tx«)ming  recognised,  more  especially  in 
official  circles.  Students  are  satisfied  now  with 
one  of  the  minor  degrees,  and,  after  passing 
the  first  degree,  are  only  examined  once 
more  if  they  obtain  a  diploma  from  a  foreign 
university  or  acquire  a  profession  abroad. 
This  second  examination  takes  place  in 
Peking,  and  the  student  receives  rank  and 
office  according  lo  the  proficiency  he  displays. 
Girls  are  taught  at  school  just  as  much  as 
is  necessary  to  fit  them  for  their  social 
station  in  life.  When  they  are  small  children 
they  attend  the  same  school  as  the  txjys,  but 
at  the  age  of  about  eleven  or  twelve  they 
are,  as  a  rule,  withdrawn  from  the  society 
of  boys.  At  that  age  the  path  of  study  for 
the  two  sexes  liegins  to  diverge  ;  boys  con- 
tinue to  attend  school  and  pursue  a  higher 
course  of  study  for  State  examinations,  while 
girls  remain  at  home,  probably  under  a 
governess,  and  learn,  in  addition,  those  do- 
mestic accomplishments  necessary  to  qualify 
them  for  the  management  of  their  future 
households.  When  grown-up  girls  form 
their  own  society  of  girl  friends,  so  accus- 
tomed are  they  to  the  exclusive  association 
of  their  own  sex  that  it  liecomes  a  habit,  as 
well  as  a  rule  of  etiquette,  among  them  to 
abstain  from  the  society  of  the  other  sex. 
So  strictly  is  this  rule  adhered  to  that  no 
young  girl  at  the  marriageable  age  would 
ever  see  a  young  man  unless  he  be  either 
a  brother  or  cousin.  Even  her  intended 
husband  would  be  denied  an  interview, 

MARRIAGE. 

In  China  a  marriage  is  the  outcome  of 
negotiations  lietween  the  parents,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  a  middleman,  and  it 
frequently  happens  that  the  young  people  do 
not  see  each  other  until  the  wedding  actually 
takes  place.     In  Hongkong  and  the  outports 


ii    AT    THE    BRIDAL    RESIDENCE. 

her  future  husband.  The  middleman,  who 
receives  fees  for  his  services,  is  recognised 
as  a  witness  to  the  contract,  and  is  held 
responsible  in  any  dispute  whicli  may  subse- 
quently arise  in  regard  to  the  marriage.    He 


the  family — eldest,  second,  or  third  daughter, 
and  so  on — together  with  the  names  of  her 
parents  and  of  their  native  place.  The  girl 
is  then  seen  by  the  mother  and  other  female 
relatives  of  the  young  man,  and  if  they  are 
favourably  impressed  with  her  tliey  send  a 
similar  piece  of  paper  containing  their  son's 
name,  date  of  birth,  &c..  to  her  family  with 
an  intimation  of  their  approval.  The  girl's 
family  then  interview  the  young  man  and 
make  inquiries  among  his  friends  and 
acquaintances  concerning  his  health,  attain- 
ments, and  position  in  life,  and  if  they  are 
satisfied,  they  signify  througli  the  middleman 
their  willingness  that  the  marriage  should 
take  place.  A  date  is  then  fixed  for  the  send- 
ing of  the  first  present,  which  takes  the  form 
of  an  article  of  jewellery,  some  cakes  and  a 
few  dollars,  wrapped  in  red  paper,  and  the 
acceptance  of  the  gift  by  the  girl's  parents 
signifies  the  girl's  acceptance  of  the  marriage 
lines.  The  dollars  really  represent  the  pur- 
chase-money, for  in  theory  a  wife  is  still 
acquired  by  purchase  in  China,  though  the 
practice  of  actually  buying  a  wife  has  been 
for  many  years  non-existent  among  the  more 
enlightened  upper  and  middle  classes.  Nowa- 
days the  money  is  usually  returned  as  "  school 
fees  for  the  bridegroom,"  the  girls  parents 
thereby  intimating  that  they  refuse  to  sell 
their  daughter,  but  are  willing  to  give  her  in 
marriage  without  price.  By  so  doing  they 
claim  for  the  girl  equality  with  her  husband. 
In  poor  families,  however,  tiie  money  is  often 
accepted  as  a  dowry,  and  for  the  purcliase  of 
the  girl's  trousseau.  All  this  occurs  wliile  the 
girl  remains  in  ignorance  of  the  fact  that  the 
arrangements  are  in  progress,  or  even  if  she 
does  know  something  about  them  custom 
demands  that  she  shall  pretend  that  she  does 
not.  Though  her  hu.sband  is  not  of  her  own 
choosing  she  is  usually  well  content,  for  she 
sees  that  all  marriages   are  arranged   by   the 


A    ■WEDDING    CHAIR. 


goes  to  the  parents  of  the  prospective  bride- 
groom and  hands  them  a  piece  of  red  paper 
—red  being  the  Chinese  lucky  colour — on 
which  are  written  various  particulars,  such 
as  the  date  of  the  girl's  birth,  her  position  in 


parents,    and    that    the    proportion    of    good 
matches    is    quite    as    large   in    China  as   in 
countries  where  the  difticult  task  of  selection 
devolves  on  the  young  people  themselves. 
The  first  present  is  followed  by  two  other 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     309 


j^ifts  of  cakes,  and  wine,  money,  and  jewellery. 
Besides  the  presents,  letters  are  exchanjjed 
between  the  parents  of  the  contractin;;  parties, 
and  these  letters,  usually  three  in  number, 
are  held  to  be  written  evidences  of  the  mar' 


cup,  a  vessel  usually  of  silver,  but  sometimes 
of  pewter.  This  dinner  inaufjurates  the  mar- 
riage feast,  which  lasts  two  days,  and  is 
really  a  series  of  festivities.  The  bride  is 
entertained   by   the   ladies  of   the   household, 


BABIES    IN    THEIB    SAFETY    CHAIRS. 


riage,  and  are  accepted  as  legal  documents. 
The  marriage  usually  takes  place  within 
about  a  month  after  the  giving  of  the  last 
present,  but  there  are  certain  seasons  of  the 
year  in  which  marriages  are  forbidden  by 
ancient  custom.  For  example,  they  take 
place  but  rarely  in  the  first  month  of  the 
year,  and  never  in  the  third,  fifth,  and  ninth 
months. 

On  the  day  appointed  for  the  ceremony 
the  bridegroom's  parents  send  the  middleman 
with  a  chair,  known  as  the  "  Kakin  "  (varie- 
gated chair),  draped  with  red  silk  hangings, 
to  fetch  the  bride,  who  is  carried  in 
procession  to  her  new  home,  with  banners 
flying,  and  amid  the  music  of  insistent  bands, 
the  clamour  of  gongs,  and  the  incessant 
fusilade  of  fire-crackers.  She  is  arrayed  in 
embroidered  red  silk,  and  wears  a  red  veil, 
which  betokens  that  she  has  been  preserved 
from  the  prying  eyes  of  strangers,  especially 
of  the  opposite  sex.  When  she  is  carried 
into  the  house  she  is  accompanied  by  the 
bridegroom,  and  kneels  and  bows  to  heaven 
and  earth  and  the  ancestral  tablets  and  to 
the  bridegroom,  who,  of  course,  acknowledges 
the  compliment  by  returning  it.  Immediately 
after  this  she  is  unveiled  by  tlie  liridegroom 
and  is  taken  to  her  room.  The  bridal  dress 
consists  of  a  long  coat  of  embroidered  red 
silk,  with  a  mantle  and  scarf  of  red  embroid- 
ery. The  head-dress  is  a  curiously  shaped 
cap,  with  pearl  hangings  almost  completely 
hiding  the  face.  The  bridegroom  is  attired 
in  a  silk  court  dress,  with  two  broad  ribbons, 
forming  a  sash,  worn  crosswise  over  the 
shoulders  and  breast.  The  observance  of  a 
form  of  ancestral  worship  in  the  family  hall, 
in  which  the  young  people  take  part,  is  an 
important  feature  of  the  marriage  rites. 
On  the  night  of  her  arrival  in  her  new  home 
the  bride  sits  down  with  the  bridegroom  to 
dinner,  and  they  celebrate  this,  their  first 
meal    together,    by   partaking   of   the    loving 


including  the  sisters  of  the  bridegroom,  but 
Chinese  ideas  of  modesty  forbid  her  to  do 
more  than  just  touch  the  proffered  dishes 
at  these  ceremonial  meals.  Meanwhile  the 
friends  and  relations  of  the  family  are  enler- 
tained  by  the  husband's   parents,  in  acknow- 


to  the  bridegroom,  who  is  hampered  by  no 
restrictions  such  as  are  imposed  upon  his 
bride.  The  feasting  over,  the  young  people 
return  to  the  husband's  parental  roof,  under 
which  they  are  to  reside  in  rooms  specially 
reserved  for  them.  The  bride  is  supposed 
to  provide  the  furniture  and  everything 
required  for  the  household. 

The  marriage  ceremonies  which  have  been 
outlined  are  among  those  more  commonly 
observed  in  China,  and  are,  of  course,  subject 
to  considerable  variation  in  different  parts  of 
the  Empire  ;  but  the  three  essentials — the 
consent  of  the  parents,  the  intervention  of 
the  middleman,  and  the  ancestral  worship  in 
the  family  hall — are  most  rigidly  adhered  to 
everywhere.  Girls  are  usually  married 
between  the  ages  of  seventeen  and  twenty 
(in  English  reckoning,  from  sixteen  to  nine- 
teen), and  men  between  the  ages  of  eighteen 
and  twenty-one  (seventeen  and  twenty). 

When  a  girl  marries  she  calls  her  husband's 
people  her  family,  and  her  own  parents  her 
"  outside  family."  In  saying  "  I  am  going 
home  "  she  implies  that  she  is  going  to  the 
home  of  her  parents-in-law  ;  she  always 
refers  to  her  maiden  home  as  her  "  outer 
home."  In  this  may  be  traced  the  influence 
of  the  ancient  custom  which  held  that  when 
married  a  woman  ceased  to  belong  to  her 
own  people,  and  became  the  possession,  or 
chattel,  of  her  husband. 

SOCIAL    LIFE. 

The  Chinese  in  their  social  intercourse 
have  certain  well-defined  rules.  A  visitor 
will  seek  the  acquaintance  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town  or  village  by  calling  on  any 
gentlemen  to  wliom  he  may  have  letters 
of  introduction,  while  his  wife  or  female 
relatives  visit  the  ladies.  The  arrival  of  a 
distinguished  man  in  a  place  of  any  im- 
portance is  usually  celebrated  by  a  dinner 
given  in  his  honour  by  the  leading  residents. 
At  a  dinner  party  the   gentlemen   sit   at  one 


DINNER    PARTY    AT    A    MANDARIN'S    HOUSE. 


ledgment  of  the  presents  which  have  been 
received  by  them.  On  the  third  day  the 
bride  returns  to  the  home  of  her  father  and 
mother,  paying  a  visit  of  a  day's  duration, 
and  in  the  evening  her  parents  give  a  dinner 


table  and  the  ladies  at  another  in  a  different 
room.  Dishes  are  served  ready  cut  up,  the 
food  being  placed  in  a  large  bowl  or  dish 
in  the  centre  of  the  table,  from  which  the 
guests  help  themselves  mouthful  by  mo.ithful. 


310     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  table  is  usually  square  or  round,  a  long 
table  being  rarely  seen. 

Tea  and  tobacco  are  always  lo  hand  in 
a  man's  oftice  or  place  of  business,  both 
for  his  own  use  and  for  that  of  callers.  The 
tea  is  regarded  not  only  as  a  stimulant,  but 
as  a  desirable  substitute  for  strong  drink. 

In  ofiicial  circles  tea  has  a  curious 
ceremonial    use.      At  the  commencement   of 


FUNERAL    RITES. 

In  a  country  where  the  veneration  of 
ancestors  forms  part  of  the  very  fibre  of 
Ihe  national  character  it  is  not  surprising 
to  find  that  the  customs  and  ceremonies 
attendant  upon  the  disposal  of  the  dead  are 
of  Ihe  most  elaborate  description.  Before 
a   Chinaman   breathes   his    last    his    relatives 


CHINESE    FUNERAL   PROCESSIONS. 


a  conference  cups  of  the  beverage  are 
brought  in  and  placed  before  the  official 
and  his  visitor,  and  when  Ihe  official,  whose 
ideas  of  politeness  will  not  suffer  him  to 
dismiss  his  visitor  in  so  many  words,  desires 
to  intimate  that  the  interview  must  be 
brought  to  an  end,  he  does  so  by  lifting 
Ihe  cup  and  drinking  the  tea,  whereupon 
the  visitor  departs. 


lift  him  from  his  bed  and  carry  him  inlo  the 
hall,  where  he  is  clothed  in  full  mandarin 
costume.  Every  head  of  a  family  is  entitled 
after  death  to  lie  in  state  for  a  certain  number 
of  days  in  the  hall,  where  his  friends  may 
perform  the  last  rites  and  pay  their  respects 
lo  the  memory  of  the  departed.  Coverlets 
of  .silk  or  cloth  are  sent  by  his  kinsmen  and 
more   intimate   friends,    and    are    laid    upon 


the  corpse,  the  colours  white  and  red — the 
Chinese  mourning  and  lucky  colours,  respec- 
tively— alternating.  The  red  is  supposed  to 
augur  well  for  the  man's  posterity.  The 
hour  at  which  death  occurs  is  made  known 
to  a  priest,  who  thereupon  makes  certain 
calculations,  and  writes  upon  a  piece  of 
paper  itikr  alin  the  time  when  tlie  body 
may  be  encoflined,  and  when  the  soul  of 
the  departed  may  be  expected  to  return  to 
visit  the  family.  Many  superstitious  Chinese 
actually  believe  the  latter  prediction  to  be 
true,  and  at  the  time  indicated  by  the  priest, 
a  table,  spread  with  wines  and  cakes,  is 
placed  in  the  hall  for  the  refreshment  of  the 
returned  spirit.  They  aver  that  invariably 
something  is  taken  from  this  table,  showing 
that  the  soul  of  the  departed  has  actually  come 
back,  and  has  consumed  a  portion  of  the 
food  in  order  to  manifest  its  return.  During 
the  lying-in-state,  Taoist  or  Buddhist  priests 
are  called  in  to  say  mass,  and  to  perform 
other  religious  rites,  and  more  often  than 
not  nuns  are  also  in  attendance.  A  vigil  is 
kept  every  night,  candles,  sent  by  relatives 
of  the  deceased,  are  lighted,  and  the  subtle 
fragrance  emitted  by  burning  joss-sticks  rises 
continuously.  Sounds  of  mourning  mingle 
with  the  prayers  muttered  by  the  priests  in 
an  unknown  tongue,  incense  is  offered,  and 
paper  money,  gilt  or  silvered,  cut  or  fashioned 
in  the  shape  ol  coins,  is  burned  in  the  belief 
that  the  departed  will  be  able  to  make  use 
of  it  as  currency  in  the  netlier  world.  Hound 
the  hall  the  members  of  the  dead  man's 
family,  with  hair  dishevelled,  sit  upon  mats 
or  straw  thrown  upon  tlie  ground,  wailing 
and  bemoaning  their  loss. 

The  heir  of  the  departed,  attended  by 
different  members  of  the  family,  and  possibly 
by  some  friends,  goes  out  at  a  time  appointed 
by  the  priest  to  buy  water  for  the  last 
atjlutlons  before  the  body  is  placed  in  the 
coflin.  In  a  country  district  the  water  is 
taken  from  a  stream,  and  a  few  cash  are 
thrown  in  for  payment  ;  but  in  a  town  where 
there  is  no  stream  available  the  water  is 
obtained  from  a  bucket  placed  at  a  street 
corner  near  the  house.  In  days  gone  by 
the  body  was  actually  washed,  but  nowadays 
a  white  cloth  is  dipped  in  the  water  by  the 
heir  of  the  family  and  passed  in  front  of 
the  face  and  limbs  of  the  deceased,  without 
coming  into  actual  contact  with  them. 

The  coffin  is  often  of  the  most  expensive 
description,  costing  sometimes  as  much  as 
several  thousands  of  dollars.  Pine  from 
Laochow,  in  the  Kwangsi  district,  Is  generally 
used  in  its  construction,  and  the  price  varies 
according  to  the  finent.ss  of  the  wood.  Great 
care  is  taken  to  place  tlie  body  fairly  on 
its  back,  exactly  in  the  centre  of  the  coffin. 
The  coffin  is  then  packed  with  small  bags 
of  lime,  obtained  from  the  cuttlefish,  and 
these  serve  the  double  purpose  of  keeping 
the  body  in  position  and  of  absorbing 
moisture.  Putty  is  used  in  fitting  on  the  lid 
of  the  coffin,  so  that,  when  fastened  down, 
the  receptacle  is  practically  airtight.  The 
screws  used  are  of  brass,  and  are  a  foot  or 
more  in  length.  When  the  coffin  has  lo  be 
carried  a  long  distance  tarred  ropes  are 
placed  round  it  to  facilitate  handling  and 
to  render  the  fastening  more  secure. 

The  wearing  of  unhemmed  white  dresses 
of  some  coarse  material  is  enjoined  upon 
children  mourning  their  parents,  and  over 
this  dress  a  sort  of  surplice  of  sack-cloth 
is  worn.  The  head-dress  for  the  male  is 
woven  of  bamboo  and  coarse  cloth,  with 
tassels  of  cotton  ;  but  that  for  the  woman 
is  a  hood  of  hempen  sack.  The  shoes  are 
of  coarse  straw.  Each  of  the  chief  mourners 
carries  a   curious   stick,   usually    of    bamboo, 


The  \V:iterc<irrier. 

TYPES     OF  THE    PEOPLE. 

Aged  Peasant. 

The  Family  Conveyance. 

Handbarrow  Men. 

Ploughing. 

Washing  Day. 

A  Cheerful  Crowd. 

A  "Fair"  Load. 

Swineherd  and  his  Cliarge. 

Coolie  Family, 
Aged  Peasant. 

Country  Dame. 

A  Street  Sewing  Woman 

312      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


with' a  paper  frill,  attached  with  gum,  wound 
spirally  along  its  whole  length.  In  some 
parts  of  the  country  these  sticks  are  necessary 
for  driving  away  dogs,  hyasnas,  wolves,  and 
other  wild  animals,  for  Chinese  burial  grounds 


deposited  outside  the  grave,  awaiting  the 
decision  of  tlie  necromancer  as  to  a  lucky 
date  for  the  final  interment.  Not  until  the 
jar  itself  is  placed  in  the  ground  do  the 
Chinese  consider  the  hnrial  complete. 


RICKSHAW    COOLIES. 


are  often  at  some  long  distance  from  human 
habitations. 

The  coffin  is  carried  by  from  eight  to 
sixteen  men,  sometimes  by  even  more.  The 
funeral  is  attended  by  bands  of  native  instru- 
mentalists, wearing  white  clothes,  and  playing 
mournful  music.  Banners  are  carried  in  the 
procession,  and  friends  and  relatives  often 
send  scrolls  of  silk  or  flannel  bearing  com- 
plimentary references  to  the  departed.  These 
scrolls  are  taken  back  to  the  house  and 
hung  up  for  a  certain  time,  after  which  the 
characters  affixed  to  them  are  taken  off  so 
that  the  material  may  be  used  for  clothing 
or  for  other  purposes.  If  the  burial-place 
is  some  distance  away  in  the  country,  or  if 
the  deceased  is  to  be  buried  in  another 
country,  the  procession  makes  its  way  to  a 
temporary  resting-place,  where  the  coffin  is 
deposited,  and  the  friends  who  have  followed 
the  cortege  take  leave  of  the  departed  after 
burning  incense,  kowtowing,  and  performing 
other  religious  rites.  Only  the  relatives 
follow  to  the  graveside  and  witness  the 
interment. 

The  cemetery  itself  is  not  necessarily  the 
last  resting-place  of  the  deceased.  The  rela- 
tives consult  a  necromancer,  who  engages  in 
a  search  for  a  "  lucky  spot "  for  the  grave,  as 
near  to  their  own  ancestral  village  as  possible. 
This  search  may  occupy  months,  or  even 
years.  Many  points  have  to  be  considered. 
If  possible,  the  site  must  be  on  a  hill-side, 
and  it  must  occupy  a  certain  position  in 
relation  to  the  wind  and  the  sea,  or  the 
nearest  river.  The  situation  having  been 
selected,  the  coffin  is  buried  on  an  auspicious 
day  indicated  by  the  necromancer,  and  a 
horseshoe-shaped  tomb  is  built  round  it. 
In  some  cases  in  which  it  is  not  practicable. 
for  pecuniary  or  other  reasons,  to  move  the 
coffin,  the  t)ody  is  buried  for  ten  or  twenty 
years,  and  the  bones  are  then  exhumed  and 
placed  in  jars.  These  jars  are  conveyed  by 
the    relatives    to    their    native    village,    and 


For  forty-nine  days — seven  periods  of  seven 
days  each— after  a  man's  death  masses  are 
said,  religious  ceremonies  performed,  and 
sacrifices  offered.  The  days  of  the  third  and 
fifth  periods  are  days  of  sacrifice,  and  a 
third  sacrifice  falls  within  the  seventh  period. 
During  these  forty-nine  days  a  business  man 


and  sisters  mourn  each  other  for  one  year, 
and  grandchildren  mourn  grandparents  for 
the  same  period.  A  husband  mourns  his 
wile  for  one  year,  but  a  widow  wears  her 
weeds  for  three  years.  Nephews  and  nieces 
mourn  for  one  year.  For  the  purposes  of 
mourning  a  year  is  only  nine  lunar  months, 
and  a  married  daughter  is  only  permitted  to 
mourn  for  her  parents  one  year,  reserving 
the  three  years'  mourning  for  her  husband 
and  her  parents-in-law.  Whilst  in  mourning 
for  parents  the  Chinese  are  not  supposed 
to  take  part  in  gaieties  of  any  kind. 

Among  the  official  cl  isses  it  is  a  recognised 
rule  that  no  man  may  hold  office  during  a 
period  of  mourning  for  a  parent  except 
by  the  special  permission  of  the  Emperor. 
The  period  of  mourning  the  death  of  the 
Emperor  himself  is  three  years. 

THE  DISPOSITION  OF  PROPERTY. 
The  head  of  a  family  may  make  a  will,  or 
dispose  of  his  estate  by  word  of  mouth,  or 
by  memoranda,  signed  or  unsigned.  But  in 
the  absence  of  any  verbal  instruction  or 
instrument  in  writing,  all  his  sons,  whether 
by  his  wife  or  handmaids  (whose  position 
will  be  defined  later  on),  take  equal  shares 
of  all  his  property  other  than  the  sacrificial, 
or  family  property.  The  formal  will  is  un- 
common in  the  interior  of  China,  because  a 
Chinaman  believes  it  to  be  unlucky  to  talk 
about  death  when  in  perfect  health,  or,  when 
he  has  an  ailment,  to  anticipate  death  by 
making  a  will.  The  inost  common  method 
of  bequeathing  property  is  by  giving  oral 
instructions.  Feeling  the  end  approaching, 
the  head  of  the  family  assembles  the  members 
of  his  family  and  some  of  his  clansmen,  and 
gives  them  directions  as  to  the  future  conduct 
of  his  business,  and  as  to  the  manner  in 
which  his  possessions  shall  l-e  divided. 
Invariably  the  eldest  son,  or  heir,  inherits  all 
sacrificial  property,  or  property  set  aside  for 
family  or  ancestral  worship.      It  is  necessary 


CARRIAGE    AND    "MAFOOS." 


inonrning    his    father    absents    himself   from 
work,  and  allows  his  head  to  go  unshaven. 

Quite  a  number  of  rules  surround  the 
practice  of  mourning  for  the  dead.  Children 
mourn    their    parents    three    years,    brothers 


here  to  explain  that,  though  the  law  of  China 
enjoins  inonogainy,  certain  latitude  is  allowed 
when  no  heir  has  been  born  to  a  man.  In 
such  cases  a  man  may  take,  in  addition  to 
his  wife,  other  women  who  would   be  called 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     31H 


respectively  his  second,  tiiird,  or  fourth  hand- 
maids. When  a  handmaid  gives  hirtli  to  a 
child,  male  or  female,  she  is  recognised  as  a 
secondary  mother  to  the  family  ;  but  if  she 
have  no  issue  she  is  regarded  merely  as  a 
servant-maid  all  her  life.  These  handmaids 
are  generally  girls  of  the  lovver  classes, 
acquired  by  purchase  from  poor  families. 
They  become  virtually  the  property  of  their 
employers,  the  purchase-money  ranging  from 
a  few  scores  to  thousands  of  dollars.  In 
the  absence,  therefore,  of  a  son  by  the  wife, 
the  eldest  son  of  one  of  the  handmaids  is 
regarded  as  the  heir.  If  the  heir  lives  to 
have  a  family  of  his  own,  but  predeceases 
his  father,  his  eldest  son  becomes  the  heir  to 
the  sacrificial  property  ;  if  he  predeceases 
his  father,  and  leaves  no  family,  the  son  next 


In  disposing  of  landed  property  inter  vivos 
certain  formality  has  to  be  observed.  When 
once  a  man  acquires  a  piece  of  land  his 
near  relatives  seem  to  have  in  it  a  right  of 
pre-emption.  In  all  purchase  deeds,  there- 
fore, there  is  always  a  recital  stating  that  the 
vendor  first  offered  the  property  to  his  near 
relatives,  but  no  one  was  willing  to  buy,  and 
that  through  a  middleman  (the  broker),  a 
purchaser  was  then  found  who  was  willing 
to  buy,  &c.  In  actual  practice  no  such  offer 
is  really  made,  but  a  notice  posted  for  a 
certain  time  at  a  public  place  to  the  effect 
that  it  has  been  made  is  considered  sufficient 
for  the  purpose  ;  and  the  sale  may,  after  the 
expiration  of  the  time  mentioned  in  the  notice, 
be  completed  without  being  liable  to  be  upset 
at  a  future  date. 


discuss  the  prescription  and  not  infrequently 
decide  to  eliminate  certain  of  the  drugs  speci- 
fied and  to  add  others.  They  may  also  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  dose  suggested 
by  the  doctor  is  too  large  or  too  small,  and 
alter  it  accordingly.  When  they  have  settled 
these  matters  to  their  own  satisfaction,  the 
approved  drugs  are  boiled  together  until 
the  decoction  is  reduced  to  from  six  to 
ten  ounces,  and  the  patient  swallows  the 
bowlful  at  one  draught.  This  is  one  of  the 
most  curious  features  of  the  Chinese  medical 
system.  Every  man  who  can  read  regards 
himself  as  a  doctor  in  embryo.  Even  in  the 
native  hospital  at  Hongkong  it  is  a  common 
practice  still  for  the  director  and  certain 
members  of  the  committee  to  assemble  the 
native   doctors  round  a  table  and  discuss  the 


A   PEKINGESE    LADY. 


A    CHINESE    GENTLEMAN. 


in  order  of  age  inherits  ;  but  if  a  man  has 
no  son,  either  by  his  wife  or  his  handmaids, 
it  is  competent  for  him  to  adopt  one  of  his 
brother's  sons  as  his  heir. 

If  a  man  die  without  leaving  any  one  to 
represent  his  line  of  descent  he  is  considered 
to  be  under  a  curse.  Consequently  an  heir 
is  always  found  for  him  whether  he  leaves 
any  estate  or  not.  If  he  has  no  one  to 
succeed  him  so  nearly  related  to  him  as  a 
brother's  son,  then  one  of  a  remoter  degree 
in  kinship  or  one  of  the  same  clan  or  even 
one  bearing  the  same  surname  may  be 
adopted.  But  it  is  a  sine  qua  iiou  that  the 
heir  be  of  the  same  surname  and  of  the 
proper  generation,  that  is,  of  the  same 
generation  as  the  man's  own  heir  would  be 
if  he  had  one,  otherwise  the  adoption  would 
be  illegal. 


The  lower  classes  of  Chinese  make  some 
provision  for  the  future  by  subscribing  to 
societies  which  undertake  to  bear  their  funeral 
expenses,  and  to  provide  something  for  their 
widows  and  children.  Almost  every  village 
has  one  of  these  friendly  societies. 

MEDICINE. 
The  medical  profession  in  China  is  one  for 
which  neither  law  nor  custom  demands  that  a 
man  shall  be  specially  trained.  Any  one  who 
chooses  to  do  so  can  practise  as  a  doctor 
without  registration  of  any  kind.  He  reads 
one  or  two  standard  Chinese  works  on  medi- 
cine, and  gains  a  knowledge  of  certain  di  ugs, 
which  he  combines  in  so-called  prescriptions, 
charging  his  patients  from  ten  cents  to 
one  dollar.  The  patient  holds  a  consultation 
with  some  of  his   friends  and  relatives,  who 


various  prescriptions  which  they  have  given 
during  the  day. 

In  the  Chinese  pharmacopea  there  are 
numbers  of  useful  and  powerful  drugs, 
practically  unknown  in  Europe,  only  waiting 
for  some  one  with  time,  means,  and  the 
necessary  training  to  demonstrate  their  value 
and  impress  them  into  the  service  of  man. 
Jen-tsin,  for  example,  is  a  powerful  tonic 
and  cardiac  stimulant,  but  ils  uses  are 
commonly  known  only  to  the  Chinese. 

Major  surgery  is  practised  only  to  a  very 
limited  extent  in  China,  but  minor  operations, 
such  as  acupuncture  and  dry  cupping,  are 
frequently  performed.  Bonesetting,  the  re- 
duction of  dislocations,  lancing  of  abscesses, 
and  dental  surgery  may  also  be  mentioned 
as    having   their  place   in   Chinese  surgery. 

Altogether  the  Chinese  make  a  considerable 


314     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


daim  to  efliciency  in  their  methods,  and 
though  there  is  a  substratum  of  practitioners 
emploj-ing  witchcraft  and  the  black  arts, 
doctors  of  the  l)etter  class  aver  that  their 
percentage  of   cures   is   very   high.      In   the 


Taoism  is  a  religion,  because  it  speaks 
of  a  higher  existence.  Laotzv  is  looked 
upon  as  the  founder  of  Taoism,  though  it  is 
practically  certain  that  the  religion,  which 
consists  in     the    following    of   Tao,   or  "  the 


A  DEVOTEE  CONSULTING  THE  STICKS  OF  FATE. 


case  of  small-pox,  for  instance,  they  guarantee 
90  per  cent,  of  cures — the  European  per- 
centage is  barely  as  high  as  70.  The 
outstanding  name  on  the  medical  roll  is 
that  of  Wa  To,  who  lived  in  the  Han 
dynasty.  He  used  the  knife  freely,  both  for 
amputations  and  lor  minor  operations,  and 
obtained  great  repute.  He  has  now  been 
canonised,  or  deified,  and  is  worshipped  as 
the   god  of   medicine. 

RELIGIONS. 

Chinese  religions  and  their  inter-relation- 
ship with  each  other  and  with  national  social 
observances  are  dealt  with  at  some  length 
in  another  part  of  this  volume,  but  as  no 
article  on  the  '■  Manners  and  Customs  of  the 
Chinese"  would  be  complete  without  some 
reference  to  the  people's  beliefs,  a  passing 
allusion  to  them  may  here  be  permitted.  As 
a  general  rule  Chinese  religions  are  regarded 
as  three  in  number,  namely,  Confucianism, 
Taoism,  and  Buddhism,  and  into  these  is 
woven  the  all-prevalent  ancestor-worship. 
Whatever  its  creed  or  conglomeration  of 
creeds,  every  family  or  clan  has  its  temple, 
in  which  are  placed  the  tablets  of  the  dead, 
supposed  to  be  inhabited  by  the  souls  of 
departed  ancestors  ;  and  in  every  house  there 
is  a  hall  set  aside  for  the  observance  of  the 
prescribed  cerctnonials,  whereby  the  hovering 
spirits  are  propitiated. 

Strictly  speaking,  it  is  a  mistake  to  class 
Confucianism  as  a  religion,  for  its  founder 
— politician,  economist,  philosopher,  and 
moralist — professed  to  teach  only  the  ethics 
of  right  conduct  and  temporal  welfare,  and 
consistently  evaded  his  disciples'  inquiries 
concerning  a  future  existence.  "  You  do 
not  understand  life  yet  ;  how  can  you  hope 
to  understand  death  i"  he  would  ask.  He 
refrained  from  discussing  the  problem  ;  he 
rarely,  if  ever,  spoke  of  gods  and  spirits  ; 
and  even  when  he  was  ill  he  refused  to  offer 
up  prayers,  though  urged  to  do  so  by  one 
of  his  followers. 


right  principle,"  really  existed  prior  to  his 
time.  He  was  a  contemporary  of  Confucius, 
and  the  latter  often  questioned  him  con- 
cerning the  principle  he  advocated. 

The  introduction  of  Buddhism  to  China 
dales  from  the  Han  dynasty.  It  is  said  that 
one  of  the  Han  emperors,  having  dreamed 
that  he  saw  a  giant  with  a  golden  body, 
preaching  a  new  religion,  sent  an  ambassador 


of  the  people.  Each  religion  has  borrowed 
from  the  otlicr  doctrines,  formulas,  and 
observances  wliicli  have  won  popular  support 
or  which  have  been  favourably  received  by 
successive  emperors  ;  but,  with  changing 
times  and  the  spread  of  enlightenment,  these 
devices  are  proving  futile,  and  both  religions 
are  hastening  to  decay. 

This  assimilation  by  the  various  religions 
of  the  essential  features  of  others  has  made 
it  practically  impossible  for  it  to  be  said  that 
the  Chinese  belong  to  any  particular  religion. 
In  reality  Chinamen  are  pantheistic,  and 
believe  just  as  much  as  they  please  of  as 
many  religions  as  they  please.  There  are 
innumerable  minor  deities,  each  having  its 
own  sphere  of  activity,  beneficent  or  malign. 
For  example,  a  medical  man  would  worship 
Wa  To,  the  god  of  medicine  ;  while  car- 
penters and  others  would  sacrifice  to  Lo 
Pan,  formerly  an  officer  of  the  Public  Works 
Department,  and  now  deified  as  the  god 
of  architecture  and  building  construction. 
Soldiers  have  Kwan  Tai,  their  god  of  war  ; 
men  of  letters,  Wun  Chang,  the  god  of 
literature  ;  and  so  forth.  Belief  in  a 
future  existence  is  general.  Somewhere  in 
the  centre  of  the  earth  there  is  said  to 
be  a  region  ruled  by  a  king,  or,  according 
to  some,  by  ten  kings,  where  the  deeds  of 
men  are  weighed,  and  reward  or  punish- 
ment is  meted  out  accordingly.  The  good 
will  return  to  earth  as  great  men,  blessed 
with  riches,  honour,  long  life,  and  children  ; 
the  less  worthy  will  enjoy  similar  happi- 
ness, but  in  a  lower  degree  ;  the  evil 
will  suffer  privation  and  hardships  of  all 
kinds  ;  while  those  guilty  of  rebellion,  murder, 
disobedience  to  parents,  and  other  heinous 
offences  will  take  the  shape  of  horses,  cattle, 
wild  beasts,  or  some  other  animal. 

The  conversion  of  the  adult  Chinese  to 
Christianity  makes  slow  progress,  and  the 
reason  is  not  far  to  seek.  Usually,  the 
Chinese  display  an  easy  tolerance  of  all 
religions,  but  there  were,  and  still  are,  certain 
rules  enjoined   by    Christianity   which    make 


LADIES    OF    A    MANDARIN'S    FAMILY    AT    CARDS. 


to  make  inquiries.  The  ambassador,  falling 
in  with  Buddhist  priests  in  India,  invited 
them  to  China. 

Both  Taoism  and  Buddhism  have  degener- 
ated, and  are  losing  their  hold  on  the  minds 


it  very  difficult  for  the  Chinese  to  embrace 
the  faith.  For  instance,  ancestral  worship  is 
prohibited,  and  monogamy  is  strictly  enjoined. 
Thus,  when  a  man  who  has  taken  to  himself 
a  wife  and  a  handmaid  desires  to  become  a 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      315 


Christian,  lie  is  told  that  he  must  put  away 
the  handmaid,  or  second  wife,  and  the  ques- 
tion then  arises — what  is  to  become  of  her 
and  her  children  ?  The  Cliinaman  is  apt  to 
think  twice  before  cnteriii;^  any  society 
which  demands  the  breaking;  up  of  his  family 
in  such  a  way.  Anotlier  serious  obstacle 
to  the  spread  of  Chiistianity  is  created  by 
the  numerous  sects  into  which  Christians 
are  divided,  and  the  conclusion  at  which 
the  Chinese  not  unnaturally  arrive  is  that 
a  religion  about  which  there  is  so  much 
diversity  of  opinion  among  its  followers 
cannot  be  so  sound  as  it  is  claimed  to  be. 

CHARITIES. 

The  Chinese  have  a  wide  field  for  tlie 
exercise  of  their  charitable  instincts.  Not 
only  is  almsgiving  enjoined  by  their  religions, 
but  the  construction  and  repair  of  roads  and 
bridges  for  the  convenience  of  travellers,  the 
building  of  hospitals,  and  the  maintenance 
of  homes  for  the  aged  or  foundlings,  are 
all  regarded  as  meritorious  works,  securing 
to  those  who  perform  them,  or  contribute 
towards  their  performance,  reward  hereafter. 
For  poor  Chinese  coffins  are  provided,  and 
their  funeral  expenses  are  olten  borne  by 
their  more  fortunate  countrymen.  Beggars 
are  frequently  assembled  by  the  well-to-do 
and  given  a  few  cash  each  ;  quilted  garments 
are  distributed  in  the  winter  time  ;  and  a 
sort  of  rice  gruel,  known  as  congee,  is  freely 
dispensed  to  the  needy.  In  the  summer 
months  people  are  accustomed  to  place 
supplies  of  tea  outside  their  doors,  or  in 
places  accessible  to  passers-by,  for  the 
refreshment  of  the  thirsty.  Almost  every 
hamlet  has  its  school,  maintained  at  the 
common  charge,  where  education  is  given 
for  a  nominal  fee  of  a  dollar  or  two  a 
year  to  those  who  can  afford  to  pay  the 
sum,  and  free  to  those  who  are  indigent. 
Buddhistic  influence  is  traceable  in  many  of 
these  customs,  and  especially  in  the  practice 
of  purchasing  birds  and  animals  for  the 
purpose  of  restoring  them  to  liberty. 

GUILDS. 

As  in  other  countries,  so  in  China,  there 
are  many  and  various  kinds  of  societies, 
unions,  or  guilds  among  the  people.  But, 
in  the  Middle  Kingdom,  there  is  this 
difference,  that  none  of  them  are  legally 
registered  or  incorporated.  So  long  as  they 
do  not  commit  anything  against  the  peace 
or  good  order  of  the  place  or  against  the 
Imperial  Government  they  are  tolerated  and 
even  recognised  by  Government  officials  as 
institutions  having  certain  rights  and  privi- 
leges. The  most  coinmonly  known  and  by 
far  the  greater  majority  of  these  societies  or 
unions  are  the  guilds.  These  guilds  are  really 
trade  or  business  unions  or  associations  of 
artisans,  maimfacturers,  or  merchants.  Each 
one  particular  trade  or  business  has  its  own 
guild,  in  which  all  persons  or  firms  engaged 
in  that  trade  or  business  are  associated 
together  for  mutual  protection  and  aid.  It 
has  its  own  rules  and  regulations,  its  funds, 
and  committee  of  manageinent.  The  members 
of  the  committee  are  generally  elected 
annually  by  members  of  the  guild.  The 
election  usually  takes  place  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Cliinese  year,  when  members  meet 
and  feast  together.  All  rules  or  customs 
affecting  any  particular  trade  are  regulated 
by  its  guild.  Should  any  individual  member 
transgress  any  of  the  rules  he  is  liable  to  a 
fine,  and  should  he  persist  after  he  has  been 
warned  or  fined  he  is   liable  to   be  expelled 


from  the  guild.  A  member  after  expulsion  is 
subject  to  a  boycott  by  the  other  members 
of  the  guild,  and  oftentimes  the  boycott  is 
maintained  in  such  a  vigorous  manner  that 
the  ex-member  is  only  too  willing  to  submit 
to  any  terms  that  the  guild  may  impose  for 
his  re-admittance.  The  coinmon  funds  of 
the  guild  are  raised  differently  in  different 
guilds.  Though  collected  chiefly  for  the 
purpose     of     protecting     the     trade     or    the 


vince  —  such,  for  example,  as  the  Canton 
Guild  or  Ningpo  Guild  in  Shanghai  or 
Tientsin.  These  guilds  can  scarcely  be 
classed  with  the  trade  guilds,  but  are  rather 
associations  of  a  social  and  charitable  nature. 
They  possess  big  buildings  known  as  "  the 
Wiu  Koon,"  in  which  the  members  meet 
and  discuss  matters  affecting  the  welfare 
and  interest  of  their  provincials.  There  are 
also  in  China  many  other  societies,  some  of 


BOUND"    FOOT. 


meinbers,  they  are  often  devoted  to  charities 
or  used  in  connection  with  festivals,  religious 
ceremonies,  processions,  and  other  public 
functions.  On  such  occasions  the  different 
guilds  frequently  vie  with  each  other  in 
making  the  best  show.  Besides  these  guilds 
forined  by  persons  engaged  in  some  par- 
ticular trade  or  business,  there  are  other 
guilds  formed  by  merchants  of  one  particular 
province]  or  1  district  trading   in   another   pro- 


them  secret.  The  Ko  Lo  Wiu,  the  Big 
Knife  and  Triad  Societies,  are  some  of  the 
better-known  secret  societies,  to  which  only 
the  lower  classes  belong.  Even  beggars 
themselves  have  their  own  associations.  They 
divide  themselves  into  districts,  each  of  which 
is  ruled  by  a  headman,  who  is  all-powerlul 
among  his  own  associates,  and  the  beggars 
of  one  district  may  not  encroach  upon 
another  district. 


31(5      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


FESTIVALS. 

The  Chinese  year  is  marked  by  four 
festivals,  during  each  of  which  occurs  a 
settling  day.  when  accounts  are  paid  as  at 
Lady  Day,  Midsummer  Day,  Michaelmas 
Day,  and  Christmas  Day  in  England.  The 
tirs't  settling  day  is  the  fifth  day  of  the  fifth 
moon,  the  second  occurs  in  the  eighth  moon, 
and  the  third  in  the  eleventh.  On  these 
days  it  is  optional,  in  some  Ciises,  whether  a 
man  pays  his  accounts  or  not.  The  fourth 
settling  day  is  the  last  day  in  the  year, 
when,  in  the  absence  of  any  very  unusual 
circumstances,  all  accounts  must  be  paid. 
A  creditor  will  wait  for  his  money  until 
midnight,  but  if  he  allows  the  account  to 
remain  unpaid  after  that  hour  it  is  tantamount 
to  giving  the  debtor  another  year's  grace. 

The  New  Year  Festival  is  by  far  the  most 
important.  It  begins  on  the  first  day  of  the 
first  moon  in  the  Chinese  year  (about  the 
beginning  of  t'ebruary),  and  for  ten  days 
practically  every  Chinaman  keeps  holiday, 
and  business  is  at  a  standstill.  Sounds  of 
feasting  and  merriment,  the  wailing  of  weird 
instruments  of  music,  and  the  explosion  of 
countless  fire-crackers  create  together  an  in- 
cessant din.  The  thoroughfares  are  thronged 
by  day  with  holiday-makers  in  brilliant 
raiment,  and  are  illuminated  at  night  by 
m>Tiads  of  diversely  coloured  paper  lanterns. 

The  Dragon  Boat  Festival  in  the  fifth  moon 
is  held  in  commemoration  of  a  loyal  minister 
of  Cho,  named  Wat  Yuen,  who  lived  during 
the  Cnau  dynasty  and  committed  suicide  by 
drowning  himself.  This  festival  falls  on  the 
fifth  day  of  the  fifth  moon,  about  the  time  of 
the  summer  solstice. 

The  Eighth,  or  Harvest  Moon,  Festival, 
occurs  in  mid-autumn,  that  is,  on  the  fifteenth 
day  of  the  eighth  moon,  and  is  celebrated 
by  the  lighting  of  all  kinds  of  lanterns,  in 
the  fashioning  of  which  the  Chinese  display 
wonderful  ingenuity  both  of  design  and  con- 
struction. 

The  Eleventh  Moon,  or  Winter,  Festival,  is 
a  movable  feast. 

The  settling  day  connected  with  each  of 
these  festivals  is  observed  as  a  holiday,  the 
other  holidays  kept  by  the  Chinese  being 
about  one  month  in  the  Ching  Ming,  which 
falls  in  the  third  moon,  when   business  men 


PUNISHMENT   FOR    ROBBERY    WITH    VIOLENCE. 


and  their  employes  take  leave  by  turns 
within  this  month  to  worship  at  the  tombs 
of  their  ancestors,  and  the  ten  days  at  new 
year  already  referred  to.  In  Hongkong, 
Shanghai,  and  the  outports,  Chinese  in  the 
employment  of  European  firms  have  the 
leave  customarily  given  on  Bank  and  other 
holidays. 


BOUDOIR  AND  BEDCHAMBER  OF  LADY  OF  RANK. 


Ill  the  ninth  moon  many  Chinese  proceed 
to  the  mountains  to  conduct  the  autumnal 
sacrifices,  and  during  this  moon,  as  well  as 
during  the  tliird  and  fifth  moons,  there  is, 
as  has  already  been  stated,  neither  marrying 
nor  giving  in  marriage. 

MUSIC    AND    GAMES. 

No  Chinese  festivity  is  complete  without 
music.  According  to  popular  tradition,  the 
Emperor  Fu,  a  contemporary  of  Tubal, 
invented  "  the  divine  art,"  and  taught  his 
people  its  rudimentary  rules  some  four 
thousand  years  ago.  There  are  now  numer- 
ous examples  of  the  three  main  classes  of 
musical  instruments  —  stringed,  wind,  and 
percussion.  Of  operatic  airs,  used  in  theat- 
rical performances,  tliere  are,  perhaps,  not 
more  than  a  dozen,  but  there  are  numbers 
of  tuneful  melodies  to  which  songs  are  set. 
Chinese  music  can,  of  course,  be  rendered  on 
the  violin  or  otlier  instrument  of  the  viol 
tribe,  upon  the  trombone,  or  by  the  human 
voice,  but  it  cannot  be  exactly  reproduced  on 
a  piano  or  other  keyed  instrument,  or  upon 
a  European  fretted  stringed  instrument,  as 
there  is  a  slight  difference  between  the 
intervals  of  the  Chinese  scale  and  that  used 
in  the  West.  The  inattentive  ear  will  not 
readily  distinguish  any  tune  in  music  played 
by  a  Chinese  band,  and  will  probably  receive 
an  impression  of  melancholy  and  monoto- 
nous discords,  but  the  careful  listener  may 
identify  the  various  tunes,  and  will,  without 
doubt,  be  surprised  at  the  skill  displayed 
by  the  musicians  in  performing  upon  most 
primitive  instruments. 

Of  games  there  is  an  infinite  variety,  from 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      317 


games  of  chance,  which  gratify  the  ahtiost 
universal  love  of  gambling,  to  games  com- 
parable only  to  chess  in  the  demands  they 
make  upon  the  skill  of  the  exponent. 
Elephant  kee,  as  it  is  called,  is,  in  fact,  very 
similar  to  the  great  scientitic  game  played  by 
Western  nations,  in  that  the  checkmating  of 
the  king,  or  commander,  decides  the  issue. 
The  Chinese  game  is  based  on  military 
tactics,  and,  for  the  reason  that  women  are 
not  supposed  to  go  to  war,  there  is  no  queen. 
For  hundreds  of  years  tliis  has  been  a 
favourite  pastime  of  the  educated  classes, 
and  its  origin   is   lost  in  antiquity. 

THEATRICALS. 

In  the  South  of  China  theatrical  perform- 
ances are  prefaced  by  some  spectacular 
representations  of  propitious  and  happy 
omens.  These  preludes  consist  of  shows 
representing  the  Eight  Genii  paying  respect 
to  the  Queen  of  Heaven  and  wishing  her 
eternal  years,  the  presentation  of  a  son  and 
heir  by  a  fairy,  and  the  personificalion  of 
official  success  and  advancement.  The 
plays-in-chief  are  generally  adapted  from 
historical  events,  the  performance  of  which 
may  extend  over  several  days  and  nights. 
But  in  the  northern  part  of  China  short 
historical  acts,  each  quite  unconnected  with 
the  other,  are  preferred,  and  the  plays 
commence  without  any  of  the  preliminaries 
of  the  south.  Plays  are  usually  selected 
pointing  the  mo:al  that  the  wicked  are 
punished  and  the  virtuous  rewarded.  On 
the  stage  no  serious  effort  is  made  to 
produce  scenic  effects,  everything  being  left 
to  the  suggestive  actions  of  the  players 
and  the  imagination  of  the  audience.  For 
example,  two  tables,  one  piled  on  the  top 
of  the  other,  with  the  written  Chinese 
characters  for  a  "rampart"  on  the  side  may 
be  all  that  represents  a  rampart.  In  the 
same  manner,  a  chair  put  sideways,  or  a 
divided  curtain  held  up  by  attendants,  will 
be  employed  to  represent  respectively  a 
river  bank  or  a  city  gate.  Again,  an  actor 
taking  a  whip  in  his  hand  and  going 
through  the  movements  associated  with 
riding  is  to  be  taken  as  being  on  horseback, 
and  so,  too,  when  he  goes  through  the 
action  of  closing  and  bolting  a  door,  the 
door  must  be  considered  to  have  been 
closed  and  bolted,  though,  in  fact,  no  door 
is  visible.  Although  the  stagcry  is  primitive, 
the  acting  is  most  realistic  to  those  who  are 
in  a  position  to  understand  and  appreciate 
it.  The  chief  and  sole  aim  of  an  actor  is 
to  perfect  himself  in  the  role  he  takes 
without  any  adventitious  aid  from  scenery. 
Although  there  are  actresses  in  China,  they 
do  not  as  a  rule  act  with  men,  as  it  is  not 
considered  to  be  decent  by  the  better  class 
of  Chinese  for  them  to  do  so.  Consequently, 
female  characters  have  in  most  companies 
to  be  undertaken  by  men.  Each  actor  makes 
a  special  study  of  some  particular  character, 
whether  it  be  that  of  an  old  man,  a  youth, 
a  clown,  a  fighter,  a  literati,  or  a  female, 
and  does  not  take  any  other  part  A  good 
actor  may  command  a  big  salary — some  of 
them  get  as  much  as  $10,000  a  year — but 
their  social  status  is  not  high. 

THE  INTRODUCTION   OF  THE  QUEUE. 

The  wearing  of  the  towchang,  or  queue, 
by  the  Chinese  is,  contrary  to  popular  belief, 
a  custom  of  comparatively  recent  origin,  and 
the  story  of  its  introduction  is  one  of  the 
most  interesting  in  the  history  of  the  nation. 
A  little  less  than  three  hundred  years  ago, 
the  struggle  between  the  Mings  and  the 
Manchus  ended  in  the  conquest  of  China  by 


the  Tartars.  One  of  the  ministers  of  the 
fallen  dynasty,  desirous  of  seeing  the  Mings 
re-established,  ingratiated  himself  with  the 
conquerors,  and  urged  them  to  humiliate 
the  Chinese  by  enforcing  upon  them  the 
wearing  of  the  queue  and  ol  certain  forms 
of  dress,  in  token   of   their  subjugation.     The 


a  futile  struggle.  Disappointed  at  this  un- 
expected failure  of  his  scheme,  the  minister 
put  an  end  to  his  life,  and  the  wearing  of  the 
queue  has  in  course  of  time  come  to  be 
regarded  as  a  badge,  honourable  rather  than 
servile,  of  loyalty  to  the  reigning  house. 
The     wearing    of    the     towchang,    enforced 


THE    BARBER. 


Not  as  )*entle  as  he  might  be. 
A  Gentleman's  Toilet. 


minister  was  actuated  by  the  hope  that  the 
Chinese,  exasperated  beyond  endurance,  would 
make  a  last  supreme  effort  to  throw  off  the 
Tartar  yoke,  but,  wearied  with  thirty  years 
of  bloodshed,  and  broken  in  spirit  by  the 
horrors  attendant  on  the  war,  they  submitted 
quietly  to  the   indignity  rather  tlian  prolong 


Al  Fresco  Tonsorial  Artists. 


originally  under  pain  of  heavy  penalties,  has 
long  ceased  to  be  compulsory,  and  to-day, 
owing  to  the  influence  of  Western  ideas, 
large  numbers  of  Chinese  have  discarded 
the  appendage,  and  have  adopted  European 
dress.  In  official  circles,  however,  the  queue 
has  still  its  loyal  significance.     Quite  recently 


318     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  Chinese  Ambassador  at  Berlin  sent  a 
memorial  lo  the  Imperial  Government 
requesting  that  memtiers  of  the  Chinese 
Emlvissy  should  l>e  permitted  to  adopt 
European  costume,  so  that  they  might  not 
be  conspicuous,  but  suggesting  that  the 
queue  be  allowed  to  remain  "as  a  mark  of 
respect  to  the  Emperor." 

Under  former  dynasties  the  mode  of 
wearing  the  hair  was  similar  to  that  until 
recently  common  in  Japan,  and  still  more 
recently  in  Korea.  It  may  be  added  that 
under  the  old  Manchu  edict  ladies  were  left 
free  to  dress  their  hair  and  attire  themselves 
as  they  chose,  and  permission  was  granted 
for  the  dead  to  be  arrayed  by  their  friends 
in  the  costume  of  the  former  dynasty. 

The  practice  of  allowing  the  finger-nails 
to  remain  uncut  originated  in  Hunan  some 
two  hundred  years  ago  amongst  Chinese 
ladies,  from  whom  it  was  copied  later  by 
the  literati,  who  sought  in  this  way  to 
show  that  they  were  not  engaged  in  any 
manual  occupation.  The  custom  is  now 
dying  out,  although  it  obtains  still  among 
the  leisured  classes  in  the  interior. 

It  was  the  wife  of  the  Emperor  Li  Hou 
Tsu,  of  the  Tang  dynasty,  who  first  set  the 
fashion  of  binding  the  feet,  some  twelve 
hundred  years  ago.  The  practice  is  rapidly 
falling  into  disfavour,  and  an  imperial 
decree  has.  as  has  been  stated  previously, 
been  issued  within  the  last  few  years  urging 
its  discontinuance. 

JUSTICE. 

In  conclusion,  a  brief  mention  must  be 
made  of  the  laws  of  China  and  their 
administration.  The  penal  code  now  in 
force,  known  as  the  Tai  Ching  Lut  Lee, 
was  compiled  at  the  beginning  of  the 
present  dynasty,  and  comprises  (at  least  in 
one  edition)  some  twenty-four  volumes.  It 
has  been  added  to,  altered,  confirmed,  or 
modified  from  time  to  time,  by  the  rescripts 
or  edicts  of  successive  emperors,  the 
emperor  being,  both  in  theory  and  practice, 
the  lawgiver.  Four,  or  sometimes  five, 
ministers  of  his  own  choosing  act  as  his 
advisers.    They  are  usually  venerable  officers 


of  high  standing,  and  hold  ofiice  during 
their  lifetime,  or  until  disability  or  the 
imperial  pleasure  dictates  their  retirement. 
The  administration  of  the  penal  code  is  left 
to  magistrates  appointed  by  the  Viceroys  of 
the  several  provinces.  During  the  hearing 
of  criminal  cases  not  only  the  defendant  but 
also  the  complainant  and  (he  witnesses  are 
liable   to   be   punished    if    suspected   of   sup- 


ingenuity,  and  are  certainly  effectual  in 
securing  to  justice  a  victim,  even  though  an 
innocent  one,  for  every  crime  committed. 
The  punishments  meted  out  hy  the  court  in 
criminal  cases  include  fines,  imprisonment, 
and  death  by  the  cord,  by  the  sword,  or  by 
torture. 


PUNISHING    AN    EVILDOER. 


THE   "CANGUE." 


pressing  the  truth— caning,  bambooing,  and 
torture  being  inflicted  at  the  discretion  of 
the  magistrate.  Until  quite  recently  these 
methods  of  "truth-compelling"  were  permitted 
in  civil  cases,  and  though  they  have  now 
been  formally  abolished  by  imperial  edict 
they  are  still  commonly  employed  in  a  great 
number  of  places.  The  tortures,  which  have 
so  frequently  been  described  that  they  need 
not   here    be   detailed,    are   fiendish   in    their 


MR.  TSO  SEEN  WAN,  tlie  author  of  the 
foregoing  article,  went  to  England  upon  the 
completion  of  his  Chinese  education  at  the 
age  of  eighteen,  and  entered  Cheltenhatn 
College.  He  subsequently  qualified  as  a 
solicitor  in  England,  and  has  been  in 
practice  in  Hongkong  for  nearly  twelve 
years. 


CHINESE    CHARACTERS. 


By   James    B.   Wong,    B.A.,    of   Nanking   University. 


[  O  learn  the  derivation  and 
meaning  of  a  sulTicient  num- 
ber of  Cliinese  cliaracters  to 
enable  one  to  carry  on  a 
certain  limited  correspondence 
on  ordinary  topics  in  the 
Chinese  language  is  not  a 
formidable  task,  but  to  become  proficient 
enough  to  read  all  sorts  of  written,  or 
printed,  documents  or  inscriptions  requires 
years  of  diligent  and  patient  study. 

The  derivation  of  Chinese  written  charac- 
ters is  a  matter  of  extreme  interest  to 
philologists.  The  characters  have  undergone 
innumerable  modifications  through  successive 
dynasties  since  the  remote  age  in  which  they 
were  first  devised,  and,  as  a  consequence, 
the  Chinese  written  language  of  the  present 
day  is  very  different  in  appearance,  con- 
struction, and  signification,  from  what  it  was 
when  the  inscriptions  upon  the  innumerable 
relics  of  antiquity,  such  as  metal  utensils. 
tripods,  stones,  &c.,  that  are  scattered  about 
so  freely  in  almost  every  town  and  village 
of  the  Empire,  were  chiselled  by  the  for- 
gotten craftsmen  who  wrought  them. 

It  was  in  the  reign  of  Tai  Hao,  who  is 
commonly  regarded  as  having  been  the  first 
Emperor  of  China,  and  who,  according  to 
the  chronicles,  died  somewhere  about  the 
year  2963  B.C.,  that  written  characters  were 
invented  by  Chuang  Chi  Sze,  in  obedience  to 
a  royal  command,  which  laid  upon  him  the 
task  of  devising  a  series  of  signs  to  represent 
ideas,  so  that  matters  of  importance  could 
be  recorded.  Chuang  Chi  Sze  chose  as  the 
basis  of  his  system  a  number  of  symbols. 
the  shape  of  which  was  suggested  to  him 
by  birds  and  other  creatures.  These  symbols, 
to  the  number  of  two  hundred  and  fourteen, 
are  still  retained  in  the  written  language, 
and  are  known  to  the  modern  student  under 
the  naine  of  "  radicals."  Their  form  was 
not  fixed  all  at  once  but  underwent  a  series 
of  modifications  between  the  years  2953  B.C. 
and  331  B.C..  when  they  finally  took  on  the 
aspect  which  they  now  wear.  It  may  be 
interesting  to  mention,  that  during  that  long 
period,  no  fewer  than  five  dynasties  occupied 
the  throne  of  China. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Ching 
Chi  Wang,  these  symbols  were  called  Hsiang 
Hsing  characters,  and  the  difference  between 
them  and  the  modern  Chinese  characters 
will  easily  be  seen  by  a  glance  at  the 
following  table  : — 


Antique. 


^       (sun) 

^J       (sun) 

^J       (moon) 

y^       (moon) 

E^    (bird) 

'^T'        (bird) 

A  large  number  of  very  ancient  Chinese 
characters  have  been  discovered  in  the 
inscriptions  on  copper  and  iron  cauldrons 
belonging  to  the  dynasty  of  Shuang  (1766  B.C. 
to  1154  B.C.).     Here  are  a  few  examples: 


signified   "  squirming  scorpion  ' 


During  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Chi 
Huang  Ti,  or  Ching  Chi  Wang,  from  331  B.C. 
to  209  B.C.,  the  appearance  and  meaning  of 
these  characters  were  finally  fixed.  All  the 
ancient  books,  with  the  exception  of  certain 
works  on  agriculture,  medicines,  and  necro- 
mancy, were  burnt  to  ashes  at  the  suggestion 
of  the  prime  minister,  who  also  caused  a 
great  number  of  literary  men — four  hundred 
and  sixty,  it  is  said — to  be  buried  alive. 

F'rom  the  inscription  engraved  on  the 
imperial  seal  of  the  Emperor  Chi  Huang  Ti, 
it  is  apparent  that  the  characters  which 
prevailed  in  the  dynasty  of  Ching,  were 
really  derived  from  the  original  symbols. 
The  imperial  seal  bore  eight  characters,  as 
follow  ; — 


'fish  cauldron" 


"elephant";    &c. 


These  are  the  most  ancient  Chinese  characters 
of  which  there  is  any  record  ;  they  are 
contained  in  books  dealing  from  before  the 
dynasty  of  Ching. 

The  ancient  Chinese  characters  are  classi- 
fied by  Chinese  scholars  of  the  present 
century,  as  follow  : — 

1.    Niaotse,     or     the     imitative     symbols 

derived     from      the     appearance     of 

various   kmds   of  birds. 


Modern. 


Antique. 


^tSSi 


Translation. 


§  fooft  t^is 
seat  un6er 
f^e  contntanb 
of  ^eaven. 

§f  tnean& 
Cong  Cife  anb 
pro&pevtt^- 


320      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


1.  Kotau,  or  the  imitative  symbols 
derived  from  the  appearance  of 
shrimps    and    frogs. 

3.  Tachiuin.  or  the  characters  that  were 
improved  by  Tai  Sze  Liu  in  the 
reign  of  Hsuen  Wang  (827  B.C.),  of 
the  dynasty  of  Chow. 

4.  Hsiaochuan.  or  the  improved  seal 
characters  which  were  invented  in 
the   d\niasty  of   Ching. 

5.  Tishu,  or  the  documentary  characters 
which  were  used  in  the  reign  of 
Chi    Huang   Ti.   of   Ching   dynasty. 

The  Tishu  characters  are  still  used  in 
China  and  Japan  on  signboards  and 
monuments. 

Through  twenty-six  dvTiasties  the  Chinese 
characters  have  been  absolutely  changed  in 
appearance  and  largely  increased  in  number. 

The  modern  Chinese  characters  are  forty- 
one  thousand  in  number,  but  about  one- 
half  of  them  are  obsolete,  being  found  only 
in  ancient  Chinese  philosophical  and  poetical 
works.  With  a  quarter  of  this  number, 
that  is  to  say,  with  ten  thousand  characters, 
all  kinds  of  essays  and  writings  can  be 
composed,  and  styles  can  be  varied  without 
limit. 

The  characters  are  now  arranged  in  six 
classes,     and     under     each     of     these,     the 


supposed  number  is  stated  below  with 
information  about  the  origin  of  the  characters 
and  the  changes  they  have  undergone. 


I.  Imitative  symbols  like 


M 


two. 
straight. 


2.  Indicative  symbols  like 

3.  Symbols  combining  ideas 

like 


4.  Inverted    symbols    like 


5.  Syllabic  symbols  like      gj  ft*      a  carp. 

6.  Metaphoric  symbols  like        \^  \  '      heart. 

Each  of  the  modern  Chinese  characters  is 
composed  of  a  "radical"  and  the  "primitive." 
The  radicals,  of  which  we  have  said  there 
are  two  hundred  and  fourteen,  are  like  the 
alphabet  in  European  languages.  No  pro- 
nunciation of  Chinese  characters,  however, 
can  be  indicated.  The  only  way  to  obtain 
a  knowledge  of  Chinese  characters  is  to 
study    their    meaning    and    acquire    "  tones " 


by  memory.  Anybody  who  has  forgotten 
the  pronunciation  of  any  Chinese  character 
is  obliged  to  consult  a  dictionary.  Thus, 
many  Chinese  scholars  would  be  unable 
to  pronounce  the  characters  which  they 
employ    to    express  their   ideas. 

Some  Chinese  characters  are  very  easy  to 
understand,  owing  to  the  primitive  and 
radical     of     which    they    are    formed.      For 

instance,  the  character  ^3  EX  is  con- 
structed by  the  radical  M  (sun)  and  the 
primitive  JA  (moon),  the  whole  word 
meaning  "  light."      The  character     ^  H 


is    composed    of   the   radical 


and   the   primitive 


@ 


(water) 

(eye),  and  means 
"  tear." 


A  large  number  of  new  characters  have 
been  invented  recently  by  Chinese  scholars 
and  business  men,  in  order  that  the  language 
may  become  the  vehicle  of  ideas  which 
were   unknown    in    former   ages. 


ECCLESIASTICAL 


THE    ROMAN    CATHOLIC    CHURCH. 


By  Father  J.  de  Moidrey,  S.J.,  of  Siccawei. 


The  Nestorians. 

T  IS  uncertain  whether  St. 
Thomas  carried  tlie  faith  as 
far  east  as  China,  but  the 
inscription  on  the  famous 
stone  at  Singanfu,  the  au- 
thenticity of  which  is  beyond 
question,  makes  it  certain 
thai  the  Nestorian  priest  Olopen  brought  the 
religion  of  Christ  to  China  in  635  a.d.  It 
flourished  for  centuries,  and  there  were  still 
Nestorians  at  the  time  of  Marco  Polo. 

The    Medi/eval    Church. 

The  second  period  in  the  history  of  the 
Chinese  missions  opens  in  1246,  when  the 
Franciscan  friar,  John  of  Piano  Carpini,  set 
out  from  Lyons,  in  France,  reached  Kara- 
korum,  the  residence  of  the  successors  of 
Gengis  Khan,  and  founded  the  great  Christian 
settlement  of  Peking.  St.  Louis,  king  of 
France,  sent  presents  to  the  Tartar  princes 
through  Friar  William  of  Kubruquis,  who 
brought  him  back  a  letter  and  a  silk  gown. 
Such  was  the  success  of  the  Franciscan 
missionaries  that  John  of  Montecorvino  was 
consecrated  Archbishop  of  Khambalu,  or 
Peking,  in  1308,  with  seven  suffragan  bishops, 
only  three  of  whom,  however,  reached  China. 
Another  diocese  was  created  at  Zaitun  in 
Fokien.  The  Blessed  Odoric  of  Pordenone, 
and  others,  preached  in  many  provinces. 
Thousands  of  converts  had  been  baptized, 
several  Franciscan  monasteries  had  been 
founded,  and  there  was  hope  of  further 
development  when  the  Tartar  dynasty  was 
overthrown  by  the  Ming  in  1368.  During 
the  period  of  disturbance  which  followed, 
the  Chinese  Church  became  isolated  from 
the  west.      It   was  not  abandoned,  however. 


From  1370  to  1400,  the  Franciscan  Order 
sent  more  than  one  hundred  of  its  sons  to 
distant  Cathay.  But,  sad  to  say,  it  is  not 
even  certain  whether  they  reached  their 
destination.  Nothing  of  the  mediaeval  church 
of  China  remains,  not  even  the  annals  of 
its  decline  or  the  names  of  its  martyrs. 

Beginnings  of  the  Present  Mission. 

The  overland  route  to  China  being  now 
closed,  the  third,  or  actual,  epoch  in  the 
history  of  the  mission  dates  from  the  dis- 
covery of  the  sea  route.  St.  Francis  Xavier, 
the  apostle  of  Japan,  died  on  the  island  of 
Sancian,  in  December,  1552,  in  sight  of  the 
mainland  of  China,  which  he  had  longed 
to  win  to  Christ.  Three  years  later,  the 
Dominican,  Gaspard  of  the  Cross,  was  the 
first  to  set  foot  in  China  by  the  south  route. 
He  was  succeeded  in  1575  by  the  Augus- 
tinian  friars,  Martin  de  Rada  and  Jerom 
Marin.  Both  missions,  however,  proved 
unsuccessful.  In  1583  the  Jesuits  Ruggieri 
and  Pasio,  soon  followed  by  the  celebrated 
Matthew  Ricci,  and  several  of  their  brethren, 
were  able  to  settle  at  Chaokingfu,  near 
Canton,  where  they  built  a  chapel  and  resi- 
dence, and  made  numerous  converts.  Their 
field  of  action  was  soon  extended  to  Nanking 
and  Hangchow  in  Chekiang  (where  the 
graves  of  some  of  the  first  pioneers  are 
still  to  be  seen),  and  a  few  other  places. 

Missionaries  at   Peking. 

Ricci  had  understood  that  the  success  of 
the  mission  must  not  be  left  to  the  mercy  of 
local  Mandarin  caprice.  He  therefore  set 
out,  in  1595,  for  Peking,  and  resolved  to 
gain  admittance  to  the  Emperor  himself. 
After  six  years'  effort  he  obtained  permission 


to  establish  himself  at  the  capital.  His 
friendly  relations  with  the  monarch  and  the 
elite  of  the  capital,  and  the  protection 
afforded  by  the  high  Mandarins,  enabled  his 
brethren  in  the  provinces  to  announce  with 
courage  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  to  the 
poor  and  ignorant.  Foremost  among  his 
noble  disciples  was  Paul  Siu,  or  Zi,  of 
Shanghai,  a  Prime  Minister,  and  the  true 
founder  of  the  Church  of  the  Sungkiangfu,  in 
which  prefecture  Shanghai  is  situated.  The 
grave  of  Zi  is  seen  at  Zi-ka-wei  (or  Siccawei). 
This  great  result  was  obtained  in  less  than 
fifteen  years,  and  when  Ricci  died,  on  May 
10,  i6io,  his  funeral,  at  the  imperial  expense, 
was  the  consecration  of  the  establishment  of 
the  Church  in  China. 

Ricci  was  succeeded  by  Longobardi  as 
superior  of  the  Jesuits  in  China.  Others 
remained  in  Peking  as  astronomers,  the  best 
known  among  them  being  Adam  Schall  von 
Bell.  After  the  overthrow  of  the  Chinese 
dynasty,  the  Manchus  created  Schall  president 
of  the  Board  of  Mathematics  in  February, 
1645,  and  entrusted  hnn  with  the  task  of 
reforming  the  Chinese  calendar.  In  1650  he 
received  an  imperial  edict  so  highly  praising 
his  life  and  work,  that  it  has  sometimes 
been  understood  as  a  positive  approval  of 
his  faith  and  an  authorisation  to  preach  it. 
His  successor,  Ferdinand  Verbiest,  enjoyed 
the  friendship  of  the  great  Emperor  Kanghi. 
His  death  took  place  in  1688.  Up  to  the 
beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  the 
Board  of  Astronomy  was  presided  over  by 
various  missionaries.  A  second  residence, 
founded  by  the  French  Jesuits,  also  exer- 
cised a  powerful  influence  in  favour  of  the 
evangelisation  of  the  provinces. 

The  friendship  of  the  imperial  demi-god 
was    only     maintained    at     the    expense    of 


322     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


constant  and  arduous  labour,  and  was,  more- 
over, subject  to  eclipses.  Fathers  Schall 
and  Verbiest  suffered  disgrace  and  even  im- 
prist>nment.  During  times  of  persecution 
the  astronomers,  guarded  at  court  as  indispen- 
sable auxiliaries,  found  themselves  unable  to 
go  to  the  help  of  their  brethren.  By  order 
of  Kanghi.  they  surveyed  the  whole  empire 
and  prepared  the  famous  maps  which  have 
not  vet  been  surpassed,  if  equalled.  Other 
missionaries — Parennin.  Gaubil.  and  Amyot — 
acted  as  interpreters  to  the  Emperors,  while 
Brothers  Castiglione  and  Attiret  were  their 
painters.  &c.  The  philological,  historical. 
and  scientific  researches  of  these  men  were, 
and  are  still,  universally  admired  in  Europe 
and  in  China. 

Missionaries  in  the  Provinces. 

It  would  be  a  great  mistake  to  imagine 
that  Jesuits  alone  laboured  in  China.  We 
find  them,  indeed,  in  almost  every  province  ; 
but  their  number  was  never  very  large.  In 
1625.  there  were  eighteen  priests  and  four 
lay  brothers.  The  almost  complete  list  of 
Jesuits  who  have  worked  in  China  down  to 
the  suppression  of  the  Order  in  1773  includes 
456    names,    of    which     81    were     Chinese. 

Other  orders — Augustinians.  Franciscans, 
and  Dominicans — also  obtained  a  foothold  in 
China  after  persevering  efforts.  In  1633, 
the  Franciscan.  Antony  of  St.  Gregory,  and 
the  Dominican.  John-Baptist  Morales,  began 
successful  work  in  P'okien,  whence  they 
passed  into  Kiangsi  and  other  provinces. 
In  spite  of  persecutions  and  also  of  the  com- 
mercial jealousy  which  sometimes  placed 
serious  obstruction  in  the  way  of  the  Spanish 
missionaries  at  Macao,  there  were  as  many 
as  14.000  converts  in  the  three  coast  provinces 
in  1665.  In  1764.  the  P'ranciscans  of  the 
Manila  province  alone  had  five  distinct 
missions  in  Shantung.  Kwangtung.  Kwansi. 
Fokien.  and  Macao,  while  others  were 
labouring  in  Shansi.  Shensi,  Hunan,  &c. 
Separate  territories  had  not  as  yet  been 
allocated  to  the  different  missionary  bodies, 
but  China  and  the  adjacent  countries  were 
divided  on  April  10,  1&30,  into  three  dioceses 
— Peking,  Nanking,  and  Macao.  Many  of 
the  bishops  were  Franciscans  or  Dominicans. 
Besides  these  three  sees,  vicariates  apos- 
tolic were  formed  in  1696,  and,  later,  in 
Fokien,  Shensi.  Hukwang.  Szechwan.  &c., 
generally  comprising  several  provinces.  The 
lirst  of  the  vicars  apostolic  to  succeed  in 
reaching  his  destination  was  Mar.  Pallu,  of 
the  Paris  Society  for  Foreign  Missions,  who 
arrived  in  China  in  1682  and  died  in  Fokien 
in  1684.  Among  the  prelates  we  must  note 
the  Dominican,  Gregory  Lo,  or  Lopez,  the 
only  Chinese  who  has,  as  yet,  been  raised 
to  the  dignity  of  a  bishop.  He  died  a  saintly 
death  in  1691. 

The  Chinese  "  Rites." 

Is  the  Chinese  worship  of  ancestors  and 
Confucius  a  purely  civil  function,  or  is  it 
tainted  with  superstition  ?  Can  the  words 
'•  heaven  "  or  "  emperor  above  "  be  applied 
to  the  true  God  ?  Such  is  the  question  of 
"  rites."  Ricci  had  tolerated  the  "  rites,"  but 
his  successor,  Longobardi,  condemned  them 
unconditionally.  The  religions  of  the  other 
orders  adopted  almost  unanimously  the 
opinion  of  Longobardi.  The  Dominican, 
J.  B.  Morales,  hastened  to  Rome  in  1643 
to  ask  for  the  judgment  of  the  Holy  See 
on  the  question.  Certain  ceremonies  were 
forbidden  in  1704,  after  six  years'  considera- 
tion,   and    Cardinal    Tounon     was    sent    to 


Peking  as  a  special  envoy.  But  unfortunately 
the  Emperor  Kanghi  had  been  invited  to 
stiite  his  views,  and  he  declared  that  the 
'•  rites  "  were  free  from  all  superstition.  The 
autocrat  became  very  indignant  when  the 
legate  published  the  Papal  Constitution,  and 
war  was  ofliciallv  declared  against  the 
Church. 

The  controversy  was  only  ended  in  1742 
by  the  celebrated  Bull  of  Benedict  XIV, 
prescribing  an  oath  for  all  engaged  in  the 
China  Mission  that  they  accept  the  condem- 
nation of  the  •■  rites "  and  all  its  conse- 
quences. This  oath  is  even  now  taken  by 
every  new  missionary  on  his  arrival,  and 
by  every  native  priest.  The  progress  of 
the  mission  suffered  a  check,  but  there  were 
also  other  causes  at  work  to  account  for  it. 

Persecutions. 

The  first  general  persecution  was  that  of 
the  Ming  Emperor  Wangli  in  1617.  It  lasted 
but  a  short  time.  Another  small  outbreak  took 
place  during  the  minority  of  Kanghi,  when 
Father  Schall  was  condemned  to  death  at 
the  instigation  of  the  Mahoniedan  astronomer, 
Yang  Koangsien,  and,  in  fact,  died  in  prison. 
Kanghi  himself,  as  we  have  said,  declared 
war  against  the  Church,  though  he  was 
always  friendly  to  the  missionaries  at  the 
court. 

It  was  his  son,  Yungcheng,  who  initiated 
the  almost  uninterrupted  series  of  perse- 
cutions which  continued  during  the  long 
and  brilliant  reign  of  his  successor,  Kienlung 
(1736  96),  and,  indeed,  down  to  the  opening 
of   the   Treaty  ports. 

The  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Fokien,  the  Do- 
minican, Blessed  Peter  Sanz,  and  several  of 
his  priests,  were  martyred  in  1747  and 
1748  ;  and  the  Jesuits  Athemis  and  Henri- 
quez  with  several  neophytes  suffered  in 
Soochow  in  1748.  Many  others,  priests  and 
laymen,  bore  similar  testimony  to  their 
faith,  and  the  life  of  the  missionaries  became 
a  monotonous  repetition  of  hardships.  They 
were  obliged  to  travel  in  disguise  and  to 
preach  and  officiate  at  night  in  continual 
danger  of  being  discovered,  imprisoned,  and 
put  to  death.  But  their  zeal  was  rewarded 
by  the  firmness  of  their  neophytes,  which 
withstood  150  years  of  unceasing  perse- 
cution. 

Other  Missionaries. 

These  sufferings  served  only  to  increase 
the  zeal  of  the  missionaries,  and  new  recruits 
constantly  joined  them.  Since  its  foundation, 
the  Paris  Society  for  Foreign  Missions  had 
never  relaxed  its  efforts  to  secure  a  real 
foothold  in  the  south-western  provinces.  It 
was,  however,  only  after  1769  that  they 
began  to  meet  with  any  permanent  success. 
The  fine  missions  of  Szechwan,  Yunnan,  and 
Kweichow  really  date  from  the  long  epis- 
copate of  Bishop  Pottier.  In  1756  he  found 
only  4,000  converts,  but  in  1801  he  was 
able  to  number  25,000.  His  two  successors. 
Bishop  de  St.  Martin  and  the  Blessed  Bishop 
Dufresse  (martyred  1815I  governed  and  or- 
ganised the  mission  with  remarkable  prudence 
amid  almost  continual  persecution.  In  1803 
the  first  synod  ever  celebrated  in  China 
was  held  in  Szechwan.  and  its  statutes  are 
still  admired  and  put  into  practice.  There 
were  also  Lazarists,  or  Vincentian  mission- 
aries. One  of  them,  Appiani,  who  was 
secretary  to  Cardinal  Tounon,  died  in  prison 
in  1732  after  twelve  years'  suffering.  Another 
Lazarist,  Pedrini,  won  .the  favour  of  Kanghi 
and  Yungcheng,  and  founded  the  residence 
of  Sitang  at  Peking. 


From    1773    to    1856. 

In  1773.  the  Sixiety  of  Jesus  was  suppressed 
by  Pope  Clement  XIV.  Ten  years  later  the 
Propaganda  conveyed  to  the  Lazarists  the 
inheritance  of  the  Jesuits  in  Peking.  The  old 
missionaries,  however,  remained  to  work 
and  die  with  their  successors.  Nothing  is 
more  pathetic  than  the  letter  they  wrote  to 
the  Superior  of  the  Vincentians  thanking  him 
for  having  sent  them  "  not  mere  substitutes 
but  true  brethren."  The  missionaries,  how- 
ever, were  now  too  few  for  their  task,  and 
the  surviving  native  priests  were  insufficient 
to  carry  on  the  work  in  the  provinces.  The 
French  Revolution  cut  off  the  recruits  of  the 
foreign  missions.  Spain  and  Portugal  were 
no  more  able  to  render  assistance  to  their 
missionaries,  and  all  the  missions  were 
reduced  to  great  extremities.  In  the  mean- 
time persecution  was  steadily  enforced,  and 
the  apparently  enfeebled  mission  year  after 
year  witnessed  the  martyrdom  of  foreign  and 
native  priests,  and  their  followers,  including 
even  women,  a  number  of  whom  have  lately 
been  raised  to  the  altars.  Blessed  Clet  (1820) 
and  Blessed  Perboyre  (1840)  were  Lazarists, 
and  Blessed  John  of  Triora  (1815)  was  a 
Franciscan. 

Though  tlie  work  of  the  mission  suffered 
much,  it  still  had  enough  vitality  to  extend 
its  field  of  action  to  Mongolia  in  1798,  to 
Korea  in  1827.  and  to  Manchuria  in  1839. 
The  Lazarists  Hue  and  Gabet  even  attempted 
the  evangelisation  of  Thibet  and  succeeded 
in  passing  a  few  months  in  Lhasa  (1844  46). 

At  the  end  of  this  period  the  outlook 
began  to  change.  The  revived  Society  of 
Jesus  re-entered  China  in  1842.  and  the 
organisations  of  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith 
and  the  Holy  Childhood  were  set  on  foot  to 
provide  funds  for  tlie  mission.  Liberty  to 
preach  the  Gospel  was  stipulated  for  in  the 
treaties  between  China  and  the  foreign 
powers,  and  the  French  Embassy  was  in- 
vested with  authority  to  protect  Catholics, 
native  as  well  as  foreign. 

From  1856  to  the  Present  Day. 

This  period  begins  with  the  suppression  of 
the  two  sees  of  Peking  and  Nanking  and  a 
new  readjustment  of  the  missions.  Pius  IX 
divided  China  into  vicariates  apostolic,  the 
number  of  which  has  been  increased  from 
time  to  time,  each  being  entrusted  exclusively 
to  one  congregation  of  missionaries. 

The  opening  of  China,  the  rapidity  of  the 
voyage  from  Europe,  the  better  organisation 
of  the  several  missions,  the  creation  of  several 
new  missionary  associations  in  Belgium, 
Germany,  and  Italy,  and  the  comparative 
freedom  enjoyed  by  the  missionaries,  make  it 
possible  now  to  send  a  much  larger  number 
of  workers  into  the  field.  Seminaries  have 
been  multiplied,  and  the  native  clergy  have 
become  more  numerous  and  more  thoroughly 
trained.  Several  orders  of  nuns— the  Sisters 
of  Charity,  the  F'ranciscan  Sisters,  the 
Carmelites,  the  Helpers  of  the  Holy  Souls, 
the  Little  Sisters  of  the  Poor,  &c.— greatly 
assist  in  the  evangelisation  of  women. 
Congregations  of  Chinese  nuns  have  been 
instituted  and  a  great  impetus  has  everywhere 
been  given  to  the  preaching  of  the  faith. 

Persecutions  have  not  ceased,  but  they  are 
only  local  and  often  take  the  form  of  riots, 
which  are  generally  fomented  by  the  literati 
and  more  or  less  secretly  favoured  by  the 
officials.  The  principal  events  of  tlic  period 
under  review  are  the  great  Taeping  rebellion, 
the  second  European  war,  the  iinal  peace  in 
i860,  the  Tientsin  massacre  of  1870,  and  the 
great  Boxer  outbreak  of  1900,  when  bishops, 
priests,   native   Christians  of   both   sexes   and 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     323 


all  ages  met  death  with  a  faith,  simplicity, 
and  courage,  the  recital  of  which  brings  tears 
to  the  eyes. 

The    Present. 

The  mission  to-day  may  be  said  to  consist 
actually  of  one  diocese,  Macao,  suffragan  of 
the  archdiocese  of  Ooa  (India),  and  43 
missions,  which  depend  immediately  on  the 
Pope,  through  the  Congregation  of  Propa- 
ganda. Of  these,  38  are  vicariates  apostolic, 
four  are  prefectures,  and  one.  Hi  or  Kuldja,  is 
a  simple  mission.  All,  except  three,  are 
governed  by  bishops,  and  as  three  bishops 
have  coadjutors,  the  total  number  of   bishops 

•s  44-  ... 

The  care  of  each  of  these  missions  is 
placed  exclusively  under  the  control  of  one 
missionary  body,  and  no  other  order  of  priests 
is  allowed  to "  work  within  the  same  field. 
This  arrangement  has  done  much  to  avoid 
friction  and  maintain  union  and  fraternal 
charity.  It  does  not  extend  to  lay  congrega- 
tions, e.g.,  of  teaching  brothers  or  nuns. 

THE     TWELVE     MISSIONARY 
SOCIETIES. 

The  Paris  Society  for  Foreign  Missions. 
— This  is  the  most  important  missionary 
association  in  the  Far  East.  Its  missions  in 
China  form  two  groups  of  unequal  impor- 
tance—  the  Manchurian  group  comprising 
two  vicariates  only,  and  the  south-western 
group  with  three  vicariates  in  Szechwan, 
one  in  Kwcichow,  one  in  Yunnan,  one  in 
Thibet  including  the  Thibetan  borders  of 
Szechwan,  and  the  two  prefectures  of 
Kwangtung  and  Kwangsi.  A  part  of  Kwang- 
tung.  however,  belongs  to  the  diocese  of 
Macao,  and  to  the  vicariate  apostolic  of 
Hongkong. 

The  Thibetan  vicariate  has  a  station  at 
Darjeeling,  in  India,  and  several  in  Yunnan 
and  Szechwan,  but  Thibet  proper  is  not  yet 
open  to  missionary  work. 

The  Society  has  "  procurations,"  or 
agencies,  in  Hongkong  and  Shangai,  with  a 
sanatorium  and  a  large  printing  office  in 
Hongkong.  It  includes  11  bishops,  399 
French  priests,  170  Chinese  priests,  256,779 
baptized  converts,  and  more  than  80,000 
catechumens  or  worshippers  ("  adorateurs "). 
The  more  flourishing  centres  of  these  missions 
are  at  Szechwan  and  Kweichow.  The  work 
extends  also  to  the  aboriginal  tribes  of  South- 
west China. 

Franciscan  Friars  of  various  branches. 
— Their  field  of  work  extends  over  eastern 
and  northern  Shantung,  Shansi,  the  greater 
part  of  Shensi,  Hupeh,  and  southern  Hunan. 
They  have  11  bishops,  176  foreign  and  121 
Chinese  priests,  149,424  converts,  and  over 
74,000  catechumens. 

Lazarists  or  Vincentiaxs. — These,  also 
called  priests  of  the  mission,  actually  evan- 
gelise the  greater  part  of  Chihli,  where  they 
have  three  vicariates  ;  the  whole  of  Kiangsi, 
which  torms  three  vicariates,  also  ;  and  Che- 
kiang,  which  has  not  been  divided.  The 
northern  group  is  very  promising  ;  indeed,  it 
is  the  most  promising  in  China,  especially 
since  the  Boxer  troubles.  The  city  of  Peking 
alone  contains  nearly  7,000  Christians.  The 
increase  in  the  diocese  was  nearly  15,000 
from  July,  igo6.  to  June,  1907.  The  Visitor- 
General  and  procurators  reside  in  Shanghai. 
There  is  a  general  seminary  at  Hashing 
(Chekiang).  The  Vincentians  have  7  bishops, 
158  foreign  priests  (a  few  of  whom 
are  secular  priests)  and  113  Chinese  priests, 
216,948  converts,  and  about  54,000  catechu- 
mens. In  the  vicariate  of  Peking  there  is  a 
Cistercian   monastery  with   6  foreign   and    5 


Chinese  priests  and  65  monks,  most  of 
whom  are  Chinese.  They  do  not  engage 
in   missionary   work  proper. 

The  Jesuits  have  two  missions — one  in  the 
south-eastern  part  of  Chihli  and  the  other 
comprising  the  two  provinces  of  Kiangsu  and 
Anhwei  (Kiangnan  mission).  There  are  2 
bishops,  179  foreign  priests,  80  Chinese  priests, 
226,542  converts,  and  103,000  catechumens. 
The  prefecture  of  Sungkiang,  in  which  falls 
the  district  of  Shanghai,  is  the  most  densely- 
populated  with  Christians  throughout  the 
whole  Empire.  Next  comes  Paotingfu  in 
the  vicariate  of  Peking.  The  respective 
totals  are  58,336  and  44,777. 

Belgian  Missions  (Congregation  ok 
Scheutveldt,  near  Brussels). — The  im- 
mense territory  extending  from  the  Great 
Wall,  near  Shanhaikwan,  to  the  borders  of 
Russian  Turkestan,  and  including  the  extra- 
mural parts  of  Chihli,  Shansi,  and  Shensi,  as 
well  as  Ninghiafu  (Kansu),  is  entrusted  to  this 
congregation,  which  has  three  vicariates  in 
Mongolia,  one  vicariate  and  one  prefecture 
in  Kansu,  and  a  mission  in  distant  Hi.  This 
last  is  practically  for  the  care  of  the  descen- 
dants of  the  martyrs  who  were  exiled  to 
Turkestan  in  the  eighteenth  and  first  half  of 
the  nineteenth  centuries.  There  are  in  Hi 
about  300  Christians,  and  their  number 
seems  to  remain  almost  stationary.  In  the 
other  vicariates  the  converts  are  mostly 
Chinese,  the  native  Mongol  tribes  having 
so  far  paid  little  heed  to  the  gospel 
news.  The  Ortos  Mongols  have  496  converts 
and  178  catechumens  ;  the  native  Fangtze  of 
Kansu  have  none.  There  are  4  bishops,  170 
Belgian  priests,  37  Chinese  priests,  5^'7*'° 
converts,  and  18,000  catechumens.  The 
General  Procuration  is  in  Shanghai. 

Diocese  of  Macao  (Secular  Clergy).— 
This  diocese,  which,  as  has  been  said,  de- 
pends on  the  archdiocese  of  Goa,  and  not  on 
the  Propaganda,  comprises  the  Portuguese 
colony,  the  adjacent  district  of  Hungshan, 
in  Kwangtung,  the  islands  of  Hainan  and 
Timor,  and  the  Portuguese  population  of 
Singapore.  In  Chinese  territory  there  are  a 
bishop  and  66  foreign  and  8  Chinese  priests, 
some  of  whom  form  a  regular  chapter, 
the  only  one  in  China.  The  number  of 
Christians  is  27,930,  a  large  part  of  whom 
are  of  Portuguese  descent. 

Dominican  Friars. — These  have  two 
vicariates  in  the  province  of  Fokien,  includ- 
ing Formosa.  Excluding  the  island  from 
consideration  there  are  2  bishops,  54 
foreign  priests,  17  Chinese  priests,  51,299 
Christians,  and  30,000  catechumens.  The 
vicariate  of  Foochow  is  much  more  impor- 
tant than  that  of  Amoy,  which  was  only 
established  in   1883. 

German  Missionaries  of  Steyl  (Congre- 
gation OF  the  Divine  Word). — There  is  one 
vicariate  in  the  German  colony  of  Kiaochau 
with  all  the  adjoining  prefectures.  The  centre 
is  at  Yenchowfu.  It  counts  one  bishop,  52 
German,  and  12  Chinese  priests,  39,370  con- 
verts, and  43,300  catechumens. 

Foreign  Missions  of  Milan. — There  are 
three  of  these  missions  in  China — two  in 
Honan  and  one  in  Hongkong — to  which  are 
annexed  the  three  adjoining  districts  of 
Kwangtung.  The  missions  have  2  pro- 
curators— one  at  Hongkong  and  another  at 
Hankow — 3  bishops,  35  Italian  and  25 
Chinese  priests,  31,627  Christians,  and  10,800 
catechumens. 

Spanish  Augustinian  Mission  of  North 
Hunan. — There  is  a  procuration  at  Shanghai 
and  another  at  Hankow,  with  one  bishop,  27 
Spanish,  and  2  Chinese  priests,  2,677 
Christians,  and  3,300  catechumens. 


Seminary  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul 
(Rome). — That  part  of  Shensi  which  is  south 
of  the  Tsingling  Mountains  was  separated 
from  the  Franciscan  mission  in  1887,  and 
entrusted  to  the  Roman  Seminary  for  P'oreign 
Missions  with  one  bishop,  15  Italian  and  2 
Chinese  priests,  11.489  Christians,  and  6,300 
catechumens. 

Seminary  of  St.  Francis  Xavier  (Parma). 
—  Part  of  western  Honan  was  entrusted  to 
this  seminary  two  years  ago.  It  forms  a 
prefecture  apostolic,  but,  so  far,  only  8 
Italian  priests  are  carrying  on  work  there. 
They  can  claim  about  1,055  Christians  and 
double  that  number  of  catechumens. 


44) 
345  h 
592  J 


Summary. 

Bishops  

P'oreign  priests  1,345  [-1,981 

Chinese  priests  592J 

Baptized  Christians 1,071,920 

Catechumens 426,000 

The  annual  increase  in  the  number  of  bap- 
tized Christians  is  now  about  8  per  cent., 
and  amounted  last  year  to  more  than  80,000. 
The  proportion  varies  very  much  in  different 
parts  of  China,  but  is  increasing. 

The  number  of  baptized  Christians  in  the 
several  provinces  in  1907,  irrespective  of  the 
ecclesiastical  divisions,  was  as  under  : — 


Chihli 

217.947 

Anhwei 

•  27.992 

Kiangsu 

136,096 

Kweichow  ... 

.   25.368 

Szechwan   and 

Chekiang     ... 

.  25,126 

Thibet 

119,961 

Shenking     ... 

.  20,628 

Kwangtung  ... 

102,125 

Honan 

.   18,487 

Shantung 

72,838 

Kirin  and 

Hupeh 

52.549 

Heilungkian 

g  15.823 

F"okien 

51.299 

Yunnan 

.   11,389 

Mongolia    and 

Hunan 

9.176 

Hi 

48.495 

Kansu 

7.985 

Kiangsi 

36,329 

Kwangsi 

3,610 

Shensi 

35.»«i 

Sinkiang 

"  300 

Shansi 

32.516 

Mongolia  inc 

ludes  the  outer  parts  of 

Chihli, 

Shansi,   and    Shensi,    but    does    not 

include 

Ninghiafu. 

HELPERS. 

In  addition  to  the  clergy  proper  there  are — 
Ecclesiastical    students     preparing    for 

orders,  Chinese  or  foreigners  ...    1,120 

Religieux,  other  than  priests,  foreigners      229 
Keligieux,  other  than  priests,  Chinese  ...       130 
Nuns,  foreigners  ...         ...         ...         ...       558 

Nuns,  Chinese       ...         ...         ...         ...    1,300 

Schoolmasters,  other  than  religieux  *  ...  4.160 
Schoolmistresses,  other  than  nuns  t  ...  3,282 
Native  preachers  (catechists)  | 4.350 

There  are  many  other  helpers,  paid  and  un- 
paid, the  number  of  whom  cannot  be  given 
on  account  of  the  different  organisation  of  the 
various  missions.  In  the  Kiangnan  mission, 
for  instance,  there  are  about  800  secular 
"  virgins,"  that  is  to  say,  women  who,  living 
in  their  family,  take  no  vows,  but  openly 
profess  to  remain  unmarried.  They  are  em- 
ployed by  the  mission  sometimes  as  school- 
mistresses and  sometimes  as  caretakers  of 
orphan  asylums,  or  in  visiting  the  sick,  taking 
care  of  the   chapels,  &c. 

Though  the  Chinese  priests  are  as  much 
priests  as  any  Catholic  priest,  still  in  several 
missions  the  more  important  functions  are, 
as  a  rule,  entrusted  only  to  foreign  priests. 
But  a  Chinese  priest  may  have  foreign 
priests  under  his  control,  and  is  of  superior 
dignity  to  any  unordained  foreigner.  In 
addition  to  priests  there  are  religieux  of 
four  kinds,  viz.,  those  who  are  destined  for 
the  priesthood,  but  are  not  yet  ordained  ; 
those  who  belong  to  an  order  having  priests 

*  In  34  missions.    We  have  no  report  from  10  missions, 
t  In  35  missions, 
t  In  33  missions. 


324     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


but  are  simply  lay  brothers  assisting  the 
mission  as  architects,  accountants,  or  in 
general  household  work  ;  those  who  belong 
to  some  teaching  order  which  has  branches 
in  Europe  :  and  others  who  form  special 
teaching  congregations.  The  tirst  three  may 
be  Chinese  or  foreigners,  but  the  fourth 
class  is  composed  exclusively  of  Chinese. 
Nuns,  also,  may  belong  to  the  great  religious 
orders,  which  receive  Chinese  members  on 
a  footing  of  equality  with  foreigners,  or  they 
may  be  members  of  special  Chinese  con- 
gregations. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  Catholic  priests, 
religieu.\.  and  nuns  are  bound  to  celibacy. 
It  may  be  added  that  when  they  request  to 
be  sent  to  foreign  missions  it  is  generally  for 
life,  and  with  no  prospect  of  a  return  home. 
Circumstances  or  superiors  may  decide 
otherwise,  but  the  Catholic  missionary  gives 
himself  up  to  his  work  for  his  whole  lifetime 
in  this  world. 

Schools. 

It  can  be  affirmed,  as  a  general  rule,  that 
wherever  there  is  a  sufficient  number  of 
Christians  a  school  is  established,  and  all  the 
children  of  Christian  parents  must  attend  it. 
The  principal  aim  of  these  schools  is  the 
teaching  of  religious  doctrine  and  morals, 
but  more  is  taught  according  to  circumstances, 
whenever  children  are  able  to  learn  more. 
In  some  cases  the  school  fee  is  extremely 
small,  the  work  being  carried  on  practically 
at  the  expense  of  the  mission.  The  organisa- 
tion of  these  schools  exhibits  a  considerable 
variety.  The  numbers  and  attendance  are 
approximately  as  follow  : — 


Schools, 

Pupils. 

Pans  Foreign  Missions 

1,712 

27.107 

Franciscan  Friars 

630' 

11,500 

Vincentians       

819 

i7.3'7 

Jesuits     

1.592 

31.556 

Belgian  Missions 

284 

6,590 

Macao     

36 

2,871 

Dominican  Friars 

163 

2,000* 

Steyl  Mis-sion     

168 

1.752 

Semmary  of  Milan 

278 

4.698 

Augustinian  Mission     ... 

29 

300 

Seminary  of  Rome 

26 

300 

Seminary  of  Parma     ... 

24 

386 

Totals    ... 

5.652 

105,938 

•  Approximately. 

As  some  missions  do  not  include  in  this 
number  schools  for  orphan  children,  it  cannot 
be  very  far  from  the  truth  to  say  that  there 
are  about  6,000  of  these  lower  schools 
attended  by  considerably  more  than  100,000 
pupils.  The  number  of  girls  is  fairly  equal 
to  that  of  boys.  Non-Christian  children  are 
generally  not  excluded. 

To  these  village  schools  must  be  added 
those  schools  in  which  the  Chinese  classics 
are  regularly  taught.  In  a  few  missions 
they  conform  to  the  new  official  organisation, 
and  are  divided  into  lower  elementary,  higher 


elementary,  and  secondary  schools,  but  in 
other  missions  they  do  not  conform,  so  that 
it  is  impossible  to  give  anything  like  a 
complete  summary.  In  Shantung  there  are 
86  of  these  schools  with  1,158  pupils,  in 
Honan  13  with  518  attendants,  &c. 

Some  missions  have  normal  schools  for 
the  training  of  masters  and  mistresses.  There 
are  also  schools  for  boys  who  intend  taking 
Orders,  but  who  as  yet  follow  the  lower 
curriculum.  Other  schools,  especially  in  the 
Treaty  ports,  are  opened  for  foreign  children. 
The  teachers  belong,  in  most  cases,  to  the 
congregation  of  the  Marist  Brothers,  or  to 
an  order  of  nuns  Mention  must  also  be 
made  of  the  schools  which  are  now  being 
opened  in  many  places  for  Chinese  boys 
and  girls  desirous  of  studying  foreign 
sciences  or  languages.  Some  of  these  are 
lower  elementary  or  higher  elementary,  and 
a  few  are  secondary  or  even  higher  schools. 
Some  priests  or  religieux  are  masters  in 
Government  schools  at  Tsinanfu,  Lancliowfu. 
&c.  The  work  of  instructing  catechumens, 
who  cannot   be   baptized    before    they    have 


are  brought  up  in  industrial  schools,  on  model 
farms,  &c.,  until  tlicy  are  married  or  otherwise 
prt)vided  for.  Orphans  or  pauper  children 
belonging  to  Christian  families  cannot  be 
supported  out  of  the  funds  of  the  Holy  Child- 
hood ;  they  are  provided  for  by  other  bene- 
factors. In  1907,  in  the  seven  Vincentian 
vicariates,  more  than  20,000  children  belonged 
to  the  Holy  Childhood. 

Other  charitable  works  include  numerous 
hospitals,  dispensaries,  and  homes  for  the 
aged,  some  of  which  are  found  in  almost 
every  mission.  In  Yaocliowfu,  Kiangsi,  there 
is  a  lepers'  asylum  with  20  inmates,  and 
there  is  another  in  Clicfoo.  In  many  places 
the  secular  "  virgins "  who  take  care  of  the 
schools  and  chapels  visit  also  the  sick  in 
their  neighbourhood. 

Scientific  Work. 

There  are  several  printing  establishments  at 
Hongkong,  Siccawei,  Yenchowfu  (Shantung), 
Chungking  (Szechwan).  Peking,  and  Tsinanfu. 
Newspapers  are  published  at  Cluingking, 
Yenchow,  and  Siccawei.     The  scientiticnpubli- 


ROMAN    CATHOLIC    CATHEDRAL,    HONGKONG. 


been  thoroughly  instructed  and  tranied,  has 
led  to  the  organisation  of  a  special  educational 
work,  somewhat  analogous  to  classes  for 
adults. 

Chakitahi.k  Wokk. 

The  work  of  the  Holy  Childhoo<i  depends 
on  alms  furnished  by  young  children.  There 
is  no  mission  in  which  it  has  not  a  branch. 
Children,  mostly  female  infants,  abandoned  or 
exposed  by  their  parents,  are  received  in 
"  Foundlings'  homes,"  the  total  number  of 
which  is  about  300.  Many,  probably  the 
greater  number  of  the  poor  little  creatures,  live 
only  a  few  days  or  weeks  owing  to  the  hard- 
ships they  have  undergone  before  being 
rescued.  Those  who  survive  are  provided 
with  nurses  and  entrusted  to  Christian  families. 
In  many  cases,  these  families  adopt  the  child 
as  their  own.  P"or  instance,  in  the  very  poor 
districts  of  Ch'ungming  and  Haimen  the 
villagers  consider  it  an  honour  and  a  blessing 
to  add  a  "child  of  the  Holy  Church"  to  the 
numerous  children  who  already  crowd  their 
miserable  hovels.    Children,  when  not  adopted. 


cations   of    Hongkong  and   Siccawei  are  well 
known. 

The  Kiangnan  mission  maintains  three 
first-class  observatories — one  at  Siccawei  for 
meteorology  and  seismology  ;  another  at  the 
Zo-si  Hills  for  astrophysics  ;  and  a  third 
at  Lukiapang,  near  Kunshan,  Soochowfu,  for 
terrestrial  magnetism.  There  is  also  at 
Siccawei  a  museum  of  natural  history  and 
a  large  library,  foreign  and  Chinese. 

The  Fkench  Pkotectoratk. 

The  French  protectorate  of  Catholic  mis- 
sions dates  from  the  Treaty  of  Tientsin,  June 
27,  1858.  The  French  Minister  at  Peking 
delivers  passports  to  Catholic  missionaries  of 
all  nationalities,  and  is  charged  with  the 
protection  of  their  persons  and  properties. 
The  German  mission  of  South  Shantung  has 
been  placed  under  German  protection.  It  is 
reported  that  an  Italian  mission  is  desirous 
of  obtaining  the  Italian  protection.  Any 
foreigner  may  apply  to  his  own  consul  for 
protection,  but  a  Catholic  missionary  runs  a 
risk    of    meeting    with    practical    difficulties, 


TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     325 


principally  in  purchasing  and  holding  pro- 
perty, outside-  of  the  Treaty  ports,  without  the 
French  passport. 

The    Legal    Status    of    Catholic 
Missionaries. 

By  a  decree  of  March  15,  1899,  the 
foreign  Catholic  clergy  in  China  were  granted 
certain  privileges  of  rank  when  visiting 
officials.  The  instrument  in  question  did  not 
confer  upon  them  effective  official  rank,  but 
enabled  them  to  call  upon  oflicials  and  to  be 
received  in  a  manner  befitting  the  various 
degrees  of  the  Catholic  hierarchy.  Thus, 
there  was  an  equality  of  rank  between 
bishops  and  viceroys  or  governors,  between 
vicars-general  or  deans  and  provincial  judges, 
treasurers,  and  taoutais,  and  between  other 
foreign  priests  and  prefects,  &c.  The  bishops 
were  to  give  to  the  viceroy  or  governor  a  list 
of  the  priests  specially  entrusted  with  treating 
business  matters  with  the  officials. 

The  decree,  which  positively  excluded 
native  priests,  changed  but  little  the  existing 
custom.       It     settled    chiefly    a    question    of 


of  the  lovely  ravine  known  as  Glenealy. 
Near  the  main  building  stands  a  handsome 
Gothic  tower,  containing  a  peal  of  bells, 
added  several  years  later. 

The  principal  features  of  the  interior  are 
the  beautiful  altars.  That  dedicated  to  Our 
Lady  of  Sorrows,  presented  by  the  Braga 
family  of  Portuguese  settlers,  is  of  Italian 
marble,  the  centre  being  occupied  by  a 
painting  from  the  Academic  School  of  Belle 
Arti,  Milan.  The  altar,  dedicated  to  St.  Joseph, 
was  presented  by  King  Victor  Emmanuel  II, 
grandfather  of  the  present  King  of  Italy,  and 
bears  the  arms  of  the  Savoya  Royal  F'amily. 
The  main  altar,  commemorating  the  Immacu- 
late Conception,  is  of  Italian  marble,  which 
contrasts  with  the  Chinese  marble  of  which 
the  altar  rails  are  made.  The  Blessed 
Sacrament  altar  has  been  newly  decorated 
by  the  members  of  the  Hongkong  branch 
of  the  Apostleship  of  Prayer.  The  memory 
of  St.  Francis  Xavier,  the  great  pioneer 
missionary  of  the  Far  East,  is  commemorated 
in  another  small  altar  of  Italian  workman- 
ship.      The    bishop's    throne    is    of    Venetian 


PREMISES    OF    LA    SOCI^T^    DES    MISSIONS    ETRANGERES,    HONGKONG. 


etiquette.  In  dealing  with  Catholic  mis- 
sionaries the  courtesy  of  many  high  Mandarins 
goes  far  beyond  the  rules  laid  down  in  the 
protocol.  Friendly  visits  are  requested  and 
paid,  and  these  often  serve  the  purpose  of 
avoiding  frichon  and  of  bringing  to  a  close 
protracted  lawsuits.  The  decree  was  can- 
celled on  April   10,   1908. 

THE  CATHEDRAL  AT  HONGKONG. 

The  first  Roman  Catholic  church  in  Hong- 
kong was  that  begun  in  1842  on  a  site  in 
Wellington  Street  granted  by  the  Government. 
It  was  destroyed  by  the  fire  which  in  1859 
broke  out  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Queen's 
Road  and  Stanley  Street. 

The  present  cathedral,  dedicated  to  the 
Immaculate  Conception,  was  built  by  the  late 
Mgr.  Raimond,  a  former  Vicar  Apostolic  of 
Hongkong,  and  was  opened  in  1888.  It  is 
a  cruciform  structure,  with  a  low  tower  at 
the  inter-section,  and  is  an  example  of  conti- 
nental Gothic.  It  occupies  a  commanding 
site  in  the  Caine  Road,  on  the  western  slope 


work,  and  the  organ,  a  fine,  though  small, 
instrument,  was  brought  from  Italy  and 
presented  to  the  cathedral  some  eighteen 
years  ago  by  the  Portuguese  community. 
The  pictures  representing  the  stations  of  the 
Cross  were  painted  in  Rome. 

The  Bishop  of  Tavia  and  Vicar  Apostolic  of 
Hongkong  is  the  Rt.  Rev.  Mgr.  D.  Pozzoni. 
The  Provincial  Apostolic  and  Procureur- 
General  is  the  Very  Rev.  Fr.  P.  de  Maria, 
and  the  Apostolic  Mission  Rector  is  the 
Rev.  Fr.  P.  Gabardi.  The  assistants  attached 
to  the  cathedral  are  the  Rev.  Frs.  D.  Arvatti, 
A.  M.  Leon,  and  F.  Cheon. 

THE     SOCIltTE     DES     MISSIONS 
ETRANGERES. 

The  Societe  des  Missions  Etrangeres, 
founded  in  Paris,  in  1658,  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  the  faith  in  pagan  countries,  had,  in 
1892,  already  sent  1.968  missionaries  to  the 
Far  East.  At  the  outset  their  work  was 
arduous  in  the  extreme,  and  no  fewer  than 
67     suffered     death     on     account     of     their 


religious  beliefs.  In  IQ06  there  were  1,420 
missionaries  of  the  Society  engaged  in 
spreading  the  Gospel.  Of  these,  36  were 
bishops  in  charge  of  32  vicariates  or 
dioceses,  and  they  were  helped  in  their 
evangelisation  work  by  739  native  priests 
and  2,727  catechists.  The  Society,  in  its 
various  missions,  then  had  5.478  churches  or 
chapels  ;  42  seminaries  in  which  2,247  boys 
were  being  educated  for  the  priesthood ; 
3,955  schools  with  119,441  children;  337 
orphanages  with  21,461  orphans  entirely 
supported  by  the  Society  ;  474  dispensaries ; 
and  112  hospitals  or  leper  asylums.  The 
Society  has  the  entire  charge  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  in  Japan  (four  dioceses) ; 
Korea  (one  vicariate  apostolic) ;  Manchuria 
(two  vicariates  apostolic)  ;  Western  and 
South  China  (seven  vicariates) ;  Thibet  (one 
vicariate) ;  French  Indo-China  (eight  vicari- 
ates) ;  Cambodia  (one  vicariate) ;  Burma 
(two  vicariates) ;  French  and  British  India 
(four  dioceses)  ;  and  Siam  (one  vicariate). 
Some  of  the  results  obtained  during  the  last 
ten  years  will  be  seen  from  the  following 
figures  : — 


Years. 

Adult  Pagans 
converted. 

Pagan  children 
baptized. 

1897...          .'.. 

46,826 

169,448 

1898 

72,700 

193.363 

1899 

46,003 

'55.312 

1900 

38,112 

137.958 

I90I 

32.472 

132,790 

1902 

34.587 

133.934 

1903 

38.321 

131.736 

1904 

36.470 

130,871 

1905 

34,880 

135.138 

1906 

34.476 

134.899 

Totals     ... 

414,847 

1.455.549 

As  will  be  gathered  from  such  facts  as 
these  the  sphere  of  influence  exercised  by 
this  great  missionary  enterprise  is  a  large 
one.  The  possibilities  of  the  work  are 
enormous.  Naturally,  however,  the  question 
of  organisation  is  an  important  and  diflicult 
one.  There  is  a  general  procuration  in 
Hongkong,  and  there  are  secondary  pro- 
curations in  Shanghai,  Saigon,  and  Singapore. 
Here  all  the  administrative  work  is  done  and 
material  assistance  is  sent  to  the  mission- 
aries in  the  field.  The  Society  has  also  at 
Pokfolura,  Hongkong,  a  sanatorium  for 
those  of  their  workers  who  have  broken 
down  in  health,  and  a  Maison  d'Etudes,  to 
which  is  attached  one  of  the  best-equipped 
printing  oflices  in  the  Far  East.  Here  books 
are  printed,  from  type  cast  in  the  establish- 
ment, in  almost  all  the  languages  of  the 
Orient.  The  Very  Rev.  Father  L.  Robert, 
Procureur-General  of  the  Society,  resides  in 
Caine  Road,  at  the  headquarters  of  the 
mission  in  Hongkong. 


THE      RT.      REV.      DOMINICO      POZZONI, 

Roman  Catholic  Bishop  of  Tavia,  and  Vicar 
Apostolic  of  Hongkong,  was  born  in 
December,  1861,  at  Paderno  d'Adda,  in  the 
province  of  Como,  Italy.  He  arrived  in 
Hongkong  as  a  missionary  in  1885,  and 
spent   twenty  years  in   the   southern   portion 


326     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


of  the  Kwangtung  district.  In  the  early 
da>-s  of  his  labours  there,  he  and  another 
inissionar\-,  dressed  in  Chinese  costume  and 
wearing  the  queue — the  Mandarins  prelerrinj; 
to  receive  them  as  Chinese — itinerated  through 
the  whole  district  ;  hut,  later,  the  district 
was  sut>-divided  into  five  sections,  and,  the 
Mandarins  having  changed  their  attitude, 
the  missionaries  reverted  to  the  customary 
garb  of  their  Order.  Only  once  was  the 
reverend  father's  life  in  danger,  and  that  was 


BIGHT   REV.    DOMINICO   POZZONI, 
R.C.  Bishop  of  Victoria. 

when  he  received  a  call  to  the  bedside  of 
a  dying  convert,  who  had  been  removed 
by  his  relatives  mto  the  Temple  of  Ancestors 
in  the  neighbourhood — to  the  precincts  of 
which  Europeans  were  denied  admission. 
Ol>eying  the  call,  he  dared  the  consequences, 
and  but  narrowly  escaped  with  his  life. 
Like  many  others  in  the  mission  field,  he 
was  often  called  upon  to  act  as  woh-t'au 
or  arbitrator  between  Chinese  disputants — 
not  necessarily  converts — ^the  missionaries 
being  greatly  respected  for  the  equity  of 
their  judgments,  which  were  given  dis- 
passionately and  without  regard  to  monetary 
considerations.  He  was  elected  Bishop  of 
Tavia  and  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Victoria  in 
1905,  in  succession  to  the  late  Mgr.  Piazzoli, 
and  was  consecrated  on  the  ist  of  October 
of  that  year.  The  episcopal  residence  is  in 
Caine  Road,  adjoining  the  cathedral. 


TUNG-KA-DOO    CATHEDRAL. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Cathedral  of  St. 
Francis  Xavier  at  Tung-Ka-Doo  is  a  building 
in  the  style  of  the  Roman  basilica,  without 
transepts.  The  Catholics  obtained  the  site 
from  the  Taoutai  in  satisfaction  of  their  claim 
that  they  owned  a  place  of  worship  in  the 
native  city  before  they  were  expelled  from 
China.  The  cathedral  was  built  by  Bishop  de 
Besco.  and  was  opened  for  worship  in  1853, 
four  years  after  the  foundation  stone  was 
laid.  The  interior  is  of  white,  adorned  with 
numerous  copies  of  paintings  by  old  masters, 
among  thein  being  a  painting  of  the  patron 
saint  of  the  cathedral. 


ST.     JOSEPH'S     CHURCH. 

In  the  Rue  Montauban,  Shanghai,  a  little 
way  back  from  the  street,  stands  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  of  St.  Joseph,  used  for  both 
foreign  and  Chinese  services.  It  is  a  Gothic 
modification  of  the  French  Renaissance  style 
of  architecture,  and  was  opened  in  1862  on 
the  Feast  of  the  Assumption.  Numbers  of 
pictures  adorn  the  walls,  one  being  a  large 
oil  painting  of  St.  Joseph  and  the  Holy  Child. 
Many  of  these  paintings  are  tlie  work  of 
students  at  tlie  Roman  Catliolic  School  at 
Siccawei.  Tlie  chapel  by  tlie  south  door 
contains  a  carved  scene  of  the  Crucifixion, 
representing  Mary  with  tlie  body  of  Jesus. 


ST.    JOSEPH'S    CHURCH,    SHANGHAI. 


THE    ANGLICAN    COMMUNION. 


By  the  Ven.  Archdeacon  Banister,  Hongkong. 


The  object  of  this  article  is  to  describe 
briefly  the  history,  activities,  and  organisa- 
tion of  the  Anglican  Communion  in  China. 
England  and  America  have  contributed,  each 
their  share,  to  the  corporate  activities  of  the 
Church,  on  behalf  of  the  peoples  of  the  Far 
East.  Efforts  are  now  being  made  to 
combine  in  one  corporate  body  the  different 


congtegations  of  the  Anglican  Church  in 
China,  whether  owing  their  origin  to  the 
work  of  the  American  or  English  branch  of 
the  Anglican  Communion.  There  are  in 
China  and  Hongkong  eight  different  dioceses, 
and  it  will  be  convenient  to  deal  with  each 
in  order,  beginning  from  the  south. 
Before  days  of    treaties,  the   Church,  both 


in  America  and  England,  turned  its  eyes  to 
the  many  millions  of  the  Far  East.  The  first 
step  taken  by  the  English  Church  was  tlie 
formation  of  a  special  fund,  by  the  Church 
Missionary  Society,  in  1807,  to  print  a 
version  of  the  Chinese  New  Testament, 
which  had  been  found  in  the  British  Museum 
by  the    Rev.    W.    Mosely,    a     nonconformist 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     327 


minister.  In  1824  the  same  society  held  a 
consultation  with  Dr.  Morrison  with  regard 
to  the  prospects  of  a  mission  to  China.  In 
1836  the  Kev.  E.  B.  Squires  was  sent  out 
by  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  but  he 
worked  only  i[i  Singapore  and  Macao,  and 
left  the  East  in  1840.  About  the  same  time 
the  Prostestant  Episcopal  Church  of  America 
began  its  efforts  on  behalf  of  China,  and  in 
1835  the  Rev.  H.  Lockwood  and  the  Rev.  R. 
Hanson  were  sent  to  Canton,  but,  finding  they 
were  unable  to  remain  theie,  proceeded  to 
Batavia.  In  1837  the  Rev.  W.  J.  Boone,  M.D., 
was  sent  out,  and  subsequently  tiecame  the  first 
bishop  of  the  American  Church  in  China. 
The  result  of  the  war  of  1840,  and  of  the 
subsequent  Treaty  of  Nanking  in  1842,  was 
the  cession  of  Hongkong  to  Britain,  and  the 
opening  of  five  Treaty  ports  to  the  commerce 
of  the  world.  This  led  to  a  forward  move- 
ment on  the  part  of  all  missionary  societies, 
and  the  Anglican  Church,  both  in  America 
and  England,  laid  larger  plans,  which,  in 
their  later  developments,  have  resulted  in 
the  eight  episcopal  jurisdictions  now  exist- 
ing in  China. 

Diocese  of  Victoria. 

The  Bishopric  of  Victoria,  the  mother  see 
of  the  English  Church  in  the  Far  East,  was 
founded  in  1849.  Endowment  had  been 
provided  by  an  anonymous  donor,  a  friend 
of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  and  the  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge  ;  and  one  of  the  pioneer 
missionaries  of  the  Church  Missionary 
Society,  the  Rev.  George  Smith,  was 
appointed  first  bishop.  His  jurisdiction  ex- 
tended to  the  whole  of  the  East,  including 
China  and  Japan,  and  he  and  his  immediate 
successors,  Bishop  Alford  and  Bishop  Burdon, 
travelled,  in  prosecution  of  their  duties,  in 
both  China  and  Japan.  It  was  in  the  time 
of  Bishop  Burdon  that  Japan  was  made  a 
separate  diocese,  to  be  afterwards  separated 
into  the  six  dioceses  of  the  present  day. 

The  Church  in  the  diocese  of  Victoria 
owes  much  to  the  far-seeing  faith  of  the 
first  Consular  Chaplain  in  Hongkong,  the 
Rev.  Vincent  Stanton,  who  founded  St. 
Paul's  College  for  the  training  of  clergy 
and  catechists  for  the  work  of  the  Church. 
Though  it  has  had  many  vicissitudes,  it  is 
now  fulfilling  the  object  of  its  founder  in 
providing  teachers  for  the  Chinese  churches 
of  the  diocese.  It  is  at  present  under  the 
direction  of  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Bunbury,  as  sub- 
warden,  and  the  Rev.  A.  D.  Stewart,  as 
tutor,  and  its  limited  accommodation  is  fully 
occupied.  The  work  of  the  Church  in  the 
diocese  of  Victoria  is  almost  entirely  mis- 
sionary, and  is  carried  on  by  the  Church 
Missionary  Society,  in  the  provinces  of 
Kwangtung,  Kwangsi,  and  Hunan,  and  in 
the  Colony  of  Hongkong. 

The  bishop  resides  at  St.  Paul's  College, 
Hongkong,  and  the  work  within  the  Colony 
is  now  entirely  diocesan,  both  sections  of 
the  Christian  community  —  European  and 
Chinese — being  represented  in  the  Colonial 
Church  Council.  The  cathedral  of  St.  John 
the  Evangelist  is  the  centre  of  the  Church's 
work  amongst  the  British  population,  and  was 
founded  in  1842.  It  is  a  large  Gothic 
building,  contains  a  line  organ,  and  the 
musical  and  other  services  are  reverently 
rendered  without  excess  of  ritual.  A  chap- 
lain, appointed  by  the  Church  body  and  the 
bishop,  is  responsible  for  the  services.  The 
present   chaplain    is  the   Rev.  F.  T.  Johnson. 

St.  Andrew's  Church,  Kowloon,  was  erected 
in  1906,  at  the  sole  cost  of  Sir  Paul  Chater, 
a  distinguished  resident  of  Hongkong.  It 
was    dedicated    and    opened    for   service   on 


October  6,  1906,  by  the  Archdeacon  of 
Hongkong,  the  Ven.  William  Banister, 
acting  as  commissary  for  His  Grace  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  The  late  revered 
Bishop  of  Victoria,  the  Right  Rev.  J.  C. 
Hoare,  D.D.,  was  taken  to  God  in  the  fierce 
typlioon  which  caused  such  terrible  loss  to 
the  Colony  on  September  18,  1906.  He  had 
made  all  arrangements  for  the  consecration 
of  the  church,  and  his  wish  that  it  should 
be  opened  on  October  6th  was  carried  out. 
The  Rev.  A.  J.  Stevens  was  appointed  to  the 
charge  of  St.  Andrew's,  and  the  spiritual 
care  of  the  churchpeople  resident  on  the 
Kowloon  Peninsula. 

Hongkong  is  now  one  of  the  largest  ports 
in  the  world,  and  the  spiritual  interests  of  the 
sea-going    population   are    cared  for    by  the 


at  Kowloon  Old  City  ;  and  All  Saints', 
at  Yaumati.  The  Chinese  Church  is  self- 
supporting,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
grant  made  towards  the  stipend  of  the 
catechist  at  Yaumati,  from  funds  of  the  local 
Church  Missionary  Association. 

The  missions  on  the  mainland  are  carried 
on  by  the  Church  Missionary  Society — with 
European  missionaries  at  Canton,  Pakhoi, 
Shiu  Hing,  Kweiling  (the  capital  of  Kwang- 
si), and  Yung  Chow  (a  city  in  south  Hunan). 

At  Canton  the  spiritual  interests  of  the 
Anglican  community  are  cared  for  by  the 
Rev.  P.  Jenkins,  of  the  Church  Missionary 
Society,  and  services  are  held  in  the  well-kept 
Christ  Church,  which  is  supported  by  the 
members   of   the   local   community. 

The  philanthropic  activities  of  the   Church 


THE    FIRST    ANGLICAN    CATHEDRAL,    SHANGHAI. 


Mission  to  Seamen's  Society,  and  there  are 
now  two  chaplain's  at  work,  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
France  and  the  Rev.  T.  C.  Thompson.  The 
seamen's  church  is  dedicated  to  St.  Peter. 
A  new  organ  has  recently  been  erected,  and 
dedicated  to  the  service  of  praise  and  prayer 
by  "  those  who  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships." 
At  the  invitation  of  the  bishop  of  the 
diocese,  the  Church  Missionary  Society 
began  work  in  1862,  when  the  Rev.  J. 
Stringer  was  sent  out.  Since  that  time  the 
work  has  expanded  and  extended,  until  it 
has  now  passed  out  of  the  control  of  the 
Church  Missionary  Society,  and  is  merged 
into  the  diocesan  organisation,  under  the 
bishop  and  a  Chinese  Church  body.  There 
are  three  churches  for  the  Chinese, 
St.   Stephen's,  at  West  Point  ;   Holy  Trinity, 


consist  of  a  large  and  most  successful 
hospital  at  Pakhoi,  founded  by  the  late 
Bishop  Burdon,  and  carried  on  for  many 
years  by  Dr.  E.  J.  Horder.  In  connection 
with  the  Pakhoi  hospital  there  is  also  a 
large  leper  asylum,  where  lepers,  both  men 
and  women,  are  cared  for  and  tended  in 
every  possible  way.  The  influence  of  this 
work  at  Pakhoi  has  enabled  the  Church 
Missionary  Society  to  extend  its  operations  to 
the  city  of  Liem  Chow. 

There  are  several  educational  institutions. 
First  among  these  is  St.  Paul's  College, 
which  is  now  really  fulfilling  the  pious  inten- 
tions of  the  founder.  St.  Stephen's  College, 
a  public  school  for  sons  of  Chinese  gentle- 
men, under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  E.  J. 
Barnett,  with  a  staff  of  English  and  Chinese 


328     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


masters,  is  worked  in  connection  with  the 
Church  Missionary  Society ;  in  1907  there 
were  150  students  on  the  books.  The 
Diocesan  Bon's'  School,  a  day  and  boarding 
school  for  European  and  Eurasian  and 
Chinese  bo>-s,  und^r  the  able  direction  of 
Mr.  G.  Piercy,  as  head-master,  and  a  staff  of 
masters,  has  had  a  long,  useful,  and  success- 
ful career.  The  Diocesan  Girls'  School,  a 
day  and  boarding  school  for  the  education 
of  European  and  Eurasian  girls,  is  a  flourish- 
ing and  growing  institution  which  owes  its 
origin  to  the  work  carried  on  for  many 
years,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Female 
Education  Society,  by  Miss  Margaret  John- 
stone. The  E>Te  Diocesan  Refuge  is  an 
institution  for  the  reform  and  training  of  a 
special  class  of  unfortunate  girls,  who  have 
biieen  sold  into  the  slavery  of  sin.  It  is  a 
"  Door  of  Hope  "  for  any  who  wish  to  escape 
from  this  degradation.  Started  by  Miss  Eyre, 
of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  it  was 
taken  over,  as  a  diocesan  institution,  in  1908, 
and  placed  under  the  direction  of  the  bishop 
and  a  strong  committee  of  ladies,  under  the 
patronage  of  Her  Excellency  Lady  Lugard. 
The  Victoria  Home  and  Orphanage  was 
started  by  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Ost,  of  the 
Church  Missionary  Society,  in  the  eighties, 
and  after  a  useful  career  at  West  Point, 
is  now  situated  at  Kuwloon  Old  City. 
It  is  for  the  protection  and  education  of 
friendless  and  poor  girls  of  the  untainted 
class,  who,  through  misfortune,  find  them- 
selves homeless,  and  for  those  who  are 
rescued  from  cruel  mistresses  or  masters  by 
the  authorities.  The  Fairlea  School,  formerly 
under  the  Female  Education  Society,  and 
now  under  the  Church  Missionary  Society, 
has  for  many  years  given  a  Christian  educa- 
tion to  Chinese  girls.  Christian  and  others. 
For  many  years  it  has  been  associated  with 
the  name  of  Miss  Margaret  Johnstone,  now 
retired  through  ill-health.  Its  old  scholars 
are  found  all  over  the  world  wherever  the 
Chinese  dwell.  To  meet  the  new  aspirations 
of  the  Chinese  it  is  to  be  developed  into  a 
Chinese  Girls'  High  School. 

St.  Stephen's  Preparatory  and  Girls'  School 
is  intended  for  the  children  of  the  wealthy 
classes  in  Hongkong.  It  is  hoped  that  it 
will  develop  into  a  Ladies'  College  with  a 
department  for  small  boys,  as  preparatory  to 
SI.  Stephen's  College.  At  present  there  are 
between  thirty  and  forty  scholars. 

Diocese  of  Fokien. 

The  diocese  of  Fokien  is  the  east 
sub-division  of  the  original  diocese  of 
Victoria-  The  distance  from  Hongkong, 
the  different  dialect  spoken,  and  the  very 
extensive  nature  of  the  work,  employing 
thirty  or  more  European  and  Chinese 
clergy,  made  it  absolutely  necessary  that  a 
new  diocese  should  be  formed,  and  in 
1906  this  was  done.  The  Ven.  Archdeacon 
H.  McCartie  Price,  of  Osaka,  Japan,  was 
consecrated  first  Bishop  of  Fokien  on  February 
2,  1906.  Bishop  Price  is  the  son  of  a  Church 
Missionary  Society  missionary,  the  Rev.  W. 
Salter  Price,  now  Vicar  of  Wingfield,  Suffolk, 
and  formerly  a  missionary  in  Sierra  Leone, 
West  Africa,  and  afterwards  in  Japan. 

The  diocese  of  Fokien  includes  the 
whole  of  the  Fokien  Province,  and  is 
entirely  missionary,  with  the  exception  of  the 
provision  of  church  services  for  the  European 
communities  at  Amoy  and  Foochow.  The 
missionary  work  of  the  Church  is,  however, 
confined  to  the  northern  half  of  the  province, 
beginning  with  the  prefecture  of  Hing  Hwa 
and  extending  to  the  borders  of  the  provinces 
of  Kiangsi  and  Chekiang.  The  history 
of    the    Church's    activities    in    this    diocese 


is  full  of  interest,  and  the  remarkable  pro- 
gress made  since  the  Churcli  Missionary 
Society  sent  its  first  missionaries,  the  Rev. 
W.  Welton  and  Rev.  W.  Jackson,  to 
Foochow,  in  1850,  is  one  of  the  most 
striking  features  of  the  Cliurch's  work  in 
China. 

The  chief  personality  in  the  Church's 
expansion  during  the  fifty-eight  years  of  its 
work  in  the  Fokien  Province  has  been  the 
Ven.  Archdeacon  J.  R.  Wolfe.  He  came  out 
in  1862,  and  is  still  working  in  the  diocese. 
When  he  arrived  there  were  not  ten  con- 
verts, now  there  are  twenty-four  cities  and 
towns  occupied  as  mission  stations  where 
European  missionaries  reside.  There  are 
eight  hospitals,  in  which  thousands  of 
patients  are  treated  every  year.  There  are 
four  leper  homes  and  refuges,  and  two 
homes  for  the  blind,  where  industrial  work 
is  carried  on.  There  are  native  Christian 
churches  in  twenty-six  cities,  besides  those 
in   country  towns   and   villages. 

The  district  of  Fuh  Ning,  in  the  north- 
east of  the  province,  is  the  field  of  work 
of  the    Dublin   University   Mission. 

Two  Church  societies — the  Church  Mission- 
ary Society,  and  the  Church  of  England 
Zenana  Society — maintain  a  large  stalif  of 
workers.  In  schools  and  colleges,  in 
hospitals  and  refuges  for  the  blind,  lepers, 
and  the  sick,  they  find  ever  widening 
spheres   of  work. 

Scattered  throughout  a  wide  extent  of 
territory,  the  twenty-four  stations  where 
Europeans  reside  are  centres  of  Christian 
activities,  educational  and  philanthropic  ;  all 
witnessing  to  the  power  of  the  "  Body  of 
Christ."  There  are  220  out-stations,  and 
about  23,000  adherents,  of  whom  11,300 
are  baptized,  and  there  are  4,200  com- 
municants. There  are  19  native  clergy. 
There  are  200  day  schools  for  children,  and 
the  members  of  the  different  congregations 
contribute  in  the  year  over  ;^i,20O,  or 
$12,000. 

In  Foochow  there  is  a  Divinity  College, 
founded  by  the  late  Rev.  R.  W.  Stewart 
in  1878.  The  original  building  was  destroyed 
by  a  mob,  but  the  college  was  rebuilt  on 
another  site  at  Nan  Sal. 

There  are  also,  at  Foochow,  a  Boys'  High 
School,  and  a  Girls'  Boarding  School,  a 
Women's  Training  Institution,  and  Junior 
Boys'  Boarding   School. 

Diocese  of  Mid-China. 

The  diocese  of  Mid-China  was  separated 
in  1880  from  the  diocese  of  North  China, 
founded  in  1872.  The  original  title  of  North 
China  was  given  wlien  Dr.  Russell,  of  the 
Church  Missionary  Society  was  consecrated 
the  first  bishop  on  December  2,  1872, 
in  Lambeth  Palace  Chapel.  In  1880,  after 
Bishop  Russell's  death,  the  diocese  was 
divided  into  North  China  and  Mid-China, 
and  Dr.  G.  E.  Moule  was  consecrated 
Bishop  of  Mid-China.  He  has  now  resigned, 
after  nearly  fifty  years  of  missionary  service, 
first   as   priest,  and   then   as   bishop. 

Shanghai  was  the  first  station,  occupied 
by  the  Rev.  T.  McClatchie,  colleague  of  the 
Rev.  G.  Smith,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Victoria, 
in  1844.  It  is  still  the  headquarters  of  the 
Church  Missionary  Society  secretary,  and  for 
sixty-two  years  work  has  been  carried  on 
in  the  city  and  settlement  of  Shanghai. 
From  this  beginning  the  work  has  spread 
to   other   cities    also. 

Ningpo  was  occupied  in  1848  by  the  Rev. 
R.  H.  Cobbold  and  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Russell, 
afterwards  Bishop  of  North  China.  It  has 
been  the  home  and  scene  of  work  of  many 
able     missionaries,    the     most     distinguished 


l)eing  the  Ven.  A.  E.  Moule,  Archdeacon  of 
Mid-China  (who  is  still  working  and  who  still 
gives  service,  by  his  personal  activities  and  by 
his  pen,  both  in  English  and  Chinese),  and  the 
late  Rev.  J.  C.  Ho.ire  (who  arrived  in  Ningpo 
in  1878,  and  for  more  than  twenty  years 
carried  on  the  work  of  training  catechists  and 
clergy  for  the  mission).  The  latter  was  the 
founder  and  first  principal  of  Trinity  College, 
Ningpo,  where  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  present 
native  clergy  of  Mid-China  were  trained. 

Hangchow  was  opened  by  Bishop 
Moule,  then  the  Rev.  G.  E.  Moule,  in  1864, 
and  has,  up  to  the  present  time,  been  the 
residence  of  the  bishop.  He  has  seen  the 
work  spread  to  the  different  centres  of  his 
diocese,  and  has  watched  over  the  growth 
of  the  native  Church,  as  one  place  after 
another  has  been  occupied. 

Sai  Chow,  farther  down  the  coast  from 
Ningpo,  was  occupied  in  1887,  as  the  result 
of  the  evangelistic  work  of  the  students  of 
Trinity  College,  Ningpo,  and  the  Rev.  J.  C. 
Hoare.  There  is  now  a  growing  Church 
with  about  1,500  baptized  members,  and 
also  a  medical  mission  with  a  fine  hospital, 
containing  52  beds,  opened  in  1905,  under 
the  charge  of  Dr.  Babington. 

Another  district  city,  Chu  Ki,  is  occupied 
by  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Ost.  The  mission  here 
was  started  by  the  conversion  of  one  man 
who  saw  the  sign,  "  Holy  Religion  of 
Jesus,"  over  a  chapel  in  Hangchow.  After 
inquiring  who  Jesus  was  and  what  tlie  name 
meant,  he  carried  the  news  and  his  faith  to 
the  villages  of  his  native  hills  in  Chu  Ki, 
where  now  there  is  a  Church  of  500  or  600 
Christians. 

The  most  conspicuous  philanthropic  work 
in  this  diocese  is  the  large  medical  mission 
in  Hangchow,  so  long  carried  on  by  Dr. 
Duncan  Main  and  his  assistants.  It  has  the 
well-deserved  reputation  of  being  the  largest 
and  best  equipped  inissionary  hospital  in 
China. 

The  workers  of  this  diocese  have  con- 
tributed very  largely  to  the  literature  of  the 
Church,  both  in  Chinese  and  English. 
Archdeacon  Moule,  the  Revs.  J.  C.  Hoare, 
W.  S.  Moule  and  W.  G.  Walsh,  have  given 
permanent  contributions,  in  their  theological, 
historical,  and  expository  works,  to  the  library 
of  truth  needed  for  the  Church's   service. 

Diocese  of  Shanghai. 

The  diocese  of  Shanghai,  comprising  the 
province  of  Kiangsu,  is  presided  over  by 
the  Right  Rev.  F.  R.  Graves,  D.D.,  who  was 
appointed  bishop  in  1893.  The  work  of  the 
American  Episcopal  Ctiurch  in  China  was 
begun  (as  stated  above)  by  the  sending  out 
to  Canton,  in  1835,  of  the  Revs.  H.  Lockwood 
and  F.  R.  Hanson.  Unable  to  settle  in  Canton, 
they  worked  amongst  the  Chinese  in  Batavia, 
the   capital  of  Java. 

The  Rev.  W.  T.  Boone  was  sent  out  in 
1837,  and  when  the  five  Treaty  ports  were 
opened  in  China  the  mission  removed  to 
Amoy.  In  1884,  Bishop  Boone  was  con- 
secrated and  returned  to  China  with  nine 
new  missionaries,  and  Slianghai  became  the 
centre  of  the  mission,  and  Amoy  was 
abandoned.  The  first  convert  and  the  first 
clergyman,  was  Wong  Kong  Chai  (1851-86). 
Bishop  Graves  is  the  lifth  Bishop  of 
Shanghai. 

Work  in  the  province  of  Kiangsu  is 
carried  on  at  six  main  stations,  Shanghai, 
Soochow,  Wu  Sih,  Kiading,  Kiangwan,  and 
Tsingpoo,  each  of  which  is  a  centre  for 
work  in  sub-stations  in  the  surrounding 
districts.  There  are  four  large  churches  in 
Shanghai,  viz.,  Jessfield,  Sinza,  Honkew, 
and  in  the  native  city  of  Shanghai. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG, 


SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


329 


There  is  a  body  of  lo  foreign,  and  12 
Chinese  clergy,  who  are  assisted  by  a  staff 
of  catechists  and  school  teachers.  The 
mission  has  always  placed  great  reliance 
upon  its  Chinese  clergy,  who  are  carefully 
trained  in  a  theological  school  before 
ordination,  and  who  have  proved  such 
valuable  workers. 

Work  for  women  is  carried  on  by  the 
ladies  of  the  mission,  aided  by  a  body  of 
earnest  native  Bible  women,  who  have 
been  educated  for  the  work  in  the  Training 
School  at  Jessfield. 

The  most  striking  feature  of  this  diocese 
is  the  splendidly  equipped  and  successful 
College  of  St.  John,  under  the  Kev. 
F.  L.  Hawks  Pott,  D.D.  It  was  founded 
in  1879,  by  the  Right  Rev.  S.  I.  T. 
Schesuchewsky,  the  third  Bishop  of  Shanghai. 
It  is  situated  at  Jessfield,  about  five  miles 
from  Shanghai.  The  present  large  buildings 
were  erected  in  1892.  The  science  hall 
was  begun  in  1898,  and  formally  opened 
in  1899.  In  1902  the  pressure  of  an  increas- 
ing demand  for  education  on  the  part  of 
Chinese  led  to  steps  being  taken  for  the 
third  enlargement  of  the  institution.  The 
corner  stone  of  the  new  building  was  laid  in 
1903,  and  a  year  later  it  was  formally 
opened,  under  the  name  of  the  "  Yen  Hall," 
in  honour  of  a  distinguished  Chinese  clergy- 
man, the  Rev.  Y.  K.  Yen,  M.A.  In  January, 
1906,  the  college  was  incorporated,  under 
the  laws  of  the  United  States,  as  St.  John's 
University.  There  are  263  students  in  all 
departments. 

One  of  the  greatest  gifts  of  American 
Christianity  to  China  is  the  well-equipped 
colleges  for  higher  learning  in  different 
parts  of  the  country.  Amongst  the  best  and 
most  successful  is  St.  John's  College,  Shanghai. 
Its  influence  is  felt  all  along  the  Yangtsze 
Valley,  and  it  will  take  a  still  more  influential 
position  in  the  future. 

There  is  a  successful  mission  hospital, 
called  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  in  Seward  Road, 
Shanghai.  The  head  physician  is  Dr.  Boone, 
a  son  of  the  first  Bishop  Boone. 

The  staff  of  this  diocese  have  contributed 
very  largely  to  the  increasing  Christian 
literature  of  China.  They  have  assisted  in  the 
translations  of  the  Bible,  Prayer  Book,  and 
Hymn  Books,  and  have  produced  many 
original  works  and  translations  of  theological, 
historical,  and  expository  books  on  the 
Chinese    clergy   and    Christians. 

Diocese  of  Hankow. 

The  diocese  of  Hankow,  founded  in  1901, 
embraces  the  four  provinces  of  Hupeh, 
Hunan,  Kiangsi,  and  Anhwei. 

The  missionary  district  of  Hankow  was 
separated  from  that  of  Shanghai  by  the 
general  convention  of  the  American  Church. 
in  1901.  The  first  Bishop  of  Hankow,  the 
Right  Rev.  J.  A.  Ingle,  D.D.,  was  consecrated 
at  Hankow,  on  February  24,  1901.  He  died 
on  December  7,  1903,  and  was  succeeded  by 
the    Right    Rev.  L.  H.   Roots,  D.D.,  in   1904. 

The  foreign  staff  consists  of  14  clergymen 
besides  the  bishop,  5  physicians,  and  2 
laymen.  The  Chinese  staff  consists  of  13 
laymen,  36  catechists,  59  school  teachers, 
and    16  Bible  women. 

The  work  is  educational,  medical,  and 
evangelistic.  The  present  bishop,  is  a 
broadminded  and  sympathetic  churchman, 
who,  while  maintaining  strenuously  the 
Church's  historical  position,  holds  out  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship  to  all  who  really 
love  the  Divine  Head  of  the  Church.  He  is 
much  beloved  for  his  sympathetic  attitude 
towards  those  who  are  not  within  the 
bounds   of   his  own   Church. 


Diocese  of  North   China. 

The  present  diocese  of  North  China  was 
separated  from  the  original  diocese  of  North 
China  in  1880.  It  has  since  lost  the  province 
of  Shantung  (which  became  a  separate 
diocese  in  1903),  and  now  comprises  the 
five  provinces  of  Chihli,  Shansi,  Shensi, 
Honan  and  Kansu.  The  bishop  is  the 
Right  Rev.  Charles  Perry  Scott,  D.D., 
consecrated  in  1880. 

In  1862  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Burdon,  afterwards 
third  Bishop  of  Victoria,  was  sent  by  the 
Church  Missionary  Society  to  Peking.  He 
translated  there  the  Prayer  Book,  a  Bible 
History,  and  put  Dr.  Martin's  Evidences  into 
Chinese.  He  was  afterwards  joined  by  the 
Rev.  A.  Atkinson  and  the  Rev.  T.  McClatchie, 
but  the  latter  soon  returned  to  Shanghai. 

In  1865  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Collins  joined  the 
mission,  and  the  work  which  he  started  in 
1869,  at  a  place  called  Yung  Ching,  has 
been  carried  on  ever  since.  In  1873  Mr. 
Burdon  became  Bishop  of  Victoria.  In  1875 
the  Rev.  W.  Brereton  joined  the  mission. 
In  1879  the  Rev.  W.  Banister,  now  the 
Archdeacon  of  Hongkong,  was  designated  to 
Peking,  but  before  he  came  out  the  Rev.  W. 
H.  Collins  resigned,  and  the  Church 
Missionary  Society  finally  withdrew  in    1880. 

In  1863  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  sent  Dr.  J.  A.  Stewart  to 
Peking,  and  he  was  joined  in  1864  by  the 
Rev.  F.  R.  Mitchell.  Soon  afterwards,  how- 
ever, they  both  withdrew,  and  the  work  of 
this  Church  Society  was  suspended  for  ten 
years. 

In  1872  the  S.P.G.  sent  out  the  Rev.  C.  P. 
Scott  and  the  Rev.  M.  Greenwood  to  Chefoo. 

In  1878-79  there  was  a  terrible  famine  in 
North  China,  and  Mr.  Scott  and  Mr.  Capel 
were  permitted  to  distribute  ;f4,ooo  in  relief. 
The  lavourable  impression  made  by  such 
generosity  led  the  churches  to  take  advantage 
of  the  feeling  ;  and  Dean  Butcher,  of 
Shanghai,  and  Admiral  Ryder,  urged  the 
S.P.G.  to  establish  a  strong  mission  in 
Shantung,  under  a  resident  bishop.  An 
offer  of  ;^io,ooo  led  to  the  ultimate  foundation 
of  the  Bishopric,  and  accordingly  the  Rev. 
C.  P.  Scott  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  North 
China. 

Since  1891  the  Rev.  F.  L.  Norris  has  been 
trying  to  form  the  nucleus  of  a  Training 
College  at  Peking.  Tai  An  Fu  was  opened 
in  1878,  and  Ping  Yin  in  1893. 

This  diocese  suffered  in  the  early  days  of 
the  Boxers'  movement.  On  December  20, 
1899,  the  Rev.  Sydney  Malcolm  Wellbye 
Brooks  was  murdered  by  Boxers  while  on  his 
way  to  support  the  Rev.  H.  Matthews,  who 
was  alone  at  Ping  Yin.  On  June  i,  1900,  the 
Rev.  H.  V.  Norman  and  the  Rev.  C.  Robinson 
suffered  death  by  Boxers  at  Yung  Chin. 
Several  of  the  Chinese  Christians  were  put 
to  death,  and  the  new  church  at  Tai  Hang 
Chuang  was  burnt  down. 

The  mission  ministers  to  Anglican  Chris- 
tians at  Chefoo  (1874),  Peking  (1880),  Tientsin 
(1890),  Shan  Hai  Kway,  Pei  Tai  Ho,  New- 
chwang,  and  Weihaiwei. 

Diocese  of  Shantung. 

The  diocese  of  Shantung  extends  over  the 
province  of  Shantung,  except  such  portion 
as  is  now  German  territory.  The  work  of 
this  diocese  is  carried  on  in  Chefoo, 
Weihaiwei,  Tai  An  Fu,  and    Ping  Yin. 

There  is  a  staff  of  8  clergy,  and  25 
native  helpers.  Progress  is  being  made 
under  the  direction  of  the  present  bishop, 
the  Right  Rev.  Geoffrey  D.  Iliff,  D.D.  (1903). 
A  Conference  has  been  established  as  an 
advisory  council  to  the  bishop,  at  which   both 


the  foreign  and  native  workers  are  repre- 
sented. A  theological  college  has  been  also 
founded,  where  the  native  clergy  and 
catechists  are   to   be  trained. 

Diocese  of  Western  China. 

The  diocese  of  Western  China  extends 
throughout  the  province  of  Szechwan  and 
comprises  the  field  occupied  by  the  Church 
Missionary  Society,  and  the  China  Inland 
Mission.  The  China  Inland  Mission  has 
work  in  different  parts  of  this  province  of 
Szechwan,  but  in  1895,  the  eastern  portion, 
i.e.,  east  and  north  of  the  Kialing  River, 
was  assigned  to  the  Church  of  England 
members  of  the  China  Inland  Mission,  and 
the  superintendent,  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Cassels, 
was  consecrated  first  bishop  of  this  diocese. 
The  China  Inland  Mission  began  work  in  1877, 
when  Messrs.  Judd  and  McCarthy,  occupied 
Chungking.  The  Church  Missionary  Society 
began  work  in  1888,  when  the  Rev.  J.  H. 
Horsburgh  made  extensive  itinerations  with 
the  object  of  founding  a  mission.  A  party 
of  15  missionaries  was  sent  out  with 
Mr.  Horsburgh  in  i8gi,  and,  after  many 
difficulties,  the  work  was  established  in 
various  centres.  There  are  now  10  stations 
with  resident  European  missionaries,  the 
most  distant  station  being  on  the  borders  of 
Thibet.  There  are  now  on  the  staff  of  the 
diocese,  18  foreign  clergy,  and  one  native, 
17  lay  workers,  and  63  women  workers. 

The  bishop— the  Right  Rev.  W.  W.  Cassels, 
D.D.  (1895) — lives  in  the  city  of  Pao  Ning. 
A  training  institution  has  been  established, 
where  native  clergy  and  workers  will  be 
prepared  for  their  work.  Little  has  been 
done  in  the  way  of  educational  or  medical 
work. 

The  statistics  of  the  Anglican  Church  in 
China,  for  the  year  ended  December  31, 
1906,  were  as  follows  : — 


Dioceses   

8 

Staff  :  Clergy,  Foreign  ... 

102 

„        Native    ... 

69 

Lay,  Foreign 

34 

„      Native 

456 

Doctors 

51 

Women  :  Foreign 

...        256 

Native 

295 

Converts  :  Catechumens 

-      5,103 

Baptized       23,396 

Communicants        ...     10,756 

Baptisms   (1906) 1,952 

,,         Children        904 

Native  contributions      ...   $42,000  =  ^'4,200 


HONGKONG     CATHEDRAL. 

The  members  of  the  Church  of  England 
among  the  early  settlers  in  Hongkong  lost  no 
time  in  providing  themselves  with  a  place  of 
worship.  Through  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  W. 
Phelps,  R.N.,  and  Mr.  A.  J.  Johnson,  subscrip- 
tions were  raised,  and  in  the  year  following  the 
British  occupation  of  the  Colony  a  "  matshed  " 
structure  was  erected  upon  what  is  now  the 
military  parade-ground.  In  1843  the  first 
colonial  chaplain  arrived  in  the  island,  and 
on  Christmas  Eve  held  his  first  service  in 
the  church.  The  unpretentious  little  building 
was  not  long  to  continue,  however,  for  on 
March  n,  1845,  the  foundation  stone  of  the 
cathedral  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  designed 
by  Mr.  St.  J.  Cleverly,  Surveyor-General, 
and  estimated  to  cost  ^^6,960,  was  laid  by 
Sir  John  Francis  Davis,  then  Governor  of  the 
Colony.  On  March  II,  1849,  the  new 
building  was  opened,  and  in  the  following 
May  it  was  created  a  cathedral  by  letters 
patent. 


330     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  first  bishop  of  Victoria,  the  Rt.  Rev. 
George  Smith,  D.D.,  arrived  in  the  Colony 
early  in  1850 ;  and  in  September,  1852, 
during  the  chaplaincy  of  the  Rev.  S.  W. 
Steedman,  the  cathedral  was  consecrated. 
Bishop  Smith  resigned  in  1867,  and  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rl.  Rev.  G.  R.  Alford,  D.D., 
during  whose  occupancy  of  the  see  the  first 
stone  of  the  new  choir  was  laid  by  the 
Duke  of  Edmburgh.  The  next  occupant  of 
the  bishop's  chair  was  the  Rt.  Rev.  John 
Shaw  Burdon,  D.D.,  who  was  consecrated 
on  March,  15,  1874,  and  who  spent  upwards 
of  twenty  years  in  the  faithful  ministry  of 
his  high  office.  He  retired  in  1895,  beloved 
by  all,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Kt.  Rev. 
Joseph  Charles  Hoare,  D.D.,  a  man  of  noble 
nature,  powerful  personality,  and  cool  courage. 
Bishop  Hoare's  tragic  end  in  the  great  typhoon 
of  1906  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  ;  the  story 
of  his  calm  resignation  to  the  horribly 
inevitable  will  ever  be  told  in  the  Colony 
when  men  speak  of  the  heroes  of  pe;ice. 
The    present   bishop   is   the   Rt.  Rev.  Gerard 


building,  due  chiefly  to  the  length  of  the  choir. 
To  remedy  this  it  is  proposed  to  bring 
forward  the  altar  and  erect  a  reredos. 

The  cathedral  contains  some  excellent 
examples  of  stained  glass.  The  east  window 
is  filled  by  a  memorial  to  the  late  Mr. 
Douglas  Lapraik,  who  died  on  March  24, 
1869.  The  subjects — the  Crucifixion  and  the 
Ascension — are  treated  with  a  tine  breadth  of 
feeling  and  colour.  The  clerestory  windows 
in  the  choir  were  presented  by  Lady  Jackson, 
in  1900.  In  the  north  transept  is  a  window 
to  the  memory  of  the  late  Dr.  F.  Stewart,  a 
foimer  Colonial  Secretaiy,  the  subject  being 
the  sufferance  of  the  children,  whilst  in 
the  south  transept  it  has  been  decided  to 
insert  a  window  as  a  memorial  to  the  late 
Bishop  Hoare. 

The  upper  portion  of  this  window  is 
designed  to  sliow  St.  John  in  the  Isle 
of  Patmos,  writing  the  Revelalions,  as  in- 
structed by  an  angel  sent  from  God.  In  the 
top  centre  light  appears  the  Lamb  enthroned, 
and     upon     the     Book    with     Seven     Seals, 


ST.    ANDREW'S    CHURCH,    KOWLOON. 


Heath  Lander,  D.D.,  who  was  enthroned  on 
November  23,  1907. 

To  return  to  the  cathedral.  In  1891  the 
Church,  which  had  up  till  that  time  been 
governed  by  the  local  legislature,  was 
disestablished,  and  its  control  handed  over 
to  a  Church  body,  consisting  of  the  bishop, 
the  senior  chaplain,  and  six  laymen  elected 
annually — a  form  of  direction  which  exists  to 
this  day.  The  first  chaplain,  under  the  new 
order  of  things,  was  the  Rev.  R.  F.  Cobbold, 
M.A..  who  succeeded  the  Rev.  W.  Jennings, 
M.A.,  and  was,  in  turn,  followed,  in  1902,  by 
the  Rev.  Frederick  Trench  Johnson,  M.A., 
the  present  incumbent.  The  lay-members  of 
the  Church  body  are  Mr.  W.  Armstrong,  the 
Hon.  Dr.  J.  M.  Atkinson,  Dr.  Francis  Clark 
(hon.  treasurer),  Mr.  G.  A.  Hastings,  Mr.  E. 
Ormiston,  and  Mr.  A.  Bryer  (hon.  secretary). 
The  cathedral  is  now  entirely  self-supporting, 
(here  being  no  endowment. 

There  is  a  certain  "  feeling "  of  the  Early 
English  Gothic  style  about  the  structure,  and 
the  tower,  lofty  and  graceful,  adds  a  pleasant 
home-note  to  the  general  characteristics  of 
the  city.   There  is  a  lack  of  proportion  in  the 


worshipped  by  the  elders,  and  surrounded  by 
hosts  of  angels,  who  sing,  "  Amen,  blessing 
and  glory,  wisdom  and  thanksgiving,  and 
honour  and  power  and  might  be  unto  our 
God  for  ever  and  ever."  Encircling  these 
are  "  they  which  came  out  of  great  tribu- 
lation," &c.,  holding  palms  (Rev.  vii.  14).  At 
the  base  of  the  window,  pictures  relating  to 
the  sea  are  placed  ;  on  the  left,  Christ  calling 
the  disciples,  St.  James  and  St.  John,  whilst 
mending  their  nets  in  the  boat  ;  in  the  centre, 
Christ  stilling  the  tempest  ;  and,  on  the 
right,  Christ  walking  upon  the  sea  and 
appearing  to  the  disciples  in  the  boat. 
In  the  window  will  appear  the  inscription  : 
"  To  the  glory  of  God,  and  in  gi  ateful 
memory  of  the  episcopate  of  the  Right  Rev. 
Joseph  Charles  Hoare,  D.D.,  fourth  Bishop 
of  Victoria.  Born  November  :5th,  1851  ; 
consecrated  St.  Barnabas  Day,  1898  ;  died 
September  i8th,  1906."  The  cost  of  the 
window  has  been  borne  by  the  community, 
and  the  designs  are  in  the  hands  of  the 
well-known  Westminster  firm  of  Morris  &  Co. 
An  additional  memorial  to  the  late  bishop 
is    the    brass    tablet,    erected    by    his    wife. 


family,  and  relations  in  England,  which  sets 
forth  the  tragic  manner  of  his  death.  A 
window  depicting  the  perils  of  the  deep,  in 
memory  of  Hongkong  residents  who  perished 
in  the  wreck  of  the  s.s.  Bokhara  off  the 
Pescadore  Islands,  on  the  night  of  October 
10,  1892,  fills  one  of  the  smaller  lights  ; 
another,  representing  St.  Peter  receiving 
the  keys,  is  to  the  memory  of  the  Hon. 
Mr.  Donall,  who  died  in  1873  ;  a  third  was 
erected  by  the  students  of  St.  Paul's  College 
as  a  tribute  to  Bishop  Smith's  devotion  to 
the  Colony  ;  and,  in  a  fourth,  honour  is  paid 
to  Elizabeth  Frances  Higgin  and  Emma 
Gertrude  Ireland,  two  hospital  sisters,  who 
lost  their  lives  whilst  in  the  execution  of 
their  duty  during  the  plague  outbreak  of 
1898.  In  the  baptistry,  two  windows  of 
exquisite  workmanship  are  erected  to  the 
memory  of  the  wife  of  Edmund  Sharp,  a 
former  trustee  of  the  cathedral.  In  the  north 
aisle  are  two  windows  presented  by  the 
oificers  and  men  of  the  2nd  Battalion  the 
Royal  Regiment,  "  in  memory  of  their  com- 
rades who  died  in  China  between  October 
24th,  1858  and  December  1 8th,  i860."  A 
window  to  the  memory  of  the  widow  of 
Henry  Kingsmill,  depicts  women  of  Old 
and  New  Testament  mention. 

There  are  numbers  of  mural  tablets,  amongst 
others  those  commemorating  the  Peninsular 
and  Oriental  officers  who  perished  in  the 
Corca,  which  foundered,  with  all  on  board, 
in  a  typhoon  on  the  China  Sea  on  June  30, 
1865  ;  the  wife  of  Bishop  Burdon  ;  Capt. 
Colthurst  Vesey  ;  Robert  Lyall  ;  Capt.  Augustus 
Frederick  Hippolyte  Da  Costa,  a  captain  in 
the  British  Corps  of  Royal  Engineers,  and 
Lieut.  Dwyer,  of  the  Ceylon  Rifles,  who 
were  "  wantonly  attacked  and  murdered  by 
some  Chinese  pirates  whilst  walking  by  the 
seaside  at  Whang  Ma  Kok,  in  this  Island," 
on  February  25,  1849  ;  Lieut.  H.  M.  Dallas, 
of  the  98th  Regiment  ;  William  Harding, 
"  one  of  the  best  specimens  of  the  British 
sailor,  killed,  1st  June,  1848.  in  a  gallant 
attack  by  the  boats  of  H  M.S.  Scout,  off 
Chimmo  Bay,  on  a  large  piratical  vessel  sub- 
sequently taken "  ;  Arthur  Gordon  Ward, 
organist  of  the  cathedral  for  eight  and  a  half 
years,  who  died  in  1905  ;  and  Charles  May, 
who  died  at  sea  on  his  homeward  passage 
in  1879,  after  forty-five  years'  labours  in  the 
Civil  Service. 

The  bishop's  throne,  a  fine  specimen  of 
the  Chinese  carver's  art,  was  presented  to 
the  cathedral  by  Messrs.  Robert  and  Edward 
Alford,  former  residents  of  the  Colony,  in 
memory  of  their  father's  labours  in  the 
diocese.  The  pulpit  was  presented  by  Sir 
Williain  Robinson,  and  the  choir  stalls  were 
constructed  of  timber  taken  froin  the  old 
British   man-of-war,  the    Victor  Emmanuel. 

On  the  column  behind  the  lectern  hang 
the  colours  of  the  old  Hongkong  Regiment — 
the  King's  colours,  and  the  old  yellow 
regiinental  ensign — which  were  deposited  in 
the  cathedral  for  safe-keeping,  and  "  as 
a  memorial  of  that  regiinent  for  ever,"  at  the 
close  of  the  morning  service  on  October  12, 
1902.  The  regiment  afterwards  returned  to 
India,  where  it  was  disbanded  on  October 
23rd  of  the  saiTie  year. 

The  services  of  the  cathedral  are  held 
according  to  the  general  usages  of  the 
Church  of  England,  matins  being  sung  at 
II  a.in.,  and  evensong  at  5.45  p.m.,  with 
celebrations  of  the  Holy  Communion  every 
Sunday  at  7.30  a.m.,  and  on  certain  Sundays 
at  noon.  Services  are  also  held  on  Wednes- 
days and  Fridays,  and  on  Saints'  and  Holy 
Days.  There  is  a  large  and  well-trained 
voluntary  choir  of  between  forty  and  fifty 
voices,  and  all   the    best    cathedral    services 


TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     331 


and  anthems  are  in  regular  use.  The  full 
cathedral  choir  sings  matins  and  evensong 
on  alternate  Sundays,  with  the  exception  of 
certain  festivals,  when  the  complete  choir 
attends  both  services.  All  other  services  are 
more  or  less  of  a  congregational  character, 
and  under  existing  circumstances  only  a 
small  section  of  the  choir  is  able  to  be 
present  at  these. 

The  first  organ  was  erected  in  the  cathedral 
in  i860,  and  was  dedicated  on  Christmas 
Day  of  that  year,  the  organist  being  Mr. 
C.  F.  A.  Sangster.  The  splendid  instrument 
now  in  use  was  erected  in  1887,  and  was 
opened  on  June  21st  of  that  year,  "on  which 
date "  says  a  brass  memorial  affixed  to  the 
pillar  in  front  of  the  organ,  "the  Acting 
Governor  (Major-General  W.  G.  Cameron, 
C.B,),  and  the  members  of  the  Legislative 
Council  attended  a  solemn  service  of  thanks- 
giving in  celebration  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  the  Accession  of  Queen  Victoria."  It  is 
a  three-manual  organ,  with  between  forty 
and  fifty  stops,  and  was  built  by  the  well- 
known  London  firm  of  Messrs.  Walker  & 
Sons.  The  present  organist  is  Mr.  Denman 
Fuller,  F.R.C.O.,  L.R.A.M.,  who  succeeded 
Mr.  A.  S.  Ward  in  1905. 

The  cathedral  is  now  lighted  by  electricity, 
and  in  summer  time  punkahs  are  used  to 
keep  the  temperature  as  low  as  possible. 
The  pews  of  teak-wood  and  rattan  are 
roomy  and  comfortable,  and  every  seat  is 
provided  with  books  for  the  use  of  members 
of  the  congregation.  The  excellent  custom 
is  followed  of  leaving  the  building  open  to 
all  seeking  a  retreat  for  quiet  meditation. 

ST.  ANDREW'S  CHURCH,  KOWLOON 
The  idea  that  Kowloon  should  have  its 
own  church  was  mooted  in  1897,  but  it  was 
not  until  1904,  when  a  grant  of  land  fronting 
the  Robinson  Road  had  been  made  by  the 
Government,  and  Sir  Paul  Chater  had  gen- 
erously undertaken  the  entire  cost  of  the 
building,  that  St.  Andrew's  Church  was 
commenced.  The  late  bishop  of  the  diocese, 
the  Rt.  Rev.  J.  C.  Hoare,  D.D.,  performed  the 
ceremony  of  laying  the  foundation  stone  on 
December  13,  1904,  and  on  October  6,  1906, 
the  church  was  dedicated  by  the  Ven.  Arch- 
deacon Banister.  A  melancholy  interest 
attaches  to  this  date,  for  it  was  that  fixed 
by  Bishop  Hoare  for  the  consecration  of  the 
church  ;  but  his  death,  in  the  typhoon  of 
September  i8th,  made  it  necessary  for  another 
to  consummate  the  work  which  he  had  so 
much  at  heart.  The  church,  though  small, 
does  not  lack  dignity.  It  is  built  of  granite 
and  red  brick,  in  the  Early  English  Gothic 
style  of  architecture,  and  is  a  fine  example 
of  modern  work.  The  spire  contains  a  peal 
of  tubular  bells,  and  the  interior  of  the  church, 
with  its  capacity  for  three  hundred  persons 
(though  at  present  there  is  seating  accommoda- 
tion for  two  hundred  only),  is  graced  by  a 
handsome  east  window,  also  given  by  Sir 
Paul  Chater,  representing  the  Crucifixion  and 
the  Last  Supper,  with  figures  of  St.  Peter  and 
St.  Andrew.  The  small  marble  shafts  around 
the  main  columns  are  of  Grecian  marble, 
direct  from  Athens.  The  late  Bishop  Hoare 
made  himself  responsible  for  the  provision 
of  the  holy  table,  pulpit,  prayer-desks,  and 
choir  and  chancel  seats;  the  Rev.  F.  T. 
Johnson  for  the  font  and  for  communion 
vessels,  which  communicants  at  the  cathedral 
and  Peak  church  were  invited  to  present  ; 
the  hon.  architect  (Mr.  Bryer)  gave  the  brass 
eagle  lectern  ;  Messrs.  Wilks  and  Jack  under- 
took to  collect  for  and  subscribe  to  the 
installation  of  the  electric  light  ;  the  Hon. 
Mr.  E.  Osborne  contributed  to  and  collected 
for  the   bells  ;   and   there   were    many  other 


generous  helpers.  A  vestry,  consisting  of  the 
chaplain  and  elected  lay-inembers,  directs  the 
affairs  of  the  church.  The  chaplain  is  the 
Rev.  Arthur  Joseph  Stevens,  B.A.,  who  also, 
pending  the  day  when  Kowloon  becomes 
wholly  responsible  for  the  support  of  its 
chaplain,  holds  the  position  of  Assistant 
Chaplain  of  St.  John's  Cathedral. 


THE  RIGHT  REV.  GERARD  HEATH 
LANDER,  D.D.,  fifth  Bishop  of  Victoria,  was 
educated  at  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  and 
at  Ridley  Hall,  and  was  ordained  in  1884  to 
the  curacy  of  St.  Bride's,  Liverpool.  After- 
wards he  was  appointed  to  St.  Benedict, 
Liverpool,  and  subsequently  to  St.  Philip's, 
Litherland.  In  1894  he  was  appointed  Hon. 
Canon  of  Liverpool,  and,  in  1895,  Vicar  of 
St.  Cyprian,  Liverpool.  On  June  29,  1907, 
St.  Peter's  Day,  he  was  consecrated  Bishop 
of  Victoria,  in  the  parish  church  of  St.  Mary, 
Lambeth,  and  was  enthroned  in  the  cathedral 


RIGHT  REV.  GERARD  HEATH  LANDER, 

D.D.,  M.A., 

Bisliop  of  Victoria. 

church  of  St.  John,  Hongkong,  on  Saturday, 
Noveinber  23,  1907.  He  succeeded  Bishop 
Hoare,  who  came  to  China  in  1875,  was 
appointed  Bishop  of  Victoria,  on  June  II, 
1898,  and  lost  his  life  in  the  typhoon  of 
September  18,  1906,  while  out  with  four  of 
his  Chinese  students,  preaching  and  teaching. 
When  last  seen  he  was  kneeling  in  prayer 
on  the  deck  of  his   small  yacht,  the  Pioneer. 


THE  ARCHDEACON  OF  HONGKONG,  the 

Ven.  William  Banister,  came  out  to  China  in 
the  year  1880.  He  was  educated  privately,  and 
at  the  Church  Missionary  College,  Islington, 
London.  He  was  ordained  deacon  in  1879, 
and  priest  in  1880,  by  the  Bishop  of  London. 
From  1879  to  1880  he  was  Curate  of  St. 
Mary's,  Bulderstone,  near  Blackburn,  Lanes., 
under  the  late  Archdeacon  of  Blackburn. 
He  was  sent  to  Foochow,  and  was  for  some 
years  located  at  Ku  Ching  in  the  charge  of 
a  large  missionary  district  with  its  manifold 
operations.  In  1893  he  was  given  direction 
of  the  Church  Missionary  Society's  Theological 
College,  Foochow,  and   remained   there   until 


1897,  when  he  was  appointed  to  Hongkong 
and  became  secretary  of  the  Church  Mission- 
ary Society  for  South  China.  In  1902  he 
was  appointed  Archdeacon  of  Hongkong  by 
the  Bishop  of  Victoria. 


THE  REV.  FREDERICK  TRENCH  JOHNSON, 
M.A.,  Chaplain  of  St.  John's  Cathedral,  Hong- 
kong, is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Canon  Johnson, 
Rector  of  Carbury,  County  Kildare,  Ireland. 
Born  in  1872,  he  was  educated  at  Trinity 
College,  Dublin,  where  he  subsequently  took 
his  degree,  and  in  1896  he  was  appointed 
Curate  of  Holy  Trinity,  Belfast.  Two  years 
later  he  came  out  to  the  Colony  as  assistant 
chaplain,  and  in  1902  he  succeeded  the  Rev. 
R.  F.  Cobbold  on  that  gentleman's  resignation 
of  the  chaplaincy. 


HOLY     TRINITY     CATHEDRAL, 
SHANGHAI. 

The  existing  Anglican  cathedral  is  the 
fourth  church  which  has  stood  upon  the  site, 
and  dates  back  to  1869.  The  first  building, 
dedicated  to  the  Holy  Trinity,  collapsed  in  a 
storm  in  1850,  only  three  years  after  the 
foundation  stone  was  laid.  The  congregation 
had  but  a  very  short  while  before  been 
assembled  within  the  church,  and  as  a  thank- 
offering  to  God  for  their  escape  they  rebuilt 
the  church,  which  was  opened  again  in  the 
following  year.  In  i860  it  was  decided,  at  a 
general  meeting  of  the  congregation,  that  a 
large  and  permanent  church,  worthy  of  the 
port,  should  be  built  on  the  site  of  the  old 
building.  Accordingly  the  old  church  was 
pulled  down,  and  a  temporary  structure  for 
services  was  erected  near  the  side  of  the  com- 
pound. The  outcome  of  the  effort  was  the 
church  as  it  stands  to-day,  with  the  exception 
of  the  tower,  the  foundation  stone  for  which 
was  laid  in  1891.  The  new  building  was 
opened  for  service  in  1869,  and  in  1875  it  was 
elected  by  Bishop  Russell  to  be  his  cathedral, 
the  Rev.  C.  H.  Butcher  being  appointed  dean. 

The  cathedral  was  designed  by  Sir  Gilbert 
Scott,  and  is  a  cruciform  structure  of  beautiful 
proportions,  except  that  the  chancel  is  shorter 
than  was  intended  by  the  architect.  There  is 
some  good  modern  glass,  the  chapel  lights 
being  especially  worthy  of  note  ;  and  one  of 
the  most  interesting  windows  is  that  in  the 
south  aisle  to  the  memory  of  the  Hongkong 
cricketers,  who  were  wrecked  on  their  return 
voyage  after  an  inter-port  cricket  match.  In 
the  narthex  are  several  memorial  slabs,  some 
of  which  were  transferred  from  the  earlier 
churches.  The  building  presents  an  imposing 
exterior,  which  is  seen  to  great  advantage  in 
the  spacious  compound  by  which  it  is  sur- 
rounded. The  close,  bounded  by  the  Kiangse, 
Kiukiang,  Hankow,  and  Honan  Roads,  con- 
tains also  The  Deanery,  the  Cathedral  School, 
and  other  houses. 

The  patronage  of  the  cathedral  was  for- 
merly in  the  hands  of  the  Foreign  Office,  but 
now  it  is  vested  in  three  trustees,  who  are 
elected  annually  by  the  British  subscribers  to 
the  establishment,  and  have  certain  powers 
in  regard  to  the  appointment  of  incumbents 
and  in  respect  of  all  disbursements.  The 
funds  of  the  cathedral  are  derived  from  an 
endowment,  supplemented  by  pew-rents  and 
voluntary  offertories. 

The  present  incumbent,  the  Very  Rev.  A.  J. 
Walker,  M.A.  (Cantab.),  was  appointed  by 
the  trustees  in  1903,  and  was  made  dean 
by  the  bishop  in  the  following  year.  His 
assistant  chaplain  is  the  Rev.  R.  G.  Winning, 
B.A.,  now  acting  as  chaplain-in-charge  during 
his  absence  on  leave. 


332    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  Cathedral  School  is  under  the  care  of 
the  Rev.  K.  Perry,  B.A.,  and  has  some  forty 
scholars,  most  of  whom  are  in  the  choir. 

The  Church  of  St.  Andrew,  situated  in  the 
Broadway,  is  a  daughter  church  of  the  cathe- 
dral, and  is  connected  with  the  Missions  to 
Seamen.  The  chaplain,  the  Rev.  H.  M. 
Trickett,  resides  at  a  house  adjoining  the 
church. 


BISHOP  MOULE.  the  late  incumbent  of  the 
Mid-China  See,  stands  in  the  foremost  rank 
of  the  men  who  have  devoted  themselves  to 
mission  work  in  China.  For  close  upon  fifty 
years  he  laboured  as  student,  teacher,  evan- 
gelist, and  bishop,  until,  overtaken  by  age 
and  infirmity,  he  resigned  his  task  into  the 
hands  of  younger  men,  and  retired  to  the 
rest  he  had  so  justly  earned.  The  Rt.  Rev. 
George  E\-ans  Moule,  D.D.,  was  born  at 
Gillingham  Vicarage.  Dorset,  in  1828.  He 
was  educated  privately  until  he  went  up  to 
Corpus  Chrlsti  College,  Cambridge,  in  1846, 
where  he  took  honours  in  classics  and  in 
mathematics.  It  was  while  at  Cambridge  that 
he  felt  the  missionary  call,  and  he  was  one 
of  the  founders,  in  1848,  of  the  Cambridge 
Union  for  Private  Prayer,  which  now  numbers 
hundreds  of  men  all  over  the  world.  He 
was  ordained  in  1 851,  and  was  given  a 
curacy  at  Fordington,  Dorsetshire.  Four 
years  later,  in  order  to  prepare  himself  for 
missionary  life,  he  undertook,  in  addition,  the 
chaplaincy  of  the  Dorset  County  Hospital. 
Joining  the  Church  Missionary  Society  in 
1857.  he  came  to  China,  and,  having  whilst 
in  Hongkong  married  his  cousin,  Adelaide 
Griffiths,  he  proceeded  in  the  following  year 
to  Ningpo.  He  was  there  during  the  Taeping 
rebellion  ;  and  he  and  his  brother,  now  the 
Yen.  Archdeacon  Moule.  who  joined  him  in 
1861,  were  under  (ire,  and  in  great  personal 
danger.  In  1864  he  planted  a  mission  in  the 
vast  inland  city  of  Hangchow  and  that  place 
has  been  his  home  ever  since.  He  was 
consecrated  Bishop  of  Mid-China,  in  succes- 
sion to  Bishop  Russell,  in  October,  1880,  the 
service  taking  place  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral. 
During  the  twenty-eight  years  of  his  labours 
he'  proved  himself,  in  the  words  of  an 
eminent  writer  on  the  work  of  the  Church 
Missionary  Society  in  China,  "  a  true  father 
in  God,  and  also  a  most  loving  brother  in 
Christ  to  his  fellow-missionaries  and  the 
whole  of  the  scattered  Christian   flock."     He 


witnessed  a  wonderful  accession  to  the 
numtier  of  his  co-workers,  and  had  the  joy 
of  seeing  three  nephews  join  the  mission. 
Shortly  before  his  resignation,  in  1907,  he 
was  made  an  Honorary  P'ellow  of  his  College 
in  recognition  of  his  life-long  labours,  and 
especially  of  his  literary  work.  He  has 
translated  parts  of  the  Prayer  Book  into 
classical  Chinese,  has  contributed  several 
papers  on  religion,  topography,  and  language 
to  European  periodicals  in  China,  and  he 
was  one  of  a  committee  of  missionaries 
appointed  to  supervise  a  Chinese  version  of 
Scripture.  In  his  retirement  he  still  resides 
at   Hangchow. 


THE  RIQHT  REV.  HERBERT  JAMES 
MOLONY,  D.D.,  was  appointed  to  the 
Bishopric  of  Mid-China  by  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  on  February  26,  1908,  in 
succession  to  the  Rl.  Rev.  Bishop  Moule. 
Ordained  deacon  in  1888,  and  priest  in  the 
following  year,  Bisliop  Molony  worked  for 
two  years  in  the  parish  of  St.  Stephen,  Low 
Elswick,  and  then  proceeded  to  India  for 
the  Church  Missionary  Society  to  join  the 
band  of  evangelists  in  the  Gond  mission. 
In  1904,  he  was  appointed  clerical  secretary 
of  the  Central  Provinces  Diocese,  and  later 
returned  to  England.  He  was  consecrated 
bishop  on  St.  Pauls  Day,  January  25,  1908, 
in  Westminster  Abbey,  and  on  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  Mid-China  See  in  the  following 
month,  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity,  causa  honoris,  from  his  Alma  Mater. 
Bishop  Molony  visited  England  in  1908  as 
representative  of  his  diocese  at  tlie  Pan- 
Anglican  Congress  a/id  the  Lambeth  Con- 
ference. 


THE  REV.  A.  J.  WALKER,  M.A.,  Dean  of 
Shanghai  Cathedral,  is  the  son  of  a  clergy- 
man, and  was  educated  at  the  Merchant 
Taylors'  School  and  at  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge,  where  he  was  a  choral  student. 
Entering  the  Church,  he  was  for  a  time 
Curate  of  St.  John's,  Tunbridge  Wells, 
before  volunteering  for  work  in  the  mission 
field.  He  came  to  China  under  the  aegis  of 
the  Church  Missionary  Society,  and  was 
stationed  at  Ningpo  as  vice-principal  of 
Trinity  Training  College  for  Chinese  students. 


A  year  after  his  arrival  he  went  to  Hong- 
kong to  meet  his  bride.  Miss  Middleton,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  St.  John's  Cathedral 
by  the  late  Bishop  Hoare.  He  returned  to 
Ningpo,  and,  after  hve  years'  earnest  work, 
went  to  England  on  leave.  At  the  end  of 
his  furlough  two  appointments  were  offered 
him — the  head-mastership  of  Shaoshing  School 
and  the  oHice  which  he  now  fills.  He  came 
to  Shanghai  in  April,  1904,  and  has  since 
that  date  endeared  himself  to  his  congre- 
gation by  his  earnest  and  kindly  zeal  in 
the  cause  to  which  he  has  devoted  his  life. 
He  took  the  initiative  in  the  formation  of 
the  now  excellent  choir  at  Holy  Trinity 
Cathedral.  Despite  the  indifference  which 
threatened  to  prevent  the  realisation  of  the 
idea,  he  started  the  Cathedral  Choir  School, 
which,  under  the  head-mastership  of  the  Rev. 
R.  G.  Winning,  himself  a  former  choral 
scholar  of  King's  College,  Cambridge,  soon 
had  a  roll  of  fifty  boys.  Mr.  Walker  was 
responsible  for  the  formation  of  the  Com- 
municants' Guild,  which  was  started  in 
October,  1907,  and  now  numbers  nearly  one 
hundred  members  ;  and  has  interested  him- 
self, also  in  the  prison,  hospital,  Hanbury 
School,  and  kindred  institutions.  He  is  hon. 
chaplain  to  the  Shanghai  Volunteer  Corps. 
Mrs.  Walker  has  closely  identified  herself 
with  her  husband's  work  ;  notably  in  con- 
nection with  the  Ladies'  Benevolent  Society 
and  the  Mothers'  Union.  Mr.  Walker  visited 
England  in  1908,  and  attended  the  Pan- 
Anglican  Congress  as  delegate  for  Shanghai. 


THE  REV.  R.  0.  WINNING,  B.A.,  Acting 
Chaplain-in-charge  of  Holy  Trinity  Cathedral, 
was  a  choral  scholar  of  King's  College, 
Cambridge.  He  was  ordained  deacon,  in 
1906,  and  priest  in  the  following  year.  Upon 
coming  to  China  he  was,  in  April,  1906, 
appointed  head-master  of  the  Cathedral 
School.  In  December,  1907,  he  resigned  in 
order  to  take  up  the  secretaryship  of  the 
foreign  branch  of  the  Y.M.C.A.  in  Shanghai. 
In  the  absence  of  Dean  Walker,  Mr.  Winning 
has  been  assigned  by  the  trustees,  with  the 
approval  of  the  bishop,  to  the  acting  chap- 
laincy of  the  cathedral,  and  he  has  taken  up 
his  residence  at  The  Deanery.  He  has  in 
Mrs.  Winning  a  most  sympathetic  second  in 
the  work  he  is  called  upon  to  undertake. 


PROTESTANT   MISSIONS    IN    CHINA. 

B'V    THE    Rev.   J.    Steele,    B.A.,    Presbyterian   Church   of    England,  Swatow. 


In  the  years  that  followed  the  Reformation 
missionary  activity  was  not  a  characteristic 
of  the  new-born  Protestant  Church.  Even 
while  labouring  in  the  throes  of  this  birth  the 
mother  Church  had  produced  within  herself 
the  great  Jesuit  order,  and  so  inaugurated  a 
new  era  of  missions.  But  after  the  division, 
the  Reformed  Church  was  so  occupied  with 
the  work  of  reconstruction,  and,  later  on.  so 
pressed  down  with  the  weight  of  intellectualism 
little  tempered  with  love,  which  issued  in  the 
deism  of  the  eighteenth  century,  that  she 
failed  for  long  to  realise  her  duty  to  non- 
Christian  nations. 


This  could  not  last  for  ever.  A  Church  that 
read  on  its  charter  the  words  "  Go  .  .  .  and 
preach  the  Gospel  to  the  whole  creation  "  ; 
and  which  numbered  among  its  saints  Paul 
the  Apostle,  and  the  great  Gregory,  and  Lull, 
and  Xavier,  must  sooner  or  later  gird  herself 
to  the  work.  Luther  nailed  his  theses  to  the 
door  of  the  Schlosskirche  at  Wittenberg  in 
1517.  In  1556  Protestant  missionaries  began 
a  work  in  Brazil,  and  in  1559  in  Lapland. 
Other  attempts  of  some  magnitude  were  made, 
but  it  was  not  until  the  religious  movement  of 
the  eighteenth  century  that  the  Church  as  a 
whole   awoke   to   its  duty  ;  and   then,  within 


a  short  ten  years,  the  four  great  Protestant 
Missionary  Societies  were  born. 

While  the  Church  was  still  undivided, 
colonisation  and  the  movements  of  trade 
determined  the  order  of  missionary  expansion, 
and  the  course  which  the  Protestant  Church 
followed  was  substantially  along  the  same 
lines.  Thus  it  came  about  that  China  was 
the  last  of  the  great  non-Christian  nations  to 
become  the  sphere  of  Protestant  missionary 
activity. 

It  was  fitting  that  the  missionary  interest 
of  the  Protestant  Church  should  be  directed 
to   China    by    the    discovery   in    the    British 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      333 


Museum,  in  the  year  1795,  of  a  manuscript 
of  the  New  Testament  in  Chinese  prepared 
by  a  Roman  Catliolic  missionary.  In  1805 
the  London  Missionary  Society  determined  to 
engage  in  work  among  the  Chinese  resident 
in  the  Malay  Peninsula,  and  designated  the 
Rev,  Robert  Morrison  to  establish  a  mission 
in  Prince  of  Wales'  Island  (now  known  as 
Penang).  Within  the  next  few  years  that 
island,  Malacca,  Bangkok,  Singapore,  Batavia, 
and  Java  were  occupied  by  various  societies 
as  points  of  vantage  from  which  the  problem 
of  the  evangelisation  of  China  might  be 
attacked.  Morrison  was  fated  to  begin  work 
nearer  the  objective.  Before  he  sailed  his 
destination  was  altered,  and  he  landed  in 
Canton  on  September  7,  1807,  the  pioneer  of 
Protestant  missions. 

When  he  arrived  in  China  Canton  was  the 
only  point  of  contact  with  the  West,  and  the 
channel  of  intercourse  was  no  wider  than 
the  little  Oil  Gate  in  the  southern  wall  of 
that  city,  at  which  petitions  to  the  Chinese 
authorities  might  be  presented  but  through 
which  no  foreigner  might  pass.  In  such 
circumstances  Morrison  was  compelled  to 
restrict  his  work  to  the  narrow  limits  of  the 
"  Factories."  Two  of  his  converts  found 
places  in  the  train  of  an  Imperial  Examiner, 
and  distributed  tracts  to  the  students  at  the 
various  examination  centres  in  the  province. 
With  this  exception,  the  early  work  in  Canton 
was  but  another  parallel  driven  nearest  of 
any  to  the  foot  of  the  glacis.  The  walls 
still  remained  unbreached.  Preparation  was 
being  made  for  an  advance,  however.  An 
Anglo-Chinese  College  had  been  opened  at 
Malacca.  Morrison's  Dictionary  had  been 
published  in  1821,  at  a  cost  of  ;tJ2,ooo  ;  the 
complete  Bible  in  two  editions — one  by 
Marshman  of  Serampore,  and  the  other  by 
Morrison — was  ready  ;  and  many  workers 
had  already  acquired  the  language.  Giitzlaff, 
as  agent  for  the  Nederlands  Missionary 
Society,  had  made  seven  voj'ages  along  the 
China  coast,  penetrating  as  far  as  Tientsin, 
and  had  widely  distributed  the  Scriptures. 
And,  on  the  north-west  frontier,  work  among 
the  Mongols  had  been  begun  with  the 
concurrence  of  the  Czar  of  Russia. 

Then  came  the  first  great  opportunity.  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  war  between  Great 
Britain  and  China  the  Treaty  of  Nanking, 
signed  in  1842,  opened  to  the  commerce  of 
the  world  the  'Treaty  ports  of  Canton,  Amoy, 
P'oochow,  Ningpo,  and  Shanghai,  and  guaran- 
teed the  safety  of  British  merchants  residing 
there.  Almost  immediately,  twelve  missionary 
societies  entered  into  occupation.  In  1842 
work  was  begun  in  Amoy  ;  in  1843,  at 
Shanghai  and  Ningpo ;  in  1847,  at  Swatow 
and  Foochow,  and  among  the  Hakkas  of  the 
Kwangtung  Province  ;  while  in  1861  Central 
China  was  opened  to  work  by  the  occupation 
of  Hankow  by  Griffith  John.  Since  then  the 
work  of  expansion  has  gone  on  without 
interruption,  and  now  the  eighteen  provinces 
of  China,  along  with  Manchuria  and  Mongolia, 
are  open  to  the  Gospel.  Efforts  have  been 
made  to  reach  the  so-called  aboriginal  tribes, 
who  occupy  a  large  part  of  the  provinces  of 
Yunnan  and  Kwelchow,  and  of  late  these 
people,  the  Nosu,  and  Hwa  Miao,  have 
responded  to  the  work  done  among  them  in 
a  movement  similar  to  the  mass  movements 
among  the  jungle  tribes  in  India.  Ten 
thousand  Miao  tribesmen  and  women  have 
been  enrolled  as  adherents. 

Sporadic  riots  have,  from  time  to  time, 
caused  the  destruction  of  mission  property, 
from  1864  and  onwards.  The  most  serious 
of  these  occurred  in  Chentu,  Szechwan,  in 
1895,  when  the  compounds  of  three  Pro- 
testant   missions,    and    one    Roman    Catholic 


mission  were  destroyed,  but  without  loss  of 
life. 

Massacres,  too,  have  not  been  infrequent. 
Among  others  the  murder  of  eight  mission- 
aries and  two  children,  belonging  to  the 
Church  Missionary  Society,  took  place  at 
Ku-cheng,  Fokien,  in  1873  ;  and  four  adults 
and  one  child  belonging  to  the  American 
Board  Mission  suffered  death  at  Lienchow, 
in  Kwantung  Province,  in  1905. 

But  eclipsing  all  others  were  the  losses 
sustained  during  the  great  "  Boxer "  rising 
of  1900.  The  reform  measures  of  the 
Emperor,  the  aggression  of  foreign  powers, 
and  illegitimate,  and  to  some  degree  legiti- 
mate, missionary  enterprise,  roused  the 
intensely  conservative  Dowager  Empress  to 
action,  in  the  hope  that  she  might  preserve 
China  for  her  dynasty.  She  checkmated  the 
Emperor  and  the  Reform  Party  by  the  coup 
d'etat  of  1898  ;  but  she  convinced  herself 
that  the  other  evils  would  yield  to  nothing 
but  force.  There  lay  to  her  hand  a  weapon 
ready  forged  in  the  Society  of  Righteous 
Harmony  Fists,  the  "  Boxers,"  and  with  these 
and  the  officials  she  hoped  to  exterminate  all 
the  foreigners  within  the  Empire.  The  Boxers 
did  all  that  could  be  expected  of  them,  but 
some  of  the  officials  showed  themselves  wiser 
than  their  mistress,  and  so  the  trouble  was 
confined,  in  the  main,  to  the  country  north 
of  the  Yangtsze  and  Manchuria,  and  broke 
itself  against  the  walls  of  the  legations  at 
Peking. 

While  missionaries  were  not  specially 
aimed  at  in  the  Dowager  Empress'  secret 
edict  calling  for  the  extermination  of  all 
foreigners  (yang  ren),  their  position  in  the 
interior  caused  them  to  suffer  most.  The 
losses  of  that  time  are  tabulated  as  follows  : — 


Adults. 

Children. 

China  Inland  Mission   

58 

21 

Christian     and     Missionary 

Alliance        

20 

16 

American  Board  Mission     ... 

13 

5 

English     Baptist    Missionary 

Society 

13 

3 

Shouyang  Mission 

II 

2 

American    Presbyterian    Mis- 

sion         

5 

3 

Scandinavian    Alliance    Mon- 

golian Mission    

5 

— 

British     and     Foreign    Bible 

Society 

2 

3 

Swedish    Mongolian    Mission 

3 

I 

Society    for   the    Propagation 

of  the  Gospel      

2 

— 

Unconnected 

2 

— 

Total      ... 

134 

54 

The  number  of  native  converts  who 
suffered  death  is  beyond  estimation.  Many 
of  them  exhibited  a  heroism  which  was  not 
surpassed  by  that  of  the  noblest  Christian 
martyrs  of  any  age.  There  is  room  for  but 
one  example.  A  young  artist  was  apprehended 
in  Manchuria  soon  after  the  storm  burst.  On 
the  execution  ground  the  Boxers  bound  him, 
and  then  asked  him  if  he  would  still  preach 
the  Jesus  religion.  "  Yes,"  was  the  reply, 
"  as  long  as  I  live."  Then  an  eyebrow  was 
cut  off,  and  the  same  question  put  elicited 
the  same  reply.  Another  eyebrow,  and  then 
the  ears  were  severally  removed,  and  at  each 
stage  opportunity  for  recantation  was  given. 
After  each  cut  he  still  answered  that  while 
he  lived  he  could  not  but  preach  the  way  of 
salvation  to  sinners.  When  he  felt  himself 
getting  weak  he  said,  "  I  may  be  unable  to 
speak,  but   I    shall   never  cease   to  believe "  ; 


and  then  one  great  cut  released  him  from 
his  pains.  Even  the  Boxers  praised  his 
constancy  and  sincerity. 

Many  missionaries  bore  willing  testimony 
to  the  kindness  which  they  received  from  the 
officials,  at  the  risk  of  disgrace,  and  even  in 
some  cases  of  life  itself. 

The  amazing  thing  about  all  the  troubles 
that  the  Chinese  Church  has  been  called  to 
pass  through  is  that  these  have  not  imposed 
more  than  the  most  transitory  check  upon 
its  advance.  The  Church  has  always  issued 
from  the  fire  strengthened  and  purified  ;  and 
larger  and  more  suitable  premises  have 
always  risen  upon  the  ruins  of  those 
destroyed,  not  seldom  without  any  indemnity 
having  been  exacted  from  the  destroyers. 

SOCIETIES. 

At  the  end  of  the  year  1905  the  Protestant 
missionary  societies  in  China  numbered  : — 

British         18 

American 29 

Continental 8 

Bible  and  Tract  Societies  ...      4 

Educational  Societies      3 

Y.M.C.A I 


Total 


..     63 


The  missionaries  connected  with  these 
societies,  along  with  108  independent  workers, 
totalled  3,445,  of  whom  964  were  single 
ladies,  and  301  doctors.  These  workers  were 
distributed  over  632  stations. 

Arranged  in  order  of  the  number  of  their 
workers  the  principal  societies  ranked  as 
follows  : — 

China  Inland  Mission     849 

Church  Missionary  Society  ...  275 
American  Presbyterian  (North)...  265 
Methodist  Episcopal  (American)...  ig6 
London  Missionary  Society      ...  131 

American  Board  ...         106 

English  Presbyterian  Mission  ...     99 

American  Baptist  (North)  .„     90 

(South)  ...     88 

American  Episcopal        84 

Wesleyan  Missionary  Society  ...  82 
The  London  Missionary  Society  was  first 
on  the  field  in  China,  represented  by  Morrison, 
who  landed  in  Canton  in  1807.  Next  in  time 
came  the  American  Board  with  the  Rev. 
Elijah  C.  Bridgman,  who  joined  Morrison  in 
1830.  In  1831  Karl  Giitzlaff,  deputed  by  the 
Nederlands  Missionary  Society,  made  the  first 
of  his  seven  voyages  along  the  China  coast. 
The  American  Episcopal  Mission,  and  the 
American  Baptist  Mission  also  took  up 
positions  before  the  opening  of  the  Treaty 
ports,  the  first  in  Canton  in  1835,  and  the 
second  in  Macao  in  1837.  When  the  ports 
were  opened  societies  began  to  send  workers 
in  much  larger  numbers.  The  Dutch 
Reformed  Church  (American)  occupied  Amoy 
in  1842  ;  the  Church  Missionary  Society 
began  work  in  Shanghai  in  1844  ;  and  the 
English  Presbyterians  in  Amoy  in  1847. 
The  foundations  of  the  China  Inland  Mission 
were  laid  in  1853  by  the  arrival  of  Dr. 
Hudson  Taylor  as  agent  of  the  China 
Evangelisation  Society,  and  the  society  itself 
was  organised  in  1865. 

These  societies  have  come  upon  the  field 
not  as  independent  expeditions  pursuing 
different  aims,  but  rather  as  different  regi- 
ments, taking  their  places  in  the  fighting  line 
of  that  division  of  the  Grand  Army  of  Christ 
which  is  campaigning  in  China.  F'roin  the 
time  when  the  American,  Bridgman,  joined 
himself  to  Morrison,  the  Englishman,  the 
feeling  of  comradeship  has  been  most 
conspicuous. 


334     TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


This  feeling  has  manifested  itself  in  the 
x-arious  adjustments  of  forces  that  have  been 
carried  out.  The  American  Episcopal  Mission 
withdrew  from  Amoy  in  favour  of  the 
American  Board,  and  that  societ>',  in  turn, 
made  way  for  the  mission  of  the  Dutch 
Reformed  Church.  The  Church  Missionary 
Society  retired  from  Peking  in  favour  of  the 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel. 
These  arrangements,  and  others  like  them, 
demonstrate  the  oneness  of  aim  which  inspires 
societies,  differing  widely  on  questions  of 
government  and  Ijelief.  The  most  conspicu- 
ous example  of  co-operation  is  furnished  by 
the  China  Inland  Mission.  That  great  society 
unites  under  one  directorate  Episcopalians, 
Presbyterians,  and  Independents,  baptizers  of 
infants  and  adults,  and  of  adults  only,  natives 
of  the  four  divisions  of  the  British  Isles,  and 
the  Colonies,  and  associated  missionaries 
from  Sweden,  Norway,  Germany,  and  Finland. 
Separate  spheres  are  arranged  for  the  differ- 
ent classes  of  workers,  but  there  is  an 
identity  of  aim  and  a  unity  in  operation  that 
is  both  visible  and  effective. 

The  unity  of  the  Protestant  missionary 
body  in  China  has  been  promoted  by  three 
general  Conferences,  in  1877,  1890,  and  1907. 
At  the  last  of  these,  when  every  Protestant 
missionary  society  in  China  was  represented, 
it  was  resolved  to  form  a  Christian  federa- 
tion of  missionaries  working  in  China,  (n)  to 
encourage  everything  that  will  demonstrate 
the  existing  essential  unity  of  Christians  ; 
and  (6)  to  promote  co-operation  among  the 
missionary  societies  in  the  interests  of 
harmony,  efficiency,  and  economy.  The 
Conference  summed  up  the  situation  in  these 
words :  •'  We  frankly  recognise  that  we 
differ  as  to  the  methods  of  administration, 
and  Church  government.  But  we  unite  in 
holding  that  these  differences  do  not  invali- 
date the  assertion  of  our  real  unity  in  our 
common  witness  to  the  Gospel  of  the  grace 
of  God."  And,  in  order  to  help  forward  the 
union  of  the  various  native  Churches,  the  Con- 
ference appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of 
three  members  from  each  of  the  following 
Churches  working  in  China — Baptist,  Congre- 
gational, Episcopal,  Lutheran,  and  Reformed 
Methodist,  and  Presbyterian.  The  spirit  of 
the  Protestant  missionary  body  in  China 
to-day,  despite  all  differences  of  name,  is 
summed  up  in  the  motto  of  its  most  recent 
conference,  "  Unum  in  Christo." 

Men. 

Among  the  many  Protestant  missionaries 
who  have  worked  in  China  there  are  some 
whose   lumes  call   for  special   mention.* 

Robert  Morrison  (1782-1834).  The  pioneer 
of  Protestant  missions  in  China.  Landed  in 
Canton  September  7,  1807 ;  was  appointed 
Chinese  translator  to  the  East  Indi.t  Com- 
pany ;  finished  his  Chinese  grammar  in 
1812 ;  Chinese  New  Testament  in  1813  ; 
complete  Bible,  1819 ;  and  dictionary,  which 
was  published  by  the  Company,  in  1821. 
He  baptized  his  first  convert  after  seven 
years'  work,  and  at  his  death  there  were 
ten   members  in   the  Church. 

William  Milne  (1785-1822).  Joined  Morrison 
at  Macao  in  1813.  Next  year  he  wrote, 
•'To  acquire  the  Chinese  is  a  work  for  men 
with  bodies  of  brass,  lungs  of  steel,  heads 
of  oak,  hands  of  spring-steel,  eyes  of  eagles, 
hearts  of  apostles,  memories  of  angels,  and 
lives  of  Methuselah."  Made  a  tour  of  the 
Malay  Peninsula,  in  order  to  distribute  the 
New  Testament  among  the  Chinese  settlers 
there.  Was  appointed  head  of  the  Anglo- 
Chinese  College  at  Malacca.     He  estimated 

*  AngUcan  mwriom  are  dealt  witli  in  a  separate  article. 


that  one  hundred  years  after  the  establish- 
ment of  Protestant  missions  in  China  there 
would  be  one  thousand  Christians,  children 
included.  The  total  number  in  1907  was 
reckoned  at  seven  hundred  and  fifty  times 
Milne's    compulation. 

Elijah  Coleman  Bridgman  (1801-61),  the 
first  American  missionary  to  China,  arrived 
in  Canton  in  1830.  He  took  a  principal  part 
in  the  formation  of  the  Society  for  the  Diffu- 
sion of  Useful  Knowledge  in  China,  the 
Morrison  Education  Society  (since  defunct), 
and  the  North  China  branch  of  the  Koyal 
Asiatic  Society,  of  which  he  was  elected  first 
president. 

Samuel  Wells  Williams  (1812-84),  arrived 
in  China  in  1833,  and  was  secretary  to  the 
U.S.A.  Legation  for  sixteen  years.  Wrote  a 
"  Tonic  Dictionary  of  the  Canton  Dialect,"  a 
"  Syllabic  Dictionary  of  Chinese,"  and  the 
"  Middle  Kingdom." 

Peter  Parker,  M.D.  (1804-88).  Was  sent  to 
Canton  in  1834,  as  the  pioneer  medical 
missionary,  by  the  American   Board. 

William  Chalmers  Burns  (1815-68),  reached 
Hongkong  in  1847  ;  moved  to  Amoy  in  1851. 
Afterwards  worked  in  Shanghai,  and  Peking  ; 
and  died  in  Newchwang,  in  an  endeavour  to 
begin  settled  work  there.  His  translation 
of  the  "  Pilgrim's  Progress,"  and  his  hymns, 
original  and  translated,  are  in  use  in  every 
mission   in  China. 

J.  Hudson  Taylor  (1832-1905).  Having 
graduated  in  medicine,  he  arrived  in  China, 
in  1854,  and  worked  for  a  time,  with  William 
Burns,  inland  from  Shanghai,  and  in  Swatow. 
Intending  to  take  up  work  at  the  latter 
place,  he  was  led  to  devote  himself  to  the 
evangelisation  of  Inland  China,  and  formed 
the  China  Inland  Mission  in  1866,  when  he 
sailed  with  sixteen  others  in  the  Lammer- 
nittir.  This  mission  has  developed  work 
in  all  of  the  eighteen  provinces  except 
Kwangtung  and   Kwangsi. 

James  Legge  (1814-98).  Appointed  Principal 
of  the  Anglo-Chinese  College  in  Malacca,  he 
removed  to  Hongkong  in  1843.  He  issued 
the  first  volume  of  his  translation  of  the 
Chinese  Classics  in  1861,  and  completed  the 
work  in  seven  volumes.  He  translated,  also, 
the  "  Book  of  Rites,"  the  "  Book  of  Changes," 
the  "  Texts  of  Taoism,"  &c.  He  was  appointed 
to  the  Chair  of  Chinese  Studies  at  Oxford 
in    1876. 

Alexander  Wylie  (1815-87),  arrived  in 
China  in  1847  to  superintend  the  printing 
press  of  the  London  Missionary  Society  in 
Shanghai.  Afterwards  he  was  agent  for  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  He  wrote 
"  Memorials  of  Protestant  Missionaries,"  and 
"  Notes  on  Chinese  Literature,"  a  descriptive 
catalogue  of  the  most  important  Chinese 
writings. 

James  Gilmour  (1843-91),  was  celebrated 
for  his  work  among  the  Mongols,  concern- 
ing which  he  wrote  two  books. 

Aim. 

The  aim  of  missions  in  China  is  to  proclaim 
the  Evangel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Mission 
operations  stand  to  be  judged  by  the  faith- 
fulness and  efficiency  with  which  they  do 
that  work.  Converts,  scholars,  hospitals, 
printing  presses.  Bibles,  and  newspapers,  all 
have  their  places  as  auxiliary  to  this  end, 
and  are  viewed  in  relation  to  it. 

Methods. 
The  methods  in  use  to  compass  this  end 
are  various.  First  comes  preaching.  Every 
missionary  is  first  of  all  a  preacher — not  often 
from  the  pulpit,  nor  always  with  the  tongue. 
In   the  hospitals  the  preaching   is  done  in 

" deeds 

More  strong  than  alt  poetic  thought." 


The  missionary  evangelist  goes  out  to  the 
villages,  or  into  the  streets  of  the  cities  ; 
and  on  the  ferries,  and  by  the  wayside  ;  he 
speaks  as  he  has  learned,  and,  as  far  as  the 
difficulties  of  the  language  and  the  convolu- 
tions of  minds,  alien  to  his  in  all  but  their 
humanity  and  common  need,  will  allow. 

None  is  more  conscious  than  he  of  his 
limitations,  and  it  is  a  mighty  uplift  when 
one  and  another  (of  their  honesty  let  the 
section  on  results  tell)  responds,  and  he  can 
begin  to  train  native  evangelists. 

It  has  been  accepted  on  all  hands  that 
China  can  only  be  evangelised  properly  by 
the  Chinese.  Acting  upon  that  assumption 
most  missions  have  devised  methods  for 
training  their  native  preachers.  Some 
missionaries,  as  Mackay  of  Formosa,  take 
their  students  with  them  on  their  itinerations  ; 
others  gather  promising  men  at  centres,  and 
train  them  there.  A  training  school  and 
theological  college  is  a  feature  of  every 
well-found  mission  to-day. 

The  work  in  such  institutions  is  developing 
in  two  directions.  Amalgamation  of  separate 
colleges  has  been  accomplished  in  Soochow, 
Nanking,  Mukden,  Amoy,  and  other  places,  in 
the  interests  both  of  efficiency  and  economy. 
The  standard  of  education  is  being  gradually 
raised,  in  order  that  students  may  be  prepared 
to  assume  the  charge,  as  pastors,  of  the 
native  churches.  Simpler  courses  equip  men 
who  through  age,  or  defective  education,  are 
unfitted  to  grapple  with  the  subjects  of  an 
advanced  curriculum  ;  but  young  and  well- 
educated  men  are  taught  all  the  subjects, 
with  the  exception  of  Greek  and  Hebrew, 
which  a  student  in  a  home  theological  college 
studies,  though  not  as  yet  with  the  same 
thoroughness. 

When  native  evangelists  are  equipped  and 
sent  out  the  number  of  converts  grows 
rapidly.  The  next  stage,  then,  is  the  organi- 
sation of  native  churches.  In  this  matter  each 
mission  follows  the  Church  order  to  which 
it  belongs.  In  some  places  there  are  bishops, 
priests,  and  deacons  ;  in  others  ministers, 
elders,  and  deacons  ;  in  others  again,  no 
settled  ministry  is  recognised  ;  but,  in  all, 
there  are  congregations  gathering  from 
Sunday  lo  Sunday  for  worship,  preaching, 
and  the  celebration  of  Holy  Communion.  The 
diversity  of  forms  is  not  as  confusing  to  a 
Chinese  as  it  is  to  a  Western  mind.  All 
differences  are  blurred  to  him  by  that  haze 
of  strangeness  that  covers  everything  con- 
nected, however  indirectly,  with  the  foreigner. 
But  the  desire  of  the  missionaries  is  that 
these  divisions  shall  not  be  perpetuated.  The 
recent  Conference  declared  that  the  foreign 
missionaries  "  desire  only  to  plant  one 
Church,'  that  they  recognise  "the  liberty  .  .  . 
of  the  Churches  in  China,"  and  that  they 
eagerly  anticipate  the  time  when  these 
Churches  "shall  pass  beyond  the  guidance 
and  control  "  of  the  foreign  missionary. 
The  Conference  also  declared  for  "  the  right 
of  the  Churches  in  China  ...  to  organise 
themselves  in  accordance  with  their  own 
views  of  truth  and  duty." 

What  form  of  government  or  variety  of 
doctrine  the  Church  of  China  will  adopt, 
no  one  would  venture  to  predict  to-day.  The 
missionaries  have  made  it  clear  to  their 
converts  that  they  stand  to  them  in  the 
relation  of  nursing-fathers,  and  only  desire 
that  the  new  Church,  when  it  comes,  shall 
be  true  to  its  Lord,  and  true  to  all  that  is 
best  in  the  genius  and  character  of  the 
Chinese  race. 

Schools. 
The   organisation   of   Churches  implies  the 
education  of  the  children  of  Christians.     The 
system    of     missionary     schools     has     been 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     335 


designed  with  a  view  to  this  end,  rather  than 
to  serve  as  evangelistic  agencies  proper. 
The  Educational  Association  of  China, 
founded  in  i8go,  links  all  engaged  in  teaching 
in  co-operation  for  the  promotion  of  educa- 
tional interests.  Since  the  publication  of 
the  imperial  scheme  for  elementary  and 
advanced  schools  and  colleges,  the  curricula 
of  mission  schools  have  been  remodelled 
to  bring  them  into  line  witli  Government 
requirements  as  far  as  possible.  Up  to  the 
present  such  schools  have  failed  to  secure 
recognition  from  the  Government,  and  so 
find  a  place  in  the  educational  machinery 
of  the  country.  The  example  of  Japan 
justifies  the  expectation  that  before  long 
recognition  will  be  extended  to  all  such 
institutions  which  satisfy  the  educational 
requirements  of  the  Government  examiners. 

Resuming  consideration  of  agencies  directly 
evangelistic,  we  now  hark  back  to  the  medical 
work.  Mission  hospitals  both  create  sus- 
picion and  allay  it.  A  nation  whose  materia 
medica  includes  thirty-two  parts,  or  products, 
of  the  human  body,  is  necessarily  suspicious 
of  the  doctor  with  his  magic  anodyne,  and 
no  less  wonderful  knife.  A  bottle  of  pre- 
served cherries  on  a  doctor's  mantelshelf 
was  interpreted  by  a  Chinese  as  a  collection 
of  eyes  taken  from  the  heads  of  innocent 
children,  and  a  riot  was  the  consequence, 
with  the  destruction  of  much  valuable  pro- 
perty and  the  peril  of  many  lives,  happily 
without  a  fatality. 

But  if  the  doctor  is  uncanny,  who  comes 
after  eyes  and  hearts,  how  utterly  inexplic- 
able is  the  action  of  the  preacher,  who  asks 
for  nothing,  and  gets  more,  and  less,  than  his 
desire  ?  Motiveless  volitions  are  unknown 
to  the  Chinese  ;  intangible  motives  are  moon- 
shine to  him.  So  the  preacher  is  an  object 
of  extreme  suspicion,  and,  therefore,  of 
intense  dislike.  But  the  skill  and  devotion 
of  the  doctor  opens  for  the  patient  a  window, 
through  which  he  dimly  sees  the  substratum 
of  a  common  humanity  beneath  the  out- 
landish exterior,  and  the  rest  is  easy.  The 
hospital  door  has  been  the  widest  door  to 
the  Church  in  many  a  town  in  China. 

In  1905  there  were  301  mission  doctors 
in  China,  of  whom  94  were  ladies  ;  166 
hospitals  and  241  dispensaries.  As  many  as 
35,301  in-patients  and  1,044,948  out-patients 
were  treated.  Special  attention  is  paid  to 
lepers,  and  to  the  care  of  the  insane. 

In  addition  to  treating  patients,  the  doctors 
are  engaged  in  training  students  in  medicine, 
surgery,  and  the  allied  subjects.  Here,  again, 
amalgamation  is  in  the  air.  The  most 
notable  example  of  this  is  the  Union  Medical 
College  at  Peking,  in  which  the  doctors  of 
several  missions  co-operate.  The  Dowager- 
Empress  gave  ten  thousand  taels  to  this 
institution.  Students  are  attracted  from  all 
over  the  empire,  and  the  diplomas  of  the 
College  are  recognised  by  Government.  At 
the  other  end  of  the  land,  in  Canton,  a 
Medical  College  for  Women  has  been  estab- 
lished by  the  American  Presbyterian  Mission. 
A  Medical  Association  looks  after  the  interests 
of  the  foreign  doctors.  It  publishes  a 
magazine  bi-monthly,  and  is  engaged  in 
reducing  to  uniformity  the  system  of  medical 
nomenclature,  and  publishing  textbooks  in 
which  the  new  terms  are  used. 

The  Bible. 

The  translation,  printing,  and  distribution 
of  the  Bible  have  occupied  the  energies  of 
the  ablest  Protestant  missionaries.  These 
were  not  the  first  to  begin  the  work,  but 
they  have  carried  it  furthest  towards  com- 
pletion. The  first  Chinese  Bible  was  printed 
at  Serampore,  India,  in   1820  ;   and  was  the 


joint  production  of  Joannes  Lassar,  an 
Armenian  Christian  born  in  Macao,  and  the 
Rev.  John  Marshman,  who  had  never  been 
to  China.  The  most  important  revision,  and 
the  most  popular  at  the  present  day,  is  that 
known  as  the  "  Delegates  Version."  In  the 
New  Testament  it  is  the  production  of  a 
committee  of  delegates  from  the  various 
Churches,  who  began  work  in  Shanghai  in 
1847,  viz..  Bishop  Boone,  the  Rev.  Drs. 
Bridgman,  Medhurst,  and  Milne,  and  the 
Rev.  J.  Stronach.  The  Old  Testament  portion 
was  produced  by  the  last  three  ;  and  the 
whole  was  completed  in  1853. 

Since  then  many  versions  in  High  Wenii, 
Easy  Wenli,  Mandarin,  and  various  local 
dialects,  have  been  produced. 

A  thorough  revision  of  the  whole  Chinese 
Bible  has  been  proceeding  since  1890.  The 
work  is  now  in  the  hands  of  a  committee 
for  Wenli,  and  another  committee  for  Man- 
darin. 

Three  Bible  Societies  are  engaged  in  the 
production  and  distribution  of  the  Bible,  New 
Testament,  and  Scripture  portions,  with  or 
without  notes  and  introductions. 

In  1905  the  circulation  was  as  follows  : — • 


have  shown  themselves  thoroughly  capable 
of  directing  their  own  affairs  and  administer- 
ing their  own  funds. 

In  most  missions  the  foreigner  takes  his 
place  alongside  the  native  minister  in  the 
church  courts,  and  shares  in  the  work  of  legis- 
lation and  administration  on  the  principle  of 
one  man  one  vote.  His  influence  beyond 
this  single  vote  lies  in  the  force  of  his 
character,  the  ripeness  of  his  experience,  and 
the  depth  of  his  affection  for  the  Chinese 
among  whom  he  works.  In  time,  even  this 
assessorship  will  disappear,  and  the  Chinese 
Church  will  stand  entirely  alone,  making  its 
own  laws,  shaping  its  own  doctrine,  and 
"  dreeing  its  own  weird."  This  is  the  aim  of 
the  foreign  mission  work,  and  all  approxima- 
tions to  it  are  welcomed  by  the  missionaries. 

Self-Support. 

Chinese  Christians  are  rice-eaters,  but  the 
rice  which  they  consume  is  their  own,  and 
not  a  foreign  dole.  The  home  societies 
necessarily  support  a  staff  of  preachers, 
teachers,  and  hospital  assistants.  Beyond 
this,  money  subscribed  in  the  West  is  not  ex- 
pended on  the  support  of  Chinese. 


Bibles. 

New  Testaments. 

Portions. 

British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 

American  Bible  Society          

Scottish  National  Bible  Society         

16,488 
7,078 
2,566 

40,525 

3 ',672 
21,218 

1,018,167 

498,554 
883,490 

Total           

21,132 

93,415 

2,400,211 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  grants  to 
officials  all  these  have  been  sold,  a  contrast 
to  the  days  when  Giitzlaff  and  his  successors 
failed  at  times  to  secure  acceptance  for  such 
books  even  as  a  gift. 

Results. 

As  stated  above,  Dr.  Milne  made  a  calcula- 
tion in  1820  that  if  Christianity  in  China  were 
in  every  succeeding  twenty  years  to  double 
its  access  of  numbers,  as  it  had  in  the  first 
twenty,  then  at  the  close  of  the  first  hundred 
years  there  would  be  a  thousand  Christians 
in  China.  But  at  the  end  of  these  first  hun- 
dred years,  at  the  Conference  in  Shanghai  in 
1907,  it  was  announced  that  the  actual  number 
of  Church  members  alone  was  200,000.  If  to 
these  be  added  the  number  of  those  who 
attend  regularly,  but  are  not  yet  baptized,  and 
the  children,  whom  Milne  included,  the  grand 
total  is  720,000. 

Church  members  are  drawn  largely  from 
the  farmer,  working,  and  shop-keeping  classes, 
with  a  fair  admixture  of  literary  men,  and  a 
very  few  officials  of  low  grade,  as  in  every 
countiy  the  appeal  has  been  made  largely  to 
these  first  classes,  faiipercs  cvaiigelizaiitur. 
Special  attention,  however,  is  now  being 
devoted  to  the  scholars  and  officials,  and  to 
the  student  class  from  which  the  ranks  of  both 
these  classes  are  recruited. 

Christians  are  organised  into  Churches, 
which  are  developing  rapidly  along  the  three 
lines  of  self-government,  self-support,  and 
self-propagation. 

Self-Government. 

In  every  Protestant  mission  it  has  been  the 
object  of  the  foreigners  to  train  a  native 
ministry  which  shall,  in  time,  assume  the  lead 
in  the  native  Church,  controlling,  teaching, 
and  guiding  it.  The  natives  have  responded 
well   to   the   trust  imposed    upon   them,   and 


The  latest  complete  statistics,  those  for 
1905,  put  the  total  contributions  of  Chinese 
Christians  for  the  year  at  $301,263  (Mexican). 
The  greatest  advance  in  this  line  has  been 
made  by  Churches  in  the  south-east.  There 
the  average  annual  contribution  per  member 
is  $4'5o  (Mexican).  The  salaries  of  all  their 
native  missionaries  are  paid  by  the  people 
over  whom  they  are  ordained,  and  80  per  cent, 
of  the  pay  of  native  preachers  is  contributed 
by  the  natives. 

Self-Propagation. 

The  native  Churches  have  long  recognised 
their  duty  to  their  non-Christian  neighbours. 
Additions  to  the  Church  are  more  the  result 
of  work  done  by  unofiicial  Church  members 
than  through  the  immediate  agency  of  their 
leaders  and  teachers.  But,  beyond  individual 
effort,  native  missions  to  the  unevangelised 
have  been  established  by  some  of  the  churches. 
These  are  organised,  financed,  controlled  and 
manned  entirely  by  natives.  The  islands  of 
Namoa  and  Tungshan  on  the  south-east  coast 
are  worked  by  such  organisations. 

From  this  brief  resume  of  Protestant  mission 
work  in  China  it  will  be  seen  that  the  result 
is  a  purely  native  Church,  with  a  history,  an 
ideal,  and  a  future  ;  that  Christianity  in  China 
is  no  longer  a  negligible  force  ;  and  that, 
judged  by  Western  standards,  the  Chinese 
Christian,  while  he  may  not  in  the  aggregate 
be  a  "  plaster  saint,"  is  a  man  with  an  honest 
conviction,  a  message,  and  a  hope,  and,  as 
such,  is  entitled  to  respect  and  sympathy. 

Bibliography. 

The  volumes  of  the  "  Chinese  Recorder  and 
Missionary  Journal  "  ;  the  periodicals  of  the 
various  missionary  societies  ;  the  "  Records  " 
of  the  Conferences  of  1877,  1890,  and  1907  ; 
"  A  Century  of  Missions, '  by  the  Rev.  D. 
MacGillivray,  B.D. 


336      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE  UNION  CHURCH,  HONGKONG. 

The  establishment  of  the  Union  Church, 
which  is  the  centre  of  religious  life  among 
nonconformists   in    the    Colony,   was    due   to 


started  which,  from  its  inauguration,  has 
attracted  talent  from  all  sections  of  the 
Colony,  its  weekly  meetings  during  the 
winter  are  largely  attended  and  highly 
appreciated.       In     1904    the    Hongkong    and 


tJNION    CHURCH,    HONGKONG. 


the  initiative  and  religious  fer%'our  of  Dr. 
Legge,  a  man  of  scholarly  attainments  and 
the  well-known  author  of  "Chinese  Classics." 
He  came  to  Hongkong  as  an  agent  for  the 
London  Missionary  Society  in  1843,  and  at 
once  opened  his  house  to  Europeans  for 
worship  and  speedily  promoted  the  building 
of  a  chapel.  A  basis  of  agreement  was 
drawn  up  which  was  Protestant,  evangelical, 
and  undenominational,  and,  an  appeal  having 
been  made  for  funds  in  reply  to  which  two- 
thirds  of  the  cost  of  the  building  were 
supplied  from  outside  the  Colony,  a  church 
was  erected  in  Wellington  Street,  and  opened 
in  1845.  Kour  years  later  Dr.  Legge 
formally  undertook  the  pastorate  and,  with 
the  exception  of  an  interval  between  1867  and 
1870,  continued  his  ministration  continuously 
until  1873.  His  services  throughout  the 
whole  of  this  period,  were  highly  appreciated, 
and  under  his  direction  the  small  struggling 
Church  gradually  grew  in  strength.  The 
building  in  Wellington  Street,  becoming 
dilapidated  and  too  small  for  the  require- 
ments of  the  community,  a  second  structure 
was  raised  in  1865,  in  Staunton  Road.  Sun- 
day-school work  was  commenced  in  1872, 
and,  in  various  ways,  the  Church  became  so 
firmly  established  that  in  1880,  with  full  and 
grateful  acknowledgment  of  the  assistance 
which  had  so  constantly  been  rendered  by 
the  London  Missionary  Society  during  the 
previous  thirty-five  years,  the  members 
decided  to  make  it  self-supporting  and 
independent  in  financial  matters.  Ten  years 
later,  the  neighbourhood  of  Staunton  Road 
being  considered  unsuitable  for  a  European 
church,  the  present  edifice  in  Kennedy 
Road,  and  a  commodious  manse  adjoining, 
were  opened  in  1891.  A  church  hall  was 
added  six  years  later.  In  1893  a  ladies' 
committee  was  elected,  and  in  1894  a 
Christian  Endeavour  Society  was  formed. 
Both  of  these  continue  to  contribute  largely 
to  the  furtherance  of  the  general  objects  of 
the   Church.     In    1902   a    literary    club    was 


New  Territory  Evangelisation  Society  was 
inaugurated  as  a  joint  effort  on  the  part  of 
the  Union  Church  and  the  To  Tsai  (London 
Missionary  Society,  Chinese)  Church,  to 
evangelise  the  local  populations  under  the 
British  flag.  Very  remarkable  success  has 
attended  this  effort,  both  on  the  mainland 
and  on   the  adjacent  islands.      Sunday-school 


walls  are  tablets  commemorating  the  eminent 
scholarship  of  Dr.  Legge  and  Dr.  Ch.ilmers 
and  the  services  of  Dr.  Young,  all  three  of 
whom,  at  different  periods,  were  ministers 
of  the  church.  Altogether  there  have  been 
thirteen  pastors,  as  well  as  the  famous  Dr. 
Eitel,  who  rendered  much  appreciated 
interim  service,  and  the  Kev.  T,  W.  Pearce. 
who  still  does  so.  The  present  minister  is 
the  Rev.  C.  H.  Hickling,  who  recently 
returned  from  Europe  for  a  second  term  of 
service  by  the  hearty  desire  of  the  congre- 
gation. Besides  ministering  to  the  church 
under  his  charge  he  acts  as  one  of  the 
chaplains  to  the  Navy  and  Army  for  the 
Colonial  Government,  and  also  shares  in  the 
services  conducted  in  the  Peak  church, 
which  has  numbered  among  its  members 
some  of  the  most  esteemed  residents  in  the 
Colony. 

THE  UNION  CHURCH,  SHANGHAI. 

The  Union  Church,  situated  in  Soochovv 
Road,  near  the  British  Consulate,  is  a  grace- 
ful structure  of  blue-grey  and  red  brick,  in 
the  Early  English  style  of  architecture,  with 
an  open-timbered  roof  and  an  octagonal 
shingled  tower.  As  the  name  implies,  the 
congregation  consists  of  a  union  of  all  Free 
Church  denominations.  The  Kev.  Dr.  Medhurst, 
of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  look  the 
initiative  in  its  formation  as  early  as  1845. 
For  many  years  services  were  held  in  a 
chapel  in  the  Shantung  Road,  but  at  length 
the  unsuitableness  of  the  neighbourhood  and 
the  growing  requirements  of  the  congregation 
made  necessary  the  acquisition  of  a  new  site. 
A  building  committee  was  formed  towards 
the  close  of  1882  ;  funds  were  raised  by 
means  of  a  bazaar  and  an  appeal  to  the 
public  ;  and  the  present  site  was  acquired  for 
the  sum  of  Tls.  20,945-65.  The  new  church 
was  erected  by  Mr.  Dowdall,  at  a  cost  of 
about  Tls.  9,000,  and  was  opened  for  divine 
service     on      July     4,     1886.      New      school 


UNION    CHURCH,    SHANGHAI. 


work   is   now   carried   on   in    three    districts 
with  marked  benefit. 

The  present  church  buildings  are  centrally 
situated  and  commodious.  A  tower  rises 
above  the  cruciform  structure,  which  accom- 
modates   500    worshippers,    and    around    the 


premises,  lecture  hall,  class-rooms  and  manse 
were  built  on  land  adjoining  the  church  in 
1889,  and  the  church  itself  was  enlarged  to 
its  present  size  in  1901.  The  minister  is  the 
Rev.  C.  E.  Darwent,  M.A.,  who  came  to  the 
Settlement  early  in   1889, 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     337 

THE    ANCIENT    FAITHS    OF  THE   CHINESE. 

By    the     Rev.    T.    W.    PEARCE,    London    Missionary    Society,    Hongkong. 


Writers  on  Chinese  religion  are  wont  to 
distinguish  clearly  three  great  systems  — 
Confucianism.  Buddhism,  and  Taoism  — 
and  it  is  the  practice  to  treat  of  these 
as  if  all  the  units  of  a  vast  population, 
numbering  not  less  than  350,000,000,  through 
out  the  provinces  and  dependencies  of  the 
empire  could,  for  the  purposes  of  an  article, 
like  the  present,  be  grouped  as  followers  of 
Confucius,  disciples  of  Buddha,  or  believers 
in  an  outward  and  corrupted  creed,  associated 
in  its  original  purity  with  the  "  Old  Philoso- 
pher,"  Laotzv. 

The  academic  discussion  of  religions  in 
China,  with  sharply  drawn  distinctions  derived 
from  the  ancient  books,  canonical  or  heretical, 
is  often  the  reverse  of  convincing  to  the 
student  of  "  things  Chinese,"  who  has  been 
in  a  position  to  verify  allusions,  to  test  cita- 
tions, and  to  gauge  the  accuracy  of  much 
descriptive  writing  by  daily  contact  with  the 
people.  To  study  Chinese  religion  at  first 
hand  is  to  see  it  everywhere  in  contact  with 
life. 

The  general  effect  is  fraught  with  complexity 
and  singularity,  aptly  compared  to  the  im- 
pression made  on  the  mind  by  a  group  of 
trees,  of  outstanding  girth,  height  and  lateral 
extent,  giants  of  the  forest,  that,  during  the 
decades  and  centuries,  have  grown  and 
flourished,  quickened  by  the  spring  rains, 
warmed  into  fullest  life  by  the  summer  suns, 
strengthened  by  the  blasts  of  autumn,  and 
hardened  by  the  frosts  of  winter. 

They  stand  to-day  as  they  have  been  grow- 
ing during  the  passing  of  the  generations  of 
the  Chinese  race.  Boughs  are  intertwined 
above,  roots  are  interlaced  below,  a  living 
mass  grown  together  inextricably ;  and  not 
only  so,  but  grown  together  beyond  the  power 
of  the  untrained  observer  to  distinguish  the 
smaller  and  more  recent  growths  so  as  to 
assign  each  to  its  own  proper  tree  trunk,  or 
main  branch.  Such  are  Confucianism,  Bud- 
dhism, and  Taoism  in  the  inter-relation  of 
their  growths  as  trees  of  religion  deep-rooted 
in  the  soil  of  China. 

The  illustration  may  be  carried  considerably 
further.  Under  the  shadow  of  these  trees  is 
undergrowth  of  many  kinds,  a  veritable  forest, 
so  dense  as  to  be  wellnigh  impenetrable  ; 
a  closed  dank  tangle  that  owes  its  existence 
to  the  fostering  shelter  of  the  trees,  and  could 
not  survive  for  one  moment  their  uprooting 
and  downfall.  Thus  is  it  in  the  living 
inter-relation  of  manners  and  customs  with 
the  ancient  faiths  of  the  Chinese  people. 
Religious  motive  determines  the  trend  of 
social  observance  ;  sacred  ceremonial  blends 
with  the  administration  of  law.  In  the 
ordered  and  settled  government  of  China's 
millions,  religious  factors  are  prominent  and 
potent. 

As  are  the  giant  trees  to  their  undergrowth 
so  are  the  religions  of  the  land  to  the  family 
and  social,  the  political  and  national,  life 
of  the  people.  A  bewildering  mass  of 
observances  is  knit,  compacted,  bound  up 
in  vital  ways  with  religion.  Herein  is  the 
twentieth  century  problem  that  lies  before 
Christendom  and  China.  Movements  of  the 
new  time  in  the  old  empire  make  for  an 
uprooting.  What  may  one  day  .seem  the 
sudden  is,  in  reality,  the  gradual  freeing 
of  the  ground  for  new  growths.  To  plant 
these     under     favouring     conditions     of    soil 


and  climate  will  be  the  task  of  the  missionary 
Church  in  the  hundred  years  period. 
The  greatest  of  Chinese  rehgions  is 

Confucianism. 

The  all-pervading  presence  and  potency  of 
Confucianism  are  without  parallel  among 
Oriental  religions.  There  are  those  who 
account  for  its  predominant  position  and 
its  abiding  character  by  denying  its  claim 
to  be  called  one  of  the  chief  religions  of 
the  world.  To  them  the  ages  return  an 
answer,  final,  decisive,  irrevocable.  Voices 
of  emperor  and  statesman,  of  seer  and  sage, 
assign  Confucius  his  place  among  objects 
of  worship.  Adoring  multitudes  through  the 
centuries  have  joined  in  "  one  according  cry." 
Divine  honours  are  paid  at  his  shrine,  and 
the  worship  of  the  teacher  who,  as  a  moral 
guide,  has  the  pre-eminence,  gives  to  his 
system  the  binding  force  of  religion.  To-day 
the  religious  faith  of  most  Chinese  appears 
to  themselves  inseparable  from  the  divine 
sanctions  which,  for  them,  attach  to  the 
teaching  of  Confucius.  To  revert  to  our 
illustration,  the  growths  of  religious  faith 
and  practice  are  intermingled  root  and  branch, 
but  Confucianism  is  everywhere  readily 
traceable  by  reason  of  its  dominant  vitality 
and  vigour. 

By  the  "  law  of  survivals,"  working  through 
all  movements  and  changes  of  the  new  time, 
it  is  seen  to  be  of  Chinese  religions  the  fittest. 
Its  advocates  in  the  native  Press  set  forth 
the  advantages  that  would  accrue  to  the 
new  empire  from  a  Confucian  worship-day, 
analogous  to  the  Christian  Sunday  and 
occurring  at  the  same  intervals.  On  the 
Confucian  rest  and  worship-day,  assemblies 
convened  for  the  purpose  in  temples  and 
in  public  halls  should,  it  is  urged,  join  in 
hymn  and  prayer  not  less  than  in  attending 
to  precept  and  injunction  ;  the  multitudes 
throughout  China  following  a  form  and 
mode  of  worship  akin  to  that  observed 
throughout  Christendom,  Confucius  being  put 
in  the  place  of  Christ.  It  is  further  pleaded 
that  the  new  learning,  having  few  points  of 
contact  with  morality  and  religion,  schools 
and  colleges  in  all  the  provinces  should 
keep  a  Confucian  Sunday,  when  the  regular 
teaching  may  give  place  to  the  new  ritual 
to  worship  and  to  exhortation  that  centre 
in  the  person  and  the  doctrine  of  the  sage. 
These  are  suggestive  facts  that  must  needs 
count  for  much  in  any  fitting  record  of 
twentieth  century  impressions  of  Chinese 
religion. 

What  manner  of  man  was  Confucius  ? 
What  charm  of  life  and  doctrine  gave  to  him 
the  place  he  holds  among  the  teachers  of 
the  race  ?  What  potent  forces  have  wrought 
for  the  diffusion  of  his  influence  and  for  its 
conserving  as  a  prime  factor  of  reconstruction 
in  the  sphere  of  Chinese  religion  to-day  ? 

Reply  to  such  an  inquiry,  since  it  can 
only  be  of  the  briefest,  should  take  us  at 
once  into  the  heart  of  things. 

Our  means  of  knowing  Confucius,  if  not 
ample,  are  at  least  adequate.  In  the  "  Analects, 
or  Conversations,  of  Confucius  with  his 
Disciples,"  the  whole  of  one  book,  the 
tenth,  is  devoted  to  a  delineation  of  the 
habits  and  deportment  of  the  master  as 
he  was  known  to  his  immediate  followers 
in    private   and    in    public   life.       With    the 


loving  hand  and  the  earnest  purpose  of 
Boswell  portraying  Johnson,  the  disciples 
of  Confucius  have  sought  to  picture  their 
master.  Particular  details  are  too  minute, 
they  take  from  the  symmetry  and  finish 
of  the  completed  portrait.  It  has,  however, 
to  be  borne  in  mind  that  national  habits 
and  characteristics  as  we  see  them  in 
the  Chinese  to-day — their  race  features — are 
what  his  followers  saw  in  the  sage  of  China 
2,500  years  ago  The  times  are  evil,  there 
has  been  a  falling  away  from  pure  and  lofty 
ideals,  there  are  none  that  have  attained,  but 
the  seekers  after  truth  strive  to  be  as  the 
perfect  sage.  Ceremonial  observances  on 
which  Confucius  set  the  seal  of  his  approval, 
constant  virtues  as  seen  in  him,  their  highest 
exponent — these  are  the  goal  and  aim  of  the 
Confucian.  He  is  concerned  always  with  the 
duties  arising  from  the  great  human  relations. 
When  these  are  fulfilled  all  is  well  with  the 
individual,  the  family,  and  the  State. 

Over  the  Western  mind  the  "  Analects  "  may 
cast  no  spell  ;  the  non-Chinese  reader  of  the 
Confucian  canonical  books,  who  has  no 
working  acquaintance  with  the  Chinese 
people,  is  not  likely  to  discover  the  secret  of 
the  magician's  power. 

To  such  we  say,  "  Live  among  the  Chinese, 
be  in  daily  touch  with  their  modes  of  thought 
and  their  outlook  on  life,  and  the  wonder 
ceases."  Adaptation  to  the  genius  of  the  race 
has  been  carried  to  the  farthest  point,  and 
Confucianism  has  held  its  place  as  a  world 
religion,  because  on  its  own  finite  lines  and 
within  a  limited  sphere,  its  appeals  to 
humanity  are  direct,  forceful,  irresistible. 

The  founder,  Confucius,  was  born  in  what 
is  now  the  Yen-chau  department  of  the 
Shantung  Province,  a  territory  comprised  in 
the  ancient  state  of  Lii.  The  date  of  his 
birth  is  placed  by  some  writers  in  552,  and 
by  others  in  550  B.C.  Apart  from  the 
portents  that  were  said  to  herald  his  birth, 
there  was,  in  the  circumstances  of  his  paren- 
tage, no  augury  of  a  destiny  distinguished 
among  the  millions  of  the  race.  The  sage 
could,  however,  trace  his  descent  back  to  the 
imperial  house  of  Yin,  and  his  forefathers  for 
more  than  five  hundred  years  had  been  men 
of  probity  and  talent.  His  father  figures  in 
the  history  of  the  times  as  a  soldier  of  daring 
prowess,  and  from  his  mother's  kindred  came 
Yen-Hui,  his  own  favourite  disciple. 

The  budding  genius  of  Confucius  was 
abundantly  marked  by  the  "  capacity  for 
taking  pains."  His  acquirements  in  the 
literature  of  the  period  seemed  to  his  con- 
temporaries all-comprehensive,  and  he  eagerly 
drank  of  the  spirit  of  the  most  ancient  sage 
monarchs,  whose  exploits  shine  resplendent 
in  the  first  dawning  light  of  Chinese 
history.  This,  more  than  anything  else, 
determined  the  trend  of  his  character  and 
teaching.  For  him  the  past  held  whatever 
was  of  greatest  worth.  To  turn  the  minds 
of  men  in  his  own  degenerate  times  back- 
ward to  the  golden  age,  was  for  Confucius 
the  heaven-appointed  means  of  regenerating 
society. 

As  a  servant  of  the  State  from  the  twentieth 
to  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  when 
Confucius  finally  retired  from  office,  he  em- 
bodied those  public  virtues  which  he  honoured 
in  his  chosen  exemplars.  As  Minister  of 
Works     and,     subsequently,     as    Minister    of 


338     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Justice,  his  praise  "  flew  in  songs  through 
the  land." 

He  proved  the  efficacy  of  the  doctrines 
taught  by  the  ancient  kings  to  work  an 
entire  transformation  in  the  manners  of  the 
people.  Of  his  literarj-  labours,  after  his 
retirement  from  office,  the  verdict  of  pos- 
terity is  that  they  are  invaluable.  They 
were  directed  to  the  collocation  and  arrange- 
ment of  the  works  which  now  form  the 
••  King,"  being  the  second  portion  of  the 
Chinese  canonical  scriptures. 

The  one  original  work  of  Confucius, 
called  the  "  Spring  and  Autumn,"  with 
reference  probably  to  the  succession  of  the 
seasons,  is  a  chronicle  of  his  native  state. 
Its  purpose  is  to  make  the  facts  of  history 
the  means  of  conveying  principles  and  truths 
— which  his  countrymen  in  each  succeeding 
age  have  agreed  to  call  inspired. 

Confucius  died  in  479  B.C.  ;  and  it  was 
not  until  three  hundred  years  afterwards 
that  there  was  any  imperial  recognition  of 
his  transcendent  character  and  services. 
From  the  time  that  the  founder  of  the  Han 
dynasty  offered  sacrifice  at  his  tomb,  Con- 
fucius has  held  a  unique  place  in  the  vener- 
ation alike  of  rulers  and  people.  Temples 
to  "  The  Saint,"  the  "  Chief  Doctor,"  the  '•  Great 
Master,"  are  in  all  provincial,  prefectoral  and 
district  cities  ;  before  his  tablet  the  youth  of 
the  nation  t)OW  in  schools  and  colleges  ; 
and  most  Chinese  of  every  sort  and  condition 
are  wont  to  associate  the  religious  faith  which 
they  have  received  with  belief  in  Confucius. 

Yet  Confucius  founded  no  religion  ;  he 
was,  he  declared,  a  transmitter,  not  a  maker. 
There  had  come  to  him 

**  Legends  of  the  saint  and  sage. 
And  tales  that  have  the  rime  of  age, 
And  chronicles  of  eld." 

In  these  lay  the  moral  and  religious  nuclei 
which  were  to  become  the  "  power  centres 
of  a  system."  These  he  may  be  said  to  have 
rediscovered  and  to  have  set  in  their  proper 
relations.  He  collocated  with  a  view  to 
moral  and  religious  sanctions  in  common 
life.  The  result  is  a  system,  not  of  theology 
but  of  morals.  It  should  be  added  that  the 
instructor  of  emperors  and  kings  expressly 
refrained  from  treating  those  subjects  which 
lie  within  the  special  domain  of  the  King 
of  all  Sciences. 

A  Confucian  China  means  a  conservative 
China.  To  eradicate  from  the  body  politic 
vices  that  have  grown  with  its  growth,  and 
strengthened  with  its  strength,  was  a  grand 
aim  of  the  system.  To  accomplish  this, 
ancient  customs  and  practices  must  be  restored 
in  their  primitive  purity.  This  idea,  blending 
with  those  of  entire  subordination  and  the 
utmost  attention  to  family,  social  and  civic 
usages  commended  the  sage's  teachings  to 
the  rulers. 

For  the  rest,  insistence  on  the  supremacy 
of  parental  authority  and,  all  that  is  implied 
therein  will  account,  perhaps  more  than  aught 
else,  for  the  enduring  vitality  of  the  great 
national  tree  of  religion,  "  whose  antique 
root  peeps  nut"  from  a  mass  of  habits  and 
observances  that  have  grown  up  under  the 
tree's  wide-spreading  branches,  and  in  its 
grateful  shade. 

Turning  our  attention  to 
Buddhism 

in  China  as  illustrated  by  a  second  "  plant 
of  stately  form,"  standing  side  by  side  with 
Confucianism,  so  that  branches  intermingle 
and  roots  intertwine,  we  find  ourselves 
looking  at  a  tree  that  is  not  native  to  the 
soil. 

Transplanted  to  China  in  the  second 
century  B.C.,  at  which  time  there  was  already 


an  extensive  overland  trade  carried  on  be- 
tween East  and  West,  it  found  congenial 
conditions  in  which  it  soon  flourished  amain. 
The  oft-told  stor>'  of  its  first  planting  has  not 
lost  its  charm,  whether  as  myth  or  fact, 
Ming  Tai  (94  a.d.),  the  seventeenth  emperor 
of  the  great  dynasty  of  Han,  had  heard  of 
the  coming  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  for 
whose  advent  the  world  had  waited  long, 
and  ambassadors  were  despatched  from  China 
westwards  to  learn  tidings.  These  fell  in 
with  votaries  of  Buddha  and  embraced  their 
faith.  Buddhist  priests  returned  with  the 
ambassadors  to  China,  and  Buddhism  became 
established  as  one  of  the  religions  of  the 
country.  Decades  have  passed  since  Dr. 
Morrison,  the  first  Protestant  missionary  to 
the  empire,  wrote  concerning  the  religion 
of  Buddha  in  China  :  "  It  is  decried  by  the 
learned,  laughed  at  by  the  profligate,  and  yet 
followed."  "The  observation  holds  good  to-day 
with  a  difference.  The  movements  of  the 
new  time  have  been  more  unfavourable  to 
this  than  to  other  ancient  faiths  of  the  people, 
and  disintegrating  processes  have  wrought 
more  effectually  in  loosening  its  hold  on  the 
popular  mind. 

The  spread  of  enlightenment  has  meant 
the  diffusion  of  ideas  subversive  of  grosser 
forms  of  idolatry  which,  in  the  course  of 
centuries,  had  become  accretions  of  Buddhism 
in  China. 

Shrines  are  less  frequented  and  revenue 
has  become  more  and  more  restricted  to 
the  endowments  of  temples  and  monasteries. 
These  latter  buildings  have  become  objects 
of  desire  to  leading  promoters  of  the  new 
education.  Numerous,  in  most  provinces, 
with  surpassing  advantages  of  situation  in 
relation  to  centres  of  population,  of  extensive 
dimensions,  and  suitable  in  structure,  it  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at  that  proposals  to 
appropriate  Buddist  temples  and  monasteries 
for  the  purposes  of  the  new  learning  met 
with  large  favour  in  high  places.  There 
seems  little  doubt  that  a  policy  of  confiscation, 
now  begun,  will  be  made  thorough,  for 
Buddhism,  though  a  factor  in  the  religion 
of  most  Chinese,  is  not  a  force  so  potent 
that  it  can  resist  ofticial  aggression,  or  inspire 
its  votaries  to  any  united  or  organised 
endeavour  for  its  conservation  as  part  of  a 
national  creed. 

Of  the  years  that  lie  between  the  two 
points  of  time  thus  marked  as  the  date  of 
the  entry  of  Buddhism  into  China,  and  our 
twentieth  century  impressions  of  its  corrup- 
tions, decay,  and  impending  sacrifice  to  the 
demands  of  the  new  time,  we  cannot  write 
particularly.  Attention  should,  however,  be 
called  to  certain  peculiarly  attractive  and 
instructive  phases  of  its  history  as  one  of 
China's  religions. 

To  realise  the  power  that  Buddhism  once 
had  over  the  minds  and  hearts  of  its  adherents 
among  the  Chinese  let  it  suffice  to  refer  to 
the  best  known  pilgrimages  to  its  holy  land. 
Among  these  the  story  of  Fa  Hien,  translated 
by  Rennisat,  Beale,  and  Legge,  may  be  cited. 
Here  is  seen  the  pious  outgoings,  the  devout 
aspirations  of  the  pure  soul  directed  to 
things  not  akin  to  the  "  dust  of  this  world," 
and  the  self-subjugation  and  self-abandonment 
that  are  possible  only  when  the  heart  is 
inflaiTied,  and  the  whole  nature  enlightened 
by  the  presence  of  a  great  truth  that  wholly 
possesses  the  soul.  In  Fa  Hien's  time, 
399  A.D.,  and  for  seven  centuries  in  all, 
Buddhists  from  India  "  came  and  went  in 
a  ceaseless  stream." 

At  other  periods  it  was  under  a.  ban,  as 
in  the  middle  of  the  ninth  century  a.d.,  when 
wellnigh  fifty  thousand  monasteries  and 
smaller   shrines   were    destroyed,   and    about 


two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  inmates,  male 
and  female,  had  to  find  a  way  back  into  lay 
society. 

It  is  still  true  that,  throughout  the  land, 
Buddhism  is  the  religion  most  in  evidence. 
Its  temples  and  pagodas  stand  among  the 
fairest  scenes,  compelling  the  admiration  of 
travellers  on  the  inland  waterways.  On  the 
upper  slopes  of  mountains  at  commanding 
view-points,  or  by  belts  of  charming  woodland 
in  the  valleys,  are  the  temples  and  altars  of 
this  religion.  In  the  cities  and  towns  its 
shrines  are  the  most  frequented,  and  its  priests 
are  constantly  met  with  in  contact  with  the 
people. 

It  became  what  it  was  to  the  Chinese,  and 
what  it  might  have  continued  to  be,  by 
processes  of  selection  in  the  sphere  of  dogma 
and  worship.  Its  leading  doctrines  changed 
their  significance.  The  essential  features  of 
Guataina's  teaching  were  discarded.  China, 
in  accepting  Buddhism,  held  to  its  belief  in 
a  supreme  God  and  in  many  lesser  deities, 
good  and  evil.  As  an  example,  it  may  be 
noticed  that  in  South  China,  and  probably 
throughout  the  empire,  every  Buddhist  temple 
has  its  shrine  to  Kwan  Yin,  concerning  whom 
the  story  is  told  that  she  had  merited  Nirvana 
and  was  about  entering  heaven,  when  she 
was  drawn  back  to  e.irth  again  from  the 
very  threshold  by  the  thought  of  the  woes 
and  miseries  of  men.  Heaven  was  not  for 
her  until  she  had  seen  the  sin-stricken  and 
toil-worn  sons  of  earth  safely  gathered  there. 

Buddhism,  like  Confucianism,  is  an  example 
of  the  law  of  survivals.  The  chief  strength 
of  its  creed  lay,  however,  for  the  Chinese  in 
its  borrowed  elements. 

In  his  fine  fragment,  "  Hyperion,"  Keats 
lays  down  a  law  which  is  ever  in  operation — 
"  First  in  beauty  should  be  first  in  might." 

Nothing  noble  in  religious  faiths  is  allowed 
to  die.  The  "  noble  blends  with  noble 
things,"  and  it  thus  serves  to  awaken  in 
many  that  restless,  unsatisfied  longing  which 
is  met  by  a  response  of  the  soul  to  the  highest 
truth  in  the  revelation  of  the  Son  of  God. 

Taoism. 

Taoism  is  a  third  tree  of  religion  that  has 
retained  some  of  its  earlier  vitality,  though  it 
has  long  been  marked  by  signs  of  decay, 
tending  to  downfall,  Laotzv,  its  founder, 
was  born  half  a  century  before  Confucius. 
A  probable,  certainly  a  credible,  part  of  his 
life-story  is  that  he  held  the  high  office  of 
keeper  of  the  archives  at  the  imperial  court 
of  the  Chan  dynasty.  The  leading  doctrine 
taught  by  Laotzv,  the  venerable  philosopher 
was  that  of  abstraction  from  worldly  cares. 
His  chief  speculations  were  concerning 
reason  and  virtue.  There  is  a  tradition  that 
Confucius  obtained  an  interview  with  the  un- 
orthodox teacher,  but  could  find  nothing  to 
profit  in  his  bold  flight  of  imagination, 
"  soaring  like  the  dragon  above  the  clouds  of 
heaven." 

On  retiring  from  office,  and  whilst  in  the 
act  of  leaving  his  native  state,  Laotzv  was 
prevailed  upon  to  write  the  "  Canon  of  Reason 
and  Virtue,"  a  short  treatise  containing  rather 
iitoi'c  than  five  thousand  words. 

This  book  has  long  been  one  of  the  chief 
puzzles  of  translators,  and  the  mass  of  lore 
written  for  its  elucidation  has  not  sufficed  to 
make  clear  some  of  the  more  abstruse  utter- 
ances of  its  author. 

A  key  to  the  part  understanding  of  the  To 
Tok  King  on  the  transcendal  side  is  found 
in  the  following  comprehensive  definition  of 
the  Tao  by  a  modern  European  writer  : — 
Tao  is  "  I. — The  Absolute,  the  totality  of  being 
and  things.      2.— The  phenomenal  world  and 


The   Temple  of   Confucius. 
The   Sleeping   Buddha. 


PEKING    SHRINES. 


The  Temple   of   Heaven. 
Pi   Yung   Su   Temple. 


340     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


its  order.  3. — The  ethical  nature  of  the  good 
man  and  the  principle  of  its  action." 

On  the  practical  side  the  path  of  Laotzv 
lies  before  him  plain  and  straight.  It  leads 
back  from  the  complex  to  the  simple  ;  from 
the  disorders  and  vices  of  corrupt  society  to 
primitive  conditions.  Our  philosopher  would 
have  all  things  as  they  were  at  the  beginning, 
when  men  could  live  their  lives  on  the  high- 
est plane  of  virtue,  and  the  "  onward  march  " 
of  the  race  had  not  carried  it  from  its  proper 
goal.  To  attain  this,  the  one  means  is  self- 
abnegation,  a  sacrifice  on  the  part  of  the 
individual  that  "  puts  away "  losing,  that  it 
mav  gain  ;  den\-ing,  that  it  may  acquire  .... 
itself. 

The  student  of  Chinese  religions  will 
inquire  what  the  teaching  of  Laotzv  has  to 
do  with  the  magic  arts  of  the  present  day 
priests  of  Tao.  their  charms  and  spells  and 
senseless  incantations  ;  and  he  will  seek  to 
know,  further,  how  the  "  Canon  of  Reason 
and  Virtue  "  is  related  to  the  pantheon  of  gods 
and  godesses  in  Taoistic  worship. 

To  such  inquiries  the  answer,  covering 
long  stretches  of  history-,  is  that  Taoism,  as 
interpreted  by  the  disciples  of  Laotzv,  has 
gathered  to  itself  during  the  centuries  all 
manner  of  superstitious  beliefs.  The  "  elixir 
of  life,"  ■•  pills  of  immortality,"  and  "  the 
philosopher's  stone,"  became,  in  the  course 
of  time,  articles  of  its  creed.  She  Wang  Ti, 
that  great  emperor  who  founded  a  united 
China  on  the  ruins  of  the  old  feudal  system 
|B.c.  259-210),  was  an  ardent  patron  of  this 
already  debased  and  degenerate  religion. 

The  affinities  which  Taoism,  as  it  exists 
to-day,  has  for  the  mind  of  man  in  dark 
ages  is  shown  by  its  multitude  of  willing 
followers. 

The  dawn  of  enlightenment,  through  the 
new  civilisation  and  education,  must  needs 
have  far-reaching  results  on  the  future  of 
Taoism.  Like  all  grosser  forms  of  error,  it 
is  destined  to  fall  as  the  forces  of  truth  win 
their  widening  way  through  the  land. 

Thus  far  attention  has  been  occupied  with 
the  more  striking  and  permanent  features  of 
Chinese  religion,  illustrated  by  three  gigantic 
growths  that  overshadow  lesser  forms  of 
life.     It  remains  to  be  added  that  certain  of 


these  latter  were  in  existence  in  the  soil 
before  they  became  what  we  have  seen  fit 
to  call  undergrowths.  Most  ancient  among 
these  lowlier  religious  plants  is 

Fetishism. 

No  one  can  point  with  assurance  to  a  time 
when  China  was  free  from  fetish  worship. 
Mountains,  stones,  plants,  and  trees  are 
among  the  objects  that  have  for  the 
present  generation  of  Chinese  an  awesome 
potency.  In  its  most  intense  form  this  power 
is  centred  in  the  holy  mountain,  Tai  Shan. 

Animals  are  tokens.  Among  tokenistic 
animals  the  dragon  holds  the  first  place. 
The  dragon  of  the  sky  is  indissolubly  linked 
in  the  minds  of  the  masses  with  the  emperor 
who  sits  on  the  dragon  throne,  and  who, 
after  death,  ascends  upon  the  dragon  "  to  be 
a  guest  on  high." 

The  right  relation  of  celestial  influences, 
over  which  the  dragon  presides,  with  terres- 
trial influences  that  work  for  good  or  ill  in 
human  life  is  a  vital  principle  of  geomancy 
— a  pseudo-science,  and  at  the  same  time  a 
most  flourishing  and  widely  extended  religious 
undergrowth  in  the  soil  of  China. 

Last,  but  far  from  least,  is  the 

WoKSHiP  OF  Ancestors. 

There  is  a  true  sense  in  which  ancestral 
worship  may  be  said  to  be  both  the  root 
and  the  flower  of  Chinese  religion.  It  is 
above  and  it  runs  through  other  forms  of 
faith  and  worship  which  derive  much  of 
their  efficacy  from  the  ancestor-worship  with 
which  they  are  interpenetrated. 

The  Chinese  believe  that  man  has  three 
souls,  for  which  after  death  the  tomb,  Hades, 
and  the  ancestral  tablet  are  the  appointed 
abodes.  As  are  the  needs  of  men  in  this 
life,  so  are  the  needs  of  their  disembodied 
spirits  in  the  after-world.  There,  however, 
the  spirits  of  the  dead  are  clothed  with  a 
fearsome  power  to  inflict  calamities  on  their 
living  posterity.  From  this  view  it  follows 
that  sacrifices  to  the  dead  are  propitiatory  ; 
and,  also,  that  they  are  the  outcome  of  a 
faith  unfeigned,  an  ardent  hope,  and  a 
fervent  desire,  on  the  part  of  the  worshipper. 
Its  connection   with    the    family    and    social 


life  of  the  nation  gives  to  ancestral  worship 
in  China  a  position  which  is  probably 
unique  in  the  history  of  non-Christian  re- 
ligions. 

The  worship  of  departed  heroes  who  have 
been  deified  by  imperial  decree  may  here 
be  mentioned  as  an  extension  of  the  worship 
of  ancestors. 

Finally,  it  should  be  stated  that  the 
worship  at  the  Altar  of  Heaven  in  Peking, 
wliich  the  Kmperor,  as  the  high-priest  of  his 
people  offers,  periodically,  with  solemn 
sacrifices,  in  other  words,  the 

State  Religion  of  China, 

is  also  to  be  regarded  as  in  closest  associa- 
tion with  ancestral  worship.  We  are  not 
here  concerned  with  the  degree  of  personality 
attaching  to  the  name  "  Heaven "  and  '•  God." 
It  is,  at  least,  strongly  probable  that  the 
Supreme  Ruler,  often  called  "  Heaven,"  was 
regarded  by  the  early  fathers  of  the  Chinese 
race  as  a  personal  Supreme  Being. 

This  survey  of  "impressions"  may  fitly 
conclude  by  quoting  the  first  reference  to 
religious  worship  found  in  Chinese  history, 
where  it  is  said  of  the  Emperor  Shun 
(2736  B.C.)  ;  "  He  sacrificed  specially,  but 
with  the  ordinary  forms,  to  Shang  Ti ; 
sacrificed  with  purity  to  the  Six  Honoured 
Ones ;  offered  appropriate  sacrifices  to  the 
hills  and  rivers,  and  extended  his  worship 
to  the  host  of  spirits." 

Here,  in  the  first  ages  of  the  world,  are 
the  plants  of  Chinese  religion.  These  helped 
to  enrich  the  soil  and  to  prepare  it  for  the 
seeds  and  roots  sown  and  planted  in  after 
times. 

The  whole  as  we  see  it  to-day  is  tangled 
and  intermixed  in  such  a  way  that  clearing 
must  mean  uprooting  over  large  spaces. 
This  is  a  work  of  time  to  be  brought  to 
pass  by  forces  irresistible  in  their  silent, 
ceaseless  energy.  The  action  of  such  forces 
in  China  to-day  may  well  recall  the  lines  of 
a  poem  already  quoted  in  these  impressions 
of  Chinese  religion  : — 

"  W^e  fall  by  Nature's  law 
.    .    .    On  our  heels  a  fresh  perfection  treads, 
A  power  more  strong  in  beauty 

fated  to  excel  us    .    .    . 

We  are  such  forest  trees." 


SOCIAL    LIFE. 


HONGKONG. 

PJMOXG  Englishmen  who  have 
never  visited  (he  outlying 
portions  of  the  Empire  the 
idea  prevails  that  social  dis- 
tinctions are  forgotten  in  the 
presence  of  the  stern  realities 
of  life  in  the  colonies,  and 
that  "  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men  "  are 
united  in  the  bonds  of  brotherhood  by  a 
common  feeling  of  expatriation.  But,  though 
this  idea  may  not  be  without  justitication 
in  the  backwoods  of  Canada,  the  bush  of 
Australia,  and  the  veldt  of  South  Africa,  it 
is  certainly  a  travesty  of  the  conditions 
obtaining  in  our  Crown  Colonies.  Nowhere, 
perhaps,  is  it  more  completely  repudiated 
than  in  Hongkong,  where  society  is  cast 
into  innumerable  divisions  and  subdivisions. 
Apart  from  the  Chinese,  the  population 
of  the  island  numbers  in  round  figures 
twenty  thousand,  and  if  from  this  the 
rank  and  file  of  the  land  and  sea  forces 
be  withdrawn,  the  figure  is  reduced  to 
between  ten  and  twelve  thousand.  In 
this  little  community  are  produced  all  the 
characteristics  of  suburban  life  in  England, 
intensified  by  peculiar  local  circumstances. 
As  is,  perhaps,  only  natural,  each  of  the 
principal  nationalities  represented  —  British, 
German.  Portuguese,  Indian,  and  Japanese — 
resolves  itself  into  a  separate  and  distinct 
unit,  while  Eurasians  here,  as  elsewhere,  hold 
a  precarious  position  somewhere  between 
the  foreign  and  the  native  elements.  The 
British  community  is  divided  into  two  main 
classes — ofiicial  and  mercantile — but  these 
are  capable  of  infinite  multiplication.  After 
all  the  more  familiar  methods  of  social 
distinction  have  been  exhausted,  and  officers 
of  the  Navy  and  Army,  civil  servants, 
professional  men,  merchants,  and  large 
retailers,  have  grouped  themselves  into 
separate  constellations,  other  and  more 
ingenious  devices  are  introduced  to  satisfy 
the  desire  for  exclusiveness.  Thus  a  man's 
exact  position  in  the  social  scale  is  not 
infrequently  determined  by  the  altitude  of 
his  house.  Generally  speaking,  it  may  be 
■  said  that  the  higher  he  climbs  up  the  side 
of  the  Peak  the  rarer  becomes  the  social 
atmosphere  which  he  breathes,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  between  those  who  reside  at 
the  summit  and  those  who  live  in  the 
peninsula  of  Kowloon  there  is  as  wide  a 
gulf  as  that  which  divided  Dives  and  Lazarus. 
A  club  which  welcomes  with  open  arms  a 
mercantile    clerk — or    rather    "  assistant,"   as 


he  becomes  upon  landing  in  Hongkong — 
closes  its  doors  resolutely  against  the  head 
of  a  departmental  store,  and  hence  the 
existence  of  the  Peak,  Hongkong,  and 
St.  George's  Clubs.  That  Pope's  dictum, 
"  The  proper  study  of  mankind  is  man," 
should  find  general  acceptance  in  a  society 
so  constituted  need  occasion  no  surprise, 
especially  when  the  paucity  of  other  interest- 
ing topics  of  conversation,  owing  to  the 
circumscribed  character  and  isolated  position 
of  the  Colony,  is  borne  in   mind. 

For  all  this,  though,  life  may  be  passed 
very  pleasantly  in  Hongkong,  both  by  those 
who  move  in  the  "  upper  circles "  and  by 
those  whose  souls  are  untroubled  with  social 
aspirations.  Sport  forms  the  pivot  of  exis- 
tence. Happy  Valley  is  its  chief,  though  by 
no  means  its  only,  home,  and  here  at 
different  seasons  of  the  year  cricket,  tennis, 
football,  hockey,  and  golf  hold  sway.  Races 
take  place  in  February  on  three  consecutive 
days,  which  are  observed  as  general  holidays. 
All  the  world  and  his  wife  may  then  be 
seen  upon  the  course,  but  nobody  so  far 
forgets  himself  as  to  show  anything  more 
than  a  languid  interest  in  the  proceedings. 
The  inspiriting  cry  of  the  bookmaker  and 
the  clamour  of  excited  voices  are  unknown, 
betting  being  carried  on  in  grim  silence  by 
means  of  the  pari-mutuel  and  totalisator. 
"All  the  air  a  solemn  stillness  holds"  that 
is  broken  only  at  intervals  by  the  music  of 
a  military  band.  There  is  a  fourth  day's 
meeting  at  the  end  of  the  week,  when  the 
events  are  furnished  by  those  ponies  who 
have  failed  to  carry  off  prizes  on  the  previous 
three  days.  Gymkhanas  are  held  on  the 
same  course  at  other  seasons  of  the  year. 
Polo  is  played  on  another  ground  specially 
reserved  for  the  purpose.  "Yachting  is  very 
popular  during  the  winter  and  spring,  the 
Canton  Delta  affording  magnificent  oppor- 
tunities for  indulging  in  this  delightful 
pastime.  In  the  summer  months  relief  from 
the  enervating  heat  is  sought  in  the  cool, 
refreshing  waters  of  the  harbour,  and 
numerous  picnic  parties  repair  by  steam 
launch  to  the  seclusion  of  one  or  other  of 
the  adjacent  islets. 

Of  sporting,  athletic,  and  social  clubs  it 
may  be  said  that  "their  name  is  legion." 
They  exist  for  every  branch  of  sport  and 
for  every  section  of  the  community.  The 
premier  club  is  undoubtedly  the  Hongkong 
Club,  which  occupies  a  commanding  and 
well-appointed  building,  containing  reading, 
writing,  dining,  biUiard,  and  card  rooms, 
bowling    alley,    residential    quarters,    and    a 


library  stocked  with  upwards  of  twenty 
thousand  volumes.  In  point  of  importance 
and  equipment  the  German  Club  comes  next. 
The  Peak  Club,  a  much  smaller  institution, 
is  designed,  as  its  name  implies,  to  meet  the 
gregarious  tendencies  of  those  who  reside  at 
the  Peak  and  feel  disinclined  in  the  evening 
to  return  to  the  city  of  Victoria  in  quest  of 
society.  Ladies  are  admitted  to  the  privileges 
of  the  Club,  and  dances  and  bridge  parties 
form  the  chief  amusements  between  the  tea 
and  dinner  hours  in  the  cool  months  of  the 
year.  The  club-house  commands  charming 
views  of  the  surrounding  scenery  and  is 
enclosed  in  a  garden  which  is  always  bright 
with  flowers. 

The  chief  form  of  amusement  during  the 
long  winter  evenings  is  dancing.  The  season 
opens  with  St.  Andrew's  Ball  and  closes 
with  the  Volunteer  Ball,  and  in  the  mean- 
time a  constant  succession  of  subscription 
dances  is  maintained  by  various  local 
organisations.  Plays  are  occasionally  pro- 
duced at  the  theatre  by  the  Amateur  Dramatic 
Society,  and  from  time  to  time  performances 
are  given  by  travelling  companies.  For  the 
rest,  people  are  thrown  upon  their  own 
resources.  The  prevailing  character  of  the 
European  residences  is  such  as  to  allow  of 
no  excuse  for  inhospitality.  The  houses  are 
commodious  and,  although  perched  on  the 
hill-side,  are  almost  invariably  surrounded  by 
gardens.  Many  of  them  also  possess  tennis 
courts.  The  difficulty  of  getting  from  one 
place  to  another,  however,  tends  to  restrict 
social  intercourse.  The  gradients  make 
carriages  impossible— even  the  Governor  is 
carried  about  in  a  chair  by  eight  scarlet-clad 
coolies — and  in  these  circumstances  a  call 
often  partakes  of  the  nature  of  an  expedition. 

SHANGHAI. 

What  Shanghai  lacks  in  beauty  it  atones 
for  in  vivacity.  Throughout  the  winter  it 
is  kept  gay  with  a  constant  succession  of 
dances,  concerts,  dinner  parties,  and  other 
social  gatherings.  The  St.  Andrew's  Society, 
which  embraces  every  leal  Scotsman  in 
the  Settlement,  is  responsible  for  the  largest 
ball  of  the  season.  The  Masonic  brethren, 
who  are  very  strongly  represented,  combine 
to  give  a  grand  ball  every  alternate  year, 
and  regular  dances  and  occasional  smoking 
concerts  are  held  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Volunteer  Companies,  the  Merchant  Officers' 
Association,  the  Engineers'  Institute,  and  the 
Customs  Club.  The  St.  George's,  St.  Patrick's, 
and   Lancastrians'   Societies    provide    various 


342     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


fimiis  of  entertainment  for  members  and  their 
friends,  as  well  as  holding  out  a  helping 
hand  to  any  distressed  fellow  countrymen 
who  may  he  in  need  of  assistance.  Excellent 
performances  of  well-known  plays  are  pre- 
sented hy  the  British.  French,  and  German 
Amateur  Dramatic  S<x:ieties.  and  a  series 
of  classical  concerts  is  contributed  by  the 
Konzert  Verein.  A  well-trained  band  of 
capable  instrumentalists,  engaged  by  the 
Municipality,  renders  selections  of  high-class 
music  in  the  Town  Hall  during  the  winter 
months,  and  plays  popular  music  in  the 
public  gardens  and  the  recreation  ground 
during  the  summer. 

The  Settlement  is  honeycombed  with  social 
and  sporting  clubs,  the  most  important  of 
those  coming  within  the  first-named  c-ittegory 
being  the  Shanghai,  Concordia.  Masonic. 
Country,  and  Customs  Clubs.  Owing  to  the 
fact  that  the  foreign  population  is  almost 
entirely  of  a  mercantile  character,  the  social 
conditions  are  much  less  complex  than  in 
India  or  Hongkong  :  but.  nevertheless,  some 
anomalies  have  been  established.  For  in- 
stance, a  clerk  in  a  bank,  shipping.  '  or 
mercantile  ot)ice  will  be  welcomed  with  open 


arms  into  a  circle  from  which  a  well-to-do 
and  highly  esteemed  British  resident  who 
has  the  misfortune  to  be  directly  connected 
with  a  large  retail  store  will  be  tabtxied. 

\o  fewer  than  seventeen  nationalities  have 
their  own  Consular  representatives  at  the 
port,  but  the  British  section  of  the  community 
has  always  maintained  a  long  lead  in  both 
social  and  mercantile  circles,  the  next  in 
importance  being  the  German  section.  It  is, 
no  doubt,  due  to  this  predominance  of  the 
British  that  sport  occupies  so  prominent  a 
place  in  local  life.  Hunting,  horse-racing, 
polo,  baseball,  cricket,  hockey,  tennis,  shooting, 
rowing,  and  sailing  have  each  a  represen- 
tative club,  which,  with  the  solitary  exception 
of  baseball,  was  originally  instituted  by  the 
British.  During  the  summer  months  tennis, 
swimming,  and  boating  are  the  most  favoured 
pastimes,  but  in  the  winter  golf,  hockey,  and 
football  claim  most  attention.  For  those 
who  enjoy  a  run  across  country  excellent 
sport  is  provided  by  the  Paper-hunt  Club 
and  the  Drag-hunt  Club.  An  Automobile  Club 
has  been  formed,  but  little  is  heard  of  it, 
although    close     upon     two    hundred    motor 


licences    have    been  issued   hy    the  Municipal 
Council  up  to  date. 

Tlie  a%erage  woman  leads  a  much  more 
luxurious  life  in  Shanghai  than  at  home.  For 
this,  thanks  are  due  to  the  Chinese,  who 
make  admirable  servants,  a  good  "  boy "  or 
cook  being  quite  capable  of  taking  all  the 
responsibility  of  managing  tlie  entire  affairs 
of  the  household.  Social  engagements,  there- 
fore, claim  the  major  part  of  every  woman's 
time.  For  paying  calls  a  carriage  can  be 
kept  at  a  cost  tliat  would  barely  suffice  to 
pay  the  wages  of  a  coachman  in  England. 
Ample  opportunity  for  indulgence  in  the 
mild  excilenient  of  shopping  is  provided  by 
the  many  excellent  foreign  stores,  at  which 
it  is  possible  to  buy  almost  anything  pur- 
chasable in  England,  and  the  fascinating 
pursuit  of  bargain-hunting  may  be  followed 
from  time  to  time  at  one  or  other  of  the 
"  annual  sales "  or  autumn  sales.  When 
wearied  of  the  daily  round,  the  ladies  of 
Shanghai  can  find  quiet  and  seclusion  at 
the  Empress  Club,  the  only  ladies'  club  in 
China  that  can  boast  its  own  premises  and 
independent  set  of  rules. 


^^Me^^^ 


THE   PRESS. 


By   W.    H.    Donald,    Editor    of  the    "China    Mail: 


She  early  history  of  the  Press 
in  the  Far  East  is  somewhat 
shrouded  in  mystery.  So  far 
as  can  be  ascertained  no  data 
exists  as  to  whether  the  printer 
and  the  ubiquitous  reporter 
followed  hot  on  the  heels  of 
the  Honourable  East  India  Company  or  not. 
Between  1613 — when  the  daring  pioneers  of 
the  China  trade  first  sent  their  white-winged 
clippers  round  the  Cape  to  gather  in  the 
silks  and  teas  from  tar  Cathay  and  Japan — 
and  1830,  there  is  no  trace  of  a  newspaper 
having  been  established.  Though  a  foreign 
settlement  was  in  process  of  growth  in 
Canton  as  early  as  1702.  and  though  it  gradu- 
ally developed,  despite  Chinese  opposition, 
until  1834,  'hfi  ■IT'"  of  "i'''  i'^ne  lived  without 
what  is  now  regarded  as  a  sine  qua  non  of 
civilisation — the  newspaper.  But  the  printer 
was  not  to  be  denied.  He  appeared,  it  is 
certain,  in  1834  in  Canton,  and  the  Canton 
Register  burst  upon  the  people  of  the  city 
of  Rams  at  a  period  when  history  was  in 
rapid  process  of  formation  ;  when  the  days 
were  pregnant  with  big  happenings.  One 
John  Slade  was  the  editor  of  this  pioneer  of 
the  Press  in  the  Far  East,  and  his  paper 
shows  him  to  have  been  a  man  with  the 
bump  of  combativeness  largely  developed, 
though  the  circulation  of  his  lucubrations 
may  have  been  limited.  He  lived  in  an  age 
of  keen  dissension  and  at  a  time  when  food 
for  the  Press  was  of  a  hair-raising  character 
such  as  few  modern  journals  have  the  fortune 
to  obtain.  In  the  columns  of  his  little  paper 
history  was  writ  large,  and  therein  is  to  be 
discovered  records  of  the  agitation — ultimately 
forcibly  assisted  by  warlike  anti-foreign  Chi- 
nese— which  eventually  led  to  the  founding 
of  a  British  Colony  in  F"ar  Eastern  seas. 

In  the  early  days  of  this  agitation,  Hong- 
kong— where  now  lives  and  has  its  being 
the  whole  of  the  foreign  Press  of  Southern 
China — was  scarcely  thought  of  as  a  possible 
Colony.  It  was  a  mass  of  rock — a  nest  of 
pirates — though  in  1836  a  correspondent  in 
the  Canton  Register  prophetically  suggested 
that  '•  if  the  lion's  paw  is  to  be  put  down  on 
any  part  of  the  south  side  of  China,  let  it  be 
Hongkong  ;   let   the  lion  declare  it  under  his 


guarantee  a  free  port,  and  in  ten  years  it 
will  be  the  most  considerable  mart  East  of 
the  Cape. "  The  prophet  was  right.  About 
this  period  the  Register  found  opposition,  and 
the  papers  thrived  while  the  British  mer- 
chants were  allowed  asylum  in  Canton, 
fighting  vigoro;isly  the  while  for  a  strong 
and  forceful  British  policy  in  China.  And 
the  good  fight  initiated  so  long  ago  has  been 
carried  on  down  the  corridors  of  time  by  every 
other  paper  that  has  since  been  founded. 

What  is  erroneously  described  as  the  opium 
war  in  1839,  brought  about  the  temporary 
suspension  of  Canton  papers.  Driven  from 
Canton  to  Macao,  and  moved  on  from  that 
settlement,  the  two  thousand  British  subjects 
ultimately  settled  in  Hongkong  in  1841,  and 
brought  their  predilections  for  a  Press  with 
them.  On  January  26,  1841,  possession 
was  formally  taken  of  the  island,  and  on 
May  1st,  of  the  same  year,  the  first  press  was 
established.  A  Government  Gazette  was  pub- 
lished. It  was  a  four-page  paper  issued  at 
half-monthly  periods,  but  even  this  frequency 
was  too  much  for  its  publishers,  and  gladly  it 
was  handed  over  in  1842  to  the  first  pro- 
prietor of  a  newspaper  on  British  soil  in  the 
Far  East. 

On  March  17,  1842,  the  Friend  of  CItina 
was  established,  and  gave  the  news  of  the 
period  in  weekly  doses.  It  was  of  four  small 
pages,  but,  on  taking  over  the  Gazette  on 
March  23rd,  the  issue  of  the  journal  on 
March  24th  was  enlarged  in  size  though  not 
in  pages,  and  the  title  was  altered  to  the 
Friend  of  Cliina  and  Hongliong  Gazette.  The 
editors  were  then  the  Kev.  J.  L.  Schuck  and 
Mr.  James  White  (later  M.P.  for  Brighton, 
England)  and,  though  the  publisher's  name 
was  not  disclosed  in  the  early  years,  in  1845 
it  was  given  out  as  John  Carr,  and  later  a 
Portuguese  was  the  printer.  In  the  issues 
of  this  paper  are  naturally  to  be  found  the 
impress  of  the  first  steps  taken  to  make  Hong- 
kong the  important  port  it  is  to-day,  the 
editor  remarking  in  the  issue  of  September  22, 
1842,  upon  the  "magnificence  of  the  pros- 
perous career  now  before  us.  .  .  .  Already 
we  hear  the  teeming  projects  fraught  with 
good  for  our  Island."  The  Friend  of  China 
did   not  have    the   journalistic  field   to    itself. 


however.  The  Canton  Register  was  in 
circulation,  and  on  January  I,  1843,  the 
Eastern  Globe  made  its  appearance,  though 
it  did  not  prove  of  lusty  growth,  despite 
the  political  warmth  of  the  time.  The 
officials  were  in  the  bad  graces  of  the 
populace,  and  the  Press  strongly  criticised 
their  actions,  not  even  sparing  the  then 
Governor,  Sir  H.  Pottinger.  Though  an 
ordinance  to  regulate  the  starting  of  news- 
papers was  passed  in  1844  (the  second  act), 
apparently  the  widest  freedom  was  given, 
for  no  clauses  to  safeguard  against  libel 
were  inserted,  and  the  expressions  of  opinion 
of  Press  writers  were  couched  in  what  would 
nowadays  be  counted  criminally  libellous 
language.  Sir  H.  Pottinger  was  described 
in  one  issue  of  the  Friend  of  Cliina  as  a 
man  who  "  appears  either  to  have  been  utterly 
devoid  of  the  sense  of  the  moral  obligations 
imposed  upon  him,  his  heart  being  perfectly 
seared  to  the  impression  of  suffering 
humanity,  or  deliberately  living  in  seclusion 
among  a  few  adoring  parasites  whose  limited 
intellects  were  devoted  to  pander  to  the 
great  man's  vanity  ; "  and  the  lesser  officials 
were  mercilessly  dealt  with. 

The  lines  of  the  early  guardians  of  the 
constitution  were  by  no  means  cast  in  pleasant 
places.  They  had  managed  to  incur  the 
displeasure  of  both  the  Press  and  the  entire 
coiniTiercial  body,  but  despite  the  manifest 
antagonism,  the  Colony  progressed,  and  in 
1845,  which  year  the  historian  describes  as 
having  centred  in  it  the  principal  social  and 
general  progress  of  the  Colony,  the  Cliina 
Mail  was  established,  with  the  notification 
that  it  was  to  be  the  official  paper  for 
Government  announcements.  All  other  papers 
published  before  it  subsequently  died,  and 
to-day  it  stands  as  the  oldest  living  link 
connecting  the  affairs  of  the  present  with 
those  of  the  diin  and  distant  past.  On 
February  20,  1845,  it  appeared  as  a  four- 
page  weekly,  edited  by  Mr.  Shortrede,  and 
became,  like  its  predecessors,  a  fearless  ex- 
ponent of  the  public's  views,  despite  that  it 
was  the  official    organ  of  the  Government. 

About  this  time  tliere  al^o  flourished  a 
paper  known  as  the  Hongkong  Register,  edited 
by   one   Mr.  Cairns,   and  it  seems  that  he  is 


344     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


chie6y  mentioned  in  historj'  as  the  successful 
party  in  an  action  in  1847  against  a  Lieutenant 
Sargent,  of  the  95th  Royal  Irish  Regiment, 
claiming  damages  for  assault.  The  lieutenant 
objected  to  a  pai'agraph  appearing  in  the 
Register  and  promptly  assaulted  and  battered 


Hongkong  did  not  follow  his  good  example, 
as  events  will  show. 

In  the  same  year,  when  the  judicial  affairs 
of  the  Colony  were  regarded  with  a  certain 
amount  of  distrust,  the  editor  of  the  China 
Mail  was  cited  for  not  conforming  with  the 


'CHINA  MAIL." 


the  editor.  The  jury  awarded  the  editor 
$1,000  damages,  and  he  had  the  distinction 
of  being  described  in  court  as  "a  very  in- 
offensive man,  and  one  who,  as  an  editor, 
seldom  had  come  to  extremes  or  suffered  gall 
to  mingle  with  his  ink."  In  that  respect  all 
his  successors  in    the    journalistic  world    of 


"  HONGKONG  GAZETTE." 

provisions  of  Ordinance  No.  2,  of  1844,  by 
"  having  removed  his  printing  establishment 
two  years  before  from  one  place  to  anotlier 
without  communicating  the  fact  to  the  authori- 
ties." The  prosecution  was  supposed  to  have 
had  something  at  the  bottom  of  it,  as  "  Mr. 
Shortrede    had    made    himself    rather    con- 


spicuous some  time  before  in  the  matter  of 
some  revelations  concerning  the  police,"  and 
it  was  quashed  when  it  reached  the  criminal 
session  stage,  the  Crown  Prosecutor  refusing 
to  lend  himself  to  such  vexatious  proceedings. 
The  defence  regretted  "  that  the  prosecution 
had  not  been  suffered  to  take  its  course  so 
as  to  have  had  an  opportunity  of  exposing 
its  whole  history."  Mr.  Cairns  later  vacated 
the  editorial  chair  of  the  Register,  and  it  was 
taken  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Mitchell,  who,  in  1850, 
resigned  to  join  the  Government  service  as  a 
police  magistrate  and  sheriff,  the  appointment 
being  considered  improper  and  much  criti- 
cised. He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  W.  F. 
Bevan,  who,  in  1853,  in  turn  joined  the 
Government  service. 

Considerable  feeling  existed  in  Hongkong 
in  1847  regarding  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  William 
Tarrant  from  the  Surveyor-General's  staff — he 
having  brought  charges  of  extortion  against 
certain  Government  employes — and  later 
being  charged  with  conspiring  to  injure  the 
character  of  Major  Caine.  The  charge  was 
dismissed  and  the  incident  is  only  mentioned 
because  Mr.  Tarrant,  in  June,  1850,  pur- 
chased and  edited  the  Friend  of  China  and 
Hougkoiig  Gazette,  in  which  paper  he  carried 
on  a  vigorous  campaign  against  the  Govern- 
ment. The  year  1853  (September  24th),  saw 
the  publication  of  another  Government  Gazette, 
little  satisfaction,  in  the  shape  of  favourable 
treatment,  having  been  obtained  by  the 
Government  from  the  China  Mail  by  virtue 
of  its  notifications  having  been  published  ex- 
clusively in  that  paper. 

In  1855  Mr.  Andrew  Scott  Dixon — who 
some  years  later  became  proprietor  of  the 
China  Mail — started  a  shipping  sheet  under 
the  title  of  the  Hongkong  Shipping  List,  and, 
whilst  it  made  no  pretensions  to  give  news, 
it  seems  to  have  filled  a  want,  for  it  lasted 
many  years.  In  1857  came  the  Daily  Press, 
started  by  Mr.  G.  M.  Rider,  first  as  a  daily 
shipping  list  with  limited  news,  but  later  as 
a  full-fledged  newspaper,  with  Mr.  Yorick 
Jones  Murrow  as  editor.  Though  small,  it 
pioneered  the  way,  at  all  events,  for  the 
daily  newspaper  in  the  Colony,  the  China  Mail 
being  transformed  from  a  weekly  to  a  daily 
shortly  afterwards. 

This  year  saw  the  beginning  of  bitter 
vendettas  in  Hongkong,  and  warfare  was 
waged  in  and  out  of  the  Press.  Actually, 
feeling  was  brought  to  fever  pitch  as  the 
result  of  the  great  attempted  poisoning 
scandal  on  June  23,  1857.  In  connection 
therewith  the  editor  of  the  Friend  of  China 
was  awarded  $1,010,  against  Cheong  Allium, 
for  damages  sustained  in  consequence  of  his 
having  been  poisoned  by  bread  delivered  by 
defendant,  the  editor  taking  action  as  a  test 
case.  Cheong  Ahlum  was  the  proprietor 
of  the  principal  bakery  in  the  Colony,  and 
on  January  15,  1857,  an  atrocious  attempt 
was  made  to  poison  the  foreign  community 
by  mixing  about  ten  pounds  of  arsenic  in  a 
batch  of  bread  baked  at  his  premises.  It 
was  deduced  that  Cheong  was  cognisant  of 
the  attempt,  since  he  settled  many  of  his 
accounts  and  left  for  Macao  in  the  morning 
before  his  customers'  breakfast  hour.  He 
was  given  over  by  the  Macao  authorities, 
and,  with  nine  others,  was  tried  but  found 
not  guilty.  Though  he  may  have  gone  to 
gaol  originally  a  rich  man,  his  trial  left  him 
a  poor  one,  and  "  consequently  the  verdict 
of  $1,010  puzzled  most  people  to  know  why 
this  case,  brought  by  one  of  the  several 
hundreds  poisoned,  should  have  taken  so 
much  money  to  effect  a  cure.  "  In  the  middle 
of  July,  1857,  Cheong  Ahlum  was  released 
from  gaol  (after  having  been  illegally  detained 
for  twenty-two  days),  and  immediately  quitted 


TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     345 


the  island,  leaving  his  creditors,  among  them 
Mr.  Tarrant,  in  the  lurch.  This  inspired  the 
editor  of  the  Friend  of  China  to  launch  out 
into  a  violent  attack  on  Dr.  Bridges,  the 
Colonial  Secretary,  who  was  also  Cheong 
Ahlum's  counsel,  and  the  result  was  an 
action  for  libel,  the  editor  refusing  to  publish 
an  apology.  Neither  was  any  attempt  made 
to  disprove  the  libel  when  the  case  came 
before  the  Court,  and  the  jury  (specially 
selected  by  Mr.  Tarrant)  brought  in  a  verdict 
of  guilty,  and  he  was  fined  ^loo,  and  ordered 
to  "  be  imprisoned  until  the  same  be  paid." 
Sympathisers     soon     raised     the     necessary 


The  public  life  of  the  Colony  was  at  this 
time  convulsed  by  "an  internal  chronic  war- 
fare, the  acerbities  of  which  beggared  all 
description,"  and  naturally  the  tone  of  the 
community  was  vividly  reflected  in  the 
columns  of  the  papers.  The  Friend  of  Cliina, 
"  generally  criticised  the  Government  and 
most  public  officers  with  some  animus," 
writes  Dr.  Eitel,  in  his  history  of  the  Colony, 
"  and  repeatedly  insinuated  that  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  (whilst  Chief  Magistrate)  had  been 
in  collusion  with  his  compradore's  squeezing 
propensities."  The  fact  that  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  allowed  five    years    to   pass   before 


league  with  pirates."  The  Registrar-General 
resigned,  but  he  was  later  on  induced  to 
resume  office.  The  Daily  Press,  however, 
did  not  cease  its  assault  on  public  func- 
tionaries, and  the  editor,  in  April,  1858, 
having  accused  the  Governor  (Sir  J.  Bowring) 
of  corruptly  favouring  the  firm  of  Jardine, 
Matheson  &  Co.  in  the  matter  of  public 
contracts,  was  proceeded  against  in  court, 
and  was  sent  to  gaol  for  six  months.  The 
jury  were  unanimous  in  their  verdict  and 
were  in  retirement  but  fifteen  minutes.  In 
addition  to  the  sentence,  a  fine  of  $100  was 
imposed,  as    the   judge   remarked,  "  to  vindi- 


li.  A.    HALE, 

Manajier,  Hongkong  Daily  Press. 


T.  Wright, 

Editor,  Hoiifllioiig  Daily  Press. 


T.  Petrie. 
Assistant  Editor,  South  China  Mortting  Post. 


HONGKONG    PRESS    GROUP. 

(J.  T,    I-LOYD, 

Editor,  South  China  Morning  Post. 

G.  Murray  Baix, 

Proprietor,  China  Mail. 

A.  W.  Brebxer. 

Editor,  Hongliong  Telegraph. 


J.  VV.  Baixs, 
Sports  Editor,  China  Mail. 
W.  H.  Donald, 
Managing  Director  and  Editor, 
China  Mail. 

J.  P.  Braga, 
Manager,  Hongkong  Telegraph. 


amount  by  public  subscription,  the  editor  was 
released,  and  later  boastingly  published  the 
list  of  subscribers.  This  proceeding  made 
it  hard  for  the  next  man  tried  for  libel,  as 
the  judge,  bearing  this  incident  in  mind, 
remarked,  when  Mr.  Y.  J.  Murrow  was  before 
him  in  1858,  upon  the  law  having  been 
previously  set  at  defiance,  and  sentenced  Mr. 
Murrow  to  imprisonment  in  addition  to  fining 
him.  The  fining  of  Mr.  Tarrant  did  not 
deter  him  from  his  attacks  on  Dr.  Bridges, 
however,  and  later  in  1857,  he  repeated 
the  libel  for  which  he  was  originally  lined, 
but,  having  apologised,  the  case  against  him 
was  dropped. 


he  stopped  these  unfounded  calumnies  by 
the  appeal  to  the  Court,  which,  as  soon  as 
made,  consigned  the  editor  to  the  ignominious 
silence  of  the  gaol  (September  21,  1859), 
encouraged  in  the  Colony  a  vicious  taste  for 
journalistic  personalities.  The  more  wicked 
a  paper  was,  the  greater  now  became  its  popu- 
larity. Soon  another  local  editor,  Mr.  Murrow, 
of  the  Daily  Press,  who,  in  certain  business 
transactions  in  connection  with  emigration, 
had  been  crossed  by  the  Registrar-General, 
outstripped  in  scurrility  his  colleague  of  the 
Friend  of  China,  and  commenced  to  insinuate 
that  the  Registrar- General  was  "  the  tool  of 
unscrupulous   Chinese    compradores,    and    in 


cate  the  law,  and  put  a  stop  to  the  unmeasured 
abuse  of  public  individuals."  Mr.  Murrow 
was  placed  in  the  debtors'  side  of  the  prison 
and  was  allowed  every  comfort.  He  con- 
ducted his  paper  from  the  gaol,  writing 
his  editorial  effusions  within  the  prison 
walls,  and  his  attacks  on  Sir  John  Bowring 
(whose  administration  history  shows  to  have 
been  a  disgrace  to  the  British  name),  con- 
tinued unabated.  As  a  result  the  lllnslrated 
London  News  on  July  3,  1858,  severely 
criticised  the  Government  for  allowing  Mr. 
Murrow  to  write  from  the  gaol,  and  showed 
no  sympathy  for  the  imprisoned  editor.  On 
his  release  Mr.  Murrow  instituted   an    action 


346     I'AVENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


for  assault  and  false  imprisonment  against 
Sir  J.  Bovvring,  claiming  $5,000  damages, 
but  when  the  case  came  on,  on  December 
30th,  it  was  decided  in  favour  of  defendant, 
"and  thus  terminated  one  of  those  scandalous 
matters  which  will  for  all  ages  mark  out  the 
year  1858  as  a  memorable  one  in  the  dark 
pages  of   Hongkong." 

The  Press,  perhaps,  was  the  least  to  offend 
in  these  unwholeson)e  days,  the  Government 
officials  among  themselves  indulging  in  the 
most  disgraceful  open  calumnies  and  un- 
disguised defamations.  In  1857  the  Attorney- 
General  (Mr.  T.  C.  Ansteyi  charged  the 
Registrar-General  with  "having  a  scandalous 
association  with  a  brothel  licensed  by  himself  ; 
with  basing  passed  a  portion  of  his  life 
amongst  Chinese  outlaws  and  pirates  ;  with 
an  alliance  with  some  of  the  worst  Chinese 
in  the  Colony,  through  his  wife — a  Chinese 
girl  from  a  brothel  ;  with  being  a  speculator 
in  brothels,"  &c.  Whilst  it  may,  perhaps, 
be  better  to  draw  the  curtain  gently  over 
this  ghastly  page  of  history,  it  must  he  men- 
tioned in  justice  to  the  men  of  the  Press 
who  endeavoured  to  fight  down  the  monster 
of  iniquity,  which  gi  adually  increased  its  hold 
of  the  Colony,  and  found  themselves  in  gaol 
for  it.  Their  battle  was  a  strenuous  one  and 
their  reward  was  not  one  of  glory.  In  tlie 
case  of  the  Attorney-General  v.  the  Kegistrar- 
General  public  feeling  ran  high.  A  commis- 
sion was  appointed  to  investigate  the  charges 
and  brought  in  a  verdict  of  "  not  guilty." 
Prior  to  this  the  Attorney-General  tendered 
his  resignation  but  it  was  not  accepted. 
Mutual  recriminations  amongst  the  heads  of 
departments  became  outrageous  and  a  dis- 
grace to  the  Colony,  and  when  the  Commis- 
sion's report  was  published,  the  Governor,  Sir 
John  Bowring,  asked  the  Attorney-General 
to  defend  himself  under  pain  of  suspension. 
He  was  suspended  in  February,  1858,  and 
later  practised  as  a  lawyer,  giving  the  Govern- 
ment a  decidedly  unpleasant  time  whenever 
possible.  The  Press  violently  attacked  the 
Commission,  the  Friend  of  China,  alleging 
that  the  charge  against  Mr.  Caldwell  liad 
broken  down  "  through  a  contemptible, 
damnable  trick  on  the  part  of  the  Govern- 
ment." Although  the  China  Mail  managed 
for  a  long  time  to  keep  without  the  pale  of 
the  law  in  these  parlous  times,  it,  as  was 
natural,  could  not  do  so  all  the  time,  and  on 
December  18,  1858,  found  itself  in  court 
on  a  charge  of  libel  against  Mr.  Anstey. 
Mr.  Andrew  Wilson  was  then  the  editor, 
and  he  made  such  reflections  on  Mr.  Anstey's 
conduct  in  the  libel  case,  the  Crown  v. 
Tarrant,  that  the  plaintiff  secured  a  verdict 
and  the  editor  was  bound  over  to  keep 
the  peace  in  the  sum  of  $1,000,  and  ordered 
to  apologise.  The  China  Mail  avoided  the 
court  chiefly  because  it  was  then  the  avowed 
organ  of  the  Government,  a  distasteful  dis- 
tinction it  seems,  for  ultimately  it  shook  off 
the  connection  with  the  powers  of  the  land 
and  ranged  itself  with  the  other  papers. 

In  August  of  the  same  year  (1857),  the 
editor  of  the  Friend  0/ China  was  brought  to 
court  for  libelling  the  Acting  Colonial  Secre- 
tary on  a  charge  of  burning  the  books  of  the 
pirate  Machow  Wong  to  screen  himself  and 
the  Registrar-General  against  a  charge  of 
complicity  with  pirates,  but  the  jury  brought 
in  a  verdict  of  not  guilty,  and  the  Court 
awarded  costs  against  the  Government.  It 
must  be  explained  that  prior  to  this  alleged 
libel  the  Attorney-General  had  laid  inform- 
ation against  the  Acting  Colonial  Secretary 
on  the  charge  mentioned.  "  The  conduct  of 
the  Governor,  who,  to  avoid  a  subpoena  t>eing 
served  on  him  in  this  libel  case,  had  hurriedly 
departed  to   Manila,  being  too  ill   to  attend, 


provoked    much    criticism   at   the   time,   and. 
elated  by  this  measure  of  success,  the  editor  of 
the  Friend  of  China  and  the  Attorney-General 
(who    had    been    suspended)    commenced    an 
agitation    in    England  which   only   served    to 
bring     upon     the     Colon  v     greater     odiiiin." 
The   libel   case    in   which    Brevet-Lieutenant- 
Colonel    Caine,    Lieutenant-Governor   of    the 
Colony,    sued     William     Tarrant,    editor     of 
the  Friend  of  China,  on   September  17,   1859 
(referred  to  above),  created  great  interest.     In 
the     article     complained     of     the     sentence 
occurs   that   "  Colonel   Caine   must    either   be 
one     of     two     things,     either    the    cleverest 
rascal    that    ever    lived — a    felon    for    whom 
transportation   would   be   too   light  a   punish- 
ment— or   he   is  a   much-maligned   man,   and 
deserving    of    the    sincerest    pity,"    and     the 
charges   were    that    he  wanted  a   dollar   per 
head  from  each   inmate   of   Chinese   brothels, 
ad  lib.      In   court   Tarrant   defended   himself 
and    pleaded    juslification,     but,    after    three 
days'  hard  fighting,  the  jury  found  defendant 
guilty,  and   the  judge  sentenced   him   to  gaol 
for    twelve    months,   and    fined   him   ;£'50    in 
addition.     This  temporarily  ended  the  Friend 
of  China.     It  ceased  to  appear,  and  whatever 
property   Tarrant   had   was   ruined.      In  gaol 
Tarrant  became  "  ill  "  and  was  put  in  hospital, 
but  stern  visiting  justices  would  have  none  of 
it,  and  he  was  sent  back  to  his  cell  and  "the 
companionship  of   felons  and   refractory   sea- 
men."    But  the  community  once  again  moved 
on  his  behalf  and  petitioned  the  Governor  to 
allow    Mr.    Tarrant    to    be    confined    to    the 
debtors'    side    of    the   gaol.      The    Governor, 
Sir  Hercules  Robinson,  refused,  and  agitation 
grew  within  the  Colony  and  without,  and  the 
conduct    of    the    gaol     came     in    for    severe 
criticism.    Colonial,  English,  and  Indian  papers 
took  the  matter  up,  and   ultimately   the  Duke 
of    Newcastle    (Secretary    of     State)    ordered 
Tarrant  to  be  placed   in   the   debtors'  side  of 
the  gaol,  and  suggested  that  half  the  sentence 
should   be  remitted.      Shortly  afterwards  the 
case     was     brought     before     the     House     of 
Commons,  and  on   March   20,    i860,   after  six 
months    of    the    sentence    had    been    served, 
Tarrant  was  released,  his  fine  of   £^0  having 
been  paid  by  subscription.      But   his  troubles 
were  not  at  an  end.     He  was  returned  to  the 
debtors'  prison  for   costs  {$2,263)   due   to   Dr. 
Bridges  in  connection  with  the  trial,  and  Dr. 
Bridges,    having    a    grudge    against   Tarrant, 
now   sought   long-awaited   revenge.      Tarrant 
was  in  prison  four  months.      He  tried   every 
means  to  obtain  release  but  failed,   and   once 
again  representations  were  made  to  the  Home 
Government.     Dr.  Bridges  acknowledged  that 
Tarrant  was  being  kept  in   gaol,   not   for  the 
money,  but  for  ulterior  motives,  and  eventually 
the   public    decided   once   again   to   stand   by 
Tarrant,    and   his   debt   was    paid    by    public 
subscription.      He  was  released  on  August  4, 
i860,     after    four     months'     confinement     on 
account   of   this   bill,  and   revived  the  Friend 
of  China,    eventually   transferring  it,    first  to 
Canton,  and    in  1862,  to   Shanghai.     In    1869 
he   sold   the  Friend   of  China,  which  shortly 
afterwards   succumbed,  and   in    1870  went  to 
London  much  debilitated,  and  died   on   Janu- 
ary 26,  1872.     Upon  his  death  he  bequeathed 
to  the  City   Hall   Library   a   complete   file   of 
the   Friend  of  China,   and    it   is   there    now, 
somewhat  dilapidated,  to  tell  all  who  care  to 
open  the  pages,  something  of  the  bitter  times 
that   Hongkong    knew   in   early  days.      In   a 
speech   in   the   House   of   Lords   on   June  28, 
i860,    the    Duke   of   Newcastle   declared   that 
"  in  no  part  of  Her  Majesty's  dominions  was 
libel  so   rife   and   flagrant   as   in    Hongkong." 
It  must   not   be   forgotten,   as   Mr.    Norton 
Kyshe  points  out  in  his  "  History  of  the  Laws 
and  Courts  of   Hongkong,"  that   "  the   Hong- 


kong Press,  albeit  open  to  some  of  the  anim- 
adversions cast  upon  it  on  (he  score  of 
violence,  had,  on  the  whole,  deserved  well — 
if  not  at  the  hands  of  the  officials,  at  least  at 
those  of  the  community.  But  for  it,  colonial 
reformers  at  home  such  was  the  indifference 
of  some  of  the  leading  men  of  the  community 
— would  have  heard  nothing  of  the  many  and 
enormous  abuses  and  crimes  which,  after 
having  for  so  many  years  been  openly  per- 
petrated, to  the  scandal  of  the  name  of  the 
British  Government  in  Cliina,  by  persons 
holding  magisterial  and  other  appointments 
under  it,  were  still  allowed  by  an  alarmed 
administration  to  enjoy  the  immunity  on 
which  they  had  so  confidently  relied.  But 
for  the  Hongkong  Press  there  can  be  no 
doubt  at  all  that  the  Parliamentary  Blue  Book 
which  was  laid  on  the  table  of  the  House  of 
Commons  in  .April,  1859,  and  March,  18O0, 
up:)n  Mr.  Edwin  James'  motion  for  papers 
relating  expressly  to  the  case  of  Mr.  Caldwell, 
who  had  since  become  notorious  throughout 
Asia,  would  never  have  been  heard  of  or 
seen  the  light  at  all." 

With  the  advent  as  Governor  of  Sir 
Hercules  Robinson,  who  was  sent  from 
London  with  definite  instructions  to  avoid 
"  stirring  up  that  mass  of  mud  which  appear- 
ed to  have  encumbered  society  in  Hongkong" 
(1859),  an  improvement  was  expected  to  take 
place  in  the  social  and  commercial  life  of 
the  Colony. 

However,  upon  the  commencement  of  the 
inquiry  into  the  Civil  Service  abuses  of  the 
previous  administration  the  old  animosities 
were  renewed.  The  editor  of  the  Daily  Press 
again  enlered  the  lists,  and,  in  March,  i860, 
charged  Mr.  Caldwell  with  extortion  and 
perjury,  but  withdrew  the  statement  when 
proceeded  against  for  libel.  Shortly  after  this 
(November,  i860)  Sir  H.  Robinson  determined 
to  take  action  to  prevent  the  Press  libelling 
so  freely,  and  brought  before  the  Legislative 
Council  a  bill  to  "  amend  the  law  relative 
to  newspapers  in  Hongkong."  The  only 
law  then  applicable  to  the  Press  was 
Ordinance  No.  2,  of  1844,  which  released  the 
Press  from  all  restraint,  and  made  no  provision 
for  libel  or  defamation.  The  bill  introduced 
by  Sir  Hercules  provided  for  newspaper 
publishers  entering  into  a  personal  bond  of 
;f25o.  It  also  provided  a  new  procedure 
in  libel  cases.  Hitherto,  parlies  libelled  had 
to  apply  to  the  magistracy  for  a  summons, 
and  if  the  evidence  was  slrong  enough  the 
defendant  was  submitted  to  the  Supreme 
Court  as  if  for  misdemeanour,  when  the 
Attorney  -  General  prosecuted.  This  had  a 
tendency  to  create  the  belief  that  the  Govern- 
ment occasionally  promoted  actions  for  libel 
against  certain  editors.  The  amending  bill 
provided  that  a  party  libelled  must  sue  for 
damages,  and  that  costs  at  all  events  should 
be  secured  for  the  plaintiff.  The  Ordinance 
was  passed,  and  was  numbered  16  of  i86o. 
This  measure  was  later  repealed  by  No.  6, 
of  1886,  which  made  the  bond  S  1,200,  but 
in  a  sense  maintained  the  procedure. 

In  August,  i860,  a  committee  of  inquiry 
was  appointed  to  investigate  the  charges 
brought  against  Mr.  Caldwell  (he  was 
ultimately  dismissed),  and  in  connection  with 
this  Mr.  Murrow,  the  editor  of  the  Daily  Press, 
produced  prisoners  as  witnesses,  "  to  hunt 
down  the  object  of  his  hatred."  But  "  the 
rancour  of  the  editor  of  the  Daily  Press  was 
not  satisfied  with  the  scope  of  the  inquiry, 
and  he  clamoured  for  further  investigations, 
and  desired  the  former  Acting  Colonial  to  be 
impeached.  When  Sir  H.  Robinson  resisted 
any  re-opening  of  the  inquiry,  the  irate  editor 
appealed  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  hurling 
various     charges      against     the     Governor." 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     347 


Ultimately  the  editor  was  informed  that  "  as 
he  had  been  five  times  prosecuted  for  libel 
he  was  not  entitled  to  any  consideration,  and 
that  the  Colonial  Secretary  would  receive 
no  further  communication. "  And  here 
practically  ended  the  strife  that  had  so  long 
been  carried  on  in  the  Colony.  The  Colonial 
Service  was  placed  upon  a  better  basis,  and 
the  Press  had  little  call  to  use  violently  abusive 
language,  though  criticism  continued  to  be 
free.  During  Sir  H.  Robinson's  six  years 
of  ol'iice  (he  departed  in  March,  1865),  the 
tone  of  life  in  the  Colony  was  greatly 
elevated,  and  harmony  was  produced.  The 
Press  was  conducted  on  better  lines,  and 
Mr.  Murrovv  lived  to  carry  on  his  work 
until  1884.  A  set  of  regulations  adopted 
by  Sir  H.  Robinson  regarding  civil  servants 
and  the  Press  are  worthy  of  mention  here. 
They  were  to  the  effect  that  whilst  there 
was  no  objection  to  public  servants 
furnishing  newspapers  with  articles  signed 
with  their  names  on  subjects  of  general 
interest,  they  were  not  at  liberty  to  write  on 
questions  that  could  properly  be  called 
political,  nor  to  furnish  any  articles  whatever 
to  newspapers  which  commented  on  the 
measures  of  the  Governinent,  and  habitually 
exceeded  the  bonds  of  fair  and  temperate 
discussion.  These  regulations  have  been 
maintained  to  this  day.  though  of  recent 
years  the  necessity  for  thein  has  entirely 
disappeared.  In  April,  1867,  China  Punch,  a 
fortnightly  illustrated  paper,  was  published  by 
the  China  Mail,  and  conducted  by  Mr.  W.  N. 
Middleton  and  others.  On  May  28,  1868, 
it  ceased  publication  temporarily,  but  in 
November,  1872,  the  previous  proprietors 
were  induced  to  revive  the  production. 
Local  topics  and  men  were  dealt  with  in 
a  humorous  and  effective  manner,  to  the 
intense  amusement  of  the  public.  This 
journal,  run  on  lines  somewhat  similar  to 
its  London  prototype,  only  lasted  whilst 
Mr.  Middleton  was  in  the  Colony.  When 
he  left  (November,  1876)  Pitticli  subsided, 
and  since  that  time  no  paper  of  the 
kind  has  managed  to  rival  its  humorous 
and  its  witty  caricatures  and  cartoons.  On 
November  l,  1869,  H.  C.  P.  Glasson  published 
an  advertising  sheet  called  the  Daily 
Advertiser,  which,  after  two  or  three  years, 
developed  into  a  newspaper,  but  did  not 
last  long.  Then  came  the  Hongkong  Times, 
which  also  quickly  languished,  and  left  no 
serious  footprints  in  local  history  to  mark 
its  existence.  In  the  seventies  the  field 
was  left  to  the  China  Mail,  published  in 
the  evening,  and  the  Daily  Press,  issued 
in  the  morning,  and  whilst  they  strove  to 
fulfil  the  mission  of  the  Press,  nothing 
startling  occurred  to  mar  the  even  tenor 
of  their  ways  until  towards  the  end  of 
1870,  when  the  Daily  Press  incidentally 
accused  Mr.  C.  C.  Smith,  the  Registrar- 
General,  of  having  ill-advisedly  interfered 
in  certain  judicial  proceedings  in  the  Police 
Court,  and,  being  sued  for  libel,  was  mulcted 
in  the  sum  of  $250  damages  and  costs. 
In  1872,  too,  the  Daily  Press  was  once 
more  in  court  for  publishing  a  letter  by 
Mr.  Welsh,  a  merchant,  who  had  been  fined 
by  the  judge  for,  as  a  juryman,  "  paying  in- 
sufficient attention  to  the  case,"  but  having 
apologised,  the  publisher,  Mr.  Bell,  was 
excused.  Mr.  Welsh,  it  may  be  mentioned, 
was  sent  to  gaol  for  fourteen  days  for 
contempt. 

Either  late  in  the  sixties  or  early  in  the 
seventies  Mr.  George  Murray  Bain  (who  may 
be  now  regarded  as  the  doyen  of  journalists 
in  the  East,  having  joined  the  China  Mail 
in  1864  as  sub-editor  and  reporter),  took  over 
the   editoiial   work  on   the   China    Mail,  and 


in  1872  becaine  proprietor.  His  journal  was 
conducted  on  most  conservative  lines  and 
with  studious  regard  for  fair  play,  and  the 
esteem  with  which  he  was  regarded  increased 
with  the  years.  In  1877  he  coinmenced  the 
fight  of  his  life,  for  then  there  arrived  in 
the  Colony  as  Governor  Mr.  (later  Sir)  John 
Pope-Hennessy,  and  against  his  policy  the 
China  Mail  launched  itself  vigorously.  Prison 
discipline  and  flogging  were  the  subjects 
upon  which  the  Governor  first  trespassed 
with  unappreciated  results.  Flogging  was 
abolished  and  crime  increased  reinarkably, 
the  Governor  endeavouring  to  cure  criine 
by  reclaiming  the  criminals.  Naturally  this 
failed  in  such  a  place  as  Hongkong,  and  the 
public  and  Press  were  up  in  arms.  On 
October  7,  1878,  a  public  meeting  was  held 
to  draw  attention  to  the  existing  state  of 
insecurity  of  life  and  property,  and  the  policy 
of  the  Governor  was  severely  criticised.  In 
a  despatch  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  Sir 
John  acknowledged  the  increase  of  crime, 
but  added,  •'  it  cannot  be  attributed  to  me, 
for  it  coinmenced  before  I  arrived."  So  eager 
were  the  community  for  an  explanation  of 
the  proceedings  going  on  under  the  Governor's 
direction  within  tlie  gaol  walls  that  the 
China  Mail  was  determined  to  find  out  for 
them,  and  managed,  unbeknown  to  the 
authorities,  to  procure  a  berth  in  the  gaol  as 
turnkey  for  Mr.  W.  Arthur  Qiiinton,  who,  in 
November,  1907,  died  in  Yokohama.  Mr. 
Quinton  remained  at  his  post  long  enough  to 
become  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  prison 
details,  and  then  wrote  a  series  of  articles 
for  the  China  Mail,  which  made  for  subse- 
quent reforms,  and  also  incidentally  caused 
the  departure  from  the  Colony  of  Mr.  Quinton 
— and,  later,  the  Governor. 

During  Sir  J.  Pope-Hennessy's  time  the 
Hongkong  Tclcgrafth  was  founded  (June  15, 
1881),  by  Mr.  Robert  Frazer-Smith,  who 
rapidly  showed  the  community  the  metal 
of  which  he  was  made.  He  preached  the 
gospel  of  anti-humbug  in  his  columns  most 
effectively.  With  scathing  pen  he  pricked 
various  bubbles,  and  made  worthy  and 
unworthy  citizens  alike  tremble  in  their 
shoes.  His  work  became  reminiscent  of  the 
tirades  that  disfigured  the  Press  in  Sir  John 
Bowring's  time,  though  there  was  generally 
a  spice  of  humour  in  them  that  did  not 
appear  in  the  articles  of  his  predecessors. 
Early  in  his  career  Frazer-Stnitli  fell  foul 
of  the  law,  and  for  libelling  the  German 
tragedian,  Daniel  Edward  Bandmann,  he 
was  sent  to  gaol  in  July,  1882,  for  two  months, 
being  given  the  privileges  of  a  first-class 
misdemeanant.  As  with  Tarrant  so  with 
Frazer-Smith.  He  was  received  upon  his 
release  from  gaol  by  a  representative  deputa- 
tion and  presented  with  an  address  and 
81,000,  as  an  expression  of  sympathy. 
Actively  resuming  the  control  of  his  paper, 
Mr.  Smith's  pen  wrote  personalities  to  the 
discomfort  of  many  and  the  enjoyment  of 
most.  Early  in  1883  he  attacked  the  editor 
of  the  China  Mail.  Mr.  Bulgin,  and  a 
libel  case  ensued,  the  complainant  claiming 
Sl,ooo.  He  was  awarded  $100  and  costs. 
Forthwith  the  defendant  returned  to  the 
baiting,  and  in  November  of  the  same 
year  succeeded  in  obtaining  his  third  writ 
from  Mr.  J.  M.  Price,  the  Surveyor-General. 
He  won  the  case,  but  the  sympathies  were 
not  with  the  virile  editor  on  this  occasion,  for 
the  Hon.  F.  B.  Johnson  and  ninety-nine 
residents  signed  a  letter  offering  to  pay  Mr. 
Price's  costs  of  the  proceedings  in  court,  but 
the  offer  was  courteously  declined.  Smith 
accused  the  Surveyor-General  of  being  guilty 
of  jobbery  and  corruption. 

In    1885    and    1886    the    newspapers    had 


much  of  a  public  nature  to  busy  themselves 
with,  for  the  development  of  the  Colony 
was  proceeding  apace,  and  files  of  the  China 
Mail  and  Daily  Press  show  a  clear  grasp 
of  local  conditions  and  a  studiously  courteous 
style  of  journalism.  The  Telcgrafh  continued 
lo  supply  the  spice  to  life,  and  Mr.  Frazer- 
Smith,  in  February,  1890,  once  again  crossed 
swords  in  court,  the  plaintiff  this  time  being 
Mr.  Oscar  Grant,  who  recovered  damages 
amounting  to  $251  on  three  counts,  with 
the  costs  of  the  suit.  The  whole  of  the  Press 
this  year  were  in  vigorous  opposition — the 
Daily  Press  in  particular — to  the  practice  of 
appointing  local  barristers  as  acting  magis- 
trates with  the  privileges  of  continuing  their 
private  practices,  and  the  scandals  were 
somewhat  suggestive  of  the  days  of  Dr. 
Bridges,  previously  alluded  to.  Becoming 
tired  of  prosaic  life,  apparently,  Mr.  P'razer- 
Smith  trespassed  on  thin  ice  with  disastrous 
results  towards  the  end  of  the  year,  and  he 
and  a  reporter  named  Ward  were  convicted 
of  criminally  conspiring  to  bring  a  charge 
of  rape  against  J.  Minhinnett,  a  foreman  of 
the  Public  Works  Department.  The  jury 
recommended  the  defendants  to  mercy,  and 
a  sentence  of  six  months'  imprisonment  in 
each  case  was  passed,  with  damages  to 
plaintiff  of  $3,000.  Before  the  case  was 
heard  in  1891  Frazer-Smith  went  to  Australia 
for  a  trip,  and  as  he  was  on  the  vessel  to 
leave  he  was  arrested  on  a  writ  issued  by 
Minhinnett.  He  was  allowed  to  proceed  later, 
and  eventually  sued  Minhinnett  for  $1,000 
damages  for  needless  arrest,  but  he  lost  the 
case.  In  June,  1901,  the  Jockey  Club  held 
a  meeting  and  struck  Smitli  from  the  list  of 
members.  A  public  meeting  on  the  Cricket 
Ground  (not  representative)  passed  a  vote  of 
confidence  in  the  editor.  He  was  not,  how- 
ever, cured  of  his  taste  for  risky  writing, 
and  in  1892  Mr.  John  Mitchell,  of  Messrs. 
Butterfield  &  Swire,  sued  him  for  libel  and 
obtained  S250  damages.  He  continued  for 
three  more  5'ears,  constantly  being  in  conflict 
with  leading  citizens,  and  on  February  9,  1895, 
died  and  was  buried  at  Happy  Valley. 

In  1894  Mr.  T.  H.  Reid  became  a  partner 
in  the  China  Mail,  and  also  editor  of  the 
paper,  and  in  1900  the  Hongkong  Telegrafh, 
after  being  run  by  Mr.  Chesney  Duncan,  and 
later  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Francis,  Q.C.,  was  formed 
into  a  limited  company,  the  principal  share- 
holders being  Chinese  residents  who  took 
over  the  business  from  Mr.  Francis  in  order 
that  they  might  have  an  organ  in  which  to 
give  expression  to  their  views.  With  Mr.  J. 
P.  Braga,  later  on  as  manager,  the  paper  has 
been  conducted  with  becoming  regard  to  the 
tenets  of  fair  criticism,  several  gentlemen 
having  occupied  its  editorial  chair  since  its 
formation  as  a  company.  The  three  papers 
(China  Mail,  Daily  Press,  and  Telegraph) 
were  now  with  one  accord  moulded  on  high 
principles,  and  thoroughly  living  down  the 
evil  reputation  newspapers  gained,  some  not 
undeservingly,  in  former  years.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1903,  the  South  China  Morning  Post 
joined  the  ranks  as  a  morning  paper,  in 
opposition  to  the  Daily  Press,  and  made  an 
endeavour  to  oust  the  older  morning  paper 
from  the  arena.  It  was  founded  as  a  public 
company  in  March,  1903,  by  Mr.  A.  Cunning- 
ham, a  former  editor  of  the  Daily  Press. 
The  first  editor,  Mr.  Douglas  Story,  remained 
but  a  short  while,  and  before  four  years  had 
passed  the  founder  had  severed  his  connection 
with  it,  the  manager  and  editor  now  being 
Mr.  G.  T.  Lloyd.  In  the  China  Mail  oflice 
recent  years  worked  changes.  Mr.  T.  H. 
Reid  departed  in  1904,  and  was  succeeded  as 
managing-editor  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Donald,  whilst 
in  1906,  the  proprietor,  Mr.  G.  Murray  Bain, 


348     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


ha\ing  earned  a  rest  from  long  and  arduous 
latKHirs,  had  the  business  converted  into  a 
private  limited  conic>any.  Mr.  \V.  H.  Donald 
was  made  managing-director  and  editor, 
Mr.  Bain  himself  being  the  chairman  of  direc- 
tors, whilst  the  members  of  the  latter's  family 


worthily  till  the  responsible  positions  occupied 
by  them,  and  the  whole  Press  of  the  Colony 
compares  most  favourably  at  the  present  day, 
so  far  as  tone  is  concerned,  with  the  best 
English  journals.  The  journalists  mostly 
take    a    keen    pride    in   the   important   work 


CS«  page  3W-)  THE    ".CHINA   MAIL." 

EorroRiAL  Omcta.  I'rixtixg  Okkices. 


were  the  only  other  shareholders.  In  the 
Daily  Press  office  the  management  has  been 
of  recent  years  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  B.  A. 
Hale,  Mr.  T.  Wright  being  the  editor  at  this 
time  of  writing,  whilst  the  Telegraph  is  now 
edited  by  Mr.  A.  Brebner.    These  gentlemen 


which  constitutes  their  mission,  and  with  an 
endeavour  to  promote  a  kindly  feeling  of 
comradeship,  formed  on  December  |6,  1903, 
and  inaugurated  on  January  6,  1904,  the  first 
Journalistic  Association  in  the  East.  It  did 
not    last     long,    although     its    objects     were 


excellent,  and  since  it  has  now  passed  into 
oblivion  and  history  contains  no  record  of  it, 
no  harm  will  be  done  by  ensuring  the  safe- 
keeping of  tlie  fact  in  this  volume.  The 
first  committee  consisted  of  the  following  : 
President,  Mr.  T.  H.  Keid  {CliiiKi  Mail) ; 
Chairman  of  Committee,  Mr.  P.  W.  Sergeant 
(Daily  Press)  ;  Connniltee,  Mr.  Douglas  Story 
(Sonlh  China  Morning  Post),  Mr.  W.  H. 
Donald,  (China  Mail),  and  Mr.  E.  A.  Snewin, 
{Hongkong  Telegraph).  The  primary  object, 
as  shown  in  the  Constitution  of  tlie  Associa? 
tion,  was  "the  elevation  and  improvement  of 
the  status  of  journalists  in  the  P"ar  East." 
This  recalls  an  incident  which  may  prove 
of  interest.  In  1850,  when  the  Criminal 
Sessions  of  the  Supreme  Court  were  held 
for  the  tirst  time  in  the  room  now  occupied 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  building  in  Queen's 
Road,  members  of  the  Press  were  provided 
chairs  at  a  table  inside  the  bar,  and  a  hope 
was  expressed  "that  they  would  testify  their 
regard  for  the  attention  shown  for  their 
accommodation  by  appearing  there  in  the 
ordinary  garb  of  gentlemen."  History  sayeth 
not  whether  they  complied  with  the  sugges- 
tion, but  later  on  the  reporters  were  given 
special  accommodation  immediately  in  front 
of  the  dock.  With  the  increase  of  papers  in 
the  Colony  in  more  recent  years  greater 
facilities  for  work  were  required,  and  in 
1907  the  reporters  were  once  again  favoured 
with  seats  vis-ii-vis  the  legal  fraternity. 

Having  traversed  the  history  of  the  news- 
papers in  the  Colony,  it  might  be  interesting 
to  note  the  circumstances  of  to-day.  From 
the  news  point  of  view  the  papers  have  great 
difliculties  to  face.  The  Colony  is  small  and 
local  happenings  are  not  always  interesting, 
and  excessive  cable  rates  place  limitations 
upon  enterprise  in  the  direction  of  obtaining 
foreign  intelligence.  However,  the  papers 
keep  the  Colony  excellently  supplied  with  the 
happenings  of  the  outside  world.  Editorially 
the  papers  offer  a  strong  contrast  to  those  of 
fifty  years  ago.  They  are  all  well-conducted, 
though  editors  use  rose-water  too  liberally  in 
their  criticisms.  Criticism,  however,  is  not 
so  free  as  is  possible  in  other  parts  of  the 
world.  The  community  is  small,  interests 
are  surprisingly  interwoven,  and  a  tendency 
exists  in  some  quarters  to  prevent  even  legiti- 
mate reference  to  certain  interests  by  with- 
drawing support  from  the  paper  guilty  of  the 
"  indiscretion."  One  or  two  papers  endeavour 
to  stem  this  tide  of  demoralisation,  and 
whether  the  survival  of  the  fittest  will  ulti- 
mately see  the  editors  on  top  or  not  remains 
to  be  seen.  The  efforts  of  the  papers  are 
not  always  recognised  by  the  community  as 
fully  as  they  might  be,  or  they  are  misunder- 
stood, and  some  who  have  so  much  to  gain 
by  the  presence  of  a  free  and  outspoken 
Press,  and  so  much  to  lose  by  the  absence 
of  it,  would  do  no  harm  to  indulge  in  a  little 
occasional  heart-searching  to  adjust  the  focus 
of  their  views  and  ascertain  if,  after  all,  they 
realise  and  adequately  acknowledge  the  value 
and  supreme  importance  of  the  newspapers 
which  exist  in  their  city.  It  is  essential  that 
they  should  know  fair  from  unfair  criticism, 
and  though  in  1904  the  China  Mail  was  boy- 
cotted for  twelve  months  by  a  foreign  section 
of  the  community  for  commenting  upon  a 
matter  which  the  editor  deemed  fairly  within 
his  province,  it  is  questionable  whetlier  boy- 
cott is  a  wise  or  a  good  thing.  But  in 
Hongkong  in  minor  and  individual  ways  it 
has  been  used  frequently,  and  the  result  is 
that  the  average  editor  has  to  think  twice 
before  he  publishes  an  article  such  as  the 
general  reader  sometimes  looks  for.  Hong- 
kong, in  short,  does  not  cater  for  a  strong 
Press,  and  any  limpness  noticeable  is  due  more 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     349 


to  force  of  circumstances  than  to  the  weather, 
which  the  article  elsewhere  on  that  subject 
will  show  to  be  extremely  trying. 

Hongkong,  unlike  most  other  cities,  is  now 
without  a  weekly  paper  (excepting  the  weekly 
news  editions  of  the  newspapers),  though 
many  attempts  have  been  made  to  establish 
one.  Already  mention  has  been  made  of 
Punch,  which  enjoyed  but  a  brief  life,  and 
from  the  cessation  of  that  paper,  no  attempt 
seems  to  have  been  made  to  conduct  a  genuine 
weekly  paper  until  within  the  past  three  or 
four  years.  When  the  South  China  Morning 
Post  was  established,  an  attempt  to  run  a 
weekly  illustrated  was  made,  but  the  pro- 
duction (the  IVcfkly  Post)  was  suspended 
after  a  few  months  and  converted  into  a 
news  summary.  In  1903  a  weekly  advertising 
sheet  called  the  Reminder  was  published 
by  Mr.  T.  Swaby,  and  it  afterwards  developed 
into  the  Islnnd,  a  more  pretentious  paper, 
but  without  any  particular  literary  merit. 
Then  -  on  August  4,  1906,  the  China  Mail 
established  a  weekly  illustrated  paper,  and 
offered  S500  to  the  general  public  for  the  liest 
title,  titles  to  be  selected  and  voted  for. 
Until  a  name  was  selected  the  paper  was 
called  the  Nejv  Weekly,  and  when  the  "  name 
competition  "  closed,  it  was  felt  that  not  one 
of  the  numerous  titles  selected  would  suit, 
and  the  proprietor  paid  the  $500  to  the 
person  whose  selection  had  secured  the 
highest  number  of  votes,  and  called  the  paper 
the  Hongkon!>  Weekly.  No  effort  was  spared 
to  make  the  paper  popular  ;  high  rates  were 
offered  to  encourage  literary  and  artistic 
assistance,  and  though  a  little  was  forth- 
coming, sufficient  was  not  available  to  bring 
the  paper  up  to  the  ideal  the  proprietors 
had  in  view  when  they  started  it,  and 
reluctantly  they  ultimately  decided  to 
abandon  it.  The  last  issue  was  on  March 
7,  1908. 

The  public  of  Hongkong  do  not  seem  to 
have  reached  the  weekly  paper  stage. 
Neither  do  they  want  magazines.  The  China 
Review,  established  many  years  ago  by  the 
China  Mail  (to  supplant  Notes  and  Qneries, 
published  by  the  same  paper),  though  sup- 
ported and  widely  read  for  many  years, 
treating  as  it  did  on  Chinese  subjects, 
ultimately  left  the  Colony  for  Shanghai, 
whilst  a  second  trial  of  the  kind  was  made 
under  the  title  of  the  Review  of  the  Far  East, 
by  the  Morning  Post  in  1907.  This  collapsed 
after  two  issues.  A  small  sporting  magazine 
called  the  V.R.C.  Magazine,  conducted  by  the 
Victoria  Recreation  Club,  lingered  through 
part  of  1906  and  1907,  but  ultimately  failed 
for  the  want  of  support.  The  bones  of  many 
forlorn  hopes  whiten  the  "inky  way"  in 
the    East. 

Of  more  serious  publications,  Hongkong 
has  the  Directory  and  Chronicle  of  the  Far 
East,  issued  annually  by  the  Daily  Press, 
whilst  Who's  Who  in  the  Far  East  was 
originated  in  1906  by  Messrs.  F.  L.  Pratt 
and  W.  H.  Donald  and  continues  to  be  largely 
supported  to  date.  It  is  published  by  the 
China  Mail. 


The    China    Mail. 

Rising  amid  the  bones  of  several  futile 
enterprises  that  bleached  on  the  journalistic 
wayside  in  the  early  days  of  Hongkong,  the 
China  Mail  was  of  vigorous  birth  and  was 
thus  able  to  withstand  the  withering  influences 
that  laid  waste  all  predecessors.  To-day  it 
thrives  with  the  distinction  of  being  the 
oldest  paper  in  the  Colony,  if  not  in  the 
Far  East.  Started  on  P'ebruary  20,  1845,  as 
a  British  journal,  it  has,  through  the  years 
that  have   been   lean,   or   fat,   remained    true 


to  its  colours,  and  the  high  policy  it  estab- 
lished at  the  outset  of  being  fair  to  all 
men  in  general  and  stoutly  loyal  to  British 
traditions  in  particular  has  been  maintained 
through  varying  changes  to  the  present  day. 
It  now  stands,  without  prejudice,  for  the  best 
that  is  British  and  the  best  that  is  cosmo- 
politan in  the  Colony.  Its  criticisms — when 
necessary  unsparing,  but  at  all  times  studiously 
free  from  rancour — bear  the  impress  of 
genuine  effort  to  uphold  the  right.  A  watchful 
eye  is  first  kept  upon  the  Colony's  interests, 
and,  withal,  a  broad  imperialism  is  the 
political  gospel  preached,  with  a  fair  com- 
mercial field  and  no  favour  to  all  men. 

Its  columns  are  never  sullied  by  person- 
alities, and,  in  general,  the  conduct  of  the 
journal  is  in  line  with  the  very  best  traditions 
of  English  journalism. 

The  first  appearance  of  the  China  Mail,  in 
1845,  was  as  a  weekly  paper,  published  each 
Thursday.  Then  the  Colony  knew  not  the 
cable,  and  news  came  only  by  the  occasional 
steamer,  or  by  the  sailing  ship  which  was 
such  a  feature  of  the  Eastern  trade  of  sixty- 
three  years  ago.  With  the  growth  of  the 
Colony  the  China  Mail  kept  pace.  It  soon 
developed  into  a  daily  paper — first  of  four 
pages,  then  of  eight,  and  a  further  increase  is 
now  contemplated,  and  will  probably  be 
effected  before  these  lines  are  in  print.  The 
China  Mail,  too,  has  been  the  parent  of  several 
"  little  ones."  First,  there  came  the  now 
long-defunct  China  Punch,  a  highly  popular 
illustrated  humorous  paper  in  its  day  ;  later, 
the  China  Review,  a  scholarly  journal  dealing 
with  Far  Eastern  affairs,  which  still  lingers, 
though  under  different  ownership  ;  then 
Notes  and  Qneries,  confined  to  Eastern  sub- 
jects ;  and,  in  the  present  day,  the  Hongkong 
Weekly,  an  illustrated  Saturday  paper,  dealing 
with  sport  and  the  lighter  side  of  the  Colony's 
life.  All  along,  there  has  been  published  in 
connection  with  the  China  Mail,  the  Overland 
China  Mail,  which  devotes  itself  to  giving 
the  week's  Far  Eastern  news  and  comments. 
The  China  Mail  also  originated  and  pub- 
lished the  Hongkong  Directory,  afterwards 
disposing  of  it  to  its  present  owners.  For 
many  years  the  proprietors  of  the  China  Mail 
have  published  a  vernacular  paper,  the  Wa 
Tsz   Yat  Po   {Chinese  Mail]. 

From  its  first  issue  and  for  several  years 
— until  the  Government  Gazette  was  estab- 
lished— the  China  Mail  bore  the  following 
notification  on  its  title  page  :  "  Government 
Notification. — It  is  hereby  notified  that  from 
and  after  the  20th  instant  (February,  1845), 
and  until  further  orders,  the  China  Mail  is 
to  be  considered  the  official  organ  of  all 
Government  notifications."  Then,  as  now, 
however,  the  paper  was  a  free  critic  of 
Government  policy,  and  through  its  career 
has  been  distinguished  for  having  the  courage 
of  its  own  convictions  in  regard  to  questions 
vitally  affecting  the  public.  In  Sir  John 
Pope-Hennessy's  time  the  China  Mail  con- 
ducted a  campaign  against  what  is  historically 
known  as  that  Governor's  "  vicious  policy," 
and  was  instrumental  in  preventing  consider- 
able harm  being  done  the  Colony.  As  a 
newspaper,  the  China  Mail  ranks  as  first  in 
the  Colony.  Its  telegraphic  services  from 
London,  Australia,  and  the  whole  of  the  Far 
East,  including  Japan,  Colombo,  and  the 
Straits  Settlements,  enables  it  invariably  to 
give  the  earliest  information  of  current  events. 
The  publication  of  news  of  Chinese  affairs, 
with  criticisms,  is  a  feature  of  the  journal, 
and  one  that  is  of  distinct  service  to  all 
interested   in  the   Chinese   Empire. 

The  present  chairman  of  directors  of  the 
company,  Mr.  George  Murray  Bain,  became 
proprietor  of  the  paper  in   1872,  and  between 


1894  and  1904  had  as  a  partner  and  editor, 
Mr.  T.  H.  Reid.  In  1904,  Mr.  W.  H.  Donald 
succeeded  as  luanager  and  editor,  and  in 
1906,  when  Mr.  Bain  decided  to  convert  the 
business  into  a  private  limited  company,  he 
was  made  managing  director  and  editor, 
which  position  he  still  holds.  Mr.  G.  Murray 
Bain  being  chairman  of  the  board  of 
directors,  and  Mr.  H.  Murray  Bain,  secretary. 
On  the  literarv  staff  of  the  paper  are  Mr. 
W.  H.  Donald,  Mr.  F.  Lionel  Pratt,  Mr.  J.  W. 
Bains,  Mr.  Taylor,  and  Mr.  Li  Sum  Ling. 
As  the  ■'  China  Mail,"  Ltd.,  the  company 
conducts  a  printing  and  publishing  business 
— Who's  Who  in  the  Far  East  being  the 
chief  annual  publication,  in  addition  to  the 
journals  mentioned.  The  address  is  No.  8, 
Queen's  Road,  Nos.  2,  4,  and  6,  Wellington 
Street,  and  No.  5,  Wyndham  Street,  Hongkong. 


MR.  GEORGE  MURRAY  BAIN,  the  principal 
propi  ietor  of  the  "  China  Mail,"  Ltd.,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  journalists  in  the  Far  East.  Born 
in  1842  at  Montrose,  he  was  educated  at  the 
Montrose  Borough  School,  and  joined  the 
China  Mail  as  sub-editor  and  reporter  in  1864. 
His  ability  was  quickly  recognised,  and  his 
promotion,  consequently,  was  very  rapid.  In 
a  short  while  he  was  appointed  editor,  and 
within  eight  years  of  joining  the  literary  staff, 
became  the  proprietor  of  the  paper.  During 
1877  and  1882  he  took  an  active  part  in 
fighting  the  vicious  policy  of  Sir  John  Pope- 
Hennessy,  then  the  Governor  of  the  Colony, 
and  has  consistently  upheld  British  interests 
and  maintained  an  impartial  attitude  towards 
other  nationalities.  In  conjunction  with  the 
late  Dr.  N.  B.  Denneys,  he  started  the  China 
Review  in  1872,  and  in  1906  converted  the 
China  Mail  into  a  private  limited  company. 
Mr.  Bain  takes  an  interest  in  all  public 
movements,  and  encourages  all  spoits.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Hongkong,  the  Jockey, 
and  the  Cricket  Clubs,  and  lives  at  "  Birnam 
Brae,"  Conduit  Road. 


MR.     WILLIAM      HENRY      DONALD,      the 

managing  director  of  the  "  China  Mail,"  Ltd., 
and  editor  of  the  China  Mail,  was  born  in 
1875,  at  Lithgow,  N.S.W.,  and  is  the  eldest 
son  of  George  Donald,  first  mayor  of  Lithgow, 
and  later  M.P.  for  Hartley.  He  was  sub- 
editor and  afterwards  editor  of  the  Bathurst 
National  Advocate,  and,  having  served  for 
some  time  on  the  staffs  of  the  Daily  Telegraph, 
Sydney,  and  The  Argus,  Melbourne,  came  to 
the  Far  East  in  May,  1903,  to  take  up  the 
position  of  sub-editor  of  the  China  Mail.  In 
the  following  year  he  was  promoted  managing 
editor,  and,  upon  the  formation  of  the  limited 
company  in  June,  1906,  was  made  managing 
director.  As  the  representative  of  the  China 
Mail  and  several  Australian  and  English 
papers,  he  did  a  great  deal  of  important 
journalistic  work  in  Japan  during  the  Russo- 
Japanese  War.  He  was  the  special  corre- 
spondent for  the  Daily  E.vf>ress,  London,  and 
the  China  Mail,  with  the  ill-fated  Baltic  fleet, 
under  Admiral  Rojdestvensky,  at  Vanfon 
Bay  and  Port  Dyot,  Annam,  Indo-China,  and 
was  the  only  English  correspondent  to  witness 
the  final  departure  of  the  Ifeet  for  Tsushima 
on  Mav  14,  1905.  In  conjunction  with 
Mr.  F.  "L.  Pratt,  he  established  Who's  Who 
in  the  Far  East,  in  1906,  and  still  retains 
his  interests  in  that  publication.  He  is  the 
correspondent  in  South  Cliina  of  the  New 
York  Herald,  Daily  E.vpress,  London,  Daily 
Telegraph,  Sydney,  and  several  other  papers. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Hongkong  Club,  the 


350    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Cricket  Club,  the  Ro\-al,  Honskong.  and 
Corinthian  Yacht  Chibs.  &c.  He  resides  at 
■•  Goodwood."  Xo.  5.  Babington  Path. 


MR.  JOHN  WILLIAM  BAINS,  the  writer  of 
our  article  on  sport  in  Honj»kon|«.  was  born 
at  Wreck  Bay  in  1880.  After  being  educated 
at  Camdenville  Superior  Public  School,  he 
received  a  traininj;  in  newspaper  work  in  the 
office  of  the  Sulmy  Daily  Telegraph.  In 
July.  1903.  he  left  Australia  for  Hongkong  to 
join  the  China  Mail,  on  which  newspaper  he 
is  sub-editor  and  sporting  editor.  He  is 
keenly  interested  in  sport,  and  has  a  seat  on 
the    c-oinmittec    of    the    Victoria    Recreation 


such  news  as  arrived  by  mails — then  few 
and  far  between.  Mr.  George  M.  Rider 
ligures  in  the  imprint  as  editor  and  pro- 
proprietor,  and  certainly  deserves  what  glory 
may  attach  to  the  bold  enterprise  of  pub- 
lishing the  very  first  daily  newspaper  to  appear 
in  the  Far  East.  "  Having  roamed  somewhat 
extensively  on  the  surface  of  this  Planet,"  he 
confides  in  his  first  editorial.  "  we  have 
naturally  acquired  a  trifle  above  the  average 
knowledge  of  matters  connected  with  Ship- 
ping." As  a  shipping  paper  the  Hoiiflkotig 
/>£i/A'  Prefs  began,  and  as  a  shipping  and 
commercial  paper  it  still  chiefly  claims  pre- 
eminence among  its  contemporaries.  Even 
in  those  early  days,  however,  it  had  a  soul 
above  mere  dollars  and  dividends,  and  showed 


increased  their  number.  It  is  now  an  eight- 
page  production,  showing  on  each  page  its 
acknowledged  status  as  a  caterer  for  serious- 
minded  men  of  business  and  affairs.  There 
is  a  weekly  "  mail  edition "  of  from  twenty 
to  twenty-four  pages,  which  conveys  to  a 
wide  circle  of  distant  readers  an  epitome 
and  digest  of  the  news  of  the  Hongkong 
hebdomad.  For  forty-five  years  it  has  issued 
the  Directory  and  Chronicle  for  the  whole 
of  the  Far  East — a  book  now  regarded  as 
indispensable  in  offices,  all  over  the  world, 
having  anything  to  do  with  China,  Japan, 
Korea,  the  Straits  and  States,  Borneo,  the 
Philippines,  &c.  This  volume,  though  con- 
densed as  much  as  possible,  has  swollen  to 
over  1,720  pages,  giving  details  of  places,  as 


Machine  Room. 


'HONGKONG    DAILY   PRESS." 


Composing  Room. 


Club.  For  some  time  past  he  has  been  one 
of  the  instructors  at  the  Hongkong  Technical 
Institute. 

The    Hongkong    Daily    Press. 

Having  published  its  jubilee  number  on 
October  i.  1907.  the  Hoiiffkoiig  Daily  Press 
obviously  must  have  shared  the  major  part 
of  the  history  of  Hongkong  as  a  British 
Colony.  Sixteen  years  after  the  cession  of 
the  island— during  the  administration  of  Sir 
John  Bowring,  the  last  Governor  to  be  at 
the  same  time  Minister  Plenipotentiary  and 
Superintendent  of  British  trade  in  China — 
the  Daily  Press  made  its  appearance  as  a 
four-page  shipping  paper,  with  only  a  couple 
of  short  columns  of  editorial   comments  on 


a  stronger  sense  of  public  duty  than  modern 
communities,  in  comparatively  small  towns, 
are  accustomed  to  from  journals  depending 
largely  on  their  subscribers,  and  advertisers, 
for  existence.  On  public  affairs  of  interest 
to  the  Colony,  its  pronouncements  had  a  tone 
refreshingly  candid  ;  a  spade  was  a  spade 
fifty  years  ago ;  and  in  its  second  volume 
there  are  indications  that  this  journalistic 
infant  was  growing  as  sturdy  as  its  conception 
had  promised.  Some  of  its  editorials  were 
written  in  the  local  gaol,  the  Governor  of  that 
period  having  his  own  view  of  the  limits  of 
legitimate  criticism.  Governors  and  editors 
came  and  went,  practically  pari  passu,  and  as 
the  Colony  developed  and  expanded  so  did 
the  Hongkotiji  Daily  Press,  which  almost  im- 
mediately trebled  the  area  of  its  pages  and 


well  as  of  persons,  and  much  important  infor- 
mation bearing  directly  on  all  departments 
of  the  ¥m  East.  The  fc;uropean  staff  of  the 
Honj>kouii  Daily  Press  and  its  germane  pub- 
lications, which  include  occasional  books  and 
pamphlets  relating  to  Hongkong,  China,  and 
the  Orient  generally,  includes  (in  London) 
the  managing-lessee  and  two  reporters  ;  (in 
Hongkong)  the  editor,  two  reporters,  two 
European  proof-readers,  the  business  manager, 
accountant,  and  others.  From  its  office  in 
Fleet  Street  it  receives,  daily,  an  independent 
service  of  telegrams,  with  the  letters  and 
reports  of  its  European  correspondents  in 
London,  Paris,  Hamburg,  &c.  It  also  has 
correspondents  in  Japan  and  various  cities 
and  Treaty  ports  in  China. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      351 


MR.  T.  WRIGHT.— A  list  of  names  of  news- 
papers, principally  provincial,  can  have  but 
little  interest,  and  tlion^'h  claiming  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century's  experience  as  a  jour- 
nalist, the  subject  of  this  note  has  not  had  a 
career  that  lends  itself  to  picturesque  narra- 
tive. His  first  trespass  upon  ediloiial  space 
was  a  "  letter  to  the  editor,  in  which,  as  a 
boy  of  ten  or  eleven,  he  criticised  a  "  leader  " 
that  had  emphasised  the  adage  about  sparing 
rods  and  spoiling  children.  The  editor,  Mr. 
George  Chatt,  a  great  man  in  the  Norlli 
Countree.  sent  a  message  to  his  correspon- 
dent: "Join  us,  and  we'll  make  a  journalist 
of  you."  Being  at  that  time,  thanks  to  a  too 
indulgent  father  aid  a  sorely  tried  tutor,  full 
of    leisure,    the    boy    accepted    the    invitation 


confreres  who  managed  to  survive  his  mor- 
dant humour.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
he  achieved  special  distinction  by  declining 
to  accept  the  chance  of  glory,  and  dysentery, 
by  going  to  Korea  as  the  Daily  Mail's  war 
correspondent.  Instead,  he  preferred  to  join 
the  late  Mr.  "  Bob "  Little,  of  North  China 
Daily  News  fame,  at  Shanghai,  whoin  he  was 
intended  to  succeed  on  retirement.  Mr. 
Little's  intention  to  retire  was,  apparently, 
abandoned,  and  the  chair  of  the  Hoii^koiijf 
Daily  Press  falling  vacant,  Mr.  Wright  came 
to  Hongkong,  where  he  has  been  endeavour- 
ing to  conduct  that  fifty-year-old  journal 
strictlv  in  accordance  with  its  own  traditions. 


a    pleasantly  situated    house    on    the    Peak, 
and   is   a    member   of    the    Hongkong    Club. 

The    Hongkong   Telegraph. 

The  Hongkong  Telegraph  was  established 
by  Mr.  Robert  P'razer-Sinith,  and  its  first 
issue  appeared  on  June  15,  1881.  After  a 
somewhat  chequered  career,  the  paper 
became  the  property  of  the  late  Mr.  John 
Joseph  F"rancis,  y.C,  who  at  that  time 
was  undoubtedly  the  cleverest  lawyer  prac- 
tising in  Hongkong.  Mr.  Krancis  in  due 
course  converted  the  business  into  a  limited 
liability  company,  the  registration  taking 
place   on  February  22,  1900. 

While     owning     to     a     special     desire     to 


The  "Telegraph"  ix  1S81. 


'HONGKONG    TELEGRAPH." 

Editorial  Oki-tces. 


and  entered  upon  a  journalistic  career.  The 
first  sum  he  earned  was  six  shillings,  for  a 
"turn-over"  entitled  "The  duty  of  parents 
to  children."  He  was  then  about  twelve 
years  old.  In  course  of  time  he  acquired  the 
usual  local  faine  by  the  usual  vigorous 
criticisin  of  the  usual  deplorable  condition  of 
the  usual  parish  pump,  attained  a  high  posi- 
tion on  the  local  stepladder  and  a  salary 
exceptional  for  one  of  his  years.  To  count 
age  by  the  almanack  is  not  always  to  count 
truly  :  Mr.  Wright  claims  that  he  was  really 
born  on  the  steamer  that  brought  him  to  the 
Far  H;ast  in  1902.  Till  then,  he  discovered, 
he  had  merely  existed  in  chrysalis  form.  His 
advent  in  Japan,  and  meteoric  career  there, 
is  still  spoken  of  with  bated  breath  by  those 


MR.  BERTRAM  AUGUSTUS  HALE,  manager 
of  the  Hongkong  Daily  Press,  is  a  son  of 
Mr.  Charles  Hale,  for  many  years  town 
surveyor  of  Shepton  Mallet,  Soinersetshire. 
Born  in  1870,  he  was  connected  with 
journalism  in  Devonshire  and  London  for 
some  years,  and  came  East  to  join  the 
Japan  Chronicle  in  1895.  In  1899  he 
became  editor  and  part  proprietor  of  the 
Hiogo  News,  and  whilst  in  Japan  he  also 
acted  as  correspondent  of  the  London 
Standard.  He  arrived  in  Hongkong  in 
February.  1903,  as  manager  of  the  Daily 
Press.  He  married  in  November,  1898. 
Florence,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Charles 
Boulton,  of  Dover.     He  lives  at  "Wellburn." 


promote  Chinese  interests,  the  Telegraph  has 
followed  an  entirely  independent  policy, 
directing  its  attention  largely  to  the  advance- 
inent  of  the  cominercial  interests  of  the 
Colony,  without  disregarding  the  various 
other  facets  of  work  on  an  evening  journal. 
Its  connection  with  Canton,  the  capital  of 
Southern  China,  has  been  singularly  success- 
ful, owing  to  the  excellence  of  its  news 
service  from  that  centre  of  Chinese  activity, 
while  it  has  also  established  a  close  con- 
nection with  the  Treaty  ports  along  the 
coast. 

The  Telegraph  is  recognised  as  a  staunch 
upholder  of  British  trade  in  Hongkong, 
and  its  criticisms  and  editorials  on  trade 
generally,    with    particular    reference    to   the 


352     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


industries  and  other  enterprises  promoted  in 
the  Colony  and  in  the  southern  provinces  of 
China,  have  been  characterised  by  acute 
inside  information  and  keen  perception,  with 
the  result  that  the  mercantile  community 
generally   are  lirm  supporters  of  the  journai. 


Olaiiier  in  Kingston.  During  the  Cuban 
war  he  acted  as  special  correspondent  for 
the  London  Dnily  Tclcgrafh.  After  a  sojourn 
in  England,  he  was  appointed  assistant 
editor  of  the  Butigkok  Times.  Siam  ;  and, 
after    a    short    coimection    with    the    Straits 


'SOUTH    CHINA    MORNING    POST." 
Lixonrn  K<K>M. 
CojiPosixG  Room. 


MR.  A.  W.  BREBNER,  the  editor,  is  a 
native  of  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  and  received 
his  education  at  Robert  Gordon's  College  in 
that  city.  Afterwards  he  joined  the  editorial 
staff  of  the  Aberdeen  Free  Press,  and  in  1X95 
proceeded  to  Jamaica,  West  Indies,  to  take 
up  the  position   of  sub-editor  on    the   Dnity 


Times,  he  joined  the  Hoiifiliong  TeUgrafli,  of 
which  he  was  appointed  editor  in  January, 
1906. 


MR.  J.  P.  BRAQA,  the  manager,  is  a  native 
of   the    Colony.      He   was   first   educated   at 


St.  Joseph's  College,  and,  proceeding  to 
Calcutta,  passed  through  St.  Xavier's  College 
and  Roberts  College.  In  1889  he  was 
awarded  the  only  scholarship  secured  by 
the  Kuropean  students  in  the  Matriculation 
Examination  of  the  I'nivcrsity  of  Calcutta. 
On  his  return  to  Hongkong  he  joined  the 
firm  of  Government  printers  and  publishers, 
and  was  admitted  a  partner  of  Messrs. 
Noronha  &  Co.  in  1899.  This  partnership 
was  dissolved  upon  the  death  of  the  senior 
proprietor,  and  in  July,  1902,  Mr.  Braga 
received   his   present  appointment. 

South    China    Morning    Post,   Ltd. 

The  youngest  daily  newspaper  in  Hong- 
kong is  the  South  China  Morning  Post. 
Registered  as  a  limited  liability  company, 
with  a  capital  of  ?i50,ooo,  on  March  18, 
1903,  it  made  its  bow  to  the  public  in 
November   of   the   same   year. 

The  founder  of  the  Company  was  Mr. 
A.  Cunningham,  who  liad  previously  been 
connected  with  newspapers  in  Singapore, 
Shanghai,  and  Hongkong,  and  who  after- 
wards acted  as  general  manager  and  editor. 
The  first  editor  was  Mr.  Douglas  Story, 
a  prominent  London  journalist  and  war 
correspondent.  The  Company  started  with 
splendid  backing,  and  had  on  Its  first 
directorate  such  prominent  men  as  Mr. 
E.  H.  Sharp.  K.C. ;  Mr.  C.  Ewens,  solicitor  ; 
Pere  Robert,  the  head  of  the  Mission 
Etrangeres  ;  and  Mr.  G.  W.  F.  Playfair, 
manager  of  the  National  Bank  of  China. 
Adopting  a  vigorous,  Independent,  and  up-to- 
date  policy,  the  venture  rapidly  came 
to  the  front  In  local  journalism,  and  now 
claims  to  have  the  "  largest  circulation." 
Elaborate  cable  services  from  London,  Berlin, 
and  Tokyo  were  its  chief  features,  and 
business  people  were  not  slow  to  recognise 
that  through  the  Post  they  were  brought 
into  touch  with  the  affairs  of  the  world  In 
hitherto  unattempted  by  private 
The  Post  also  takes  the  credit 
the  originator  of  the  lo-cent 
Hongkong.  In  a  short  time 
the  Post  increased  in  size,  and  now  it  gives 
Its  readers  a  daily  average  of  thirty  columns 
of  reading  matter  and  forty  columns  of 
advertisements.  During  the  Russo-Japanese 
War  the  Post  was  strongly  pro-Japanese,  but 
has  not  permitted  Its  enthusiasm  to  Interfere 
with  unbiased  criticism  of  certain  dubious 
methods  imported  Into  the  commercial  field 
by  our  allv.  British  trade  In  China  has 
always  had  a  staunch  supporter  In  the  Post. 
In  matters  Chinese  the  Post  has  consistently 
maintained  a  strong  lead.  It  Initiated  a 
movement  for  the  suppression  of  piracy, 
lent  its  support  to  the  cause  of  railway 
development,  and  has  urged  reform  and 
enlightenment  on  legitimate  lines.  The  good 
intentions  of  the  Chinese  authorities  have 
always  been  ;ipplauded,  and  oft-repeated 
back-sliding  has  been  denounced.  The  opium 
question  has  received  due  attention,  and  the 
effect  of  the  arrangement  between  China 
and  our  philanthropic  Home  Government  on 
the  mercantile  Interests  of  Hongkong  has 
been  emphasised  time  and  again.  One 
consistent  aim  of  the  Post  has  been  to 
promote  a  clearer  understanding,  both 
politically  and  cominercially,  between  the 
Chinese  and  the  "  barbiirians "  of  the  West. 
In  local  politics  the  Post  maintains  a  fearless 
attitude  in  voicing  the  views  of  the  laity  on 
all  matters  requiring  adjustment,  and  Ideas 
mooted  in  its  columns  for  the  betterment  of 
conditions  of  life  generally  in  the  Colony 
have,  many  of  them,  received  the  approval 
of  the  local  administrators. 


a  manner 
enterprise, 
of  being 
newspaper 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     353 


In  addition  to  its  daily  issue,  the  Post 
publishes  a  weekly  mail  edition,  which  also 
has  a  large  sale.  Like  most  newspaper 
enterprises  in  the  Far  East,  the  "  South 
China  Morning  Post,"  Ltd.,  does  not  confine 
itself  to  the  production  of  newspapers.  Its 
printing  department  is  fitted  with  the  most 
modern  English  and  American  machinery 
and  plant,  including  the  linotype,  of  which 
marvellous  invention  the  Company  is  the 
pioneer  in  the  Far  East,  and  of  which  the 
Chinese  trained  on  the  premises  by  Mr. 
G.  J.  Dyer  come  to  be  expert  operators  in  a 
comparativelv  short  time.  So  successful  has 
the  innovation  been,  that  the  Company  is 
now  erecting  its  third  machine.  Chromo- 
lithographic  work  is  done  on  a  big  scale, 
and  experts  have  pronounced  it  equal  to  the 


keen  interest  in  i  the  progress  I  of  the  business. 
Mr.  G.  T.  Lloyd,  formerly  assistant  editor, 
is  now  general  manager  and  editor,  and  he 
is  supported  by  a  capable  and  experienced 
staff. 


MR.  QEORQE  T.  LLOYD,  the  editor  and 
general  manager  of  the  South  China  Morning 
Post,  was  born  on  October  2,  1872,  and 
educated  at  Carmarthen,  South  Wales.  His 
early  training  in  journalism  was  obtained  in 
the  county  of  his  birth.  He  occupied  the 
editorial  chairs  of  several  English  provincial 
newspapers  before  he  came  to  Hongkong,  in 
1904,  as  assistant-editor  of  the  Moruiiiji  Post. 
Three  years  later  he  was  appointed  to  his 
present   position.     Mr.    Lloyd    was   president 


Siam  Observer,  but,  his  health  failing,  he 
was  compelled  to  leave  Siam,  and  next 
joined  the  staff  of  the  Japan  Herald  at 
Yokohama.  In  1904  he  returned  to  Hong- 
kong, to  take  up  sub-editorial  work  on 
the  Morning  Post,  and  in  1907,  he  became 
assistant-editor.  He  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  Official  Shorthand  Writer  to  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Hongkong,  and  has  acted  in 
a  similar  capacity  to  various  Commissions — 
those  re  the  Private  Chair  and  Jinrickshaw 
Coolies,  the  Public  Works  Department,  and 
the  Public  Health  and  Buildings  Ordinance. 
At  the  last-named,  which  sat  in  1906  for 
ten  months,  no  fewer  than  183  witnesses 
were  examined,  and  a  remarkable  amount  of 
evidence  was  taken.  Mr.  Petrie  was  formerly 
a  member  of   the  Institute  of  Journalists. 


THE    "CHINESE    MAIL." 


THE    EDITORIAL    STAFF. 


best  home  work  of  its  class.  A  feature  of 
the  lithographic  work  is  Chinese  calendars, 
of  which  many  thousands  are  turned  out 
every  year-end,  and  for  which  the  demand 
is  rapidly  increasing.  As  a  sign  of  develop- 
ment, it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  Company 
has  recently  erected  its  own  gas-producing 
plant,  which  supplies  the  necessary  power  for 
driving  the  16  and  32-horse-power  engines, 
and  also  the  electric  motors  which  light  the 
premises.  Reforms  have  recently  been 
instituted  which  will  permit  of  further 
development.  The  present  directorate  con- 
sists of  Dr.  J.  W.  Xoble  (chairman)  ;  Mr. 
G.  C.  Moxon,  National  Bank  of  China  ; 
Mr.  J.  Scott-Harston,  of  Messrs.  Ewens  and 
Harston,  solicitors  ;  and  Mr.  H.  Pinckney, 
of  Stewart  Bros.— all   of   whom  take  a  very 


of   St.  George's  Club   for    1907.      He  resides 
at  the  King  Edward  Hotel,  Hongkong. 


♦ 


MR.  THOMAS  PETRIE,  assistant-editor  of 
the  Sontli  Cliina  Morniiif^  Post,  Hongkong,  is 
a  native  of  Scotland,  and  commenced  his 
journalistic  career  on  the  staff  of  the  Forfar 
branch  of  the  Dundee  Courier  and  Argus 
and  Dundee  Weeltly  iVews.  Later  he  was 
transferred  to  the  head  office  at  Dundee,  and 
remained  with  this  firm  for  four  years.  In 
1900  he  decided  to  come  East,  and  in  March 
of  that  year  joined  the  staff  of  the  China 
Mail,  Hongkong.  He  remained  in  the  Colony 
for  two  and  a  half  years,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded   to   Bangkok    as    sub-editor     of     the 


The    Chinese    Mail. 

The  Ctiincfe  Mail,  known  in  Chinese  as 
the  Wa  Tsz  Yat  Po.  is  one  of  the  leading 
Chinese  papers  in  South  China.  Its  original 
promoters  were  Mr.  George  Murray  Bain, 
of  the  China  Mail,  and  Mr.  Chun  6i  Ting, 
Chinese  Consul-General  to  Cuba— who,  after 
his  return  to  his  own  country,  took  part 
in  the  negotiation  of  the  British  Commercial 
Treaty  with  China.  Mr.  Chun  Oi  Ting  is 
still  a  proprietor,  and  under  his  supervision, 
the  paper,  for  over  half  a  century,  has  pur- 
sued an  impartial  policy,  and  lias  striven  to 
promote  education  and  commerce.  During 
the  China-Japan  War  the  offices  were  wrecked 
by  an  infuriated  mass  of  Chinese,  because 
the  paper  published  the  first-hand  information 


354      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  E  FC. 


about  the  loss  of  the  Chinese  fleet  in  the  China 
Sea.  the  surrender  of  Port  Arthur,  and  the 
defeat  of  the  Chinese  Army  near  Korea.  In 
I8«J5  the  premises  caught  tire,  and  after  this 
the  headquarters  were  removed  to  their 
present  situation.  No.  5,  Wellington  Street. 
Mr.  Laii  Man  Shan,  who  was  for  some  time 
Attache  to  the  Chinese  Legation  in  America, 
has  held  the  position  of  managing-editor, 
with  inter\-als,  lor  over  twenty  years,  and, 
through  the  columns  of  the  paper,  he  has 
done  much  to  cTeate  a  healthy  public  opinion 
with  regard  to  \-arious  movements  for 
ad\-ancing  the  welfare  and  prosperitv  of  the 
country  generally.  The  present  manager  is 
Mr.  Li  Sum  Ling,  who  took  over  the 
responsibilities  of  the  post  from  Mr.  Chun 
Un  Man.  the  son  of  Mr.  Chun  Oi  Ting. 

The  paper  has  always  had  the  courage  of 
its  opinions,  although  the  policy  of  expressing 
itself  freely  on  matters  of  public  interest  has 
often  appeared  to  be  opposed  to  its  own 
immediate  business  interests.  In  1903,  owing 
to  an  attack  made  upon  Pui  King  Fuk,  the 
notorious  Xam  Hoi  magistrate,  an  attempt 
was  made  to  stop  the  publication  of  the 
paper,  but  it  was  shown  that  the  editor  was 
within  his  rights  as  defined  by  ordinance. 
Again,  in  1906.  owing  to  the  trouble  which 
arose  in  connection  with  the  Canton-Hankow 
Railway,  all  Chinese  papers  in  South  China 
unanimously  joined  in  an  attack  upon  the 
management.  As  a  consequence  an  order 
was  issued  by  the  Canton  Viceroy.  Shum 
Chun  Hsen,  prohibiting  the  Hongkong  ver- 
nacular papers  from  circulating  in  Canton 
or  in  any  ports  under  his  jurisdiction. 
Owiiig  to  immense  influence  being  brought 
to  bear  in  certain  quarters,  however,  the 
Chinese  Mail  and  one  or  two  other  publi- 
cations were  exempted  from  this  prohibition. 

The  paper  has  a  high  standing  among 
Chinese  ofiicials  and  in  Chinese  commercial 
circles.  Many  improvements  have  been 
made  recently  in  its  organisation,  and  all 
important  news  relating  to  the  political 
movements  in  the  Chinese  capital  and 
Central  China,  is  obtained  with  the  least 
possible  delay. 

Who's   Who    In    the    Far    Bast. 

This  publication,  as  the  name  implies,  is  a 
work  of  reference  which  supplies  information 
in  regard  to  persons,  native  and  foreign. 
holding  positions  of  prominence  in  the  Far 
East  Especial  effort  was  made  during  its 
compilation  to  obtain  information  as  full  and 
accurate  as  possible  in  regard  to  the  states- 
men and  d\il  and  military  officials  of  Japan 
and  China. 

Two  editions  of  the  work  have  been 
published,  the  first  in  June,  1906,  and  the 
second  in  June,  1907.  The  third  edition  will 
be  published  in  January,  1909,  and  thereafter 
at  intervals  of  two  years. 

iVho's  Who  in  the  Far  East  owed  its 
inception  to  the  enterprise  of  two  Australian 
journalists,  Mr.  F.  Lionel  Pratt  and  Mr.  W. 
H.  Donald,  who  are  still  the  proprietors. 
The  former,  who  edits  the  work,  was  for 
many  years  connec-ted  with  the  Australian 
Press,  and  represented  important  Sydney  and 
Melbourne  dailies  with  the  Japanese  Army 
in  Manchuria  during  the  late  war.  Mr. 
Donald  is  the  managing  director  of  the 
••China  Mail."  Ltd.  {q.v.) 

The  b<K)k.  which  contains  some  2.000 
biographies,  is  published  for  the  proprietors 
by  the  -China  Mail."  Ltd. 

MeMr«.   Noronha   &  Co. 

The  printing  and  publishing  of  the 
Government      Gazelle       and     other      official 


productions  has  been  carried  on  for  three 
generations  by  the  house  of  Messrs.  Noronha 
&  Co.,  the  oldest  printing  firm  in  the  Colony. 
The  business  was  established  in  1844.  A 
heavy  stiK-k  of  type  is  carried,  and  the  firm 
is  thus  enabled  not  only  to  keep  a  great  deal 
of  the  matter  required  by  the  Government 
always  in  type,  but  also  to  undertake  large 
private  contracts.  A  speciality  is  made  of  all 
branches  of  book-work  and  publishing. 


SHANGHAI. 

With  the  necessary  reservation  applicable 
to  all  generalisations,  it  will  be  readily  con- 
ceded that  every  country  and  every  place 
has  the  Press  it  deserves.  It  follows,  there- 
fore, that  it  requires  no  great  erudition  in 
the  science  of  human  nature  to  be  able  to 
gauge  a  community  from  its  newspapers. 
To  those  who  have  never  tried  the  experi- 
ment it  may  safely  be  recommended  as  an 
instructive  and  entertaining  pastime.  If  they 
have  not  time  to  make  a  serious  study  of 
the  w'hole  Press,  let  them  turn  to  the  adver- 
tisements, peruse  these  carefully,  and,  with 
a  few  glances  at  the  body  of  the  paper, 
thev  will  be  able  to  reconstruct  with  folerable 
accuracy  the  life  of  the  community  in  which 
they  find  themselves. 

In  the  case  of  Shanghai  the  theory  cer- 
tainly holds  good.  Tradition — the  religion  of 
the  port— is  there  exemplified  in  the  history 
of  the  Xorth  China  Daily  News,  which, 
to  the  older  section  of  the  population  at  least, 
is  always  tout  conrl  "the  paper."  Instinc- 
tively this  section  feels  a  sense  of  proprietor- 
ship over  it,  and  for  that  reason  is  ever 
its  most  captious  critic,  resenting  every 
innovation  until  it  has,  in  turn,  become 
sanctified  by  usage.  The  movement  of  popu- 
lation is  reflected  in  the  number  of  news- 
papers that  have  come  and  gone  ;  its 
intellectuality  and  pursuits  by  the  standard 
of  those  still  existing.  Enter  into  the  social 
life  of  the  community  and  you  will  find  that 
the  proportion  between  those  whose  thoughts 
are  for  the  most  part  bounded  by  the  res- 
tricted limits  of  the  Settlement  and  its  imme- 
diate surroundings,  and  those  whose  minds 
dwell  upon  Weltpolitik,  science,  art,  and  the 
hundred  and  one  subjects  that  form  the 
basis  of  conversation  in  the  big  capitals  of 
the  world,  is  well  preserved  in  the  contents 
of  the  daily  Press.  Shanghai  is  a  commercial 
centre,  and  the  reward  for  strict  attention 
to  business  in  business  hours  is  complete 
relaxation  of  mind  at  all  other  times.  The 
leisured  class  does  not  exist,  and  it  would, 
therefore,  be  idle  to  expect  the  Press  to 
cater  for  such  a  clientele.  Intense  devotion 
to  the  temporary  place  of  adoption — that 
great  characteristic  which  makes  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  race  such  a  successful  coloniser — is 
as  dominant  in  Shanghai  as  elsewhere,  and 
it  is  faithfully  reproduced  in  the  Press. 

From  these  reflections  we  may  turn  to  a 
consideration  of  the  various  journalistic  enter- 
prises undertaken  during  the  history  of  the 
Settlement.  It  was  in  the  closing  weeks  of 
1843  that  Shanghai  was  formally  declared 
open  to  foreign  commerce,  but  the  first  steps 
in  the  establishment  of  a  foreign  settlement 
were  deliberate.  Consequently,  the  pioneers 
of  those  days  have  little  to  be  ashamed  of 
in  the  fact  that  the  first  newspaper  did  not 
make  its  appearance  until  nearly  seven  years 
later.  There  were  only  157  foreign  resi- 
dents in  Shanghai  when  the  North  China 
Herald  issued  its  first  number  on  August  3, 
1850,  and  for  fourteen  years  it  supplied,  with 


the  addition  of  a  daily  shipping  list,  the 
immediate  wants  of  the  community.  With 
the  gradual  growth  of  the  Settlement,  how- 
ever, came  tlie  opening  for  a  daily  news- 
paper, and  on  July  I.  1864,  this  appeared  from 
the  office  of  the  Norlli  China  Herald  in  the 
form  of  the  North  China  Daily  New.^,  which 
incorporated  the  Daily  Shipping  IJ.^I.  For 
twenty-four  years  in  all,  until  1874.  these 
papers  held  undisputed  sway.  But  on  July 
4th  of  that  year  this  position  was  challenged 
by  the  Celestial  Empire,  and  from  that  date 
journalistic  effort  in  Shanghai  may  be  likened 
to  the  hundred-headed  hydra  of  antiquity. 
The  Morninii  Gazette  and  Advertiser,  with 
an  evening  counterpart  known  as  the  Evening 
Gazette,  inaugurated  the  list  of  unsuccessful 
publications,  which,  though  started  often 
under  the  best  auspices,  soon  languished 
for  various  reasons.  Among  them  may  be 
.  mentioned  the  Cathay  Post,  the  Shanghai 
Times  (the  first  of  this  name),  the  Shangliai 
Daily  Press,  while  others  such  as  the  Courier 
and  the  Temperance  Union  found  their  eli.xir 
of  life  in  incorporation  with  healthier  or- 
ganisations. 

On  April  17,  1879,  the  Shanghai  Mercury 
appeared  as  an  evening  paper,  and,  absorbing 
the  Cornier  and  the  Celestial  Empire — the 
latter  as  its  weekly  edition — quickly  established 
itself  on  sound  lines,  which  have  successfully 
carried  it  onward  to  its  present  standing  in 
the  Press  of  the  Settlement.  The  story  of 
the  individual  newspapers  which  still  circu- 
late in  Shanghai  wilt  be  told  at  length  under 
separate  headings.  Here  it  is  sufficient  to 
record  the  order  of  their  appearance.  Shortly 
after  the  Mercury  in  the  same  year  came  an  un- 
pretentious weekly  known  as  the  Temperance 
Union,  which,  thanks  to  outside  contributions, 
was  able  to  advocate  its  principles  in  an  at- 
tractive and  scholarly  manner,  maintaining 
an  unbroken  record  until  1H96.  In  that  year 
the  paper  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present 
editor,  who  changed  its  name  to  the  Union 
and,  while  retaining  its  advocacy  of  total 
abstinence,  enlarged  its  scope  to  cover  the 
interests  of  all  who  "  go  down  to  the  sea  in 
ships."  On  July  2,  1894— the  summer  heat 
of  Shanghai  has  exercised  and  still  exercises 
a  peculiarly  stimulating  effect  upon  local 
journalistic  efforts — appeared  with  the  China 
Gazette,  the  second  evening  paper,  the  joint 
proprietorship  and  editorship  of  which  have 
remained  in  the  same  hands  throughout 
the  twenty-four  years  of  its  existence.  It 
represents  that  form  of  journalism  which  is 
unfettered  by  tradition,  and  which  expresses 
its  likes  and  dislikes  with  a  potent  and  facile 
pen.  Another  journal  that  was  conspicuous 
for  its  doughty  championship  of  foreign 
interests  was  the  Shangliai  Daily  Press. 
which  at  one  time  changed  its  name  to 
that  of  the  Nejv  Press.  In  its  latter  days 
it  enjoyed  Japanese  financial  support,  but 
when  this  terminated  abruptly,  the  Shanghai 
Daily  Press  ceased  to  exist.  Finally,  in 
1901,  the  position  of  the  North  China  Daily 
News  as  the  only  morning  paper  of  the 
Settlement  was  challenged  by  the  advent  of 
the  Shanghai  Times.  After  a  chequered 
career  it  has  settled  down  under  a  semi- 
official Chinese  aegis,  with  a  penchant  for  the 
United  States. 

All  the  newspapers  to  which  reference 
has  been  made  are,  or  were,  written  in  the 
English  language.  Foreign  journalism  is 
represented  h\  DcrOstasiatische  Lloyd,  founded 
in  1886  as  a"  small  daily  newspaper  devoted 
to  German  interests.  A  year  later  it  became 
a  weekly  publication,  and  in  its  present  form 
it  occupies  a  high  position  in  the  local  Press 
by  reason  of  the  able  manner  in  which  it  is 
conducted,    its     wide     scope     and     scholarly 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     355 


articles.  French  interests  are  in  the  capable 
care  ol  L'Eclio  de  Cliiiic,  which  for  eleven 
years  has  maintained  a  creditable  record 
for  all  that  gives  French  journalism  its 
unique  position  in  contemporary  ephemeral 
literature. 

Side  by  side  with  the  daily  Press  Shanghai 
has  been  well  supplied  with  literature  of  a 
different  nature,  ranging  from  the  more 
serious  effort  of  an  illustrated  quarterly  to 
comic  weeklies.  It  is  impossible  to  give  too 
high  a  meed  of  praise  to  tlie  Enst  of  Asia,  a 
valuable  publication,  unfortunately  no  longer 
continued,  issued  at  one  time  by  the  "  North 
China  Daily  News  and  Herald"  Company, 
Ltd.  It  was  started  in  January,  1902, 
under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Timothy  Richard, 
and  on  her  death,  which  occurred  soon  after 
the  completion  of  the  first  volume,  Mr.  W.  J. 
Hunnex  was  appointed  editor.  For  some 
time  a  German  edition  of  the  magazine,  under 
the  editorship  of  Mr.  Chas.  Fink,  was  pub- 
lished simultaneously  with  the  English  edition. 
The  special  aim  of  the  magazine  was  to  in- 
crease the  general  knowledge  of  the  East  of 
Asia.  The  co-operation  of  some  of  the  leading 
writers  and  thinkers  in  the  East  was  secured, 
and  the  subject-matter  was  brought  before 
the  world  in  fitting  dress.  The  magazine  was 
printed  from  type  and  machines  specially 
procured,  on  art  paper  in  colours,  with  a 
characteristic  cover  specially  designed  by  a 
Chinese  artist.  Each  number  contained  about 
a  hundred  pages.  The  illustrations  were  from 
original  drawings  or  photographs,  taken  in 
the  majority  of  cases  by  the  authors  them- 
selves, or  under  their  supervision.  From 
time  to  time  the  drawings  and  paintings  by 
native  artists  were  reproduced,  displaying  a 
pleasing  contrast  between  Occidental  and 
Oriental  art.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  fifth 
volume  the  East  of  Asia  ceased  to  be  pub- 
lished, and  only  a  few  copies  of  the  five 
volumes  are  still  to  be  had. 

In  a  category  of  its  own  may  be  placed 
Sport  ami  Gossip,  a  bright  Sunday  paper 
that  sustains  its  title  more  consistently  than 
its  owners,  to  judge  from  the  frequent  changes 
in  its  proprietorship. 

Of  the  weeklies,  whose  name  is  rapidly 
becoming  legion,  priority  belongs  to  the 
Eastern  Sketch  as  the  mirror  par  excellence 
ai  local  life.  Under  the  editorship  of 
Mr.  H.  W.  G.  Hayter,  whose  facile  pencil 
provides  its  most  effective  illustrations,  the 
Eastern  Sketch  has  identified  itself  parti- 
cularly with  le  hant  monde  and  political 
cartoons.  Social  Shanghai  is  a  monthly 
that  reflects  the  greatest  credit  upon  its 
editor,  Mrs.  Shorrock  ;  for  it  is  a  valuable 
record  of  social  events  in  the  Settlement, 
set  out  in  attractive  style  and  copiously 
illustrated.  In  the  Band  (recently  under 
new  management),  an  attempt  is  made 
with  rapidly  increasing  success,  to  combine 
the  light  and  more  serious  sides  of  ever\'- 
day  life.  The  Saturday  Evening  Review 
breaks  a  lance  in  Chinese  interests,  and 
makes  its  bid  for  popularity  with  several 
pages  of  comment  on  current  events  and 
articles  culled  from  foreign  publications. 
The  Sunday  Sun,  the  Mirror,  and  the  Prince 
are  other  efforts  in  similar  directions,  which 
have  not  yet  been  in  existence  long  enough 
to  enable  the  degree  of  their  hold  upon  the 
public  to  be  gauged  accurately.  One  and 
all,  it  is  to  be  feared,  fall  short  of  Puck 
and  the  Rattle  that  flourished  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  years  earlier.  These  were  con- 
spicuous for  real  literary  efforts  which  give 
pleasure  even  when  their  original  setting  is 
forgotten.  Their  successors  of  to-day  are  of 
an  essentially  ephemeral  nature,  prompted 
more    by    a    desire    for    commercial    success 


than   by  the  cacoethes  scribeiidi  of  a  genius, 
whose    scintillating    pen    will    not   be   denied. 

The    North    China     Dally    News     and 
Herald. 

The  North  China  Herald  was  founded  in 
1850,  by  Mr.  Henry  Shearman,  and  the  first 
issue  appeared  on  August  3rd  of  that  year. 
It  was  a  small,  unambitious  effort,  and  for 
many  years  consisted  only  of  a  double  sheet 


possession  of  the  native  city.  The  foreign 
residents,  no  less  than  the  Herald,  regarded 
the  daily  encounters  between  the  imperialists 
and  the  rebels  without  dismay,  and  it  is 
amusing  to  read  in  the  issue  of  April  i,  1854, 
three  days  before  the  battle  of  Muddy  Flat, 
a  warning  against  ascending  in  large  numbers 
to  the  church  tower  to  watch  the  attack  of 
the  imperialists  against  the  city  as  "  the 
upper  portion  of  the  tower  is  very  slightly 
built,  and  if  it  be  crowded  as  on  Wednesday 


':-J5.^**->Saj£tit^ 


■m'.- 


THE    "NORTH    CHINA   DAILY   NEWS   AND   HERALD"    OFFICES. 


the  inside  of  which  alone  was  devoted  to  the 
week's  news.  The  first  number  contained  a 
list  of  foreign  residents,  who  then  numbered 
157,  and  subsequent  issues  gave  the  reader  a 
short  course  of  lessons  in  the  local  dialect.  As 
a  record  of  the  early  history  of  the  Settlement 
these  early  numbers  make  interesting  reading, 
though  a  present-day  journalist  would  hardly 
be  satisfied  with  the  short  paragraphs  devoted 
to  local  events.  Strenuous  times  were  those 
early  days,  when  the  Taeping  rebellion  had 
reached   its  zenith,   and   the   Triads   were   in 


night  last,  and  again  on  Thursday,  a  catas- 
trophe too  painful  to  contemplate  may  result." 
Nor  to  the  writer  who  described  the  battle  of 
Muddy  Flat  did  there  seem  anything  fool- 
hardy or  extraordinary  in  three  hundred 
volunteers  and  sailors  setting  out  to  oust  some 
twelve  thousand  imperialist  troops  from  their 
camp. 

The  Herald  was,  however,  more  than 
a  bare  record  of  events.  It  contained 
many  contributions  of  permanent  value  from 
scholars  who  have  long  since   passed  away. 


356     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Dr.  Medhurst  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  its 
columns  ;  Dr.  W.  A.  P.  Martin,  the  vctcnm 
missionarj-  who  is  still  alive  and  as  active  as 
ever,  regularly  wrote  for  the  paix-r,  and  in 
its  columns  many  public  questions  of  real 
moment  at  the  time  were  threshed  out  to  a 
satisfactory  conclusion.  Mr.  Shearman  died 
after  a  short  illness  on  March  22,  1856.  and. 
in  informing  its  readers  of  the  event,  the 
Herald  described  him  as  "  an  unoffending 
man  whose  departure  cxiuld  not  be  un- 
accompanied by  regret."  The  paper  was 
continued  by  his  executors  until  May  17th, 
when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Charles 
Spencer  Compton  who  remained  editor  and 
proprietor  until  1861.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Samuel  Mossman(i86i  63).  During  the  regime 
of  R  Alexander  Janiieson  (1863  66)  the  daily 
shipping  list  developed  into  the  North  China 
Daily  Xcvs.  a  small  three-page  paper,  con- 
taining a  shipping  list,  about  three  columns 
of  letterpress,  and  a  number  of  advertisements. 
The  next  occupant  of  the  editorial  chair 
was  R.  S.  Gundry  (1866-79),  and  under  his 
direction  the  paper  was  immensely  improved. 
The  Herald  was  increased  in  size,  a  daily 
leading  article  was  introduced,  and  in  1870  the 
Supreme  Court  aud  Consular  Gazette,  a  small 
weekly  periodical  devoted  almost  entirely  to 
legal  reports,  passed  from  the  hands  of  its 
proprietor,    D.    Wares     Smith,     and    became 


the  paper.  Practically  verbatim  reports  of 
every  important  case  in  the  Supreme  and 
Consular  Courts  have  been  publislied  since 
that  time,  and  to  the  present  day  great 
care  is  devoted  to  full  and  accurate  reporting 
of  every  legal  case  of  interest.  It  was 
during  Mr.  Gundry's  editorship  also  that 
an  index  of  the  liorlh  China  Herald  was 
published  half-yearly. 

Mr.  Gundry  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  G. 
W.  Haden  (1877-78)  who  had  been  his  sub- 
editor. The  next  editor  was  Mr.  F.  H.  Bal- 
four, who  brought  to  his  work  the  know- 
ledge of  a  sinologue,  and  steered  the  fortunes 
of  the  paper  for  nearly  six  years  (1881-86). 
He  was  the  author  of  "  Taoist  Texts "  and 
several  other  scholarly  works.  Mr.  Balfour, 
who  is  still  living,  retired  in  1886,  and  his 
place  was  taken  by  Mr.  J.  W.  MacClellan, 
his  sub-editor,  who  is  best  remembered  by 
his  short  history  of  Shanghai.  During  his 
editorship  the  late  Mr.  K.  \V.  Little  joined  the 
staff  as  sub-editor,  and  when  Mr.  MacClellan 
retired  in  F"ebruary,  1889,  Mr.  Little  was 
appointed    editor   by   the   proprietors. 

Mr.  Little  brought  to  his  task  a  vast  store 
of  l<K'aI  knowledge — he  came  out  to  the 
East  in  the  early  sixties,  and  from  1879-81 
was  chairman  of  the  Council.  Mr.  Little 
was  to  the  fore  in  everything  affecting  the 
welfare    of    the    Settlement,    and    he    wrote 


speaker,  a  graceful  writer,  and  one  whose 
name  will  be  rcnicnibered  with  affection  on 
the  China  coast  for  many  years  to  come. 


HARRY   L,    GILLER, 

Secretary  .and  General  Manager. 


THE    COMPOSINO   ROOMS. 


amalgamated  with  the  Herald,  the  title  of 
which  now  became  the  Xorlh  China  Herald 
and  Supreme  Court  aud  Consular  Gazette. 
Under  Mr.  Gundry's  editorship,  tfx),  the  amount 
of  letterpress  in  the  daily  paper  was  increased. 
Mr.  Gundry  is  still  familiar  to  Far  Eastern 
residents  as  the  /ounder  of  the  China  Associa- 
tion, of  which,  until  recently,  he  was  presi- 
dent. He  continues  to  write  with  authority 
on  Eastern  affairs,  and  many  important 
memoranda  on  questions  of  Eastern  policy 
have  been  addressed  to  the  Foreign  Office  by 
him.  With  the  amalgamation  of  the  Herald 
and  the  Supreme  Court  aud  Consular  Gazette 
particular  attention  was  devoted  to  law  reports, 
which  have  since  been  one  of  the  features  of 


with  an  almost  infallible  judgment.  He  was 
one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Mih- 
ho-loong  Fire  Company,  a  keen  member  of 
the  Shanghai  Rangers,  and  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  A.D.C.  Known  as  "  Uncle"  Bob 
to  the  whole  Settlement,  he  had  hundreds 
of  friends  and  not  a  single  enemy.  Under 
his  able  guidance  the  North  China  Daily 
News  added  to  its  reputation  as  a  reliable 
chronicle  of  Eastern  affairs.  His  energy 
was  boundless.  He  would  work  in  the 
oftice  until  2.0  a.m.  and  be  down  the  same 
morning  by  9  o'clock,  a  feat  that  none  of 
the  younger  members  of  his  staff  could 
attempt.  When  he  died,  after  a  short  illness, 
on  April   21,   1906,   Shanghai    lost  a  brilliant 


Mr.  Little's  length  of  tenure  was  a  valuable 
asset  to  the  paper,  but  on  his  death  the 
growth  of  the  Settlement,  and  the  feeling 
that  the  paper  should  extend  its  scope 
beyond  purely  local  considerations,  led  the 
proprietors  to  adopt  a  new  policy  and  secure 
the  services  of  a  trained  journalist.  To  this 
end  they  obtained  the  services  of  Mr.  H. 
T.  Montague  Hell,  who  for  ten  years  had 
been  on  the  foreign  staff  of  The  Times  in 
various  parts  of  the  world.  "  Old  custom  " 
dies  hard  in  Shanghai,  and  of  course  there 
were  some  who,  at  the  outset,  criticised 
every  departure  from  the  traditional  policy 
of  the  paper.  Its  main  features,  however, 
have  been  conserved,  though  the  advent  of 
new  blood  has  led  to  several  improvements 
in  the  form  and  size  of  the  North  China 
Daily  News.  Just  before  Mr.  Little's  death 
the  old  and  cumbrous  eight-page  paper  was 
changed  to  one  of  twelve  pages  of  a  more 
convenient  size.  Latterly  there  has  been  an 
addition  to  the  number  of  columns  devoted 
to  letterpress,  and  a  further  increase  is 
contemplated. 

The  oflices  of  the  Xorlh  China  Daily  News 
(111(1  Herald  occupy  a  proininent  position  on 
the  Bund,  whither  they  were  removed  from 
2,  Kiukiang  Road,  in  1902.  The  offices  had 
been  in  Kiukiang  Road  since  1887,  and  prior 
to  that  date  at  24,  Nanking  Road  (to  1866), 
and  at  10  and  at  15,  Hankow  Road. 

Mr.  Shearman  was  the  original  proprietor 
of  the  paper,  and  Mr.  Compton  purchased  it 
from  his  executors.  Then  Messrs.  Broad- 
hurst,  Tootal,  and  Pickwoad  became  partners 
in  it,  and  linally  the  late  Mr.  Pickwoad  was 
the  sole  owner.  Mr.  Balfour  acquired  an 
interest  on  assuming  the  editorship,  and  in 
1906  Messrs,  Pickwoad  &  Co.  formed  a 
private  limited  company  to  take  over  the 
paper. 

Besides  the  Herald,  a  Shanghai  Calendar 
was  published  in  1852  from  the  same  office, 
containing  a  list  of  foreign  residents  in 
China,  and  a  variety  of  useful  information. 
In  a  few  years  this  developed  into  the 
"  Hong  List,"  which  at  one  time  included 
China  and  Japan,  but  now  confines  itself  to 
North   China. 

The  North  China  Daily  News  of  the  present 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     357 


day  is  a  twelve-page  paper,  containing  about 
twenty-one  columns  of  letterpress,  besides 
shipping  news,  commercial  intelligence,,  and 
a  share  list.  In  addition  to  Renter's  tele- 
graphic service,  it  has  an  exclusive  cable 
service  from  Washington,  Tokyo,  and  London. 
A  feature  is  made  of  outport  news,  early 
and  reliable  information  being  obtained 
from  correspondents  in  over  eighty  of  the 
principal  cities  in  China. 

Notes  on  Native  Affairs,  published  daily, 
contains  the  latest  information  from  native 
sources,  and  regular  letters  are  published 
from  correspondents  in  London  (where  the 
paper  has  political,  lady,  and  sporting  corre- 
spondents), Paris,  St.  Petersburg.  Hongkong, 
Peking,  Tokyo,  Australia,  Chicago,  and  India. 
Special  attention  is  given  to  commercial  news. 

As  the  medium  of  official  notifications  of 
the  Municipal  Council,  the  Nortli  Cliina  Daily 
Ne'ivs  publishes  a  w'eekly  Municipal  Gazette. 

The  Herald,  which  is  the  weekly  edition 
of  the  paper,  contains  about  seventy  pages 
of  letterpress,  and  is  published  on  Saturday, 
for  transmission  by  the  Siberian  mail  on 
Tuesday.  A  quarterly  index  is  published,  as 
the  Herald  has  now  reached  a  size  when  it 
cannot  conveniently  be  bound  in  six-monthly 
volumes. 

The  North  China  Daily  News  and  Herald 
occupies  a  unique  position,  not  only  in 
China   but   throughout   the    East. 

The  Herald  circulates  all  over  the  world, 
and  its  views  are  not  infrequently  quoted  in 
the  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  within  the 
past  few  years  Prince  Billow  has  cited  it  for 
its  friendly  policy  towards  Germany. 


H.    T.    MONTAGUE    BELL. 
Editor. 

MR.  HENRY  THURBURN  MONTAGUE 
BELL,  editor  of  the  North  China  Daily 
News,  and  North  China  Herald,  was  formerly 
a  member  of  the  foreign  staff  of  the  Londoii 
Times.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Mr.  J.  L. 
Bell,  merchant  of  Egypt  and  Ceylon.  While 
at  the  St.  Paul's  School,  London,  he  gained 
a  classical  scholarship,  to  Peterhoiise,  Cam- 
bridge, where  he  graduated  with  first-class 
classical  honours  in  1895.  In  December,  1895, 
he  was  appointed  assistant  correspondent 
for  The  Times  in  Berlin.  In  1898  he  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Balkans  as  acting  correspondent 
for  The  Times,  and  remained  there  for  two 
and  a  half  years,  gaining  an  intimate  know- 
ledge of  Greece,  Servia,  Bulgaria,  Montenegro, 


and  Macedonia.  During  the  Boer  War  he 
was  in  the  field  for  some  eighteen  months, 
as  war  correspondent  for  'I  he  Times  and 
received  the  Queen's  medal.  Subsequently, 
from  1902  to  1906,  he  was  The  Times' 
correspondent  for  the  whole  of  South  Africa. 
He  arrived  in  Shanghai  to  take  up  his  present 
appointment  in  July,  1906.  Mr.  Bell,  who 
is  thirty-five  years  of  age,  was  married  in 
1903  to  the  only  daughter  of  the  late  Mr. 
E.  Chadwick,   of   Bromley,   Kent.     His    chief 


The    Shanghai    Mercury. 

The  record  of  the  Shanghai  Mercury,  a 
ten-page  evening  journal  with  a  large  cir- 
culation, has  been  one  of  steady  progress, 
and  no  local  newspaper  commands  a  greater 
share  of  influence  in  the  field  of  domestic 
politics  in  Shanghai.  It  was  founded  on 
April  17,  1879,  by  Messrs.  J.  D.  Clark  and 
Rivington,  and  speedily  attained  wide  popu- 
larity.     Mr.    Clark    was    a    man    of    varied 


THE    EDITORIAL   OFFICE. 


recreations  are  cricket  and  tennis,  but  in 
earlier  years  he  was  an  enthusiastic  all- 
round  sportsman,  captaining  his  college 
cricket  and  Rugby  teams,  and  gaining  his 
colours  for  rowing,  tennis,  and  athletics. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  principal  local  clubs, 
and  of  the  Rand  Club,  Johannesburg. 


experience.  He  had  been  in  the  Royal 
Navy,  he  had  assisted  in  the  establishment 
of  the  Rising  Sun  and  Nagasaki  Express, 
and  he  had  been  in  business  in  Shanghai 
as  a  merchant  and  broker.  He  therefore 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  conduct  of  the 
paper  a  knowledge  of  peculiar  value  in 
Shanghai,  and  the  result  was  that  the  Mercury 
began  at  once  to  make  headway.  In  i8*'g 
the  Courier  and  the  Celestial  Empire  were 
bought,   and  the   latter  was  continued    a?  a 


358     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


weekly  edition.  In  1890  a  company  was 
formed  to  take  over  from  Mr.  Clark,  who 
was  then  the  sole  proprietor,  the  Shanghai 
Mercury  and  Celestial  Empire,  together  with 
the  large  and  growing  jobbing  business 
carried   on   in    connection    with    the    papers. 


MR.  JOHN  D.  CLARK.  M.J.I.,  editor-in- 
chief  of  the  Shanghai  Mcrcnry  and  of  the 
Celestial  Empire,  was  born  on  August  12,  1842, 
and  was  educated  privately  and  at  Norwich 
Grammar  School,  He  joined  the  Royal  Navy 
and  came  to   the   Far    East    in    l86i,    being 


THE   PRINTING    ROOMS. 


Mr.  Clark,  however,  continued,  as  managing 
director,  to  control  and  manage  the  business. 
At   the   present    day   the    Mercury  is    a    ten- 


present  at  the  actions  of  Shimonoseki  and 
Kagoshima.  He  left  the  service  in  1865.  In 
1873  and  1874  he  helped  to  establish  the 
Rising  Sun  and  Xagasaki  Express,  and, 
coming  to  Shanghai  in  1875,  he  set  up  in 
business  as  a  broker  and  general  merchant. 
In  1879  he  established  the  Mercury,  and  he 
has  been  chiefly  responsible  for  its  continued 
success.  His  publications  include  "  Formosa," 
and  •'  Sketches  in  and  around  Shanghai,"  &c. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Shanghai 
Clubs,  and  of  the  Constitutional  Club,  London. 
At  present  Mr.  Clark  is  on  leave. 


J.   D.   CLARK,   H.J.I., 

Maoaginj{  Director  and  Editor. 

page  evening  journal,  with  a  wide  circu- 
lation and  considerable  influence  in  the  pro- 
motion of  the  general  welfare.  In  policy 
the  Mercury  is  Conservative,  but  it  is  not 
bound  to  any  home  political  party  ;  the  good 
of  Shanghai  and  the  welfare  of  its  residents 
being  the  first  article  of  its  creed,  and  the 
advancement  of  British  interests  in  the  Far 
East,  the  next. 


R.   D.   NEISH, 

Assistant  Kditor. 


The   Shanghai   Times. 

The  Shanghai  Times  was  founded  in  the 
spring  of  1901  by  Frank  P.  Ball,  at  that  time 
•'  taipan  "  in  Shanghai  of  the  American 
Trading  Company.  Kealising  that  there  was 
no  newspaper  in  the  Far  East,  outside  Manila, 
devoted  to  the  adequate  representation  of 
.American  interests,  Mr.  Ball  conceived  that 
the  establishment  of  a  journal  with  such  a 
purpose  was  likely  to  prove  a  commercial 
success,  as  well  as  being  of  service  politically 
to  the  United  States,  and  to  this  end  he 
entered  into  an  arrangement  with  two  pro- 
fessional journalists,  namely,  Mr.  Tom 
Cowen,  an  Englishman,  since  deceased,  and 
Mr.  W.  N.  Swarthont,  an  American,  who 
had  previously  been  associated  together  in 
the  establishment  of  the  Manila  Times  at  the 
Philippines  capital.  Mr.  Cowen  was  a  jour- 
nalist of  proved  ability.  During  the  early 
nineties  he  had  been  sub-editor  of  the 
Hongliong  Telegrnpli  under  tlie  well-known 
Mr.  Frazer-Smith,  founder  and  editor  of  that 
paper.  Later  on  he  had  experience  in 
Shanghai  and  Japan,  after  which  he  went  to 
Manila  and  became  interested  with  Mr. 
Swarthont  in  the  Times  there.  He  died  in 
japan  in  U)o6.  One  of  his  brothers  is  Mr. 
John  Cowen  managing  director  and  editor  of 
the    China    Times.    Tientsin. 

Mr.  Swarthont,  an  old  ex-soldier  of  the 
American  Army  in  Manila,  was  a  practical 
printer  of  great  experience  and  ability. 
Under  the  arrangement  with  Mr.  F.  P.  Ball 
he  and  Mr.  Cowen  were  to  be  joint  editors 
of  the  Shanghai  Times,  in  which  each  had  a 
small  monetary  interest. 

The  first  premises  occupied  by  the  paper 
were  situated  in  Nanking  Road,  over  the  well- 
known  jewellery  shop  belonging  to  Mr.  Hung 
Chong.  The  original  "  make-up "  of  the 
journal  was  on  the  American  model,  that  is 
to  say,  the  front  page  was  given  up  to  news, 
and  no  advertisements  were  permitted  to 
appear  there  under  any  conditions.  Shanghai, 
however,  had  always  been  accustomed  to 
seeing  advertisements  on  the  front  pages  of 
its  daily  newspapers,  and,  finding  that  ad- 
vertisers were  not  willing  to  fall  in  with  the 
new  plan,  the  proprietors  of  the  Times  were 
obliged  before  long  to  bow  to  the  dictates  of 
"  old  custom "  and  do  as  their  contempo- 
raries did — that  is,  put  their  advertisements 
practically  where  and  in  what  manner  their 
patrons  wished. 

The  Shanghai  Times  had  not  been  running 
for  many  weeks  when  it  became  involved  in 
a  disastrous  libel  suit.  Mr.  Henry  O'Shea, 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  China  Gazette, 
brought  an  action  against  Mr.  Cowen,  as 
editor  and  part  proprietor  of  the  Times,  for 
libel  on  account  of  an  article,  of  which  Mr. 
Cowen  was  the  author,  and  which  appeared 
in  the  Shanghai  Times  identifying  Mr.  O'Shea 
with  the  notorious  but  mysterious  "  Shanghai 
Liar,"  who  had  invented  the  story  of  the 
capture  of  the  Legations  in  Peking  by  the 
Boxers  and  the  boiling  alive  in  oil  of  every 
foreign  man,  woman,  and  child  in  that  capital. 
The  fiction  appeared  in  several  London  and 
New  York  papers,  and  memorial  services 
were  actually  lield  in  St.  Paul's  and  other 
churches,  for  the  victims.  Mr.  O'Shea  re- 
covered damages  against  Mr.  Cowen,  which, 
however,  were  never  fully  discharged,  and 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  result  of  the 
trial  was  a  serious  "  set-back  "  to  the  Shanghai 
Times.  Mr.  CShea  also  had  a  subsequent 
suit  against  his  lawyers.  Messrs.  Browett  and 
Ellis,  whose  bill  he  declined  to  pay  on  the 
ground  that  it  was  extortionate  and  that 
counsel  had  not  obeyed  his  instructions  with 
regard  to  the  prosecution  of  the  suit  against 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     359 


Mr.  Cowen.  Ultimately  the  matter  was  ar- 
ranged by  arbitration  before  Mr.  F.  S.  A. 
Bourne,  Assistant  Judge. 


JOHN    O'SHEA, 

Kditor. 

In  the  middle  of  1902  the  offices  of  the 
Shanghai  Times  were  removed  to  Honan  Road, 
and.  Mr.  Swarthont  having  returned  to  Manila 
and  Mr.  Cowen  gone  to  Tientsin,  a  new 
editor  was  found  by  Mr.  Ball.  Shortly  after- 
wards, however,  Mr.  Ball,  who  had  lost 
considerably  by  the  paper,  sold  it  to  Mr. 
Willis  P.  Grey,  the  head  of  the  syndicate 
which  had  the  original  concession  to  build 
the  Canton-Hankow  Railway.  Mr.  Grey  en- 
gaged Mr.  "  Volcano "  Marshall  to  edit  the 
paper,  but  this  gentleman  soon  became  in- 
volved in  a  suit  for  slander  with  Mr.  John 
Goodnow,  the  American  Consul,  and  other 
Consuls,  and  a  complete  re-organisation  of 
the  Shanghai  Times  was  the  result.  Mr. 
Frank  Maitland,  proprietor  of  the  weekly. 
Sport  and  Gossip,  and  Mr.  Henry  O'Shea,  of 
the  China  Gazette,  became  interested  with 
Mr.  Grey  in  the  Times,  and  a  partnership 
was  arranged  under  which  publication  of  the 
Times  and  Sport  and  Gossip  was  taken  over 
by  the  China  Gazette,  the  three  papers  to  be 
run  as  a  joint  venture  by  the  gentlemen 
named.  Linotype  machines  were  bought  by 
Mr.  Grey  and  installed,  with  a  great  deal  of 
other  plant,  in  the  Gazette  office,  and  Mr. 
O'Shea  became  editor  of  the  Times  and  was 
entrusted  with  the  general  management  of 
the  entire  concern,  Mr.  Maitland  retaining  the 
editorship  of  Sport  and  Gossip.  The  arrange- 
ment, however,  did  not  endure  longer  than 
a  few  months,  and  finally  a  dissolution  of 
partnership  and  an  arbitration  took  place 
between  Mr.  O'Shea  and  Mr.  Grey.  Ulti- 
mately the  latter  sold  his  interest  in  the 
Shanghai  Times  to  Mr.  Maitland,  who  became 
sole  proprietor  of  the  paper,  as  well  as  of 
Sport  and  Gossip.  Mr.  George  Collinwood, 
who  had  been  business  manager  during  the 
partnership  between  Messrs.  Grey,  Maitland, 
and  O'Shea,  became  editor  of  the  Times  and 
of  Sport  and  Gossip.  The  offices  were  re- 
moved to  the  corner  of  the  Bund  and  Canton 
Road,  and  a  godown  was  secured  on  the 
Yang-king-pang  to  serve  as  a  printing  office. 
The    linotype    machines    had    by     this     time 


become  useless,  and  hand-setting  had  again 
to  be  resorted  to.  In  1905  the  editorial  offices 
had  to  be  removed  to  Kiukiang  Road,  on 
account  of  political  considerations.  The  Bund 
offices  were  part  of  a  Japanese  Shipping 
Company's  premises,  and  as  the  Times  had 
been  espousing  the  cause  of  the  Russians 
towards  the  end  of  the  war,  the  Japanese 
took  offence  and  gave  the  papers  notice  to 
quit.  Towards  the  end  of  1905  differences 
arose  between  Mr.  Maitland  and  Mr.  Collin- 
wood, and  the  editorship  of  the  two  papers 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  A.  Marnham, 
who   had   for   some   months   previously  been 


over  the  editorship -of  that -paper  and  Sport 
and  Gossip  on  June  15,  1906.  Mr.  O'Shea 
had  been  connected  with  the  Times  in  the 
first  few  months  of  its  existence,  and,  for  a 
short  time  after  Mr.  T.  Cowen  left  Shanghai, 
had  been  joint  editor  with  Mr.  Swarthont. 
In  January,  1907,  Mr.  Maitland  died  ;  the 
other  directors  of  the  company  did  not  wish 
to  carry  on  the  papers,  which  had  been 
steadily  losing  money,  and  once  again  the 
Shanghai  Times  and  Sport  and  Gossip  were 
placed  in  the  market.  They  were  sold 
separately,  the  Times  to  Mr.  J.  C.  P'erguson, 
and    S.    &   G.,   as    it   is   familiarly    called    in 


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AT  O.NCl:  vV.   BBAUECr  M.n.a.r,  WjlltT 

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Mr.  CH.yNCtt.      ijoo  Roomt,  «»ch  »i<h  ouWaelvle* 
N*w  Ctf^p  Howl    '         .nrtpf'-aw 


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Shua/rM 


CALDBtCK.  MACSRHitIR  .■*  t«.. 


Mil  Clilncse  l-nfflmvriiii:  S 
Mlnln,i:i.Vmp--"<.>.i>l 

<|„„Hll«l     C      U.I1BW.      IV*">i. 
IVItAtlU-  XM  .SIWHh*tK'lA't 


Hwr  *i»t«»«' 


«';,r-T5-3S!<S???.—!  laKiSWK- 


A   RECENT    ISSUE    OP    THE    "SHANGHAI    TIMES." 


sub-editor.  Mr.  Maitland  sold  his  interest  in 
the  papers  to  a  company.  The  "Shanghai 
Times  and  Sport  and  Gossip,"  Limited.  The 
plant  and  machinery  were  bought  by  the 
Oriental  Press,  by  whom  the  publication  of 
the  two  papers  was  undertaken,  and  the 
offices  were  removed  to  the  Rue  du  Consulat, 
in  the  French  Concession,  where  Mr.  John 
O'Shea,  the  present  editor  of  the  Times,  took 


Shanghai,  to  Mr.  J.  D.  Clark,  of  the  Shanghai 
Mercury,  and  Mr.  George  Lanning.  'The 
Oriental  Press  was  settled  up  with,  and  the 
papers  were  removed  to  No.  18,  Nanking 
Road,  the  premises  formerly  occupied  by 
the  Shanghai  Library,  the  responsibility  of 
publication  bemg  undertaken  by  the  Mercury. 
Dr.  Ferguson  went  home  for  a  year  to 
America,  and  on  his  return  Sport  ami  Gossip 


360     TA\TENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


was  taken  out  of  the  Times  office  into  the 
office  of  the  Mercury,  and  the  Shanghai 
Times  was  onc-e  more  alone. 

The  paper  is  now  tirmly  established.  It 
is  practically  the  official  orjian  of  Ihe  Vice- 
regal Government  of  Kianffsu,  and  is  also 
kM>ked  upon  as  a  representative  American 
daily — the  only  one  in  the  Kar  East.  At  the 
date"  of  writing,  June.  nyoS.  its  prospects  are 
very   bright  indeed,   and  there  can   be   little 


years  in  China,  for  he  came  to  Shanghai  in 
February,  l8go,  on  the  staff  of  the  Shau!<litji 
Mercury.  He  was  subsequently  on  every 
daily  paper  in  the  Settlement,  and  then, 
after  travelling  extensively,  and  working  in 
Japan,  Korea,  Siberia  and  North  China,  he 
returned  to  Shanghai  to  take  up  his  present 
appointment  in  1906.  Mr.  O'Shea  was  born 
in  Dublin  on  July  15,  1S69,  his  father 
being  at  one   time   editor   of    the  Frcciiuiii's 


to  commence  its  career  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  China-Japan  War,  and  it  rapidly 
achieved  position  and  circulation  by  reason 
of  its  exceptionally  accurate  information  upon 
the  progress  of  that  struggle.  It  espoused 
the  Japanese  side  of  the  quarrel,  and  in  this 
way  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  the 
only  paper  published  in  China  which  treated 
the  war  from  the  more  truthful  Japanese 
side,  instead  of  printing  the  wild  and 
grotesque  Chinoiseries  and  tales  of  imaginary 
victories,  which  formed  locally  such  a 
memorable  phrase  of  that  epoch-making 
campaign.  Since  then  the  China  Gazette 
has  devoted  its  attention  mainly  to  political 
questions,  and,  as  the  recent  war  between 
Russia  and  Japan  progressed  and  its  lessons 
became  clear  to  those  who  could  see  a 
little  behind  the  scenes,  the  paper  re-enacted 
its  role  of  ten  years  before  and  espoused  the 
Russian  side.  On  both  occasions  this  policy 
naturally  incurred  for  it  a  certain  measure  of 
unpopularity  which,  however,  it  has  now  out- 
lived, and  the  value  of  its  services  as  a 
corrective  to  the  overwhelming  press  propa- 
ganda conducted  in  Japanese  interests  has 
since  been  widely  recognised.  Among  its 
chief  contributors  on  the  late  war  and  on 
political  questions  arising  out  of  it  was  Mr. 
Putnam  Weale,  who  went  north  in  the 
interests  of  the  Gazette,  the  result  being  his 
first  permanent  work,  "  Manchu  and  Musco- 
vite," which  began  in  the  columns  of  the 
Gazette  at  the  close  of  that  year. 

The  early  publication  of  important  State 
papers,  treaties,  conventions,  and  secret  agree- 
ments has  also  been  a  prominent  feature  of 
the  Gazette,  which,  for  this  reason,  enjoys 
quite  an  extensive  circulation  in  quarters 
where  Far  Eastern  questions  are  specially 
studied.  The  editor  and  proprietor,  Mr. 
Henry  O'Shea,  originally  started  the  paper, 
and  continues  at  the  heltn. 


THE  "CHINA  GAZETTE"  PREMISES. 


HENRY   D.    O'SHEA. 

IM'oprietor  :ind  ICclitor. 


doubt  that  with  efficient  management  it  is  on 
the  highway  to  success  commercially. 

The  staff  consists  of  Messrs.  John  O'Shea, 
editor  ;  W.  Sheldon  Ridge,  assistant-editor  ; 
S.  Trissell,  sub-editor ;  L.  D.  Lemaire, 
manager  ;  S.  Hammond,  S.  Wilkins,  and 
A.  Wood,  reporters. 


MR.    JOHN    BARRETT    O'SHEA,   editor   of 
the  Shanghai  Times  has   been  nearly  twenty 


youriial,  Dublin,  and  latterly  editor-in-chief 
of  the  Catholic  Standard  ami  Times,  Phila- 
delphia, U.S.A.  He  received  his  education 
at  St.  Patrick's,  Drumcondra,  and  privately 
at   Dublin,  and  for  a  time  studied  medicine. 

The   China   Qazette. 

The  CItina  Gazette,  an  evening  journal  (with 
an  overseas  weekly  edition),  was  founded 
just  fourteen  years  ago,  its  first  issue  appearing 
on   July    2,    1894.     The    Gazette    was   lucky 


Der   Ostasiatische    Lloyd. 

The  German  community  and  their  interests 
are  ably  represented  by  the  Ostasiatisclie 
Lloyd,  a  paper  which,  during  its  twenty- 
three  years'  existence,  has  experienced  many 
vicissitudes  and  appeared  in  various  forms. 
It  is  now  firmly  established  as  a  weekly 
review,  containing  some  twenty-five  to  thirty 
pages,  and  dealing  not  only  with  matters 
of  local  interest  but  also  with  international 
topics   in  the  Far   East  and  with   the   affairs 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     361 


of  the  home  country.  P'ounded  in  1886,  it 
was  first  issued  as  a  small  daily  newspaper 
appealing  exclusively  to  German  residents  in 
Shanghai,  but  within  a  very  short  time  radical 
alterations  were  made  in  its  constitution. 
After  twelve  months  it  was  published  once  a 
week,  and  articles  upon  subjects  of  general 
interest  to  those  living  in  the  East  formed 
one  of  its  chief  features.  The  property 
passed  into  the  hands  of  several  different 
persons  during  these  early  years.  In  1898, 
Mr.  F"ink  was  entrusted  with  the  task  of 
entirely  re-organising  the  business,  and  from 
that  date  steady  and  continued  progress  has 
been  made.  A  little  more  than  a  year  ago 
a  branch  office  was  opened  in  Peking,  and 
correspondents  have  been  appointed  in  all 
the  more  important  business  centres  in 
China.  The  paper  has  a  wide  circulation, 
for,  besides  being  distributed  throughout 
China,  Japan,  East  Siberia,  Siam,  the  Dutch 
Indies,  &c.,  many  copies  are  sent  lo  Europe. 
In  igbo,  Mr.  Fink  established  a  news  agency 
in  connection  with  this  paper,  and  this  has 
developed  so  quickly  that  it  now  supplies 
papers  in  Cairo,  Singapore,  Penang,  Batavia, 
Sourabaya,  Bangkok,  Hongkong,  Tsingtau, 
Tientsin,  Peking,  Hankow,  Kobe,  Yokohama, 
and  Tokyo,  and  has  made  the  name  Der 
Ostasialisclic  Lloyd  known  throughout  the 
world. 


MR.  CARL  FINK,  the  editor  of  the  review 
and  manager  of  the  news  agency,  was  a 
"  free  lance  "  journalist  for  some  years  before 
1889,  the  date  of  his  first  appointment  on 
the  staff  of  a  newspaper.  He  was  engaged 
in  newspaper  work  in  the  United  States  of 
America  for  four  years,  after  which  he 
occupied    an      important     position    on     the 


Dcf  0$ia$iaii$cbc  Cloyd 


ili 


j<i4&  H«ry«ii». 


x 


i(4'r«-««f<it<*n    Ih    Knro|w ' 


;,  r>riieralv.!rirtttnTi^  far  atHiHch*iMd 

C.  -.  ..■,•    ,,  I    l'u^<-i 

Jt  ;^  vicrt- !) 


Liicr.tJlr:iSHe  4'.     1 
'!;i]irli('li.     '_        jj 


H     1.    '^\  ■'<*^"*'  ^     s?    W 

Organ  fur  die  dcurscbcn  Intcrcsscn  Im  fcrnen  0$ten. 

T.vfjircht'  Te(»iarairRiaustjal)€  in  Shasiii'ni.  Tsingtau,  Pekmq  und  Tienisin. 


\X  1 1    Jahr£;;in;; 


Shanqhai.  29    Mai  1908. 


Nummer  2%. 


Inhdiuvazeichnts. 


JhanahJicr   rii*»»"cMcn; 


Leonhardi's  Tinten 

typewriter  Kibbons, 


Aug.  Leonhardi, 

DrCBdan, 

Cltca  Tialtiilabrikia,  gvyr-  Illl. 

\.:\      ....     '-.^■■^    j'    ',...Wl 

WK":  Atizarin  -  Schr^ib- 
imd  Kopi«rtiiile,  '«u 

8allus<:.i,iv.  KI>u«  L 


Uip  .rijit 
I  W-SI  fit 


Chtuds  ilussenbaBdcl  im  Jabre  1907. 

:<  '    -  -      ■   ■■  .,-  «^Kr.-»ar    U»* '^Il-ti.c'h**!'  Aio(* 

.  J,.j.r.    1  "It?  .la.  Fi^^ttKinJ.-: 

'■■-  'i'-    list  ?a*-h    ifab<    fi^whali    n'lr 

.  ■!  I'l  «"i(«o  (j--birl-a    jfU-icbkBtn. 
..-  Iff tnl'T'ji>-Hir,a.fii([)«hi!i!    <lv/    Jabr^ 

.    .    ,..»      [>-•«  lii"  '(Jeutwini:    i1»;t     V,rt(iilt- 

>nl,  i-t  xwr^MIem  inif  ili'- 

».i^ifahrML,    ft;<'    in    lillon 

'■;■   ,■■'..    .-  if   .Jie   wiedvpim  TMe  r.in 

':  ':t,^">ii    nirJfk/iiMlir^ti  flin<l,.  di«  du« 

.<,riiT    ..       i^niuti-r  u»a.\'icklifit  w»,     Mit  wvni(t.'ii 

nieii    «'uit    ■It-'    V.nitm    Am    Jahrv-^     I9(it  la  k)I-o 

.   ■!    .iiirfbwitji'.  ffi(t    rtdt^    mowwirhn**    J^wrtrji. 

-   -    .  ..,_„   Krat^"  Wiinlp  »t«'r-   tnt     ei^ea 

'■  I>»i  VBiii:t*«t»I,  da*  g**wOhnUcfc  in 

i-iffauup-'t-ir  »-aUt-n)»rM»Proriiiwn 

..   ...-.   pnil- <W    JaJim    &!•  B«- 

,,  ,.    .  :ij-  I  aii*i»«cLilt*t,  KeKi;?»i--l- 

.  „  .:.-  f*   ■  ■  T<n(;rt:r*itl>'.l>i«!B«*pr'-t*'* 

-     ,;..•!  i  ,.  -    ..- ...    ..-    -  ■:i'<t  <a^  iJmi    YwjKUftbfcf'ii 

:     H.-;ir'    l-.it'fh'^ll,  H!  'in-  H'h'-  uodbiplt-n  «ic  fa   hofli, 
hi  en^i"^  Ktnfubrea     a^h    IiiilocUliia,    «r»    die   GrnV 

-  :-'a'hm  WW.  Till  duta    baitroft.  4tm    Mjmtf'-l 

-  4'''^  FiafithrbiiniM  w&r  Voraicbt  d.-m 
'-  Moment.  Sp^ki^tioafD  xnf  dif  Z'lktinft, 
.,.  ■:■  u  ['4xt«n  Jalircb  &!<  d^r  tixaptAichti''lt*ii' 
rT  **«rj»?w!»  twtteti,  iKod  nwH«*«i»  vt^mirileu  ww 
ti.'  OpvTUt'^n-li  t>*iK4ir*aktrn  *tcb  klU{«Miieiii  *n( 
iii-il.'T-Hatid-ia-dcn-Mtitiil-Ieb'ju.  l.miHirtcun'  und 
r  !«*»«  «iif  iip»id  "In-^  BftWflgnnif  iu  jo^rm 
Kn-i*"  df»  Vo\ht    c^wiirUt,    >«    d.-ni    Mln  »h- 

•Inn  *iirh»wd*Ti«B.    Voirtttco     a«fra»ii»«n    and  d^-ii 

r  n'M')  (ifvhifu-    brtnwa    wflrdf.    I)i<^    Zorlick^ 

,ii,.  ,  inf  Folc»'-d«'r  ilWrtiMti^tJ-ii  Xtntiadf  muf  df  ru 

'!   ■■Vt  i»t,  wiird.!  nofh  d'lrcli  iii«    !'!*»«    ftlr 

.  n     ill     M»n<b<->.i-T  ROttiUt,    dir    wihfnd 

j    a*  <Im    JahM    uoTcrfadert,  hock    biieb^n. 

v^n-n  iuf  di^  KBufmiinuf"-h»ft  tr^HbU-   Dnifck    hislt 

I  HiL  und  war  ?t-Ar  ».ch*.'r;  *chlw***U<ih  *b«r«Ullt 

t^   l>Kflbiu*  fur  di«^    Zolwnft    *«     AOmkIK.       In 


*DER    OSTASIATISCHE    LLOYD.' 


C.    FINK, 

Manajiiii}^  Editor, 

Conservative  paper,  Die  Post,  in  Berlin. 
Durinj^  his  residence  in  Shanghai,  Mr.  Fink 
has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  social  life 
of  the  community,  and  has  endeavoured  in 
a  variety  of  ways  to  promote  the  interests 
of  his  fellow  countrymen.  It  was  in  large 
measure  due  to  his  initiative  that  the 
"  Deutscher  Konzert  Verein "  was  founded, 
and  that  the  German  A.D.C.  was  revived 
in   1905  after  a  lapse  of  many  years. 


L'Echo   de    Chine. 

The  Echo  de  Chine  is  now  entering  upon 
the  twelfth  year  of  its  existence.  Founded 
by  a  group  of  Shanghai  residents  for  the 
purpose  of  maintainnig  French  interests  in 
the  Far  East,  it  was  for  a  long  time  the  only 
French  organ,  and  it  still  remains  the  most 
popular  and  authentic.  Having  made  its 
debut  amid  the  good  wishes  of  the  community, 
the  journal  has  found  numerous  correspon- 
dents among  that  very  important  body, 
the  Catholic  missionaries,  as  well  as  official 
and  commercial  men  in  this  part  of  the 
world,   and   from   their   regular   contributions 


it  has  gained  much  of  its  interest.  This 
circle  of  correspondents  embraces  not  only 
the  Chinese  provinces,  but  also  the  following 
territories  : — India.  Ceylon,  Burma,  Siam, 
Indo- China,  Hongkong,  the  Philippines, 
Manchuria,  Korea,  and  Japan  ;  in  other 
words,  practically  the  whole  of  the  Far  East. 
It  is  sut^icient  testimony  to  the  high  repute 
in  which  this  journal  is  held  to  say  that  its 
columns  are  freely  resorted  to  in  France  by 
the  Press  and  by  all  those  w^lio  are  interested 
in  Asiatic  questions. 

An  independent  organ,  the  Echo  de  Chine 
studiously  avoids  the  discussion  of  French 
domestic  politics,   confining  itself  exclusively 


362     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


to  the  domain  of  general  subjects  and  inter- 
national questions.  Its  Chinese  section  is 
unusually  weighty,  containing  daily  native 
accounts  and  translations  of  official  documents, 
which  conduce  to  an  understanding  of  the 
Chinese  mind  and  its  workings  better  than 
elaborate  treatises.  In  common  with  the 
majority  of  its  English  contempt>raries,  the 
Echo  tU  Chine  has  a  weekly  edition.  This 
consists  of  litteen  pages  containing  the  chief 
features  of  the  daily  editions,  ind  is  intended 
principally    for     subscribers    in    the    interior 


In  its  early  years  the  venture  did  not  prove 
very  successful,  chiefly  because  at  that  time 
very  few  Chinese  were  accustomed  to  read 
newspapers.  The  circulation  did  not  exceed 
three  thousand  copies  a  day,  including  the 
copies  sent  to  subscribers  in  other  parts  of 
China,  although  at  that  period  there  was  only 
one  other  Chinese  paper  in  Shanghai — Ihat 
published  by  Messrs.  Major,  Brother  &  Co. 
After  the  Sin  Wan  Pao  had  been  in  existence 
three  years  it  was  found  necessaiy  to  raise 
additional    capital.      Some     improvement     in 


LECHO  DE  CHINE 


«  «  « tt  'f 


.!:  t(:!ll^!t!  II  TlKil 


by  Dr.  John  C.  Ferguson,  a  well-known 
American  subject  in  Shanghai.  Since  that 
dale  a  great  improvement  has  been  made  in 


ALPHONSE    MONESTIER, 

Kditor,  I.'F.cUo  tic  Cliitic. 


Ol(k(son.  ]«n(( «  €o. 


MMB-la    p»mt   ■•   Chi"! 


AN    ISSUE    OF    "L'ECHO    DE    CHINE." 


of  China  and  in  France.  Since  Mr.  A. 
Monestier,  the  editor,  and  Mr.  J.  J.  Chollot, 
the  managing  director,  took  over  the  conduct 
of  affairs  two  years  ago.  the  paper  has  made 
very  gratifying  progress. 

The    Sin   Wan    Pao. 

The  Sill  Wan  Pao  is  a  leading  semi-official 
Chinese  paper.  It  was  first  published  by  Mr. 
F.  F.  Ferris,  in  the  year  1903,  for  some 
prominent   Chinese  merchants    in   Shanghai. 


the  paper  followed,  and  shortly  afterwards, 
during  the  China-Japan  War,  the  circulation 
reached  four  thousand  copies  a  day.  Later  on, 
owing  to  lack  of  funds,  the  paper  was  printed 
by  indifferent  machinery,  on  poor  Chinese 
paper,  with  worn  type.  As  a  consequence  the 
circulation  fell  to  two  thousand  copies  a  day, 
and  the  leading  Shanghai  firms  could  not  be 
induced  to  advertise  in  the  paper.  In  1899, 
Mr.  A.  W.  Danforth,  who  was  then  the  pro- 
prietor, liquidated  his  business  on  the  failure 
of  the  cotton  trade,  and  the  paper  was  acquired 


the  editorial  staff  and  the  management.  In 
1900  Ihe  paper  competed  successfully  with 
three  younger  rivals.  It  gave  the  latest  and 
most  reliable  reports  on  the  situation  at 
Peking  during  the  Boxer  trouble,  and  it 
contained  the  first  account  that  reached 
Shanghai  of  the  attack  upon  the  foreign 
legations  in  Peking,  and  the  massacre  of 
foreigners.  When  the  news  of  the  murder 
of  Count  von  Kettler,  the  German  Minister  at 
Peking,  was  announced,  the  office  of  the 
paper  was  besieged  by  natives  eager  to  obtain 
copies  of  the  paper  at  thrice  the  usual  price. 
The  circulation  leapt  up  immediately  to  ten 
thousand,  and  the  advertisements  began  to 
flow  in  freely. 

During  the  Russo-Japanese  War  the  Sin 
Wan  Pao  gave  fuller  accounts  of  the  cam- 
paign daily  than  any  of  its  local  Chinese 
contemporaries,  both  the  Keuter  and  Tokyo 
services  being  utilised.  Special  supplements 
were  issued  from  the  office  free  of  cost,  even 
as  late  as  midnight.  The  editorial  staff  worked 
from  dawn  to  midnight,  and  the  paper  was 
enlarged  from  six  to  sixteen  pages.  After 
the  war,  two  modern-pattern  machines  were 
ordered  from  America  to  cope  with  the 
large  circulation.  In  1906  the  proprietors 
converted  the  enterprise  inlo  a  limited 
liability  companv,  and  registered  it  in  Hong- 
kong with  a  capital  of  Tls.  100,000,  which  was 
raised  by  the  issue  of  shares  both  to  Chinese 
and  foreigners.  A  dividend  of  16  per  cent, 
for  the  year  1907  was  declared  in  February, 
1908.  The  Sill  Wail  Pao  now  has  a  circulation 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  copies  a 
day,  excluding  copies  sent  to  San  Francisco, 
Honolulu,  Sydney,  Singapore,  Java,  Manila, 
and  Japan,  and  it  has  gained  considerable 
influence  among  commercial  and  official 
circles  in  all  parts  of  the  Chinese  Empire.  A 
rotary  machine— the  first  to  make  its  appear- 
ance in  China— has  been  imported  from 
America,  and,  when  erected,  will  produce 
fifieen  thousand  copies,  cut  and  folded,  an 
hour.  The  paper  will  then  be  of  Ihe 
same  size  as  Tlic  Times,  of  London,  and  the 
price  will  remain  14  cash,  or  I J  cents  per 
copy,  as  at  present.  A  new  building  of  four 
storeys,  lighted  by  electricity,  is  being  erected 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     363 


for  the  offices  of  the  Sin  Wan  Pao,  in  Hankow 
Road,  and  will  soon  be  ready  for  occupation. 
Mr.  J.  D.  Clark,  Dr.  John  C.  Ferguson,  and 
Mr.  Chu  Pao  Shan  are  the  directors,  and 
Mr.  J.  Morgan  is  the  secretary  of  the 
company.  The  editorial  staff  consists  of  two 
assistant  editors,  four  sub-editors,  and  eight 
proof-readers,  under  the  edilor-in-chief,  Mr. 
Yao  Pak  Hsuen.  P'orty-three  compositors 
are  employed  in  the  composing  room,  under 
a  competent  foreman,  and  nineteen  printers  are 
engaged  in  the  machine  room.  A  Japanese 
and  a  European  foreman  will  be  required  for 
the  printing  room  when  the  new  machine  is 
set  to  work. 


MR.  YAO  PAK  HSUEN,  editor-in-chief  of 
the  Sin  Wan  Pao,  is  thirty-eight  years  of 
age,  and  a  native  of  Shanghai.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Mai-chi  College,  a  middle 
college  established  by  the  Shanghai  Taoutai 
in  the  native  city.  Before  the  China-Japan 
War  he  was  private  secretary  to  His 
Excellency  Shao  Shiao,  then  Governor  of 
Formosa.  In  1900  he  came  to  Shanghai 
as  assistant  editor  of  the  Sin  Wan  Pao, 
and  three  years  later  he  was  promoted  to 
the  editorial  chair.  He  is  president  of  the 
Hupeh  Primary  School  and  a  member  of 
the  Chinese  Self-Government  Society.  His 
father,  Mr.  Yao  Shien  Ming,  who  retired 
into  private  life  four  years  ago,  is  an 
expectant  prefect  of  the  Chekiang  Province. 


The    Saturday   Review. 

The  Saturday  Review  is  a  weekly  paper 
published  at  Shanghai  and  circulating  through- 
out the  Far  East  in  general  and  China  in 
particular,  more  especially  amongst  the  think- 
ing classes  of  Chinese  and  foreign  residents. 
The  object  of  the  paper  is  to  furnish  a 
resume  of  what  the  world  says  and  writes 
about  the  Far  East  ;  to  review  the  events 
and  books  of  the  day  ;  to  emphasise  the 
value  of  any  matter  or  effort  conducing  to 
the  uplifting  and  prosperity  of  China  and  the 
Chinese  people  ;  and  to  supply  elevating  and 
interesting  reading  at  a  reasonable  cost.  Its 
policy  is  one  of  sympathy  with  all  Chinese 
effort  towards  progress. 


CAPTAIN  W.  KEARTON,  the  editor,  has 
travelled  the  world  for  the  major  portion  of 
his  life.  He  served  with  distinction  in  the 
South  African  War,  and,  as  correspondent  for 
the  Graphic,  he  accompanied  the  Macedonian 
insurgents  in  the  last  insurrection,  and  was 
attached  to  the  First  Japanese  Army — Kuroki's 
— in  the  Russo-Japanese  Campaign.  He  is  a 
member  of  tlie  Savage  Club. 

Social    Shanghai. 

Probably  no  place  in  the  East  has  been  so 
prolific  in  the  production  of  periodicals  as 
Shanghai,  where  the  population  is  of  so 
unique  and  cosmopolitan  a  character  and  the 
interests  represented  are  so  varied.  Papers 
in  profusion,  both  weekly  and  monthly,  have 
seen  the  light  of  day.  Many  of  them,  after 
a  brief  and  hopeless  struggle  for  existence, 
have  passed  into  the  limbo  of  things  forgotten. 

The  need,  however,  of  an  illustrated  paper 
to  record  the  doings  of  local  society  had 
been  long  felt  when,  in  February,  1906, 
there  appeared  the  first  issue  of  Social 
Shanghai,  a  periodical  similar  in  design  to 
the  well-known  London  publications  and  con- 
taining some  forty-three  pages  of  letterpress 
and  fifteen  very  creditable  half-tone  blocks. 
At  the  outset  the  paper  was  intended  only  for 
ladies  ;   the  promoters  promised  to  chronicle 


appear  in  a  similar  form   until  the  following 
June,  when  the  enterprising  promoters  issued 


MRS.    MINA    SHORROCK 

Editress. 


SPECIAL    "INTERNATIONAL    FETE"     NUMBER   OF  SOCIAL    SHANGHAI. 


CAPTAIN  WALTER  KEARTON, 

Editor,  Saturday  Evoniifl  Rtnncw. 


dances,  parties,  "at  homes,"  and  other  social 
gatherings,  and  to  give  due  attention  to  the 
fashions,  music,  sports  and  pastimes,  and 
gardening.  This  promise  was  amply  fulfilled 
in  the  first  number.     The  paper  continued  to 


an  enlarged  and  improved  edition,  containing 
seventy-five  pages  of  reading  matter,  as  well  as 
close  upon  one  hundred  reproductions  of  v.'ell- 
known  local  people  and  current  events.  It  was 
printed  on  heavy  art  paper  and  was  as  attractive 


364     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


as  the  materials  at  the  command  of  the 
printers  could  ix>ssibly  make  it.  Since  that 
date  the  paper  has  continued  to  advance  in 
popular  favour,  and  has  become  one  of  the 
institutions  of  the  Settlement.  The  scope  has 
been  enlarged  month  by  month  until  Social 
Shiiiighiii  is  no  longer  a  ladies'  paper  only, 
but  a  tirst-class  up-to-date  magazine,  dealing 
with  all  the  brighter  phases  of  life  in  Shanghai 
and  the  outports,  the  editress  always  showing 
a  specially  warm  interest  in  the  Volunteers, 
Fire  Brigade,  sporting  clubs,  and  juvenile 
members  of  the  community.  Many  old 
Shanghailanders.  who  have  left  the  Settlement, 
now  look  forward  to  the  monthly  appearance 
of  the  magazine  by  the  homeward-bound  mail, 
and  on  perusing  its  interesting  columns  fancy 
themselves  back  in  the  gay  Far  Eastern  city 
of  which  they  retain  endearing  recollections. 
From  its  inception  up  to  the  present  day 
Social  Shiinghiti  has  been  the  work  of  only 
one  lady,  who.  after  working  hard  for  years, 
alone  and  almost  unaided,  has  the  satisfaction 
now  of  knowing  that  her  production  has  met 
a  want,  is  being  appreciated,  and  is  extending 
its  scxipe  and  usefulness  month  by  month. 
The  proprietress  and  managing  editress, 
Mrs.  S.  H.  Shorrock,  nee  Gow  (better  known 
as  Mrs.  Mina  Shorrock),  is  a  native  of  Glasgow, 
and  was  educated  at  the  Bellahouston 
Academy  and  at  the  Ladies'  College,  at  that 
time  the  two  leading  ladies'  educational 
establishments  of  the  city.  She  married  the 
late  Mr.  S.  H.  Shorrock,  M.I.M.E.,  who  was 
at  one  time  a  very  familiar  figure  in  Shanghai, 
and  came  to  the  Settlement  in  1897.  As 
"  Belle  Heather,"  Mrs.  Shorrock  was  a  valued 
contributor  of  social  items  to  the  Xorth  China 
Daily  News  and  Sport  and  Gossip.  Besides 
being  editress  of  Social  Shanghai  she  is  the 
founder  and  president  of  the  Empress  Club, 
the  only  ladies'  club  in  Shanghai. 

The   Union. 

The  Union,  an  independent  weekly  news- 
paper, is  published  on  Wednesdays.  It  is 
the  successor  of  the  Temperance  Union, 
which  was  established  in  1879,  but  changed 
its  name  in  1896,  when  it  became  the 
property  of  the  present  editor.  Its  motto  is 
'■Water  invincible,"  and  its  first  two  leader 
columns  are  devoted  to  articles  on  total 
abstinence.  Then  come  editorials  on  local 
topics,  followed  by  news  and  other  items. 
It  circulates  largely  among  the  shipping 
community  and  at  the  outports.  Among  its 
special  features  are  a  gazette  detailing  the 
changes  in  the  personnel  of  the  shipping, 
Customs,  and  public  services,  and  anticipated 
tide-tables  for  the  Woosung  Bar  and  Shanghai 
River.  The  editor  and  proprietor  is  Mr. 
William  R.  Kahler. 


The    Bund. 

The  Hiind  is  an  illustrated  weekly  journal  of 
comment  which,  after  remarkable  vicissitudes, 
has  entered  upon  the  calm  waters  of  success 
with  a  policy  of  fair  criticism  u|K)n  broad 
lines  suitable  to  the  international  character 
of  the  Settlement.  Its  present  proprietors  are 
the  Marquis  Vittorio  Kappini  and  Mr.  T.  M. 
Ta\-ares,  formerly  a  member  of  the  F'rench 
Municipal  Council.  Mr.  V.  Marshall  is  editor, 
and  his  vigorous  articles  constitute  the 
strongest  attraction  of  the  paper,  which, 
however,  receives  contributions  from  many 
clever  amateur  writers.  Its  forecasts  upon 
leading  events  of  the  day  have  already 
established  a  strong  regard  for  its  opinions. 
The  following  extract  from  the  North  China 
Daily  News  refers  to  the  metamorphosis  that 
occurred  in  the   Bund's  policy  after  the  last 


change  of  proprietors  : — "  The  Bund  this 
week  contains  several  humorous  illustrations 
by  V.  R.,  in  which  the  Mixed  Court  trouble 
and   the   French    Bund   appear    prominently. 


V.    MARSHALL, 
Editor,  The  lluiid. 

The  letterpress  has  some  interesting  original 
articles,  the  most  striking  of  which  is  '  At 
the  Ming  Tombs,'  by  V.  M.,  whose  initials 
were  not  needed  to  reveal  the  author.  It  is 
written  in  his  best  serio-comic  style  and  is 
appropriately  illustrated.  '  The  Education  of 
Children  '  and  '  Men's  Fashions '  are  also 
well  worth  perusal.  The  number  is  one  of 
the  best  that  has  appeared." 

The   Eastern    Sketch. 

The  Eastern  Sketch  is  an  illustrated  humor- 
ous weekly,  published  in  Shanghai  every 
Sunday  morning.  The  paper  was  started  in 
September,  1904,  by  Messrs.  Koddis  and  Prior, 
and  was  shortly  afterwards   acquired   by  the 


late  Mr.  H.  Smith  and  Mr.  H.  \V.  G.  Hayter, 
the  latter  of  whom  has  conducted  the  paper 
ever  since.  The  chief  feature  of  the  Eastern 
Slutch  is  its  illustrations,  which  comprise 
Chinese  political  cartoons,  caricatures  of 
foreign  residents,  and  pictures  of  sporling 
events.  Since  its  inception  the  Skctcli  has 
levied  contributions  from  some  of  the  best 
loc.'il  writers,  both  of  poetry  and  prose. 

The  area  of  its  circulation  embraces 
Shanghai  and  the  other  Treaty  ports. 

The    Shanghai    Sunday   Sun. 

The  Snndiiy  Sun  was  added  to  the  list  of 
Slianghai's  weekly  papers  in  May  of  this  year. 
It  is  freely  illustrated  with  cartoons  and 
photo-reproductions,  and  its  letterpress  chroni- 
cles and  comments  upon  the  leading  topics 
of  local  and  general  interest.  A  feature  is 
also  made  of  short  stories  and  anecdotes. 
The  editor,  Mr.  Geo.  Collinwood,  an  Ameri- 
can, seeks  to  make  his  publication  "  the  most 
readable  periodical  in  the  Far  East." 


GEO.    COLLINWOOD, 

Kditor,  Shanghai  Siititlay  Sun. 

The    Mirror. 

The  Mirror  is  a  popular  periodical  which 
has  risen,  ph(enix-like,  from  the  ashes  of  the 
China  liiisiness  E.xchangc,  an  advertiseinent 
sheet  that  was  distributed  free  to  the  principal 
firms  in  the  Settlement.  The  goodwill  of  this 
publication  was  acquired  by  Mr.  O.  Cainadan, 
a  local  solicitor,  who  altered  its  name,  enlarged 
its  scope  very  considerably,  and  placed  it  on 
a  sound  financial  footing.  The  Mirror  made 
its  first  appearance  on  April  i,  1908.  It 
contains  thirty-two  pages,  two  of  which  are 
printed  in  French,  and  has  a  circulation  of 
about  live  hundred  copies  a  week.  The 
editorial  offices  are  at  No.  9a,  Hankow  Road. 


H.    W.    G.    HAYTER, 
Editor,  Eastern  Skllcll. 


TIENTSIN. 
The    China    Critic. 

At  the  coniinencement  of  the  Kusso-Japanese 
War,  the  whole  of  North  China  was  supplied 
by  the  Japanese  subsidised  Press  and  tele- 
graphic agencies  with  the  Japanese  view  of 
its  cause,  and  with  Iheir  version  of  occurrences 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     365 


during  its  progress.  Witli  the  object  of 
presenting  both  sides  of  the  question  to  the 
pubUc  in  the  Kar  East,  a  paper  was  subsidised 
in  Korea,  another  in  Shanghai,  and  a  third  in 
Chefoo,  whilst  a  special  organ  was  started  in 
Tientsin  by  the  Russian  War  Department. 
This  was  tlie  China  Review,  the  first  number 
of  which  appeared  in  August,  1904.  The 
editor,  specially  appointed  by  the  department, 
was  Lt.-Col.  C.  L.  Norris-Newman,  F.R.G.S., 
F.R.S.A.,  late  Instructor  to  the  Naval  Staff  in 
Port  Arthur,  and  a  special  correspondent  of 
the  Daily  Mail  attached  to  the  staff  of  General 
Kondratovich  in  the  early  months  of  the  war. 
The  China  Review,  issued  every  evening, 
more  than  counterbalanced  the  efforts  of  the 
subsidised  local  Japanese  paper.  It  ran  with 
increasing  popularity,  and  in  December,  1906, 
it  was  purchased  by  the  editor,  who  carried 
it  on  under  the  name  of  the  China  Critic 
until  the  beginning  of  January,  1908.  It  was 
then  acquired  by  the  present  owners,  the 
North  China  Printing  and  Publishing  Com- 
pany, Ltd.,  which  was  floated  successfully  for 
the  purpose.  Colonel  Newman  remains  with 
the  Company  as  managing  director,  and  as 
chief  editor  of  its  publications. 

The    "China   Times,"    Ltd. 

When  the  Boxer  rising  was  suppressed  in 
August  of  1900,  the  troops  and  Press  corre- 
spondents in  Peking  had  nothing  to  do  but 
read  the  latest  news  from  South  Africa. 
General  Barrow,  chief  of  staf^  to  General 
Gaselee,  suggested  that  the  Press  correspon- 
dents at  Peking  might  follow  the  example  of 
their  colleagues  in  Ladysmith,  who  established 
the   Ladysmith   Lyre,  and   start   a   newspaper 


J.   COWEN, 

Editor. 

under  the  title  of  the  Peking  Loot.  Two  of 
the  correspondents,  Mr.  John  Cowen,  formerly 
of  The  'limes  editorial  staff  in  London,  and 
his  brother,  Mr.  T.  C.  Cowen,  who  had  been 
correspondent  of  Tlie  Times  in  the  China- 
Japan  War,  adopted  the  idea,  but  not  the  title, 
and  founded  the  Cliina  Times  with  very 
inadequate  materials.  At  that  time  it  was 
asserted  that  Tientsin  and  Peking  could  not 
support  a  daily  newspaper.  The  district  not 
only  supported  one,  however,  but  very  soon 
had  eight  morning  and  evening  papers.  The 
China  Times  is  the  principal  organ  of  opinion, 
and  is  much  read  by  educated  Chinese  and 
the  official  and  mercantile  classes.     Its   head 


offices  are  in  the  principal  thoroughfare  of 
Tientsin,  Victoria  Road.  During  times  of 
high  feeling  between  different  nationalities, 
the  China  Times  offices  have  been  attacked, 
or  threatened  with  attack,  on  more  than  one 
occasion.  The  proprietors  are  the  "  China 
Times,"  Ltd.;  the  editor  and  general  manager 
is    Mr.  John   Cowen,  who  is  assisted  by  his 


capital  of  TIs.  100,000  in  shares  of  TIs.  50 
each.  The  Company  are  proprietors  of  the 
Peking  and  Tientsin  Times,  which  was 
started  by  a  private  syndicate  as  a  weekly 
newspaper  in  1894,  and  converted  into  a  daily 
in  1902,  since  which  time  it  has  been  enlarged 
twice.  It  was  purchased  by  the  present 
Company  in  1904.     The  manager  of  the  firm 


THE  CHINATIMES. 


JiJlliJ^J-ii.   JiJ-J'^aJ-J^'J'JiJi?J-A^* 


Vol.  I :  Ho.  13. 
HOTEL  DD  NORD. 

Hatamen  Road,  Peking ;  near 

the  Kftta  Gato;  ntarly 

opposite  the  east  enjJt 

of  Legation  Street 

The  only  re^dcntial  hotel  in 

Peking;    » 

Omvcoicnt  for  I'lc  Legations, 
the  Rmlrs,  the  main 
thoro'.i^'hfaNs  and  cvcr>* 
p!.ictf"the  visitor  wislu-*. 
to  SCC- 

WcII IghK-d.  well  ivarmcd, 

Conifoftdblc   dining    room, 

I  smoke  room  and  read- 
ing room. 

Excellent  cuisine  at  modc- 
atc  rates. 

Winc^  .spirits,  cigars. 

Twenty  well-appointed  bed- 
roohis." 

jA  forfeff  of  trained  ser- 
hnti 

Every  acconimod.ition  for 
towiste,  travellers,  and 
professional  mca 

'HnglisJijffrcnch^  ?.nd   Gcr- 
*Mn  spoken. 
..Proprietor 
E.  Zl  BR. 


Pekins,  Tuesday,  Fehruanf  lath,  1901. 


Daily,  9 


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CALENDARS  > 


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,M'.ii  qui  I  M  ma»  (.d  k>[.  1..4. 

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s.\i..w  !»:  COD  in-"- 
Toii-ir  ci-iii.      . 
rKM.'R  i.A»!iliiS 


AN    EARLY    ISSUE    OF    THE    "CHINA    TIMES.' 


elder  brother,  Mr.  W.  C.  B.  Cowen  ;   and  the 
secretary  is  Mr.  T.  G.  Fisher. 

The    "Tientsin    Press,"    Ltd. 

The  •'  Tientsin  Press,"  Ltd.  was  founded 
about  the  year  1880  by  six  or  eight  prominent 
men  of  the  Settlement,  and  was  turned  into 
a   limited   liability   company   in    1903,  with   a 


is  Mr.  John  Jackson,  and  the  editor  is  Mr. 
H.  E.  Redmond,  formerly  of  the  London 
Standard,  for  which  he  is  now  correspondent. 
The  sub-editress  is  Mrs.  Vaughansmith,  who, 
previous  to  Mr.  Redmond's  arrival  in  China, 
had  occupied  the  editorial  chair  from  the 
time  of  the  formation  of  the  original 
syndicate.  The  "  Tientsin  Press,"  Ltd.  are  also 
general     printers,     publishers,     bookbinders, 


366     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


stationers,  and  theatrical  agents,  as  well  as 
agents  (or  Reuter's  Telegram  Company,  Ltd. 
The  otfices  are  situated  at  No.  33,  Victoria  Koad. 


and  Mr.  Marx  died  shortly  after  the  enterprise 
was  fairly  under  way,  and  the  journal  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  T.  Ross-Reid.  It 
consists  of  eight  pages  of  six  columns  each, 
of    which    sixteen    columns    are    devoted   to 


THE    PRINTIKG    OFFICES    OF    THE    "CHINA    TIMES." 


HANKOW. 

The    Hankow   Daily   News. 

The  Hankow  Daily  Scics  was  founded  in 
March,  1906,  by  Mr.  John  Andrew,  a  well- 
known  merchant  on  the  China  coast,  with 
the  assistance  of  Mr.  Otto  Marx.  In  spite  of 
many  difficulties  at  the  outset,  the  paper  is 
receiving  a  gratifying  measure  of  support 
from  the  business  houses,  and  at  the  present 
time  has  a  fair  circulation.     Both  Mr.  Andrew- 


general  news  and  the  remainder  to  advertise- 
ments. Telegrams  are  received  through 
Reuter's  agency,  and  letters  dealing  with 
topics  of  local  interest  are  written  from  time 


Lloyd's    Greater    Britain    Publishing 
Gimpanyf    Ltd. 

In  the  belief  that  the  reader  may  be  curious 
to  know  something  of  the  inner  working  of  so 
great  an  undertaking  as  the  production  of  this 
series  of  "Twentieth  Century  Impressions," 
the  compilers  are  accustomed  to  include  in 
the  Press  section  of  each  volume  a  short 
exposition  of  their  aims.  Lloyd's  Greater 
Britain  Publishing  Company,  Ltd.  was  formed 
in  response  to  Mr.  Chamberlain's  appeal, 
while  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies,  for 
the  wider  dissemination  of  knowledge  relating 
to  the  scattered  communities  who  combine  to 
form  the  British  Empire.  The  unanimous 
voice  of  the  Home  and  Colonial  Press  has 
testitied  to  the  adequate  manner  in  which  the 
Company  is  fulfilling  its  objects  ;  indeed,  in 
the  various  territories  which  have  been  visited 
— Western  Australia.  Natal,  and  the  Orange 
River  Colony,  Ceylon,  and  British  Malaya — it 
has  been  admitted  that  the  publications  of 
the  Company  constitute  additions  of  great  and 
enduring  value  even  to  local  knowledge. 

Despite  the  experience  which  the  Company 
has  gained  in  the  past,  the  compilation  of 
this,  volume  on  Hongkong,  Shanghai,  and 
other  Treaty  ports  of  China,  has  presented 
its  own  peculiar  problems  for  solution. 
Operations  have  extended  from  Hongkong  in 
the  south  to  Newchwang  in  the  north,  a 
distance  of  more  than  1,400  miles,  and  from 
Shanghai  to  Hankow  some  600  miles  up  the 
Yangtsze-Kiang.      Travelling  within  this  area 


THE    OFFICES    OF    THE    "  TIENTSIN    PRESS.' 


T.   BOSS-REID, 
Editor,  Hankow  Dally  Newt. 


to  time  by  correspondents  located  at  various 
ports  on  the  Yangtsze. 


♦ 


has  not  been  unattended  with  difficulty,  for 
many  of  the  sinaller  and  more  remote  ports 
can  only  be  reached  by  coasting  steamers, 
or  by  railways,  which,  though  rapidly  develop- 
ing,   afford    as    yet    only    partial    facilities. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     367 


Illness  has  played  its  part  in  retarding  the  work,  some  of  the  members 
of  the  staff  having  been  incapacitated  by  their  transition  in  the  autumn 
of  1907  from  the  tropics  to  the  rigorous  cold  of  Shanghai  and  the  more 
northerly  ports.  But  these  difficulties  notwithstanding,  the  close  of  July 
finds  the  last  instalment  of  letterpress  and  photographs  on  its  way  to  the 
printers. 

The  headquarters  of  the  Company  are  in  Durban,  South  Africa,  but  the 
real  centres  of  activity  are,  of  course,  the  London  office  and  the  branch  offices 
established  in  the  capitals  and  chief  towns  of  the  various  territories  visited. 

The  directorate  of  Lloyd's  Greater  Britain  Publishing  Company,  Ltd. 
includes  some  of  tlie  best  known  and  most  substantial  business  men  and 
financiers  in  South  Africa.  Mr.  J.  Ellis  Brown,  J. P.,  the  chairman  of  the 
Company,  was  Mayor  of  Durban  for  many  years.  The  deputy-chairman. 
Sir  Benjamin  Greenacre,  is  head  of  the  great  Durban  firm  of  Harvey, 
Greenacre  &  Co.,  and  deputy-chairman  of  the  Natal  Bank,  Ltd.  The  other 
directors  are  Mr.  Maurice  Evans,  C.M.G.,  M.L.A.,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Marshall 
Campbell,  M.L.C.,  managing  director  of  the  Natal  Sugar  Estates,  Ltd.,  the 
largest  concern  of  its  kind  in  South  Africa ;  and  Mr.  Alexander  Harvey 
Rennie,  resident  partner  (in  Natal)  of  the  "  Kennie "  Steamship  Company. 
All  these  gentlemen  are  also  on  the  directorate  of  the  Natal  Trust  and 
Finance  Company,  Ltd.,  Sir  Benjamin  Greenacre  being  the  chairman. 
The  secretary  of  Lloyd's  Greater  Britain  Publishing  Co.,  Ltd.,  is  Mr. 
Henry  Ernest  Mattinson,  F.I.A.N.,  and  the  auditor  is  Mr.  George  Mackeurtan. 
The  general  manager  is  Mr.  Reginald  Lloyd. 


fHE  CHINA  REVIEWf 


An  Evening  Journal 

OF 

UEir    AITD    UATTEKS, 

IN    THE    FAR    EAST. 


TIENTSIN,  MONDAV,  SEfTEMBKR   i 


o  [he   poUic     m  ibr  itmisti  Rivux  i«n 


Id   •twh  rl 


ri-.»j 


INTRODIJCTORV.  ■«,«„.    .„,.,™w,.  «  M«w,n  -„  -^ 

••  •*»  "O  •pofogy ;  laiuliej  lo  look  to     *'•*''*■  '"«'  "I"  H*"!- 
'.     *■  t"i«r.    rvljvi);  upon  lite  old  aphor'  "~"      •""'•P^ft. 

^     tt«  -'ihc  fitieii  win  survive. 
t,    *  A>  BM  Kxettd  in  pViiiji 
fc     «Ul  the  ptilic  winiii,  wr  shatl  bi 
F   Jp"«ly  "1.  l-ut.   tf  or.  ihe  «ilOT  hind._«, 
»v»u«  ,u  ii„k  „  .an-w<  are  .U. 
.MfTM  «ifT)-  «t  mmg  the  Uint  nc«^  In  a 
}-  '  **«-  P^  "»■""«■  -  [•<Myh,nK  n.Mn  from 

■     '"¥'^  comowrrUI.   kkmI.   aoJ  jjtMwril 

**  ««  «ihtciK*,   and  «h4ll 

^■Mnf  of    influence  anH   utppem 

^■^   'o  In  becooK  vwnethii^ 
li  HntkMB  in  jfarU   a.-vl  more  uwftJ  ov< 
filfitmM  %flrr*.   rhin 


TEL£GRAM8. 


K  Srr.l. 


r^) 


Vini-kwi.,  Srpt   II. 

_  Nmh  Km  reacind  here  rr,  thr  ifitct  iKji 
Kumjiatkin  «  at  Tlchling,  preifarin^  the 
tiofmcei  with  ijy;  jjpjrtc»*  fbllowinjj  the 
RuMiafl  fercfn,  although  slowly,  ttirougti 
bad  r<ud*  oihI  heat>  r^tn-..  'fh'-re  wai 
heavy  lirrni;  on  Stturcby  heard  here  from 
the  nofih.     f>aijy  encotaiten  envie. 

Moukdcn  lii  SUnniintiin.  j^^.  lo. 

Sine-  the  ivciujation  if  lMoy;iny-  by  lli^ 

bB  ■  (r|«u>>«  In     J'l"™''^-  *^»  aoliiirrs  have  liem  trc'ially 
""""  ~"   "     rontrijJ  the  ni 


^^^tbearraiipinenl»d«,flf,(,wh«hare 
Awfcr  being  made  ir,  v<ur?  all  the  lead 
■galk  ud  tet<-|^apltir  wrnfr*.  the  poiJ 
"■"i^M  rf  inHiKntal  ^iwl  aUe  .S'pet»| 
Cwmpori«(,  .nd  «)nlrn«ori  from  (he 
»««"  cm,a  in  Chi'na.  Ja,,an  Korea 
«>d  ««ch>^,  »e»hilU,cr-a,ttKe.i« 
Ijll*  P«P".  ^  .<M  .  p„n,on  in  the 

Sn^?«**^        |-in.l,y,     ^    p^^.  

■^  ■»   fc^'  ■■  dr.*,rc  ~>  di«-Klio«    '■'--*• 


lUAtion  nf  [ 
r.  the  soldirni  have 
loottni- :  the  conunuidert  teinj;  unat>!e 
nmlrul  the  nvrn.  In  in  iillein|jl  mad^  lo 
enter  and  loot  tly  Mliiionary  Rod  Cr'»«i 
compound  on  Fridjv,  a  frj^ii  oanirrrA. 
rr-ii  Jiini;  in  the  woundmit  of  Dr.  West  water, 
the  well  knnwn  Mi!si')iiar>'  D™-tor.  ,'nii* 
howrv^r  i*  the  fir.sf  known  instaire  jn  the 
cainpafjjB.  where  JajiSneir  have  Mcri6<;ed 
their  E^od  refute  foi  kindnea*  to  the 
wotwfcd  and  Mnct  nbtervance  of  the 
property  and  Ikrt  of  nnnraU,  Mankil 
0>anu  ik  taking  severe  <t-p*. 

I  Itikh'nt;,  Hrjit.  it. 
■  R-inec  Kal'han.  on'  of  tlir  Imperial 
Ijpnc*',  (UMe.]  thouRh  her'  for  the  north, 
to  lak'  (ofnmand  of  the  mrond  ra^alry 
WinaiK  Ja|i.inne  r-ntbrcemenli  are  brinj; 
Mrncd  up  all   abMg   the   line   from   the 


BLOCKADE   RUNNING, 


™mf.rt»n  ih>  ti 


H  0ml  >ht  <U«>nij 


To*  Eimju. 


It  11  itntcd  (hat  a  ntonher  of  Rmiian* 
in  Shanghai  are  jiat  now  buying  all  ihr 
brge  H-ax-inK  j'tnki  ih«)-  <ta  aecute.  aitd 
are  paying  blf  prim  far  the  vemeli.  writa 
the  "Mftrury."  Tht  junk*  are  lirini;  pur-  • 
chainl  oilennihJyto  shijj  gtyxli  to  Tviiq^u 
and  W'-ilufweL  A  (fooH  many  I'eiicb 
have  boen  oU^Ined  k>  &r.  Uil  a  djffiojty 
^^  il   being  exprrletieed    In  KCtffnf;  crews  to 

...... «~, » »„„„  „, '^  i""  ■"  '""""J '"  'I'  ■»* "' 


GlinCM  rWiOA  fo  procetH  (n  thrm      tt  II 


OrM  Jestin«tin«  nf  Tiingtau  nr  Wrtlttfwd 
t.«in«  u*«d  ■!  a  blind,  the  ml  nbjert  b»ing 
t(i  uIcr  advantage  of  rainy  or  bggy 
ther  in  nrdi-r  tu  reach  Tori  Arthur. 


THE    FIRST    ISSUE    OF     THE    "CHINA   REVIEW 


I 


THE   PREMISES   OF   THE    "HANKOW   DAILY  NEWS.' 


i  i  JPS  S  C:, 


Haw.  y^i  Tcuraoat 


K«  O  'X*  E:  XLi  S  .        _ 

ASTOR  HOUSE  HOTEL.  Ltd.. 

TIENTSIN. 


:o  vt^U  luritt&hfd  Bedrooms,  BilUurd,  Dining 
und  Reading  Rooau, 


GENERAL 

OUTFITTERS,  Ewry  McemmodatMm  (or  trftTellen. 

HOUSE 


FURNISHERS,    I    i^  arcs  NEW  HOXEI, 
*  Tientsin. 

DECORATORS     HOTEL  DES  COLONIES, 
CONTRACTORS.  -"•-;^^ocoHo,;TBT.L«T«crr. 

,      Estimate.,  Plans  and     wraiaAMDUQOOESorTMBESiauAinT. 

Designs  may  be  had  «.-«^rt«i    <r/vrier 

TONOKU    STATIOH    HOTBI. 

on  application.  ■    ""-'^  ,„««*".'•  ""^-''^"'■j^^  ^  «,«.«. 

1    11     I  on  HOTEL  JJES  COI^IWES. 

A.H.Jaques&Co.,  -^      ^;'~^ 

Vutom  Road.  HOTEL    DE    li A     FAIX, 


TU&ttiB. 


^CATACOMB. 


THE  FIRST  ISSUE  OF  THE  "PEKINa  AND  TIENTSIN  TIMES.' 


SHANGHAI. 


By   H.  a.  Cartwright. 


[HAXGHAI.  the  most  northerly 
of  the  tive  ports  thrown  open 
to  foreign  trade  under  the 
Uritish  Treaty  of  Nanking,  is 
.^^..,  ,  the  commercial  metropolis  of 
J_t=^^a|  China.  A  regular  port  of  call 
for  all  the  large  shipping 
line:,  engaged  in  the  trade  of  the  Far  East, 
it  is  the  distributing  centre  for  more  than 
one-half  of  the  commodities  exchanged 
between  the  Chinese  Empire  and  the  rest 
of  the  world,  and,  with  its  cotton  mills,  silk 
filatures,  and  docks  for  building  and  re- 
pairing ships,  it  is  rapidly  becoming  a  place 
of  considerable  industrial  importance.  The 
\'alue  of  its  trade,  which  has  increased  seven 
or  eight  fold  during  the  last  half  century, 
amounts  approximately  to  sixty-five  million 
pounds  sterling  a  year. 

Shanghai  appears  to  have  been  a  place 
o(  commercial  importance  from  very  early 
days.  It  is  said  to  have  been  founded  three 
hundred  years  before  Christ  by  Hwang 
Shieh,  Governor  of  Soochow  in  the  kingdom 
of  Ts'u,  who  was  impressed  with  the  advan- 
tagcousness  of  the  site.  The  first  Emperor 
of  the  Yuen  dynasty  created  it  a  separate 
district  under  the  name  of  Zaunghe,  meaning 
•'  up  from  the  sea "  or  "  upper  sea,"  in 
1292  A.D.,  and  prior  to  that  it  had  been  made 
a  Customs  station.  In  1360  it  attained  the 
dignify  of  a  hien,  or  district  city.  In  J756 
Mr.  F.  Pigou.  of  the  East  India  Company's 
faclory  at  Canton,  reported  on  the  place  in 
favourable  terms,  but  it  seems  to  have  re- 
mained disregarded  by  the  foreigner  from 
that  time  until  1832,  when  Mr.  H.  H.  Lindsay, 
heiid  of  the  firm  of  Lindsay  &  Co.,  and  the 
Kev.  Dr.  Giit/.laff  visited  it  in  the  Lord 
Amherst,  and  returned  with  "a  glowing 
account  of  its  commercial  possibilities."  Mr. 
Lindsay  stated  that  he  counted  upwards  of 
four  hundred  junks  passing  inwards  every 
day  for  seven  days,  and  found  the  place 
possessed  commodious  wharves  and  ware- 
houses. This  account  was  confirmed  three 
years  later  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Medhurst. 

Shanghai  was  taken  by  the  British  in  1842 
upon  the  successful  conclusion  of  the  military 
operations  against  Canton  and  the  southern 
ports.  The  fleet  arrived  in  June,  under  Vice- 
Admiral  Sir  William  Parker,  and,  in  con- 
junction with  a  military  force  of  four  thousand 


men  led  by  Sir  Hugh  Gough,  captured  the 
Woosung  Forts  and  the  little  walled  city  of 
Paoshan.  It  was  then  found  that,  in  the 
hope  of  striking  fear  into  the  hearts  of  the 
invaders,  the  Chinese  had  painted  a  number 
of  conical  mud  heaps  white  to  make  them 
resemble  tents  and  create  the  impression 
that  a  very  large  army  was  encamped  at 
the  spot.     A   few   days  later  Shanghai   was 


existing  Peking  Road  on  tlic  noitli.  Develop- 
ment after  this  proceeded  but  slowly,  the 
initial  difficulties  of  the  settlers  being  accen- 
tuated by  the  disturbances  due  to  the  Tri.id 
and  Taeping  rebellions.  Rapid  progress, 
however,  followed  the  opening  of  the 
Yangtsze  and  the  northern  ports  in  the 
sixties,  and  this  was  accelerated  further  by 
the  opening  of  Japan  to  trade. 


THE    CITY    WALLS. 


occupied,  very  little  resistance  being  offered 
by  the  terror-stricken  inhabitants,  despite  the 
elaborate  preparations  which  had  been  made 
for  the  defence. 

The  city  was  evacuated  on  June  23rd,  and 
after  the  arrival  from  Nanking  of  Sir  Henry 
Pottinger,  the  British  Plenipotentiary,  on  the 
conclusion  of  peace,  a  site  was  selected  for 
a  foreign  settlement  extending  from  the 
Yang-king-pang   Creek  on   the   south    to   the 


Shanghai's  prosperity  is  attributable  mainly 
to  its  exceptionally  favoured  geographical 
position.  The  Seltlcnient  lies  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Yangtsze-Kiang,  than  which  there  are 
only  two  longer  rivers  in  the  world,  in  the 
south-east  corner  of  the  Kiangsu  Plain,  one 
of  the  most  densely  popiilalcd  and  fertile 
regions  of  China,  about  midway  between 
Canton  and  Tientsin,  and  is  the  natural 
terminus  of  the  ocean  traffic  from  Japan  and 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      369 


the  Pacific  coast  of  America.  It  is  thus  the 
meeting  place  of  four  distinct  streams  of 
trade — from  north,  south,  east,  and  west. 
The  tonnage  of  the  vessels  entered  and 
cleared  at  the  port  has   doubled   during  the 


come  ne.xt  in  order  of  precedence.  The  chief 
articles  of  import  are  cotton  and  woollen 
goods,  opium,  metals,  and  sundries.  The 
principal  exports  are  tea,  silk,  and  cotton, 
but   it   is   impossible  to   give  the  proportions 


LI&HTING    THE    MOUTH    OF    THE    YANGTSZE    BIVER. 


past  ten  years,  and  now  aggregates 
17,500,000  tons  annually.  The  bulk  of  the 
shipping  since  1856  has  been  British.  In 
that  year,  which  is  the  earliest  for  which 
records  are  available,  Great  Britain  claimed 
182,215  cut  of  a  total  of  320,458  tons.  During 
the  past  ten  years,  however,  Japan,  America, 
and  Germany  have  proved  formidable  com- 
petitors ;  indeed,  in  the  case  of  Japan,  the 
actual  increase  in  tonnage  has  exceeded  that 
of  Great  Britain,  the  amount  having  advanced 
from  575,833  to  3,102,070  tons,  as  compared 
with  4,498,278  and  6,848,400  tons  in  the 
case   of  Great  Britain. 


taken  by  China's  various  customers,  owing 
to  the  fact  that  many  cargoes  are  sent  to 
Hongkong  for  trans-shipment,  and,  as  there 
are  no  customs  at  that  port,  their  ultimate 
destination  cannot  be  traced. 

For  years  past  the  port  has  been  placed 
at  a  grave  disadvantage,  owing  to  the  silting 
up  of  the  Whangpoo,  the  tidal  river  by  which 
it  is  approached  from  the  sea.  It  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  if  this  action  were  allowed 
to  continue  unchecked  the  days  of  Shanghai 
as  a  seaport  would  be  numbered.  For 
Shanghai  is  built  upon  alluvial  deposit  brought 
down  by  the  Yangtsze,  which,  when  swollen 


inevitable  consequences  of  this  were  foreseen 
by  the  Chinese  in  very  early  days,  and  from 
q6o  a.d.  to  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century 
measures  were  taken  to  keep  the  river  open 
to  the  sea,  by  dredging  and  by  cutting  off 
the  bends  of  the  stream,  in  order  to  preserve 
as  straight  a  course  as  possible,  and  thus 
accelerate  the  speed  of  the  current  and 
reduce  the  deposition  of  mud.  To  keep 
the  Soochow  Creek  clear  a  flood-gate 
was  erected  in  the  twelfth  century 
near  what  is  now  the  end  of  Fokien 
Road.  At  the  time  of  writing  a  bar 
at  Woosung  prevents  all  but  shallow- 
draught  river  boats  from  navigating  the 
Whangpoo  except  at  high  water  ;  at  other 
times  large  vessels  are  obliged  to  load  and 
discharge  cargoes  from  and  into  lighters. 
The  delay  and  expense  which  this  entails  are 
heavy  charges  on  commerce.  Repeated 
representations  on  the  subject  have  been 
made  since  i860  to  the  Imperial  Government 
at  Peking,  who,  regarding  the  bar  as  a 
powerful  aid  in  their  policy  of  exclusion, 
turned  a  deaf  ear  for  many  years  to  all 
appeals.  Under  the  Protocol  between  China 
and  eleven  powers  in  1901,  however,  a 
portion  of  the  Boxer  indemnity  was  set 
aside  for  "  straightening  the  Whangpoo," 
and  improving  its  course,  a  Conservancy 
Board,  composed  of  imperial  and  local 
representatives,  being  appointed  to  carry  out 
the  project.  Even  then  a  policy  of  pro- 
crastination was  pursued,  and  it  was  not 
until  three  months  after  the  Whangpoo 
Conservancy  Convention  was  signed,  in 
September,  1905,  that  an  engineer  was 
engaged,  and  preparations  for  executing  the 
necessary  work  were  commenced  in  earnest. 
Efforts  are  now  being  directed  towards 
closing  the  Ship  Channel  on  the  north  side 
of  Gough  Island — which,  within  the  memory 
of  persons  still  living,  was  merely  a  bank 
covered  at  high  water — and  confining  the 
stream  to  the  Junk  Channel  on  the  south,  so 
as  to  employ  the  tide  as  a  scouring  agent, 
and  modify  the  awkward  bend  at  Pheasant 
Point.  P'or  this  purpose  zinkstiicks,  or  huge 
mattresses  of  brushwood  divided  into  com- 
partments by  high  fences,  are  tilled  with 
stone  and  sunk  into  position.  As  soon  as 
they  become  solidified  with  mud,  others  are 
deposited   on    the   top   of    them   until    at    last 


VIEW    OF    THE    WHANGPOO   RIVER. 


It  is  gratifying  to  find,  nevertheless,  that 
the  imports  from  the  United  Kingdom  are 
worth  sixty-five  million  taels  a  year,  or  more 
than  double  those  from,  America,  and  treble 
those   from   Japan,   the"  t«?,o  countries   which 


by  the  floods  of  summer,  is  believed  to  carry 
in  mechanical  suspension  four  feet  of  mud  in  a 
continuous  stream.  A  portion  of  this  mud  is 
forced  up  the  Whangpoo  by  the  tide  and 
deposited   in   the    bed    of     the    river.       The 


a  wall  is  formed  capable  of  resisting  the 
strongest  tidal  action  and  the  channel  is 
blocked.  At  the  same  time  five  dredgers 
are  engaged  in  deepening  the  Junk  Channel. 
Already  there  are  indications  that  the  theory 


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TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     371 


upon  which  the  operations  are  based  is  a 
sound  one,  and  if  the  present  rate  of  progress 
is  maintained  the  Junk  Channel  should, 
within  the  next  three  or  four  years,  be 
navigable  at  any  state  of  the  tide  for  vessels 
drawing  20  feet  of  water.  The  cost  of  the 
improvement  will  not  be  less  than  a  million 
sterling.  The  ideal  project — that  of  cutting 
a  new  mouth  for  the  river  througli  the 
Pootung  Peninsula,  whereby  Shanghai  would 
have  been  brought  considerably  nearer  the 
sea — had  to  be  abandoned  owing  to  the 
sacrifice  of  vested  interests  at  Woosung  that 
it  involved.  When  Woosung  was  made  a 
separate  port  the  idea  prevailed  that  its 
greater  accessibility  would  lead  to  the  eclipse 
of  Shanghai.  A  bund  was  constructed  and 
the  land  was  laid  out  in  squares  in  readiness 
for  houses  and  oftices,  which,  however,  have 
yet  to  be  erected.  The  two  places  have  been 
connected  by  railway  since   l8g8. 

From  Woosung  to  Shanghai,  a  distance  of 
some  thirteen  miles,  the  river  is  alive  with 
shipping.  Liners,  as  has  been  stated,  anchor 
off  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  but  at  high 
water  large  steamers  may  be  seen  passing 
up  and  down.  A  constant  succession  of 
tenders,  lighters,  junks,  and  sampans  is  met 
at  all  states  of  the  tide,  and  it  is  interesting 
to  watch  the  skill  with  which  the  Chinese 
navigate  their  clumsy-looking  and  heavily- 
laden  craft.  Not  infrequently  a  junk  will 
carry  a  cargo  of  poles  lashed  to  each  side 
of  it  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  steering 
seem  an  impossibility.  Long  before  the 
landing-stage  at  Shanghai  is  reached,  the 
river  banks  begin  to  wear  a  busy  aspect, 
cotton  mills,  silk  filatures,  docks,  wharves, 
and  godowns  appearing  in  almost  unbroken 
succession. 

r.  Except  as  a  flourishing  centre  of  trade, 
Shanghai  fails  upon  first  acquaintance  to 
create  a  very  favourable  impression.  This 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  land  upon  which 
the  Settlement  stands,  is  absolutely  flat,  and, 
that,  owing  to  the  short-sighted  policy  of  the 
old  Committee  of  Roads  and  Jetties,  the 
streets  are  too  narrow  to  be  beautified  with 
trees  or  to  exhibit  advantageously  the  many 
commanding  buildings  which  abut  upon 
them.  Nor  can  it  be  said  that  the  red  and 
black  bricks  which  -are  so  freely  employed  in 
building  construction  produce  a  very  pleasing 
effect.      The    general    style    ot     architecture 


of  the  year  Shanghai  enjoys  a  temperate 
climate,  extreme  heat  being  experienced  only 
in  June,  July,  and  August.  During  these 
months  the  thermometer  sometimes  registers 
as  much  as   100  deg.  Vah.  in  the  shade,  and 


never     gained     a     footing — thanks     to     the 
stringent  quarantine  regulations. 

The  advantages  which  Shanghai  thus 
offers  as  a  place  of  residence  to  foreigners 
have  been  added  to  very  considerably  by  the 


VIEW    IN    THE    PUBLIC  ■  GARDENS. 


being  usually  accompanied  by  considerable 
humidity,  this  high  temperature  proves  very 
trying.  At  all  times  of  the  year,  sudden 
changes  are  liable  to  occur — on  April  24th 
last,  for  instance,  the  thermometer  fell  36 
deg.  in  four  hours — but,  notwithstanding 
this  and  the  fact  that  it  is  so  low-lying, 
Shanghai  is  by  no  means  an  unhealthy 
place  in  which  to  live.  The  death-rate 
among  foreigners  is  about  the  same  as  that  of 
a  large  English  city.  It  has  ranged  during 
the  past  twenty  years  from  246  per  iiiillc  in 
i8qi  to  H2  per  niille  in  1905.  Serious 
epidemics  are  of  rare  occurrence,  although 
there  is  no  statutory  power  to  compel  notifi- 
cation   of    infectious     disease.       Tuberculosis 


enterprise  and  public  spirit  of  the  inhabitants, 
who  enjoy  every  comfort  and  convenience 
to  be  found  in  the  most  progressive  Euro- 
pean cities.  An  ample  supply  of  good  water 
is  furnished  by  two  private  companies,  and 
electricity  has  been  used  as  an  illuminant 
since  1882.  The  means  of  locomotion  has 
been  very  considerably  improved  during  the 
past  twelve  months  by  the  introduction  of 
electric  tramways,  which  traverse  all  the 
principal  thoroughfares  of  the  two  Settlements. 
The  demand  for  news  and  other  reading 
matter  is  fully  met  by  the  publication  of 
five  daily  newspapers,  a  plethora  of  periodi- 
cals, as  well  as  by  the  provision  of  a 
public    library.       Quite    exceptional    facilities 


SHANGHAI    IN    WINTER-FROM    THE    ROOF    OF    THE    ASTOR    HOUSE    HOTEL. 


presents  no  very  distinctive  features.  All 
the  houses  have  verandahs,  but  the  arcades 
which  are  so  welcome  to  the  pedestrian  in 
Hongkong  and  Singapore  are  here  unknown. 
The  reason  is,  of  course,  that  for  three-fourths 


and  small-pox  are  the  infectious  diseases 
most  prevalent.  Cholera  is  endemic  in  cer- 
tain districts  occupied  by  the  poorest  class  of 
Chinese,  but  foreigners  enjoy  comparative 
immunity     from     the     disease.      Plague     has 


have  been  provided  for  indulgence  in  all 
forms  of  out-door  recreation,  and  numerous 
clubs  have  been  established  for  the  promo- 
tion of  social  intercourse.  An  excellent  band, 
maintained  by  the   Municipality,  gives  public 


372     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


performances  of  high-class  music  throughout 
the  year,  and  a  series  of  dances,  concerts. 
and  other  entertainments  dispels  the  dullness 
of  the  winter  months.  In  short,  the  mo- 
notonv  which  is  characteristic  of   life   in   the 


foreign   assessor  appointed    by   the   principal 
Consulates. 

The  heart  of  the  Settlement  lies  in  the  old 
British  Concession,  which  was  soon  extended 
northwards    from    the    Peking   Koad    to    the 


THE    FRENCH    MUNICIPAL     COUNCIL    OFFICES. 


East  is  absent  from  Shanghai,  which  is  often 
styled  the  "  Paris  of  the  Orient,"  in  recog- 
nition of   its  gaiety. 

Shanghai  is  divided  into  three  parts^— the 
International  Settlement,  the  French  Conces- 
sion, and  the  Native  City — which  are  adjacent 
to  one  another.  The  first  two  constitute  the 
Foreign  Settlement  and  embrace  an  area  of 
nine  square  miles.  As  the  French  Concession 
consists  only  of  about  1,625  mow,  it  will 
readily  be  seen  that  the  International  Settle- 
ment is  by  far  the  more  important  of  the 
two.  Within  it  a  unique  system  of  adminis- 
tration obtains,  and  the  remarkable  success 
by  which  it  has  been  attended  has  won 
for  Shanghai  the  name  of  the  "  Model 
Settlement."  Under  the  Land  Regulations. 
which  have  been  approved  by  the  imperial 
authorities  at  Peking  and  the  Ministers  of 
the  various  Powers  having  treaties  with 
with  China,  the  foreign  owners  of  land  and 
occupiers  of  houses  possess  the  fullest 
powers  of  self-government.  For  the  con- 
duct of  public  affairs  a  Municipal  Council 
is  elected  each  year  by  popular  vote,  but  it 
has  no  power  to  levy  rates,  make  bye-laws, 
or  embark  upon  new  projects  without  first 
obtaining  the  sanction  of  the  ratepayers 
assembled  in  public  meeting.  For  the  settle- 
ment of  disputes  between  the  Council  and 
individual  members  of  the  community  a 
Court  of  Consuls  was  constituted  in  1870. 
There  is  a  Municipal  Council,  also,  in  the 
French  Concession,  but  its  decisions  are 
inoperative  until  they  receive  the  assent  of 
the  French  Consul,  who  is,  ex  officio,  presi- 
dent. The  spirit  of  progress  has  recently 
communicated  itself  to  the  Native  City,  and 
as  a  consequence  the  first  Chinese  Municipal 
Council  in  the  Empire  was  established  here 
two  or  three  years  ago.  In  the  Settlement 
every  foreigner  is  amenable  to  the  laws  of 
his  own  country.  Cases  against  Chinese  are 
heard  before  a  Mixed  Court,  presided  over 
by  a   Chinese   magistrate,  with   whom  sits  a 


Soochow  Creek.  A  magnificent  boulevard 
runs  along  the  riverside,  where  in  the  early 
days  a  sedgy  swamp  was  bordered  by  a  towing 
path,  and  this  is  the  redeeming  feature  of  a 
town  otherwise  devoid  of  beauty.  The  river 
bank  is  carpeted  with  a  wide  and  well-kept 


name  of  this  delightful  promenade — stands  a 
large  statue  of  Sir  Harry  Parkes,  (I.C.M.G., 
K.C.B.,  British  Envoy  Extraordinary  and 
Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  China  from  1882 
to  1885.  This  was  erected  in  i8yo  by  the 
foreign  merchants  in  China  in  recognition  of 
his  great  services.  Further  along  is  a 
monument  in  tlie  form  of  a  broken  mast  to 
commemorate  the  heroic  death  of  the  crew 
of  the  German  gunboat  litis  which  was 
wrecked  during  a  typhoon  off  the  coast  of 
Shantung  in   1896. 

At  the  northern  end  of  the  Hund  are  the 
Public  Gardens,  occupying  an  admirable 
situation  at  the  junction  of  the  Wliangpoo, 
which  is  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide  at  this 
part,  and  tlie  Soochow  Creek,  originally  the 
more  important  stream  of  the  two.  The  site, 
which  was  reclaimed  from  the  foreshore, 
belonged  to  the  British  Consulate  until  1864, 
when  the  Foreign  Office  agreed  to  its  con- 
version into  a  public  garden  on  the  under- 
standing that  if  it  ever  ceased  to  be  used  for 
that  purpose  it  would  revert  to  the  Britisli 
Government.  Towards  the  cost  of  levelling 
the  property  and  laying  it  out  in  lawns, 
shrubberies,  and  flower-beds,  the  trustees  of 
the  Recreation  Fund  contributed  Tls.  10.000. 
The  little  enclosure  is  kept  bright  throughout 
the  year  with  a  constant  succession  of 
flowering  plants,  many  of  which  have  been 
imported  from  Europe  and  elsewhere.  Snow- 
drops, hyacintlis,  tulips,  and  roses  are  to  be 
seen  in  season,  but  the  most  beautiful  sight  of 
all  is  afforded  by  the  magnolias  in  bloom. 
Facing  the  band-stand  there  is  a  large  fountain 
of  rockwork,  erected  to  commemorate  the 
jubilee  of  Shanghai,  which  was  celebrated 
on  November  17  and  18,  1893.  In  close 
proximity  to  this  stands  a  graceful  granite 
monument  to  Augustus  Raymond  Margery, 
who  was  .sent  by  Her  Biitannic  Majesty's 
Government  to  open  up  a  trade  route  between 
China    and    Burma,    and     was    murdered    in 


THE    FRENCH    CONSULATE. 


stretch  of  level  grass  bordered  on  either  side 
by  an  asphalte  path,  while  the  roadway  beyond 
is  lined  with  trees  whose  foliage  refreshes  the 
eye  and  affords  grateful  shade  in  the  summer. 
In  the  middle   of   the  Bund— for  that  is  the 


Yunnan  on  the  return  journey  on  February 
21,  1875.  A  second  fountain  depicts  two  little 
cliiUlren  in  terra  cotta  seeking  shelter  from 
the  rain  under  an  umbrella,  and  a  short 
distance  away  a  small  granite  obelisk  records 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      373 


the  names  of  the  officers  who  fell  while 
fightinji  with  Gordon's  "  ever  victorious 
armv"    against     the    Taeping    rebels    in    the 


crowds  repair  to  them  to  enjoy  the  cool 
breezes  and  listen  to  the  excellent  music  dis- 
coursed bv  the  town   band.     At  such   times 


Indians  and  Japanese  of  the  lower  orders, 
but  the  Chinese,  no  matter  what  may  be 
their  station  in  life,  are  rigorously  excluded, 


THE  MARGERY  MONUMENT. 


THE  "ILTIS"  MEMORIAL. 


sixties.  The  gardens  are  a  very  favourite 
resort,  more  especially  in  the  early  evening 
and   after   dinner   during   the    summer,   when 


foreigners  of  all  sorts  and  conditions  ;ire  to  be 
seen,  from  the  heads  of  leading  European 
commercial     houses     and     their    families     to 


THE    ANGLICAN  CATHEDRAL.        [For  description  see  page  378. 


notwithstanding  the  fact  that  their  emperor 
is  lord  of  the  soil.  As  some  sort  of  solatium 
for  this  treatment  another  garden  a  little 
further  along  the  Soochow  Creek  has  been 
set  apart  for  their  use. 

The  offices  of  most  of  tlie  banks  and  some 
of  the  oldest  mercantile  houses  are  situated 
on  the  Bund.  They  follow  a  variety  of 
architectural  styles,  but  all  alike  present  a 
substantial  appearance.  The  earlier  buildings 
never  consist  of  more  than  three  storeys  and 
usually  have  fore-courts,  while  the  more 
recent  structures  attain  a  greater  height  and 
abut  upon  the  path — differences  which  are 
significant  of  the  vast  increase  which  has 
taken  place  in  the  value  of  land.  Among  the 
most  noticealile  business  premises  are  those 
of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank,  the 
Eastern  Extension  and  Great  Northern  Tele- 
graph Companies,  the  new  Russo-Chinese 
Bank,  the  Deutsch-Asiatische  Bank,  the  Palace 
Hotel,  and  the  Yokohama  Specie  Bank.  The 
hong  of  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  is 
interesting  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  it  is  one 
of  the  very  few  that  survive  from  the  infant 
days  of  the  Settlement.  The  premises,  which 
date  from  1851,  have  a  long  return  frontage 
to  Peking  Road,  and  are  now  being  recon- 
structed and  enlarged. 

Probably  the  most  striking  building  on  the 
Bund  is  the  Club  Concordia,  a  very  ornate 
edifice  in  the  German  Renaissance  style,  the 
foundation  stone  of  which  was  laid  by  Prince 
Adalbert  of  Prussia,  on  October  22,  1904. 
Another  very  conspicuous  feature  of  the  water 


SHANGHAI     STREETS. 

I.  J.     Ox  THE  Bf.VD— I.XTEKXATIOXAL  SETTLEMINT. 

4,  5.    Up  and  Down  hie  Maloo  (Naxkixg  Road). 


2.    The  French  Buxd. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     375 


THE    BRITISH    CONSULATE. 


which  is  six  acres  in  extent,  was  acquired  by 
Sir  Rutherford  Alcoclc,  in  1848,  and  was 
formerly  occupied  by  a  half-demolished 
Chinese  fort  surrounded  by  ditches  and 
quagmires.  The  first  Consulate,  built  in 
1852,  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  December 
23,  1870.  In  the  grounds  a  stone  slab,  laid 
in  position  by  Mr.  W.  Medhur.st,  a  former 
consul,  in  April,  1873,  defines  the  geographical 
position  as  latitude  31  degrees  I4'42'  N.  and 
longitude  121  degrees  29'  12"  E.  A  few  yards 
along  the  Soochow  Road,  which  starts  at 
this  point,  is  the  Union  Church,  built  in  the 
Early  English  style,  with  a  tower  surmounted 
by  an  octagonal  spire  rising  to  a  height  of 
108  feet.  Opposite  is  the  Rowing  Club's 
boat-house,  and  a  little  way  beyond  this 
are  the  gardens  for  the  use  of  Chinese 
residents. 

Across  the  Soochow  Creek  lies    Hongkew. 
This  was  originally  the  American  quarter,  but 


front  is  the  Chinese  Customs  House.  De- 
signed in  the  Tudor  style  of  architecture  it 
is  built  of  red  brick  with  facings  of  green 
Ningpo  stone,  the  high-pitched  roofs  being 
covered  with  red  French  tiles.  From  the 
centre  a  square  clock  tower  containing  a  four- 
faced  clock  with  Westminster  chimes  rises  to 
a  height  of  110  feet  and  divides  the  building 
into  two  wings.  Close  to  the  Yang-king-pang 
stands  the  Shanghai  Club  House.  The  pre- 
mises, which  were  erected  in  1864,  at  a  cost 
of  ;f42,ooo,  are  now  in  course  of  demolition. 
Their  place  is  to  be  taken  by  a  new  building 
of  six  storeys  in  the  English  Renaissance 
style,  surrounded  by  turrets  and  constructed 
of  imitation  Portland  stone  with  columns  of 
Tsingtao  granite.  In  the  meantime  the 
members,  who  number  1,300,  find  temporary 
accommodation  in  Jinkee  Road,  and  are 
granted  the  use  of  the  German  Club  on 
special  terms.  The  Masonic  fraternity  have 
a  splendid  hall,  approached  by  a  double  flight 
of  steps,  in  a  free  treatment  of  the  Renaissance 
style,  but  so  great  is  the  demand  upon  it  that 
it  is  about  to  make  way  for  still  more  com- 
modious premises.  Near  by  are  the  British 
Consulate-General  and  Supreme  Court  stand- 
ing in  the  midst  of  verdant  lawns  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  Soochow  Creek.     The  site. 


GARDEN    BRIDGE. 


A    TRAMCAB    "EN    FETE." 


was  amalgamated  with  the  so-called  British 
Settlement  in  1863.  Until  1867  the  only 
means  of  crossing  from  one  Settlement  to 
the  other  was  by  ferry-boat ;  now  com- 
munication is  maintained  by  means  of  seven 
bridges.  The  first  of  these  was  built  by  a 
private  company,  who  levied  a  toll  upon  all 
who  used  it,  and  refused  every  offer  that 
was  made  to  them  to  part  with  their  mono- 
poly until  the  Municipal  Council  adopted  the 
expedient  of  constructing  another  wooden 
bridge  alongside  in  1873.  When  tramways 
were  introduced  in  March,  1908,  this  bridge, 
known  as  the  Garden  Bridge,  was  replaced 
by  a  steel  structure,  60  feet  in  width  with 
a  carriage-way  of  36  feet  9  inches.  The 
new  bridge,  which  is  not  conspicuous  for 
its  beauty,  owing  to  the  heavy  superstructure, 
has  two  equal  spans  of  171  feet.  Facing  it 
on  the  Hongkew  side  is  Astor  House,  the 
leading  hotel  of  Shanghai.  The  building 
occupies  a  prominent  site  at  the  corner  of 
Broadway  and  Whangpoo  Road,  but  has  an 
unpretentious  appearance,  and  is  about  to  be 
reconstructed.  Next  to  it  is  the  new  German 
Church,  a  handsome  edifice  surmounted  by 
a  graceful  spire,  and  containing  over  the 
altar  an  oil  painting  presented  by  the  Kaiser. 
Immediately  opposite,  and  overlooking  the 
river,  is  the  German   Consulate,   and  in  the 


376     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


immediate    vicinity    are    the    Consulates    of 
America.  Austria-Hungary,  and  Japan. 

From  the  Garden  Bridjje  the  tramway  line 
nms  by  way  of  Seward  Roiid  and  Yaiigtsiepoo 
Road  to  within  a  short  distance  of  the  Point. 


early  section  is  a  legacy  left  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  Roads  and  Jetties,  who  rejected  as 
extravagant  the  suggestion  which  Captain 
Balfour  made  in  his  capacity  as  Consul  that 
roads   should    not    be    less    than    25   feet    in 


THE    TOWN    HALL. 


where  one  of  the  most  picturesque  riverside 
views  in  Shanghai  can  be  obtained.  For 
the  first  part  of  the  journey  Chinese  and 
Japanese  stores  line  the  route,  but  further 
along,  as  the  open  country  is  approached, 
the  great  cotton  mills  and  silk  filatures  begin 
to  appear.  On  the  way  the  reservoirs  of 
the  Water  Company  are  passed.  Their 
situation  below  the  city  has  been  determined 
by  the  fact  that  the  best  water  is  not  that 
which  flows  down  the  Whangpoo,  but  that 
which  is  forced  up  from  the  Yangtsze-Kiang 
by  the  incoming  tide.  The  Yangtszepoo 
Road,  which  has  a  total  length  of  about 
five  miles,  is  eventually  to  be  continued  to 
Woosung.  The  return  to  Shanghai  is  made 
in  the  tramcar.  viii  the  Broadway.  From 
this  thoroughfare,  which  runs  parallel  to 
Seward  Road,  access  may  be  had  to  the 
many  busy  wharves  which  line  the  river 
bank. 

From  the  Bund  eight  roads  strike  inland 
to  the  Defence  Creek,  which,  as  it  connected 
the  Soochow  Creek  and  the  Yang-king-pang 
and  with  them  enclosed  an  island,  was  soon 
selected  as  the  western  boundary  of  the  old 
British  Settlement.  Of  these  eight  roads  by 
far  the  most  important  is  Nanking  Road,  or 
the  Maloo,  as  it  is  often  called  by  old  resi- 
dents. Starting  from  a  point  opposite  the 
memorial  to  Sir  Harry  Parkes,  it  is  exactly  a 
mile  long,  and  forms  the  main  artery  of 
traffic  in  Shanghai.  At  all  hours  of  the  day 
it  is  thronged,  and  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
evening  a  continuous  stream  of  carriages 
pours  along  it  on  the  way  to  the  rural 
districts  that  lie  beyond.  For  nearly  three- 
fourths  of  its  length  Nanking  Road  follows 
a  straight  line,  and  is  a  fine  wide  thorough- 
fare. The  t)ends  which  occur  in  it  during 
the  first  two  or  three  hundred  yards  are 
due  to  the  fact  that  it  originally  followed 
the  winding  course  of  a  creek  which  ran 
from  the  Yang-king-pang  to  the  Whangpoo 
along  what  is  now  Kiangse  Road.  The 
narrowness     which     still     characterises     this 


width.  Just  recently  this  narrowness  has 
been  more  acutely  felt  owing  to  the  intro- 
duction of  a  double  line  of  tramways,  which 
at  some  points  leaves  a  space  between  the 
track  and  the  pavement  insufficient  even  for 
a  rickshaw  to  pass.  It  is  in  this  congested 
locality  that  the  principal  foreign  stores  are 
found.      Thence    onward    the    road   is    lined 


rarely  exceed  two  storeys  in  heiglit.  and  in 
their  construction  a  building  line  has  been 
carefully  observed.  Shortly  before  the  De- 
fence Creek  is  reached  a  block  standing  on 
the  left-hand  side  of  the  road  between  the 
Kwangse  and  Yunnan  Roads  arrests  attention 
by  its  prominence.  This  is  the  Town  Hall 
which,  with  the  market  attached  to  it,  covers 
an  area  of  some  43,000  square  feet. 
It  was  built  in  1896,  and  is  of  red  brick 
with  Ningpo  stone  dressings.  Heavy  gables  are 
a  feature  of  the  front  elevation.  Approached 
by  a  handsome  double  stone  staircase  is  a 
lofty  and  well  -  lighted  hall  measuring 
154  feet  by  80  feet,  which  was  intended  to 
serve  primarily  as  a  drill  hall  for  the  volun- 
teers, but  is  now  so  often  in  demand  for 
public  gatherings  that  the  volunteers .  have 
asked  to  be  provided  with  other  accom- 
modation. Across  the  road  is  the  Louza 
Police  Station,  an  imposing  building  with 
pointed  arches  surmounted  by  a  central 
tower. 

Foochow  Road,  which  also  runs  east  and 
west,  is  the  principal  Chinese  thoroughfare. 
In  it  are  to  be  seen  the  large  and  fashionable 
opium  shops,  tea-houses,  and  restaurants, 
while  adjacent  to  it  are  the  Chinese  theatres, 
in  which  historical  plays  are  presented  that 
sometimes  extend  over  several  weeks. 
Although  costly  and  elaborate  costumes  are 
worn  by  the  actors,  scenery  and  various  other 
adventitious  aids  to  realism,  to  which  the 
Western  mind  has  become  accustomed,  are 
here  unknown  ;  consequently,  much  has  to 
be  taken  for  granted.  A  chair,  for  instance, 
has  sometimes  to  be  accepted  for  a  wall, 
and  an  actor  who  goes  through  the  move- 
ments of  riding  must  be  assumed  to  be 
mounted  on  a  high-spirited  horse.  It  is, 
perhaps,  because  of  the  strain  which  this 
involves  upon  the  imagination  that  hot  damp 
cloths  for  mopping  the  brow  are  handed 
round  among  the  occupants  of  the  more 
expensive  seats.  The  Chinese  General 
Hospital,  which  was  founded  by  Dr.  Lockhart 


HONQKEW   MARKET. 


on  both  sides  with  Chinese  shops,  easily  dis- 
tinguished by  their  open  unglazed  fronts 
and  their  hanging  signs  resplendent  with 
gilt.  In  not  a  few  instances  they  exemplify 
the    Chinese    style    of    architecture.       They 


in  1846,  and  transferred  to  the  community  in 
1872,  also  lies  along  Foochow  Road.  This 
hospital  was  the  first  medical  mission  in 
China,  just  as  the  London  Mission,  which 
shares    the    same    compound,    was    the    first 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     377 


p 

ill 

RPTfflFf"f 

llliliiiiiii^iiii 

CITY    FATHERS    AND    POLICE     TWENTY-FIVE    YEARS    AGO. 


Protestant  mission  in  Shanj;hai,  tlie  celebrated 
Dr.  Medhurst  having  settled  here  with 
Dr.  Lockhart  in    1843. 

The  Nanking  Road  is  intersected  at  right 
angles  by  a  number  of  roads  which  run 
north  and  south  to  the  boundaries  of  the 
original  Settlement,  and  are  continued  thence 
by  means  of  seven  bridges  over  the  Soochow 
Creek  and  eight  over  the  Yang-king-pang 
into  the  Uongkew  district  on  the  one  side 
of  the  French  Concession  or  the  other.  The 
first  of  these  is  the  Szechuen  Road,  which, 
if  followed  in  a  northerlv  direction  for  about 
two  miles,  leads  to  the  outskirts  of  the  Settle- 
ment, where  are  to  be  found  in  close 
pro.ximity  to  one  another  the  rifle  range 
and  the  new  recreation  ground  consisting 
of  some  258  mow  of  land.  Along  the  road 
or  adjacent  to  it  there  are  several  important 
public  institutions.  At  the  corner  of  Peking 
Road  is  the  recently  erected  Chinese  Imperial 
Post  Office,  followed  by  the  British  Post 
Office.  A  few  yards  from  the  bridge  over 
the  Soochow  Creek  is  the  road  leading  to  the 
Lyceum  Theatre  at  the  back  of  the  British 
Consulate.  At  the  point  of  intersection  with 
North  Soochow  Road  stands  the  General 
Hospital,  a  building  of  utility  rather  than 
ornament,  dating  from  1864.  '  A  little  way 
down  Boone  Road  is  the  Shanghai  Public 
School,  which  owes  its  foundation  to  the 
Masonic    fraternity    by    whom     it    has   been 


handed  over  to  the  municipality.  Near  by 
is  the  Hongkew  Market,  the  scene  of  great 
activity  in  the  early  morning.  Along  Quinsan 
Road  lies  the  Anglo-Chinese  College,  one 
of  several  agencies  that  have  been  established 
for  the  education  of  the  Chinese,  who  number 
510,000  out  of  a  total  estimated  population 
of  524,000  and  contribute  so  large  a  proportion 
of  the  rates  of  the  Settlement.  In  Haining 
Road  is  the  Pan  Tuck  Aye,  a  Buddhist 
Nunnery.  The  central  shrine  in  the  temple 
attached  to  this  retreat  is  dedicated  to  Sieh 
Kyah  Maya  Nue  Vah,  the  Buddha  of  "  the 
past,  present,  and  future."  To  the  right  and 
left  respectively  of  the  central  shrine  are 
gilded  figures  of  O-mi-doo,  representing  "  the 
craving  of  a  human  soul  for  a  life  beyond, 
full  of  light  and  happiness,"  and  Kwanyin, 
the  goddess  of  mercy.  Around  the  walls 
are  ranged  the  eighteen  Lohans,  sainted 
members  of  the  Indian  Church.  Next  to 
the  Pan  Tuck  Aye  is  the  Kwang  Zan  Ee  Yuen, 
a  hospital  maintained  for  the  sick  and  indigent 
by  the  Cantonese  guilds.      It  may  be  mentioned 


NATIVE  (CHINESE)  POLICE,  INTERNATIONAL  SETTLEMENT. 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENT  NATIVE  POLICE  (ANAMITES). 


m  passing  that  a  Municipal  Isolation  Hospital 
for  Chinese,  with  accommodation  for  150 
patients,  and  a  separate  block  for  out-patients, 
has  been  provided  in  this  locality  at  a  cost 
of  Tls.  21,000,  while  the  St.  Luke's  Hospital, 
containing  100  beds  for  men  and  50  for 
women,  has  done  splendid  work  among  the 
Chinese  since  1869.  in  which  year  it  was 
founded  by  the  American  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  Mission.  In  Range  Road,  the  site 
until  1897  of  the  Volunteers'  Rifle  Butts,  is 
the  Victoria  Nursing  Home,  which  was 
erected  by  the  inhabitants  at  a  cost  of  more 
than  Tls.  32.000  to  commemorate  the  Diamond 
Jubilee  of  the  late  Queen  Victoria. 

Running  parallel  to  the  Szechuen  Road 
from  one  end  of  the  Settlement  to  the  other 
is  Honan  Road.  Abutting  upon  this  thorough- 
fare, some  three  hundred  yards  to  the  south 
of  Nanking  Road,  is  the  Central  Police  Station, 
a  dignified  building  of  red  brick  in  the  Early 
Renaissance  style  erected  during  1891-94  from 
competitive  designs  at  a  cost  of  Tls.  76,000. 
Adjoining  are  the  headquarters  of  the  Volunteer 
Fire  Brigade.  This  building,  also  in  the 
Renaissance    style,    is    of   four    storeys,    and 


378     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


was  completed  in  March.  1903.  The  ground 
Boor  is  equipped  as  a  thoroughly  up-to-date 
fire  station,  and  the  upper  floors  serv'e  as 
quarters  for  members  of  the  brigade.  Next 
to  this  block  are  the  new  Health  Offices, 
containing  on  the  first  floor  a  municipal 
laborator>-  replete  with  the  most  modern 
appliances  for  bacteriological  research.  At 
the  rear  of  this  group  of  buildings  and 
fronting  the  Kiangsc  Koad  are  the  Municipal 
Offices.  The  premises  were  originally  used 
for  business  purposes,  and  date  from  the 
infancy  of  the  Settlement.  Next  to  them  and 
standing  in  the  midst  of  a  spacious  compound 
enclosed  by  the  Kiangse,  Hankow.  Honan. 
and  Kiukiang  Roads  is  Holy  Trinity  Church, 
the  Cathedral  Church  of  the  Anglican  bishop 
of  Mid-China.  It  is  the  second  church  of 
this  name  to  occupy  the  site — the  tirst,  which 
was  opened  for  divine  worship  on  April  loi 
Iti47.  having  been  razed  to  the  ground  in 
1862  on  account  of  its  dilapidated  condition. 
The  present  building  was  erected  between 
the  years  1866  69  from  designs  drawn  in 
the  first  instance  by  Sir  Gilbert  Scott.  R.A., 
and  modified  locally  to  meet  the  climatic 
conditions.  It  is  of  red  brick  with  stone 
dressings,  and  follows  the  early  thirteenth 
century  Gothic  style,  with  nave,  aisles,  tran- 
septs, chancel,  and  two  chapels  for  organ 
and  vestry.  It  is  152  feet  long.  58  feet  6 
inches  wide,  and  54  feet  high.  Owing  to 
the  fac-t  that  Shanghai  is  east  of  Jerusalem 
the  altar  is  at  the  west  end.  An  open  arcade 
is  carried  round  the  aisles  for  granite  shafts. 
The  foundation  stone  of  the  graceful  spire 
was    laid    in     1 901.      Within    the    cathedral 


THE    GRAND-STAND    AT    THE    RACECOURSE. 


compound  are  the  Deanery  and  a  new  Parish 
Room,  in  harmony  with  the  style  of  the 
church.  Crossing  over  the  Nanking  Koad 
and  continuing  along  the  Honan  Road  as 
far  as  the  Soochow  Creek,  the  starting-place 
is  reached  of  the  Chinese  passenger  trains  to 


Soochow.  These  trains  consist  of  a  string 
of  boats  packed  close  with  humanity  from 
stem  to  stern,  towed  behind  a  launch.  Across 
the  bridge  is  seen  the  Temple  of  Heaven. 
Appropriately  enough,  the  place  of  honour 
in    the    main    building    is    accorded    to    the 


BUBBLING    WELL    ROAD. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      379 


Queen  of  Heaven,  the  guardian  of  sailors. 
The  side  altar  on  the  left  is  to  Kwanyin,  the 
goddess  of  mercy,  and  the  shrine  on  the 
right  to  the  "  Three  Pure  Ones."  Two  two- 
storeyed  buildings  like  kiosks  contain  images 
of  Ching  Tsiang  Ching  and  Liu  Tsiang 
Ching,  who  are  reputed  to  hear  and  see 
respectively  anything  said  or  done  within  a 
thousand    li    of    Shanghai.      Some     distance 


further  along,  where  North  Honan  Road  is 
crossed  by  Boone  Road,  is  the  Shanghai 
Bankers'  Guild  House,  which,  despite  its 
unostentatious  exterior,  is  the  most  sumptuous 
Chinese  building  in  the  Settlement.  One 
hall  is  dedicated  very  appropriately  to  Say 
Zung,  the  god  of  wealth.  Around  the  walls 
are  twelve  pewter  representations  of  gods 
that   were   made   at    Ningpo,   and   there    are 


BUBBLING  WELL  ROAD,  SHANGHAI. 


CECU.E  COI'KT. 

The  Pavilion. 

A  Section  ok  the  Gardens. 


also  two  life-size  pewter  storks — emblems 
of  immortality.  Kwan  Tai,  the  god  of  war,  is 
similarly  honoured  with  a  temple.  Above 
him  is  a  picturesquely  carved  canopy  of 
red  lacquer  and  gold,  while  in  front  stand  a 
blackwood  lamp  with  red  tassels,  and  candle- 
sticks of  Ningpo  pewter,  7  feet  in  height. 
On  either  side  are  rows  of  halberds  with  red 
shafts  and  pewter  heads,  and  in  front  of 
these  are  two  groups  of  four  figures,  each 
representing  "  the  legendary  beings  of  the 
Taoist  sect,  who  attained  immortality."  Al- 
together there  are  four  main  buildings  and 
three  courts,  within  which  are  to  be  seen 
many  interesting  specimens  of  carving,  stone 
lo/enge  work,  and  other  forms  of  Chinese 
art.  Off  the  extreme  end  of  the  North 
Honan  Road  lies  the  railway  station,  whence 
the  train  may  be  taken  either  to  Woosung 
or  to  Nanking,  a  former  capital  of  this  part 
of  China,  and  the  burial  place  of  one  of  the 
Emperors  of  the  Ming  dynasty. 

F"rom  the  end  of  Nanking  Road,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Defence  Creek,  Bubbling 
Well  Road  stretches  to  the  eastern  boundary 
of  the  Settlement,  some  two  miles  distant, 
and  forms  the  approach  to  the  most  desirable 
residential  quarter  of  Shanghai.  Constructed 
as  a  private  driving  road  in  1862  by  the 
trustees  of  the  Shanghai  Riding  Course,  it 
was  handed  over  to  the  Municipal  Council 
four  years  later,  as  the  subscriptions  for 
keeping  it  in  repair  fell  below  the  required 
amount.  Shaded  with  trees  for  almost  its 
entire  length,  and  bordered  by  the  lawns  and 
gardens  of  the  many  charming  houses  that 
lie  along  its  course,  this  road  is  a  favourite 
drive,  and  in  the  early  evening  is  thronged 
with  carriages  making  their  way  to  the 
outskirts  of  the  Settlement.  Several  places 
of  interest  are  passed  en  route.  Just  across 
the  Defence  Creek  bridge  is  the  Recreation 
Ground,  enclosed  by  the  racecourse,  which 
has  a  circumference  of  a  mile  and  a  quarter. 
Embracing  an  area  of  430  mow,  this  mag- 
nificent open  space  is  probably  the  largest 
in  the  Far  East.  For  its  possession  the 
inhabitants  of  Shanghai  are  indebted  to  the 
public  spirit  of  four  or  five  gentlemen  of  a 
former  generation  who,  foreseeing  the  growth 
of  the  Settlement,  purchased  some  property 
which  was  on  the  market  for  a  recreation 
ground,  and  then  invited  subscriptions  towards 
the  cost.  In  a  few  years  this  land  was  sold 
at  an  enormous  profit,  and  with  the  proceeds 
the  present  site  was  acquired,  the  original 
subscriptions  were  returned,  and  a  fund  was 
established  from  which  at  one  time  or 
another  nearly  every  local  organisation  which 
exists  for  the  amusement  of  the  public  has 
received  support.  Like  the  widow's  cruse 
the  fund  never  fails,  for  it  is  constantly 
replenished  by  the  rentals  paid  by  the 
cricket,  football,  tennis,  polo,  golf,  baseball, 
and  swimming  clubs  for  the  use  of  the 
ground,  and  by  the  interest  which  accrues  from 
loans  advanced  to  tide  various  organisations 
over  their  difficulties.  Next  to  this  reserve 
are  the  premises  of  the  Race  Club,  easily 
distinguishable  by  the  clock  tower  which 
rises  from  their  midst.  A  little  further  along 
is  the  Country  Club,  the  great  social  rendez- 
vous. The  building  has  the  appearance  of 
a  substantial  private  residence,  and  contains 
several  commodious  and  well-appointed  apart- 
ments. The  front  faces  extensive  grounds 
laid  out  with  lawns,  flower  beds,  and 
ornamental  water.  Close  at  hand  are  Chang 
Su  Ho's  pleasure  gardens  and  Arcadia  Hall, 
a  popular  resort  at  which  various  kinds  of 
amusement  are  provided,  while  almost 
directly  opposite  is  the  Chinese  Taoutai's 
Yamen,  a  plastered  building  of  no  great 
architectural   merit.      Some    distance    further 


380     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


along  on  the  same  side  of  the  road  are  the 
Yu  S'uen  Gardens,  which  furnish  an  excellent 
example  of  Chinese  landscape  gardening. 
Xear  by  is  the  temple  of  Zung  Au  Aye. 
containing   representations  of   Buddha   seated 


geomancers    engaged   to   lind  lucky  spots  by 
the   relatives   of   the   deceased. 

Sandwiched  between  the  International 
Settlement  and  the  Chinese  city  is  the  French 
Concession,   a    narrow    strip   of    land    which 


ENTRANCE    TO    THE    NATIVE    CITY. 


in  the  midst  of  his  companions  ;  the  Metreya 
Buddha,  with  the  four  heavenly  kings  ranged 
on  either  side  ;  and  the  "  three  rulers  of 
Heaven.  Earth,  and  Water."  Opposite  the 
temple  is  the  spring  of  muddy  water  charged 
with  carbonic  acid  gas  from  which  Bubbling 
Well  Koad  takes  its  name.  At  this  point  the 
western  limit  of  the  Settlement  is  reached. 
The  road  which  runs  past  the  end  of 
Bubbling  Well  Koad  leads  through  open 
countrj-  to  Siccawei  if  followed  to  the  left, 
and  to  Jesslield,  on  the  banks  of  the  Soochow 
Creek,  if  followed  to  the  right.  In  the 
neighbourhood  of  Jesslield  stands  St.  John's 
College,  surrounded  by  trimly-kept  lawns  and 
well-grown  trees.  F"ounded  in  1878.  it  is  the 
centre  of  the  mission  work  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  of  America,  which  com- 
menced its  labours  in  Shanghai  under  Bishop 
Boone  in  1837.  Out  in  these  rural  districts 
the  wheelbarrow  is  the  only  means  of  trans- 
port known  to  the  natives,  a  dozen  of  whom 
may  sometimes  be  seen  seated  complacently 
upon  one  of  these  vehicles  while  for  a  few 
cash  the  poor  perspiring  coolie  in  the  shafts 
staggers  along  patiently  over  miles  of  rough 
roads,  with  difficulty  preserving  an  equilibrium. 
In  the  Sinza  district,  lying  a  little  to  the 
west  of  the  Defence  Creek  along  the  Soo- 
chow Creek  there  are  several  Chinese  mor- 
tuaries. The  most  remarkable  of  these 
belong  to  the  Cantonese  community,  and 
consists  of  some  acres  of  ground  thickly 
strewn  with  brick  graves.  Broken  coffins, 
from  which  the  bones  have  been  removed 
for  interment  in  Canton,  lie  scattered  about, 
while  a  pile  of  coffins  form  the  central 
pier  of  a  bridge  which  spans  a  broad  ditch. 
Standing  along  the  north  side  of  the  enclo- 
sure and  approached  by  a  brick  drive  is 
an  impfjsing  group  of  buildings  comprising 
a  Buddhistic  Temple,  and  apartments  for 
the  reception  of  coffins  and  earthenware 
jars  containing  the  remains  of  those  whose 
final  resting-places  have  yet  to  be  selected 
in     their    native    towns    or   villages    by    the 


widens  at  each  end.  It  has  a  frontage  of 
nearly  a  mile  to  the  Whangpoo,  and  stretches 
inland  for  a  distance  of  about  a  mile  and  three- 
quarters,  but  beyond  the  western  limit  the 
Municipal  Council  have  constructed  several 
fine  broad  roads,  along  which  many  commo- 
dious dwellings  have  been  erected.  The 
riverside    is    lined   with   an   avenue  of   trees, 


signalling  station,  from  which  the  weather 
forecasts  for  the  China  coasts  are  signalled. 
A  few  yards  away  is  the  pontoon  to  and 
from  which  the  tenders  for  the  French  and 
German  mail  steamers  sail.  Further  along 
are  the  wharves,  offices,  and  godowns  of  tlie 
well-known  firm  of  Butterfield  &  Swire,  and 
the  extensive  wharves  and  godowns  of  tlie 
China  Merchants  Steam  Navigation  Company. 
These  are  centres  of  great  activity.  At  any 
hour  of  the  day  a  constant  stream  of  coolies, 
bearing  heavy  burdens  of  merchandise  sus- 
pended from  poles  across  their  shoulders, 
may  be  met  passing  between  the  godowns 
and  vessels  at  the  wharves.  The  Rue  de 
I'Est,  which  leads  to  the  east  gate  of  the 
native  city,  constitutes  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  Concession. 

Running  down  the  centre  of  the  French 
Settlement  is  a  long  thoroughfare  known  as 
the  Rue  du  Consulat.  At  the  corner  of  this, 
and  overlooking  the  Whangpoo,  stands  the 
French  Consulate-General,  a  handsome  build- 
ing of  the  Modern  Colonial  type  with  wide 
covered  verandahs,  that  was  opened  on 
January  14,  1896.  About  half  a  mile  further 
along  arc  the  French  Town  Hall  and  Municipal 
Oflices,  an  imposing  group,  standing  well 
back  from  the  road.  The  main  building, 
surmounted  by  a  dome  and  approached  by  a 
double  flight  of  steps,  dates  from  1864,  but 
the  side  pavilions  were  added  in  1887.  In 
the  centre  of  the  spacious  fore-court  a  large 
bronze  statue,  on  a  granite  pedestal,  by 
Thiebaut,  perpetuates  the  memory  of  Admiral 
Protet,  who  fell  while  directing  an  attack 
upon  the  Taeping  rebels,  near  Soochow,  on 
May  17,  1862.  The  greater  portion  of  the 
Rue  du  Consulat  is  occupied  by  native 
shops,  and  the  districts  on  either  side  of  it 
are  almost  exclusively  Chinese.  Several 
European  buildings  of  interest,  however,  are 
to  be  seen  in  the  Rue  Montauban,  which  is 
the  first  street  to  cross  it  at  right  angles. 
These  include  the  Hotel  des  Colonies,  French 
Post     Office,      Convent     School,      Municipal 


Sj*if=«'is»'---i~-  ^- 


CHINESE    HAWKERS. 


but  is  devoid  of  any  other  embellishment, 
for,  unlike  the  Bund  in  the  International 
Settlement,  it  is  almost  wholly  given  up  to 
shipping  business.  At  the  foot  of  the  bridge 
over   the  Yang-king-pang  is    the    semaphore 


School,  and  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  St. 
Joseph.  The  interior  of  the  church  is 
adorned  with  many  pictures,  including  a 
large  painting  of  St.  Joseph  and  the  Holy 
Child  over  the  high  altar.     In  the  chapel  by 


The  Temple  of  Heaven. 

In  the  Native  City. 

The  Lungvvha  Pagoda  and  Joss  House. 


IN    AND    ABOUT    SHANGHAI. 
Li  HuNc;  Chang  Memorial. 


A  Three-arch  Bridge. 

The  famous  "Willow  Pattern"  Tea-house. 
The  Lunowha  Pagoda  and  Joss  House. 
Entrance  to  Pao  Shan  College. 


382     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  south  door  is  a  carved  representation  of 
Mary  with  the  body  of  jesus. 

In  the  recent  extension  of  the  Concession 
be\x)nd  the  Defence  Creek  is  situated  the 
old  cemetery,  amid  whose  reposeful  l>eauty 
the  former  inhabitants  of  Shanghai  lie 
sleeping  their  last  sleep  together  without 
distinction  of  nationality.  Opposite  to  the 
cemetery  gate  a  Chinese  temple  rears  its 
orange-tinted  walls,  within  which  reposes  a 
gigantic  effigy  of  Buddha  in  gilded  wood 
The  face  alone  is  said  to  measure  36  feet 
from  the  chin  to  the  top  of  the  head.  The 
priests  who  serve  in  the  temple  come  from 
the  sacred  island  of  Pootu,  in  the  Chusan 
Archipelago. 

From  the  Defence  Creek,  a  splendid  wide 
road,  some  three  miles  in  length,  has  been 
constructed  and  planted  with  shady  trees. 
This  is  the  Avenue  Paul  Brunat,  from  which 
radiate  most  of  the  other  roads  built  by  the 
French  Council  in  the  district  lying  beyond 
the  confines  of  their  concession.  At  its  wes- 
tern end  the  road  strikes  the  Siccawei  Road, 
which  leads  to  Bubbling  Well  on  the  right, 
and  to  Jessfield  on  the  left.  The  imposing 
red  brick  buildings  surrounded  by  spacious 
grounds  which  are  seen  near  the  point  of 
intersection  are  those  of  the  Nanyang  College. 
an  institution  for  the  higher  education  of 
Chinese  youths. 

At  Siccawei.  a  little  native  village  founded 
by  the  Su  family,  is  situated  the  headquarters 
of  the  Jesuit  mission  in  Shanghai.  During 
the  Ming  d>Tiasty  (about  1580)  practically  the 
whole  neighbourhood  was  converted  to 
Christianity,  but  during  the  persecution  of 
1722  the  Jesuit  Fathers  were  obliged  to  with- 
draw. They  returned,  however,  about  the 
middle  of  the  last  century,  and  are  now 
actively  pursuing  their  beneficent  work  with 
great  success.  In  addition  to  two  orphanages, 
in  which  boys  and  girls  not  only  receive  a 
thoroughly  sound  education  but  are  taught 
some  useful  occupation  suited  to  their  respec- 
tive tastes,  such  as  wood-carving,  painting, 
embroidery,  weaving,  or  dressmaking.  The 
mission  also  conducts  one  of  the  most  famous 
observatories  in  the  world,  and  daily  issues 
forecasts  of  the  weather  on  the  China  coast 
for  the  guidance  of  those  "  who  go  down  to 
the  sea  in  ships."  There  is  also  a  Natural 
History  Museum,  containing  a  remarkable  col- 
lection of  the  fauna  and  flora  of  China,  and 
a  printing  press  from  which  issue  many  edu- 
cational works — some  of  the  best  of  them 
from  the  pens  of  the  learned  fathers.  From 
Siccawei,  the  French  Concession  may  be 
regained  by  way  of  the  Rue  Franchise  de 
Zikawei.  At  the  fork  formed  at  the  end  of 
this  road  by  the  convergence  of  the  Quai  de 
la  Breche  and  the  Rue  Palikao,  stands  the 
Xingpo  Joss  House,  through  the  grounds  of 
which  the  French  Council  proposed  to  drive 
a  road  in   1898  and  thereby  provoked  a  riot. 

The  native  city,  which  adjoins  the  French 
Concession,  is  enclosed  by  a  wall  measuring 
some  three  and  a  half,  miles  in  circumference, 
30  feet  in  height  and  10  feet  in  thickness. 
Erected  by  means  of  voluntary  contributions 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  sixteenth  century  as 
a  protection  against  the  incursions  of  Japanese 
freebooters,  this  wall  is  surrounded  on  all 
sides  except  that  next  the  river  by  a  ditch, 
which  is  choked  with  all  manner  of  debris. 
At  the  present  moment  a  project  is  under 
consideration  for  demolishing  the  wall  and 
laying  out  the  site  as  a  drive.  There  are 
seven  gateways,  and  of  these  the  north  gate, 
opposite  the  end  of  the  Rue  Montauban,  is 
the  most  freely  used.  Inside  the  city  the 
streets  are  extremely  narrow  and  crowded, 
but  the  provision  of  electric  light  and  a  good 
water  supply  show  that  the  spirit  of  progress 


is    abroad.      The    houses    never  exceed   two  according  to  the  Chinese  conception  of  it.     At 

storeys   in    height,    and    the    shop-fronts     lie  tlie    entrance    stand    large    cages    containini; 

open  to  the  street.     In  the  City  Temple  are  prisoners.     Sometimes  an  unfortunate  wretch 

to  be  found  the   usual   assortment  of  josses.  may  be  seen  undergoing  a  sentence  of  death 


BEAUTY  SPOTS  ABOUT  SHANGHAI. 


among  which  the  place  of  honour  is  taken 
by  the  city  god,  a  large  idol  seated  upon  a 
gilt  throne.  Not  far  away  is  the  City  Magis- 
trate's   Yamen,   where    justice    is    dispensed 


by  "slow  strangulation.  His  head  is  passed 
through  la  hole  in  the  top  of  his  cage  and 
the  supports  upon  which  he  stands  are  re- 
moved gradually,  the  operation  extending  over 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      383 


several  days.  In  the  meantime  the  friends 
of  the  victim  are  permitted  to  administer 
opiates  to  reduce  his  sufferings.  The  execu- 
tion ground  for  those  wlio  receive  the  more 
merciful  sentence  of  decapitation  is  near  the 


pewter  ware  are  here  to  be  seen.  The 
Cantonese  Guild  House,  also,  affords  an 
excellent  e.xample  of  Chinese  architecture. 

From    the    end    of   the    French    Settlement 
the  Bund  has  been  continued  by  the  Chinese 


A  BUSY  SCENE  ON  THE  CHINESE  BUND. 


south  gate,  which  was  formerly  the  chief 
means  of  ingress  and  egress.  The  Taoutai's 
Yamen.  the  finest  residence  in  the  city,  lies 
near  the  east  gate,  and  is  surrounded  by 
extensive  and  artistically  laid-out  grounds. 
Perhaps  the  object  of  greatest  interest  to  the 
visitor  is  the  willow  pattern  tea-house,  which 
is  .said  to  be  the  original  of  the  willow  pattern 
ware  so  popular  in  England.  It  is  a  two- 
storeyed  wooden  building  of  octagon  shape 
standing  in  the  centre  of  a  small  weed-covered 
lake  and  approached  by  a  zig-zag  bridge, 
which  is  supposed  to  offer  an  insuperable 
barrier  to  the  passage  of  evil  spirits.  A  de- 
lightful contrast  to  its  congested  surroundings 
is  afforded  by  the  Mandarin  tea-house  and 
garden.  Enclosing  a  small  pond,  masses  of 
rockvvork  rise  one  above  another  as  though 
hurled  into  position  by  the  hand  of  nature, 
and  from  their  midst  springs  a  wealth  of 
palms,  willows,  ferns,  grasses,  and  other 
vegetation.  Cunningly  constructed  little  paths 
lead  with  many  windings  to  a  pavilion  perched 
on  the  top  of  the  rocks,  whence  a  bird's-eye 
view  is  obtained  of  the  city  and  the  settle- 
ments. 

Leaving  the  city  by  the  east  gate,  the 
riverine  suburb  of  Nantao  is  entered.  In 
this  district  is  situated  Tung-Ka-Doo  Cathedral, 
the  largest  and  most  important  Roman 
Catholic  place  of  worhip  in  Shanghai.  It 
is  in  the  Roman  basilica  style  of  architecture, 
with  nave  and  side  aisles,  but  no  transepts, 
and  was  erected  by  Bishop  de  Besco  in 
1849  53  on  a  site  given  by  the  Taoutai  as 
compensation  for  some  property  in  the  city 
which  belonged  to  the  Catholics  before  they 
were  expelled  from  China.  It  contains  some 
good  paintings  copied  from  old  Masters, 
including  one  of  St.  Francis  Xavier,  the 
patron  saint.  Among  the  noteworthy 
Chinese  buildings  are  several  guild  houses, 
by  far  the  most  striking  of  which  is 
the  Mosang  Way  Quay,  belonging  to 
the  timber  merchants.  Some  cleverly 
executed       carving,       mural       reliefs,       and 


authorities  for  some  three  miles  and  a  half 
to  the  Kiangnan  Arsenal  and  Dockyard. 
This  improvement  was  undertaken  in  1904, 
after  a  fire  had  cleared  away  a  noisome 
collection  of  huts  and  hovels  that  lined  the 
river  bank.  Moored  alongside  the  Bund  is 
a  dense  crowd  of  junks  and  sampans,  the 
only  homes  known    to  thousands  of  iChincse. 


This  latter  is  an  oblong  enclosure  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  long  and 
sixty  yards  wide.  Four  main  buildings, 
separated  by  courts,  stand  one  behind 
the  other  in  the  middle  of  this  enclosure. 
The  first  is  dedicated  to  Midoo,  the 
coming  Buddha  ;  the  second  to  Ta  Tien 
Waung  Dien,  "  the  God  of  Heaven "  ;  the 
third  to  Buddha  ;  and  the  fourth  to  Dien 
Zaum  Zaung  Waung,  "  the  God  of  the  Earth." 
The  largest  is,  of  course,  the  temple  to 
Buddha.  A  finely  executed  image  of  the  god 
occupies  a  central  position,  and  on  either  side 
are  figures  of  the  two  patriarchs — Kashiapa 
and  Ananda — seated  on  the  sacred  lotus  and 
borne  by  an  elephant  which  rests  on  a 
massive  pedestal  of  red  and  black  soapstone. 
Around  the  wall  are  thirty-six  images,  which, 
says  the  Rev.  C.  E.  Darwent  in  his  excellent 
handbook  on  Shanghai,  "  are  most  likely  the 
eighteen  Lohan,  each  one  duplicated."  On 
either  side  of  this  main  range  of  buildings 
are  smaller  shrines,  and  the  dwellings  of  the 
priests.  The  two  three-storeyed  buildings  to 
the  left  and  right  of  the  entrance  court  are 
the  drum  and  bell  towers,  by  means  of 
which  the  attention  of  the  drowsy  gods  is 
called  to  the  fact  that  they  are  about  to  be 
worshipped. 

In  conclusion,  it  is  interesting  to  recall 
that  from  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Loonghwa 
Pagoda  the  Whangpoo  originally  Howed  east- 
wards through  the  district  of  Pootung,  and 
entered  the  sea  at  various  points  east  of 
Woosung.  It  was  not  until  sometime  between 
the  fifteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries 
that  it  was  connected  by  means  of  a 
canal  with  the  Woosung  River,  which, 
known  to-day  as  the  Soochow  Creek, 
is  declared  by  an  old  historian  to  have 
been  not  less  than  five  miles  wide  in  the 
ninth  century  and  to  have  covered  the 
country  for  miles  north  of  the  rifle-butts 
with  its  waters.  Truly,  time  in  its  flight 
brings  many  changes  ! 


THE    OBSERVATORY,    SICCAWEI. 


From  the  Kiangnan  Arsenal,  which  covers 
several  acres  of  ground,  a  road  leads  past 
peach  orchards,  beautiful  with  white  blossom 
in  April,  to  Loongwha,  famous  for  its  si.x- 
storeyed     pagoda    and     Buddhistic     Temple. 


THE    RECREATION    GROUND. 

Very  earlv  in  the  history  of  the  Settlement 
provision  was  made  for  the  recreation  of 
foreign  residents.     In  1854  certain  gentlemen, 


384     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


finding  that  the  land  in  the  English  Settle- 
ment was  rapidly  increasing  in  value,  and 
that  the  plot  ol"  ground  at  the  north-west 
comer  of  Park  Lane  (now  the  Nanking 
RoadI  and  Barrier  Road  (now  Honan  Road). 
known  as  the  Old  Park,  and  used  as  a  race- 
course and  for  other  purposes  of  recreation, 
was  likely  to  be  crowded  out,  purchased  a 
plot  of  land  at  the  back  of  the  Settlement, 
near  the  Defence  Creek,  and  laid  it  out  as 
a  riding  course.  This  course,  the  second 
constructed  since  the  opening  of  the  port, 
was  called  the  Shanghai  Riding  Course,  and 
was  used  as  a  riding  and  racecourse.  Hu|^h 
Road.  Chckiang  Road,  and  Thibet  Road 
formed  part   of   it. 

In  1862,  owing  to  the  influx  of  Chinese 
seeking  refuge  from  the  Taeping  rebels,  land 
in  the  English  Settlement  increased  so  much 
in  \-alue  that  the  trustees  of  the  Shanghai 
Riding  Course  decided  to  construct  a  road, 
40  feet  wide,  through  the  centre  of  the 
course,  and  sell  the  20  feet  remaining 
on  each  side  of  the  road  so  formed  as 
frontage  to  the  owners  of  land  in  the  interior 
of  and  surrounding  the  course.  By  this 
means  the  handsome  sum  of  Tls.  100,036  was 
realised.  From  this  money  Tls.  10,000  were 
voted  for  the  purpose  of  tilling  in  and  re- 
claiming the  Consulate  foreshore,  so  that  it 
might  be  used  as  a  public  garden  or  recrea- 
tion ground.  This  scheme  was  carried  into 
execution  by  the  Municipal  Council,  and  the 
management  of  the  garden  was  in  1868 
handed  over  to  a  committee  of  local  gentle- 
men. A  new  driving  course  was  formed  in 
1862.  and  toll-gates  were  erected  at  various 
p<jints.  and  persons  making  use  of  the  course 
had  to  pay  tolls  in  accordance  with  the  tariffs 
fixed  by  the  committee  of  management.  In 
October  of  the  following  year  the  trustees 
handed  over  the  lines  of  road  formed  by 
them  to  the  Municipal  Council.  In  1866,  as 
it  was  found  impossible  to  defray  the  cost 
of  keeping  the  new  driving  course,  now 
known  as  the  Bubbling  Well  Road,  in  proper 
repair,  the  road  was  handed  over  to  the 
Municipal   Council. 

The  real  parent,  however,  of  the  many 
organisations  which  exist  at  the  present  day 
for  the  recreation  and  amusement  of  the 
foreign  residents  of  Shanghai  was  the  Recrea- 
tion Fund,  which  owed  its  origin  to  the  public- 
spirited  action  of  Messrs.  R.  C.  Antrobus, 
James  Whittall,  Alfred  Heard,  and  Henry 
Dent.  These  four  gentlemen  issued  a 
circular  on  November  15.  i860,  announcing 
that  they  h.id  purchased  34  mow,  5  li  of 
ground  in  the  centre  of  the  Racecourse 
(where  the  Town  Hall  now  stands)  opposite 
Mr.  Gubbay's  stable,  for  the  sum  of 
$2.24575.  They  explained  that  they  had 
acquired  this  property  in  view  of  the  rapidly 
growing  state  of  the  Settlement,  which 
made  it  expedient  to  procure  without  further 
loss  of  time  some  suitable  plot  of  land  which 
should  always  be  preserved.  "  more  especi- 
ally for  a  cTicket  ground,  but  also  for  other 
games  and  purposes  of  general  recreation." 
The  cost  of  rendering  the  ground  fit  for  use 
was  estimated  at  from  $2,000  to  $3,000.  thus 
bringing  the  total  outlay  up  to  $5,000,  and, 
in  order  to  meet  this,  subscriptions  for  shares 
of  $50  each  were  invited.  In  pursuance  of 
the  terms  of  this  circular  a  meeting  of  sub- 
scribers of  the  "  Recreation  Fund  "  was  held 
at  Messrs.  Lindsay  &  Co.'s  hong,  on  April  i, 
1861,  at  which  it  Was  decided  to  purchase 
the  property  from  Messrs.  Antrobus,  Whittall, 
Heard,  and  Dent,  for  purposes  of  general 
recreation  and  amusement,  the  proviso  being 
inserted  that  the  site  should  "  never  be 
diverted  from  such  purpose  except  by  the 
unanimous    consent    of     the     shareholders." 


Subscriptions  amounting  to  $6,goo  (Tls.  5,36550) 
were  collected,  and  the  ground  was  taken 
over  and  laid  out  at  a  cost,  including  the 
purchase  money,  of  Tls.4,42r34,  leaving  in 
the  hands  of  the  hon.  treasurer.  Mr.  J.  P.  Tait, 
an  unexpended  balance  of  Tls.  944' 16,  on 
June  6,    1862. 


course.  The  original  shareholders  unani- 
mously endorsed  this  policy,  and  a  sum  of 
Tls.  49,425  was  obtained  for  the  property. 
It  was  this  sum  which  constituted  tlie 
original  Recreation  Fund.  Acting  on  behalf 
of  the  committee  of  the  Kecrention  Fund 
Mr.   Henry  Dent,  in  1863,  purchased  through 


SHANGHAI    STREETS. 
Chekiakg  Road. 

SrXGKIANG   KOAD. 

Ui'i'ER  Nanking  Road. 


In  March  of  the  following  year  the  value 
of  land  in  Shanghai  had  appreciated  so  con- 
siderably that  it  was  deemed  advisable  to 
sell  the  Recreation  Ground  and  to  purchase 
with  the  proceeds  a  larger  and  more  suitable 
site  situated  in  the  interior  of  the  new  race- 


Mr.  J.unes  Hogg  430  mow  of  land  in  the 
interior  of  the  Racecourse  from  the  Kace- 
Course  shareholders  for  Tls.  12.500.  Mr.  Dent 
also  advanced  as  a  loan  to  the  committee  of 
the  Shanghai  Club  the  sum  of  Tls.  33,900, 
to  the  Shanghai  Rowing  Club  Tls.  1,400,  and 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     385 


to  the  Shanghai  Baseball  Club  Tls.  2,0OO. 
He  further  authorised  the  expenditure  of 
Tls.  6,764-56  for  raising,  levelling,  and  fencing 
the  cricket  ground.  The  loan  to  the  Shanghai 
Club,  made  for  the  purpose  of  completing 
the  building  of  the  club-house,  subsequently 
caused  the  members  of  the  Club,  the  trustees 
of  the  Recreation  Fund,  and  the  shareholders 
of  the   Racecourse   considerable   anxiety.      It 


Recreation  Fund  was_  indebtedj  to  the  share- 
holders of  the  Racecourse  to  the  extent  of 
Tls.  3,428,  plus  interest  at  the  rate  of  8  per 
cent,  per  annum  from  October  23,  1862,  and 
had  promised  payment  "  whenever  the  Recrea- 
tion Fund  should  be  placed  in  funds  by  the 
receipt  of  monies  advanced  by  them  to  the 
Shanghai  Club."  After  several  schemes  had 
been  proposed  for  placing  the  Shanghai   Club 


NATIVE  CRAFT  AND  A  HOUSE-BOAT  PARTY  ON  A  CREEK  CLOSE  TO 

SHANGHAI. 


seems  that  the  trustees  of  the  Recreation 
Fund  eventually  found  themselves  unable 
to  discharge  their  liabilities  to  the  Race 
Club.  A  meeting  of  the  shareholders  was 
held  on  January  26,  1868,  at  which  it  was 
ascertained  that  Mr.  Dent,  acting  on  behalf 
of  the  Recreation  P'und  Committee,  had,  on 
September   i,    1865,    acknowledged    that    the 


on  a  firm  financial  footing  and  enabling  it  to 
repay  the  sum  due  to  the  Recreation  Fund, 
the  club  building  was  on  December  17,  1869, 
sold  to  Mr.  Francis  A.  Groom,  on  behalf  of 
the  Shanghai  Recreation  Fund,  for  Tls.  35,000. 
Under  an  order  of  the  Supreme  Court 
new  trustees  of  the  Recreation  Fund  were 
appointed,  consisting  of  the  chairman  for  the 


time  being  of  the  Municipal  Council,  the 
manager  of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Bank,  Messrs.  F.  B.  Johnson,  F.  A.  Groom, 
David  Read,  and  F.  B.  Forbes.  These 
trustees  were  authorised  to  realise  the  trust 
either  by  purchasing  the  Club  and  re-mort- 
giiging  it,  or  otherwise  as  they  might  be 
advised,  and,  as  soon  as  they  had  the  neces- 
sary funds,  to  repay  the  shareholders  their 
original  subscription  of  $50  per  share,  the 
balance  to  be  devoted  to  such  purposes  of 
recreation  as  seemed  naturally  to  fall  within 
the  original  intention  of  the  donors.  From 
that  date  onwards  the  fund  prospered,  the 
arrears  of  rent  and  interest,  as  well  as  various 
debts,  were  paid  to  it  by  the  clubs  that  had 
leased  portions  of  the  Recreation  Ground  or 
had  received  loans,  and  the  committee  of  the 
Shanghai  Club,  after  renting  the  property 
which  they  had  formerly  held,  ultimately 
recovered  the  lease. 

From  time  to  time  the  Recreation  Fund 
has  initiated  and  supported  numerous  projects 
for  the  entertainment  of  the  foreign  residents. 
The  Lyceum  Theatre,  Yacht  Club,  Rowing 
Club,  Cricket  Club,  Baseball  Club,  Museum, 
P'lower  Show,  and  Public  Band  have  all  in 
turn  been  indebted  to  it.  In  1894  the  trustees 
agreed  to  let  to  the  Municipal  Council  on 
lease  for  the  purpose  of  a  public  park  and 
recreation  ground  for  foreigners  only  all  the 
land  inside  the  Shanghai  Racecourse  except 
that  portion  occupied  by  the  Shanghai 
Cricket  Club,  the  Shanghai  Recreation  Club, 
the  Shanghai  Swimming  Bath  Club,  and  the 
inner,  or  training  course.  The  rent  agreed 
upon  was  Tls.  600  Shanghai  sycee  per 
annum.  In  1902  the  trustees,  acting  on 
behalf  of  the  Municipal  Council,  secured  a 
large  plot  of  ground,  bordered  on  one  side 
by  the  railway  and  on  the  other  by  the 
rifle-range,  and  made  a  contribution  towards 
the  cost  of  laying  it  out  as  a  recreation 
ground,  and  in  1905  they  made  a  grant  of 
Tls.  3,000  to  the  Municipal  Council  towards 
the  cost  of  constructing  a  public  swimming 
bath  on  the  property. 

The  present  financial  position  of  the  fund 
(1908)  is  exceedingly  satisfactory.  An  income 
of  about  Tls.  3,000  per  annum  is  derived 
from  the  interest  on  loans  to  various  clubs 
and  investments  in  debentures.  The  assets 
on  December  31,  1907,  were  Tls.  86,782'5o. 
Of  this  Tls.  31,000  represents  the  nominal 
value  of  the  interior  of  the  Racecourse,  the 
actual  value  of  which,  as  gauged  by  the 
surrounding  lands,  is  nearer  Tls.  3,000,000 

The  changes  in  the  trustees  have  been 
very  numerous,  upwards  of  forty  gentlemen 
having  administered  the  trust  from  time  to 
time.  The  secretaries,  on  the  other  hand, 
have  been  very  few.  Mr.  F.  A.  Groom  held 
office  for  several  years  down  to  1880  ;  on  his 
retirement  Mr.  George  R.  Corner  succeeded 
to  the  position  for  eighteen  years  ;  and  upon 
his  death,  in  1898,  the  present  secretary, 
Mr.  Crawford  D.  Kerr,  was  appointed. 


ROYAL    ASIATIC    SOCIETY. 

The  North-China  Branch  of  the  Royal  Asiatic 
Society  sprang  from  the  Shanghai  Literary 
and  Asiatic  Society,  which  was  founded  on 
October  16,  1857.  The  Rev.  E.  C.  Bridgman, 
D.D.,  the  first  president  of  the  newly  formed 
Society,  delivered  an  inaugural  address  of 
great  interest,  and  a  paper  was  also  read  by 
Sir  F.  W.  NicolGon,  Bart.,  Captain  of  H.M.S. 
Pique,  on  "  Cyclones,  or  the  Law  of  Storms." 

This  Society,  after  communication  with  tlie 
Royal  Asiatic  Society  of  London,  was  soon 
organised  into  the  North-China  Branch  of  the 
Royal  Asiatic  Society.     Mr.  Alexander  Wylie 


386      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  Mr.  (afterwards  Sir)  Harry  Parkes  were, 
perhaps,  the  most  interested  persons  in  the 
early  development  of  the  Society,  although  the 
names  of  Dr.  Edkins,  Dr.  Bridgnian,  Dr. 
Griffith  John.  Dr.  Muirhead,  Dr.  Benjamin 
Hobson,  Sir  Walter  Mcdhurst,  Dr.  Martin, 
Dr.  Breitschneider.  Mr.  T.  \V.  Kingsmill, 
Dr.  Macgowan,  Dr.  Faber,  Mr.  Joseph  von 
Haas.  Mr.  P.  G.  von  MoUendorff,  and  Mr. 
G.  M.  H.  Playfair,  should  also  be  mentioned 
as  having  been  prominently  associated  with 
the  Society  in  its  early  days.  A  journal, 
which  formerly  made  its  appearance  at 
irregular  intervals,  has  recently  been  published 
by  the  Society  every  year.  In  this  has  been 
gathered  a  collection  of  papers  on  literary  and 
scientific  subjects  connected  with  China,  such 
as  can  be  found  in  no  other  publications  with 
the  possible  exception  of  the  China  Rcvicjv. 
All  those  who  have  distinguished  themselves 
in  the  study  of  Chinese  literature  during  the 
last  three-quarters  of  a  century  have  been 
contributors  to  its  pages. 

The  Society  has  also  a  very  valuable  library 
of  about  six  thousand  volumes,  which  was 
commenced  by  the  purchase  of  the  library  of 
Mr.  Alexander  Wylie  and  has  been  added  to 
year  by  year.  it  has  been  recently  re- 
catalogued  after  modern  methods,  and  forms 
a  valuable  source  of  reference  for  students  of 
things  Chinese. 

The  museum  was  founded  at  a  general 
meeting,  held  on  February  13,  1874.  The 
committee  appointed  to  establish  the  museum 
consisted  of  Messrs.  Michie,  Groom,  Fitzgerald, 
and  Pryer.  The  museum  is  controlled  by  the 
council  of  the  North-China  Branch  of  the 
Royal  Asiatic  Society.  It  contains  good 
specimens  of  the  birds  and  reptiles  of  China, 
and  is  Visited  daily  by  hundreds  of  people. 
Its  development  and  classification  have  been 
largely  the  work  of  Mr.  F.  W.  Styan  and 
Dr.  A.  Stanley. 

The  Society  holds  regular  monthly  meetings 
during  the  winter  months,  at  which  papers 
are  presented,  followed  by  discussion  of  the 
contents. 


FREEMASONRY. 

Shanghai  is  the  headquarters  of  Free- 
masonry in  Northern  China,  and  the  Masonic 
Hall  on  the  Bund  is  centrally  situated 
and  well  adapted  for  Masonic  purposes.  The 
present  handsome  structure  was  completed 
in  1867,  and  was  built  entirely  out  of  funds 
subscribed  by  lodges  working  in  Shanghai 
under  the  English  Constitution.  Exclusive  of 
the  land  on  which  it  stands,  the  cost  was 
nearly  TIs.  40,000.  The  interests  of  the 
owners  are  vested  in  an  E.\ecutive  Com- 
mittee consisting  of  representatives  of  the 
Northern  Lodge,  the  Royal  Sussex  Lodge, 
and  the  Tuscan  Lodge,  whose  duties  and 
responsibilities  are  laid  down  in  an  agree- 
ment dated  June  24,  1865.  The  Chinese 
name  of  the  Masonic  Hall  is  "  Kwei-Ken- 
Tang,"  meaning  "  Compass  and  Square  Hall," 
which  was  adopted  at  the  suggestion  of 
Mr.  Medhurst,  the  Consul. 

In  the  early  days  of  Shanghai,  Masonic 
meetings  were  held  in  houses  of  Chinese 
construction  in  Church  Street,  now  known  as 
Kiangse  Road,  opposite  the  Cathedral  Com- 
pound, but  in  1854  land  was  procured  and 
a  building  erected  in  Nanking  Road.  This 
was  eventually  sold,  and  in  iSifti  the  second 
Masonic  Hall  was  erected  in  Canton  Road  at 
a  cost  of  TIs.  11,500.  These  two  buildings 
were  the  property  of  the  Northern  Lodge  of 
China,  No.  570,  E.C.  In  1864,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  find  more  commodious  accom- 
modation, and  the  three  before-mentioned 
lodges  joined  forces  and  erected  the  present 


hall,    which     is     now    being     enlarged     and 
improved. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  Masonic 
organisation  in  the  Far  East  until  the  year 
1877  the  whole  of  China  was  worked  as 
one  "province"  or  "district."  In  the  year 
1877  a  patent  was  granted  to  Bro.  Cornelius 
Thome,  who  formed  the  first  District  Grand 
Lodge  of  "  Northern  China."  He  occupied 
the  position  of  District  Grand  Master  until 
1885,  when  he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded 
in  the  office  by  Bros.  J.  I.  Miller,  Lewis 
Moore,  and  W.  H.  Anderson,  the  present 
D.G.M.,  who  has  announced  his  intention  of 
resigning  in  October.  The  English  lodges 
working  under  the  District  Grand  Master  of 
Northern  China  are  Royal  Sussex  Lodge, 
No.  501  ;  Northern  Lodge  of  China,  No. 
570  ;  Tuscan  Lodge,  No.  1027  ;  Doric  Lodge 
(Chinkiang),  No.  1433  ;  Union  Lodge  (Tientsin), 
No.  1951  ;  Northern  Star  of  China  (New- 
chwang.  No.  2673  ;  Far  Cathay  (Hankow), 
No.  2855  ;  Coronation  (Tientsin),  No.  2951  ; 
Daintree  (VVeihaiweil,  No.  2938  ;  Kiukiang, 
No.  2984,  and  Tongshan,  No.  3001. 

Freemasonry  under  the  Scottish  Constitu- 
tion is  represented  by  Lodge  Cosmopolitan, 
No.  428,  working  under  a  warrant  dated 
March  7,  1864,  and  Lodge  Saltoun,  No.  936. 
There  has  been  only  one  other  Scottish 
Lodge  opened  in  Shanghai,  viz.,  St.  Andrew's 
in  the  Far  East,  No.  493,  which  was  closed 
in  1874  after  an  existence  of  five  years. 
The  Star  of  Central  China  (Hankow),  No.  511, 
was  also  closed  after  a  brief  existence.  At 
the  present  time  a  lodge  working  under 
Scotch  auspices  is  held  in  Chefoo. 

Freemasonry  under  the  American  Con- 
stitution (Massachusetts  Constitution)  consists 
of  a  District  Grand  Lodge,  whose  present 
head  is  R.W.  Bro.  G.  A.  Derby,  his  pre- 
decessors being  Bros.  J.  R.  Hykes,  D.D., 
A.  W.  Danforth,  D.  C.  Jansen,  J.  B.  Eames, 
W.  C.  Blanchard,  and  C.  E.  Hill. 

The  warrant  of  Ancient  Landmark  Lodge 
is  dated  December  14,  1864.  American 
Masonry  is  also  represented  in  Shanghai  by 
Shanghai  Lodge  and  Simin  Lodge. 

The  Lodge  Germania,  founded  in  1872,  and 
officially  known  as  St.  Johannis  Freimaurer 
Loge,  Germania  in  Orient  zu  Shanghai,  had 
a  flourishing  existence  in  its  early  years,  but 
on  account  of  decreased  membership  was 
closed  in  1883.  It  was  revived,  however, 
and  is  now  having  a  most  successful  career, 
the  present  master  being  Bro.  M.  Mittag. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  Masonic 
bodies  there  are  the  Zion  Royal  Arch 
Chapter.  No.  570,  E.C.  ;  Rising  Sun  Royal 
Arch  Chapter,  No.  129,  E.C.  ;  the  Keystone 
Royal  Arch  Chapter  (American  Constitution)  ; 
Orient  Mark  Masters  Lodge,  No.  482,  E.C.  ; 
the  Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  ;  the 
Royal  Order  of  Scotland  ;  the  Orient  Con- 
sistory, No.  I,  Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish 
Rite,  U.S.A.  ;  and  Cathay  Council  of  Kadosh, 
No.   2,   of  the    Southern    Jurisdiction,   U.S.A. 

In  addition  to  frequent  contributions  to 
the  Central  Masonic  Charities  in  England,  a 
local  Charity  Fund  is  established  on  a  solid 
foundation,  and  is  constantly  meeting  claims. 
Its  funds  are  augmented  bi-annually  by  a 
Masonic  Ball,  which  is  held  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Craft,  and  forms  one  of 
the  public  functions  of  Shanghai.  The 
Freemasons  were  responsible  for  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Shanghai  Public  School, 
which  was  carried  on  by  them  for  many 
years,  and  known  as  the  Masonic  School 
until  1893.  In  that  year  the  committee 
recommended  that  the  ratepayers  should  take 
over  the  management  of  the  school,  and  this 
was  accordingly  done  under  an  agreement 
between   the  Council  of   the  Masonic   School 


Fund  and  the  Shanghai  Municipal  Council. 
By  this  agreement  the  Fraternity  secured 
the  free  education  of  four  children. 


CHAMBER    OF   COMMERCE. 

The  Shanghai  Chamber  of  Commerce  was 
formed  by  the  various  British  houses  inter- 
ested in  the  trade  of  the  port  in  1847, 
under  the  chairmanship  of  Mr.  A.  G.  Dallas. 
Its  object,  as  stated  in  the  present  rules,  is 
"  to  watch  over  and  protect  the  general 
interests  of  commerce,  to  collect  information 
on  all  matters  of  interest  to  the  mercantile 
community,  and  to  use  every  means  within 
its  power  for  the  removal  of  evils,  the 
redress  of  grievances,  and  the  promotion 
of  the  common  good  ;  to  communicate 
with  authorities  and  others  thereupon  ;  to 
form  a  code  of  practice  whereby  the  trans- 
action of  business  may  be  simplified  and 
facililaled  ;  to  receive  references  and  to 
arbitrate  between  disputants — the  decisions  in 
such  references  to  be  recorded  for  future 
guidance."  These  objects  it  has  striven 
always  to  accomplish,  and  the  measure  of  its 
success  has  been  proportionate  to  the  increase 
of  membership  and  sphere  of  influence  which 
have  accompanied  the  development  of  trade 
in  the  Settlement.  The  Chamber  was  re- 
constituted in  1863  and  its  title  changed  to 
"The  Shanghai  General  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce," the  privileges  of  membership,  which 
had  hitherto  been  restricted  to  British  subjects, 
being  extended  to  all  foreign  houses  without 
regard  to  their  nalioiiality.  From  this  date, 
therefore,  the  committee,  representing  as  a 
body  the  whole  of  the  trading  interests  in 
Shanghai,  have  been  in  a  position  to  address 
all  foreign  Governments  having  Treaty  rela- 
tions with  China.  The  usual  procedure  is 
to  address  the  Senior  Consul,  who  communi- 
cates with  the  doyen  of  the  diplomatic  body 
in  Peking.  The  membership  now  numbers 
136,  and  includes  73  British,  28  German,  11 
American,  6  French,  5  Japanese,  4  Swiss,  3 
Dutch,  2  Danish,  and  2  Italian  firms,  and  i 
Norwegian  and  i  Russian  firm. 

Unfortunately,  owing  to  the  absence  of 
early  records,  it  is  impossible  to  follow  our 
usual  custom  and  recount  the  principal 
achievements  of  the  Chamber  from  its  forma- 
tion up  to  the  present  day.  The  Conservancy 
of  the  Whangpoo,  now  in  progress,  and  the 
establishment  of  the  Board  of  Conservators 
is,  however,  one  important  public  improve- 
ment which  may  be  traced  almost  directly 
to  the  efforts  of  the  Chamber. 


THE    SHANGHAI    LIBRARY. 

Thk  Shanghai  Library  was  established  as  a 
subscription  library  in  1849,  its  affairs  being 
managed  by  a  committee  of  subscribers,  who 
have  of  late  years  thrown  it  open  to  the 
general  public.  In  1890  the  sum  of  TIs.  500 
was  voted  by  the  Municipal  Council  to  the 
Library  in  consideration  of  the  institution 
being  thrown  open  to  the  public  as  a 
free  reading  room.  Subsequently,  the  Library 
entered  into  possession  of  its  present  quarters 
on  the  ground  floor  of  the  Town  Hall,  in  the 
Nanking  Road,  and  the  grant  of  the 
Municipality  was  increased  to  TIs.  1,000,  in 
return  for  which  the  connnittee  agreed  to 
furnish  a  free  reading  room,  with  local  and 
foreign  newspapers,  reviews,  and  magazines, 
besides  supplying  the  police  stations  with 
books  free  of  charge.  The  Library  contains 
about  thirteen  thousand  volumes,  and  receives 
monthly  a  supply  of  books  from  its  London 
agents  amounting  to  between  three   and  four 


I,  4,  5.    Club  Concordia. 


SHANGHAI    CLUBS. 


2,  3.    Shanghai   Club. 


388     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


hundred  works  a  year.  The  subscription 
for  a  year  is  $l6  ;  for  six  months,  $9  ; 
and  for  three  months,  $5.  The  number 
of  sul>scrit>ers  averages  from  130  to  140 
annually. 


THE   SHANGHAI    CLUB. 

The  Shanghai  Club,  the  centre  of  the  business 
and  social  life  of  the  Settlement,  is  one  of 
the  largest  institutions  of  its  kind  in  the  Far 
East.  It  has  about  thirteen  hundred  mem- 
bers, three-fourths  of  whom  are  British, 
while  nearly  seven  hundred  reside  in 
Shanghai.  The  entrance  fee  is  $100,  and 
the  monthly  subscription,  $7.  Absent  mem- 
bers pay  a  nominal  subscription  of  $5  a 
year.  To  be  eligible  for  membership  a 
candidate  must  either  have  been  resident  in 
Shanghai  for  six  months,  or  have  t)een  a 
member  of  some  other  recognised  club.  A 
visitor  may  be  admitted  as  a  paying  guest 
for  a  fortnight,  not  exceeding  three  times  in 
any  one  year.  Commissioned  officers  on  the 
active  list  in  the  European,  American, 
Colonial,  and  Japanese  naval,  military,  and 
diplomatic  services  may,  upon  the  invitation 
of  the  committee,  become  members  of  the 
Club  by  paying  the  monthly  subscription, 
without  entrance  fee,  but  they  are  not 
entitled  to  vote.  The  Club  is  not  at  present 
affiliated  with  any  of  the  home  clubs,  although 
the  members  are  usually  accorded  visitors' 
privileges  by  the  Thatched  House  Club  in 
London.  There  is  a  reciprocal  arrangement 
with  the  Hongkong,  Singapore,  Bengal, 
Yokohama,  and  Kobe  Clubs,  under  which  the 
members  of  those  institutions  are  entitled  to 
use  the  Shanghai  Club,  and  vice  versa,  for 
three  months,  on  payment  of  the  ordinary 
subscription,  but  without  entrance  fee. 

The  early  history  of  the  Club  is  one  of 
many  vicissitudes.  A  committee  of  several 
well-known  residents  was  formed  in  1862, 
and  plans  and  estimates  were  prepared  for 
the  erection  of  a  club-house  upon  ground, 
3\  mow  in  extent,  formerly  occupied  by 
Mr.  Hiram  Fogg's  store  and  a  wood-yard. 
Finding  themselves  in  difliculties  in  1863,  the 
management  borrowed  from  the  '•  Recreation 
Fund  "  TIs.  33,900  with  which  to  complete  the 
building.  The  new  Club  was  opened  in  1864, 
but  was  seriously  handicapped  by  want  of 
funds,  and  eventually,  in  1869,  the  building 
was  sold  for  TIs.  35,000  to  Mr.  Francis  A. 
Groom,  acting  on  behalf  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Recreation  Fund.  The  Shanghai  Club 
continued,  however,  to  rent  the  building,  and 
in  course  of  time  was  able  to  recover  the 
lease.  During  the  eighties  a  period  of 
prosperity  set  in,  and  the  Club  has  ever 
since  held  a  sound  financial  position. 

At  the  time  of  writing,  the  Club  is 
occupying  temporary  quarters  in  the  Jinkee 
Road,  pending  the  erection  of  new  premises 
on  the  site  of  the  old  building  on  the 
Bund.  On  account  of  the  limited  accommo- 
dation available,  the  committee  of  the  Club 
Concordia  have  very  courteously  invited 
members  of  the  Shanghai  Club  to  make  use 
of  their  premises  on  payment  of  $3  a  month, 
and  about  a  hundred  members  have  availed 
themselves  of  this  privilege. 

There  is  some  doubt  as  to  who  designed 
the  old  club-house.  It  was  substantially 
built,  and  contained  two  large  dining  rooms, 
private  dining  rooms,  three  billiard  rooms, 
card  rooms,  a  library,  reading  room,  bar,  and 
oyster  bar.  There  were  also  twelve  bed- 
rooms for  the  use  of  members.  The  shell 
of  the  old  building,  which  was  sold  when 
the  management  decided  to  rebuild,  realised 
TIs.  7400. 


The  new  building,  designed  by  Mr.  B.  H. 
Tarrant,  will  be  in  the  English  Renaissance 
style  of  architecture,  with  turrets  about 
120  feet  in  height.  It  will  be  carried  out  in 
brick,  with  a  stone  front,  and  will  consist  of 
six  storeys.  The  ground  floor  and  first  floor 
will  contain  a  main  entrance  hall,  120  feet 
by  40  feet  ;  a  dining  room,  100  feet  by 
50  feet  ;  a  bar,  110  feet  in  length — probably 
the  largest  in  the  Far  East  ;  two  billiard 
rooms,  each  containing  five  tables ;  card 
rooms  ;  library  ;  and  reading  room.  In  the 
basement  there  will  be  an  oyster  bar,  barber's 
shop,  bicycle  stand,  and  bowling  alley.  The 
library,  upon  which  the  Club  expends  annually 
about  ;f400,  contains  upwards  of  twenty 
thousand  volumes.  On  the  second  and  third 
floors,  reached  by  electric  lifts,  there  will  be 
forty  bedrooms  for  members  and  visitors, 
and  the  top  floors  will  contain  the  servants' 
quarters  and  kitchens.  The  building  will  be 
of  fire-resisting  construction,  and  electric 
lighting,  refrigerating  plant,  cold  storage,  and 
other  modern  conveniences  will  be  provided. 
The  cost  of  the  new  premises  is  estimated 
at  about  TIs.  250,000,   exclusive  of   furniture. 

The  interests  of  the  members  are  vested 
in  a  committee  of  twelve,  of  which  Mr. 
W.  A.  C.  Piatt  is  chairman,  and  Mr.  A.  W. 
Marshall,  vice-chairman.  The  secretary  of 
the  Club  is  Captain  C.  G.  Close,  and  the  staff 
includes  a  European  assistant  secretary  and 
two  European  stewards,  besides  about  135 
Chinese  clerks,  librarians,  bar-boys,  billiard 
markers,  dining-room  boys,  and  coolies. 


THE    COUNTRY    CLUB. 

The  Country  Club,  now  the  centre  of  social 
life  in  Shanghai,  was  the  outcome  of  a  casual 
suggestion.  It  seems  that  Messrs.  F.  C. 
Forbes,  F.  A.  Groom,  and  C.  D.  Kerr  were 
taking  a  stroll  together  one  Sunday  afternoon 
in  January  of  1879,  when  they  noticed  that 
a  piece  of  waste  land,  some  11  mow  in 
extent,  lying  between  the  present  Club  and 
the  road  leading  out  of  Love  Lane,  was 
advertised  for  sale,  and  the  idea  occurred  to 
one  of  them  that  this  would  form  an  admirable 
site  for  a  club,  the  primary  object  of  which 
would  be  to  place  all  the  conveniences  of  the 
existing  institutions,  together  with  certain 
additional  facilities  for  out-door  recreation, 
within  easy  reach  of  residents  in  that  part 
of  the  Settlement.  The  suggestion  speedily 
found  acceptance,  a  prospectus  was  issued, 
and,  at  a  meeting  held  on  April  2nd  of  the 
same  year,  it  was  unanimously  decided  that 
a  club  should  be  formed,  with  a  membership 
limited  to  eighty.  The  erection  of  a  club- 
house was  commenced  forthwith,  and  the 
building  was  ready  for  occupation  in  the 
following  July.  The  premises  were  unpre- 
tentious, consisting  simply  of  a  large  central 
room,  with  a  small  room  on  one  side  that 
would  just  accommodate  two  billiard  tables, 
and  two  rooms  on  the  other.  The  grounds 
were  tastefully  laid  out,  but  in  spite  of 
their  attractiveness  the  Club  had  a  very  pre- 
carious existence  for  the  first  twelve  months. 
At  the  end  of  the  first  half-year,  out  of  90 
members  who  had  joined,  21  had  already 
resigned,  and,  although  families  of  members 
were  admitted  as  honorary  members,  few 
availed  themselves  of  the  privilege.  Many 
schemes  were  devised  for  making  the  Club 
more  popular.  Theatricals  and  dances  were 
successfully  inaugurated,  and  during  the 
following  summer  the  new  Town  Band  played 
in  the  gardens  each  evening.  On  April  21, 
1881,  the  Club  was  formed  into  a  proprie- 
tary body,  shares  being  issued  to  each  of  the 
eighty  members. 


In  the  following  January,  the  adjacent 
property,  measuring  about  40  mow,  and 
including  "  The  Lawn,"  was  purchased,  but 
the  members  had  hardly  entered  into  their 
new  quarters  when  they  recognised  that  they 
had  made  a  mistake  in  parting  with  the  old 
Club  grounds,  and  on  June  12th,  in  the  same 
year,  they  decided  to  re-purchase  the  lower 
half  of  the  area.  In  the  winter  a  new  wing 
was  added  to  the  premises  in  order  to  provide 
a  suitable  stage  for  theatiicals.  In  1897, 
extensive  additions  were  made  to  the  billiard 
and  reading  rooms,  and  quite  recently  the 
adjoining  property,  "  Pendry,  "  was  purchased 
with  the  object,  no  doubt,  of  including  it  at 
some  future  date,  in  the  Club  grounds. 

Altogether  many  thousands  of  taels  have 
been  spent  on  improvements,  in  one  way  or 
another,  and  the  Club  now  is  as  thoroughly 
equipped  and  as  comfortable  as  the  most 
exacting  could  desire.  In  appearance  it 
resembles  a  large  private  country  residence, 
surrounded  by  beautiful  shady  trees,  green 
lawns,  and  well  -  kept  gardens,  the  whole 
occupying  an  area  of  nearly  60  mow.  The 
rooms  are  light,  airy,  and  tastefully  furnished. 
On  the  ground  floor  there  are,  in  addition  to 
the  bar  and  secretarial  offices,  a  reading  room, 
ladies'  room,  drawing  room,  and  smoking 
room,  a  court  for  squash  racquets,  and  the 
theatre  which,  during  the  winter  and  in  wet 
weather,  is  often  utilised  for  "  Badminton." 
The  top  floor  contains  a  billiard  room  with 
seven  tables,  a  large  dressing  room  with 
lockers  for  the  convenience  of  those  members 
who  play  tennis  or  any  of  the  other  games 
in  progress  during  the  summer  months,  a 
card  room,  and  a  dozen   or  more  bathrooms. 

The  management  of  the  Club  is  vested  in  a 
committee  composed  at  the  present  time  of 
Messrs.  W.  S.  Jackson,  H.  W.  G.  Hayter, 
J.  McKie,  K.  Macgregor,  H.  A.  J.  Macray, 
W.  A.  C.  Piatt,  and  C.  W.  Wrightson. 
There  are  sub-committees  for  arranging 
entertainments,  supervising  the  out-door  games, 
looking  after  the  garden  and  grounds,  &c. 
The  secretarial  duties  are  carried  out  by  Mr. 
Brook.  The  Club  has  a  membership  of  225, 
the  full  number  allowed  by  the  rules,  in 
addition  to  the  honorary  lady  members.  The 
qualifications  for  membership  include  a  six 
months'  residence  in  Shanghai,  the  entrance  fee 
is  $150,  and  the  monthly  subscription  is  $10. 


THE    CLUB    CONCORDIA. 

It  is  related  that  two  Englishmen  and  two 
Scotsmen  were  once  cast  away  on  a  desert 
island,  and  when,  a  year  or  so  later,  they 
were  rescued  by  a  passing  vessel,  it  was 
found  that  the  Englishmen  had  not  spoken 
to  one  another  because  they  had  not  been 
introduced,  whereas  the  Scotsmen  had  formed 
a  local  branch  of  the  Caledonian  Society! 
The  story,  apocryphal  though  it  be,  serves 
to  show,  by  contrast,  the  gregarious  nature 
of  the  Scotch.  If  anything  were  needed  to 
prove  the  possession  of  a  similar  character- 
istic by  the  Germans,  the  many  splendidly 
equipped  clubs  which  they  have  established 
in  the  Far  East  would  amply  suffice.  At 
Shanghai,  the  Club  Concordia  is  one  of  the 
most  handsome  structures  on  the  Bund.  It 
is  a  three-storeyed  building  in  the  German 
Renaissance  style  of  architecture,  and  the 
interior  is  furnished  and  decorated  with  un- 
usual sumptuousness. 

The  Club  had  its  origin  at  a  meeting  of 
some  fifty  gentlemen,  held  on  October  20, 
1865,  at  the  old  hong  of  Messrs.  Oxford  &  Co., 
the  Acting  Prussian  Consul-General  presiding. 
At  this  meeting  it  was  decided  to  rent  the 
house    of    Mr.   Probst,  situated  on   the   south 


/" 


2.    Thk  Masonic  Club. 

5.    The    Kace   Club. 


SHANGHAI    CLUBS. 

1,  3.    THK  Country  Chh. 


4.    Deutschek    Gartexvereix. 


^90     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


side  of  Kmx-hovv  Road,  between  Kokien 
and  Shantung  Kixids,  for  an  annual  rental 
of  TIs.  2,000.  The  entrance  fee  was  fixed  at 
$10.  and  the  monthly  subscription  at  $5. 

The  Club  entered  into  possession  of  their 
premises  on  January  10,  1866,  when  there 
was  a  membership  of  about  ninety  on  the  roll. 
In  1871.  $500  were  voted  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  a  Club  library.  In  April,  1880,  the 
Chib  obt-iined  the  lease  of  a  house  on  the 
comer  of  Szechuen  and  Canton  Roads,  and 
this  remained  their  habitat  until  February, 
1907. 

In  the  meantime  several  proposals  had  been 
made  for  erecting  a  special  club  building, 
but  they  were  abandoned  one  after  another 
owing  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  the 
necessary  capital.  Eventually,  however,  a 
scheme  submitted  by  Mr.  Lundt  and  a  special 
committee  was  adopted  at  an  extraordinary 
meeting  in  June,  1903.  Considerable  difficulty 
was  experienced  in  securing  a  suitable  site, 
until  finally  the  building  committee,  chiefly 
through  the  efforts  of  the  late  Mr.  Snethlage, 
\  succeeded  in  acquiring  the  old  hong  of 
Messrs.  Gibb,  Livingston  &  Co.,  on  the 
Bund,  owned  at  the  time  by  the  Shanghai 
Land  Investment  Company.  Designs  and 
estimates  for  the  new  building  were  invited 
from  all  the  architects  in  China,  and  of  the 
three  prizes  offered  for  the  best  designs,  the 
first  was  awarded  to  Mr.  H.  Becker  for  that 
from  which  the  present  handsome  edifice  was 
constructed.  The  architect  for  the- interior 
was  Mr.  Baedecker.  The  foundation  stone 
was  laid  by  H.R.H.  Prince  Adalbert  of 
Prussia  on  October  22,  1904,  in  the  presence 
of  a  large  gathering  of  the  prominent 
residents  of  the  Settlement.  The  building 
operations  extended  over  two  and  a  half 
years,  the  members  entering  into  occupation 
on   February  4,  1907. 

The  premises  cost  TIs.  550,000.  They  are 
very  commodious,  well  arranged,  and  elegantly 
appointed.  A  feature  of  the  Club  is  the  carved 
wood-wotk  throughout  the  building,  and  the 
stained  glass  with  which  all  the  windows  are 
filled.  The  decoration  of  the  hall  is  carried 
out  in  a  rich  shade  of  terra-cotta  relieved  with 
bronze-green  and  ivory.  The  lofty  groined 
ceiling  is  supported  by  magnificent  pillars, 
the  gift  of  Mr.  Hermann  Melchers,  of  Bremen. 
Near  the  foot  of  the  stairway  is  a  beautiful 
fountain,  presented  by  the  Russian  Bank,  and 
opposite  it  there  is  a  large  picture,  composed 
of  tiles  let  into  the  wall,  which  was  given  by 
the  Dutch  Bank.  On  the  entrance  floor  is 
the  bar  room,  decorated  with  beautiful  mural 
paintings  representing  Berlin  and  Bremen. 
On  the  rafters  of  the  ceiling  are  painted 
several  well-chosen  quotations  in  German. 
The  apartment  is  lighted  at  night  by  a 
number  of  fine  electroliers,  which  were  pre- 
sented by  the  Bremen  Club  members,  and  it 
contains  a  gift  from  some  Swiss  friends, 
consisting  of  a  tall  grandfather's  clock,  inlaid 
with  various  kinds  of  wood,  representing 
landscapes.  Four  fine  panels,  also,  were 
contributed  by  the  Norddeutscher-Lloyd. 
The  prevailing  tone  of  the  decorations  is 
grey-blue  against  a  background  of  cream  and 
cedar-brown.  On  the  same  floor  are  the 
billiard  room,  containing  six  tables,  and  the 
reading  room,  which  is  well  supplied  with 
periodicals  and  papers.  The  library  has  a 
splendidly  selected  assortment  of  some  23,000 
volumes  in  various  languages. 

From  the  hall  a  magnificent  flight  of 
marble  stairs,  presented  by  Mr.  Hermann 
Melchers,  leads  to  the  first  floor,  upon  which 
is  situated  the  dining  room — a  spacious,  lofty, 
and  well-lighted  apartment,  with  a  musicians' 
gallery  at  one  end  of  it.  Views  of  Berlin, 
Vienna,  and  Munich  are  depicted  on  the  walls. 


which  are  finely  panelled,  while  the  coat  of 
arms  of  nearly  every  nation  is  represented  in 
the  stained-glass  windows.  Adjoining  the 
dining  room  is  the  Kaiser  Saal,  a  lofty  and 
commodious  apartment  with  a  parquet  floor 
for  dancing.  It  contains  a  picture  of  the 
Kaiser,  presented  by  the  German  Cruiser 
Squadron,  and  is  lighted  at  night  by  means  of 
a  very  handsome  electrolier.  Leading  out 
of  this  room  and  approachable,  also,  from  the 
corridor  are  two  other  apartments  whicli  are 
reserved  respectively  for  the  use  of  ladies  and 
for  cards  and  other  in-door  games. 

The  membership  has  increased  by  25  per 
cent,  since  the  Club  entered  its  new  premises, 
and  now  numbers  540, 


in  the  Rue  Montauban  opposite  the  French 
Post  Oflice,  contain  a  billiard  room,  reading 
room,  bar,  and  other  appointments. 


THE    MASONIC    CLUB. 

The  Masonic  Club,  which  rents  a  portion  of 
the  Masonic  Hall  on  the  Bund,  was  founded 
in  1882,  and  now  has  a  membership  of  about 
three  hundred.  Regular  members,  who  must, 
of  course,  belong  to  the  Fraternity,  pay  an 
entrance  fee  of  $75,  and  an  annual  subscription 
of  $72.  Masons  visiting  the  Settlement  may 
enjoy  the  privileges  of  the  Club,  after  ballot, 
for  three  months  without  entrance  fee,  on 
payment  of  $6  a  month  ;  whilst  resident 
members  are  entitled  to  nominate,  for  a  period 
of  a  fortnight  only,  visiting  members  who  need 
not  necessarily  be  Masons.  The  ailairs  of  the 
Club  are  managed  by  a  committee  of  fifteen 
members,  who  elect  one  of  their  number 
annually  as  president.  The  present  holder  of 
the  office  is  Captain  J.  Vaughan.  Tlie  ground 
floor  and  first  floor  of  tlie  premises  are 
allocated  to  the  use  of  the  Club  and  contain  a 
library,  reading  room,  reception  room,  dining 
room,  bar,  and  billiard  room.  The  growth  of 
Freemasonry  in  recent  years  has  been  such 
that  the  Masonic  Hall  cannot  now  meet  all  the 
demands  made  upon  it,  and  a  scheme  of 
enlargement  has  been  entered  upon.  The 
rear  portion  of  the  building  has  been  razed 
to  the  ground,  preparatory  to  rebuilding,  and 
as  soon  as  this  is  completed  a  large  slice  of 
the  front  portion  of  the  Hall  will  be  similarly 
treated.  When  the  whole  of  the  alterations 
have  been  carried  out,  the  Club  will  be  located 
on  the  first  floor,  and  the  space  available  for 
Lodge  and  other  purely  Masonic  purposes  will 
be  very  materially  increased. 

The  secretary  of  the  Club,  Mr.  A.  H. 
Campbell,  a  Mason  of  thirty-seven  years' 
standing,  has  just  completed  his  first  term  of 
office,  and  is  entering  upon  a  second  term  of 
three  years. 


LE    CERCLE    SPORTIF 
FRANCAIS. 

The  French  Sporting  Club  was  started  by 
a  few  prominent  French  residents  in  1904, 
It  is  situated  in  the  Rue  Voyron,  near  the 
Military  Camp,  and  has  a  membership  of 
about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five.  The 
president  is  Dr.  Fresson.  The  premises 
and  grounds  are  leased  from  the  French 
Municipal  Council,  at  a  nominal  rent  of  a 
dollar  a  year,  and  embrace  a  dozen  tennis 
courts  and  an  excellent  alley  for  French 
bowls. 


THE    FRENCH    CLUB. 

The  French  Club  has  been  established  for 
some  years  as  a  place  of  social  intercourse 
for  members  of  the  French  Volunteer  Com- 
panies and  Fire  Brigade.  The  president  is 
Mons.  A.  Berthet,  foreman  of  "  Le  Torrent " 
Company.     The  premises,  which  are  situated 


THE    SHANGHAI    AMATEUR 
DRAMATIC    CLUB. 

The  Shanghai  Amateur  Dramatic  Club  was 
founded  in  1866,  and  during  the  forty-two 
years  of  its  existence  it  has  given  no  fewer 
than  150  performances.  It  was  not,  however, 
the  first  organisation  of  its  kind,  for  as  early 
as  1864  there  existed  two  histrionic  societies 
known  as  tlie  "  Rangers  "  and  the  "  Footpads," 
while  a  playbill  is  still  extant  of  an  amateur 
perfoimance  that  took  place  in  May,  1853. 
The  present  A.D.C.  was,  indeed,  the  outcome 
of  an  amalgamation  of  the  two  old  clubs  on 
November  30,  1866.  The  earlier  perfor- 
mances had  been  held  in  various  unoccupied 
godowns,  but  under  the  new  management  the 
New  Lyceum  Theatre — a  wooden  building,  of 
much  the  same  dimensions  as  the  existing 
Lvceum  Theatre — was  erected  in  the  Gnaomen 
Road,  Here,  on  March  1,  1867,  the  A.D.C. 
opened  their  active  career  with  a  farce  in 
one  act,  entitled,  "  Whitebait  at  Greenwich," 
followed  by  Burnand's  burlesque,  "  Faust  and 
Marguerite."  All  the  actors  adopted  stage 
names,  and  men  were  cast  for  the  women's 
parts.  Altogether,  six  entertaiiunents  of  two 
plays  each  were  presented  during  1867.  The 
theatre  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire  in  1871, 
and  the  Club  were  indebted  to  the  Club 
Concordia  for  the  use  of  their  theatre  pending 
the  erection  of  new  premises.  In  1874  the 
present  Lyceum  Theatre,  a  substantial  structure 
situated  at  the  corner  of  Hongkong  Road  and 
Museum  Roads  was  completed.  It  was  opened 
on  January  27th,  a  farce,  "  Incompatability  of 
Temper,"  and  the  well-known  comedy, 
''  Masks  and  Faces,"  being  selected  for  the 
occasion,  The  soth  performance,  given  on 
April  18,  1876,  was  noteworthy  as  marking 
the  introduction  of  ladies  to  the  amateur  stage 
in  Shanghai  ;  and  it  is  hardly  necessary  to 
record  that  the  play  selected — T.  W.  Robertson's 
"School" — was  more  than  usually  successful. 
Burlesques  were,  perhaps,  the  most  popular 
form  of  play,  for  the  reason  that  they  lent 
themselves  to  local  and  topical  allusions  and 
mild  personalities,  which  never  failed  to  appeal 
to  the  audiences.  The  looth  performance,  a 
.Shanghai  version  of  Byron's  burlesque,  "  The 
Tale  of  Tell  re-tokl,"  was  held  on  March  2, 
1893,  and  put  a  period  to  a  spell  of  depression 
which  had  lasted  about  five  years.  The 
piece  had  a  run  of  four  nights,  and  met  with 
such  a  gratifying  reception,  tliat  in  the 
following  November  "  The  Patriot  and  the 
Pippin,"  a  still  further  departure  from  the 
original,  was  produced.  A  performance  of 
Gilbert  and  Sullivan's  "  H.M.S.  Pinafore,"  in 
February,  1880,  was  the  first  attempt  made 
by  the  A.D.C.  at  comic  opera,  but  though  it 
jiroved  to  be  the  most  popular  success  up  to 
that  date,  no  further  essay  was  made  in  the 
direction  of  Savoy  opera  until  1895.  With 
the  exception  of  the  Falstaff  scenes  from 
•'  Henry  IV,"  which  were  once  staged,  no 
Shakespearian  performance  has  ever  been 
given  ;  but  the  Club  are  ambitious,  and  there 
is  some  hope  that,  in  the  near  future,  an 
attempt  may  he  made  to  present  a  com- 
plete Shakespearian  play.  "  The  Admirable 
Crichton"  was  presented,  for  the  150th  per- 
formance, in  the  sjiring  of  1908,  and  its 
phenomenal  success  augurs  well  for  the 
future  of  the  A.D.C. 

Membership  of  the  Club  is  open  to  all 
nationalities,  but  is  limited  to  sixty  in  nuinber. 
The  subscription  is  ?5  per  annum. 


TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     o9l 


GERMAN 

AMATEUR     DRAMATIC 

SOCIETY. 

There  are  records  showing  that  a  German 
Amateur  Dramatic  Society  existed  in  Shanghai 
as  far  back  as  1870.  For  some  reason  it  was 
disbanded,  and  there  was  no  question  of  its 
revival  until  three  years  ago,  when  Schiller's 
centenary  was  celebrated  by  a  special  per- 
formance of  "Wallenstein."  A  number  of 
Germans,  encouraged  by  their  success  on 
this  occasion,  then  set  to  work  to  reorganise 
a  dramatic  society,  and  the  productions  given 
every  year  since  at  the  Lyceum  Theatre, 
freely  placed  at  their  disposal  by  the  Amateur 


agency  in  raising  the  standard  of  music  in 
Shanghai.  The  Society  was  formed  in  tlie 
autumn  of  1901  by  a  number  of  German 
residents,  whose  object  was  to  secure  the 
very  best  talent  available  for  the  concerts 
which,  it  was  proposed,  should  be  given  under 
the  Society's  auspices  at  stated  intervals  during 
the  year.  These  concerts  leapt  rapidly  into 
public  favour,  and  now  form  an  important  and 
popular  feature  of  the  winter  entertainments 
in  the  International  Settlement.  They  were 
held  during  the  first  few  years  in  the 
Masonic  Hall  ;  afterwards,  when  larger 
accommodation  was  required,  in  the  Lyceum 
Theatre  ;  and  are  now  given  in  the  Town 
Hall.  The  reorganisation  of  the  town  baud 
alone  provides  very  tangible  evidence  of  the 
effect    which    the    Society   has    had    on    the 


CHINESE     Y.M.C.A.,    SHANGHAI. 


Dramatic  Club,  have  met  with  increasing 
favour,  their  last  performance,  that  of  Strauss' 
light  opera,  "  Die  Fledermans,"  in  which  some 
seventy  persons  took  part,  surpassing  all  others. 
Mr.  Carl  Fink,  to  whose  efforts  the  revival  of 
the  Society  was  largely  due,  is  chairman  of 
the  committee  ;  while  among  those  who 
have  taken  an  active  part  in  the  work  of 
organisation,  the  names  of  Mr.  K.  Kosenbaum, 
Captain  Schellhaus  and  Mr.  Finger  should  be 
mentioned. 


DEUTSCHER    KONZERT 
VEREIN. 

Lovers  of  music  owe  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude 
to  this  Association,  which  has  had,  perhaps, 
a  more  direct  influence  than  any  other  known 


musical  life  of  the  community.  For  the 
earlier  public  concerts  assistance  had  to  be 
obtained  from  the  musicians  attached  to  one 
or  other  of  the  German  warships,  and,  later, 
an  orchestra  from  Tsingtau  was  employed. 
Public  opinion  was  directed  towards  this 
anomaly,  with  the  result  that  last  year 
Herr  Buck  and  eight  German  musicians 
were  engaged  by  the  Municipality.  They 
brought  about  such  an  improvement  that 
the  band  soon  reached  the  standard  desired 
by  the  Society,  and  now  no  help  at  all 
from  outside  the  Settlement  is  required. 
Although  the  Association  was  originated 
by  Germans,  and  since  its  formation  has 
been  principally  officered  by  them,  the 
membership  is  by  no  means  confined  to 
one  nationality.  All  those  who  care  for 
music  are  welcomed. 


THE    FRENCH    AMATEUR 
DRAMATIC    SOCIETY. 

This  Society  was  formed  about  the  year 
1868,  membership  being  restricted  to  residents 
of  French  nationality.  In  1892,  however, 
after  a  period  of  torpor  extending  from  1886, 
the  Society  was  reorganised,  and  foreigners 
of  any  nationality  were  eligible  for  admission. 
From  the  autumn  of  1903  the  Society  has 
been  limited  to  two  hundred  members,  because 
there  are  only  400  good  seats  in  the  Lyceum 
Theatre,  in  which  the  plays  are  produced, 
and  two  tickets  are  issued  to  each  member. 
Since  1892  thirty-one  performances  have 
been  given,  among  the  most  successful  of 
which  may  be  mentioned  •'  Les  Cloches  de 
Corneville,"  "  Blanchette,"  "  Le  Manage  de 
Barillon,"  "  Les  Divorcjons,"  and  "  Les  Joies 
du  Foyer." 


THE    YOUNG    MEN'S 
CHRISTIAN    ASSOCIATION. 

The  first  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
in  China  was  established  among  the  European 
young  men  of  Shanghai  more  than  twenty 
years  ago,  and  the  first  college  Y.M.C.A. 
was  formed  among  Chinese  students  in  one 
of  the  leading  Christian  colleges  of  North 
China  in  1885.  The  rapid  growth  of  the 
Association,  however,  began  with  the  arrival 
of  the  first  foreign  secretary  in  1895.  It 
was  this  secretary,  Mr.  D.  W.  Lyon,  sent  to 
China  by  the  Inlernational  Committee  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  of  North 
America,  who  established  the  first  city 
Association  for  Chinese  young  men  in 
Tientsin.  Since  that  date  city  associations 
for  Cliinese  business  and  professional  men 
have  been  established  in  Tientsin,  Shanghai, 
Hongkong,  Canton,  Foochow,  Tsingtau, 
Chefoo,  and  Peking.  The  organisation  has 
been  particularly  privileged  to  work  among 
the  educated  classes  of  these  cities.  In  this 
they  have  been  assisted  by  the  college 
Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  which 
are  established  in  more  than  forty  schools 
of  higher  learning  in  almost  every  province 
of  the  Empire.  These  college  associations 
h  we  a  membership  of  about  three  thousand. 

The  work  among  the  European  young 
men  in  China  is  confined  to  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai,  the  two  principal  centres  of 
foreign  population.  I'he  various  Young 
Mens  Christian  Associations  of  Shanghai 
are  organised  under  one  general  advisory 
committee,  with  a  general  secretary.  The 
object  is  to  unify  the  various  associations  and 
decide  questions  of  relationships,  but  each 
Association  is  given  the  fullest  degree  of 
autonomy  as  far  as  its  inner  work  is  concerned. 
There  are  in  Shanghai  a  foreign  Y.M.C.A. 
for  Europeans  and  Americans,  a  Chinese 
Y.M.C.A.,  a  Japanese  Y.M.C.A.,  and  eight 
colle-e  Y.M.C.A.'s. 

The  Foreign  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  of  Shanghai  was  organised  in 
the  middle  eighties  and  had  a  useful,  but 
somewhat  intermittent,  existence,  until  re- 
organised in  1900.  Since  that  time  the 
Association,  organised  on  an  '•  institutional  " 
basis,  with  a  building  or  rooms,  has  advanced 
in  spite  of  many  difficulties.  The  suite  of 
rooms  now  occupied  at  No.  4A,  Peking  Koad, 
comprise  a  reading  room  billiard  room,  social 
rooms,  &c.,  and  offer  a  comfortable  home  for 
the  European  and  American  young  men 
whose  lot  is  cast  in  Sliangh.ii.  The  work  of 
the  Association  is  guided  by  a  board  of 
directors    and    a    secretary,   the    Rev.   R.   G. 


392    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Winning,  whose  connection  with  Holy 
Trinity  Cathedral  and  his  own  personal 
capabilities,  make  him  a  strong  leader.  The 
various  activities  of  the  Association  are  carried 
on  by  means  of  committees  made  up  of  the 
memt>ers  of  the  Association. 

The  Chinese  Yoi'ng  Men's  Christian 
Association  is  loyally  supported.  The  Asso- 
ciation occupies  a  large  building  situated  at 
No.  120,  Szeehuen  Road.  This  property  is 
the  fourth  held  by  the  Association  since 
its  organisation  by  Mr.  R.  E.  Lewis,  of  the 
International  Committee,  New  York,  in  1900, 
and  was  opened  in  October,  1907.  The  cost 
of  the  site  was  about  TIs.  50,000,  and  this 
was  contributed  chiefly  by  Chinese  gentry 
and  officials.  The  fund  for  the  building 
(about  TIs.  94,000),  was  contributed  by 
Americans  interested  in  the  development  of 
the  Association  in  the  Far  East,  and  was 
raised  by  the  then  general  secretary  of  the 
Association,  Mr.  R.  E.  Lewis,  through  co- 
operation with  the  International  Committee. 
The  building  is  a  three-storeyed  structure.  The 
ground  floor  in  front  is  occupied  by  stores, 
the  rentals  for  which  are  devoted  to  the  up- 
keep of  the  building  and  to  the  promotion  of 
its  activities.  At  the  rear  on  this  floor  is 
located  the  gymnasium,  60  feet  by  40  feet, 
with  shower  bath  and  locker  rooms.  The 
directors  have  engaged  the  services  of  a 
foreign  gjrmnastic  expert,  who  will  soon 
arrive  to  take  charge  of  the  equipment  and 
train  young  men  in  its  use.  The  first  floor 
of  the  building  is  constructed  on  the  plan  of 
a  rotunda,  with  social  and  reading  rooms 
leading  from  it.  Here  are  located  the  general 
offices  and  the  secretarial  offices.  On  the 
same  floor  is  the  Martyrs'  Memorial  Hall, 
which  is  capable  of  seating  700  people,  and 
is  used  for  entertainments,  lectures,  and 
religious  meetings.  On  the  second  floor  are 
the  dining  rooms  and  kitchens,  where  Chinese 
or  foreign  food  may  be  obtained,  and  the 
offices  of  the  general  committee  of  the  Y.M.C.A. 
of  China  and  Korea.  The  remainder  of  the 
floor  is  reserved  for  day  and  evening  classes 
for  Chinese  men. 

The  local  Association's  activities  are  ex- 
tensive. The  budget  for  1907  exceeded 
$18,000.  In  the  educational  work  there  are 
lectures  and  class  work.  In  the  latter  there 
are,  in  all,  375  different  students  regularly 
enrolled  and  paying  fees — 170  in  the  day 
course  in  Chinese  and  English,  and  over  two 
hundred  in  evening  classes  studying  English, 
German,  Mandarin,  book-keeping,  shorthand, 
building  construction,  and  other  subjects. 
The  work  done  through  special  lecture  course 
is  less  regular  but  not  less  valuable,  for  the 
foreign  and  native  talent  of  Shanghai  is 
called  into  requisition. 

Social  and  religious  work  occupies  an 
important  place  in  the  programme  of  the 
Y.M.C.A.  Almost  every  week  some  social 
event  is  held  in  the  building  for  the  purpose 
of  bringing  the  members  into  more  intimate 
relationship.  The  employment  department 
seeks  to  put  in  touch  with  foreign  firms 
capable  men  who  are  either  members  of  the 
Association  or  come  from  other  parts  of  the 
Empire  with  letters  of  recommendation. 
Religious  meetings  are  held  in  English  and 
Mandarin,  as  well  as  in  the  native  dialect, 
and  are  so  numerous  that  they  cannot  be 
mentioned  in  detail.  The  last  report  shows 
over  three  hundred  in  regular  Bible-study 
classes. 

The  Association  is  under  a  Chinese  board 
of  directors,  of  which  Taoutai  Wong 
Koh-shan,  of  the  Shanghai-Nanking  Railway, 
is  chairman.  The  general  secretary  at  present 
is  Mr.  W.  W.  Lock  wood,  a  representative 
of    the     International     Committee,     who    is 


associated  with  Mr.  S.  K.  Tsao,  senior 
Chinese  secretary,  Dr.  W.  E.  Taylor, 
Mr.  J.  H.  Wallace  (of  tlie  International 
Committee),  Mr.  P.  Y.  Kong,  and  others 
who  co-operate  with  the  members  in 
carrying  out  the  work. 

The  Association  has  received  the  support  of 
prominent  Chinese.  His  Excellency  M.  T. 
Liang,  Shanghai  Taoutai,  His  Excellency 
Chen  Kwei-lung,  Governor  of  Kiangsu,  and 
Viceroy  Tuan  Fang,  of  the  Liangkiang,  have 
recently  contributed  sums  of  one  thousand 
dollars  or  more  each,  and  the  Imperial 
Customs,  Chinese  merchants,  and  other 
companies  haye  given  similar  amounts  to 
make  possible  this  work  for  the  development 
of  the  body,  mind,  and  spirit  of  the  young 
men  of  the  Middle  Kingdom. 

The  Japanese  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  was  organised  in  1906,  and  its 
work  has  grown  with  the  steady  increase  of 
the  Japanese  community  in  Shanghai,  which 
is  now  estimated  to  number  eight  thousand. 
One  of  the  important  features  of  the  Associa- 
tion is  the  evening  classes,  which  have  been 
greatly  appreciated.  In  the  early  part  of 
1908,  as  the  result  of  a  visit  from  Mr.  Nivva, 
of  the  National  Y.M.C.A.  of  Japan,  it  was 
decided  to  call  a  Japanese  secretary  from 
Japan,  to  be  supported  locally,  and  to  give 
his  whole  time  to  the  interests  of  the 
Association.  In  February  of  that  year  Mr. 
Kawashima,  of  Nagasaki,  who  had  been 
educated  in  Japan  and  America,  arrived,  and 
began  active  work.  At  the  time  of  his 
arrival  the  Association  numbered  over  a 
hundred  members,  and  since  that  time  has 
gone  steadily  forward.  As  a  result  of  its 
work,  a  Japanese  church  has  been  organised, 
which  bids  fair  to  receive  increasing  sup- 
port. The  .Association  is  now  endeavouring 
to  secure  a  building  of  its  own  in  a  central 
position. 


THE    WATER    SUPPLY.— THE 
SHANGHAI    WATERWORKS. 

The  water  supply  in  the  International 
Settlement  of  Shanghai  is  provided  by  a 
private  company.  That  the  supply  is 
adequate  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that 
the  engines  of  the  Shanghai  Waterworks 
Company  are  capable  of  pumping  inlo  the 
Settlement  no  less  than  16,750,000  gallons  in 
twenty-four  hours,  but  the  daily  maximum 
consumption  of  water  does  not  exceed 
8,750,000  gallons.  In  the  distribution  of  the 
supply  74i  miles  of  mains  are  employed,  and 
for  use  in  case  of  fire  there  are  no  fewer 
than  680  hydrants.  The  efficiency  of  the 
present-day  system  are  in  strong  contrast 
with  the  crude  methods  which  obtained 
prior  to  1883,  when  water  from  one  or  two 
settling  beds  near  the  river  at  Yangtszepoo 
was  distributed  to  the  public  in  hand-carts. 

The  Shanghai  Waterworks  Company  was 
formed  in  London  in  1881,  with  a  capital  of 
only  ;^  100,000.  The  first  steps  taken  were 
the  establishment  of  a  small  pumping-station 
near  the  Whangpoo  on  the  Yangtszepoo 
Road,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the 
Garden  Bridge,  and  the  laying  of  a  system 
of  mains  over  a  restricted  area.  The  works 
were  opened  in  1883.  From  time  to  time 
considerable  increases  have  been  made  to 
the  capital,  which  now  stands  at  ;f327,ooo, 
and  the  system  itself  has  grown  to  very 
large  proportions.  The  Company  to-day  own 
upwards  of  35  acres  of  land,  much  of 
which  is  developed.  Water  is  taken  from 
the  Whangpoo  at  flood  tide,  partly  by  gravi- 
tation, and  partly  by  means  of    two  centri- 


fugal pumps — together  of  1,250,000  gallons 
capacity  an  hour — and  conveyed  into  settling 
reservoirs,  of  which  there  are  four,  with  an 
aggregate  rapacity  of  20,000,000  gallons. 
\Vhen  the  solids  have  been  precipitated,  the 
water  flows  through  floating  suction  pipes, 
and  is  pumped  afterwards  into  the  service 
reservoirs,  which  are  raised  some  10  or 
12  feet.  From  these  the  water  gravi- 
tates on  to  the  filter  beds,  which  are  16 
in  number,  and  are  fitted  with  valves  to 
regulate  the  flow  and  discharge.  From  the 
filters  the  water  flows  into  two  pure  water 
reservoirs,  which  are  entirely  covered  in,  and 
is  then  ready  for  distribution  throughout  the 
Settlement. 

The  main  engine  and  boiler-house  is  a 
substantial  building,  and  the  plant,  recently 
extended,  is  the  largest  and  most  complete 
of  its  kind  in  China.  Four  Lancashire 
boilers  generate  steam  for  the  main  engines, 
which  are  four  in  number,  three  being  of  the 
horizontal  compound  condensing  type,  and 
the  fouttli  a  differential  engine  by  Messrs. 
Hathorn,  Davey  &  Co.  These  engines  have 
a  combined  capacity  equal  to  nearly  double 
the  present  maximum  requirements,  so  that 
the  Company  are  able  to  guarantee  a  con- 
stant supply  even  in  the  event  of  a  partial 
bieakdown,  or  of  a  sudden  and  unexpected 
increase  in  the  demand.  Two  of  the  smaller 
engines  were  laid  down  in  188 1,  a  third,  of 
much  greater  capacity,  was  added  in  1891, 
while  the  fourth,  a  huge  pump,  with  a  24-ton 
flywheel  16  feet  in  diameter,  was  installed 
in  1901.  For  this  large  engine  a  new 
engine-house  had  to  be  built.  A  dynamo  in 
the  main  engine-house  supplies  current  for 
lighting  the  pumping-station  and  compound. 

Quite  recently  very  considerable  works 
have  been  carried  out  by  the  Company, 
among  them  the  construction  of  an  additional 
pure  water  reservoir,  and  two  of  the  filter- 
beds  above  referred  to ;  and  the  erection  of 
a  second  water  tower  in  the  Sinza  district, 
at  a  distance  of  five  miles  from  the  pump- 
ing-station. This  tower,  125  feet  in  height, 
is  supported  on  17  columns,  which  rest 
upon  solid  granite  blocks  weighing  about 
six  tons  each.  It  is  of  larger  capacity  and  is 
25  feet  higher  than  the  old  tower  in  the 
Kiangse  Road,  and  it  is  designed  to  allow  of 
a  greater  pressure  being  put  on  the  water 
supply,  so  that  the  requirements  of  the  high 
buildings  now  being  erected  in  Shanghai 
may  be  inet.  The  towers  regulate  the 
pressure,  and  constitute  a  reserve  supply  of 
about  300,000  gallons  of  water.  The 
principal  mains  are  two  of  20  inches  and 
one  of  25  inches  in  diameter,  and  water  is 
supplied  through  these  at  a  pressure  of 
from  forty  to  fifty  pounds  to  the  square 
inch.  They  extend  nearly  to  the  Point  on 
the  Yangtszepoo  Road  in  one  direction,  to 
the  Rifle  Range  in  another,  and  to  Jesslield 
and  Siccawei    in  a  third. 

The  charges  made  for  the  supply  are  upon 
a  sliding  scale.  For  domestic  purposes  the 
maximum  charge  to  foreigners  is  4  per 
cent,  on  the  net  annual  rental,  and  to  natives 
5  per  cent.,  the  difference  being  made  on 
account  of  the  Chinese  occupying  much 
smaller  tenements,  at  rentals  proportionately 
much  lower  than  those  charged  to  foreigners. 
P'or  business  purposes  water  is  supplied  at 
40  Mexican  dollar  cents  per  thousand  gallons 
for  quantities  of  from  10,000  gallons  to 
200.000  gallons,  at  35  cents  per  thousand  for 
additional  quantities  up  to  500,000,  and  at 
30  cents  per  thousand  for  greater  quantities. 
Even  at  these  reasonable  rates  the  Shanghai 
Waterworks  Company,  Ltd.,  are  able  to 
show  year  by  year  a  handsome  return  on 
their   outlay,   and    it    is   satisfactory  to   note 


SHANGHAI     ■WATRRWORKS    COMPANY,    LTD. 
KiANCSE  Road  Axn  Sixza  Koad  Water  Towkrs.  the  Power  Hovse  (i88i). 

A  Bird's-eye  View  of  the  Works. 


394     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


ALEX.   UcLEOD, 

CUAIRUAN'    OF    DiRECIORS. 

that  the  public  now,  through  the  Municipal 
Council,  participate  to  a  large  degree  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  Company. 


The  Company  have  powerful  steam  water- 
boats  plying  on  the  river,  supplyinj;  water 
under  contract  to  vessels  in  the  harbour  and 
off  Woosung. 

It  may  be  added  that  the  Company  have 
large  showrooms  in  the  Kiangse  Road, 
containing  a  very  large  stock  of  the  latest 
hydraulic  fittings,  and  employ  a  large  staff  of 
skilled  workmen  lo  lay  on  hot  and  cold 
water  supplies  and  instal  heating  apparatus. 

The  head  offices  of  the  Company  are  at 
Shanghai.  The  directorate  includes  Messrs. 
.\.  McLeod  (who  has  been  chairman  in 
Shanghai  since  the  inception  of  the  Com- 
pany), L.  J.  Cubitt.  W.  D.  Little,  and  A.  Hide. 
Messrs.  E.  Pettit  (chairman),  E.  Iveson,  Cecil 
Hanbury,  and  W.  H.  Poate  form  the  I-ondon 
Committee,  with  Mr.  William  Walter  as 
secretary.  The  secretary  and  engiiieer-in- 
chief  in  Shanghai  is  Mr.  A.  P.  Wood,  M.I.C.E.. 
who  has  been  with  the  Company  since  1885. 
and  to  whose  initiative  much  of  the  progress 
made  by  the  Company  may  be  traced. 


THE   FRENCH   WATERWORKS. 

The  construction  of  the  Frencli  Waterworks 
was  begun  by  the  French  Municipality  in 
1900,  and  completed  in  February,  1902.  at  a 
total  cost  of  about  Tls.  350,000.  The  pumping- 
station  is  at  Tung-Ka-Doo,  and  the  water, 
derived  from  the  Wlnmgpoo,  is  driven  through 
the  mains  by  means  of  two  powerful  pumps. 
with  a  delivery  of  60  litres  per  second  each. 
The  water  tower,  from  which  pressure  is 
derived,  is  over  90  feet  in  height,  and  is 
situated   in  the  Place  du   Chateau   d'Eau,  on 


A.    P.    WOOD, 

Secretary  and  Manager. 

the  French  Bund.  At  the  beginning  of  May, 
1908,  the  waterworks  were  taken  over  by  the 
Cie.  Fran(,aise  de  Tramways  et  d'Eclairage 
Electriques  de  Shanghai.  The  present  output 
of  6,000  cubic  metres  per  diem  not  being 
sufficient  for  the  requirements  of  the  con- 
cession, the  pumping  plant  will  be  augmented, 
and  a  new  water  tower  will  be  erected  by 
the  Company,  while   the   whole   system    will 


PfMPIXO    EXOINES. 

A  Reservoir. 


SBANQHAI    WATERWORKS. 


Kiangse  Road  Viabuct. 

Pl!MPIX(i    KXGIXES. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     395 


undergo  extensive  repairs.  The  price  of  water 
to  ordinary  consumers  is  Tls. 007  per  cubic 
metre. 

SHANGHAI  MUNICIPAL 
ELECTRICITY    DEPARTMENT. 

"  The  undcrtakinj;  is  now  a  sound  com- 
mercial asset,  and,  tliough  it  may  be  some- 
what of  a  speculative  nature,  the  benefit  of 
a  cheap  supply  of  electricity  to  the  Settle- 
ment both  for  lighting  and  for  power  is  of 
immense  advantage.  The  financial  risks  are 
exceedingly  small  providing  care  is  exercised 
in  the  expenditure  upon  new  capital  account 
and  ample  provision  is  made  for  deprecia- 
tion." These  are  the  concluding  words 
of  an  eminently  satisfactory  report  made  bv 
Mr.  A.  H.  Preece,  M.Inst.C.E.,  E.E.,  after 
an  exhaustive  examination  of  the  Shanghai 
Municipal  electricity  works  and  plant  in 
October  of  last  year.  The  ratepayers  of 
Shanghai  have  the  cheapest  supply  of  elec- 
tric light  in  the  East,  and  for  a  capital  of 
Tls.  1,350,000  have  not  only  a  complete 
and  up-to-date  electrical  system  capable  of 
dealing  with  about  4.400  kilowatts  installed, 
or,  say,  a  maximum  load  of  about  3,200 
kilowatts,  but  an  undertaking  which,  as  a 
going  concern,  is  valued  at  some  ;f3oo.ooo. 

Electric  lighting  was  first  introduced  into 
Shanghai  some  twenty  years  ago  by  a 
private  company  which,  from  a  small 
generating  station  in  the  Chefoo  Road, 
supplied  current  for  a  limited  number  of 
street  lamps.  The  undertaking  never 
attained  large  proportions  and  in  1893, 
when  it  was  taken  over  by  the  Munici- 
pality there  were  only  151  arc  lamps 
and  the  equivalent  of  6,902  eight-candle- 
power  lamps  in  the  Settlement.     The  existing 


structed,  certain  alterations  were  made  in 
the  management,  the  most  modern  machinery 
was  introduced,  and,  as  a  result,  steady  and 
continuous  progress  has  been  made.  Last 
year,  in  order  to  secure  a  better  continuity 
of  control  than  was  practicable  under  a  com- 
mittee of  the  Council  whose  term  of  oftice 
expired  annually,  the  Council  delegated  the 
management  to  a  salaried  committee  of 
ratepayers  composed  of  Messrs.  J.  Grant 
Mackenzie,  E.  C.  Pearce,  and  H.  W.  Pitcher. 
The  supervision  of  the  whole  electric 
lighting  works  is  now  in  the  hands 
of  this  Committee,  but  in  order  that  the 
Council  may  be  kept  in  touch  with  the  depart- 
ment, and  in  formal  recognition  of  the 
Council's  responsibility,  resolutions  passed 
by  the  Committee  have  to  be  submitted  to 
the  next  ensuing  meeting  of  the  Council 
for  confirmation. 

The   following   table  shows   the  growth  of 
the  undertaking  from   1900  to   1907  : — 


have  to  be  enlarged  in  order  to  cope  with 
the  increased  demands  for  current.  Since 
1903  the  mileage  has  increased  annually  by 
36H,  340,  467,  373,  and  55-3X  miles.  Elec- 
tricity is  now  supplied  in  Shanghai  through 
a  net-work  of.  some  400  miles  of  mains. 
The  current  leaves  the  station  at  2,000  volts 
and,  after  being  transformed  in  the  various 
sub-stations,  is  distributed  to  private  houses 
at   200  volts. 

The  electrical  plant  at  the  Fearon  Road 
station,  although  continually  being  extended 
and  improved,  will  soon  become  inadequate 
if  the  demand  upon  it  continues  to  increase 
at  the  present  rate.  Plans  are  already  being 
prepared  for  a  new  station  in  order  that,  in 
the  future,  the  department  may  be  able  to 
cope  effectively  with  the  growing  require- 
ments of  the  locality.  The  equipment  at 
present  consists  of  six  Babcock  &  Wilcox 
water-tube  boilers,  fitted  with  chain  grate 
stokers    and    feed    water    heaters,    and    two 


Equivalent 
No.  of  8  c.  p. 

lamps 
connected. 

Per  cent 
increase. 

No.  of 
consumers 

added 
during  tlie 

year. 

Units   sold. 

Per  cent, 
increase. 

Coal. 
Tons. 

Lbs.  of  coal 

per  unit 

sold. 

Maximum 
load  k.w. 

Per 

cent. 

increase. 

1900 

17,148 

23 

54 

523.922 

11 

4,800 

2052 

292 

— 

I90I 

21,812 

27 

53 

568,669 

8 

4.850 

I910 

320 

9 

1902 

31.841 

46 

139 

754.342 

32 

4.570 

13-57 

444 

38 

1903 

42,500 

34 

270 

996,021 

32 

6,072 

13-65 

580 

26 

1904 

66,840 

57 

402 

1,214,562 

22 

8,679 

1600 

858 

48 

1905 

88,201 

31 

249 

1.776,323 

45 

10,629 

13-40 

1,090 

27 

1906 

108,525 

23 

414 

2.307.675 

30 

12,681 

1230 

1,411 

29 

1907 

140,846 

30 

529 

2.743.388 

19 

13.489 

IIOI 

1,630 

15 

The    total    number   of   arc   lamps   now    in 
use  for  street  lighting  is   238,   and   the   total 


SHANGHAI    MUNICIPAL    ELECTRICITY    -WORKS. 


power  st;ition  at  the  corner  of  the  Fearon 
and  Yuhang  Roads  was  erected  in  1896  in 
anticipation   of  future  developments. 

For  some  reason  or  other,  however,  in 
spite  of  the  great  increase  in  population, 
the  volume  of  business  under  municipal 
control  remained  almost  stationary  and, 
during  the  first  five  years,  the  enterprise 
proved  a  financial  failure.  In  1902,  there- 
fore,   the     whole     department     was    re-con- 


equivalent  of  eight-candle-power  incandescent 
lamps  for  lighting  side  streets  and  outlying 
roads  is  738.  During  1907,  713  additional 
electric  fans  were  connected,  bringing  the 
total  to  2,967.  Current  is  supplied,  at  the 
present  time,  for  motors  aggregating  400  h.p. 
and  for  23  elevators  aggregating  965  h.p. 
Each  year  additional  mains  are  laid  for  the 
transmission  of  energy  over  more  extensive 
areas,   and   not    infrequently    existing    mains 


water-tube  boilers  of  American  make.  The 
two  boilers,  which  were  put  down  last  year, 
are  not  only  the  largest  in  the  East,  but  also 
the  largest  that  Messrs.  Babcock  &  Wilcox 
have  ever  made,  having  a  capacity  of 
24,000  lbs.  an  hour.  The  engine-room  con- 
tains 2,400  k.w.  of  alternating  current  plant, 
besides  the  1,200  k.w.  direct  current  plant 
installed  for  supplying  power  to  the  tramw.iy 
service. 

When  considering  the  financial  results  of 
this  enterprise,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that 
the  primary  object  is  not  to  make  a  large 
profit  for  the  general  body  of  ratepayers  at 
the  expense  of  the  comparatively  limited 
number  of  consumers,  but  rather  to  provide 
an  efficient  supply  at  a  reasonable  charge. 
The  cost  of  lighting  has  been  reduced  fiom 
20  tael  cents  per  unit  to  14  tael  cents  per  unit, 
with  a  scale  of  discounts  for  large  consumers. 
The  street  lamps  are  provided  and  kept  in 
good  order  for  Tls.  175  a  year  each.  For 
power  supply  7  tael  cents  per  unit  is  charged, 
with  discounts  reducing  it  as  low  as  57  per 
unit  in  some  instances,  according  to  the 
number  of  hours  the  motors  are  in  use.  The 
charge  for  lifts  is  9  cents  per  unit,  while 
current  is  supplied  to  the  tramways  at  a 
special  scale  of  4'8  tael  cents  per  unit  for  the 
first  600,000  units,  4'6  tael  cents  for  the  next 
600,000,  and  4'4  tael  cents  for  any  greater 
quantity.  Notwithstanding  these  low  charges 
the  department  made  a  clear  profit  of 
Tls.  50,000  last  year  after  paying  interest  on 
debentures  and  allowing  a  large  sum  for 
depreciation  of  plant. 


ELECTRIC    LIGHT. 

The  French  Concession  is  supplied  with 
current  for  electric  lighting  by  the  Cie. 
P'rangaise  de  Tramways  et  d'Eclairage 
Electriques   de   Shanghai,   the   power  station 


396     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


being  the  same  as  that  in  which  the  energy 
(or  the  tramway  service  is  gt-nerated.  For 
street  lighting  purposes  there  are  at 
present  75  arc  lamps  and  200  incandescent 
lamps  ;  but  a  considerable  extension  is  con- 
templated, and,  in  order  to  carry  it  out,  two 
dynamos,  each  of  250  units,  will  be  added  to 
the  plant.  Current  is  supplied  to  the  French 
Municipal  Council  at  TIs.  007  per  unit,  and 
to  private  consumers  at  TIs.  O' 14  per  unit. 


THE   SHANGHAI 
GAS   COMPANY,    LTD. 

Gas  was  first  used  in  Shanghai  at  the 
txjginning  of  1865.  when  a  small  private 
company,  formed  a  few  months  previously. 
provided  the  supply.  The  capital  amounted 
at  the  outset  to  TIs.  100.000.  but  within  the 
first  twelve  months  it  was  increased  to 
TIs.  150.000.  A  small  plant  was  erected  upon 
a  site  in  Hankow  Ko:id,  and  some  8,600  yards 
of  mains  were  laid  for  supplying  gas  to  58 
consumers.  From  this  beginning  has  grown 
the  Shanghai  Gas  Company,  Ltd.,  which  now 
manufactures  more  gas  than  any  other  British 
company   outside    Europe   and    America,   ex- 


was  declared  in  i86(),  and  from  that  day  to 
this  an  average  return  of  from  12  to 
16  per  cent,  has  been  paid  on  the 
capital.  The  charges  made  to  consumers 
have  declined  as  steadily  as  the  quantity  of 
gas  manufactured  has  increased.  In  the  first 
year,  when  the  dollar  was  equivalent  to  4s., 
the  price  of  gas  was  $450  per  thousand  cubic 
feet  ;  now,  with  the  exchange  at  something 
t>elow  2s.,  a  similar  quantity  costs  $170. 

The  first  board  of  directors  included  Messrs. 
C.  J.  King.  E.  Whittall.  C.  D.  Nye,  and  Nichol 
Latimer.  None  of  these  gentlemen  now  take 
any  active  part  in  the  management  of  tlie 
Company,  but  it  is  interesting  to  note  that 
the  present  chairman.  Mr.  E.  Jenner  Hogg, 
joined  the  board  as  far  back  as  1869. 

Mr.  G.  R.  Wingrove,  who  has  been  resident 
in  the  East  for  the  past  thirty-two  years  and 
was  formerly  in  the  service  of  Messrs.  Brand 
Bros.  &  Co.,  has  been  secretary  to  the 
Company  since  1S95  ;  and  Mr.  H.  King 
Hiller,  M.I.Mech.E.,  has  carried  out  the 
duties  of  chief  engineer  during  the  same 
period.  There  are  some  twenty-five  foreigners 
on  the  staff,  and  regular  employment  is  given 
to  between  two  and  three  hundred  Chinese 
workmen. 


Municipal  Council  agreed  to  replace  the 
existing  Garden  and  Chekiang  Road  bridges 
with  two  new  steel  girder  bridges,  on  the 
understanding  that  as  soon  as  they  were 
ready  for  traffic  the  Construction  Company 
would  contribute  towards  the  cost  the  sums 
of  ;t5'5°o  ■"i<^  i;"2,ooo  respectively.  It  was 
further  arranged  that  if  it  should  be  necessary 
to  reconstruct  any  other  existing  bridges 
across  the  Soochow  Creek  in  order  to  allow 
of  the  extension  of  the  line  at  a  later  date, 
the  Company  should  furnish  ;£2,ooo  towards 
the  cost. 

The  route  mileage  of  the  tramways  is, 
approximately.  16  miles,  6J  miles  of  which 
are  double  track,  the  remaining  9J  miles 
being  single  track,  with  loops  at  frequent 
intervals.  The  total  length  of  equivalent 
single  track  is  thus  about  25J  miles,  and 
when  this  is  linked  up,  as  proposed,  with  the 
tramways  in  the  French  Settlement,  there 
will  be  a  ready  means  of  access  to  all  parts. 
The  narrowness  of  the  streets  has  necessitated 
the  laying  of  a  narrow  gauge  line.  The 
road-bed  is  generally  of  a  macadam 
construction,  with  granite  setts,  measuring  4 
inches  by  9  inches  by  5  inches  deep  on  either 
side  of  the  rails.  These  setts  rest  on  a  6-inch 
bed  of  concrete,  which  extends  the  full  width 


THE    GAS    WORKS. 


cepting  only  the  gas  companies  at  Sydney, 
Melbourne,  Toronto,  and  Montreal. 

In  less  than  eighteen  months  after  they 
were  opened,  the  works  in  Hankow  Road 
were  removed  to  the  site  which  they  now 
occupy  in  Sinza  Road.  In  1866  the  amount 
of  gas  sold  was  5,318,000  cubic  feet  ;  in  1886, 
42,703,000  cubic  feet;  in  1895.  110,000,000 
cubic  feet  ;  and  in  1901,  160,000,000  cubic 
feet  At  the  present  day  about  495.000,000 
cubic  feet  of  gas  are  manufactured  in  the 
twelve  months  ;  the  consumers  number  fully 
8,000,  and  the  mains  are  estimated  to  be 
about  76}  miles  in  length.  The  works  are 
equipped  with  machinery  of  the  most  mtjdern 
description,  and  have  a  capacity  for  the 
manufacture  of  3,000.000  cubic  feet  of  gas 
a  day. 

To  enable  the  Company  to  respond  to 
the  growing  demands  made  upon  it,  the 
capital  has  been  increased  from  time  to 
time.  It  was  raised  in  1885  to  TIs.  200,000, 
and  in  1896  to  TIs.  300,000.  In  1901  the 
Company  was  incorporated  under  the  Hong- 
kong Ordinances  as  a  limited  liability  com- 
pany, with  a  paid-up  capital  of  TIs.  400,000  and 
a  nominal  capital  of  TIs.  2,500,000.  To-day 
the  paid-up  capital  amounts  to  TIs.  1,200,000. 

From  a  profit-making  point  of  view  the 
Company  has  been  eminently  successful.  The 
first   dividend,    amounting    to    12    per   cent., 


THE    SHANGHAI    ELECTRIC 
TRAMWAYS. 

Electric  cars  were  first  seen  in  the  streets 
of  Shanghai  at  the  beginning  of  March,  1908. 
The  history  of  their  introduction  is  long 
and  complicated,  the  negotiations  preliminary 
to  the  construction  of  the  line  extending  over 
many  years.  The  idea,  indeed,  was  mooted 
as  far  back  as  1882.  At  different  limes 
several  English  companies  obtained  the 
necessary  concession  from  the  Municipal 
Council,  but  were  unable  to  raise  enough 
money  to  ensure  the  successful  completion 
of  their  schemes,  and  one  firm  as  a  result 
forfeited  the  £^5,000  which  they  had  deposited. 
On  October  10,  1905,  however,  Messrs. 
Bruce,  Peebles  &  Co.,  electric  contractors,  of 
Edinburgh,  obtained,  through  their  agents  in 
Shanghai,  Messrs.  S.  H.  Shorrock  &  Co.,  a 
concession  for  thirty-five  years.  The  Shanghai 
Electric  Construction  Company  was  then 
floated,  with  a  capital  of  ;^320,ooo,  and,  in 
December  of  the  same  year,  took  over  the 
agreement,  on  the  condition  that  Bruce, 
Peebles  &  Co.  received  the  contract  for  the 
construction  and  equipment  of  the  system. 
The  first  sod  was  cut  on  April  24,  1906,  and 
the  work,  facilitated  by  the  flatness  of  the 
district,  was  completed  in   two   years.      The 


of  the  track  and  18  inches  beyond  it.  Along 
the  Bund  and  in  the  Nanking  Road,  the 
principal  business  thoroughfares  used  by 
foreigners,  hard  Australian  Jarrah  wood 
blocks,  the  first  used  for  road- work  in  China, 
have  been  laid  on  a  6-inch  bed  of  concrete. 
The  rails  are  of  the  grooved  girder  pattern, 
weighing  90  pounds  to  the  yard,  and  of  the 
British  standard.  On  sharp  curves,  rails  of 
96  pounds  to  the  yard  and  with  a  slightly 
wider  groove  are  used.  The  points  and 
crossings  are  of  Manganese  steel,  12  feet 
in  length,  with  a  radius  of  150  feet.  Where 
the  track  is  .single  and  the  width  of  the 
roadway  permits,  the  overhead  trolley  wires 
are  supported  on  bracket  arms  projecting 
from  steel  poles  sunk  6  feet  in  the  ground 
at  intervals  of  40  yards.  Where  the  track 
is  double,  similar  poles  with  span  wire 
suspension  have  been  adopted.  Insulators, 
sectional  switches,  lightning  arrestors,  choking 
coils,  &c.,  are  provided  in  accordance  with 
the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  British 
Board  of  Trade,  and  a  complete  telephone 
system  is  installed  providing  means  of 
communication  between  the  section  boxes, 
power  house,  and  car  depot.  The  trans- 
mission cables  to  feed  the  overhead  line 
are  all  laid  underground,  and  special  attention 
was  given  to  their  insulation.  They  were  sup- 
plied by  Callender's  Cable  Company,  and  are 


ri  3  BKoaw  ';-.Tir«.'''S;;^-,iu%4i .  ■>■"*!" 


t  III)  Ml  I    I 


SHANGHAI    GAS    COMPANY,   LTD. 
The  Smowkooms  ix  Xaxkixc,  Hoad. 

A   ViKW  OK  TitK  WOKKS. 


THE_  Rktorts. 
The  Oi-fices. 


3J)8     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


laid  on  the  solid  system,  the  cables  resting 
on  gla/ed  earthenware  bridge  pieces  in 
\itntied  earthenware  troughs,  the  vacant 
spitccs  between  the  cables  and  the  troughs 
being  tilled  with  refined  Trinidad  bitumen. 

The  Company  obtain  the  necessary  power 
from  the  Municipal  Electricity  Department 
under  agreement.  A  direct  current  at  500 
volts  is  supplied  to  the  tramways  at  a  traction 
switchboard  erected  in  the  Municipal  Lighting 
Station  in  Yuhang  Kmd.  a  special  plant 
c»>nsisting  of  two  sets  of  Relliss  &  Morcom 
engines,  and  two  Bruce  Peebles,  600  k.w. 
direct  current  generators  being  installed  for 
the  purpose.  The  engines  are  of  the  vertical 
enclosed  high  speed  tyjie,  and  are  designed 
to  run  at  230  revolutions  a  minute.  There 
is  also  a  supplementary  motor  generator  of 
300  k.w.  c^apacity,  capable  of  producing 
cither  direct  current  for  the  tramways,  or 
alternating  current  for  lighting  purposes. 

The  rolling  sttxk  consists  of  65  cars,  and 
for  the  accommodation  of  these  a  large 
depot  has  been  erected  at  the  junction  of 
the  Hart  and  Great  Western  Roads.  Each 
car  is  divided  into  two  compartments, 
designed  to  seat  respectively  twelve  first-class 
and  twenty  second-class  passengers.  The 
scats  in  the  first-class  compartment  are 
covered  with  rattan,  while  those  in  the 
second  are  of  wood,  and  a  sliding  door 
separates  the  two  classes.  The  cars  are 
lighted  by  electricity,  and  are  provided  with 
side  windows  and  sun  shutters,  small  upper 
windows  and  roof  ventilators,  all  of  which 
can  be  thrown  open  to  admit  a  current  of 
air  during  the  hot  weather.     The  drivers  and 


conductors  are  Chinese.  They  were  quick 
to  learn  their  new  duties,  and  have  since 
proved  themselves  to  be  skilful  and  efficient 
operators. 

The  whole  work  of  construction  was 
carried  out  by  native  labour  under  European 
supervision.  Mr.  Jameson  was  the  eiigineer- 
in-chief  for  Messrs.  Bruce,  Peebles  &  Co., 
and  the  work  of  the  contractors  was 
supervised  by  Mr.  W.  K.  Wright,  as  the 
representative  of  Messrs.  Harper  Bros.,  Ltd., 
London,  the  consulting  engineers  for  the 
Company.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  work 
Mr.  Wright,  who  has  had  considerable 
experience  in  the  construction  of  tramways 
in  different  parts  of  the  world,  was  appointed 
temporarily  general-manager  of  the  system. 
Two  or  three  months  after  the  opening  of 
the  line  the  permanent  general  manager, 
Mr.  Donald  McColl,  of  the  London 
Underground  Railways,  and  formerly  of  the 
Lisbon  Electric  Tramways  and  the  Glasgow 
Corporation  Trainways,  arrived  in  Shanghai 
and  assumed  control  of  the  system. 

It  is  too  early  yet  to  make  any  definite 
statement  regarding  the  prospects  of  the 
enterprise  from  a  profit  making  point  of 
view,  but,  judging  from  the  number  of 
passengers  carried  during  the  first  months, 
the  financial  success  of  the  undertaking 
seems  to  be  assured.  The  Municipal  Council 
receives  a  royalty  of  5  per  cent,  on  the  gross 
traffic  receipts.  At  the  outset  the  rickshaw 
coolies  naturally  viewed  the  invasion  of  their 
privileges  with  great  disfavour,  and  it  was 
rumoured  that  active  opposition  would  be 
offered,  but  they  are  growing  accustomed  to 


this  new  form  of  competition,  and  accept  it 
with  philosophic  calm,  amounting  almost  to 
indifference. 


THE    FRENCH   TRAMWAYS. 

Thk  French -tramway  system  extends  for  ten 
miles,  the  roads  traversed  being  the  French 
Bund.  Rue  du  Consulat,  Avenue  Paul  Brunat, 
Rue  Hue,  and  Route  Franyaise  de  Zikawei. 
At  present  the  system  is  distinct  from  that 
laid  down  in  the  International  Settlement, 
but  arrangements  for  a  joint  service  between 
the  two  systems  are  now  pending.  Complete 
monopoly  of  the  French  system  is  enjoyed 
by  the  Cie  Fninvaise  de  Tramways  et 
d'Eclairage  Electriques  de  Shanghai,  which 
has  also  the  monopoly  of  the  electric  light 
and  water  supply  in  the  French  Concession. 
The  Company  was  floated  in  June,  1906, 
with  a  capital  of  3,200,000  francs— increased 
in  the  following  year  by  1,000,000  francs. 
The  head  office  is  at  No.  5,  Rue  Chauchat, 
while  the  Shanghai  oflice  is  at  No.  4.  Quai 
du  Yang-king-pang.  The  work  of  installation 
was  entrusted  to  two  contractors.  The  Cie. 
General  Electrique  de  Nancy  built  the  power 
station,  which  is  situated  at  Lockawei,  and 
is  equipped  with  three  dynamos  of  250  units, 
each,  one  of  350  units,  and  one  of  50  units. 
These  dynamos  supply  a  continuous  current 
of  500  volts,  and  can  be  used  at  will,  either 
for  the  tramways  or  for  electric  lighting, 
Messrs.  Bruce,  Peebles  Ai'^Co.  laid  the  track 
and  supplied  the  cars. 


SHANGHAI   ELECTRIC    TRAMWAYS. 


LAYIXO  the  TR«CK  tx  BUBBLIXO  WELL  ROAU. 

The  Car  Shei>  and  Type  of  Cars. 


Ox  THE  New  Garden  IiRn)GE. 


LOCAL    GOVERNMENT    AND    LAW. 


By   H.   a.  Cartwright, 


IHE  Foreign  Settlement  of 
Shanghai  is  held  on  a  per- 
petual lease  from  the  Emperor 
of  China,  and  is  divided  into 
two  portions  for  administrative 
purposes.  The  older  and  hy 
far  the  larger  part  is  commonly 
referred  to  as  the  International  Settlement, 
while  the  other  is  known  as  the  French 
Concession.  Contrary  to  popular  belief,  the 
existence  of  the  French  Settlement  does  not 
imply  any  special  privilege  to  F"rench  citizens. 
'I'his  was  stated  specifically  in  the  corre- 
spondence which  passed  between  Lord  Salis- 
bury and  the  French  Ambassador  in  1900, 
and  was  one  of  the  grounds  upon  which  the 
British  Government  gave  their  support  to 
an  application  for  the  extension  of  the 
Concession. 

The  International  Settlement  is  endowed 
with  a  democratic  form  of  local  government 
that  is  in  strong  contrast  to  the  bureaucratic 
administration  of  Hongkong.  The  exclusive 
possession  of  no  one  nation  but  the  protegee 
of  all  the  powers  having  treaties  with  China, 
it  escapes  many  irritating  restrictions  while 
enjoying  perfect  security.  Subject  only  to  the 
limitations  of  the  Land  Regulations,  which 
have  been  revised  from  time  to  time  by  the 
community,  and  endorsed  by  the  Foreign 
Ministers  and  the  Impeiial  Government  at 
Peking,  the  foreign  residents  are  as  free  to 
manage  their  own  affairs  without  hindrance 
or  interference  as  are  the  citizens  of  any 
incorporated  town  in  Great  Britain.  A 
Municipal  Council  is  elected  annually  by 
popular  vote  to  administer  local  affairs  in 
accordance  with  the  express  will  of  the  rate- 
payers, who  retain  in  their  own  hands  the 
power  to  levy  rates  and  sanction  new 
schemes. 

A  form  of  municipal  government  has  been 
established,  also,  in  the  adjacent  French 
Concession,  which  possesses  a  separate 
Charter  ;  but,  although  the  Council  here  is 
elected  on  a  wider  basis  than  that  in  the 
neighbouring  Settlement,  it  is  really  an 
advisory  body  unable  to  act  without  the 
consent  of  the  Consul,  who  alone  is  responsible 
for  the  control  of  the  police  and  the  pre- 
servation of  good  order. 


To  understand  clearly  how  the  present 
regime  has  been  established,  it  is  necessary 
logo  back  to  the  year  1842,  when  Shanghai 
was  first  opened  to  foreign  trade  under  the 
Treaty  of  Nanking.  By  Article  II,  of  this 
instrument,  it  was  provided  that  British 
subjects  with  their  families  and  establish- 
ments should  be  allowed  to  reside  in  Canton, 
Amoy,  Foochow,  Ningpo,  and  Shanghai,  for 
the  purpose  of  carrying  on  their  mercantile 
pursuits,  without  molestation  or  restraint,  and 
that  in  each  place  a  British  Superintendent, 
or  Consular  Officer,  should  be  appointed  to 
serve  as  a  medium  of  communication  between 
the  Chinese  authorities  and  the  British  com- 
munity. A  set  of  Land  Regulations  was 
drafted  three  years  later  by  Taoutai  Kung  and 
Captain  Balfour,  the  British  Consul,  giving 
British  merchants  in  Shanghai  permission  to 
acquire  and  hold  real  estate  subject  to  the 
right  of  the  Chinese  to  visit  any  graves  on 
the  property  during  the  "  Tsing  Ming " 
P'estival.  The  boundaries  of  the  Settlement 
were,  on  the  north,  the  line  of  the  present 
Peking  Road,  soon  extended  to  the  Soochow 
Creek ;  on  the  south,  the  Yang-king-pang ; 
and  on  the  east,  the  Whangpoo.  It  was  not 
until  some  tifne  later  that  the  line  of  the 
Defence  Creek  was  made  the  western 
boundary. 

Originally  it  was  the  intention  of  Captain 
Balfour  to  purchase  in  the  name  of  Her 
Britannic  Majesty  from  the  Chinese  Govern- 
ment a  plot  of  land  sufficient  for  a  foreign 
settlement,  and  re-sell  it  afterwards  in  lots  to 
suit  purchasers.  The  Taoutai,  however,  would 
not  agree  to  this,  and  insisted  that  individuals 
should  be  left  to  make  their  own  bargains 
with  the  existing  owners  -a  proceeding 
attended  with  no  little  difficulty  owing  to  the 
natural  genius  of  the  Chinese  for  chaffering, 
and  their  prejudice  against  foreigners,  which, 
always  strong,  was  intensified  by  recent 
hostilities.  Ten  mow  of  land  were  the  most 
that  any  holder  might  occupy.  It  is  worthy 
of  note,  in  view  of  the  conditions  prevailing 
in  the  Settlement  to-day,  that  any  foreigners, 
other  than  British,  who  might  be  desirous 
of  participating  in  this  privilege,  were  directed 
by  the  native  authorities  to  make  "  distinct 
application    to   the    British    Consul  to   know 


whether  such  can  be  acceded  to,  so  as  to 
prevent  misunderstanding."  At  that  date  the 
only  Consulate  in  the  Settlement  was  British. 

In  the  year  following  the  arrival  of  the 
British,  that  is  to  say,  1843,  a  "Committee  of 
Roads  and  Jetties,"  composed  of  "three  up- 
right British  merchants,"  was  appointed  by 
the  British  Consul,  for  the  purpose  which  its 
name  indicates.  The  necessary  money  for 
carrying  on  this  early  form  of  local  govern- 
ment was  provided  by  a  tax  upon  imports 
and  exports.  Owing  to  the  large  number 
of  Chinese  who,  after  the  capture  of  the 
native  city  by  the  Triad  rebels  in  1853,  were 
mercifully  allowed  to  seek  shelter  in  the 
Foreign  Settlement,  notwithstanding  a  pro- 
hibition contained  in  the  Land  Regulations, 
the  "Committee  of  Roads  and  Jetties"  found 
it  necessary  to  ask  for  assistance  in  managing 
the  affairs  of  the  rapidly  growing  community. 
A  Municipal  Council  of  seven  members  was 
accordingly  elected  on  July  23,  1854.  under 
a  new  set  of  LjukI  Regulations,  which  con- 
ferred a  vote  upon  foieign  land  renters  of 
every  nationality,  and  provided  that  all 
foreign-owned  land  should  henceforth  be 
registered  at  the  purchaser's  own  Consulate. 
Thus,  the  exclusive  British  privileges,  which 
had  always  been  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the 
other  nations  represented  at  the  port,  were 
allowed  to  lapse.  The  right  of  other  nations 
to  fly  Consular  flags  in  the  "  British  Settle- 
ment" was  conceded  after  a  long  but  friendly 
discussion  between  the  British  and  American 
authorities. 

The  French,  who  received  permission 
under  the  Treaty  of  VVhampoa,  in  1844,  to 
settle  in  any  of  the  Treaty  ports,  obtained 
through  their  Consul  in  Shanghai  (M.  de 
Montigny),  a  concession  from  the  Taoutai,  in 
1849,  consisting  of  the  land  stretching  from 
the  Yang-king-pang  canal  to  the  native  city, 
and  from  the  Whangpoo  to  Roanti's  Pagoda. 
The  most  valuable  portion  of  this  concession, 
which  embraced  an  area  of  650  mow,  or 
108  acres,  lay  along  the  river  bank,  and 
proved  too  costly  at  that  time  for  the  French 
to  acquire  it ;  but  a  few  years  later  they 
obtained  this  riverside  suburb,  which  had 
been  laid  waste  by  tire  in  the  struggle 
between  the   Imperialists   and   the    Triads,  in 


4Q0     TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


return  for  their  services  in  helping  to  drive 
the  rebels  from  the  native  city.  In  this  con- 
cession a  Municipal  Council  was  established 
in  1862,  and  a  separate  set  of  Land  Regu- 
lations was  obtained  four  years  later  by 
direction  of  the  French  Government,  which 
disapproved  of  the  arrangement  entered  into 
by  their  own  Consul,  and  the  representatives 
of  the  other  Powers  at  the  port  in  1854. 

The  Americans,  who  had  settled  in  Hong- 
kew,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Soochow 
Creek,  under  the  terms  of  the  Treaty  of 
Whang-Hia  1 1844).  although  there  is  nothing 
in  the  records  to  show  that  they  were  ever 
granted  a  concession,  decided  in  1863  to 
amalgamate  with  the  so-called  Briti^h  Settle- 
ment, and  thus  the  International  Settlement 
was  formed. 

In  1861)  the  Land  Regulations  received  the 
recognition  of  the  Consuls,  and  the  Council 
were  enabled  to  assess  resident  natives  for 
the  purpose  of  taxation.  But,  though  an  ad- 
vance upon  those  which  had  preceded  them, 
these  regulations  soon  proved  inadequate, 
and  in  1873  a  committee  of  ratepayers  was 
appointed  to  draw  up  a  fresh  set.  Revisions 
continued  to  be  made  until  1881.  but  during 
the  whole  of  this  time  the  Ministers  at 
Peking  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  all  appeals  for 
their  approval,  which,  indeed,  was  withheld 
until  1899.  In  the  meantime  it  was  of  course 
competent  for  any  litigious  person  to  dispute 
the  validity  of  the  regulations. 

Under  the  revised  rules  the  International 
Concession  is  administered  by  a  Municipal 
Council  of  nine  memlxjrs,  elected  annually 
by  public  vote  at  a  meetmg  of  foreign  rate- 
payers. The  date  for  the  election  of  the 
Council  is  fixed  by  the  foreign  Treaty  Con- 
suls as  early  as  possible  in  January  or 
February  in  each  year,  and  fourteen  days' 
notice  of  it  must  be  given  to  the  ratepayers. 

Any  two  persons  entitled  to  vote  may 
nominate  any  duly  qualified  person  as  a 
candidate  for  the  Council  not  later  than  one 
week  before  the  date  fixed  for  the  election. 
In  the  event  ot  the  nominations  exceeding 
nine  in  number,  a  poll  is  taken  during  two 
consecutive  days,  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark 
that  voting  papers  have  to  bear  the  signature 
of  the  voter.  If  fewer  than  five  nominations 
are  received,  a  ratepayers'  meeting  must  be 
called,  to  elect,  by  ballot  or  otherwise  as  may 
be  decided,  as  many  more  representatives  as 
may  be  requisite  to  bring  the  total  up  to  a 
minimum  of  five.  Every  foreigner,  either 
individually  or  as  a  member  of  a  firm,  resid- 
ing in  the  Settlement  is  entitled  to  vote  if  he 
has  paid  all  taxes  due,  and  is  an  owner  of 
land  valued  at  TIs.  500,  whose  annual  payment 
of  assessment  does  not  amount  to  less  than 
TIs.  10,  or  who  is  a  householder  paying  rates 
on  an  assessed  rental  of  TIs.  500  per  annum. 
As  in  England,  the  voters'  list  is  revised 
annually.  In  the  event  of  being  absent  from 
a  settlement,  a  ratepayer  may  vote  by  proxy, 
but  no  firm  is  entitled  to  exercise  more  than 
one  vote.  The  qualification  of  a  member  of 
the  Council  is  the  payment  of  rates  amount- 
ing to  Tls.50  a  year,  or  the  occupation  of  a 
house  assessed  at  a  rental  of  Tls.i,20o  per 
annum. 

A  public  meeting  of  the  ratepayers  must 
he  held  after  twenty-one  days'  notice  in 
January  or  February  to  decide  upon  the 
rate  to  be  levied  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  on  the  government  of  the  Settle- 
ment It  is  stipulated  that  the  proportion 
between  the  tax  on  the  gross  value  of  land 
and  on  the  annual  rental  of  houses  shall 
always  be  as  one  is  to  twenty.  By  resolu- 
tion of  the  ratepayers  dues  may  be 
imposed  on  all  imports  into  or  exports 
from     the     Settlement,  provided     that     they 


do  not,  in  any  case,  e.\ceed  one-tenth  of 
one  per  cent,  on  the  value  of  the  goods. 

At  the  aimual  meeting  of  the  land  renters, 
the  out-going  Council  gives  a  detailed  account 
of  its  stewardship  during  the  preceding 
year,  and  submits  for  endorsement  an  audited 
statement  of  the  accounts,  which  has  been 
published  ten  days  previously  ;  proposals  for 
the  conduct  of  affairs  during  the  forthcom- 
ing year  and  detailed  estimates  of  receipts 
and  exjienses  are  presented  to  the  meeting 
for  consideration  and  approval.  It  will  thus 
be  seen  that  the  members  of  the  Council  are 
in  a  very  literal  sense  representatives  of  the 
general  community. 

The  chairman  and  vice-chairman  are  elected 
at  the  first  meeling  of  the  new  Council,  and, 
like  their  colleagues,  hold  office  for  twelve 
months  Three  members  of  the  Council 
constitute  a  quorum  for  the  despatch  of  busi- 
ness. The  Council  is  authorised  to  fill,  by 
co-option,  vacancies,  not  exceeding  three  in 
number,  which  may  occur  in  its  member- 
ship during  its  term  of  office.  The  officers 
of  the  Council  are  appointed  only  for  three 
years,  unless  a  longer  term  is  sanctioned  by 
a  public  meeling  of  ratepayers. 

The  Council  is  empowered  to  make  and 
amend  by-laws  providing  they  be  not 
repugnant  to  the  provisions  of  the  Land 
Regulations  and  do  not  come  into  operation 
until  approved  by  a  majority  of  the  Consuls 
and  Ministers  of  foreign  Powers  having 
treaties  with  China,  and  by  the  ratepayers 
in  special  meeting  assembled.  Regulations 
governing  building  construction  and  sanita- 
tion do  not  come  into  force  until  six  months 
after  publication  and  must  be  submitted  to 
the  Land  Commissioners  for  their  informa- 
tion. For  breaches  of  the  by-laws  offenders 
may  be  summoned  before  a  foreign  Consul 
and  mulcted  in  a  fine  not  exceeding  $300,  or 
sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  a  term  not 
exceeding  six  months. 

New  roads  may  be  constructed  in  the 
Settlement,  after  due  notice  has  been  given 
by  advertisement  in  English,  so  as  to  afford 
frontagers  an  opportunity  of  stating  any 
objections  which  they  may  have,  and  two- 
thirds  of  the  total  cost  of  the  work  may, 
unless  otherwise  decided,  be  recovered  from 
the  frontagers. 

The  Council  may  acquire  land  within  the 
area  of  its  administration  by  compulsory 
purchase,  compensation  being  awarded  after 
due  inquiry  into  the  circumstances  by  three 
Land  Commissioners,  appointed  respectively 
at  the  beginning  of  each  year  by  the  Council, 
by  the  registered  owners  of  land  in  the 
Settlement  who  pay  taxes  amounting  to  not 
less  than  TIs.io  per  annum,  and  by  the  rate- 
payers. Any  land  required  for  the  purpose 
of  constructing  a  railway  may,  with  the 
approval  of  the  Council,  be  obtained  in  the 
same  manner  after  a  plan  has  been  deposited 
with  the  Council  showing  how  the  public 
rights  will  be  affected  by  the  projected  line. 

A  public  meeting  of  the  ratepayers  may 
be  convened  at  any  time  after  ten  days' 
notice  by  the  foreign  Consuls,  either  col- 
lectively or  singly,  or  by  twenty-five  electors 
for  the  consideration  of  any  question  affect- 
ing the  municipality.  Any  resolution  passed 
at  such  a  meeting  is  valid  and  binding  upon 
the  whole  of  the  electors  if  not  less  than 
one-third  of  their  number  was  either  present 
or  represented.  Should  a  decision  be  come 
to  upon  any  subject  of  which  notice  has  not 
previously  been  given  it  cannot  be  carried 
into  effect  without  the  approval  of  the 
Consuls.  In  this  way  any  person  who  con- 
siders that  his  interests  are  prejudiced  by 
the  decision  is  given  an  opportunity  of 
representing      his      case      to     the     Consuls. 


Alterations  or  definitions  of  the  Land 
Regulations  can  only  be  made  by  the 
foreign  Consuls  and  local  Chinese  authori- 
ties, with  the  approval  of  the  foreign 
representatives  and  the  Imperial  Government 
at   Peking. 

In  theory  those  foreigners  who  reside 
beyond  the  municipal  limits  are  subject  to 
Chinese  regime,  but  in  practice  they  live 
under  similar  conditions  to  those  within  the 
Settlement.  They  pay  the  same  ground-tax 
to  the  Chinese  authorities,  and  one-half  the 
ordinary  general  municipal  rate  to  the  munici- 
pality. As  there  is  no  statutory  power  to 
obtain  this  contribution  to  the  Municipal 
Exchequer,  an  arrangement  has  been  made 
with  the  Waterworks  Company  under  which 
only  those  who  accept  liability  are  supplied 
with  water. 

The  French  Council,  consisting  of  four 
Frenchmen  and  four  representatives  of  other 
nationalities,  is  elected  by  all  owners  of  land 
in  the  Concession,  by  occupiers  paying  a 
rental  of  1,000  francs  per  annum,  ;ind  by 
residents  with  an  annual  income  of  4,000 
francs — irrespective  of  nationality,  except  that 
they  must  be  foreigners.  Each  candidate 
must  be  nominated  by  two  Frenchmen  and 
two  other  foreign  ratepayers,  and  voting  is 
by  ballot.  The  term  of  office  is  two  years, 
one-half  of  the  Council  retiring  ainuially. 
Although  the  Consul  is  nominally  president 
of  the  Council,  he  invariably  delegates  his 
powers,  and  a  chairman  is  chosen  by  the 
members  themselves.  In  the  event  of  the 
voting  upon  any  question  being  equally 
divided,  however,  the  Consul  reserves  the 
right  to  give  a  casting  vote.  The  Council 
possesses  full  administrative  powers,  subject  to 
the  veto  of  the  Consul,  for,  while  the  general 
body  of  ratepayers  is  called  together  to 
consider  matters  of  more  than  ordinary 
interest  and  importance,  or  to  express  its 
opinion  on  some  proposed  innovation,  there 
is  no  recognised  annual  meeting  of  residents, 
such  as  that  held  in  the  Foreign  Settlement. 

The  revenue  of  the  Council  is  obtained 
from  various  sources.  Foreigners  pay  a  rate 
of  one-half  per  cent,  upon  the  value  of  land 
and  of  8  per  cent,  upon  the  annual  rental  of 
buildings  which  they  occupy  within  municipal 
limits,  while  Chinese  contribute  12  per  cent, 
of  the  amount  of  their  rent.  Shipping  com- 
panies using  the  river  frontage  are  charged 
TIs.  250  a  year  for  each  square  foot  of  land 
which  they  occupy,  and  the  Commissioner  of 
Customs  pays  direct  to  the  credit  of  the 
Council  a  percentage  of  the  wh;u'f;ige  dues 
collected.  The  tramways,  waterworks,  and 
electric  lighting  undertakings  in  the  Con- 
cession each  furnish  a  moiety  of  their 
receipts  to  the  municipality,  and  a  certain 
income  is  derived  from  the  taxation  of 
rickshaws,  carriages,  and  motor  cars.  Since 
1900  the  Council  has  purchased  outside  its 
own  boundaries  roads  extending  as  far  back 
as  the  Siccawei  Observatory.  These  are 
maintained  by  the  municipal  engineers,  and 
are  patrolled  by  the  French  police,  and,  in 
return  for  these  advantages,  a  contribution  is 
obtained,  by  arrangement  with  the  water  and 
electric  lighting  companies,  from  the  occupiers 
of  houses  equal  to  8  per  cent,  of  their  rentals, 
and  from  the  owners  of  waste  land  equal  to 
one  per  cent,  of  the  value  of  their  property. 

The  limits  of  the  International  Settlement 
were  extended  in  1899  to  enclose  33,503  mow, 
or  nearly  9  square  miles,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  the  area  of  the  French  Concession 
was  increased  to  about  1,625  'now,  or  270  acres. 
These  are  the  dimensions  at  the  present 
time  of  that  which,  strictly  speaking,  constitutes 
the  P'oreign  Settlement  of  Shanghai,  though, 
as  we  have   seen,   the   influence   of    the   two 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     401 


Municipal  Councils  is  not  really  restricted 
to  this  area. 

THE   LAWS   AND   THEIR   ADMINIS- 
TRATION. 

The  administration  of  the  law  in  Shanghai, 
considering  the  volume  of  business  transacted 
at  the  port  and  tlie  amount  of  property,  the 
ownership  of  which  depends  upon  the  deci- 
sion of  the  Courts,  would  be  a  hopeless 
anomaly  to  a  practised  lawyer.  If  the  state 
of  things  that  prevails  were  to  be  described 
to  a  learned  theoretic  professor  at  a  univer- 
sity in  the  West,  he  would  probably  say  that 
no  civilised  existence  could  be  led  by  men 
under  such  conditions,  and  yet  the  cosmo- 
politan community  live  together  in  surprising 
peace  and  good  order. 

The  present  regime  began  in  a  small  way. 
For  several  years  after  the  port  was  opened 
the  foreign  population  did  not  exceed  two 
hundred,  and  consisted  mainly  of  British 
merchants  with  a  sprinkling  of  Americans 
and  French.  The  laws  of  China  being  quite 
unsuitable  to  the  requirements  of  Western 
existence,  the  old  method,  known  and  prac- 
tised for  nearly  two  thousand  years  in  the 
Mediterranean,  was  introduced,  namely,  the 
application  to  individuals  not  of  the  laws  of 
the  place  in  which  the  magistrate  sat,  but 
of  the  law  of  the  State  from  which  the 
defendant  came.  The  result  to-day  is  that 
each  foreigner  in  China  who  is  the  subject 
of  a  Treaty  Power  brings  the  law  of  his 
country  with  him,  and  the  Chinese  are  an- 
swerable to  their  own  law.  In  the  Settle- 
ment of  Shanghai  the  Chinese  Government 
is  represented  by  a  magistrate,  who  sits  with 
a  foreign  assessor,  and  administers  justice  to 
the  Chinese  residents,  while  foreigners  are 
subject  to  the  tribunals  appointed  by  their 
sovereigns — sometimes  a  Court  and  some- 
times a  Consul,  who  combines  with  his 
ordinary  consular  duties  judicial  functions. 
The  existing  Courts  are  those  of  all  the 
foreign  Powers — nearly  twenty  in  number 
— which  have  treaties  with  China  and  are 
represented  in  Shanghai.  The  law  applied 
by  these  foreign  Courts  is  the  law  which  has 
been  instituted  by  the  several  States  for  the 
government  of  their  subjects  in  China.  The 
English  Court  is  established,  and  its  juris- 
diction defined,  by  Orders  of  the  King  in 
Council,  under  the  authority  of  the  Foreign 
Jurisdiction  Act.  These  Orders,  in  the  main, 
apply  to  British  subjects  in  China  the  law 
of  England  for  the  time  being,  with  such 
additions  and  modifications  as  peculiar  local 
circumstances  render  necessary.  Special 
offences  are  created,  such,  for  instance,  as 
disrespect  to  the  religious  customs  of  the 
Chinese,  or  smugghng  in  contravention  of 
the  Chinese  Customs  Regulations. 

In  disputes  between  foreigners  the  prin- 
ciple obtains  that  the  plaintiff  or  complainant 
follows  the  defendant,  and  for  dealing  with 
minor  cases  Police  Courts  are  held  at  the 
various  Consulates.  For  the  settlement  of  all 
civil  causes  in  which  the  plaintiff  is  a  foreigner 
and  the  defendant  a  Chinese,  and  for  the 
trial  of  natives  charged  with  criminal  offences 
in  the  Concessions,  or  with  infractions  of  the 
municipal  by-laws  founded  on  the  Land 
Regulations,  there  is  a  Mixed  Court  consisting 
of  a  Cliinese  magistrate  and  a  foreign  assessor, 
who  is  usually  a  Vice-Consul.  It  is  the  duty 
of  the  assessor  to  safeguard  the  interests  of 
foreign  plaintiffs,  and  to  ensure  that  the  by- 
laws of  the  Settlement  are  enforced  by  the 
adequate  punishment  of  those  who  contravene 
them.  E.xcept  during  certain  holidays  and 
festivals  the  Court  sits  on  six  days  of  the 
week.     On  three  days  the  duties  of   assessor 


are  performed  by  the  British  consular  repre- 
sentative, on  two  days  by  the  United  States 
representative,  and  on  one  day  by  the  Austro- 
Hungarian  or,  in  his  absence,  by  the  German 
representative.  There  is  a  similar  Court  for 
the  French  Concession,  but  with  this  differ- 
ence —  a  French  magistrate  presides  and 
the  Chinese  are  represented  by  an  assessor. 
The  sentences  inflicted  by  the  Mixed  Court 
comprise  fines  ranging  in  amount  from 
20  cents  to  $250  or  more,  and  imprisonment 
extending  from  twenty-four  hours  to  two 
years  or  an  unspecified  period.  Prisoners 
may  also  be  ordered  to  wear  the  cangue, 
or  to  repair  the  roads  with  the  chain-gang. 
For  some  years  bambooing  under  Europe  ui 
supervision  was  a  recognised  form  of  punish- 
ment, and  served  as  a  useful  deterrent  of 
crime,  but  was  discontinued  by  Imperial 
Edict  in  1905.  The  Mixed  Court  has  failed 
to  command  the  confidence  of  the  foreign 
community  by  reason  of  the  tendency  of 
Chinese  magistrates  to  dispense  justice  ac- 
cording to  Chinese  methods,  which  appear 
grotesque  to  the  Western  mind.  The  pro- 
duction of  a  respectable  grandfather,  for 
instance,  has  been  known  to  outweigh  con- 
clusive independent  evidence  of  a  prisoner's 
guilt,  and  disputes  between  the  Chinese 
magistrate  and  the  foreign  assessor  have,  as 
a  consequence,  been  frequent. 

The  British  Supreme  Court  exercises  full 
civil,  criminal,  and  Admiralty  jurisdiction 
over  all  British  subjects  in  China  and  Korea, 
but  it  is  not  empowered  to  grant  divorce. 
It  was  first  established  in  1865,  after  the 
Treaty  of  Tientsin,  prior  to  which  date  there 
was  a  Consular  Court  at  Shanghai,  as  at  the 
other  Treaty  ports,  and  appeals  lay  to  the 
Governor  of  Hongkong,  in  his  capacity  as 
Chief  Superintendent  of  Trade  in  China, 
and  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  that  Colony. 
The  Consular  or  Provincial  Courts  in  the 
other  Treaty  ports  may  in  criminal  cases 
award  imprisonment  not  exceeding  twelve 
months,  with  or  without  hard  labour,  and 
with  or  without  a  fine  not  exceeding  ;^ioo  ; 
or  inflict  a  fine  not  exceeding  ;^ioo  without 
imprisonment ;  or,  in  case  of  a  continuing 
offence,  in  addition  to  imprisonment  or  fine 
or  both,  they  may  impose  a  fine  not  exceed- 
ing IDS.  for  each  day  during  which  the  offence 
continues  after  conviction.  Any  civil  suit 
may  be  dealt  with  by  the  Provincial  Courts, 
but  if  the  sum  in  dispute  is  £'150  or  more 
the  assistance  of  assessors  must  be  sought. 
Usually,  however,  important  civil  cases  that 
arise  in  the  ports  are  tried  by  the  Supreme 
Court  on  circuit,  as  also,  are  more  important 
criminal  cliarges. 

Besides  being  a  Court  of  Appeal  from  the 
Provincial  Courts,  the  Supretne  Court  may 
direct  appeals  from  its  own  findings  to  be 
heard  before  a  "  Full  Court,"  consisting  of 
two  judges  or  more.  It  is  empowered  to 
award  any  punishment  that  would  be  awarded 
in  respect  of  a  similar  offence  in  England, 
except  that  no  fine  may  be  inflicted  exceed- 
ing ;fSoo,  and  imprisonment  with  hard 
labour  must  be  substituted  for  penal  servi- 
tude. The  death  sentence  is  subject  to  con- 
firmation in  writing  by  the  British  Minister 
resident  in  China.  Appeal  from  the  Supreme 
Court  lies  to  the  Privy  Council  in  London  in 
actions  involving  not  less  than  ;£500. 

For  the  redress  of  any  grievance  which 
a  private  individual  may  have  against  the 
Municipal  Council  there  is  a  Court  of  Consuls, 
a  judicial  body  constituted,  in  the  first  in- 
stance, expressly  for  that  purpose  by  the 
Ministers  of  England,  France,  America, 
Prussia,  and  Russia,  in  1869.  The  proceed- 
ings before  this  tribunal  are  conducted  in  the 
English  tongue. 


MR.  D.  SIPFERT,  the  Consul-General  for 
Belgium,  has  been  the  doyen  of  the  Consular 
body  in  Shanghai  since  the  beginning  of 
1906.  Born  on  March  27,  i860,  he  was 
educated  at  the  University  of  Louvain,  where 
he  obtained  a  thorough  technical  training 
and  secured  the  highest  diplomas  as  an 
engineer,  a  profession  in  which  he  was 
actively  engaged  for  the  next  eight  years. 
In  1890  he  was  appointed  Consul-General  for 
Belgium  at  Durban,  Natal,  and  eight  years 
later  was  transferred  to  Hankow.  He  has 
been  stationed  in  Shanghai  since  1901.  He 
is  an  Officer  of  the  Order  of  Leopold,  a 
Commander  of  the  Order  of  Isabel  the 
Catholic,  an  Oflicer  of  the  Order  of  Orange 
Nassau,  and  has  been  decorated  with  the 
Order  of  the  Double  Dragon,  Second  Class, 
Third  Degree.  Mr.  Siffert  is  fond  of  healthy, 
physical  exercises,  and,  in  his  leisure,  takes 
a  delight  in  riding,  fencing,  and  tennis. 

SIR  PBLHAM   LAIRD   WARREN,   K.C.M.Q., 

His  Britannic  Majesty's  Consul-General  at 
Shanghai,  is  a  son  of  Admiral  Richard  Laird 
Warren.  He  was  born  on  August  22,  1845, 
and  entered  the  Consular  service  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years,  as  a  student  interpreter 
on  the  China  estabhshment,  in  February,  1867. 
He  became  a  third-class  assistant  in  1869, 
was  promoted  to  be  a  second-class  assistant 
in  1873,  and,  after  acting  as  interpreter  at 
Foochowfu  for  twelve  months,  rose  another 
step  in  the  ladder,  being  made  assistant  in 
the  first  class  in  November,  1876.  During 
the  next  five  years  he  carried  out  the  duties 
of  Consul  successively  at  Ningpo,  Wenchow, 
and  Taiwan,  and  in  1883  was  appointed  Her 
late  Majesty's  Vice-Consul  at  Pagoda  Island. 
He  went  to  Taiwan  as  Consul  in  1886,  and 
was  transferred  to  Hankow  in  1893,  becoming 
Consul-General  there  six  years  later.  From 
July,  1899,  to  October,  1900,  he  acted  as 
Consul-General  at  Shanghai,  was  employed 
on  special  service  here  between  October, 
1900,  and  April,  1901,  and  in  the  following 
July  was  confirmed  in  his  present  post.  Mr. 
Warren  was  made  a  Companion  of  the  Order 
of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George  in  July,  1901, 
and  was  advanced  to  a  Knight  Commander- 
ship  in   the   following   year. 


MR.  FREDERICK  EDQAR  WILKINSON,  who 

is  the  son  of  the  late  Mr.  Richard  Wilkinson, 
formerly  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Consul  at 
Salonica,  Malaga,  and  Manila,  was  appointed 
His  Britannic  Majesty's  Vice-Consul  at 
Shanghai  in  August,  1906.  He  was  born 
on  May  15,  1871,  and  was  appointed  a 
student  interpreter  in  China  in  March,  1893. 
In  1897  he  was  promoted  to  be  a  second-class 
assistant,  and,  after  carrying  out  the  duties 
of  Consul  at  Chefoo  and  Chinkiang,  became 
an  assistant  of  the  first  class  in  1900.  Since 
then  he  has  acted  as  Consul  at  Soochow,  as 
Vice-Consul  at  Shanghai,  and  as  Consul  at 
Nanking,  and  has  been  an  assistant  at  the 
Mixed  Court,  Shanghai,  and  in  the  Chinese 
Secretary's  office  at  Peking.  Before  entering 
upon  -his  present  duties  in  Shanghai  he  was 
Acting  Consul  at  Wuchow  for  two  years. 


MR.  CHARLES  DENBY,  Consul-General  for 

the  United  States  of  America  at  Shanghai,  is 
a  native  of  Indiana.  His  father,  Col.  Charles 
Denby,  was  American  Minister  at  Peking  for 
some  years.  Mr,  Denl\v  was  educated  at 
Princetown  University,  in  the  class  ol  1882. 
He  entered  the  Legation  at  Peking  as  Second 


402      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


SctrcUn,-  in  July.  1885,  and  was  promoted 
First  Secretary  on  October  30.  1895.  From 
March  17  to  October  27,  i8<>4.  and  from 
Mav  14  to  August  I,  1896.  he  acted  as  Charge 
d'Affaires.  He  resigned  in  1897.  During 
the  war  between  China  and  Japan  (1894-95) 
Mr.  Denby  had  charge  of  the  interests  of 
Japan  in  China,  and  at  the  conclusion  of 
hostilities  he  was  received  in  audience  by  the 
Emperor  of  Japan,  and  thanked  for  his 
scr\ices.  Decorations  were  offered  him  both 
by  the  Emperor  of  Japan  and  the  Emperor 
oi  China,  but  they  had  to  be  declined  under 
the  rules  of  the  service.  On  July  l8.  1900. 
Mr.  Denby  was  appointed  Secretary-General 
of  the  Provisional  Government  established  by 
the  allied  Powers  for  the  district  of  Tientsin  ; 
and  from  August,  1902,  to  November,  1905, 
he  was  Foreign  Advisor  to  His  Excellency 
Viceroy  Yuan  Shih  Kai,  Governor-General  of 
Chihli.  While  in  Washington  in  the  autumn 
of  1905  he  accepted  the  position  of  Chief 
Clerk  of  the  Department  of  State,  an  office 
which  he  held  until  his  appointment  as 
Consul-Gencral  at  Shanghai  on  April  15, 
1907.  Mr.  Denby  was  married  in  1895  to 
Miss  Martha  Orr,  by  whom  he  has  three 
children. 


MR.  LOUIS  RATARD,  Consul-General  for 
France  in  Shanghai,  was  born  on  February 
28,  1852.  and  took  part  in  the  Franco- 
German  War.  1870  71.  Entering  the  service 
of  the  French  Government,  he  was  appointed 
to  a  position  in  the  Chancellery  on  April  9, 
1873,  was  promoted  Chancellor  on  November 
28.  1878,  Consol  Honoraire  on  December  31, 
i8«8.  Consul  on  Septemtier  26,  1892,  and 
Consul-General  in  August,  1905.  He  has 
occupied  consular  posts  in  Newcastle,  Bar- 
celona, Honolulu,  Havana,  Buenos  Ayres, 
Lisbon.  Naples,  Rome.  Batavia,  Yokohama, 
and  Shanghai.  M.  Katard  is  a  Chevalier  de 
la  Legion  d'Honneur. 

HERR  PAUL  VON  BURI,  who  has  been 
the  Consul-General  for  Germany  at  Shanghai 
since  October,  1906,  is  the  only  son  of 
Councillor  Dr.  Maximilian  von  Buri.  He  was 
born  at  Giessen  (Hesse)  in  i860,  and  was 
educated  at  the  Gymnasium,  Darmstadt,  and 
at  the  Universities  of  Heidelberg,  Slrassburg, 
Giessen,  and  Leipzig,  where  he  devoted  his 
attention  chiefly  to  the  study  of  jurispru- 
dence. He  joined  the  Prussian  service  in 
1881  as  Referendar  at  Leipzig,  and,  passing 
the  State  examinations  in  1886,  entered  the 
Foreign  Office  two  years  later.  His  first 
appointment  was  that  of  Vice-Consul  at  Zan- 
zit»r  in  1889.  since  which  time  he  has 
served  as  Vice-Consul  and  Acting-Consul  at 
Capetown,  Pretoria,  and  again  at  Zanzibar. 
In  1895  he  was  once  more  attached  as  an 
assistant  to  the  headquarters  staff ;  in  1900 
he  carried  out  the  duties  of  Consul-General 
at  Bale  ;  and  in  the  following  year  was 
transferred  to  Sydney,  Australia.  During  his 
twenty  years'  service.  Herr  von  Buri  has 
received  many  decorations  in  recognition  of 
the  valuable  work  he  has  accomplished,  in- 
cluding the  Prussian  Red  Eagle  of  the 
Fourth  Class,  the  Prussian  Order  of  the 
Crown  (Third  Class),  a  Knight  Commander- 
ship  of  the  Schwerin  House  Order  der 
Wcndischen  Krone,  the  Zanzibar  Star,  and 
the  Chinese  Dragon.  In  1896  Herr  von  Bun 
married  Charlotte,  eldest  daughter  of  Dr. 
von  Bonhard.  late  President  of  the  Senate 
of  the  State  Courts  at  Munich. 


MR.  MILOSLAV  A.  KOBR,  Acting  Consul- 
General  for  Austria-Hungary,  was  born  at 
Raudnitz,  Elbe,  in  1878,  and  was  educated 
at  the  Oriental  Academy,  Vieima,  studying 
jurisprudence  and  State  law  and  Eastern 
languages.  During  his  subsequent  military 
career  he  served  in  the  26th  Regiment  of 
.\rtillery,  and  is  now  an  ofticer  on  the 
Reserve.  He  entered  the  service  of  the 
Foreign  Otlice  in  1903,  and  shortly  after- 
wards was  appointed  Attache  at  the  Slianghai 
Consulate.  He  became  Vice-Consul  in  1905. 
His  present  acting  appointment  dates  from 
February,  IQ08.  Mr.  Kobr,  who  is  an  able 
exponent  of  the  art  of  fencing,  is  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Cercle  Internationale,  Shanghai, 
and  of  the  International  Institute. 


MR.  CONSTANTINE  KLEIMENOW,  who  was 
born  in  1856,  was,  for  some  time,  an  infantry 
officer  in  the  Russian  Army,  and  served  in 
the  Russo-Turkish  War  of  1877-78.  Resigning 
his  commission,  he  entered  the  F'oreign  OHice 
in  1882,  and,  six  years  later  was  appointed 
secretary  to  the  Russian  Legation  at  Peking. 
He  acted  as  the  Russian  Consul  in  Singapore 
from  1895  li"  'he  end  of  1900,  when  he  pro- 
ceeded to  take  up  his  present  position  as 
Consul-General  for  Russia  in  Shanghai.  He 
has  received  a  number  of  civil  and  military 
decorations  for  his  services. 


MR.  L.  J.  C.  von  ZEPPELIN  OBERMULLER, 

tlie  Consul-General  for  the  Netherlands,  was 
born  at  Haarlem,  Holland,  in  1874.  He 
entered  the  Foreign  Qfiice  in  1897,  and  at 
various  periods,  and  in  different  capacities, 
has  served  in  the  Hague,  Antwerp,  Penang, 
Singapore,  Constantinople,  Bangkok,  and 
Tientsin. 


MR.  THEODOR  RAASCHOU  has  been  the 
Consul  for  Denmark  at  Shanghai,  and 
Consular  Judge  for  China  since  January  20. 
1904.  He  was  born  on  June  28,  1862,  and 
was  educated  at  the  University  of  Copenhagen, 
where  he  took  the  final  degrees  in  law. 
After  practising  law  for  some  time  he 
was  engaged  in  business  until  1902,  wlien 
he  joined  the  Consular  service,  and  was 
appointed  Vice-Consul,  and  afterwards  Acting- 
Consul,  for  Denmark  in  London. 


MR.  THORVALD  HANSEN,  Consul-General 
for  Norway,  was  born  in  1864  at  HoUen,  in 
the  county  of  Bratsburg,  Norway.  He 
graduated  in  law  at  Christiana  University, 
and  after  spending  a  year  in  an  advocate's 
office  he  became,  in  1890,  secretary  to  the 
Swedish-Norwegian  Consul  at  Leith,  Scotland. 
In  1895  he  was  transferred  to  the  Norwegian 
Consulate-General  in  London,  and  in  1900 
became  Norwegian  Vice-Consul  in  New 
York.  Whilst  in  the  capital  of  the  United 
States,  he  married  Miss  Constance  Fabritzius 
Boyesen.  He  received  his  present  appoint- 
ment in  Shanghai,  on  March  24,  1906.  Mr. 
Hansen  is  a  Knight  of  the  First  Class  of  the 
Order  of  Wasa. 

MR.  RICHARD  BAGGE,  Consul-General  for 
Sweden,  was  born  at  Stockholm  in  i860,  and 
was  educated  at  Upsala  University.  Gradua- 
ting as  a  Doctor  of  Law  in  1886,  he  practised 
in  the  St<x;kholm  Courts  for  a  year,  and  was 
then   appointed   Consular   Attache    at   Havre, 


France,  wliere  he  remained  for  three  years. 
He  became  secretary  to  the  Diplomatic 
Agency  at  Cairo  in  1890,  and  two  years  later 
was  transferred  to  New  York  as  Swedish 
Vice-Consul.  From  1894  to  1898  he  was 
attached  to  the  Consulate-General  in  London, 
and  was  then  appointed  Consul-General  at 
Barcelona.  Returning  to  London,  he  was 
again  attached  to  the  Consulate-General  until 
he  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  Quebec  as 
Consul-General.  It  was  whilst  in  Quebec 
that  Mr.  Bagge  met  his  wife,  whose  father 
had  formerly  held  the  position  of  Consul- 
General  in  that  city.  From  December,  1905, 
until  September,  1906,  Mr.  Hagge  was  Consul- 
General  at  Hamburg,  and  he  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  Shanghai. 


MR.  RAFAEL  SECO,  Consul  for  Spain,  has 
had  a  long  career  in  the  Consular  service. 
Born  at  Extreniadura,  in  Spain,  forty-two 
years  ago,  he  graduated  in  law  at  the  Central 
University,  Madrid,  and  in  1890  passed  his 
examination  for  the  Consular  Courts.  In 
1895  he  was  appointed  Vice-Consul  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  in  the  following  year  was 
transferred  to  Keywest.  He  was  Vice-Consul 
of  St.  Dennis  Island  during  the  Spanish- 
American  War,  and  subsequently  held  similar 
appointments  in  Cette  (France),  and  Lisbon. 
Proceeding  to  the  Philippines  in  1904, 
Mr.  Seco  was  first  Vice-Consul  at  Iloilo,  and 
then  during  the  Governorship  of  General 
Wright,  was  appointed  Acting-Consul  in 
Manila.  He  was  transferred  to  Shanghai  in 
September,  1906,  and  at  the  time  of  writing 
is  about  to  proceed  to  Para,  in  Brazil,  as  a 
first-class  Consul.  He  will  be  succeeded  in 
Shanghai  by  Mr.  A.  S.  Arias.  Mr.  Seco,  who 
is  married  and  has  four  children,  Hves  at 
No.  19,  Seward  Road,  the  Spanish  Consulate. 


MR.  OSGAR  GEORGE  POTIER,  the  Consul- 
General  for  Portugal,  graduated  in  the  High 
School  of  Letters,  and  was  appointed  Attache 
to  the  Portuguese  Government  Financial 
Agency  in  London  on  November  7,  1889. 
He  became  an  Attache  to  the  Ministry  of 
Treasury  on  April  28,  1892,  and  Chancelier 
in  the  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  on  April  9, 
1896.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Second-class  Consul  on  December  24,  1<>01. 
On  June  26th  of  the  following  year  he  was 
appointed  to  his  present  post,  assuming  the 
duties  in  the  following  November.  Mr.  Potier 
is  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Geography, 
Lisbon,  and  of  tlie  Royal  Institute  of  Lisbon, 
and  is  a  Knight  of  the  Royal  Danish  Order 
of  Denneborg. 

MR.  A.  MONACO,  the  Consul-General  for 
Italy,  has  been  in  the  foreign  service  of 
his  country  for  the  past  twenty-seven  years, 
during  which  time  he  has  held  appointments 
in  many  parts  of  the  world.  He  has  tra- 
velled extensively  in  North  and  South 
America,  and  was  Italian  Minister  at  Korea 
lor  three  years  during  the  Russo-Japanese 
War.  He  entered  upon  his  present  position 
in  Shanghai  in  1907. 


MR.  HISAKICHI  EITAKI,  Consul-General 
for  Japan  at  Shanghai,  is  a  native  of  Japan, 
and  received  his  education  at  the  English 
Law  College,  Tokyo— a  college  where  law 
and  jurisprudence  are  taught  upon  English 
principles  by  Japanese  professors.  He 
passed  the  examination   for   admission  to  the 


THE     CONSULAR    BODY. 


A.  Monaco, 
Consul-General  for  Italy. 


2.    Rakael  Seco,  3.    L.  J.  C.  VON  Zeppelix  Obermuller, 

Consul  for  Spain.  Consul-General  for  the  Netherlands. 

.S.    Herr  Paul  von  Buri,  6.    m.  Marti, 

Consul-General  for  Germany.  Consul  for  Mexico. 

10.    Sir  Pelham  L.  Warren,  K.C.M  G., 
Consul-General  for  Great  Kritain. 
g.     D.  SiFFERT, 
Consul-General  for  Helgium  (Senior  Consul). 
12.    T.  Hansen,  13,    c.  Kleimenow,  14.    T.  Raasitiou, 

Consul-General  for  Norway.  Consul  GeneTal  for  Russia.  Consul  for  Denmark. 

15.     H.  KiTAKI,  ,6.     O.  G.  POTIER, 

Consul-General  for   lanan.  Consul-General  for  Portui>al. 


4.    V.  Meyer, 
Vice-Consul  for  Denmark. 

7-      MlLOSLAV  A.   KOBR,  8.     CHARLES  DENBY, 

Acting  Consul-General  for  Austria-Hungary.    Consul-General  for  U.S.A. 


I.    Col.  Benjamin  Giberga, 
Consul-General  for  Cuba. 


404     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Bar  in  1889,  and  also  for  the  higher  grades 
of  the  Ci\-il  SerWce.  and  in  the  same  year 
l>ecame  Judge's  Assix-iate.  He  was  appt>inted 
Attache  for  Foreign  Affairs  at  Tokyo  in 
1890,  and  Elcve  Consul  in  1890,  in  which 
year  he  was  sent  to  Fusan.  Korea.  He 
was  transferred  to  Chemulpo,  Korea,  as 
Acting-Consul,  in  iSgj,  and  to  the  Con- 
sulate-General at  Shanghai  in  1804.  where  lor 
six  months  (from  December,  i8«)4.  to  May, 
i8»)5).  he  was  Acting  Consul-General.  He 
was  then  sent  to  Shasi  (on  the  Yanglsze- 
Kiang)  as  Consul  and  while  there  was 
commissioned  by  the  Japanese  Government 
to  negotiate  the  terms  of  the  Japanese 
Conc-ession  at  Shasi  with  the  Chinese 
authorities.  He  was  appointed  Consul  for 
Xew  South  Wales  in  November,  1898,  and 
arrived  at  Sydney  on  Januarj-  18.  189Q. 
The  Consulate  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  a 
Consulate-GenentI  in  December.  1901.  when 
he  was  instructed  to  assume  the  duties  of 
Acting  Consul-General  for  Australasia,  a 
position  which  he  held  until  1903.  While 
in  Australia  he  took  part  in  a  discussion 
on  the  Immigration  Restriction  Bill  with 
the  G<nernment  of  the  Conmionwealth  ; 
and  in  regard  to  the  racial  question  he 
wrote  a  book  in  English,  entitled  "  Color- 
phobia."  which  was  published  in  Sydney. 
At  the  end  of  1903  he  was  transferred  to 
Hankow  as  Consul,  and  in  1905  he  received 
his  present  post. 

M.  MARTI,  the  Mexican  Consul,  was 
app<iintcd  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States  of  Mexico  on  May  18,  1907.  He  has 
jurisdiction  in  the  provinces  of  Kiangsu, 
Chekiang.  and  Anhwci. 

CHEVALIER  BENJAMIN  QIBERQA,  a  colonel 
in  the  Cuban  Army  of  Liberation,  at  present 
Charge  d'Affaires  of  the  Cuban  Republic  in 
China  and  Consul-General  at  Shanghai, 
belongs  to  one  of  the  most  prominent  Cuban 
families.  t>cing  of  Dutch  descent  on  his 
father's  side  (who  was  Spanish  born  and 
had  the  title  of  Count,  which  he  renouncedl 
and  of  French  descent  on  hia  mother's  side. 
He  studied  at  the  University  of  Barcelona. 
Spain,  and  at  Paris,  London,  and  New  York. 
He  is  well  known  in  the  Spanish-speaking 
countries  as  the  author  and  translator  of 
several  works.  He  is  one  of  the  survivors  of 
the  Tillie  expedition,  which  was  shipwrecked 
with  a  valuable  cargo  of  arms  and  ammu- 
nition for  the  Cuban  revolutionists  during  their 
War  of  Independence.  He  was  decorated 
by  the  Venezuelan  Government  for  his  ser- 
vices to  public  education  in  Venezuela,  and 
is  a  chevalier  of  the  Order  of  Simon  Bolivar, 
the  great  South  Americ-an  liberator.  He 
served  as  secretary  to  the  former  President 
of  the  Republic  of  Cuba,  the  Hon.  Tomas 
Estrada  Palma  ;  also  to  the  present  Cuban 
Minister  Plenipotentiary  at  Washington,  the 
Hon.  Gonzelo  de  Quesada  :  and  during  the 
late  Cuban  War  was  secretary  to  Major- 
General  Bartolome  Maso,  President  of  the 
Cuban  Republic  in  the  field,  and  also  to 
Major-General  Calixto  Garcia,  Lieutenant- 
General  and  Chief  of  the  Eastern  Department 
of  the  Cul)an  Army.  Mr.  Giberga  was  Com- 
missioner for  Cuba  at  the  Paris  World's 
Fair  of  1900.  The  Cuban  Government  also 
deputed  him  to  raise  a  loan  for  $35,000,000 
(gold),  with  which  to  pay  the  Cuban  Kevolu- 
tionarv-  Army.  This  loan  was  placed  in  New 
York  in  1905.  Colonel  Giberga  presented 
his  diplomatic  credentials  to  the  Chinese 
Government  at  Peking  on  April  27,  1907. 


SIR  HAVILLAND  WALTER  DE  SAUSMAREZ, 

Judge  of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  SuprenK- 
Court  for  China  and  Korea,  was  born  on 
May  30,  1861,  and  was  the  second  son  of 
the  Rev.  Havilland  de  Sausmarez.  He  was 
educated  at  Westminster  and  at  Trinity 
College.  Cambridge,  graduating  ninth  senior 
optime  in  1883.  He  was  called  to  the 
Bar  of  the  Inner  Temple  in  the  following 
year,  and  went  on  the  Kent  Sessions  and 
the  South-eastern   Circuit,  subsequently  gonig 


Bar  by  Lincoln's  Inn,  and  in  1893  he  was 
appointed  Vice-Consul  of  Canton.  He  was 
Consul-ill-charge  of  the  Blackbuiii  Com- 
mercial    Coiiiniission     in     1896  97,    and     has 


SIR    HAVILLAND   W.    DE    SAUSMAREZ, 

Judge,  His  Iirit;uinic  Majesty's  Supreme  Court 

for  China  and  Korea. 

abroad.  After  practising  privately  in  Lagos, 
where  he  acted  as  Queen's  Advocate  for 
eight  months,  he  was  appointed  Assistant 
Judge  in  Her  Majesty's  Consular  Court  for 
Zanzibar,  a  position  he  occupied  for  five  years. 
In  1897  he  became  Assistant  Judge,  and  in  1903 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Ottoman 
Dominions.  He  came  to  Shanghai  in  his 
present  capacity  in  IQ05.  Sir  Havilland  has 
been  twice  married,  his  first  wife,  who  died 
in  1893,  being  Dora  Beatrice,  second  daughter 
of  the  late  Major-General  Gother  Mann,  C.B., 
and  his  second,  whom  he  inarried  in  1896, 
being  Annie  Elizabeth,  younger  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  F.  VV.  Mann.  He  lives  at  No.  3, 
Yates  Road,  Shanghai,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Oxford  and  Cambridge  and  of  the  Savile 
Clubs. 


HIS  HONOUR  MR.  JUSTICE  FREDERICK 
SAMUEL  AUGUSTUS  BOURNE,  Assistant  Judge 
of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  Supreme  Court 
for  China  and  Korea,  Shanghai,  and  Judge 
of  His  Majesty's  High  Court,  Weihaiwei, 
was  born  on  October  3,  1854,  and  is  a  son 
of  the  late  Rev.  S.  W.  Bourne,  B.A..  Rector 
of  Winfarthing,  Norfolk,  and  of  Mary 
Caroline,  daughter  of  the  late  Henry 
Cassin,  M.D.  Educated  at  St.  Edmund's 
School,  Canterbury,  Mr.  Bourne  entered 
the  service  of  the  War  Office  in  1873, 
and  three  years  later  was  transferred  to  the 
China  Consular  service.  In  1885  86  he  was 
employed  on  special  service,  exploring  the 
country  bordering  on  Tonkin,  and  in  the 
latter  year  received  the  thanks  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States  for  services  rendered  at 
Chungking.      In    1890   he   was   called   to   the 


F.    S.    A.    BOURNE, 
Assistant  Judge,  His  liritannic  Majesty's  Supreme  Ccnirt. 

subsequently  received  his  present  appoint- 
ment. Mr.  Bourne,  who  married,  in  1889, 
Alice,  youngest  daughter  of  the  Kev.  John 
Chalmers,  LL.D.,  lives  in  Shanghai.  His 
address  in  England  is  Southborough,  Tun- 
bridge  Wells,  and  the  Conservative  Club, 
London. 

MR.    LEBBEUS     REDMAN    WILFLEY,    the 

first  holder  of  the  appointment  of  Judge 
of  the  United  States  Court  for  China,  was 
born  in  Missouri,  U.S.A.,  on  March  30, 
1866,  his  father  being  of  German,  and  his 
mother  of  Welsh  descent.  His  early  days 
were  spent  on  a  farm,  and  his  education 
began  at  the  Central  College,  Missouri, 
where  he  took  his  A.M.  degree  in  1888. 
F'rom  1888  to  1891  he  was  President  of 
Clarksbury  College,  Missouri.  He  took  the 
summer  course  of  law  at  Virginia  Uni- 
versity in  1891,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar  in  Virginia  in  the  same  year.  Pro- 
ceeding to  Yale  University,  he  graduated 
with  honours  in  the  Law  School  in  1892, 
taking  his  LL.B.  degree  ;  and  he  then 
entered  upon  private  practice  in  St.  Louis. 
Although  a  democrat  in  politics,  he  did  not 
support  Bryan's  candidature  in  1896,  and 
since  then  has  been  a  member  of  the 
partv  known  as  "  gold  democrats."  In  1901 
Judge  William  H.  Taft,  then  Governor- 
General  of  the  Philippines,  asked  the  federal 
judges  and  certain  prominent  lawyers  of 
St.  Louis  to  recommend  a  man  for  the 
bench  in  the  Philippines.  As  a  result  Judge 
WilHey  was  appointed  Attorney-General  of 
the  islands.  In  1906,  when  Congress 
created  the  United  States  Court  for  China, 
President  Roosevelt,  upon  the  recommen- 
dation of  Mr.  Secretary  Taft  and  Mr. 
Secretary  Root,  appointed  Judge  WilHey 
to  the  position  he  now  fills.  In  Shanghai 
Judge  Wilfley  has  been  confronted  with  a 
number  of  vexed  and  difficult  questions. 
The  laws  which  Congress  had  extended  to 
China  were  embraced  within  the  term 
"  common      law,"     which     was     so     vague. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      405 


indistinct,  and  archaic  as  to  render  it 
almost  impossible  of  application  ;  and  Judge 
Wilfley  is  now  engajied  in  trying  to  secure 
a  new  penal  and  civil  code  specially 
adapted  to  the  requirements  of  United 
States  citizens  in  China.  Soon  after  the 
establishment  of  his  Court  three-fourths  of 
the  American  Bar  at  Shanghai  were  rejected. 
and  as  a  consequence,  attempts  were  made 
to  impeach  Judge  Willley.  Congress,  how- 
ever, dismissed  the  charges  brought  against 
him  as  devoid  of  foundation,  and  the  work 
of  the  Court  was  commended.  At  the 
close  of  the  Boxer  troubles  and  of  the 
Spanish-American  War.  a  large  number  of 
suspicious  and  undesirable  foreigners  of  all 
nationalities  found  their  way  into  Shanghai, 
and  of  this  class  of  citizens  America  fur- 
nished her  full  quota.  The  situation  called 
for  drastic  measures,  and  Judge  WilHey  by 
sentencing  a  number  of  swindlers,  gamblers, 
and  "  sharks "  to  terms  of  imprisonment, 
induced  others  to  flee,  and  was  thus  the 
means  of  ridding  the  Settlement  of  many  of 
the  criminal  class.  Judge  Wilfley  is  now 
desirous  of  securing  the  appropriation  of  a 
large  sum  of  money  for  the  erection  of  a 
Federal  Building  in  Shanghai,  for  the  Court 
Consulate-General  and  other  offices. 

THE    MUNICIPAL   COUNCILS. 

The  International  Settlement. 

The  International  Settlement  comprises  an 
area  of  33,503  mow,  or  nearly  9  square  miles, 
and  contiiins  an  estimated  population  of 
13,700  foreigners  and  510,000  Chinese.  It 
is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Soochow 
Creek  from  the  Hsiao  Sha  P'erry  to  a  point 
about  seventy  yards  west  of  the  entrance 
thereinto  of  the  Defence  Creek,  thence  in 
a  northerly  direction  to  the  Shanghai-Paoshan 
boundary,  thence  following  this  boundary 
to  the  point  where  it  meets  the  Hongkew 
Creek,  and  thence  in  an  easterly  direction 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Ku-ka-pang ;  upon 
the  east  by  the  Whangpoo  River  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Ku-ka-pang  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Yang-king-pang  ;  upon  the  south  by 
the  Yang-king-pang  from  its  mouth  to  the 
point  at  which  the  Defence  Creek  enters  it. 
thence  in  a  westerly  direction  following  the 
line  of  the  northern  branch  of  the  Great 
Western  Koad,  and  thereafter  along  that 
road  to  the  Temple  of  Agriculture  in  the 
rear  of  Bubbling  Well  Village  ;  and  on  the 
west  by  a  line  drawn  from  the  Temple  of 
Agriculture  in  a  northerly  direction  to  the 
Hsiao  Sha   P'erry  on  the  Soochow  Creek. 

The  Settlement  is  administered  by  a  Muni- 
cipal Council  of  nine  members  elected 
annually  from  and  by  the  foreign  ratepayers, 
in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Land  Regulations.  At  the  close  of  their  year 
of  office  the  members  of  the  Council  present 
a  detailed  report  of  their  proceedings  to  a 
statutory  meeting  of  the  ratepayers,  who 
then  consider  the  estimates  for  the  ensuing 
twelve  months  and  decide  upon  the  methods 
by  which  the  sum  required  for  carrying  on 
the  public  affairs  of  the  Settlement  shall  be 
raised.  In  this  way  the  community  retain 
very  effective  control  over  their  representa- 
tives, who,  indeed,  have  no  power  even  to 
make  by-laws,  except  such  as  apply  to  them- 
selves or  the  officers  of  the  Municipality, 
without  the  approval  of  the  ratepayers,  in 
special  meeting  assembled,  of  the  Consular 
Body,  and  of  the  representatives  of  the 
Treaty  Powers  in  Peking. 

But  within  these  limitations  the  Council 
has  wide  scope  for  its  activities.  It  is  re- 
sponsible for  the  policing  of  the  Settlement 
and   outside   roads,   the   promotion   of   public 


health  by  sanitation  and  food  inspection,  the 
construction  and  care  of  highways  and  open 
spaces,  the  supervision  of  building  operations, 
the  execution  of  public  works,  the  supply  of 
electric  lighting  and  power,  the  issue  of 
licences,  and  the  administration  of  the 
volunteer  corps,  tire  brigade,  public  band, 
and  the  chief  centres  of  public  instruction, 
foreign  and  native,  within  the  Settlement. 
For  the  proper  performance  of  these  duties 
it  is  empowered  to  levy  a  tax  upon  land,  to 
rate  buildings,  to  collect  dues  upon  goods 
passing  through  the  Custom  House,  and  to 
charge  fees  for  licences.  It  is  also  entitled 
to  a  royalty  of  5  per  cent,  on  the  gross 
receipts  of  the  tramways  system  of  the 
Shanghai  Electric  Construction  Company. 

For  the  more  efficient  discharge  of  its 
manifold  duties  the  Council  resolves  itself 
into  three  committees,  viz. : — The  Watch 
Committee,  which  has  control  of  the  police, 
volunteers,  lire  brigade,  and  health  depart- 
ment ;  the  Works  Committee,  which  is 
charged  with  the  construction  and  mainte- 
nance of  highways,  bridges,  drains,  and  open 


August  6,  ]S()8,  and  was  educated  at  Fetles 
College,  Edinburgh.  After  a  few  years  spent 
in  the  service  of  the  Royal  Bank  of  Scotland 
and  the  Chartered  Bank  of  India,  Australia, 
and  China,  he  joined  Messrs.  Jardine, 
Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  in  March,  1890.  At 
different  periods  he  has  been  stationed  at 
Swatow.  Hongkong,  and  Shanghai.  It  was 
at  the  beginning  of  last  year,  when  Mr. 
Keswick  was  transferred  to  Hongkong,  that 
Mr.  Landale  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
firm's  interests  at  Shanghai.  For  a  number 
of  years  past  Mr.  Landale  has  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  the  public  and  social 
life  of  the  Settlement.  Excepting  during 
two  years,  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Municipal  Council  continuously  since  1900. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  P'inance  Committee 
in  1903  4,  and  was  elected  to  his  present 
position  in  Mav.  1907.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Sports  Club  and  of  the  Thatched  House 
Club,  London,  and  of  practically  all  the  local 
clubs.  His  recreation  is  found  chiefly  in 
polo  playing  and  shooting.  He  is  president 
of  the  Shanghai  Gun  Club,  a  steward  of  the 


HON.    L.    R.    WILFLEY,  Judge,  United  States  Court  of  Cliina :     A.    BASSETT,  U.S.  Attornev 
F.    E.    HINCKLEY,  Clerk  of  Court  ;    and  HUBERT    N.  O'BRIEN,  U.S.  Marshal. 


spaces,  &c.  ;  and  the  Finance  Committee, 
which,  of  course,  is  responsible  for  framing 
the  estimates  and  providing  the  means  for 
carrying  on  the  work  of  the  Council.  The 
direction  of  the  electricity  department  has 
been  delegated  to  a  salaried  committee, 
whose  decisions  are  subject  to  the  veto  of 
the  Council.  The  band,  and  public  edu- 
cational establishments  are  administered  with 
public  funds  by  coinmittees  upon  which  the 
Council  is  represented.  The  Council  also 
nominates  one  meinber  out  of  the  three  who 
constitute  the  Land  Commission,  a  body 
appointed  each  year  to  award  compensation 
in  respect  of  property  compulsorily  acquired 
for  public  purposes. 

MR.  DAVID  LANDALE,  the  chairman  of 
the  Municipal  Council,  is  the  son  of  the 
Rev.  David  Landale,  of  Applegarth  Manse, 
Lockerbie,  Dumfriesshire,  Scotland,  and 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  Wm.  Jardine, 
Bart.       He     was     born     at     Applegarth    on 


Race  Club,  and  a  member  of  the  committee 
of  the  Polo  Club.  In  February,  1902,  he 
married  Mildred,  the  second  daughter  of 
Mr.  John  Fortune,  of  Bengairn,  Kircudbright- 
shire. 


MR.     ALBERT     WILLIAM     BURKILL,     the 

chairman  of  the  Watch  Committee,  has, 
with  the  exception  of  a  year  spent  in  England, 
been  a  member  of  the  Council  since  1903. 
He  is  the  son  of  Mr.  A.  R.  Burkill,  founder 
of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  A.  R.  Burkill  &  Sons, 
and  was  born  in  Shanghai  on  F"ebruary  14, 
1873.  When  six  years  of  age,  he  went  to 
England,  and  was  educated  at  King  Edward's 
School,  Bromsgrove,  returning,  iu  1892,  to 
join  his  father  in  business.  He  became  a 
partner  in  the  firm  in  1R96,  and  has  had 
charge  of  its  interests  since  1897.  P'or  many 
years  past  Mr.  Burkill  has  been  a  promi- 
nent figure  in  local  sporting  circles.  He  used 
formerly  to  be  a  regular  member  of  the 
Shanghai   football   team,    but   now    his   chief 


406    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


recreation  is  riding.  He  is  an  enthusiastic- 
polo  player,  is  master  of  the  Paper  Hunt 
Club,  and  is  one  of  the  best  known  .iniateur 
jockeys  in  the  Settlement. 


MR.    WILLIAM     D.     LITTLE,     who     was 

first    elected    a    nieml>er    of    the    Municipal 
Council     in     l8i>i.    was     born     of     Scottish 


Si.\ty,"  now  known  as  the  "  Kin}>'s  Hun- 
dred." Coining  to  Shanghai  in  December, 
iS8o.  he  joined  the  local  volunteers  as  a 
private  and  won  the  gold  cross  at  the 
Autumn  RiHe  Meeting  in  1884.  Subse- 
quently, he  rose  to  command  the  Infantry 
Battalion,  and  when,  in  1903,  he  was 
placed  on  the  retired  list,  with  the  rank 
of  major,  he  received  a  special  letter  of 
thanks    from   the   Municipal   Council    lor   his 


SOKE    MEMBERS    OF    THE    SHANOHAI    BAR. 
R    R.  N.  Maclfxiii.  r..    A.  I>,  Stoki':s. 

4.      W.  V.    DKirMMONI). 

5.    W.  A.  C.  Platt.  7.    J.  H.  Teesdai.e. 


parents  at  Singapore  in  1857.  He  was 
educated  at  a  private  sch(X)l  at  Blackheath 
and  at  University  College,  London.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  joined  the  London  Scot- 
tish Volunteers,  and  has  continued  ever 
since  to  take  an  adive  interest  in  the 
volunteer  fwce.  In  1879  he  won  a 
SL  George's  Badge  at  Wimbledon,  and  in 
the    following   year  shot  into  the  "Queen's 


services  to  the  corps.  Mr.  Little  came 
out  to  China  to  join  the  firm  of  Carter 
&  Co.,  which  was  subsequently  changed 
to  Westall,  Little  &  Co.,  and  later  to 
William  Little  &  Co.,  although  it  was 
known  throughout  as  the  old  Chung  Ho 
hong,  established  by  William  Broughall  in 
J851.  Besides  serving  for  several  terms  on 
the    Municipal     Council     he    has    acted    as 


chairman  of  the  Shanghai  General  Chamber 
of  Commerce  for  five  years,  and  is  a  vice- 
president  of  the   Shanghai   RiHe  Association. 


MR.  ALFRED   DENNY   LOWE,  who  is  now 

serving  his  second  year  as  a  member  of  the 
Municipal  Council,  was  born  on  February  14, 
1863,  at  Newstead  House,  near  Stamford 
Line,  and  was  educated  at  Stamford  Grammar 
School.  It  was  intended  that  he  should 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  grandfather 
and  three  uncles,  and  study  medicine,  but 
the  death  of  his  father  interfered  with  this 
plan,  and  Mr.  Lowe  was  apprenticed  to  a 
large  tea  firm  in  London.  He  remained 
with  them  for  nine  years,  and  in  1887  came 
to  China  as  "  Chasee  " — tea-taster^to  the 
house  of  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  This 
position  he  held  for  nearly  six  years,  when, 
his  agreement  having  expired,  he  returned 
to  England  on  account  of  his  health.  After 
some  months'  rest,  he  was  approached  by 
Mr.  A.  R.  Greaves,  with  the  result  that  he 
returned  to  China  in  the  service  of  Greaves  & 
Co. — an  offshoot  of  the  now  extinct  American 
firm  of  Russell  &  Co.  Mr.  A.  R.  Greaves 
retired  from  the  China  firm  in  igoo,  and 
the  business  was  eventually  taken  over  by 
Mr.  C.  E.  Geddes  and  Mr.  A.  D.  Lowe, 
operations  being  carried  on  in  Shanghai  and 
Hankow  under  the  title  of  Geddes  &  Co. 
During  the  whole  of  his  residence  in  the 
Settlement  Mr.  Lowe  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  municipal  affairs,  and  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Watch  Committee.  He  is 
managing  director  of  the  Shanghai  Ice,  Cold 
Storage  and  Refrigeration  Company,  and  has  a 
seat  on  the  boards  of  several  local  companies. 
For  many  years  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the 
Victoria  Fire  Company,  he  is  now  one  of 
the  few  honorary  active  members  of  the 
Shanghai  Fire  Brigade.  He  is  on  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Shanghai  Club,  and  is  a 
member  of  all  the  other  principal  local 
social  and  sporting  clubs,  Mr.  Lowe  is  a 
married  man  with  a  family  of   five   children. 


MR.  OTTO  MEUSER,  chairman  of  the 
Works  Committee,  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Council  since  1901.  He  came  to  Shang- 
hai in  1874  and,  in  his  private  capacity,  is 
the  manager  of  Messrs.  Rhode  &  Co. 

MR.  J.  n.  McMICHAEL,  senior  partner 
in  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Fraizar  &  Co.,  was 
first  elected  a  member  of  the  Municipal 
Council  in  1895.  The  son  of  Mr.  Richard 
McMichael,  merchant,  of  Albany,  New  York, 
he  was  born  on  June  29,  1856,  at  Sche- 
nestady,  New  York,  and  was  educated  at  the 
Erasmus  Hall  Academy.  For  fifteen  years 
he  was  with  the  old  Cliina  firm  of  Wetmore, 
Cryder  &  Co.,  and  when  that  firm  was 
merged  with  Fraizar  &  Co.  he  came  out  to 
Shanghai  in  1887,  to  manage  the  business 
in  the  East.  Subsequently  he  became  the 
sole  proprietor,  and  in  January,  1907,  he 
admitted  Mr.  Walter  S.  Emens  into  partner- 
ship. Mr.  McMichael  has  always  taken  an 
active  interest  in  public  affairs.  After  his 
first  period  of  membership  of  the  Municipal 
Council,  in  1895  96,  he  retired,  but  was  re- 
elected in  1907.  During  1896  97  he  served 
on  the  committee  of  the  Slianghai  General 
Chamber  of  Commerce.  In  1896,  also,  he 
took  part  in  the  revision  of  the  Land  Regu- 
lations. In  the  following  year  he  acted  as 
chairman      of     the      Sundry     Exports     Sub- 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      407 


Committee,  appointed  to  consider  ques- 
tions relating  to  the  taxation  of  exports. 
Mr.  McMichael  is  a  director  of  tlie  Peralc 
Sugar  Cultivation  Company,  Ltd..  and  of  the 
Kalumpong  Rubber  Company.  An  enthusiastic 
sportsman,  he  is  a  member  of  all  the  local 
clubs,  and  devotes  much  of  his  leisure  to 
riding  and  golf. 


MR.  W.  A.  C.  PLATT,  who  has  served  on 
the  Municipal  Council  for  two  years,  was 
born  in  London  in  1859.  He  was  educated 
at  Magdalen  College  School,  and  at  Hert- 
ford College.  Oxford,  where  he  graduated 
in  law  in  1883.  Entering  Lincoln's  Inn,  he 
was  called  to  the  Bar  in  1885,  and  practised 
for  a  number  of  years  on  .the  Western  Cir- 
cuit. In  1892  he  came  to  China,  and  joined 
the  local  firm  of  Johnson,  Stokes  &  Master. 
On  various  occasions  he  has  acted  as  Crown 
Advocate.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Union 
and  Thatched  House  Clubs,  London  ;  a  past 
chairman  of  the  Shanghai  Club,  and  a 
member  of  practically  all  the  local  insti- 
tutions. 


MR.  JOHN  PRENTICE,  who  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Municipal  Council  for  many 
years,  is  chairman  and  managing  director 
of  the  Shanghai  Dock  and  Engineering  Com- 
pany. He  is  interested  also  in  a  number  of 
other  large  industrial  enterprises,  and,  con- 
sequently, his  opinions,  based  upon  long 
experience  and  intimate  knowledge  of  local 
affairs,  always  receive  careful  attention. 
Born  at  Glasgow,  he  was  apprenticed,  upon 
the  completion  of  his  education  at  Greenock, 
to  the  engineering  firm  of  Scott  &  Co., 
Greenock.  He  came  to  Shanghai  in  1870, 
and  joined  the  firm  of  David  Muirhead  as 
a  marine  engineer  and  shipbuilder.  After- 
wards he  became  coimected  with  Messrs. 
Boyd  &  Co.,  whose  business  was  subsequently 
reconstructed  as  S.  C.  Farnham  Boyd  &  Co.. 
and  is  now  the  Shanghai  Dock  and  Engineer- 
ing Company,  Ltd.  Mr.  Prentice,  who  had  been 
managing  director  of  Boyd  &  Co.,  was,  until 
recently,  chairman  and  managing  director  of 
the  present  Company.  During  the  past  year, 
however,  he  has  given  up  the  active  super- 
vision of  the  work  carried  on,  but  still  retains 
his  position  as  chairman  of  the  Company. 
He  is  on  the  local  board  of  directors  of  the 
famous  Langkat  Oil  Company,  of  Sumatra, 
and  is  a  director,  also,  of  the  Sumatra 
Tobacco  Company,  and  of  the  Yangtsze 
Insurance  Company.  Mr.  Prentice  is  a 
member  of  the  Thatched  House  Club, 
London,  and  of  most  local  institutions  and 
sporting  clubs. 


The  French  Concession. 

The  French  Concession,  lying  between  the 
International  Settlement  and  the  native  city, 
with  a  frontage  on  the  Whangpoo,  contains 
1,625  mow.  This  area  is  administered  by  a 
Municipal  Council,  consisting  of  four  French 
members  and  four  foreigners  of  other  nation- 
alities. The  Consul  is,  ex  officio,  president  of 
this  body,  but  he  invariably  delegates  his 
powers,  and  a  chairman  is  chosen  by  the 
members  from  among  their  own  number, 
The  Consul,  however,  retains  the  right  to 
veto  any  decision  of  the  Council  that  does 
not  meet  with  his  approval.  The  members 
are  elected  by  foreign  owners  of  land,  occu- 
piers of  houses,  and  residents  with  an  annual 
income  of  over  4,000  francs,  irrespective  of 
nationality,  except  that,  as  in  the  neighbour- 


ing Settlement,  the  Chinese  have  no  formal 
rights.  The  members  hold  olfice  for  two 
years,  one-half  of  their  number  retiring 
annually.  The  Council  resolves  itself  into 
five  committees,  namely,  the  P'inance,  Public 
Works,    Police,    Municipal    School,    and    Hos- 


and  patrolled  by  the  municipal  police.  The 
Council  has  recently  established  its  own  fire 
brigade.  Hospital  accommodation  is  pro- 
vided for  the  police,  but  there  is  no  municipal 
general  hospital,  the  Council  making  con- 
tributions to  the  Shanghai  General   Hospital, 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    SHANGHAI    MUNICIPAL    COUNCIL. 


2.    W.  D.  Little. 

5.     J.   PRENTICK. 
9.     J.   H.   McMlCHAEL. 


1.    J.  C.   Haxsox. 
3.     W.   A.   C.   PLATT. 

6.    DAvm  La\dale,  Chainiiaii. 
8.    M.  C.  Beax. 
10.    .V.  D.  Lowe. 


4.     .\.  W,   BCRKILL. 

7.     O.   JlEUSEK. 
J  I.      E.   li.  SKOTTOWE. 


pital  Committees,  and  discharges  the  usual 
functions  of  a  highways  and  sanitary  authority. 
Since  1900  roads  have  been  purchased 
outside  the  boundaries  of  the  Concession, 
extending  as  far  back  as  Siccawei.  These 
are    maintained    by  the    Council's    engineers 


the  Pasteur  In.stitute,  and  the  Shanghai 
Municipal  Dispensary.  There  is  a  small 
municipal  school  in  the  Concession,  attended 
by  about  two  hundred  Chinese  pupils,  and 
it  is  the  intention  of  the  Council  in  the  near 
future    to    erect    a    large    municipal    school 


408     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  establish  a  small  university.  For  this 
purpose  the  sum  of  Tls.  25.000  has  been 
ear-nuirked.  and  a  contribution  of  a  similar 
amount  is  expected  from  the  French  Gtwern- 
ment. 

The  tramways,  electric  lighting  works, 
and  waterworks  arc  all  controlled  by  one 
private  company.  The  amalgamation,  how- 
c\-er,  is  of  very  recent  date,  for  electric 
lighting  was  a  municip;»l  service  in  1905, 
and  the  waterworks  were  owned  by  the 
Council  until  May  1.  1908.  Kevenue  is 
obtained  by  the  Council  from  each  of  these 
enterprises  as  well  as  from  land  ta.x,  rates, 
licences,  and  wharfage  dues. 

Although  there  is  no  recognised  annual 
meeting  of  land  renters  the  general  body  of 
ratepayers  are  called  together  whenever 
there  is  any  matter  of  special  importance  to 
consider. 


MONS.  VICTOR  BERTHOZ,  Barrister-at- 
Law.  was  born  at  Lyons  in  iWij.  Educated 
for  the  legal  profession  he  qualified  as 
Attorney  and  Barrister-at-Law  before  the 
Court  of  Appeal  of  Aix-en-Provence.  Coming 
to  the  Far  East  in  1900  he  practised  at 
Saigon  for  four  years,  and  in  1904  removed 
to  Shanghai  and  Tientsin.  On  becoming  a 
member  of  the  F"rench  Municipal  Council  in 
1907  he  was  unanimously  elected  chairman. 
Mons.  Bertho/.  who  is  married,  has  a 
charming  residence  in  the  Avenue  Paul 
Brunat.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Shanghai 
and  Tientsin  Clubs,  and  of  the  Cercle 
Sportif  Franvais. 


MR.  W.  M.  DOWDALL.  F.R.I. B.A., 
A.M.Inst.C.E..  vice-chairman  of  the  Council, 
is  on  the  staff  of  the  Shanghai  Volunteer 
Corps,  and  a  short  sketch  of  his  career  will 
be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


MR.  THEO.  ECKARDT,  proprietor  of  the 
Shanghai  Nurseries  in  the  Avenue  Paul 
Brunat.  was  elected  a  member  of  the  French 
Municipal  Council  in  January,  1908.  A 
native  of  Kiel,  in  Germany,  he  is  forty-one 
years  of  age.  and  has  resided  in  China  for 
the  past  six  years. 


MONS.  J.  O'^ILLARO,  a  naUve  of  Mont- 
carra.  Isere.  France,  came  to  the  Far  East 
twenty-seven  years  ago  in  the  import  and 
export  business.  He  established  branches  at 
Shanghai,  Peking,  Tientsin,  Hankow,  Foo- 
chow,  Chefoo,  Nagasaki,  and  Port  Arthur, 
and  eventually  secured  a  contract  as  pur- 
veyor to  the  French  Army  and  Navy  in 
China.  Owing  to  failing  health,  however, 
he  was  compelled,  in  1903,  to  relinquish  a 
great  part  of  his  business,  retaining  only 
that  of  wholesale  dealer  in  diamonds, 
jewellery,  and  watches,  with  branches  at 
Shanghai  and  Hankow.  In  1885  he  joined 
the  Shanghai  Fire  Department  as  first  otificer 
of  "  Le  Torrent"  Company,  and  in  1891  he 
was  appointed  district  engineer,  a  post 
which  he  filled  for  eight  years.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  French  Municipal 
Council  in  July,  1907.  Mons.  Gaillard 
married    in    September,    1893,   Mdlle.   Cecile 


Eymard,  d;iughter  of  a  well-known  silk 
merchant  in  Yokohama,  by  whom  he  has 
four   children. 


MR.  E.  OHISI,  manager  of  the  Shanghai 
branch  of  the  StKieta  Coloniale  Italiana,  is  a 
native  of  Milan.  He  came  to  Shanghai  in 
October,  1883,  in  the  service  of  Messrs, 
Dufour  Bros."  &  Co.,  a  well-known  firm  of 
silk  exporters.  He  remained  with  them 
until  n;oi,  when  he  joined  the  Societa 
Coloniale  Italiana,  opening  the  local  branch 
of  which  he  has  ever  since  been  manager. 
From  1889  until  lyoi  Mr.  Ghisi  was  Consul 
for  Italy  in  Shanghai.  He  is  a  familiar 
figure  in  the  social  life  of  the  Settlement, 
and  is  a  member  of  practically  all  the  local 
clubs.  Of  the  Italian  Bowling  Club  he  is 
hon.  president.  Mr.  Ghisi,  who  is  in  his 
fifty-second  year,  is  married,  and  has  four 
children. 

MR.  W.  LA  GRO  is  the  manager  of  the 
Netherlands  Trading  Society  in  Shanghai, 
He  came  to  the  Settlement  when  the  local 
branch  of  this  bank  was  opened  in  1903. 
and  has  been  in  the  service  of  the  institution 
for  upwards  of  fourteen  years.  A  native  of 
Meppo,  in  Holland,  he  was  educated  at 
Groningen,  and  is  now  thirty-four  years  of 
age.  He  resides  in  Yates  Road,  and  is  a 
member  of  all  the  principal  clubs  in  Shanghai, 


MONS.  H.  MADIER,  a  native  of  Peyrins, 
France,  came  to  Shanghai  as  a  silk  inspector 
for  the  firm  of  Messrs.  M.  Tillot  &  Co.  in 
1900,  and  in  March,  1907,  he  acquired  the 
sole  proprietorship  of  the  business.  A  very 
popular  man,  Mons.  Madier  is  a  member  of 
the  Shanghai  Club,  the  Race  Club,  and  the 
Cercle  Sportif  Franvais.  He  resides  in  the 
Avenue  Dubail. 

MONS.  BRAISER  DU  THUY  is  the  agent- 
general  for  the  Messageries  Maritimes 
Steamship  Company  in  the  Far  East.  He 
was  born  at  Singapore,  his  father  having 
come  out  to  the  Straits  Settlements  in  the 
service  of  the  Company  in  1861  or  1862, 
After  holding  the  position  of  agent-general 
in  Svdney  for  about  eight  years,  Mons.  du 
Thuy  was  transferred  to  Shanghai  in  Novem- 
ber 1906,  and  soon  took  a  prominent  place 
among  the  residents  in  the  Settlement.  In 
addition  to  being  a  member  of  the  French 
Municipal  Council  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Shanghai  Chamber  of  Commerce.  As  a 
member  of  the  French  Club,  the  French 
Amateur  Dramatic  Club,  and  the  committee 
of  the  Shanghai  Club  he  takes  his  share  in 
the  social  life  of  Shanghai. 


0 

MONS.  G.  LAFERRIERE,  secretary  to  the 
French  Municipal  Council,  was  born  in 
Paris.  He  has  been  resident  in  China  for 
about  twelve  years.  After  being  a  clerk  in 
the  employment  of  Messrs.  E.  L.  Mondon  & 
Co.  for  three  years  he  entered  the  service  of 
the  Municipal  Council,  and  was  successively 
tax-collector,  accountant,  and,  since  July, 
1904,   secretary,      Mr.   Laferriere,    who   is   a 


member  of  the  Shanghai  and  French  Clubs, 
and  of  the  French  .Vmateur  Dramatic  Club, 
is  at  present  home  on  leave. 


THE    CHINESE    CITY, 

A  Mfxicii'Ai.  CoiN'Cii.  was  formed  in  the 
native  city  in  August,  1905,  and  was  the  first 
of  its  kind  in  the  Empire.  The  Taoutai  at 
that  time.  His  Honour  Huan  Shu  Hsucn,  who 
is  now  the  Acting-Governor  of  the  Shantung 
Province,  was  induced  to  sanction  the  creation 
of  such  a  body  by  a  number  of  leading  Chinese 
merchants,  who,  being  firmly  convinced  of 
the  advantages  that  would  follow  upon  some 
measure  of  local  self-government,  repeatedly 
brought  the  matter  before  his  notice.  The 
constitution  of  the  Council  resembles  that  of 
the  Municipal  Councils  in  the  F"oreign  Settle- 
ment. The  members,  who  number  thirty- 
three,  are  elected  for  two  years.  At  the 
conclusion  of  this  term,  according  to  the 
original  regulations,  they  should  all  retire 
together,  but  the  disadvantages  of  sucli  a 
system  soon  became  apparent  and  now 
one-half  the  Council  retires  annually.  The 
election  is  by  ballot,  and  the  franchise  is  limited 
to  men  of  not  less  than  twenty-five  years 
of  age,  who  possess  certain  property  qualifi- 
cations and  are  permanent  residents  in 
Shanghai.  Originally  it  was  stipulated  that 
every  voter  must  have  been  born  in 
Shanghai,  but  recently  this  proviso  has 
been  withdrawn.  Each  year  there  is  a 
meeting  of  electors,  akin  to  the  annual 
meeting  of  ratepayers  in  the  International 
Settlement,  to  which  the  Council  submit  the 
estimates  lor  the  forthcoming  twelve  months, 
The  members  of  the  Council  elect  their 
own  president  and  chairmen  of  committees, 
those  holding  office  at  the  present  time 
being  Mr.  Li  Chung  Yii  (president)  ;  and 
Messrs.  Koh  Hsi  Lun,  Yook,  Huai  Chi 
Tseng  Tsu,  and  Chu  Pu  Song  (chairmen  of 
committees).  For  the  more  efficient  govern- 
ment of  the  area  administered  by  the 
Council  the  work  has  been  organised  in 
three  departments,  namely,  the  Police 
Department,  the  Civil  Administration  Depart- 
ment and  the  Engineering  or  Public  Works 
Department. 

The  Police  Department  has  charge  of  the 
police  stations,  the  sanitary  deparlment, 
and  the  fire  brigade.  A  force  of  700  men 
has  been  trained  for  service  in  the  different 
police  stations  inside  and  outside  the  city 
wall,  the  police  districts  being  divided  as 
follows :— Inside  the  city  wall  :  Eastern 
city  district,  western  city  district,  southern 
city  district,  and  noilhern  city  district. 
Outside  the  city  wall  :  Eastern  district, 
western  district,  and  southern  district. 

The  Civil  Administration  Department  in- 
cludes the  census  office,  the  tax-collector's 
office,  and  the  land  register  office. 

The  Engineering  Department  is  re- 
sponsible for  surveying  and  engineering, 
public  works,  and  street  lighting. 

The  Council's  revenue  has  been  derived, 
so  far,  from  taxes  levied  on  shops,  houses, 
and  public  vehicles,  but,  the  money  from 
these  sources  proving  inadequate,  the  Taoutai 
has  promised  to  levy  a  tax  of  20  cents  upon' 
every  lottery  ticket  sold  in  the  city  to  make 
up  the  deficiency. 

A  Government  building  in  Mao  Chia 
Lung,  on  the  Bund  of  the  native  city,  serves 
as  the  Council's  headquarters. 


POLICE. 


By    Mr.    K.    J.    McEUEN,    Deputy    Superintendent    of    Police. 


HE  Police  F'orce  of  Shanghai, 
as  an  organised  body,  has  a  his- 
tory which  goes  back  a  Utile 
over  half  a  century.  In  the 
earliest  years  of  its  existence 
the  Settlement  was  policed 
by  Consular  constables  and 
native  watchmen,  and  that  primitive  arrange- 
ment served — or  had  to  serve — for  the  needs 
of  the  small  foreign  population  which  then 
existed.  In  1853,  however,  came  a  change 
owing  to  the  influx  of  Chinese  who  were 
driven  to  take  refuge  in  Shanghai  by  the 
unsettled  conditions  of  the  adjacent  Chintse 
territory.  A  scheme  was  then  mooted  tor 
the  creation  of  a  force  of  30  foreign  con- 
stables with  a  chief  and  assistant  superin- 
tendent. But  in  consequence  of  the  difficulty 
of  raising  the  funds  only  8  constables  were 
employed,  and  a  part  of  the  building  erected 
with  a  view  to  the  accommodation  of  the 
larger  number  (the  nucleus  of  the  present 
Central  Station)  was  lent  to  the  Library 
Committee,  the  rent  helping  to  pay  the  8 
constables  and  their  superintendent,  Mr.  S. 
Clifton.  About  1855  the  force  was  increased 
to  30,  and  when  in  1862  the  presence  of  the 
rebels  and  the  consequent  crowds  of  refugees 
made  a  larger  force  an  urgent  necessity,  the 
number  was  raised  to  164  men,  many  of  whom 
were  enlisted  from  the  regiments  leaving 
China  after  the  Peiho  Expedition.  The  need 
for  economy,  however,  soon  led  to  a  reduc- 
tion of  this  number,  and  about  the  beginning 
of  1865  the  expense  was  still  further  lessened 
by  drafting  inio  the  force  native  constables. 
In  1875  the  force  stood  at  112  effective 
men. 

The  force  forms  the  first  line  of  the  local 
defences,  and  consequently  the  organisation 
is  of  a  semi-military  character.  The  foreign 
section  of  the  force,  comprising  Europeans 
and  Indians — many  of  whom  have  served 
with  the  colours — is  armed  with  the  Lee- 
Enfield  carbine — soon  to  be  replaced  by  the 
short  service  rifle— and  undergoes  an  annual 
training  in  musketry,  %vhile  a  small  mounted 
contingent  carries  swords  and  revolvers.  All 
the  foreign  members  of  the  force,  and  as 
many  Chinese  as  possible,  are  accommodated 
in  barracks.  There  is  a  training  depot  for 
Indians  and  Chinese,  and  another  is  about  to 


be  provided  for  Europeans.  The  total 
strength  of  the  force  on  June  i,  1908, 
was  1,460  of  all  ranks.  For  the  discharge 
of  ordinary  police  duties  this  number,  con- 
sidered in  relation  to  the  population,  may 
seem  unusually  high,  but  experience  has 
shown  that  it  is  not  in  e.xcess  of  the  peculiar 
requirements  of  the  Settlement. 

Riots. 

In  1891,  for  instance,  the  disturbances  in 
Ihe  valley  of  the  Yangtsze  approached  ^o 
near  to  Shanghai  as  to  cause  grave  appre- 
hension at  the  mission  stations  at  Jessfield 
and  Siccawei.  Soochow,  Hangchow,  and 
Sungkiang  were  in  a  disturbed  state,  necessi- 
tating extra  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  native 
officials,  and  even  at  the  hills  and  the 
neighbouring  villages  rumours  of  suspicious 
characters  being  about  were  rife.  The 
elements  of  disturbance,  which  at  one  time 
had  every  appearance  of  following  the  line 
of  the  Soochow  Creek,  apparently  split  at 
Soochow,  branching  off  to  Sungkiang  and 
Hangchow  in  one  direction  and  Haimun  in 
the  other.  Special  precautions,  however,  were 
taken  in  Shanghai  to  avert  trouble,  and  during 
June,  July,  August,  and  October,  iifty-four 
suspicious  characters  who  could  not  give 
a  satisfactory  account  of  themselves  were 
arrested  and  taken  before  the  Mixed  Court, 
with  the  result  that  they  were  either  deported 
or  sent  into  the  native  city  to  be  dealt  with 
there. 

In  1897  a  riot  occurred  in  consequence  of 
the  decision  of  the  Municipal  Council  to 
increase  the  wheelbarrow  tax,  from  400  to 
600  cash  per  month  from  April  ist.  The 
barrow-men  refused  to  take  out  licences 
and  created  several  serious  disturbances.  At 
2.45  p.m.  on  April  2nd  a  large  crowd  of 
them  assembled  on  the  Bund  near  the  Yang- 
king-pang  Bridge  and  prevented  a  hand-cart 
from  being  loaded.  P.C.  Laureson  attempted 
to  disperse  them,  but  being  unable  to  do  so 
telephoned  for  assistance.  Before  it  arrived 
he  was  knocked  down  by  the  crowd  and  very 
roughly  handled.  Several  foreigners,  however, 
went  to  his  assistance,  and  on  the  arrival  of 
men  from  the  Central  Station  the  crowd 
dispersed    into    the    French    Settlement.     At 


8  a.m.  on  the  5th  a  crowd  of  barrow-men 
collected  on  the  Soochow  Road  and  threw  a 
hand-cart  into  the  creek.  The  police  were 
telephoned  for,  and  on  their  arrival  the  crowd 
dispersed.  At  9.45  a.m.  on  the  same  day 
some  hundreds  of  barrow-coolies,  many  armed 
with  carrying  bamboos,  were  seen  coming 
towards  the  Settlement  from  the  French 
Bund.  They  were  met  at  the  Yang-king- 
pang  Bridge  by  Inspector  Matheson,  P.C. 
Lundquist,  and  Troopers  79  and  112.  The 
rioters  used  their  bamboos  freely,  and  threw 
bricks  through  several  windows.  Several 
gentlemen  from  the  club  came  to  the  assist- 
ance of  the  police,  and  in  about  five  minutes 
the  crowd  was  driven  into  the  French  Settle- 
ment. Inspector  Matheson  sustained  a  serious 
injury  to  one  leg  that  incapacitated  him  from 
duty  for  three  weeks,  and  both  troopers  were 
wounded  on  the  head.  Several  foreigners 
were  also  injured.  From  the  commencement 
of  the  first  disturbance  on  April  2nd  all  the 
police  off  duty  were  confined  to  barracks,  in 
order  to  be  ready  to  turn  out  at  a  moment's 
notice. 

In  July,  1898,  there  was  very  serious  riot- 
ing in  the  French  Settlement,  and  to  prevent 
the  disturbance  from  spreading  into  the 
neighbouring  Settlement  the  bridge  over  the 
Yang-king-pang  was  guarded  by  armed  police 
as  long  as  the  necessity  for  doing  so  existed. 
The  Ningpo  shops  in  the  International  Settle- 
ment were  all  shut  for  some  days,  and  the 
washermen  struck  work.  There  was  a  small 
riot  in  Hongkew  in  connection  with  the  latter 
occurrence,  but  it  was  promptly  dealt  with 
and  the  ringleaders  were  arrested  and 
punished. 

The  year  1900,  which  will  be  a  memorable 
one  in  the  history  of  China  owing  to  the 
Boxer  uprising  in  the  North,  was  full  of 
anxieties.  Every  precaution  was  taken  to 
prevent  the  Boxer  element  from  finding  its 
way  into  Shanghai.  Men  were  posted  at 
several  important  places  to  obtain  informa- 
tion ;  steamers  arriving  from  the  North  were 
searched  ;  and  whenever  news  was  received 
of  possible  trouble  the  police  were  confined  to 
barracks  so  as  to  be  ready  to  turn  out  at  a 
moment's  notice.  Extra  Indians  were  taken 
on  the  strength,  and  certain  parts  of  the 
Settlement      were     patrolled      by      mounted 


410      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


police.  Rockets  were  distributed  to  the 
principal  mills  and  factories,  to  t>e  used  for 
signalling  purposes  in  the  event  of  trouble. 
.All  this  entailed  a  x-ast  amount  of  work  on 
the  police  in  general  and  on  the  detective 
staff  in  particular. 

There  was  a  great  exodus  of  Chinese  from 
Shanghai  on  acvount  of  the  scare  caused  by 
different  rumours — some  of  them  of  the  most 
mischievous  nature — which  prevailed  in  native 
circles.  The  Council  pt)sted  proclamations  to 
pacify  the  minds  of  the  people  ;  and  through 
the  medium  of  the  native  guilds  promises 
were  made  of  police  assistance  in  case  of 
trouble.  During  June  and  July  a  very  large 
number  of  the  native  residents  left  for 
Ningpo.  Soochow,  Canton,  and  other  places, 
but  they  soon  returned,  finding  in  all  proba- 
bility that  they  were  safer  in  Shanghai  than 
in  their  native  places.  In  .-Vugust  and  Sep- 
tember troops  of  various  nationalities  landed 
in  Shanghai,  and  the  Council  took  the  pre- 
caution to  notify  the  Chinese  people  by 
proclamation  that  the  soldiers  were  coming 
for  their  protection  as  well  as  for  the 
protection  of  foreigners.  A  system  of 
Provost  Guards  was  instituted  on  Novem- 
ber J/ih,  Major  Watson,  and  subsequently 
Captain,  now  Major  Rose,  of  the  1st  Ghur- 
khas,  ticing  Provost  Marshals.  Some  of  the 
guards  were  stationed  in  Scott  Road  and 
others  at  Hongkew  Station.  The  system 
worked  well,  and  its  establishment  was  of 
considerable  assistance  in  maintaining  order. 

Serious  riots  occurred  on  December  18, 
1905,  which  the  Captain  Superintendent  of 
Police  attributed  to  the  arrival  of  young  and 
hot-headed  students  from  Europe,  America, 
and  Japan,  the  premature  discussion  of  the 
American  Exclusion  Treaty,  and  the  effect 
on  the  Chinese  mind  of  the  Japanese 
success  against  Russia.  A  local  committee, 
watching  and  pushing  forward  the  boycott 
of  American  goods,  held  numerous  meetings 
during  the  latter  portion  of  the  year,  at 
which  many  violent  speeches  of  an  anti- 
foreign  nature  were  made.  After  the  fracas 
which  occurred  at  the  Mixed  Court  on 
December  8th,  the  minds  of  certain  sections 
of  the  native  community  were  poisoned  by 
untrue  and  malicious  reports  of  what  took 
place,  and  several  meetings  were  held,  at 
which  threats  were  uttered  of  a  general 
strike,  of  refusal  to  pay  taxes,  and  of  a 
general  exodus  of  natives  from  the  Settle- 
ment. In  the  evening  of  December  17th,  a 
meeting  of  about  three  hundred  people, 
headed  by  two  men  of  the  name  of  Koo 
Bang  Yuan  and  Nyi  Zung  Nyih,  leaders  of 
the  boycott  movement,  was  held  at  the 
Ningpo  Guild  in  the  French  Settlement,  for 
the  purpose  of  forcing  the  hands  of  the 
native  txinkers,  merchants,  and  shopkeepers, 
who  had  adopted  an  almost  neutral  attitude. 
After  some  violent  speeches,  a  resolution 
was  passed  calling  for  a  general  strike  and 
for  the  closing  of  shops  to  begin  from  the 
morrow.  Certain  influential  native  merchants 
endeavoured  to  counteract  the  effect  of 
circulars  which  were  issued  after  the  meet- 
ing by  distributing  other  notices,  but 
without  result.  The  organisation  of  the 
riots  on  the  i8th  was  a  complete  surprise 
to  the  police.  The  manner  in  which  the 
attacks  were  delivered,  the  class  of  people 
in  the  Settlement  at  the  time,  and  the 
general  organisation,  showed  the  work  of 
persf>ns  of  a  higher  class  than  loafers  and 
beggars.  Moreover,  the  points  of  attack 
were  not  valuable  shops  or  banks,  but  police 
stations  and  markets,  and  persons  molested 
were  not  natives  but  foreign  police  and 
foreigners. 

From  careful  investigations  it   was  ascer- 


tained that  the  mob  which  invaded  the 
Settlement  at  between  8.30  and  8.45  a.m. 
came  from  two  quarters  :  (1)  From  the  south 
and  west  of  the  native  city,  where  the  loafer 
gang,  entitled  the  Sung  Tsze  Ming  Taung, 
had  their  haunts  ;  and  (2)  From  the  Hongkew 
and  Li  Hongkew  districts. 

The  lir^t  mob  poured  into  the  Settlement 
over  the  Yunnan  Road  and  Cemetery  Road 
bridges,  and  other  bridges  to  the  east  along 
the  Sungkiang  Road,  compelling  all  shops  to 
put  up  their  shutters,  and  preventing  rickshaw 
and  wheelbarrow  coolies  from  plying  their 
trade.  Swelling  in  numbers,  it  converged  on 
to  the  Nanking  Road  by  the  various  cross 
roads,  alter  having  destroyed  and  burnt  the 
fencing  at  the  south-east  of  the  Racecourse. 
The  points  of  attiick  were  the  Annexe  Hotel, 
the  Town  Hall,  and  the  Louza  Station. 

The  mob  from  Li  Hongkew  made  its 
principal  attack  on  the  Hongkew  Market,  and, 
after  effectually  putting  a  stop  to  business 
there,  although  many  times  charged  by  the 
police,  the  most  violent  portion  diverged  from 
the  Hongkew  Station  and  made  its  way  over 
the  Szechuen  Road  bridge  into  tlie  central 
district,  and  thence  along  the  Nanking 
Road.  A  native  was  shot  dead  near  the 
Kiangse  Road  corner.  The  mob,  perceiving 
tirearins  and  ammunition  exhibited  in  the 
shop  window  of  the  International  Bicycle 
Company's  premises,  attacked  it,  broke  in 
the  windows,  seized  many  sporting  guns  and 
revolvers,  and  several  thousand  rounds  of 
ammunition,  and  passed  on  its  way.  A 
native  was  shot  dead  at  the  entrance  to  the 
shop  by  the  foreign  employes,  and  many 
others  must  have  been   wounded. 

The  Li  Hongkew  mob,  swelling  as  it 
went,  effected  a  junction  with  the  other 
mob  at  the  Town  Hall,  Market,  and  Louza 
Station,  molesting  all  foreigners  met,  destroying 
a  motor  car,  several  bicycles,  and  other  pro- 
perty, and  driving  in  isolated  policemen, 
many  of  whom  received  severe  treatment. 

The  Town  Hall,  to  which  several  foreigners 
fled  for  refuge,  was  defended  by  two  foreign 
and  three  Sikh  constables  fully  armed.  The 
Louza  Station  was  m.ide  the  scene  of  the 
most  determined  attack  ;  the  foreign  and 
Sikh  police  were  driven  in,  amidst  a  hail  of 
bricks  and  stones,  after  having  charged  the 
attackers  a  dozen  times.  The  attack  coin- 
menced  at  about  9.30,  and  lasted  till  10  o'clock, 
when  the  mob  obtained  the  upper  hand, 
forced  an  entry  into  the  station,  turned  out 
the  fires  in  the  grates  of  the  various  rooms 
on  the  ground  floor,  and  thus  set  tire  to 
the  station  in  three  or  four  different  places. 
In  the  meantime  the  attack  on  the  Town 
Hall  was  being  pressed  with  vigour,  but  the 
police  there  tired  on  the  mob,  killing  three 
men  in  the  crowd  and  two  other  innocent 
shop  assistants  who  were  sitting  behind 
closed  shutters  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road — an  unavoidable  accident.  This  some- 
what cowed,  though  it  did  not  disperse,  the 
mob,  which  was  finally  partially  driven  into 
side  streets  on  the  arrival  of  a  landing  party 
from  the  British  warships  in  port.  In  addition 
to  three  Chinese  killed  at  the  Town  Hall,  and 
one  at  the  corner  of  Kiangse  and  Nanking 
Roads,  three  others  were  shot  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood, making  seven  in  all,  but  it  is 
believed  that  others  died  from  wounds  re- 
ceived. The  total  number  of  wounded  could 
never  be  ascertained. 

The  crowd  at  the  Central  Station  and  in 
the  neighbourhood  was  estimated  at  2,000  or 
more,  and  at  times  became  violent,  but  was 
never  at  any  time  dangerous.  The  police 
here  were  kept  in  reserve,  as  it  was  anticipated 
that  an  attack  would  be  made  on  the  Council's 
buildings. 


Evidence,  in  the  possession  of  the  police, 
showed  that  intercourse  of  a  confidential 
nature  had  taken  place  before  the  riots 
between  certain  native  oflicials  and  the  pro- 
moters of  the  movement  which  culminated 
in   the   riot. 

The  Growth  of  the  Force. 

The  increase  in  the  Police  Force  during 
the  past  forty-three  years  is  shown  by  the 
following  table  : — 


Year. 

Officers. 

Foreigners. 

Indians. 

Cliinete 

Total. 

1865 

61 



42 

104 

1866 

58 

— 

47 

106 

1867 

46 

— 

54 

lOI 

1868 

39 

— 

66 

106 

1869 

3<> 

— 

74 

lit 

1870 

32 

— 

84 

117 

1871 

32 

— 

89 

122 

1872 

30 

— 

98 

129 

1873 

31 

— 

100 

132 

1874 

29 



104 

1.34 

1875 

30 

— 

105 

1.16 

1876 

3' 

— 

110 

142 

1877 

30 

— 

115 

146 

1878 

31 

-- 

120 

152 

1879 

30 

■ — 

135 

166 

1880 

29 

— 

■53 

i«3 

1881 

30 

— 

160 

191 

1882 

29 

— 

170 

200 

1883 

50 

— 

214 

265 

1884 

49 

16 

235 

301 

1885 

45 

49 

205 

300 

1886 

54 

50 

204 

309 

1887 

52 

50 

216 

319 

1888 

52 

54 

.  227 

3.34 

1889 

54 

55 

237 

347 

1890 

59 

49 

280 

379 

1891 

45 

55 

318 

419 

1892 

40 

56 

332 

429 

1893 

49 

62 

35!* 

470 

1894 

52 

62 

358 

473 

1895 

52 

69 

382 

505 

1896 

51 

80 

395 

527 

1897 

56 

94 

434 

585 

1898 

2 

72 

132 

490 

696 

1899 

2 

66 

16S 

555 

788 

1900 

I 

74 

159 

56t 

795 

1901 

2 

83 

168 

57 1 

824 

1902 

2 

83 

167 

604 

856 

1903 

2 

86 

186 

613 

887 

1904 

2 

94 

186 

«75 

957 

190s 

5 

95 

188 

723 

1,011 

1906 

4 

125 

201 

753 

1,088 

1907 

7 

169 

416 

722 

1-314 

1908 

8 

187 

434 

831 

1,460 

The  control  of  the  force  is  in  the  hands 
of  a  Captain-Superintendent  appointed  by  the 
Municipal  Council  and  directly  responsible  to 
the  Watch  Committee.  The  lirst  Superin- 
tendent of  the  force  was  Mr.  C.  E.  Penfold. 
Appointed  in  i860,  he  remained  in  charge 
until  his  death  in  March,  1884,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Captain  J.  P.  McEueii,  R.N., 
who  was  styled  Captain-Superintendent  of 
Police.  On  July  25,  1896,  Ciptain  McEuen 
was  invalided  to  England,  but  he  was  too  ill 
to  proceed  further  than  Yokohama,  at  which 
port  he  died  on  August  30th.  Captain  Donald 
Mackenzie,  who  was  appointed  Deputy  Super- 
intendent in  1895,  assumed  control  until  Mr. 
P.  B.  Pattison,  of  the  Royal  Irish  Constabu- 
lary, was  engaged  to  fill  the  vacancy  on 
February  12,  1897.  Mr.  Pattison  returned 
home  on  October  4,  1900,  to  resume  his  post 
in  the  Royal  Irish  Constabulary,  and  the  com- 
mand devolved  upon  Chief  Inspector  Howard, 
as  senior  officer,  until  the  arrival  of  Captain 
A.   M.   Boisvagon   on   March   8,    1901.      Five 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     411 


years  later  Captain  Boisvagon  went  home 
on  leave,  and  on  September  20,  1906,  he 
resigned.  Mr.  K.  J.  McEuen,  Deputy  Super- 
intendent, acted  in  the  capacity  of  Captain- 
Superintendent  until  the  arrival  of  the  present 
incumbent  of  the  post,  Lieut.-Colonel  C.  D. 
Bruce,  on  August  7,  1907. 

The  oflkers  of  the  force  at  present  are  : — 

Captain-Superintendent  :  Lieut.-Colonel  C. 
D.  Bruce,  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
force  on  July  14,  1907. 

Deputy  Superintendent  :  Mr.  K.  J.  McEuen, 
appointed  cadet  on  April  19,  1900,  promoted 
Deputy  Superintendent  on  October  13,  1904. 

Assistant  Superintendent  in  charge  of  the 
Indian  branch  ;  Captain  E.  I.  M.  Barrett, 
appointed  May  i,  1907. 

Assistant  Superintendent  in  charge  of  the 
Chinese  branch-:  Captain  A.  H.  Hilton- 
Johnson,  the  Lincolnshire  Regiment,  seconded 
for  service  with  the  force,  from  April  15, 
1908. 

Second  Assistant  Superintendent  in  charge 
of  the  Municipal  Gaol  :  Mr.  A.  H.  teuton, 
engaged  as  cadet  on  December  10,  1904, 
promoted  Second  Assistant  Superintendent 
on  September  19,  1907. 

Second  Assistant  Superintendent  for  Chinese 
and  Mixed  Court  respectively  :  Messrs.  R.  M.  J, 
Martin  and  M.  O.  Springfield,  engaged  as 
cadets  on  November  10,  1905,  promoted 
Second  Assistant  Superintendents  on  Decem- 
ber 20,  1907. 

Mr.  E.  C.  Creasy,  engaged  in  July,  1907, 
is  at  present  undergoing  a  preparatory  course 
of  instruction  in  India  before  taking  up  his 
appointment  as  a  cadet. 

There  are  two  chief  inspectors — one  in  the 
uniform  branch,  Mr.  J.  Ramsay,  who  joined 
the  force  on  August  31,  1883,  and  the  other 
in  the  detective  service,  Mr.  W.  Armstrong, 
who  joined  on  August  I,  1893.  There  are 
also  eleven  inspectors,  of  whom  one  is 
on  the  detective  staff,  while  another  is 
storekeeper  and  drill  instructor,  and  ten 
sub-inspectors — six  in  the  uniform  branch, 
two  detectives,  one  assistant  storekeeper, 
and  one  on  plain  clothes  duty  at  the  Mixed 
Court. 

The  present  number  of  sergeants,  con- 
stables, &c.,  is  as  follows  : — 


The  rate  of  remuneration  in  the  non- 
commissioned ranks  ranges  in  the  European 
section  of  the  force  from  TIs.  70  a  month 
for  a  probationary  constable  to  TIs.  240  a 
month  for  a  chief  inspector  ;  in  the  Indian 
section,  from  $16  a  month  for  a  probationary 
constable  to  $75  a  month  for  a  jemadar  ;  and 
in  the  Chinese  section,  from  Sii  a  month 
for  a  recruit  to   $20  for  a  first-class  sergeant. 


Europeans  on  attaining  the  age  of  fifty  or 
completing  twenty  years'  service,  while 
deferred  pay  is  issued  to  Indians  at  the  end 
of  every  term   of   five   years. 

Statistics   of    Crime. 

A  good  idea  of  the  work  of  the  force  may 
be  gained  by  the  following  return  of  the 
number  of  persons  arrested  during  each  of  the 


CENTRAL    POLICE    AND    FIRE    STATION. 


In  the  detective  branch  an  entire  grant, 
varying  from  TIs.  20  a  month  for  a  constable 
to  TIs.  50  for  a  first-class  inspector,  is  made 
in  lieu  of  uniform  to  Europeans,  and  a 
special  rate  of  pay,  ranging  from  $18  a 
month  for  a  third-class  constable  to  $30  for 
a  detective  sergeant,  is  made  to  Chinese. 
There     are     additional      allowances      to     all 


Sergeants. 

Detective 
Sergeants. 

Constables. 

Detective 
Constables. 

Interpreters. 

Various. 

European 

Indian          

Chinese        

47 
40 

52 

12 

2 

lOI 

377 
683 

4 

57 

I 
12 

12 
12 

Total 

139 

14 

1,161 

61 

13 

24 

Conditions  of  Service. 

Officers  are  engaged  at  home  as  cadets, 
and,  as  a  rule,  are  selected  from  the  alumni 
of  public  schools,  who  have  just  completed 
their  education.  After  two  years'  service  as 
cadets  they  receive  the  rank  of  second 
assistant  superintendent. 

With  a  view  to  placing  in  charge  of  the 
Indian  and  Chinese  branches  of  the  force 
men  who  are  specially  qualified  for  such 
work,  by  reason  of  their  experience  with 
natives,  the  Council  have  recently  engaged 
Captains  E.  I.  M.  Barrett  and  A.  H.  Hilton- 
Johnson,  who  have  been  seconded  from  the 
British  Army  for  service  in  these  positions. 

Inspectors  are  promoted  from  amongst  the 
sub-inspectors,  a  rank  which  was  created 
in  September,  1907.  Promotion  to  these 
ranks,  as  well  as  to  that  of  sergeant,  is  by 
merit  as  vacancies  arise. 


branches  for  proficiency  in  English  and 
Chinese.  Special  leave  is  granted  to 
foreigners  at  the  end  of  five  years'  service, 
and  occasional  holidays  are  given  to  Chinese. 
Superannuation     allowance     is     granted     to 


past  ten  years  :— 25,763  in  1898,  24,037  in 
1899,  25,221  in  1900,  28.795  in  190I1  41,567  in 
1902,  40,748  in  1903,  42,824  in  1904,  42,685  in 
1905,  50,722  in  1906,  and  52,565  in  1907.  It 
is  gratifying  to  find  that  the  increase  in  the 
number  of  offences  committed  during  the 
period  under  review  is  not  proportionate  to  the 
increase  in  the  population  of  the  Settlement. 

Of  the  total  for  1907,  no  fewer  than  19,526 
cases  related  to  the  commission  of  nuisances, 
such  as  firing  crackers  and  burning  joss 
sticks,  and  19,128  to  obstruction,  while 
5,472  had  reference  to  misdemeanours,  3,403 
to  larceny  from  dwellings,  1,172  to  fighting 
and  creating  disturbances,  and  858  to 
assaults.  The  more  serious  offences  included 
82  cases  of  arson,  317  of  burglary  and 
housebreaking,  and  35  of  murder. 

The  total  value  of  property  reported  to 
the  police  as  lost  or  stolen  in  1907  was 
$640,968-82,  and  of  this  $475,299-20,  or  74 
per  cent.,  was  recoveied,  mainly  as  the 
result  of  the  efforts  of  the  detective  branch. 
In  this  connection,  the  following  comparison 
with  the  London  Metropolitan  Police  may 
not  be  without  interest  : — 


Shanghai. 

London. 

Stolen. 

Recovered. 

Stolen. 

Recovered. 

- 

$        c. 

$        c. 

£ 

£ 

1902 

173-299  73 

139,553  33 

158,992 

46,268 

1903 

302,874   16 

253,332  41 

191,885 

42,108 

1904 

230,177  40 

169,084  80 

163,876 

42,562 

1905 

289,066  86 

212,214  26 

181,018 

52,915 

1906 

244733  **o 

142.694  50 

I47,9f'3 

42,035 

412     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  Gaou 

All  males  sentenced  to  imprisonment  by 
the  Mixed  Court  are  returned  to  the  Municipal 
Police  for  detention.  As  a  rule  prisoners 
sentenced  to  less  than  six  months'  imprison- 
ment are  con6ned  in  the  police-station  cells, 
which  were  originally  intended  for  the  use 
of  prisoners  awaiting  trial,  but  the  accommo- 
dation at  the  Municip;il  Gaol  has  of  late 
become  insufficient,  and  now  only  prisoners 
sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  six  months 
and  over  are  sent  to  this  building.  The 
Municipal  Gaol  is  situated  in  the  Wayside 
district,  on  the  Ward  Road.  Built  in  1903, 
it  is  one  of  the  best  equipped  gaols  in  the 
Far  East.  The  administration  is  in  the  hands 
of  the  CapUiin-Superintendent  of  Police.  The 
staff  consists  of  a   head   gaoler,  an   assistant 


gaoler,  8  European  warders,  and  65  Indian 
sergeants  and  warders. 

The  prisoners  confined  in  the  gaol  are 
given  various  forms  of  labour,  such  as  road- 
making,  stone-breaking,  masonry,  and  work 
for  the  Public  Works  Department.  The 
number  of  prisoners  in  custody  at  the 
Municipal  Gaol  on  June  i,  1908,  was  145. 
Female  prisoners  are  confined  in  the  cells 
attached  to  the  Mi.ved  Court. 

For  the  detention  of  other  than  Chinese 
prisoners  the  British  is  the  only  Consular 
Gaol.  Japan  and  the  United  States  of 
America  confine  their  prisoners  in  their 
respective  consulates,  but  the  majority  of 
the  Consular  Courts  send  their  prisoners  to 
the  British  Gaol,  or,  in  some  cases,  to  the 
Municipal  Gaol,  and  pay  the  expenses 
involved. 


The  French  Concession. 

The  Police  Force  in  the  Frencli  Concession 
consisted  at  the  end  of  1907  of  55  Europeans, 
51  men  from  Annam  and  Tonkin,  and 
150  Chinese.  During  the  year  the  strength 
was  increased  by  the  addition  of'  80  French 
subjects  from  the  two  southern  provinces 
and  50  Chinese,  so  that  the  full  force  nOw 
numbers  386  men.  Eight  of  the  Europeans 
are  mounted,  and  there  is  a  cyclist  brigade 
consisting  of  twelve  Tonkinese  and  four 
European  policemen  whose  chief  duty  is  the 
night  patrol  of  the  roads  outside  the  boun- 
daries of  the  Settlement.  The  European 
police  carry  revolvers,  and  rifles  are  kept  at 
headquarters  in  case  of  emergency.  The 
Tonkinese  are  armed  wilh  bayonets.  The 
force  is  under  the  command  of  Captain  Mallet. 


A  PARADE  OF  THE  SHANGHAI  VOLUNTEERS  IN  THE  EARLY  DAYS. 


VOLUNTEERS. 


ILTHOUGH  the  residents  of 
Shanghai  may  be  said  to  be 
under  the  protection  of  all  the 
great  powers,  it  is  owing  to 
tliis  very  fact  that  no  regular 
force  is  stationed  in  the  Settle- 
ment. In  other  words,  "  that 
which  is  everybody's  business  is  nobody's 
business,"  and,  recognising  this,  the  residents 
have  from  the  earliest  days  maintained  a 
Volunteer  Force,  capable,  in  conjunction  with 
the  police,  of  repelling  any  sudden  attack 
which  might  be  made  upon  them  until 
reinforcements  could  arrive  from  other  parts 
of  China.  The  necessity  for  this  measure  of 
self-defence  has  been  proved  on  more  than 
one  occasion,  and  explains  why,  out  of  a 
foreign  population  of  not  more  than  fourteen 
thousand — men,  women,  and  children  included 
— there  is  a  Volunteer  Force  of  nine  hundred, 
exclusive  of  the  Chinese  Company  which  has 
recently  been  formed.  In  these  circumstances, 
the  Shanghai  Volunteer  Corps,  which  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Volunteer  move- 
ment, calls  for  more  than  ordinary  notice. 

Of  the  measures  taken  for  the  defence  of 
the  Settlement  in  the  early  days  little  is 
known  beyond  the  fact  that  practically  every 
able-bodied  man  felt  himself  bound  by  con- 
siderations of  personal  interest,  as  well  as 
duty,  to  join  one  or  other  of  the  irregular 
bodies  formed  for  the  purpose. 

For  ten  years  there  was  peace,  the  centres 
of  disturbance  within  the  imperial  dominions 
being  too  far  removed  for  the  ripples  to 
do  more  than  lap  harmlessly  against  the 
foreigners'  boundaries.  Gradually,  however, 
they  came  nearer  ;  and  at  length  Sir  George 
Bonham,  Her  Majesty's  Plenipotentiary, 
authorised  the  formation  of  a  Volunteer 
Corps  for  Settlement  protection.  When  on 
September  7,  1853,  the  native  city  of  Shanghai 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Triad  rebels, 
the  residents  of  the  Foreign  Settlement  had 
some  cause  for  alarm,  both  by  reason  of 
the  proximity  of  the  rebels  and  of  the 
imperial  troops  sent  to  disperse  them.  But 
neither  the  Triads  nor  the  Imperialists 
had  any  definite  quarrel  with  the  foreigners, 
the  alarm  subsided,  and  gave  place  to 
annoyance  at  the  liberties  indulged  in  by 
the  Chinese  on  both  sides.  It  was  the 
friction  engendered  by  these  liberties  which 
led   to  the  Battle  of  Muddy  Flat— or  Muddy 


Foot,  as  some  say  it  should  rightly  be  named. 
Patience  was  strained  beyond  tlie  point  of 
endurance  when  an  English  lady  and  gentle- 
man were  wounded  by  imperial  soldiers, 
and  on  the  following  day,  April  4,  1854,  an 
ultimatum  was  issued  to  the  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  Imperialists  that  unless  he 
removed  his  men  from  their  entrenched 
position  on  the  Defence  Creek  an  attack 
would  be  made  upon  him  by  the  full  foreign 
force  available.  The  strength  of  the  foreigners 
was  three  hundred  all  told,  including  marines 
and  bluejackets  from  Her  Britannic  Majesty's 
ships  Encounter  and  Grecian,  and  from  the 
United  States  sloop  Plymouth  ;  the  Infantry 
Volunteers  under  Mr.  (afterwards  Sir)  Thomas 
F'.  Wade,  the  British  Vice-Consul  ;  about 
twenty  sailors  from  some  of  the  merchant 
vessels  in  port,  and  a  number  of  American 
civilians.  The  British  force,  numbering  two 
hundred  men,  was  commanded  by  Captain 
O'Callaghan,  with  Lieutenant  Roderick  Dew 
as  second  in  command,  and  was  accom- 
panied by  Mr.  Alcock,  the  British  Consul. 
The  remaining  contingents  were  commanded 
by  Captain  Kelley,  of  the  Plynionth,  with 
Lieutenant  John  Guest  as  second  in  command, 
and  were  accompanied  by  Mr.  K.  C.  Murphy, 
the  American  Consul.  The  force  duly  marched 
towards  Defence  Creek  in  the  hope  that  the 
Chinese  general  would  be  impressed  by  the 
demonstration  and  withdraw.  This  expectation, 
however,  was  not  realised,  and  the  handful 
of  foreigners  found  themselves,  somewhat 
dismayed,  face  to  face  with  earthworks, 
behind  which  some  ten  thousand  Chinese  lay 
entrenched.  The  probable  issue  of  this  unex- 
pected stand  was,  fortunately,  averted  by  the 
fact  that  whilst  the  handful  of  foreigners 
were  making  a  determined  attack  on  the 
defences,  the  Triads,  emboldened  by  their 
example,  issued  in  their  thousands  from  the 
gates  of  the  native  city,  and  turned  what 
looked  like  a  certain  disaster  into  a  complete 
victory  for  the  allies.  The  imperial  troops — 
indifferent  material  at  the  best  of  times — fled 
incontinently,  and  their  camps  were  occupied 
to  the  north  by  the  foreigners  and  to  the 
south  by  the  Triads.  The  casualties  consisted 
of  three  Volunteers  wounded  (two  fatally), 
ten  British  seamen  wounded,  and  one 
American  killed  and  four  wounded.  In  the 
Anglican  Cathedral  porch  may  be  seen  a 
marble  tablet. 


Sacred, 

To  the  Memory  of 

R.  H.  Pearson, 

of  Newbury  Port,  Massachusetts,  U.S.A., 

Late  Commander  of  the   American 

Ship  "  Rose  Standish"  ; 

J.  A.  Brine, 

of  this  place  and  a  member  of  the 

Volunteer  Corps  ; 

W.  Blackman, 

Carpenter  of  H.B.M.  Steamer 

"  Encounter  "  ; 

G.   McCORKLE, 

Seaman  of  the  U.  States  sloop, 

"  Plymouth  "  ; 

Who  fell  when  in  arms  in  defence 

of  this  Settlement  on  the 

4th  April,  1854. 

This  tablet  is  erected  by  the  Community 

as  an  expression  of  gratitude  for 

generous  service, 

of  admiration 

of  their  bravery, 

of  sorrow  for  their  death. 

■•  Thou    hast  girded   me  with    strength   unto 

the  battle  ; 
Thou  hast  subdued  under  me  those  that  rose 
up  against  me." 

Psalm  xviii.,  39. 
And  in  the  Shantung  Road  Cemetery  is  a 
grave,  the  unpretentious  headstone  to  which  is 
"  Sacred 
to  the  memory 
of 
John  Adolphus  Brine, 
who  departed  this  life  on  the 
28th  April,  1854. 
Aged  24  years  ; 
"His  untimely  end  proceeding  from  a  wound 
received  on  the  4th  of  the  same  month  in  an 
attack   by   the   combined   forces   of    England 
and  America  and  Shanghai  Local  Volunteers 
on  the  Imperialist  Camps  west  of  this  Settle- 
ment." 

In  course  of  time  the  Triads  dispersed,  and 
quiet  prevailed  until  the  approach  of  the 
Taepings,  who  captured  Soochow  on  June  29, 
i860.  This  led  to  a  reorganisation  of  the 
Volunteer  Corps.  A  further  scare  was  caused 
on  December  9th  in  the  following  year,  when 
Ningpo  was  occupied  by  the  rebels  ;  and  the 
Mounted  Rangers,  afterwards  known  as  the 
Light  Horse,  were  mobilised  for  scouting 
purposes,     Tlie    exploits    of    Gordon    at    the 


414     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


head  of  "the  ever-\-ictorious  Anny  "  in  1862. 
however,  resulted  in  the  complete  discom- 
fiture of  the  rebels,  and  with  every  prospect 
of  prolonged  peace  the  Volunteer  Corps  as 
a  corps  practicilly  ceased  to  exist,  nothing 
but  a   Rifle  Club  remaining. 

The  Tientsin  massacre  of  June  20,  1 870. 
re-awakened  the  interest  of  the  comnuniity 
in  the  defences  of  the  Settlement,  and  as  the 
result  of    a  largely  attended  public  meeting 


the  question  of  organisation,  and  shall 
generally  control  the  action  of  the  corps." 
The  Council  accepted  the  responsibility,  and 
added  a  "  Defence  and  Watch  Committee," 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Dixwell,  Anderson,  and 
Reid,  to  the  list  of  its  regular  committees. 
The  executive  duties  of  the  corps  were  first 
undertiiken  by  Captains  Maclean  and  Thorne, 
but  upon  the  retirement  of  these  oflicers 
Mr.  T.  Brewer,  formerly  of  the  Military  Train, 


THE    LIGHT    HORSE. 
Mjuok  H.  E.  Keylock,  late  O.C. 

Caitaix  W.  J.  N.  Dyer,  O.C.  Lieutenant  J.  Mosberg. 

LiEUTEXAXT  P.  K.  Layers. 


held  at  the  "  Main  Guard,"  under  the  presi- 
dency of  Sir  Edmund  Hornby,  Kt.,  early  in 
July,  the  Municipal  Council  began  to  take 
official  cognisance  of  the  Shanghai  Volunteer 
Corps.  The  resolutions  passed  at  the  meet- 
ing were  :  "  That  the  Shanghai  Volunteer 
Coips  shall  consist  of  Artillery,  Mounted 
Rangers,  and  three  companies  of  Infantry," 
and  "that  the  management  of  the  corps  shall 
be  vested  in  the  Municipal  Council  who 
shall,  through    their  chairman,   decide   upon 


originally  a  branch  of  Her  Majesty's  forces, 
was  appointed  Adjutant-General  of  the  entire 
force.  Lee-Enfields  were  issued,  but  were 
subsequently  withdrawn,  and  replaced  by 
500  Snider  rifles  ;  an  armoury  was 
opened,  an  ample  supply  of  ammunition  was 
procured,  and  the  rifle  butts,  which  had 
been  laid  out  by  a  former  commandant, 
Mr.  Webb,  a  member  of  the  old  firm  of 
Dent  &  Co.,  were  taken  over  and  placed  in 
repair.      By   April    4,    1872,   the    strength   of 


the  corps  had  risen  to  333  of  all  ranks, 
made  up  as  follows  :  Shanghai  Mounted 
Rangers,  36 ;  Artillery,  33  ;  Mih-ho-loong 
Rifles,  79  ;  No.  I  Rifle  Company,  59  ;  No.  2 
Company,  60  ;  No.  3  Company,  66. 

In  the  meantime  the  question  of  finance 
h.id  arisen,  and  in  1873  the  Municipal 
Council,  acting  on  the  reconnnendation  of 
the  Defence  and  W'atcli  Connnittee  allocated 
the  sum  of  Tls.  2,500  to  the  maintenance  of 
the  corps.  In  the  same  year  300  Martini- 
Henry  rifles  were  imported,  the  cost  of  tlie 
new  arm  being  provided  by  loan  ;  and 
the  question  of  the  provision  of  a  suitable 
parade  giound  was  solved,  at  the  sugges- 
tion of  Captain  Brewer,  by  the  reclamation 
of  a  plot  of  ground  lying  between  the 
Peninsular  and  Oriental  Company's  flagstaff 
and  the   Public  Gardens. 

In  April,  1874,  the  volunteers  were  mobilised 
to  suppress  tlie  disturbances  which  arose  out 
of  the  French  Council's  decision  to  cut  a 
roadway  through  the  old  cemetery  near  the 
Ningpo  Joss  House.  The  prompt  action  taken 
by  the  International  Council  on  this  occasion 
produced  a  good  effect  upon  the  natives, 
who,  on  the  approach  of  the  corps,  took 
refuge  in  the  native  city.  Tliough  the  corps 
remained  under  arms  for  several  nights, 
there  was  no  recurrence  of  the  disturbance. 
In  connection  with  this  riot  it  is  significant 
that  though  several  natives  were  killed  the 
Chinese  officials  apparently  took  no  notice 
of  the  fact. 

On  the  resignation  of  Captain  Brewer,  in 
1875,  Captain  James  Hart,  formerly  of  the  78th 
Highlanders,  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  corps,  with  the  title  of  Major  instead  of 
Adjutant  -  General.  The  armament  of  the 
corps  was  increased  in  the  same  year  by 
the  purchase  of  a  Galling  gun,  and  in 
the  following  year  200  additional  Martini- 
Henry  rifles  were  purchased. 

Then  set  in  one  of  those  recurrent  periods 
of  reaction  common  to  all  organisations  of 
the  kind.  No.  3  Company  was  disbanded, 
there  was  a  considerable  falling-off  in  the 
membership  of  the  other  companies,  and  the 
Mounted  Rangers  virtually  ceased  to  exist. 
Matters  became  so  bad  that  on  November  8, 

1878,  a  public  meeting  was  called,  at  the 
instance  of  the  Defence  Committee,  "to  take 
into  consideration  the  present  state  of  the 
corps,  and  to  decide  upon  such  measures  as 
may  seem  most  desirable  to  restore  it  to  its 
former  efficiency."  As  a  result,  the  corps 
was  reorganised.  The  daik  green  uniform 
was  discarded  in  favour  of  a  slightly  modified 
form  of  the  scarlet  uniform  of  Her  Majesty's 
Marine  Light  Infantry.  The  ladies  of  Shang- 
hai presented  new  colours,  of  pale  blue,  with 
a  gold  chaplet  and  the  dates  1854-70 
embroidered  on  them  ;  and,  although  the 
strength  of  the  re-formed  corps  was  only 
181,  including  all  ranks,  it  was  felt  that  a 
brighter  day  had  dawned. 

The  work  of  directing  the  affairs  both  of 
the  volunteers  and  of  the  police  had,  in  the 
meantime,  become  too  onerous  for  one  com- 
mittee to  discharge.  Consequently,  in  1880 
two  committees  were  appointed — the  Defence 
Committee  and  the  Watch  Committee — to 
assume  control  respectively  of  the  volunteer 
corps  and  the  police  force.  With  the  intro- 
duction of  the  new  regime  Major  J.  K.  Holliday, 
who  had  succeeded  to  the  command  in  April, 

1879,  and  his  officers  took  a  great  interest  in 
the  corps,  and,  under  the  inspiration  of  their 
enthusiasm,  the  Rangers  were  resuscitated, 
and  a  marked  increase  followed  in  the  general 
efficiency  of  the  volunteers.  A  camp  of 
exercise  was  established  in  1881,  with  such 
success  that  it  became  a  feature  of  the  animal 
training  ;    and,    in    the    following    year,    the 


STAFF  OF  THE  SHANGHAI  VOLUNTEER  CORPS. 


I.    Captain  W.  M.  DowoAi.r..  „  „    „ 

2  Cai>taix  G.  F.  Collyer,  Adjutant. 

4.    MAJOR  r.  h.  Trc;kmax.  3.    Lii.XT.-Coi.osKi.  w.  M.  Watson,  Comm.ind.-int.  5.  Major  Brodie  A.  Clarke, 

7.    HON.  Ljeutenant  K.  lUcK,  Bandmaster.  0.    Rev.  A.  J,  Walker,  Cl.aplain.  8.  Sl-kg.-Major  C.  I.alcaca.  P.M.O. 


416     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


twent>--«iehth  anniversary  of  the  battle  of 
Muddy  Flat  was  made  the  occasion  of  the 
first  inspection  of  the  corps  hy  the  chairman 
and  members  of  the  Municipal  Council.  By 
the  close  of  1882  the  corps,  consisting  of 
Artillery.  Light  Horse,  and  four  companies  of 
Infantr>-.  had  a  toLil  strength  of  288  ;  whilst 
the  expenditure  had  increased  to  Tls.  5.302-69. 
The  enthusiasm  infected  even  the  older 
residents  of  the  Settlement,  for  in  1883 
arrangements  were  carried  out  for  the  for- 
mation of  a  Veteran  Company,  composed  of 
men  not  under  thirty-tive  years  of  age,  who 
had  seen  at  least  two  years'  service  with 
some  properly  constituted  military  organisa- 
tion of  volunteers,  militia,  or  regulars.  This 
company,  under  Captain  A.  Myburgh,  soon 
had  a  roll  of  forty  memt>ers. 


an  accuracy,  steadiness,  and  zeal  which 
deserved  high  praise."  Speaking  of  the  corps 
as  a  whole,  he  added  that  "their  efticiency 
well  corresponds  to  the  purpose  for  which 
they  have  been  organised."  In  his  ofiicial 
report  to  the  oHicer  commanding  in  Hong- 
kong. China,  and  the  Straits  Settlements  the 
gallant  Major  wrote  ; — "  Shanghai,  not  a 
Colony,  not  even  a  concession,  but  a  fortui- 
tous aggregate  of  self-governing  English 
merchants — for  the  atrophied  French  settle- 
ment may  be  put  out  of  consideration — 
furnishes  a  fine  example  of  independence  and 
resolution  applied  to  self-defence.  Without 
drawing  one  shilling  from  the  Imperial 
Exchequer,  it  expends  annually  about  Tls.  5,500 
(^ri.330  sterlingi  on  its  Volunteers  ;  the  mer- 
chants and    settlers    cheerfully    devote    time, 


THE    ARTILLERY. 

LIECTEXAXT  L.  E.  CAN.VIXG. 

l.iEfTEXAXT  R.  Wallace  Uavis. 


Captaix  a.  J.  Stewart,  oC. 


A  considerable  advance  in  efficiency  was 
made  under  a  new  system  of  training  intro- 
duced in  1883.  Instead  of  holding  brigade, 
battalion,  and  company  drills  at  intervals 
throughout  the  year,  the  entire  corps  was 
called  out  for  a  period  of  four  consecutive 
weeks  ;  and  the  experiment  proved  so  suc- 
cessful that  it  has  since  become  a  regular 
practice.  How  great  was  the  advance  which 
followed  this  change  may  be  gathered  from 
the  cordial  praise  tjestowed  on  the  corps  by 
Major  KnoUys,  K.A.,  of  Hongkong,  who  in- 
spected the  Shanghai  Volunteers  at  the  close 
of  the  annual  tiaining  in  1884.  Of  the 
infantry  he  said,  "  their  officers  knew  their 
work  and  their  men  well  seconded  them  ; 
their  drill  movements  were  not  ambitious  but 
were  performed  without  confusion,  and  with 


money,  and  trouble  to  the  improvement  of  the 
force;  and  their  measures  are  so  well  concerted 
that  in  a  sudden  emergency,  so  far  from  con- 
templating a  rush  for  refuge  on  board  ship, 
they  are  perfectly  prepared  to  protect  their 
lives  and  property  pending  the  arrival  of 
succour  from  Hongkong.  I,  therefore,  pre- 
sume to  suggest  for  the  consideration  of  His 
Excellency  the  Major-General  Commanding 
in  China  and  the  Straits  Settlements  whether 
he  may  think  fit  to  move  the  English 
Government  to  a  gratuitous  bestowal  of  a 
fresh  field  battery  according  to  the  enclosed 
schedule.  Such  a  gift  may,  perhaps,  be 
deemed  a  deserving  recognition  of  the  merits 
of  the  Shanghai  Volunteers,  and  it  would  un- 
doubtedly be  appreciated  by  them  as  a  most 
flattering  and  encouraging  compliment."     One 


may  fancy  with  what  feelings  of  pride  the 
corps  learned  of  this  recommendation  !  And, 
thanks  to  the  initiative  of  Major  Knollys,  to 
the  concurrence  of  the  oflicer  commanding, 
and  to  the  exertions  of  Sir  Harry  Parkcs.  who 
warmly  supported  the  suggestion  in  tlie  right 
quarter,  the  War  Office  issued  to  the  Shanghai 
Volunteer  Corps  a  battery  of  four  9-pounder 
R.B.L.  guns  with  limbers,  carriages,  and 
fittings  complete.  The  guns  arrived  in  1886, 
and  were  formally  presented  to  the  corps 
on  March  6th  of  that  year  by  Mr.  (after- 
wards Sir)  Chaloner  Alabaster,  ^^e^  Hritannic 
Majesty's  Acting  Consul-General,  "  as  a  mark 
of  the  appieciation  of  my  Government,"  The 
War  Oftice  further  approved  the  issue  to 
the  corps  of  a  free  grant  of  30,000  rounds  of 
ammunition. 

On  M.-irch3o,  1886,  Major-General  Cameron, 
C.B.,  comm.anding  Her  Majesty's  troops  in 
China  and  the  Straits  Settlements,  paid  the 
Volunteers  the  compliment  of  inspecting  them 
in  person.  He  reported  that  "  the  Corps 
compares  favourably  with  the  volunteers  in 
England," and  that  "my  visit  to  the  Settlement, 
with  its  admirable  system  of  self-government, 
and  its  contented,  vigorous,  and  enterprising 
community,  will  long  be  remembered  by  me 
with  the  greatest  pleasure."  In  addition  to 
these  encomiums  the  corps  had  the  honour 
of  royal  recognition,  for  H.K.H.  the  Duke 
of  Cambridge  expressed  his  appreciation  of 
the  creditable  condition  of  the  force  as 
evidenced  by  Major-General  Cameron's  report. 

But  the  pendulum  soon  swung  in  the 
opposite  direction.  At  the  close  of  the  self- 
same year,  1886,  the  Defence  Committee 
had  to  deplore  a  slight  lapse  in  efficiency, 
as  "  the  stimulus  of  the  war  between  France 
and  China  (1885),  and  the  chance  of  local 
disturbances,  had  ceased  on  the  clearing  of 
the  hori/on."  Happily  this  state  of  things 
did  not  prevail  for  long.  With  Major  G.  J. 
Morrison  in  command  the  Committee  were 
able,  in  1888,  to  report  a  marked  advance. 
Instruction  with  Morris  tubes,  introduced 
some  lime  before,  began  to  form  a  regular 
part  of  the  training  of  recruits,  and  the 
shooting  of  the  corps  was  by  this  means 
greatly  improved.  In  an  inter-port  match 
between  teams  of  ten  men  each  from  Singa- 
pore, Hongkong,  and  Shanghai  in  1889, 
Shanghai  proved  victorious.  The  artillery, 
loo,  made  a  great  advance.  Captain  Dallas, 
who  had  commanded  the  battery  for  many 
years,  resigned  with  the  rank  of  Major,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Major  Brodie  Clarke,  who 
exerted  himself  strenuously  to  promote  the 
efficiency  of  his  men.  About  this  time,  also, 
steps  were  taken  for  the  formation  of  the 
Shanghai  Home  Guard.  Certain  pLices — 
the  British  Consulate,  the  Central  Police 
Station,  the  Hongkew  Police  Station,  and 
the  Country  Club — were  selected  as  places 
of  safety  to  which  women  and  children 
might  be  taken  in  case  of  emergency,  and 
one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  many  of  them 
old  volunteers,  agreed  to  hold  themselves 
in  readiness  to  garrison  these  retreats  so 
that  the  volunteers  might  be  left  free  to 
quell  any  disturbances  which  might  arise. 
Mr.  Robert  Mackenzie  was  elected  Captain 
of  the  Guards,  and  in  the  course  of  a  year 
or  so  the  newly  formed  unit  was  in  thorough 
working  order. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  T.R.H.  the 
Duke  and  Duchess  of  Connaught,  in  1890, 
the  corps  had  the  distinction  of  forming  a 
guard  of  honour  to  the  royal  party,  and  the 
Duke  expressed  himself  "gratified  to  find  a 
force  of  this  description  existing  in  the 
Settlement." 

Disturbances  in  the  Yangtsze  Valley 
during    1890    gave   a    much-needed    fillip   to 


1.    Lieut.  C.  H.  Rutherford 
"  A  "  Company. 
5.    Lieut.  VV.  S.  Burns,  6. 

*'  B  "  Company, 
o.    Lieut.  E.  dos  S.  Carxeiko, 
Portuguese  Company. 
If).    Cam.  s.  a.  Ra.vsom,  O.C, 
American  Company. 
21.    Lieut.  R.  M.  Saker 
Chinese  Company. 


COMPANY    OFFICERS    OF    THE    INFANTRY    BATTALION. 
2.    Capt.  H.  W.  Pilchek,  O.C,  3.     I.ieut.  R.  I.  Kkakox 

Company. 

7.    Capt.  H.  R.  H.  Thomas,  O.C, 
'■  B  '  Company. 
2.    Capt.  J.  Nolasco,  O.C,      13.    Lieut.  G.  G.  Carlsen, 
Portuguese  Company.  Signallers 

"     Capt.  J.  W.  Ixxocext,  O.C 
Customs  Company. 


Lieut.  J.  D.  U.  Gordon, 
"  B"  Company. 
.    Lieut.  B.  M.  Cakiox, 
Portuguese  Company. 
17.    Lieut.  F.  J.  Savex, 
American  Company. 

22.    Capt.  L.  J.  Cubitt,  O.C. 
Cliinese  Company. 


18. 


23- 


Capt.  G.  R.  Wingrove,  O.C 
Reserve  Company 


4.    Lieut.  G.  M.  Jamesox, 
Company.  "A"  Conip.uiy. 

8.    Lieut.  C.  Koch.  9.    Capt.  H.  Schellhoss,  O.C, 

German  Company.  German  Company. 

■    -  [4.    liEUT.  S.  KoAZE.  O.C,  I.'!.    Lieut.  T.  Asaxo, 

Japanese  Company.  Japanese  Company. 

19.    LIEUT.  D.  C  Dick,  20.    Lieut.  F.  Hayley-Bell, 

Customs  Company. 


Customs  Company. 
24.    Lieut.  W.  N.  Fleming, 
Reserve  Company.  1 


418     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  corps,  and  recruiting,  which  had  fallen 
off  considerably  in  the  piping  times  of 
peace,  became  more  brisk.  Txvo  new  com- 
panies were  raised,  one  a  German  Company, 
which  practised  German  drill  ;  and  the 
other,  a  Portuguese  Company  ("  D "  Com- 
pany), which  adopted  English  drill.  The 
spirit  of  emulation  was  thereby  increased, 
and  Major  A.  Tottenham,  who  came  from 
Hongkong  at  the  end  of  the  annual  training 
to  inspect  the  corps,  was  able  to  refer  to 
"the  Siitisfactory  number  of  efficients" — 190 
out  of  a  total  strength  of  263.  During  the 
year  Major  Cecil  Holliday  succeeded  to  the 
command,  and  Major  Morrison  retired  with 
the  honorary  rank  of  major  in  recognition  of 
his  ten  years'  service. 

A    valuable   suggestion   came    from    Major- 
General  G.  Digby  Barker,  G.O.C.,  in  China,  who 


might  be  discharged.  Speaking  both  as 
private  citizens  and  as  volunteers,  the  officers 
urged  upon  the  Municipal  Council  that  it 
was  imperative  '•  that  a  paid  olilicial  should 
be  appointed,  whose  business  would  be  to 
perform  the  whole  of  the  clerical  and  detail 
work  connected  with  the  corps  in  all  its 
branches."  This  suggestion  was  brought 
before  the  annual  general  meeting  of  rate- 
payers on  February  28,  1893.  and  met  with 
unanimous  approval.  There  was  some  dis- 
cussion as  to  whether  the  adjutant  should  be 
a  military  man.  and  a  certain  amount  of  delay 
ensued,  but  eventually  Captain  Donald  Mac- 
kenzie was  appointed  deputy  superintendent 
of  police  and  adjutant  of  the  corps.  He 
arrived  in  Shanghai  early  in   1895. 

The  outbreak   of   war   between  China   and 
Japan   during  the  summer  of  1894  tended  to 


I.     LlEDTKKAXr  A.   V.  WHEEN. 


THE    HAZIH    DETACHMENT. 
3.    Captaix  G.  E.  Stkwart,  O.C. 


2       LlEITEXAXT   K.   H.  GASKIX. 


inspected  the  force  in  person  in  1892.  It  was 
that  a  small  body  of  engineers  would  form 
a  useful  adjunct  to  the  corps  for  extemporis- 
ing defences  when  the  force  was  opposed  to 
superior  numbers.  Accordingly  "  C  "  Com- 
pany was  reorganised  as  an  Engineers' 
Company,  and  this,  with  a  considerable 
accession  in  numbers  to  the  other  companies, 
brought  the  strength  of  the  corps  up  to  339, 
of  whom  297  were  efiicients. 

In  this  year,  also,  the  old  "  standing  orders  " 
of  the  corps  were  revised,  and  re-issued  as 
'•  regulations "  ;  but  of  far  more  importance 
was  the  proposal  to  appoint  a  paid  adjutant. 
The  duties  devolving  upon  the  officer  com- 
manding the  corps  having  increased  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  become  too  great  a  tax  upon 
his  time,  a  meeting  of  officers  was  called  to 
discuss    other     means    by   which    the    duties 


promote  recruiting,  which  had  recently  fallen 
off,  and  the  strength  of  the  corps  rose  to  325, 
of  whom  294  were  efficients.  The  value  of 
the  corps  as  an  effective  force  was  also  in- 
creased materially  by  the  importation  of  300 
I^e-Metford  rifles.  With  the  conclusion  of 
peace,  however,  interest  again  waned  ;  the 
Portuguese  Company  was  disbanded,  and  at 
the  close  of  1896  the  corps  numbered  only 
271.  The  Defence  Committee  were  con- 
siderably exercised  in  mind  owing  to  this, 
their  opinion  being  that  the  corps  should 
consist  of  not  less  than  500  of  all  ranks. 

In  1897  the  corps  was  mobilised  in  con- 
nection with  the  disturbance  caused  by  the 
wheelbarrow  coolies.  It  was  called  out  at 
II  a.m.  on  April  5th,  and  remained  under 
arms  until  noon  on  April  7th.  No  fighting 
took  place,  but  the  incident  served  to  infuse 


new  life  into  the  spirit  of  defence  ;  and  a 
further  stimulus  was  afforded  in  July  of  the 
following  year  when,  though  no  call  was 
actually  made  upon  them,  the  members  of  the 
corps  were  instructed  to  hold  themselves  in 
readiness  to  assist  the  French  Volunteer  Corps 
in  the  suppression  of  the  Ningpo  Joss  House 
troubles. 

Several  changes  had  taken  place  in  the 
staff  since  the  appointment  of  the  paid 
adjutant.  Major  Cecil  Holliday  had  been 
succeeded  in  1894  by  Major  G.  J,  Morrison, 
a  former  commandant,  who  in  turn  was 
succeeded  for  a  brief  interval  by  Major 
Brodie  Clarke  in  1896.  Then  Captain 
Mackenzie  was  appointed  to  the  command, 
with  the  rank  of  major  ;  but  the  Municipal 
Council,  deeming  it  inadvisable  to  have  the 
command  of  the  police  and  of  the  volunteers 
vested  in  one  person,  he  resigned  in  1897. 
Eventually  the  command  reverted  to  Major 
Cecil  Holliday,  and  Captain  C.  A.  G.  Close, 
late  of  the  New  South  Wales  Artillery,  was 
appointed  adjutant  of  the  corps. 

There  had  also  been  changes  in  the  units 
of  the  corps.  In  1897  "C"  Company  was 
revived  to  take  the  place  of  the  Engineers' 
Company  which  had  been  disbanded,  and  in 
1898  the  Reserve  was  augmented  by  the 
enrolment  of  a  number  of  men  armed  with 
fowling-pieces,  and  called  the  "  Twelve-bore 
Irregulars."  A  company  of  Naval  Volunteers 
was  also  raised,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Mercantile  Marine  Officers'  Association,  for 
work  with  the  machine  guns  either  afloat  or 
ashore,  their  uniform  being  a  modification  of 
that  worn  by  the  British  Navy.  The  strength 
of  the  corps  at  the  close  of  1898  was  :  Staff,  12; 
Light  Horse,  33;  Artillery,  58  ;  "  A"  Company, 
68;  "B"  Company,  51  ;  "C"  Company,  25; 
German  Company,  50  ;  Naval  Company,  44  ; 
Retired  List  (officers),  4  ;  total,  345.  The 
expenditure  for  the  twelve  months  was 
Tls.  i6,486'58.  It  was  in  this  year  that 
Prince  Henry  of  Prussia  visited  the  port  and 
gave  the  German  Company  permission  to 
wear  the  letters  "P.  H.  von  P."  on  their 
shoulder-straps. 

During  1899  a  point  of  curious  interest,  as 
showing  how  jealous  the  Shanghai  Volun- 
teers were  of  their  status  in  the  community, 
w,as  decided.  In  consequence  of  what  was 
known  as  the  ''  Shooting  Committee  Incident," 
and  of  the  manner  in  which  certain  offences 
against  discipline  were  dealt  with,  a  number 
of  members  of  the  corps  submitted  a  memorial 
to  the  commanding  oflicer  in  which  they 
stated  emphatically  that  they  considered  they 
were  members  of  a  strictly  military  force, 
and  desired  that  all  offences  against  discipline 
should  be  judged  by  the  same  standard  as 
though  such  offences  had  been  committed  by 
a  member  of  any  regular  force.  Effect  was 
given  to  this  representation  in  a  resolution 
passed  by  the  Municipal  Council. 

It  was  about  this  time  also  that  the  provision 
of  Maxim  guns  for  the  corps  was  first  advo- 
cated. Major  F.  M.  Close,  who  inspected 
the  Shanghai  Volunteers  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  annual  training  in  1898,  reiterated  the 
suggestion  made  in  the  preceding  year  by 
Major-General  \V.  Black,  that  four  -303 
Maxim  guns  would  be  of  enormous  value  in 
the  event  of  riots  such  as  the  corps  might 
be  called  upon  to  suppress  at  any  moment. 
Lieut.-Colonel  A.  K.  Fraser,  who  inspected 
the  corps  in  1899,  once  more  emphasised  the 
point  ;  and  the  result  was  that  the  Municipal 
Council  requisitioned  a  battery  of  six  Maxim 
guns  from  England.  These  arrived  in  the 
Settlement  on  September  6,  1900,  four  of 
them  being  allotted  to  the  Artillery  Company 
and  two  to  the  Naval  Company.  It  is  inter- 
esting to  note  that  the  limbers  for  the  Maxim 


SHANGHAI  VOLUNTEER  CORPS. 

The  Maxim  Dktacii.mknt. 
Si)MK  OK  THE  Maxim  Gi;xs. 

The   I5-I'(11XDEK    liATTEHY. 


The  UiiHT  Horse. 


420     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


gans  were  made  liicilly.  At  the  s;ime  time 
the  British  War  Ortice  revived  the  free 
grant  of  30.000  rounds  of  ball  cartridge. 
which  had  been  disc-ontinued  when  the  Lee- 
Mettord  was  introduced,  and  also  increased 
their  grant  of  free  artillery  ammunition. 
These  grants  were  subject  to  the  corps  main- 
taining a  standard  of  efficiency  satisfactory 
to  the  officer  commanding  Her  Majesty's 
troops  in  China,  the  principal  conditions 
being  that  the  corps  should  not  number  less 
than  250  of  all  ranks,  and  that  at  least  75 
per  cent,  should  be  first-class  efficients. 

On  January  20,  1900,  Major  Cecil  Holliday 
once  more  resigned  his  command,  and  Major 
Donald  Mackenzie,  relinquishing  his  police 
duties,     succeeded     him.       In     June.     Major 


ing  to  the  injured,  and  supplying  food  and 
ammunition  to  those  under  arms.  Two  new 
infantry  companies— the  Japanese  and  the 
Customs — were  enrolled,  and  formed  valuable 
additions  to  the  corps.  In  September,  the 
Shanghai  Volunteers  were  att.-)ched  to  the 
2nd  Infantry  Brigade  of  the  China  Expedi- 
tionary Force,  under  the  command  of  Major- 
General  O'Moore  Creagh.  V.C,  for  drill  and 
manceuvre.  British,  French,  German,  and 
Japanese  troops  had  meanwhile  been  landed 
in  the  Settlement,  and  on  September  22nd 
such  a  display  of  armed  force  was  given  on 
the  Racecourse  in  honour  of  Count  Waldcrsee, 
that  every  one  felt  re-assured.  Happily,  no 
attack  was  made  upon  the  Settlement,  and 
events   recovered   their    normal   aspect.     The 


Sokg.-Ueit.  G.  Maxwell. 


THE    MEDICAL    STAFF. 
Surg.-Capt.  R.  J.  Marshall. 


Si'RO.-I.iEUT.  H.  C.  Patrick. 


Mackenzie  went  home  on  leave,  and  Major 
Brodie  Clarke  assumed  command  of  the  corps. 
His  term  of  office  proved  to  be  one  of  the 
most  strenuous  that  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of 
an  officer  commanding  in  the  Settlement,  for 
the  Boxer  outbreak  constituted  a  cause  for 
alarm  such  as  had  scarcely  been  equalled  in 
the  modern  history  of  Shanghai.  The  excite- 
ment became  intense,  and  thousands  of 
Chinese  fled  from  the  city.  The  Volunteers 
rose  to  the  occasion.  Every  available  oppor- 
tunity for  drills  was  seized,  new  companies 
were  formed,  and  the  corps  held  itself  in 
readiness  for  action  at  a  moment's  notice.  A 
General  Service  Company  was  organised  early 
in  the  year  for  non-combatant  duties,  such  as 
assisting  the  police  and  fire  brigade,  attend- 


effect  upon  the  volunteers,  however,  had 
been  magical,  and  the  close  of  the  year 
found  the  corps  with  a  total  strength  of 
866,  viz..  Staff,  9  ;  Light  Horse,  46  ;  Artillery, 
79  ;  "A  "  Company,  142  ;  "  B  "  Company,  81  ; 
German  Company,  81  ;  Naval  Company,  98  ; 
Customs  Company,  92  ;  Japanese  Company, 
66 ;  Reserve  Company,  143  ;  Medical  Staff, 
25  ;  Retired  List  (officers),  4.  The  efficiency 
of  the  men  was  higher  than  it  had  ever  been 
before,  and  the  establishment  of  the  Volunteer 
Club,  with  the  advantages  afforded  for  social 
intercourse  by  the  new  Drill  Hall,  opened 
early  in  the  year,  had  done  much  to  foster 
the  spirit  of  unity,  and  to  fuse  good  feeling 
with  the  laudible  spirit  of  cmuLation  between 
the  various  companies. 


The  affairs  of  1900  were  not  without  theii' 
lessons  ;  and  these  lessons  were  forcibly 
brought  home  to  the  volunteers,  and  to  the 
citizens  generally,  by  Lieut. -Colonel  The 
O'Gorman,  who  inspected  the  corps  at  the 
close  of  the  annual  training  in  1901.  He 
referred  with  satisfaction  to  the  very  great 
increase  in  efliciency  that  had  taken  place 
since  his  visit  twelve  months  previously,  and 
praised  the  manner  in  which  the  newly 
formed  companies  and  the  cyclists'  section 
had  acquitted  themselves.  Then  followed  a 
warning  against  the  danger  of  over-con- 
fidence to  which  the  community  was  exposed. 
"  I  would  impress  upon  all  ranks."  he  said, 
"  the  urgent  necessity  of  keeping  the  corps 
well  up  to  the  mark  in  numbers  and  elli- 
ciencv.  It  was  a  happy  accident  th.it  during 
the  preceding  year  a  brigade  of  regular  troops 
was  spared  from  North  China  to  protect  the 
lives  and  vast  wealth  of  the  foreign  inhabi- 
tants of  Shanghai.  There  is  no  guarantee 
that  this  will  he  done  in  the  future  in  the 
event  of  another  outbreak.  I  think  that  the 
men  underi^t.ind  that  a  vast  responsibility 
rests  with  them,  and  I  believe  th.it  they  are 
prepared  to  fulfil  their  trust  loyally.  The 
danger  is  that  the  presence  of  regular  troops 
may  create  a  false  sense  of  security,  which 
should  be  guarded  against."  He  expressed 
pleasure  that  his  suggestion  to  re-arm  the 
Light  Horse,  Naval  Company,  and  Reserve 
with  Marlini-Metford  carbines  in  place  of  the 
worn-out  Martini  -  Henry  rifles  had  been 
carried  out,  and  that  -303  ammunition  could 
henceforward  be  used  throughout  the  whole 
corps.  He  further  recommended  that  not 
less  than  250,000  rounds  of  ammunition 
should  be  kept  in  stock,  that  khaki  uniforms 
• — serge  for  winter  and  drill  for  summer 
wear — should  be  adopted  by  all  branches  of 
the  corps  ;  that  water-bottles  and  nekometers 
(range-tinders)  should  be  provided  ;  that  the 
9-pounder  guns,  having  become  obsolete, 
should  be  replaced  by  modern  weapons, 
and,  finally  that  Major  Mackenzie  be  granted 
the  rank  of  Lieut.-Colonel  in  recognition  of 
his  excellent  services  to  the  corps.  These 
recommendations  were  cairied  out  by  the 
Municip.il  Council  as  time  and  circumstances 
permitted. 

During  1902  the  corps  was  divided  into 
two  wings,  the  Light  Horse  and  Artillery 
being  placed  under  Major  Hrodie  Clarke,  and 
the  Infantry  Companies  under  Major  W.  D. 
Little.  The  Artillery  also  was  permanently 
divided  into  two  sections,  consisting  of  the 
Field  Artillery  and  the  Maxim  B;itlery.  The 
Code  of  Regulations  was  amended,  one  of 
the  principal  alter,itions  being  the  appoint- 
ment of  oflicers  by  the  Council  instead  of 
their  election  by  the  members  of  the  corps 
as  hitherto.  Application  was  nwde  to  the 
British  War  Office  by  the  Municipal  Council 
for  a  battery  of  four  new  12-pounder  guns 
in  exchange  for  the  obsolete  9-pounders.  and 
Major-General  Sir  W.  J.  Gascoigne,  who 
had  alwavs  taken  a  great  interest  in  the 
corps,  forwarded  the  requisition  with  a  strong 
recommendation  that  it  be  granted.  The 
War  Office  expressed  its  willingness  to 
coniplv  with  the  request,  but  intimated  that 
it  couid  not  supply  the  guns  for  a  time. 

The  Council  also  asked  that  the  China 
Medal  should  be  awarded  to  Volunteers  who 
served  during  the  Boxer  troubles  of  1900. 
pointing  out  that  "from  the  outbreak  of 
hostilities  in  the  north  until  the  arrival  of 
the  China  Expeditionary  Force  the  Volunteers 
were  the  only  shore  garrison  of  Shanghai, 
and  were  constantly  on  duty  in  that  capacity. 
During  most  of  that  time  the  corps  was 
directly  under  the  command  of  Admiral  Sir 
Edward   Seymour,   and,   upon   the   arrival   of 


Customs  Comi-a-vv 


SHANGHAI    VOLUNTEER    CORPS. 
"A"  Company. 
Germa.v  Compaxy. 


AMkRICAX    COMPA.NY. 


K    K 


422     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  garrison,  they  were  brigaded  with  the 
2nd  Brigade,  and  continued  so  until  its  with- 
drawal." This  request  was  duly  acceded  to, 
and  the  medals  were  formally  distributed  by 
H.E.  Sir  E.  Satow,  on  August  13,  1903.  The 
members  of  the  German  Company  received 
also  the  German  China  (1900)   medal. 

Towards  the  end  of  1902,  the  Municipal 
Council  petitioned  the  War  Ollice  for  a  field 
ofticer  to  be  seconded  for  duty  with  the 
corps  for  a  term  of  years,    on    the   ground 


for  an  additional  period  of  two  years, 
namely,  until  March  11,  1908.  In  1908  this 
period  was  further  extended  to  March  12, 
1909,  so  that  at  the  lime  of  writing  the 
corps  enjoys  the  advantage  of  having  a 
Commandant  to  whose  extensive  military 
experience  has  been  added  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  peculiar  needs  of  the 
Settlement. 

The     appointment     of     N.C.O.'s     of     the 
Regular  Army  to  the  permanent  staff  of  the 


W.  w.  Thompsox, 
Battalion  Sergt.-Major. 


G.  KlNGSHILL, 

Musketry  SergL  Instructor. 


that  this  would  conduce  to  more  activity 
and  general  efficiency  among  the  units  of 
which  the  Shanghai  Volunteer  Corps  was 
composed.  As  a  result.  Major  W.  M.  Watson, 
of  the  West  Riding  Regiment,  was  appointed 
Commandant  in  the  following  February,  in 
succession  to  Lieut.-Colonel  Mackenzie.  In 
1906  the  local  rank  of  Lieut.-Colonel  was 
granted  to  the  Commandant  of  the  Corps, 
and  it  was  decided  that  the  services  of 
Lieut-Colonel    Watson     should    be    retained 


A.  W.  Stldd, 
Corps  Scrgt.-Major. 


].  I.  Mansfield, 
Drum  Major. 


C.  Matthews, 
Quart  er-Master-Sergeant. 


corps  was  sanctioned  by  the  War  Office  in 
1904,  and  Col.-Sergeant  A.  W.  Studd,  of  the 
East  Yorkshire  Regiment,  was  appointed 
Orderly-room  Sergeant.  He  was  promoted 
Sergt.-Major  in  the  following  year,  and 
Sergeant  C.  Matthews,  of  the  Royal  Garrison 
Artillery  succeeded  him  as  Orderly-room 
Sergeant.  The  services  of  a  third  N.C.O. 
have  been  applied  for. 

On  the  recommendation  of   Major  Watson, 
the    appointment     of    Corps     Adjutant    was 


abolished  in  1903  in  favour  of  two  separate 
appointments,  those  of  Corps  Staff  Officer 
and  Adjutant  of  the  Infantry  Battalion.  This 
change  was  made  in  1904. 

The  year  1903  was  niaiked  also  by  a  pro- 
posal to  extend  the  franchise  to  all  volunteers 
over  twenly-one  years  of  age  who  had 
been  efficient  for  three  years,  including  the 
twelve  months  immediately  preceding  the 
term  foi  whicli  the  vote  was  granted.  The 
matter  was  considered  by  the  Municipal 
Council,  who  referred  it  to  a  special  meeting 
of  ratepayers  following  the  annual  general 
ratepayers'  meeting ;  but  as  there  was  not 
a  quorum  at  the  meeting  the  proposal  was 
dropped. 

The  formation  of  the  Maxim  Company  in 
December,  1903,  was  a  popular  step.  About 
forty  members,  many  of  whom  had  previously 
served  in  other  units,  were  enrolled,  and 
Lieutenant  (afterwards  Captain)  E.  D,  Saunders 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  company.  In 
May,  1905,  he  was  succeeded  by  Captain 
G.  E.  Stewart.  The  company  now  consists  of 
3  officers  and  67  non-commissioned  officers  and 
men,  who  are  armed  with  six  guns.  A  Signal- 
ling Company  of  one  officer  and  19  men  was 
also  formed  during  1903,  and  has  become  a 
valuable  adjunct  to  the  corps.  A  considerable 
advance  in  efficiency  was  made  during  the  year 
by  the  institution  of  a  musketry  course,  similar 
to  that  prescribed  for  volunteers  in  England. 
The  annual  camp  of  exercise  was  also  re- 
vived, and  a  modi  tied  efficiency  course  was 
laid  down  for  the  Reserve  Company. 

The  death  of  the  Rev.  H.  C.  Hodges,  M.A., 
which  occurred  on  October  15,  1903,  re- 
moved one  of  the  links  with  the  past,  for  the 
reverend  gentleman  had  been  associated 
with  the  corps  as  its  Chaplain  since  1887. 
He  was  succeeded  as  Chaplain  by  the  Rev. 
A.  J.  Walker,  who  was  appointed  in  August, 
1904. 

The  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  battle  of 
Muddy  Flat  was  celebrated  in  1904  by  a 
public  ball,  given  by  the  corps  in  the  Drill 
Hall,  at  which  there  was  a  record  attendance. 

An  outburst  of  anti-foreign  feeling  amongst 
certain  sections  of  the  Chinese  occurred  in 
December,  1905,  as  the  result  of  differences 
between  the  foreign  and  native  officials 
regarding  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Assessor 
at  the  Mixed  Court.  The  disturbance  reached 
its  climax  in  a  general  strike  and  riot  on 
the  i8th,  and  the  Shanghai  Volunteer  Corps 
was  called  out.  By  9.30  a.m.  the  Telephone 
Exchange  was  manned  by  a  small  picket, 
and  by  10  o'clock  strong  detachments  were 
marching  to  appointed  positions.  By  arrange- 
ment with  the  senior  naval  officer,  the  Naval 
Brigade  undertook  the  defence  of  the  northern 
and  eastern  districts,  and  the  Volunteers  were 
given  charge  of  the  central  and  western 
districts,  while  an  Italian  naval  detachment 
mounted  guard  over  the  Itali.in  Consulate. 
The  Volunteers  under  arms  numbered  12 
officers  and  521  non-commissioned  officers 
and  men,  exclusive  of  the  staff,  but  including 
the  British  and  German  Reserves.  A  force 
of  3,000  bluejackets  of  various  nationalities 
and  a  strong  body  of  municipal  police  were 
also  told  off  for  service.  The  rioters  assaulted 
several  foreigners,  and  attacked  the  Hongkew 
and  Louza  Police  Stations,  the  latter  of  which 
was  set  on  fire  and  partially  destroyed.  Shots 
were  fired  and  a  few  of  the  rioters  were 
killed.  The  Viceroy  himself  came  to 
Shanghai  and  removed  the  initial  cause  of 
dispute  ;  but  long  before  his  arrival  the 
rioters  had  been  forced  to  the  conclusion 
that  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valour. 
The  Volunteers,  in  the  words  of  their  com- 
mandant, "  performed  their  duties  thoroughly, 
efficiently,    and     with     great     cheerfulness." 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     423 


They  remained  at  their  posts  until  the  20th, 
and  the  Light  Horse  and  Mounted  Infantry 
continued  to  patrol  the  outlying  districts  at 
night  until  the  25th. 

As  on  all  previous  occasions  the  troubles 
of  igo5  had  a  stimulating  effect  upon  recruit- 
ing, and  early  in  1906  two  new  companies 
were  enrolled  —  the  Portuguese  and  the 
American  Companies.  The  former  was  a 
revival  of  the  "  D "  Company  which  had 
existed  prior  to  1896.  The  American  Com- 
pany was  formed  as  the  outcome  of  a 
public  meeting  attended  by  upwards  of  80 
Americans  under  the  chairmanship  of  Dr. 
Ransom,  who  was  subsequently  appointed 
Captain.  Fifty  men  were  enrolled,  and  the 
drill  of  the  United  States  Army  was  adopted. 
Unlike  the  other  units,  this  company  pos- 
sessed its  own  club  -  house,  comfortably 
furnished  and  supplied  with  books  and 
periodicals,  and  containing  a  billiard  room 
and  miniature  riHe  range.  The  club  has 
become  a  valuable  asset  to  the  social  life  of 
Americans  in  Shanghai,  the  members  taking 
an  active  part  in  celebrating  American 
holidays  and  in  promoting  such  functions  as 
the  Washington  Birthday  Ball. 

An  Emergency  Company  was  instituted 
early  in  1906  to  guard  against  any 
possible  disturbances  on  the  occasion  of  the 
rebuilding  operations  at  the  Mixed  Court. 
Three  officers  and  45  non  -  commissioned 
officers  and  men  were  paraded,  and  for- 
tunately no  trouble  was  experienced.  Two 
irregular  units  were  also  enrolled — the 
Mounted  Scouts  and  Twelve-bore  Company 
— and  at  the  close  of  the  year  the  strength 
of  the  various  units  of  the  corps,  inclusive 
of  all  ranks  was  as  follows  : — Staff,  10  ; 
Light  Horse,  53  ;  Mounted  Infantry,  25  ; 
Artillery,  60;  Maxim  Company,  68;  "A" 
Company,  124  ;  "  B "  Company,  63  ;  Ger- 
man Company,  56 ;  Customs  Company,  78  ; 
Japanese  Company,  50  ;  Portuguese  Com- 
pany, 76  ;  Ambulance,  14  ;  Signallers,  20  ; 
Reserve  Company,  loi  ;  German  Reserve 
Company,  51  ;  Mounted  Scouts,  29  ;  Twelve- 
bore  Company,  36  ;  Retired  List  (officers), 
8  ;  total,  859.  The  expenditure  for  1906 
amounted  to  Tls.  40,027-36. 

The  corps  were  called  out  once  during 
1906,  on  the  occasion  of  the  strike  of  Sikh 
police  in  September  ;  but  they  were  quickly 
dismissed  as  the  Sikhs  submitted  to  disarma- 
ment without  giving  any  trouble. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  chapters  in 
the  recent  history  of  the  corps  is  that 
relating  to  the  formation  of  the  Chinese 
Company,  which  was  enrolled  early  in  1907. 
During  the  riots  in  December,  1905,  the 
peaceable  Chinese  traders  and  residents  in 
Shanghai  suffered  considerable  loss  and 
inconvenience.  Accordingly,  several  influen- 
tial Chinese  merchants  and  compradores 
raised  a  fund  of  over  Tls.  300,000  for  the 
formation  and  equipment  of  a  Chinese 
Volunteer  Corps.  A  large  plot  of  land  was 
purchased  just  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
Settlement,  between  North  Chekiang  Road 
and  the  railway,  on  which  were  erected 
a  drill-shed,  gymnasium,  and  club-room. 
Several  companies  of  infantry  and  a  small 
mounted  troop  were  enrolled,  and,  to  give 
the  organisation  a  harmless  appearance,  it 
was  called  "  The  Chinese  Physical  Recrea- 
tion Association."  About  500  men  joined 
the  ranks,  and  were  drilled  by  ex-scholars 
from  St.  John's  College,  Jessfield.  A  con- 
signment of  100  rifles  of  German  pattern 
was  imported,  together  with  a  supply 
of  ammunition,  but  when  it  was  found 
that  the  members  of  the  association  would 
not  be  permitted  to  parade  the  streets 
of    the   Settlement    under   arms    the   interest 


SHANGHAI  VOLUNTEER  CORPS. 

Reserve  Company. 

The  Corps  on  Parade  in  1885. 

Chinese  Ccmpanv. 


424     TAVENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


at  first  manifested  in  the  movement  began 
to  wane.  Towards  the  end  of  1906  the 
Mounted  Company  had  seceded,  and  the 
numbers  fell  to  150.  The  Municipal  Council 
had  early  been  appriviched.  indirectly,  to  give 
recognition  to  the  organisation,  but  had  not 
received  the  suggestion  with  favour.  When, 
however,  a  few  of  the  leading  men,  who 
appeared  to  be  sincere  in  their  desire  that  the 
Chinese  community  should  bear  their  share  of 
cixic  duties,  made  formal  application  for  the 
admission  of  a  Chinese  Company  to  the 
Shanghai  Volunteer  Corps,  the  Council 
acijuiesced  and  drew  up  a  list  of  the  con- 
ditions under  which  they  were  prepared  to 
admit  a  company  of  not  more  than  100 
nor  less  than  50  men.  With  slight  modi- 
fications the  conditions  were  agreed  to, 
and  a  company  of  83  men  was  fnially 
enrolled  at  the  Town  Hall  on  March  13, 
1907.  Each  man  joining  the  company 
has  to  be  guaranteed  as  respectable,  as 
engaged  in  some  commercial  pursuit,  and  as 
unconnected  with  the  official  class.  In 
addition,  all  candidates  are  guaranteed  by 
Mr.  Yu  Ya  Ching,  compradore  to  the 
Netherlands  Bank,  who  has  been  most  pro- 
minently associated  with  the  Chinese  Volun- 
teer movement  since  its  inception.  Captain 
L.  J.  Cubitt  was  detailed  to  command  the 
company,  in  addition  to  discharging  his 
regular  duties  as  Captain  of  the  Customs 
Company,  and,  at  the  t>eginning  of  1908,  he 
relinquished  his  connection  with  the  Customs 
Company  in  order  to  devote  his  services 
entirely  to  the  Chinese  unit.  The  present 
strength  of  the  company  is  three  officers  and 
loi  non-commissioned  officers  and  men. 

In  May.  1905.  following  on  previous  corre- 
spondence, a  communication  was  received 
from  the  Hongkong  military  authorities  stating 
that  the  issue  of  12-pounder  guns  for  the  use 
of  the  corps  was  receiving  the  attention  of 
the  War  Office  ;  and  in  August,  1905,  further 
intimation  was  received  to  the  effect  that  a 
battery  of  12-pounder  or  15-pounder  guns 
would  shortly  be  available.  Major-General 
V.  Hatton,  C.B.,  who  inspected  the  corps  in 
1906,  wrote  to  the  War  Office  urging  the 
necessity  for  the  early  provision  of  a  new- 
battery,  and  the  result  was  that  in  June  of 
that  year  the  War  Office  formally  sanctioned 
the  issue  of  four  15-pounder  quick-firing  guns 
on  loan.  Characteristic  delays  occurred,  how- 
ever, and  the  battery  did  not  arrive  in  the 
Settlement  until  early  in  1908.  It  consists  of 
four  is-pounder  quick-firing  Erhardt  guns, 
each  of  which  is  without  trunnions,  and  rests 
on  a  cradle  in  which  is  a  powerful  spring. 
When  a  piece  is  fired,  the  spade  brake 
engages  in  the  ground,  checking  the  recoil 
of  the  carriage.  The  gun  itself  continues  its 
rearward  movement  until  brought  to  rest  by 
the  compression  of  a  ram  acting  on  glycerine. 
When  the  energy  is  thus  overcome,  the  spring 
returns  the  gun  to  the  firing  position.  The 
old  9-pounder  K.B.L.  guns  were  made  over 
to  the  police  on  the  arrival  of  the  new 
battery,  and  have  been  distributed  among 
the  principal  police  stations. 

Formerly  the  Municipal  Council  hired 
ponies  for  the  use  of  the  Artillery  Company, 
but,  as  this  system  had  many  obvious 
disadvantages,  18  China  ponies  were 
purchased  towards  the  end  of  March,  1908, 
and  until  the  completion  of  the  annual 
training  they  were  stabled  at  the  Horse 
Bazaar,  and  were  exercised  by  members  of 
the  company  at  early  morning  drives.  Since 
May,  however,  the  ponies  have  been 
taken  over  by  members  of  the  Shanghai 
Volunteer  Artillery,  and  the  cost  to  the  com- 
munity has  thus  been  lessened  considerably. 
A  stable  has  been  secured   in   the  northern 


district,  and  the  guns  go  out  on  an  average 
twice  each  month,  with  the  object  of  keeping 
the  draught  animals  in  training  and  the  men 
accustomed  to  their  mounts  and  to  the 
harness. 

.\s  to  the  present-day  elViciency  of  the 
corps,  Major-General  R.  G.  Broadwood,  C.B.. 
commanding  His  Majesty's  troops  in  South 
China,  said  in  his  address  to  the  troops  at 
the  close  of  the  last  annual  training  :  ''  I  am 
very  glad  to  observe  that  the  Light  Horse 
has  had  an  accession  of  strength.  The  move- 
ments that  I  have  seen  on  two  parades  have 
left  little  to  be  desired  in  speed  and  smooth- 
ness. I  know  the  cavalry  soldier  very  well, 
and  the  efficiency  I  saw  on  these  parades 
means  a  great  deal  of  hard  work  and  per- 
severance. I  am  very  pleased  indeed  to  see 
the  Mounted  Infantry  making  a  good  show. 
The  movements  were  well  carried  out,  and 
everything  was  very  satisfactory.  I  am  very 
glad  to  observe  that  this  branch  is  a  good 
deal  stronger  than  it  was  l.ist  year.  The 
Maxims  did  their  work  very  well  and  in  a 
most  workmanlike  maimer.  With  regard  to 
the  Infantry  I  am  glad  to  see  that  the  men 
have  grasped  the  essentials  of  drill — that  is 
to  say,  they  all  work  together  and  are  ready 
to  move  on  the  word  of  command  ;  all 
the  movements  they  carried  out  were  well 
executed.  In  fact,  generally  speaking,  I 
would  like  to  congratulate  Colonel  Watson 
and  every  one  concerned  on  the  workmanlike 
and  smart  parade  I  saw  yesterday  ;  it  would 
have  been  a  credit  to  any  body  of  troops." 

The  effective  strength  on  the  occasion  of 
the  annual  inspection  on  April  4,  1908,  was 
103 1  of  all  ranks,  and  it  is  interesting  to 
note  that  no  fewer  than  sixteen  nationalities 
were  represented  as  follows  : 


Officers. 

Men. 

Total. 

British          

37 

510 

547 

American     

2 

73 

75 

German        

4 

110 

114 

Portuguese  ... 

3 

73 

76 

Japanese 

2 

57 

59 

Chinese 

— 

lOI 

lOI 

Danish         ...    •     ... 

I 

12 

13 

Austrians     

I 

6 

7 

Norwegian  ... 

— 

II 

1 1 

Italian           

— 

4 

4 

Dutch           

— 

9 

9 

Swedish 

— 

3 

3 

Swiss           

— 

6 

6 

French         

— 

4 

4 

Spanish        

— 

I 

I 

Belgian        

■ — 

I 

I 

50 

981 

103 1 

The  uniform  of  the  corps  is  khaki — serge 
for  winter  and  drill  for  summer  wear. 
Field  service  caps  are  worn  for  drill  order, 
and  colonial  hats  for  marching  order  and 
full  dress.  The  uniform  is  modified  in  the 
various  units  in  accordance  with  the  customs 
of  the  respective  nations. 

The  main  armament  of  the  corps  is  as 
follows: —  1,000  Lee-Metford  rifles  with 
bayonets,  183  carbines,  50  troopers'  swords, 
revolvers  and  swords  for  the  use  of  officers, 
2  Rexer  machine  guns,  6  Maxim  guns, 
4  15-pounder  quick-firing  guns,  and  2 
Nordenfelt  guns. 

The  opening  of  the  splendid  Drill  Hall  in 
the  Nanking  Road  on  January  i.  1900,  fur- 
nished much-needed  facilities  for  instruction, 
and  the  establishment  in   connection   with   it 


of  a  bar,  reading  room,  gymnasium,  and 
Morris-tube  gallery  served  to  enhance  the 
popularity  of  the  corps. 

The  question  of  providing  a  new  drill  hall  has 
recently  been  mooted.  During  1907  Lieut.- 
Colonel  Watson  forwarded  to  the  Municipal 
Council  a  report  made  by  a  committee  of 
officers  convened  by  him,  in  which  it  was 
pointed  out  that  great  demands  were  made 
upon  the  present  hall  by  the  public,  and 
that  the  time  had  arrived  when  volunteers 
should  be  granted  the  use  of  a  hall  which 
should  not  be  associated  in  any  way  with 
the  social  functions  of  Shanghai.  When  the 
question  came  before  the  Council  in  1908, 
however,  it  was  decided  that  the  scheme 
would  not  be  practicable  during  the  current 
year  for  financial  reasons,  the  approximate 
expenditure  involved  being  Tls.  200,000,  about 
one-half  of  which  would  be  required  for  the 
purchase  of  a  site. 

The  erection  of  a  new  building  to  serve  as 
the  headquarters  of  the  volunteers  was  begun 
in  1903,  upon  a  site  within  the  compound 
of  the  Central  Police  Station.  It  was  com- 
pleted in  the  following  year,  at  a  cost  of 
about  Tls.  13.500.  The  ground  floor  was 
used  as  a  gun-shed,  in  which  the  Maxim 
guns  and  the  new  15-pounder  guns  were 
housed  ;  the  first  floor  contained  the  com- 
mandant's office,  clothing  store,  and  armoury, 
and  on  the  top  floor  quarters  were  provided 
for  the  staff  sergeants.  The  provision  of 
this  building  had  the  effect  of  completely 
separating  the  administration  of  the  Shanghai 
Volunteer  Corps  from  the  Police.  The  great 
expansion  of  the  corps,  however,  soon 
rendered  considerably  larger  offices  neces- 
sary. At  the  end  of  June,  1908,  therefore, 
the  Headquarter  Oftices  were  moved  tem- 
porarily into  premises  formerly  occupied 
by  Messrs.  Major  Bros.,  in  the  Hongkew 
Road,  adjoining  the  Municipal  compound, 
pending  the  provision  of  more  adequate 
accommodation. 

Competitions  and  Trophies. 

From  the  earliest  years  of  volunteering 
it  has  been  recognised  that  the  first  duty 
of  the  recruit  is  to  learn  how  to  shoot,  and 
to  this  end  there  have  been  competitions 
innumerable  in  the  Settlement.  One  of  the 
first  trophies  mentioned  in  the  records  is 
the  Municipal  Challenge  Cup,  presented  in 
1873.  This  was  won  in  the  first  contest  by 
Private  Duncan  Glass,  and  became  the  abso- 
lute property  seventeen  years  later  of  Captain 
William  Bright.  By  1880  other  competitions 
had  been  started,  including  those  for  the  Re- 
cruits' Prize  (Officers'  Cup),  the  Underwriters' 
Cup,  the  Ladies'  Purse,  the  Brokers'  Cup 
(for  Galling  gun  practice),  the  "  P.P.C."  Cup 
and  the  Consolation  Cup.  It  would  be  almost 
impossible  to  particularise  the  many  changes 
which  have  taken  place  since  that  date  ;  but 
it  will  suftice  here  to  enumerate  Ihe  events 
competed  at  the  present  day,  viz.  :  —  The 
Municipal  Challenge  Cup,  value  fifty  guineas, 
presented  by  the  Municipal  Council  ;  the 
National  Rifle  Association  silver  medal  ;  the 
Skirmishing  Competition  Cup,  presented  by 
Major  Brodie  A.  Clarke  ;  the  Ladies'  Prize, 
subscribed  for  by  the  ladies  of  Shanghai  ;  the 
City  Fathers'  Cup,  presented  by  members  of 
the  Municipal  Council  ;  the  Inter-Company 
Challenge  Shield,  presented  by  the  Municipal 
Council  ;  the  Shorrock  Cup,  presented  by 
the  late  Mr.  S.  Shorrock  ;  the  Novices'  Cup, 
presented  by  Messrs.  Kuhn  and  Komor  ;  the 
Officers'  Musketry  Course  Cup,  presented  by 
Surgeon  -  Captain  Lalcaca  ;  the  Recruits' 
Challenge  Cup,  presented  by  Messrs.  Watson 
&  Co.,  of  Dundee  ;  the  America  Cup,  pre- 
sented   by    the    American    Company    to    the 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     425 


three  best  shots  of  the  Defence  Forces  ;  and 
the  Africa  Cup,  presented  by  Captain  Mann- 
heimer. 

In  addition  to  the  corps  meetings,  annual 
company  competitions  are  held  by  each  unit 
of  the  corps. 


PYench  Government  in  Shanghai,  held  under 
the  presidency  of  the  Comte  de  Bezaure, 
then  Consul-General,  being  unanimously  of 
opinion  that  the  step  was  necessary  in  view 
of  the  possible  recurrence  of  trouble.  It  was 
decided  that   the  P'rench  Company  should  be 


THE    JAPANESE    COMPANY,    S.V.C. 


There  remains  only  the  Inter-port  Shooting 
Competition  for  teams  from  Hongkong, 
Singapore,  Penang,  and  Shanghai.  This 
competition  was  instituted  in  1889,  in  which 
year  the  Shanghai  team  were  successful. 
Since  that  date  the  local  team  have  secured 
the  iirst  position  on  three  occasions — in  1904, 
1906,  and  1907.  The  handsome  shield  which 
now  constitutes  the  trophy  was  purchased  in 
1906,  each  of  the  four  ports  subscribing  $500 
towards  its  cost. 

The  Sha\c;h.\i  Rifle  Associatiox. 

The  Shanghai  Rifle  Association  was  formed 
in  1902,  of  members  of  the  Defence  Forces  of 
Shanghai,  and  such  others  as  may  be  specially 
approved  of  by  the  committee.  Monthly  spoon 
and  cup  competitions  and  an  annual  prize 
meeting  are  held,  all  prizes  being  competed 
for  in  accordance  with  the  rales  of  the  National 
Rifle  Association. 

The  principal  prizes  offered  at  the  annual 
meeting  are  :  The  S.R.A.  Cup,  subscribed  for 
by  merchants  of  Shanghai  ;  the  St.  Ninian 
Cup,  presented  by  Major  Brodie  A.  Clarke  ; 
the  Astor  Cup,  presented  by  the  proprietors  of 
the  Astor  House  Hotel  ;  the  Ne  Che  Cup, 
presented  by  Messrs.  Holliday,  Wise  &  Co.  ; 
the  iVor//(  China  Dnily  News  Cup  ;  the  ''J. P." 
Cup,  presented  by  the  Shangliai  Dock  and 
Engineering  Company  ;  the  Chung  Wo  Cup, 
presented  by  Messrs.  William  Little  &  Co.  ; 
and  the  Palace  Cup,  presented  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  Palace  Hotel. 

THE  FRENCH  VOLUNTEERS. 

The  wheelbarrow  riot  was  responsible  for 
the  formation  of  the  French  Volimteer  Com- 
pany, on  April  20,  1897,  a  specially  convened 
meeting    of    subjects     and     proteges    of    the 


under  the  command  of  the  French  Consul- 
General,  though  it  might  co-operate  with  the 
Shanghai  Corps  in  defence  of  the  Settlement, 
and  that  the  expenses  of  the  company 
should  be  defrayed  out  of  municipal  funds. 
A   committee   of  organisation  was   formed, 


company,  and  a  French  non-commissioned 
ofticer  was  engaged  to  give  instruction  to 
the  recruits  ;  and  in  a  short  time  70  men 
had  enlisted. 

The  necessity  for  the  company  was  fully 
demonstrated  in  July  of  the  following  year, 
when  a  riot  occurred  in  consequence  of  the 
French  Council's  proposal  to  cut  a  road 
through  the  grounds  of  the  Ningpo  Joss 
House.  The  PYench  Company  was  called 
out,  and  a  force  was  landed  from  men-of-war, 
whilst  the  Shanghai  Volunteer  Corps  held 
itself  in  readiness  to  assist  if  necessity  aro-se. 
The  riot  was  suppressed,  15  Chinese  being 
reported  killed  and  many  wounded.  Again, 
in  1900,  the  existence  of  the  company  enabled 
the  F"rench  civil  community  to  take  its  share 
of  the  precautionary  measures  against  the 
"  Boxers." 

At  the  present  day  the  strength  of  the 
company  is  about  150.  The  captain  com- 
manding is  M.  Laferriere,  who  succeeded 
M.  Bottu,  as  secretary,  in  1904.  He  is  assisted 
by  IJeutenant  Gautherin.  The  armament  of 
the  company  includes  two  mitrailleuse,  or 
quick-firing  guns,  of  which  Captain  Lecoy 
de  la  Marche  is  in  charge,  and  a  number  of 
Lebel  rifles,  with  bayonets  of  the  French 
triangular-section  type.  The  summer  uniform 
is  of  khaki,  similar  in  pattern  to  that  of  the 
French  Colonial  Infantry,  with  white  helmets 
such  as  those  worn  by  the  French  Regular 
Army.  In  winter  a  dark  rifle-green  and 
red  uniform  is  substituted. 

The  company  has  no  drill  hall,  but  possesses 
an  excellent  training  ground  at  Koukaza 
Camp,  which  lies  between  the  Avenue  Paul 
Brunat  and  the  Route  Fran<;aise  de  Zika- 
wei  or  Siccawei. 


LIEUT.-COL.  WILLIAM  MILWARD  WATSON, 

the  officer  commanding  the  Shanghai  Volun- 
teer Corps,  has  seen  a  good  deal  of  active 
service  in  various  parts  of  the  world  during 
the  course  of  a  military  experience  extending 
over  the  past  quarter  of  a  century.  Born  at 
Nagode,  India,  on  January  31,  1864,  he  was 
educated   at   Haileybury   College,  and   at   the 


THE    PORTUGUESE    COMPANY,    S.V.C. 


consisting  of  Messrs.  Bottu,  Chollot,  Heritte, 
de  Malherbe.  and  Wehrung,  who  were 
assisted  by  M.  Simon,  commandant  of  the 
French  warship  Coincte. 

M.  Bottu,  secretary  of  the  Municipal  Council, 
was   appointed   captain   of   the  newly  formed 


Royal  Military  College,  Sandhurst.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1885,  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant  in 
the  Duke  of  Wellington's  (West  Riding)  Regi- 
ment, and  three  years  later  was  sent  to 
Aden,  where  he  carried  out  the  duties  of 
A.D.C.   to  the   Political    Resident   until   May, 


426     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


1890.  In  March.  1H91,  he  was  given  his 
Company,  and  two  years  from  this  cUite  saw 
him  taking  part  with  the  Bechiianaland 
Bi>rder  Police  in  the  operations  in  Matabele- 
land.  His  experience  of  South  Africa  also 
included  ser\ice  with  the  Mounted  Infantry 
under  Sir  F.  Carrington  in  1886.  In  Decem- 
ber. 1898,  he  joined  the  Chinese  Regiment, 
and  in  1900  he  distinguished  himself  greatly 
in  the  operations  for  the  relief  of  Tientsin 
and  Peking.  His  name  was  mentioned  in 
despatches,  and  he  was  given  the  brevet 
rank  of  Major.  In  March.  1903.  he  received 
his  present  appointment,  and  in  December  of 
the  same  year  attained  his  majority.  His 
decorations  include  the  Matabeleland  and 
China  medals  with  clasps. 


MAJOR  BRODIE  CLARKE,  who  was  born 
at  Acharcidh.  Nairn,  Scotland,  in  1844,  has 
the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  active 
volunteer  officer  of  British  nationality,  with 
the  longest  record  of  continuous  service.  As 
early  as  April,  i860,  he  joined  the  Nairn- 
shire Volunteers,  and  took  part  in  the  famous 
review  before  the  late  Queen  Victoria  at 
Edinburgh  in  August  of  that  year.  Coming 
to  China  in  1864.  and  to  Shanghai  in  1866, 
he  was  immediately  enrolled  in  the  Shanghai 
Rangers,  who.  in  those  days,  were  com- 
manded by  Mr.  John  Markham,  the  British 
Consul,  and  he  remained  with  them  until 
1870,  in  which  year  he  resigned.  When  the 
Mih-ho-loong  Fire  Brigade  petitioned  the 
Council  to  be  armed  as  a  military  body,  at 
the  time  of  the  Tientsin  massacre,  he  joined 
them,  and  was  almost  immediately  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  sergeant.  He  served  with  the 
Hih-ho-Ioongs  until  the  beginning  of  l88t, 
when  he  joined  the  Light  Horse,  originally 
the  Rangers,  and  in  the  same  year  received  a 
commission  as  second  lieutenant.  In  1883 
he  went  home  on  leave,  but,  returning  to 
Shanghai  at  the  beginning  of  1884,  he 
rejoined  the  troop,  and  remained  with  them 
until  June  1888,  when  he  was  transferred  by 
the  Council  to  the  Artillery,  receiving  a 
commission  as  acting  lieutenant  in  command 
of  the  battery.  In  December  of  that  year 
he  passed  the  examination  for  captains  before 
Captain  Fletcher,  of  the  Royal  Artillery,  and 
then  took  command  of  the  battery.  Ten 
years  later,  in  December,  1898,  he  received 
his  commission  from  the  Council  as  Major 
commanding  the  Artillery.  After  holding 
this  appointment  for  a  sliort  time,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  Staff,  and  became  second 
in  command  of  the  Shanghai  Volunteer 
Corps.  During  his  service  with  the  artillery, 
and  since  being  on  the  Staff,  he  has  been  in 
command  of  the  corps  on  several  occasions, 
the  more  noticeable  of  these  being  the  Shang- 
hai Jubilee  in  1893,  and  the  Boxer  troubles 
of  1900.  He  has  the  China  medal,  as  well 
as  the  Shanghai  Jubilee  medal,  and  for  some- 
thing like  twenty-five  years  he  has  never 
missed  an  annual  training.  While  in  the 
fire  brigade  Major  Clarke  was  for  a  long 
time  foreman  of  the  Mih-ho-loongs,  and 
afterwards  district  engineer  for  the  English 
Settlement.  In  his  earlier  years  he  had  a 
good  deal  to  do  with  the  Rowing  Club,  the 
Paper  Hunt  Club,  and  the  Race  Club. 
Latterly  he  has  been  more  closely  associated 
with  the  Golf  Club,  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  founders.  For  many  years  also  he 
was  vice-president  of  the  French  Municipal 
Council,  with  which  body  he  was  connected 
for  nearly  fifteen  years.  In  his  private 
capacity  Major  Clarke  is  now  the  sole 
proprietor  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Hopkins, 
Dunn  &  Co. 


MAJOR  T.  E.  TRUEMAN,  the  officer 
commanding  the  Infantry  Battalion,  has 
been  connected  with  the  volunteers  during 
the  whole  of  his  residence  in  China,  and 
has  played  by  no  means  an  unimportant  part 
in  placing  the  corps  on  an  efficient  military 
basis.  He  came  to  Shanghai  in  November, 
1883,  and  in  January  of  the  following  year 
was  enrolled  as  a  private  of  "  B  "  Company. 
In  those  days  the  force  numbered  scarcely 
three  hundred  men  or  less  than  one-third  of 
its  present  strength.  Major  Trueman's  pro- 
motion was  rapid.  He  became  a  corporal 
in  1885,  a  sergeant  in  1888,  and  was  given 
a  commission  as  second  lieutenant  on 
October  3rd,  1889.  He  was  promoted  first 
lieutenant  in  1891,  and  was  given  command 
of  a  company  in  July,  1894.  Five  years 
later,  whilst  in  England,  he  joined  the 
Chelsea  School  of  Instruction  and  gained  the 
special  certificate  in  the  examination  for 
officers  of  his  rank.  On  returning  to 
Shanghai,  however,  he  had  to  resign  his 
commission  in  accordance  with  the  old 
Municipal  regulations,  which,  for  no  very 
definite  reason,  required  all  officers  to  go 
back  to  the  ranks  after  returning  from  leave. 
Tlie  procedure  was  simply  a  matter  of  form 
as  far  as  Major  Trueman  was  concerned, 
for  he  rejoined  as  a  private  in  November, 
1899,  and  in  February,  1900.  was  re-instated 
as  captain.  On  November  14,  .1906,  he 
was  gazetted  major  in  command  of  the 
Infantry  Battalion.  The  following  year  he 
was  again  on  le>ive  and  passed  the  examln.i- 
tion  at  the  Chelsea  School  of  Instruction 
for  officers  of  field  rank,  obtaining,  a  second 
time,  the  distinction  of  a  special  certificate. 
He  returned  to  Shanghai  in  December, 
1907.  Besides  desiring  to  see  the  corps 
maintain  as  high  a  standard  as  possible  in 
all  their  different  exercises,  Major  Trueinan 
has,  from  the  beginning,  taken  a  special 
interest  in  shooting.  As  a  private  he  was 
a  first-class  marksman,  and  wore  the  cross 
guns  every  year  until  he  obtained  his 
commission.  On  three  occasions  he  has 
held  the  cup  for  revolver-shooting,  pre- 
sented by  the  senior  medical  officer. 
Dr.  Lalcaca,  for  competition  amongst  the 
officers  of  the  corps.  This  example  and 
his  enthusiasm  have  not  been  without 
effect  upon  his  men,  and  "  B "  Company, 
which  he  commanded,  were  the  holders 
for  a  long  while  of  the  inter-companies' 
challenge  shield, 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  MACDONNELL  MIT- 
CHELL DOWDALL,  the  Engineer  staff  officer 
and  senior  captain  of  the  SJianghai  Volunteer 
Corps,  was  born  in  Dublin  on  September  12, 
1843.  He  served  in  the  Artists  Rifle  Volunteer 
Corps  (London),  from  1865  to  1870,  and  took 
a  large  share  in  the  formation  of  the  Koyal 
Naval  Artillery  Volunteers,  with  whom  he 
was  connected  from  1870  to  1882.  In  the 
latter  year  he  joined  the  Shanghai  Corps.  In 
1886  he  was  appointed  Inspector-General 
of  Fortifications  by  the  Viceroy  of  Nanking, 
and,  although  his  active  employment  in 
fortifying  the  coast  and  the  Yangtsze  Kiver 
has  now  ceased,  he  still  holds  the  honorary 
position.  He  organised  the  Shanghai  Volun- 
teer Engineers  in  1893,  and  commanded  them 
until  their  disbandment  in  1897,  when  he 
secured  his  staff  appointment. 


CAPTAIN  0.  F.  COLLYER.  the  corps 
adjutant,  joined  the  Artists  Rifle  Volunteer 
Corps  (London),  in  March,  1890,  and  three 
years  later  was  given  a  commission  as  second 


lieutenant  in  the  4th  Volunteer  Battalion 
East  Surrey  Regiment.  At  the  outbreak  of 
the  South  African  War  he  volunteered  for 
active  service,  and  was  present  at  the  engage- 
ments of  Allemann's  Nek  and  Laing's  Nek, 
receiving,  in  recognition  of  his  services,  the 
South  African  medal  with  four  clasps,  and 
the  honorary  rank  of  captain  in  the  British 
Army.  Captain  CoUycr's  commission  in  the 
Shanghai  Volunteers  dates  from  March,  1904. 
He  was  enrolled  as  a  lieutenant,  but  within 
a  month  was  promoted  captain.  In  his 
private  capacity  he  is  the  assistant  secretary 
of  the  Standard  Life  Assurance  Company. 


CAPTAIN  A.  J.  STEWART,  in  command  of 
the  Artillery  Company,  has  had  considerable 
experience  in  the  handling  of  guns.  He 
joined  the  1st  West  Yorks  Volunteer  Artillery 
in  1896,  was  attached  to  the  3rd  Middlesex 
Volunteer  Artillery  in  1899,  and  joined  the 
1st  City  of  London  Volunteer  Artillery  in  1900. 
Coming  to  Shanghai  in  1901  as  assistant- 
m.-ister  at  the  Shanghai  Public  School,  he  at 
once  joined  the  Shanghai  Volunteer  Artillery 
as  a  gunner.  He  became  second  lieutenant 
in  September,  1906  ;  lieutenant  in  May,  1907  ; 
and  captain,  in  succession  to  Captain  F.  H. 
Crossley,  in  June,  igo8.  Captain  Stewart 
has  attended  several  artillery  courses — at 
Shoeburyness  (one  month)  in  1900,  at  Sheer- 
ness  and  Thames  Forts  in  1901,  on  H.M.S. 
Eclipse  in  1903,  on  H.M.S.  Thetis  in  1904,  and 
at  Okehampton  and  Woolwich  in  1907. 


CAPTAIN    aBOROE    EDWARD     STEWART 

has  been  connected  with  the  Volunteer  move- 
ment in  England,  Hongkong,  and  Shanghai, 
for  the  past  seventeen  years.  In  the  first 
instance  he  was  a  member  of  the  3rd 
Volunteer  Battalion  (Duke  of  Connaught's 
Own)  Hampshire  Regiment.  After  coming 
to  China  he  served  for  two  years  in  the 
Auxiliary  Forces  at  Hongkong,  and  attained 
the  rank  of  corporal  in  the  "  A "  Machine 
Gun  Company.  He  was  enrolled  as  a  private 
in  "  A  "  Company  of  the  Shanghai  Volunteer 
Corps  in  February,  1897,  and,  passing  through 
the  non-cominissioned  ranks,  obtained  a  com- 
mission in  August,  1900.  He  was  promoted 
lieutenant  in  January,  1901,  and  captain  in 
May,  1903.  Whilst  home  on  leave  in  the 
following  year  he  attended  the  School  of 
Instruction  for  Auxiliary  Officers  at  Chelsea 
barracks,  and  obtained  the  "  special "  certifi- 
cate. Upon  his  return  to  Shanghai  in  1905 
he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Maxim 
detachment,  a  position  which  he  still  retains. 
Captain  Stewart  is  a  member  of  several  local 
clubs  and  of  the  Rifie  Association.  He  is 
also  a  past  member  of  the  Mih-ho-loong, 
Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  Shanghai  Fire 
Department. 


CAPTAIN  WILLIAMSON  JOHN  NORMAN 
DYER,  who  recently  succeeded  Captain  Key- 
lock in  the  command  of  the  Light  Horse,  was 
born  at  London  on  January  22,  1869,  and 
was  educated  at  Aberdeen  College,  London, 
and  at  the  Gymnasium  Zabern,  Alsace. 
Having  received  a  commercial  training  at 
Bale,  in  Switzerland,  he  came  out  to  China 
in  1890,  and  joined  Messrs.  Gibb,  Livingston 
&  Co.  In  1892  he  joined  the  New  York  Life 
Insurance  Company,  and  a  year  later  the 
firm  of  Messrs.  Wheelock  &  Co.,  in  which 
he  is  now  a  junior  partner.  Whilst  in 
London  he  served  for  two  years  in  the  2nd 
Middlesex    (Garrison)    Artillery,   and    shortly 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     427 


after  his  arrival  in  Shanghai  he  joined  the 
Light  Horse  as  a  trooper,  and  quiclcly  made 
his  way  through  the  non-commissioned  ranlis 
to  that  of  sergeant-major,  which  he  held  for 
seven  years.  He  was  promoted  a  second 
lieutenant  in  igoo,  and  lieutenant  in  the 
following  year,  and  has  now  succeeded  to 
the  captaincy  of  his  squadron.  He  was  at 
one  time  a  prominent  member  of  the  Victoria, 
No.  7  Company,  Shanghai  Fiie  Department, 
and  of  the  Paper  Hunt  Club,  and  still  belongs 
to  the  Race,  Cricket,  and  Polo  Clubs.  He 
resides  at  No.  2,  the  French  Bund. 


CAPTAIN  H.  W.  PILCHER,  in  command  of 
"  A  "  Company,  joined  the  company  early  in 
1890,  and  received  his  commission  as  second 
lieutenant  in  January,  1902.  He  became 
lieutenant  in  1903,  and  captain  in  1905. 
He  has  received  the  China  medal  for 
service  during  the  Boxer  rising  of  1900,  and 
the  medal  issued  by  the  Municipal  Council 
in  1893  to  commemorate  the  jubilee  of 
Shanghai. 


CAPTAIN  H.  R.  H.  THOMAS,  in  command 
of  "  B "  Company,  is  head  of  the  firm  of 
Messrs.  Thomas  Bros.,  merchants  and 
commission  agents.  He  was  born  in  1879 
at  Cardiff,  his  father  being  a  civil 
engineer  and  colliery  proprietor  of  that 
city.  After  being  educated  privately  in 
North  Devon,  Mr.  Thomas  entered  the 
service  of  Messrs.  Caldwell,  Watson  &  Co., 
a  well-known  London  firm.  In  1896  he  was 
transferred  to  their  Shanghai  office,  the  firm 
being  known  locally  as  James  Alexander 
Harvie,  and  in  1900  he  obtained  a  partner- 
ship, the  style  being  then  changed  to 
that  of  Harvie  &  Thomas.  The  present 
style  of  Thomas  Bros.,  was  adopted  in 
1904,  when  Mr.  J.  A.  T.  Thomas  entered 
the  (inn.  Mr,  Thomas  joined  the  Volunteer 
Corps  in  1897  as  a  private  and  became 
lance-corporal  in  1898.  He  qualified  for 
commissioned  rank  in  1900,  and  was 
appointed  second  lieutenant.  He  was  pro- 
moted first  lieutenant  in  1901  and  captain 
in  1906.  He  has  the  China  medal,  1900. 
In  1902  Captain  Thomas  married  Miss  Kate 
Jansen,  daughter  of  the  late  Mr.  D. 
C.  Jansen,  a  well-known  resident  in 
Shanghai,  and  Mrs.  Jansen,  of  "  Broad- 
fields,"  Jessfield  Road.  He  lives  at  No.  27, 
Range  Road,  and  is  a  member  of  all 
the  principal  local  clubs. 


LIEUTENANT    W.    STEWART    BURNS,    of 

"B"  Company,  was  for  nine  years  a  member 
of  the  Submarine  Miners'  Division  of  the 
Royal  Engineer  Volunteers.  He  joined  the 
Shanghai  Volunteer  Corps  in  1900,  and  was 
granted  a  commission  in  "  B "  Company  in 
the  following  year.  Five  years  later  he 
was  promoted  first  lieutenant,  and  in  July, 
1907,  obtained  the  "  special "  captain's 
certificate  in  the  examination  at  Chelsea 
Barracks.  Mr.  Burns  is  sub-manager  of  the 
Shanghai  Dock  and  Engineering  Companv. 


CAPTAIN    JONATHAN    WILLIE    INNOCENT. 

of  the  Customs  Company,  was  born  at  Truro, 
Cornwall,  in  1857,  and  was  educated  at  the 
Blackheath  School  for  Sons  of  Missionaries. 
He  entered  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs 
service  at  Shanghai  in  1877,  and  was  appointed 
deputy    commissioner    in    1904.     In  January, 


1903,  he  joined  the  Customs  Volunteer  Com- 
pany, and,  passing  quickly  through  the  ranks, 
received  a  commission  in  March,  1904.  He 
was  promoted  captain  in  September,  1907. 


LIEUTENANT    DAVID    CRAWFORD     DICK, 

Assoc.  M.  Inst.  C.E.,  born  in  Edinburgh  on 
August  8.  1866,  was  educated  at  Daniel 
Stewart's  College  in  that  city  and  at  Edinburgh 
University.  He  was  employed  as  a  civil  en- 
gineer with  Messrs.  Stevenson,  of  Edinburgh, 
and  afterwards  as  assistant  engineer  on  the 
Admiralty  Dock  Works,  Gibraltar.  He  came 
to  Shanghai  in  1900  as  assistant  engineer  to 
the  Chinese  Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  and 
in  1908  was  appointed  engineer-in-chief. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival  in  the  Settlement  he 
joined  the  Customs  Company,  receiving  his 
commission  as  second  lieutenant  in  1905  and 
as  lieutenant  in  1907.  He  received  the  China 
medal  for  active  service  during  the  Boxer 
troubles.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Race  Club, 
the  Shanghai  Club,  and  the  Country  Club. 


of  honour,  presented  to  him  by  His  Majesty 
William  II  for  special  proficiency  in  shoot- 
ing, and  a  medal  and  ribbon  from  the 
Prussian  Government,  a  gold  medal  and 
blue  ribbon  from  the  Government  of  Nor- 
way and  Sweden,  and  a  gold  medal  from  a 
German  Association  for  saving  life.  In  1901 
Captain  Schellhoss  retired  from  the  Army, 
with  permission  to  wear  the  uniform  of  his 
battalion,  and  in  tlie  following  year  was 
appointed  by  the  Chancellor  of  the  Empire 
consulting  hydraulic  engineer  attached  to 
the  German  Consulate,  Shanghai. 


LIEUTENANT  S.  KOAZE,  to  whose  personal 
effort  the  present  efficiency  of  the  Japanese 
Company  is  mainly  due,  was  born  in  Japan 
in  1875.  After  completing  his  education 
at  the  Commercial  College,  he  joined  the 
Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha.  Within  twelve  months, 
however,  he  resigned  in  order  to  serve  in 
the  Army,  and,  two  years  later,  was  appointed 
second  lieutenant.  Rejoining  the  Nippon 
Yusen  Kaisha  in  1897,  he  was  purser  for 
five  years  on  the  line  running  to  Europe, 
Australia,  and  America.      For  twelve  months 


THE  MAXIM  DETACHMENT  TEAM. 

Winners  of  the  "Shorrock"  and  "Africa"  Cups,  1907-8. 


CAPTAIN  S.  A.  RANSOM,  commanding  the 
American  Company,  was  born  in  Washington, 
and,  on  completing  his  education,  entered 
the  United  Slates  Public  Health  and  Marine 
Hospital  service,  in  which  he  came  to 
Shanghai  as  quarantine  officer.  When  in 
December,  1905,  the  idea  of  forming  an 
American  Company  of  the  Shanghai  Volun- 
teer Corps  was  mooted,  Dr.  Ransom  took  a 
prominent  part  in  bringing  the  scheme  to 
pass,  and  in  April,  1906,  he  was  appointed 
captain.  Dr.  Ransom  is  a  fine  revolver  shot, 
and  holds  the  Lalcaca  Cup,  offered  for 
competition  amongst  officers  of  the  corps. 


CAPTAIN  SCHELLHOSS,  who  has  had  com- 
mand of  the  German  Company  since  June, 
1907,  was  born  on  July  30,  1864,  and  was 
educated  at  the  gymnasium  at  Brannschweig. 
He  entered  the  Prussian  Armv  as  an  ensign 
in  1885,  and  was  attached  to  the  Pioneer 
Battalion  von  Ranch  (Brandenburgianl,  No.  3. 
He  was  promoted  lieutenant  in  1887,  first 
lieutenant  in  1894,  and  captain  in  1900,  in 
the  Rhenish  Pioneer  Battalion,  No.  8,  in 
Coblenz,      His  decorations   include   a  sword 


he  was  stationed  at  Hongkong,  and  was 
transferred  to  Shanghai  in  1903.  Lieutenant 
Koaze  served  throughout  the  Russo-Japanese 
War,  and,  for  his  services,  received  the 
Fifth  Order  of  the  Golden  Kite  and  the  Rising 
Sun.  At  the  conclusion  of  hostilities,  when 
he  resumed  his  business  duties  in  Shanghai, 
the  local  company  of  Japanese  Volunteers 
had  been  in  existence  for  some  seven  years. 
In  May,  1907,  however,  it  was  disbanded  in 
order  that  certain  radical  changes  might 
be  effected,  and,  at  the  request  of  the 
Consul-General  for  Japan,  Lieutenant  Koaze 
re-organised  and  assumed  command  of  the 
company,  which  now  numbers  62  rank  and 
file. 


CAPTAIN  J.   NOLASCO,   the  son   of  Mr.   P. 

Nolasco  de  Silva,  was  born  at  Macao  in  1871, 
and  educated  at  Macao  and  Lisbon.  He 
served  in  the  Portuguese  Army  for  two 
years  at  Lisbon,  and  for  five  years  at  Macao 
and  Timor,  during  which  time  he  rose  to 
the  rank  of  colour-sei  geant.  Subsequently, 
he  entered  the  Civil  Service  at  Macao,  and 
for  three  vear:<  was  first  assistant  to  the 
Colonial    Secretary.        Having    resigned    this 


428     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


position,  he  came  to  Shanghai,  and  joined 
Messrs.  Buchheister  &  Co.  in  1903.  When 
the  Portuguese  Company  of  volunteers  was 
formed  in  igo6.  he  was  given  a  commission 
as  lieutenant,  and  was  promoted  captain  last 
>-ear. 


CAPTAIN   L.  J.  CUBITT,   the    officer    com- 
manding the  Chinese  Company,  has  a  record 
of    service  in  the  Shanghai  Volunteer   Corps 
extending  over  a  period  of  nearly  seventeen 
years.     He  is  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Messrs. 
Sctitt,  Harding  &  Co.,  in  whose  interests  he 
came  to  China  in   1891.      In  January  of  the 
following  year  he  was  enrolled  as  a  private 
in  -'A  "Company;  within  twelve  months  was 
made  a  corporal  ;  and  in  due  course  attained 
the  rank  of  colour- sergeant.     In  1896  he  took 
part  in   the  suppression  of  the  wheelbarrow 
riots,  and    the   following   year  was    given   a 
commission,   while    during    the    absence,    on 
leave,  of  Captain  Keswick,  he  was  appointed 
adjutant.     Mr.  Cubitt  went  to  England  himself 
in   July  of  the   same  year,    and    secured  the 
•'  special  "  certificate  in  the  captains'  examina- 
tion   at    Chelsea    School    of    Instruction    for 
Officers  of  the  Militia  and  Auxiliary  Forces. 
Upon  his  return  to  Shanghai  in  March,  1898, 
he    resigned   his  commission,    in   accordance 
with  the  local  regulations,  and  enlisted  again 
as    a  private    in    •'  A "    Company.      He   was 
quicklv  promoted  to  be  a   non-commissioned 
oflicer,   and  was   given  a  commission   for  a 
second  time  in   1899.     On   several   occasions 
he   served    as    assistant-adjutant,  and    during 
the   Boxer   troubles   of    1900    was   promoted 
first   lieutenant.     Besides  acting  as  assistant- 
adjutant,    he    was    appointed    quartermaster, 
and  in   1901   was  placed  in  command  of  his 
company.     Towards  the  end   of   1902,  how- 
ever, his  leisure  b)eing  seriously  curtailed  by 
increasing    business    duties,   he    sent    in    his 
resignation.     This  was  accepted  regretfully, 
and  the  officers  and  men  showed  their  appre- 
ciation of   his   past  services   by   making  him 
an  honorary  member,  and  presenting  him  with 
a  gold    watch.     On    his    retirement   Captain 
Cubitt    joined    the    Reserve    Company    as    a 
senior  subaltern,  and  was  in  command  during 
two  trainings.     He  was  asked  to  take  charge 
of    the    Customs   Company   during   the    two 
years'  absence  of  Captain  Wade,  and,  having 
iiow  more  time  at  his  disposal,  he  acceded  to 
the   request,  and   was  appointed  captain   for 
this  purpose,  remaining  in  command  of  the 
company     throughout     three     trainings,     in 
1905-6-7.     Last   year,    in    addition    to    com- 
manding   the     Customs     Company,     Captain 
Cubitt    was  attached    as   commander   to    the 
Chinese   Company,    which    was    then    being 
formed.      Resigning    the    command    of     the 
Customs  Company,  he  was  given  his  present 
appointment  in  September.     F"or  a  number  of 
years  Captain  Cubitt  has  t)een  associated  also 
with  the  Fire  Brigade.     He  joined  the  Mih- 


ho-loong  Company  in  1891,  and  remained 
with  them  until  he  went  home  in  1897,  being 
for  a  few  months  assistant  foreman  in  charge. 
Upon  returning  from  leave,  he  rejoined  as  an 
ordinary  member,  but  severed  his  connection 
with  the  service  in  September,  1899.  During 
the  time  that  Mr.  Cubitt  was  in  the  brigade 
some  important  improvements  were  effected, 
and  the  general  standard  of  efficiency  in 
the  Mih-ho-loong  Company  was  raised  con- 
siderably. The  old  appliances  gave  place  to 
a  modern  and  up-to-date  equipment,  and  a 
uniform  simihir  to  that  of  the  I^ondon 
Fire  Brigade  was  substituted  for  red  jackets 
of  the  American  pattern.  Mr.  Cubitt  is  the 
possessor  of  the  "  good  service  medal "  pre- 
sented by  the  company  to  members  who 
have  been  actively  engaged  with  it  for  seven 
years,  and  is  on  the  roll  of  honorary  members 
of  the  company. 


SUROEON-MAJOR    CAWAS    LALCACA    was 

born  at  Bombay  in  1862,  and  educated  in 
India  .ind  London,  where  he  qualified  as  a 
Doctor  of  Medicine  and  as  a  Licentiate  of  the 
Royal  College  of  Physicians.  He  came  to 
China  in  1886,  and  joined  "A"  Company 
of  the  Shanghai  Volunteers  as  a  private  in 
the  following  year.  In  1891  he  was  promoted 
to  the  medical  staff  as  surgeon-lieutenant, 
becoming  surgeon-captain  in  1896  and  prin- 
cipal medical  officer  to  the  corps  in  1907. 
and  being  granted  the  rank  of  major  in  1908. 


SURQEON-CAPTAIN    GERALD     HANWELL, 

M.R.C.S.,  L.R.C.P.,  of  the  medical  staff  of 
the  Shanghai  Volunteers,  was  for  some  time 
one  of  the  civil  surgeons  attached  to  the 
South  Africa  Field  Forces,  and,  consequently, 
has  had  a  valuable  experience  of  the  special 
conditions  under  which  medical  work  is 
carried  out  during  warfare.  He  was  a  student 
of  St.  Thomas's  Hospital.  London,  and  has 
held  the  appointments  of  house  surgeon  at 
the  Royal  Berks  Hospital,  clinical  assistant  In 
the  throat  department  of  St.  Thomas's  Hos- 
pital, clinical  assistant  at  the  Chelsea  Hospital 
for  Women  and  at  the  Evelina  Hospital  for 
Sick  Children,  and  assistant  medical  oflicer 
of  the  Metropolitan  Asylums  Board  and  of 
the  Fountain  Fever  Hospital.  His  connection 
with  the  Shanghai  Volunteer  P'orce  dates  from 
t'ebruary  3,  1904,  when  he  joined  the  medical 
staff  as  second  lieutenant.  He  was  promoted 
first  lieutenant  in  August,  1904,  and  captain 
in  March,  1908. 


CAPTAIN  Q.  R.  WINQROVE,  the  officer  com- 
manding the  Reserve  Company,  has  been 
connected  with  the  Volunteer  Force  in  India 
and  China  for  over  thirty  years.     He  joined 


the  Bombay  Rifle  Corps  in  1876,  and. 
subsequently,  upon  taking  up  his  residence 
in  Hongkong,  joined  the  newly  formed 
Hongkong  Artillery  as  a  private,  eventually 
attaining  the  rank  of  sergeant.  Upon  coming 
to  Shanghai  In  1880  he  was  enrolled  as  a 
private  In  "A"  Company,  or  the  Mih-ho-loong 
Rifles,  as  they  were  called  in  those  days. 
He  received  a  commission  in  1891,  and 
passed  the  qualifying  examination  for 
junior  Volunteer  officers  held  at  Wellington 
Barracks  in  the  same  year.  He  remained 
with  "A"  Company  until  1899,  and  was 
afterwards  attached  to  the  Reserve  Company, 
but  In  1900  was  promoted  captain,  and 
appointed  Instructor  of  the  Japanese  Com- 
pany, which  was  organised  during  the  Boxer 
troubles.  After  returning  from  his  last  leave 
he  served  for  a  time  as  quartermaster  and 
assistant-adjutant  before  assuming  his  present 
duties. 

HON.    LIEUTENANT    A.    W.    BURKILL— A 

brief  allusion  to  Lieutenant  A.  W.  Burkill, 
of  the  Mounted  Scouts,  will  be  found  under 
the  heading  "  The  Municipal  Councils." 


*• 


LIEUTENANT  Q.  H.  POTTS  was  born  at 
Beadle,  Yorkshire,  In  1864,  and  was  educated 
at  Harrow.  He  served  for  a  year  with  the 
London  Scottish  Volunteers  before  coming  to 
Hongkong  in  1885,  where,  ten  years  later,  he 
was  enrolled  as  a  gunner  in  the  Maxim  Gun 
Company,  subsequently  attaining  the  rank  of 
captain.  At  the  taking  of  Kowloon  City  he 
was  guide  to  General  Gascolgne,  and,  in  1900, 
acted  as  transport  officer  to  the  relief  column 
to  Peking,  for  which  service  he  received  the 
China  medal  and  clasp.  Returning  to  Hong- 
kong, he  became  a  lieutenant  In  the  Mounted 
Scouts,  but  resigned  his  commission  in  1903. 
In  1904  he  came  to  Shanghai,  and  two  years 
later  was  appointed  lieutenant  of  the  Gun 
Club. 


LIEUTENANT  G.  CARLSEN,  in  command 
of  the  Signalling  Company,  was  born  in  1870 
at  Copenhagen,  Denmark.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  joined  the  Great  Northern  Tele- 
graph Company,  and  was  stationed  first  at 
Newcastle,  England,  and  afterwards  at  LIbau, 
Russia.  He  was  transferred  to  Shanghai  in 
1895,  and  in  the  following  year  joined  the 
now  defunct  Engineers  Company  of  the 
Shanghai  Volunteer  Corps  as  a  private.  He 
was  made  corporal  of  signallers  in  the  spring 
of  1898,  commissioned  as  second  lieutenant  to 
command  the  company  in  1903  ;  and,  after 
an  absence  of  three  years  from  Shanghai 
was  promoted  first  lieutenant  and  staff  sig- 
nalling  officer  to  the  corps  in  January,  1908. 


SHANGHAI    FIRE    BRIGADE. 


HAT  in  so  large  a  community 
as  Shanghai  the  extinction  of 
fires  should  be  left  to  volun- 
tary effort  is  remarkable,  and 
the  Settlement  may  be  con- 
gratulated upon  the  fact  that 
it  possesses  a  body  of  men 
who,  under  the  inspiration  of  high  ideals  of 
duty,  have  attained  a  degree  of  efficiency 
unexcelled  in  the  annals  of  unpaid  organisa- 
tions. Shanghai  can  claim  to  have  a  larger 
percentage  of  volunteer  firemen  in  proportion 
to  its  population  than  either  London,  Edin- 
burgh, or  Dublin. 

The  Shanghai  Fire  Department  was  insti- 
tuted in  June,  1866,  under  authority  from  the 
Municipal  Council,  "  for  the  better  preservation 
of  all  property  exposed  to  conflagration."  The 
operations  of  the  department,  as  defined  in 
the  original  constitution,  were  limited  to  the 
British,  French,  and  American  Settlements, 
except  in  cases  of  urgent  necessity  elsewhere, 
and  the  organisation  was  carried  out  under 
a  chief  engineer  and  three  district  engineers. 
The  chief  engineer  was  the  recognised 
executive  officer,  and  was  invested  with  wide 
powers  to  use  all  means  at  his  command  to 
save  property  and  check  the  spread  of  fire. 
The  newly  lormed  department  took  over  the 
engines  and  other  appliances  already  in  the 
possession  of  various  private  firms,  who  had 
previously  organised  small  independent  fire 
companies.  From  1866  onwards  the  gear 
has  been  constantly  improved,  until  now  there 
are  few  volunteer  brigades  so  well  equipped. 
The  "  Mih-ho-loongs  "  (Extinguishing  Fire 
Dragons),  or  Hook  and  Ladder  Company, 
were  the  first  company  to  be  formed,  and 
they  took  for  their  motto,  "  Say  the  word, 
and  down  comes  your  house,"  which  aptly 
described  one  of  their  chief  functions — that 
of  checking  the  spread  of  fires  by  the  demo- 
lition of  surrounding  buildings.  A  certain 
exclusiveness  was  maintained  by  means  of  a 
ballot,  and  discipline  was  rigidly  enforced 
by  fines  and  other  penalties.  The  French 
Hook  and  Ladder,  the  Shanghai  Engine, 
the  Hongkew  Fire  Engine,  the  Kin-lee-yuen 
Fire  Engine,  the  Deluge  Steam  Fire,  the 
French  Municipal  Engine,  and  the  Victoria 
Steam  Fire  Engine  Companies  were  succes- 
sively formed,  and,  under  capable  commands, 
the  efficiency  of  the  brigade  has  never  been 
suffered  to  decline. 

At  the  present  day  there  are  four  companies, 
exclusive  of  the  French  Company,  which  has 
recently  been  organised  separately  for  service 


in  the  French  Concession.  The  "  Mih-ho- 
loongs  "  and  "  Deluge  "  Companies  are 
attached  to  the  Central  Fire  Station,  in 
Honan  Road,  while  the  Victoria  Company  and 
the  Hongkew  Company  are  stationed  in 
Soochow  Road  and  Hanbury  Road  respectivelv. 
At  each  station  quarters  are  provided  for 
the  men  on  night  duty,  and  plans  are  in 
course  of  preparation  for  a  fifth  fire  station, 
in  the  Sinza  district,  with  accommodation 
for  about  24  men.  The  total  strength 
of      the       brigade      is       approximately      74 


gallons  ;  four  horsed  engines — three  of  450 
gallons  and  one  of  400  gallons  ;  a  chemically 
driven  engine,  with  a  6o-feet  escape  ladder  ; 
an  80-feet  petrol  motor  escape  ;  two  6o-feet 
hand  escapes  ;  three  horsed  hook  and  ladder 
trucks  ;  and  twelve  pony  hose  reels,  with  8,700 
feet  of  best  rubber-lined  canvas  fire-hose  in 
use  and  5,000  feet  in  stock.  Six  horses  and 
21  ponies  are  kept  in  readiness  for  use 
at  any  moment.  Hydrants,  under  pressure 
from  the  Shanghai  Waterworks,  are  placed  in 
convenient  positions  all  over  the  Settlement  ; 


A    SECTION    OF    THE    BRIGADE    IN    FRONT    OF   THE    ROWING    CLUB. 


volunteers,  and  70  paid  Chinese  firemen, 
stokers,  mafoos,  and  cleaners.  The  uniform 
of  the  brigade  is  exactly  siinilar  to  that  of 
the  London  Fire  Brigade.  Formerly  each 
company  had  its  own  distinctive  uniform,  and 
a  turnout  in  those  days  was  a  picturesque 
sight. 

The  equipment  is  of  the  latest  improved 
pattern,  and  includes  a  steam  fire-float,  with 
a  pumping  capacity  of  1,100  gallons  ;  a  steam 
motor    fire-engine,   the  "  Fire   King,"   of  800 


indeed,  in  proportion  to  its  area,  Shanghai  is 
better  supplied  than  London  with  hydrants. 
Numbers  of  street  fire-alarms  have  been  in- 
stalled, but  even  more  important  than  these 
as  regards  their  value  in  the  matter  of  prompt 
notification  of  fires  are  the  two  bell  towers- 
one  of  which  is  situated  in  the  Shantung  Road, 
while  the  other  is  in  the  compound  of  the 
Hongkew  Police  Station.  In  these  towers, 
which  are  about  100  feet  in  height,  watchmen 
are  posted  night  and  day  for  the   purpose  of 


430     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE    MOTOR    "FIRE   KING." 


detecting  outbreaks  of  fire  in  the  Settlement. 
Of  211  calls  made  during  1907,  the  alarm  was 
given  from  these  towers  in  no  fewer  than  182 
instances.  Eleven  of  the  outbreaks  were 
large,  and  80  were  medium  fires.  Ol  the 
whole  total,  179  fires  occurred  in  Chinese 
buildings. 

At  one  time  arson  was  very  prevalent,  but, 
thanks  to  stringent  measures  on  the  part  of 
the  police,  much  has  been  done  to  mitigate 
this  evil.  It  is  gratifying  to  note  that  fires  in 
the  Settlement  are  attended  with  but  slight 
loss  of  life,  and  that  since  1866,  only  two 
firemen  have  met  with  death  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties.  Among  the  more  serious 
outbreaks  on  record  are  those  of  August  15, 
1879,  when  over  900  houses  were  burned 
in  the  French  Settlement,  property  being 
destroyed  to  the  value  of  Tls.  1,500,000 ; 
December  21,  1885,  when  an  equally  heavy 
loss  was  sustained  in  the  same  neighbour- 
hood ;    October    24,    1898,    when    some    250 


houses  were  destroyed  in  the  Canton  Road;  on 
November  26th,  of  the  same  year,  when  the 
premises  of  Messrs.  Hall  &  Holtz  were  gutted; 
and  on  January  20,  1907,  when  a  fire  at  Messrs. 
Burkill's  premises  entailed  a  loss  of  some- 
thing like  Tls.  750,000. 

In  1895  the  local  fire  insurance  companies 
offered  a  challenge  shield  for  competition 
annually  among  the  various  companies.  The 
events  upon  which  the  competition  is  decided 
are  usually  two  in  number,  and  are  arranged 
by  the  chief  engineer  and  the  foreman  of 
the  companies.  The  following  is  a  complete 
list  of  winners  of  the  shield  : — 

1895  Deluge  Company. 

1896  Mih-ho-loong  Company. 
Le  Torrent  Company. 
Hongkew  Company. 
Le  Torrent  Company. 
Deluge  Company. 
Ditto. 
Ditto. 
Ditto. 
Ditto. 

Victoria  Company. 
Deluge  Company. 
Mih-ho-loong  Company. 
Ditto. 


1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 

1903 
1904 

1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 


''it^'^m^sm 


THE   LADDERS. 


SOME    OF   THE    BRIGADE. 


The  Municipal  Council  has  of  recent  years 
offered  gold  medals  for  twelve  years'  service, 
silver  clasps  for  eight  years'  service,  silver 
medals  for  five  years'  service,  and  silver  cups 
for  the  best  attendances  at  fires — trophies 
which  are  much  coveted  by  members  of  the 
brigade. 

The  annual  cost  of  the  Kire  Department, 
exclusive  of  extraordinary  charges,  is  about 
Tls.  50,000.  When  in  1907  the  French  Muni- 
cipal Council  were  asked  to  increase  their 
contribution  from  Tls.  5,000  to  Tls.  10,000 
they  resolved  to  establish  a  separate  Fire 
Department  of  their  own,  and  accordingly 
in  April,  1908,  the  connection  between 
the  French  Company  and  the  International 
Brigade  was  severed. 

The  French  Brigade  now  consists  of 
19  volunteer  firemen,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Mons.  M.  Chapeaux,  the  chief 
officer,  with  Messrs.  Madier  and  Kozier  as 
his  assistants.  Mr.  E.  Leconte,  formerly 
adjutant  of  the  Paris  Brigade,  has  been 
specially  engaged  to  t;ike  charge  of  the 
apparatus  and  coolie  corps.  The  brigade 
own  a  70  horse-power  Delahaye-Marcot  motor 
engine,  on  the  back  and  both  sides  of  which 
are  detachable  hose  reels,  each  carrying 
160  metres  of  hose.  Another  280  metres 
of   canvas   hose   is    carried    under    the   four 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     431 


short-length  scahng  and  extension  ladders. 
The  vehicle  can  be  driven  at  the  rate  of 
40  miles  an  hour,  and  the  motor  can  also 
be  used  to  work  a  pump  that  delivers  2,000 
litres  of  water  a  minute.  Up  till  1906  the 
steam  engine  belonging  to  the  brigade  was 
the  most  powerful  in  the  Settlement.  The 
equipment  of  the  brigade  also  includes  a 
turn-table,  25-metre  horse  escape,  which  can 
easily  be  wound  up  to  its  full  height 
by  three  men  and  used  as  a  water  tower 
without  any  additional  support,  and  a  small 
extension  ladder  operated  from  the  top  ; 
three  tricycle  extension  ladders  of  40  feet  in 
length ;  and  three  horse  reels  of  the  ordinary 
type  in  use  in  Shanghai. 

From  1871  until  the  end  of  March,  1908, 
the  general  management  of  the  Fire  Depart- 
ment was  entrusted  to  a  Fire  Commission, 
consisting  of  a  chairman,  the  chief  engineer 
of  tlie  brigade,  and  the  secretaries  of  the 
French  and  International  Municipal  Councils. 
The  estimates  proposed  by  this  commission 
were  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  municipal 
authorities  and  the  annual  general  meeting 
of  ratepayers.  When  the  French  Company 
passed  under  the  control  of  the  French 
Municipal  Council,  the  commission  was 
dissolved,  and  the  Watch  Committee  of  the 
International  Settlement  absorbed  its  functions. 


C^ 


MR.  G.  S.  V.  BIDWELL,  chief  engineer 
of  the  Fire  Brigade,  was  born  in  Shanghai 
in  1878,  and  educated  at  the  Jesuit  College. 
His  father  was  a  well-known  merchant  in 
the  Settlement  and  a  keen  supporter  of 
the  local  turf.  On  leaving  college,  Mr. 
Bidwell  was  for  a  time  in  the  Shanghai  and 
Hongkew  Wharf  Company's  posting  office, 
and  then  entered  the  employment  of  Messrs. 
Boyd  &  Co.,  engineers.     In  September,  1898, 


he  joined  the  Russo-Chinese  Bank,  and  has 
remained  with  that  institution  ever  since. 
His  connection  with  the  Fire  Brigade  dates 
from  July  5,  1895,  when  he  joined  the 
"Mih-ho-loongs"   as  a  fireman.     He  won  his 


in  that  capacity  he  has  been  responsible  for 
the  introduction  of  several  of  the  valuable 
appliances  now  possessed  by  the  brigade. 
At  the  aimual  inspection  held  in  April,  1908, 
he    received    the    Municipal    Council's    gold 


fe."^-  ifM:',..  _*^-^^^ 


A   POPULAR   COMPANY. 


way  through  the  positions  of  second  and 
first  assistant  foreman  to  that  of  foreman  of 
his  company,  a  position  which  he  filled  for 
four  years.  In  January,  1905,  he  became 
chief   engineer   of  the  Fire  Deparlment,  and 


medal  for  twelve  years'  service.  Mr.  Bidwell, 
who  on  June  i,  1908,  married  Miss  E.  M. 
White,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Augustus 
White,  formerly  a  well-known  bullion  broker 
in  Shanghai,  lives  at  No.  4,  Siccawei  Road. 


PUBLIC    WORKS. 


Supplied  by  the  Public  Works  Department. 


UK  Public  Works  Department, 
from  which  the  Municipai 
Council  of  Shanghai  derives 
its  Chinese  name,  Kiing 
Boo,  was  established  in  1843 
by  the  Committee  of  Koiids 
and  Jetties.  As  the  name  im- 
plies, its  duties  consist  of  the  supervision  of 
all  public  works  belonging  to  the  municipality 
in  or  about  the  Settlement,  and  relate  to 
roads,  drainage,  lighting,  bridges,  landing 
stages,  creeks  (other  than  the  Soochow  Creek), 
public  buildings,  parks,  and  open  spaces, 
sur\ey  work,  and  the  supervision  of  new 
buildings  in  course  of  erection. 

Owing  to  the  form  of  government  peculiar 
to  Shanghai,  certain  duties  come  within  the 
province  of  the  Public  Works  Department 
which  at  home  would  be  undertaken  by  the 
Government.  Amongst  these  may  be  men- 
tioned the  survey  of  the  Settlement,  through 
the  medium  of  which  alone  the  land-tax  can 
be  equitably  assessed  and  collected.  The 
erection  and  maintenance  of  police  stations 
and  gaol  buildings  are  also  undert^iken  by 
the  department. 

Shanghai  as  a  Settlement  has  suffered  con- 
siderably from  the  want  of  foresight  displayed 
by  the  old  Committee  of  Koads  and  Jetties,  who 
thought  that  a  width  of  25  feet  for  roads  as 
suggested  by  Captain  Balfour,  the  Consul,  was 
much  too  great,  and  after  a  hard  tight  a 
compromise  of  22  feet  was  agreed  to.  L:ind 
for  roads  which  might  then  have  been  pur- 
chased for  thirty  taels  a  mow  cannot  now 
be  acquired  for  as  many  thousands. 

It  is  said  that  down  to  1850  the  annual 
revenue  of  the  Committee  of  Hoads  and  Jetties 
did  not  exceed  twelve  hundred  dollars.  In 
1852  it  rose  to  nearly  five  thousand  dollars. 
At  that  time  the  only  expenditure  incurred 
was  for  roads,  jetties,  and  drainage,  for  which 
the  committee  borrowed  three  thousand 
dollars  at  10  per  cent,  per  annum. 

The  area  of  the  Settlement  at  this  lime  was 
1,080  mow.  In  1863.  after  the  inclusion  of 
what  was  known  as  Hongkew,  it  was  9.406  ; 
but  the  boundaries  were  never  oHicially 
defined,  and  even  at  a  later  date  svhen  a 
line  was  laid  down  by  Mr.  Seward,  the 
Consul-General  for  the  United  States,  the 
boundaries  were  still  uncertain,  although  the 
area  at  that  time  wait  regarded  as  1 1.406  mow. 


When  tlic  exact  boundaries  were  marked  out 
in  J893  the  area  of  the  Settlement  was  found 
to  be  10,606  mow.  A  further  extension  was 
obtiiined  in  1899,  the  area  of  the  Settlement 
now  being  33,503  mow,  or  nearly  9  square 
miles. 

The  maintenance  of  accurate  maps  of  this 
area  and  also  of  the  outlying  districts  forms 
an  important  part  of  the  duties  of  the  Public 
Works  Department,  for  immediately  land  is 
registered  in  one  of  the  foreign  consulates 
it  becomes  liable  to  taxation,  and  the  Council's 
revenue  from  land-tax  depends  entirely  on 
these  surveys.  In  all,  some  ten  thousand 
holdings  of  an  estimated  value  of  twenty 
million  pounds  sterling  are  registered  in  the 
foreign  consulates.  The  negotiations  for  the 
acquisition  of  land  for  roads  also  forms  an 
important  function  of  the  Public  Works  De- 
partment. 

Until  1899  the  community  had  no  powers 
to  acquire  land  compulsorily  for  road  pur- 
poses, and  extensions  and  widenings  could 
(jnly  be  carried  out  by  negotiation  with 
owners,  whether  native  or  foreign.  As  a 
natural  consequence,  many  roads  suffered  in 
alignment.  Compulsory  powers  were  obtained 
under  Clause  Via  of  the  Land  Regulations, 
and,  as  far  as  Chinese-owned  land  was  con- 
cerned, further  powers  were  obtained  through 
the  issue  by  the  Taoutai  of  proclamations 
authorising  the  expropriation  of  Chinese- 
owned  land  for  road  purposes  at  nominal 
rates.  The  prtKlamation  for  the  Western 
District  was  issued  in  November,  lyoi,  and 
that  for  the  Northern  and  Eastern  Districts 
in  July,  1904.  Since  those  dates  519  mow  of 
land  has  been  acquired  at  a  cost  of  only 
Tls.  50,000,  and  thus  it  has  been  possible  to 
construct  174  miles  of  road  at  a  very  small 
cost.  The  total  road  mileage  at  the  end  of 
1907  was  94j,  and  of  paved  footways  76 
miles. 

Owing  to  the  difficulty  in  obt;uning  satis- 
factory supplies  of  stone  for  road  purposes 
through  native  contractors,  the  Council  in 
1897  commenced  to  quarry  its  own  materials 
at  Pingchiao,  some  150  miles  by  water  from 
Shanghai.  At  the  present  time  two  European 
overseers  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
Chinese  are  regularly  employed  at  this 
quarry,  and  during  the  year  1907  fifty  thousand 
tons   of  road   materials  were   despatched.     A 


contract  has  recently  been  entered  into  for 
the  supply  of  materials  t(3  the  French 
Municipal  Council,  and  on  this  account  the 
capacity  of  the  stone-breaking  machinery  is 
about  to  be  largely  increased. 

All  concrete  pipes  and  gullies  used  for  public 
drainage  works  arc  manufactured  by  the 
department  at  prices  very  much  below  those 
of  stoneware  articles.  During  the  year  1906 
no  less  than  63,282  pieces  of  concrete  ware 
were  turned  out.  The  number  of  bridges 
under  the  charge  of  the  department  at  the 
end  of  1907  was  67.  The  department  exer- 
cises supervision,  under  a  code  of  rules,  of  new 
buildings  erected  in  the  Settlement.  During 
the  last  five  years  no  less  than  25,000  buildings 
have  been  erected. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  more  im- 
portant works  carried  out  in  recent  years  ; 

Taels. 

Town  Hall        132,000 

Public  Markets  ...         ...         ...     134,000 

Central   Police  Stiition  ...         ...       83,000 

Louza  Police  Station 42,000 

Bubbling  Well  Police  Station         ...       27,000 

Sinza  Police  Station 40,000 

Gaol       178,000 

Central  Fire  Station 28,000 

Victoria  Nursing  Home        ...         ...     114,000 

Isolation  Hospital       163,000 

Isolation  Hospital  for  Chinese        ...       22,000 

Public  Swimming  Bath        17,000 

Slaughter  Houses        ...        19,000 

Cattle  Sheds     20,000 

Bubbling      Well       Cemetery      and 

Crematorium  51.000 

Public  School  for  Chinese .54.000 

Electricity  Works  Buildings i8H,ooo 

The   Garden    Bridge   and    Chekiang 

Road    Bridge      (in     steell,     across 

Soochow  Creek  ...  about...  461,000 
Hongkew    Recreation   Ground,   land 

about...     146,000 

The  average  number  of  labourers  and 
artisans  employed  daily  on  public  works 
during  1907  (exclusive  of  contract  work)  was 
2,827. 

The  expenditure  of  the  department  in  1907 
amounted  to  Tls.  1,352,403. 

The  first  engineer  to  the  Council,  Mr.  John 
Clark,  was  appointed  in  the  early  sixties, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  E.  H.  Oliver, 
who,   in    turn,   was    followed   by   Mr.   C.   B. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     433 


Clarke.  The  present  incumbent  of  the  office 
is  Mr.  Charles  Mayne.  M.lnst.C.E.,  M.Amer. 
Soc.C.E.,  who  was  appointed  in  1889.  The 
European  staff  consists  of  an  enj^ineer.  deputy 
engineer,  chief  engineering  assistant,  two 
divisional  engineers,  two  assistant  divisional 
engineers,  two  architectural  assistants,  seven 
surveying  assistiints,  six  clerks,  a  superintendent 
of  roads,  four  clerks  of  works,  a  building 
surveyor,  four  assistant  building  inspectors, 
a  superintendent  of  machinery,  two  superin- 
tendents of  parks,  eight  district  overseers, 
and  two  quarry  overseers. 

The  Public  Works  Department  in  the 
French  Concession  is  responsible  for  the  con- 
struction and  maintenance  of  the  highways 
and  public  buildings  and  for  the  execution 
of  all  engineering  work  in  the  area  adminis- 
tered by  the  Municipal  Council.  Among  the 
works  carried  out  or  in  course  of  construction 
by  the  department  may  be  mentioned  the 
French  Consulate,  the  Town  Hall,  the  various 
police  stations,  the  Water  and  Electric  Light 
Works,  the  Semaphore  Station  on  the  Bund, 
and  the  new  Recreation  Ground  at  Koukaza. 
The  Consulate,  begun  in  August,  1894,  and 
opened  in  January,  1896,  is  a  handsome  pile 
in   the  Modern  Colonial  style  of  architecture 


occupying  a  fine  site  on  the  French  Bund  at 
the  corner  of  the  Rue  du  Consulat.  The 
architect  was  Mr.  J.  J.  Chollot,  the  present 
Municipal  Engineer.  The  Town  Hall  is  in 
the  same  style  of  architecture,  with  an  im- 
posing facade  and  dome.  It  stands  in  its 
own  grounds,  a  little  back  from  the  Rue  du 
Consulat.  and  contains  a  large  banqueting 
hall,  a  council  chamber,  oflices  for  the 
secretariat,  police,  and  public  works  depart- 
ments, and  apartments  for  the  secretary  and 
for  the  chief  of  police.  In  the  basement  of 
the  building  is  the  Central  Police  Station.  The 
annexes  to  the  north,  east,  and  w-est  of  the 
main  building  were  added  in  1877,  and  pro- 
vide quarters  for  employes  of  the  Council 
and  for  European  and  Chinese  police,  as  well 
as  hospital  accommodation.  In  front  of  the 
Town  Hall  a  bronze  stiitue  by  Thiebaut  to 
Admiral  Protet  stands  on  a  granite  pedestal 
bearing  the  inscription  :  "  A  I'Amiral  Protet 
aux  officiers  Marines  et  Soldats  Tues  Glori- 
eusement  Devant  les  rebelles  Sur  la  terre 
de  China,  1855-1862."  Near  the  Town  Hall 
is  the  Fire  Station,  the  headquarters  of  "  Le 
Torrent "  Company.  Besides  the  Central 
Police  Stiition  there  are  three  other  police 
stations — the   Eastern,  Koukaza,   and   Lokawei 


Stations — each  containing  the  usual  quarters 
for  police,  guardrooms  for  the  detention  of 
prisoners,  &c.  A  fourth  is  in  course  of  erec- 
tion in  the  Avenue  Paul  Brunat,  near  the 
Cemetery.  The  buildings  are  estimated  to 
cost  Tls.  150,000,  and  will  be  used  as  a 
police  station,  gaol,  and  fire  station.  The 
Waterworks  and  Electric  Lighting  and  Power 
Works,  constructed  by  the  Public  Works 
Department  and  formerly  managed  by  the 
Municipal  Council,  were  ceded  to  the  Cie 
Fran(;aise  de  Tramways  et  d'Eclairage  Elec- 
triques  in  April,  1908.  The  Semaphore 
Station  on  the  .  Bund,  commenced  early  in 
1907,  is  now  practically  completed,  it  is 
a  tower  of  reinforced  concrete,  and  is 
surmounted  by  a  time  ball  and  three  masts 
for  hoisting  signals,  the  total  height  being 
about  48  metres.  The  Council  have 
acquired  about  20  mow  of  land  on  the 
Route  Voyron,  formerly  occupied  by  the 
"  Veladrome  "  and  the  Wigram  Lawn  Tennis 
Club,  and  are  now  engaged  in  laying  out 
the  ground  for  purposes  of  public  recreation. 
There  is  also  a  proposal  to  place  a  culvert 
over  the  creek  near  the  Western  Police 
Station  and  lay  out  upon  it  a  broad  avenue 
and  perhaps  a  public  garden. 


HEALTH    AND    HOSPITALS. 


By  Arthur  Stanley.  M.D.,  B.S.  Lond. ;   D.P.H.,  Health  Officer. 


ING  as  it  does  on  the  alluvial 
plain  of  the  Yangtsze  Delta, 
Shanghai  should  by  all  the 
canons  of  the  sanitation  of 
pre-bacterial  days  be  an  un- 
healthy place.  It  has  been 
proved  by  deep  borings  that 
for  more  than  five  hundred  feet  down  there 
is  nothing  but  micaceous  mud  and  sand. 
The  ground  water  is  but  five  feet  below  the 
surface,  and.  on  account  of  the  low  elevation 
above  high-water  level,  cannot  be  effectively 
lowered  by  drainage.  The  tropical  heat  of 
the  summer  suffices  for  the  development  of 
mosquitoes,  among  which  the  Anopheles — 
the  malaria  bearer — is  found.  Malaria  would, 
therefore,  be  expected  to  be  rife.  All  the 
dreadful  miasmata  that  were  believed  to 
arise  from  low-lying  ground  have,  however, 
been  dissipated  by  the  lamp  of  science. 
During  the  past  ten  years  much  has  been 
done  by  spreading  sanitary  knowledge,  and 
by  eliminating  stagnant  water  to  minimise 
the  danger  of  malaria.  It  has  t>een  found 
that  the  parts  of  the  Settlement  most  occu- 
pied by  streets  and  well-built  houses  have 
been  most  free  from  malaria,  while  the  out- 
l>-ing  districts,  where  pools  and  slow-running 
and  blocked  creeks  occur,  have  been  most 
prone  to  malaria.  This  was  clearly  shown 
in  1900  during  the  time  that  the  German 
troops  were  stationed  about  two  miles  from 
the  centre  of  the  Settlement,  nearly  one 
hundred  cases  of  malaria  occurring  among 
eight  hundred  soldiers.  The  malaria,  how- 
ever, in  Shanghai  is  of  a  benign  type. 

The  climate  of  Shanghai  is  subject  to  great 
extremes  of  heat  and  cold  as  a  result  of  the 
prevalence  of  north  winds  durmg  the  winter 
and  south  winds  during  the  summer.  At  all 
times  of  the  year  sudden  changes  of  tem- 
perature are  liable  to  occur.  The  great  heat 
of  the  summer  and  the  prevailing  southerly 
winds  render  the  placing  of  dwelling  houses 
to  face  south  and  south-east  advisable, 
together  with  a  verandah  to  the  south  and 
west  for  the  purpose  of  hanging  sun-blinds. 


Vital   Statistics. 

The  foreign  population  of  the  Settlement 
north  of  the  Yang-king-pang,  including  the 
outside  roads  and  Pootung,  at  the  last  census, 
taken  on  October  14,  1905,  was  11,497,  ^"d 
consisted  of  5,728  men,  3.270  women,  and 
2,499  children.  The  foreign  shipping  popu- 
lation, which  numbered  2.510,  was  not 
included.  The  foreign  population  for  the 
middle  of  1907  was  calculated  at  13,700. 
The  census  of  the  foreign  population  taken 
at  each  quinquennial  period  since  1870  shows 
the  following  expansion:  1,666,  1,673,  2,197, 
3,673,  3,821,  4,684,  6,774,  1 1497- 

The  native  population  on  October  14,  1905. 
was  452,716,  and  conssisted  of  212,517  men, 
118,432  women,  and  121,767  children.  The 
Chinese  population  for  the  middle  of  1907 
was  estimated  at  510,000.  The  census  of 
the  Chinese  population  taken  at  each  quin- 
quennial period  since  1870  shows  roughly 
the  following  expansions  :  75,000,  96,000, 
108,000,  126,000,  168,000,  241,000,  345,000, 
452,000. 

During  1907  the  total  corrected  number  of 
deaths  registered  among  foreigners,  in- 
cluding non-Chinese  Asiatics,  was  328 ;  of 
this  number  245  occurred  among  the  resident 
population.  Six  months  spent  continuously 
in  Shanghai  is  taken  to  constitute  residence. 
As  the  non-resident  population  is  a  variable 
and  indeterminate  factor,  the  deaths  in  this 
category  are  eliminated  in  the  calculation  of 
the  death-rate.  The  death-rate  per  thousand 
per  annum,  therefore,  calculated  from  245 
deaths  occurring  amongst  the  resident  foreign 
population  of  13.700  was  I7'9,  as  against 
121  in  1906.  This  death-rate  is  hardly 
comparable  with  that  of  previous  years,  73 
deaths  among  Japanese  being  reported,  as 
against  13  in  the  previous  year.  The  mean 
age  at  death  among  the  adult  resident  popu- 
lation was  399. 

Amongst  the  Chinese,  10,217  deaths  were 
reported,  compared  with  5,689,  6,443,  and 
10,801  in  the  three  previous  years.  The 
death-rate    per    thousand    per    annum    was 


2000.      There   were   863  death 
pox  and  960  from  tuberculosis, 
and     1,000    respectively    in    19 
deaths  were  caused  by  cholera 
The  deaths   registered  amonj. 
foreign   community  in    1907   we 
to  the  following  causes  : — 

Small-pox     

Cholera         

Typhoid  fever 

Malta  fever  ... 

3  from   sinall- 
as  against  29 
36 ;    and    655 

;  the  resident 
re  attributable 

21 

..       18 

8 

2 

Diphtheria   ... 
Scarlet  fever 
Measles 

I 

14 

I 

Whooping  cough   ... 

0 

Influenza 
Tuberculosis 
Malaria         

3 

■•      35 

0 

Lobar  pneumonia  ... 
Hydrophobia 
Beri-beri       

4 
I 
2 

Syphilis 

Plague          

Tefcmus 

0 
0 
0 

Erysipelas 

Typhus  fever 

Dysentery    ... 

Sprue 

Acute  diarrhoea 

Chronic  diarrhtea  ... 

0 
0 
8 

5 

..       14 

0 

Abscess  of   liver     ... 

I 

Alcoholism 

Cancer          

8 
6 

Sarcoma       

Cardio-vascular  diseases 

0 
..       16 

Bronchitis    

Diseases  of  kidney 
Sunstroke     ... 

7 
5 
0 

Drowning     ... 

I 

Suicide 

3 

All  other  causes     ... 

..        62 

TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     435 


The  appended  table  gives  the  death-rate  during  twenty  years  : — 


Foreigners. 

Natives. 

Residents. 

Non. Residents. 

Death-rate  of 

Chinese 

Population. 

Year. 

Adults. 

Children. 

Total 
Deaths. 

Population. 

Death-rate 
of  Resident 

Total  Deaths. 

Population. 

1887 

64 

20 

84 

3.731 

225 

46 

1888 

52 

23 

75 

3.760 

19-9 

33 

1889 

39 

28 

67 

3.789 

177 

25 

1890 

60 

31 

91 

3.821 

23-8 

35 

189I 

61 

38 

98 

3.980 

246 

45 

1892 

52 

18 

70 

4,140 

169 

32 

1893 

45 

21 

66 

4.310 

153 

31 

1894 

47 

40 

87 

4.500 

19-3 

37 

1895 

45 

35 

80 

4,684 

17-1 

44 

1896 

59 

29 

88 

4.834 

182 

47 

1897 

42 

27 

6c; 

4,909 

14-5 

32 

1898 

61 

24 

85 

5.240 

i6-2 

17 

1899 

75 

29 

104 

S.510 

189 

28 

1900 

81 

16 

97 

6.774 

143 

60 

I901 

91 

37 

128 

7,000 

18-3 

91 

1902 

81 

57 

138 

7,600 

i8i 

125 

309 

1903 

86 

46 

132 

8,300 

15-9 

82 

21-2 

1904 

76 

40 

116 

9,000 

12-9 

78 

192 

1905 

96 

33 

129 

11,497 

II-2 

112 

14-2 

1906 

109 

37 

146 

12,000 

121 

71 

11-9 

1907 

153 

92 

245 

13.700 

17-9 

83 

200 

The  cases  of  infectious  diseases  notified 
among  the  resident  foreign  community  during 
1907  and  the  percentage  of  mortality  resulting 
from  them  are  shown  below  : — 


Disease. 

Total. 

No.  of 
Fatal  Cases. 

Percentage 

Case 

Fatality. 

Small-pox 

Cholera 

Typhoid  Fever  .. 
Diphtheria 
Scarlet  Fever    .. 
Tuberculosis      .. 
Hydrophobia     .. 
Plague 

82 

14 

57 
13 
58 
4 
I 
,  0 

21 
18 

7 

I 

14 
35 

I 
0 

256 
123 
241 

Total       .. 

229 

97 

The  total  number  of  cases  admitted  to  the 
Isolation  Hospital  during  the  year  under 
review  was  864,  made  up  as  follows  : — 


Infectious  Disease. 

As  regards  infectious  disease,  a  system  of 
voluntary  notification  has  been  arranged  by 
the  Municipal  Council  with  the  medical 
practitioners.  Isolation  is  also  voluntary, 
fine  ho.spitals  having  been  provided  for 
foreign  and  native  cases  respectively.  Chi- 
nese are  admitted  to  the  hospital  without 
fee,  as  also  are  indigent  foreigners,  of  whom 
there  are  few  in  Shanghai.  Ambulances  are 
provided  for  the  conveyance  of  patients 
suffering  from  infectious  disease  to  the 
isolation  hospitals. 

Disinfection  is  compulsory  after  infectious 
disease.  There  is  a  disinfection  station 
adjoining  the  isolation  hospital.  For  each 
disinfection  each  disinfector  dons  a  sterile 
overall.  The  general  method  of  disinfect- 
ing in  a  house  after  a  case  of  infectious 
disease  is,  firstly,  to  remove  to  the  station 
everything  that  can  be  disinfected  by 
steam  ;  then  to  wash  walls,  floors,  fittings, 
and  furniture  with  disinfecting  solution 
(cyllin).  P'ragile  and  delicate  ware,  such  as 
bonnets,  furs,  books,  and  photographs,  arc 
disinfected  by  form.ilin.  In  many  cases, 
such  as  after  typhoid  fever  or  diphtheria, 
the  disinfection  of  walls,  &c.,  is  not  always 
considered  necessary,  the  washing  with  dis- 
infectant being  then  limited  to  articles  that 
have  been  actually  in  contact  with  infected 
material.  After  disinfection,  the  occupier  is 
advised  to  paint  or  colour-wash  the  walls 
and  ceiling  before  the  room  is  again 
occupied,  and  unless  the  suggestion  is  acted 
upon  no  responsibility  is  accepted  by  the 
Health  Department. 

The  infectious  diseases  prevalent  in 
Shanghai  are  small-pox,  typhoid  fever,  and 
tuberculosis.  Diphtheria,  scarlet  fever,  cholera, 
dysentery,  Malta  fever,  relapsing  fever,  beri- 
beri, hydrophobia,  lobar  pneumonia,  typhus 
fever,  erysipelas,  tetanus,  sprue,  measles, 
and  influenza  are  also  met  with.  Acute 
rheumatism  does  not  appear  to  occur. 


The  deaths  which  have  resulted  from 
infectious  diseases  among  the  resident  popu- 
lation, both  foreign  and  native,  in  each  of 
the  past  twenty  years  are  as  under  : — 


Foreign 

ers. 

Chinese. 

Admitted. 

Died. 

Admitted. 

Died. 

Small-pox 

83 

21 

33 

ID 

Cholera 

32 

15 

165 

S6 

Scarlet  Fever  ... 

70 

12 

43 

7 

Beri-beri 

0 

0 

28 

10 

Measles 

9 

0 

0 

0 

Diphtheria 

13 

0 

16 

0 

Tuberculosis  ... 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Relapsing  Fever 

0 

0 

43 

1 

Leprosy 

0 

0 

0 

0 

Syphilis 

0 

0 

4 

0 

Chancroid 

0 

0 

55 

0 

Gonorrhoea     ... 

0 

0 

243 

0 

Other    Diseases 

17 

I 

10 

2 

Total     ... 

224 

49 

640 

87 

Small-pox. 

Cholera. 

Typhoid 
Fever. 

Diphtheria. 

Scarlet  Fever. 

Tuberculosis. 

Year. 

u 

c 

0 

a; 

i 

1     i 

e 

q 

5 

'A 

1 

3 
0 

§ 

S 

a 
3 
0 

Non-Chinese. 

Chinese. 

1 

u 
c 

S 

c 

I 

1888 

2 

5 

4 

0 

9 

... 

1889 

I 

I 

4 

0 

10 

... 

1890 

4 

79 

32 

4 

0 

... 

8 

... 

I89I 

3 

223 

23 

7 

3 

II 

1892 

5 

78 

0 

7 

2 

0 

18 

1893 

11 

184 

0 

2 

2 

2 

6 

... 

1894 

9 

125 

0 

5 

3 

0 

7 

1895 

7 

138 

20 

0 

5 

0 

4 

1896 

19 

316 

10 

8 

I 

0 

9 

... 

1897 

2 

92 

0 

6 

I 

0 

9 

1898 

2 

65 

0 

7 

I 

0 

9 

1899 

7 

183 

0 

6 

0 

0 

10 

1900 

0 

54 

0 

4 

2 

2 

14 

I90I 

1 

31 

0 

6 

3 

II 

17 

1902 

3 

434 

8        1.5 

00 

6 

8 

27          1.5 

00 

7 

2,000 

1903 

7 

241 

3           I 

62 

13 

3 

I 

2 

26 

1,976 

1904 

II 

759 

I 

0 

7 

2 

3 

0 

II 

1,827 

1905 

14 

246 

0 

0 

7 

2 

I 

0 

15 

1,414 

1906 

0 

29 

4           I 

93 

II 

I 

3 

5 

14 

1,000 

1907 

21 

863 

18          6 

55 

7 

I 

62 

14 

79 

35 

960 

436     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


As  regards  sniall-pox.  great  headway  is 
being  made  with  \'acx'iii;ition  among  the 
Chinese.  In  Shanghai  there  is  so  much  risk 
irf  infection  that  N-accination  is  recommended 
to  be  repeated  every  three  years  until  it  no 
longer  takes.  The  Chinese  are  beginning  to 
appreciate  the  t>enefits  of  \-accination  as 
opposed  to  inoculation,  which  they  practised 
with  little  benefit  for  hundreds  of  years,  and 
which  is  now  illegal  in  civilised  countries. 
The  first  principles  of  vaccination  came  from 
the  East,  and  thereon  rests  the  basis  of 
modern  preventive  medicine.  The  Chinese 
practised  in<x:ulation  of  mild  small-pox  as  a 
protection  against  severe  small-pox  long  before 
the  days  of  Jcnner,  and  it  is  therefore  probable 
that  the  Chinese  will  take  up  vaccination 
widely.  Small-pox  should  soon  be  looked 
upon  as  a  medi:eval  scourge,  surviving  only 
in  countries  imperfectly  civilised.  It  is  more 
than  likely  that  within  twenty  years  Shanghai 
will  be  a  well-\'accinated  city,  and  c;ises  of 
small-pox,  now  so  numerous  and  fatiil  (28 
foreign  deaths  and  863  Chinese  deaths  during 
1907),  will  be  as  rare  as  in  large  towns  in 
England. 

Cholera  is  probably  endemic  in  certain 
parts  of  Shanghai,  where  the  poorest  classes 
of  the  Chinese  population  live,  and  only 
requires  the  necessary  conditions  of  heat  and 
moisture  to  produce  an  outbreak  which  is 
then  scattered  broadcast  by  flies.  The  com- 
parative immunity  of  foreigners  may  be 
attributed  to  sanitary  education,  especially  to 
the  stress  which  has  been  laid  on  the  impor- 
tance of  consuming  only  food  and  drink  that 
has  been  sterilised  by  cooking  or  other  means. 
It  has  been  noted,  also,  that  the  Cantonese 
community  enjoy  a  greater  measure  of 
immunity  than  the  rest  of  the  Chinese  during 
outbreaks  of  cholera,  and  this  may  be 
attributed  to  their  more  careful  methods  of 
feeding.  The  usual  sequence  of  events  in 
Shanghai  in  a  case  of  cholera  is  as  follows  : — 
A  fly  from  its  accustomed  environment  of 
filth  settles  on  food,  and  if  the  food  is  not 
sterilised  by  heat,  or  if,  having  been  cooked, 
it  is  exposed  to  flies,  the  consumer  becomes 
liable  to  cholera.  The  dejecta  of  cholera 
cases  are  the  source  of  infection,  and  the  fly 
is  the  usual  carrier.  In  Shanghai,  cholera  is 
rarely  water-borne. 

Although  scarlet  fever  has  hitherto  failed 
to  establish  itself  in  any  part  of  Asia,  except 
Asia  Minor,  and  is  practically  unknown  in 
the  tropics,  it  appears  to  have  come  to 
Shanghai  to  stay.  It  was  probably  intro- 
duced by  immigrants  from  America. 

Tuberculosis  is  very  common  in  Shanghai. 
The  great  death-rate  from  this  cause  is 
significant  of  local  conditions  of  overtTowding, 
against  which  there  is  not  at  present  any 
legislation.  The  two  great  causes  of  con- 
sumption— indiscriminate  spitting  and  deficient 
air  space — are  markedly  present. 

Plague  has  never  obtained  a  footing  in 
Shanghai.  Every  credit  for  this  immunitv 
must  be  given  to  the  Port  Sanitary  Station 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Shanghai  Kiver  at 
VVoosung,  under  the  management  of  the 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  where  vessels 
from  infected  pfjrts  are  medically  examined. 

Municipal  Laboratory. 
Inasmuch  as  the  study  of  the  life  history 
of  pathogenic  organisms  must  precede  all 
adequate  measures  for  preventing  the  disease 
which  they  cause,  no  pains  have  been  spared 
to  develop  the  resources  of  the  Municipal 
Laboratory.  It  is  the  centre  of  work  of  the 
Health  Department.  Its  purposes  have  been 
the  investigation  of  disease  met  with  in 
Shanghai,  the  diagnosis  of  infective  disease, 
the    preparation   of    preventive   and    curative 


remedies  against  these  diseases,  and  the 
analysis  of  products  bearing  on  the  public 
health.  The  matters  which  have  been  under 
investigation  have  been  the  causes  of 
variation  in  virulence  of  small-pox  vaccine 
and  cholera  antitoxic  serum  ;  the  natural 
filtration  of  water  through  alluvium  ;  the 
suit:tbility  of  fruits  and  vegetables  as  media 
for  the  growth  of  certain  pathogenic 
organisms  ;  preventive  imxulation  against 
cattle  plague  ;  the  causiition  of  beri-beri  :  the 
incubation  [leriixi  of  rabies  in  China  ;  and 
the  prevalence  of  Maltii  fever. 

The  supply  of  glycerinated  small-pox  vaccine 
has  been  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
Far  East.  As  many  as  15.958  tubes  were 
sent  out  from  the  laboratory  during  1907 — 
the  equivalent  of  79,790  persons  protected 
against  small-pox.  The  number  of  tubes 
of  vaccine  issued  from  the  laboratory  in 
successive  years  since  1898  has  been  5.000, 
6,000,  22,500.  13,000,  12,000,  34.000,  28,500 
21,432  and  15,958  respectively.  The  vaccine 
is  sent  out  in  tubes  containing  sufficient  for 
five  vaccinations,  each  tube  bearing  a  label 
marked  ■'  Shanghai  Municipal  Laboratory." 
the  date  of  issue,  and  the  number  of  the 
calf  yielding  the  vaccine,  so  that  any  fault 
can  be  traced  to  the  source.  The  vaccine  is 
guaranteed  to  produce  successful  results  for 
one  month  after  the  date  marked  on  the  tube, 
if  kept  under  suitable  conditions.  The  vaccine 
is  glycerinated  and  kept  in  the  laboratory 
before  issue  with  the  object  of  eliminating 
extraneous  organisms.  It  is  obtained  from 
calves  proved  healthy  by  post-mortem  examina- 
tion, and  is  tested  as  regards  purity  and 
activity  before  issue.  Haffkine's  Plague 
prophylactic,  mallein,  and  tuberculin  are  also 
manufactured  in  the  laboratory. 

Two  horses  are  kept  for  the  production  of 
diphtheria  antitoxin,  and  a  good  degree  of 
immunity  has  been  established,  using  Park's 
diphtheria  bacillus  for  the  production  of  the 
toxin.  A  total  of  969,000  units  were  sent 
out  from  the  laboratory  during  1907  to  meet 
the  needs  of  Shanghai  and  the  outports. 

Since  the  opening  of  the  Shanghai  Pasteur 
Institute  in  1899,  215  persons  have  received 
treatment,  and  of  this  number  only  two  have 
died  from  hydrophobia.  During  1907  twenty 
persons  were  treated.  The  animals  were 
proved  rabid  by  inoculation  in  eight  cases  ; 
in  the  others  they  escaped  observation,  so 
that  the  suspicion  could  not  be  verified. 
Half  the  cases  were  the  result  of  dog  bites 
within  the  Settlement.  All  these  cases,  so 
far  as  is  known,  have  escaped  hydrophobia. 
The  incubation  period  of  rabies  in  rabbits 
inoculated  with  the  brain  of  dogs  sent  to 
the  laboratory  for  examination  varied  from 
eleven  to  seventeen  days,  the  average  being 
thirteen  days.  That  the  virus  of  rabies  met 
with  in  Shanghai  is  of  an  exceptionally 
intense  character  may  be  concluded  by  com- 
paring the  above  incubation  period  with  that 
met  with  in  Europe,  which  varied  from  four- 
teen to  twenty-one  days. 

Sanitation. 

The  foreign  sanitary  inspection  stiiff 
consists  of  four  inspectors  and  fourteen 
assistant  inspectors.  The  inspectors  have  the 
Royal  Sanitary  Institute's  certificates  of  full 
qualification,  while  the  assi-stant  inspectors 
have  from  time  to  time  to  pass  the  examina- 
tions of  the  Health  Department,  which  are 
the  local  equivalent  of  those  of  the  Sanitiiry 
Institute.  A  stiiff  of  over  five  hundred 
Chinese  work  under  the  inspectors. 

House  refuse  is  collected  daily  and  carried 
away  in  boats.  Any  that  cannot  be  sold  for 
agricultural  purposes  is  dumped  on  the  river 
bank  outside  the  Settlement. 


Ordure  is  not  allowed  to  be  discharged 
into  the  sewers,  nor  are  water-closets  per- 
mitted, but  there  is  a  generally  efticient  daily 
removal  by  bucket  to  boats  for  use  for 
agricultural  purposes.  There  is  a  great 
demand  for  this  material  for  certain  crops, 
such  as  indigo,  and  the  bulk  of  it  is  taken 
many  miles  away  from  the  Settlement.  As 
a  result  of  this  method  of  disposal  the  water- 
ways yield  a  far  purer  potable  water  than 
would  otherwise  be  the  case.  In  this  respect 
Chinese  hygiene  compares  to  advantage  with 
European.  In  a  bro;id  way  the  Chinese 
solved  the  question  of  economic  sanitation 
long  ago.  While  the  ultra-civilised  Western 
elaborates  destructors  for  burning  garbage 
at  great  cost,  and  turns  valuable  e.xcreniental 
sewage  into  his  waterways  to  poison  the 
sources  of  the  drinking  water  supply,  the 
Chinaman  assists  the  beneficent  forces  of 
nature  by  using  both  in  the  pursuit  of 
agriculture.  The  policy  adopted  by  the 
Municipal  Health  Department  of  Shanghai 
has  been  to  make  use  of  that  which  is 
good  in  Chinese  hygiene,  for  it  is  the 
product  of  an  evolution  extending  from  more 
than  a  thousand  years  before  the  Christian 
era,  and  has  resulted  in  the  enormous  and 
generally  healthy  and  happy  Chinese  race  of 
the  present  day. 

There  is  a  complete  system  of  drainage  in 
Shanghai,  consisting  of  underground  drains 
and  sewers  in  the  thickly  inhabited  districts, 
and  open  tidal  ditches  in  outlying  places. 
The  large  number  of  tidal  waterways  into 
which  the  sewers  empty  contributes  largely 
to  the  efficiency  of  the  sewers  on  account 
of  the  frequent  tidal  flushing,  and  compensates 
for  the  absence  of  fall  due  to  the  area  drained 
being  absolutely  flat  and  level.  The  pipes 
used  for  drains  and  sewers  are  manufactured 
locally  of  cement  concrete. 

The  laundries,  dairies,  food  shops,  &c.,  are 
licensed  and  under  sanitary  supervision.  The 
meat  supply  also  is  under  adequate  super- 
vision. All  cattle  intended  for  slaughter  have 
to  pass  through  the  municipal  cattle  sheds, 
where  they  are  inspected  before  entry  to  the 
slaughterhouse,  and  after  slaughter  the  organs 
are  examined  for  disease,  and  good  meat  is 
indelibly  stamped.  Meat  that  does  not  bear 
the  stamp  is  not  allowed  to  be  offered  for 
sale.  For  non-Chinese  consumption  over 
twenty  thousand  cattle  and  thirty  thousand 
sheep  are  slaughtered  annually. 

There  are  seven  municipal  markets,  for 
the  use  of  which  over  three  thousand 
dealers  in  food  pay  a  small  rent  charge, 
and  where  their  produce  is  under  sanitary 
supervision. 

The  cemeteries  ioi  the  burial  of  non- 
Chinese  are  also  under  the  control  of  the 
Health  Department.  There  is  a  crematorium 
in  the  largest  cemetery  modelled  upon  that 
in  Manchester.  Since  the  year  1859,  when 
records  were  first  kept,  there  have  been 
6,619  burials  and  148  cremations  of  non- 
Chinese. 

There  is  a  public  mortuary  for  the  reception 
of  dead  bodies  found  in  the  streets  and  of 
bodies  of  persons  into  the  cause  of  whose 
death  legal  inquiry  is  necessary.  The  mortuary 
is  so  divided  as  to  separate  bodies  where 
death  has  been  due  to  infectious  disease  from 
others.  For  post-mortem  examinations  a 
well-appointed  room  is  set  apart.  The 
Health  Department  also  has  charge  of  a 
public  swimining  bath. 

The  water  supply  is  derived  from  the  river 
Whangpoo  (a  tidal  estuary),  the  intake  being 
some  two  miles  below  the  centre  of  the 
town.  Here  the  water  undergoes  sedimen- 
tation and  filtration  through  sand,  after  which 
it  is  pumped  up  into  water  towers  for  supply 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      437 


by  gravity.  The  waterworks  is  in  the  hands 
of  a  private  company,  but  monthly  analyses  of 
the  water  is  made  in  the  Municipal  Laboratory. 

Hospitals. 

In  addition  to  the  municipal  hospitals  (Iso- 
lation Hospitals,  Victoria  Nursing  Home, 
Police  Hospital,  Lock  Hospital,  Mental  Wards, 
and  Sanatorium),  there  is  the  General  Hos- 
pital for  foreigners  as  well  as  several  mission 
hospitals  for  Chinese. 

The  Public  Health  Department  in  the 
French  Concession  is  under  the  supervision 
of  Dr.  Fresson.  According  to  a  census  taken 
in  i9o5>  there  were  at  that  time  662  foreigners 
living  in  the  Concession  and  169  in  the  exten- 
sion area — a  total  of  831.  Of  this  number 
274  were  French,  109  English,  73  Japanese, 
60  Russians,  51  Portuguese,  47  Germans,  30 
Eurasians,  23  Manilamen,  20  Parsees,  15 
Belgians,  14  Italians.  12  Swiss,  and  103  of 
other  nationalities.  The  Chinese  population 
numbered  84,792.  The  floating  population 
was  computed  at  4.340,  and  the  number  of 
persons  eit  passage  at  7,000,  giving  a  grand 
totil  of  96,132  persons  in  the  whole  area 
under  French  control.  It  is  believed  that 
since  that  time  the  foreign  population  has 
increased  by  at  least  50  per  cent.  Owing  to 
the  construction  of  the  tramways,  electric 
light  station,  and  other  public  and  private 
enterprises,  the  entire  population  is  now  placed 
at  110,000.  A  separate  set  of  vital  statistics  for 
the  Concession  is  not  kept.     In  lieu  of  main- 


taining a  municipal  general  hospital,  the 
Council  contribute  Tls.  1,750  a  year  to  the 
Shanghai  General  Hospital,  and  in  return  for 
this  French  subjects  in  needy  circumstances 
who  require  medical  treatment  are  admitted 
free  of  charge.  The  Council  also  contributes 
Tls.  1,000  to  the  Pasteur  Institute,  Tls.  600 
to  the  Shanghai  Municipal  Dispensary,  and 
Tls.  2,100  to  the  Chang  Pao  Cha  Lazaret. 
They  have  recently  established  L'Hopital 
Ste.  Marie,  under  Dr.  Fresson's  management, 
to  which  Chinese  and  Tonkinese  police  may 
go  for  treatment.  Hitherto  the  police  have 
been  taken  to  the  Sinza  Hospital. 


DR.  ARTHUR  STANLEY,  Health  Officer  to 
the  Shanghai  Municipal  Council,  came  to  the 
Settlement  in  1898.  Horn  at  Dalham,  Suffolk, 
in  1868,  Dr.  Stanley,  whose  father  was  in 
the  Home  Civil  Service,  was  educated  at 
Truro  School,  at  the  Yorkshire  College, 
Leeds,  and  at  the  Koyal  College  of  Science, 
South  Kensington,  gaining  a  Royal  Exhibition 
at  the  last  named  institution  in  1885.  In 
1888  he  gained  an  Entrance  Scholarship  in 
Science  to  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  and  later  a 
General  Proficiency  Scholarship  in  Medicine 
and  Surgery.  He  took  his  M.B.  degree  with 
first  class  honours  in  1894,  and  became  an 
M.K.C.S.  and  L.R.C.P.  Lond.,  in  the  same 
year.  He  qualified  in  1895  as  an  M.D.  Lond., 
in   1896  as  a  B.S.,  and  in   1897  obtained  the 


Diploma  of  Public  Health.  He  is  a  Fellow 
of  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  of  the 
Royal  Institute  of  Public  Health,  of  the 
Incorporated  Society  of  Medical  Officers  of 
Health,  and  of  the  Royal  Sanitary  Institute. 
He  held  successively  between  1890  and  1898 
the  appointments  of  assistant  demonstrator  of 
physiology  and  clinical  assistant  to  the  Skin 
Department,  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  London  ; 
resident  medical  officer  to  the  Sussex  County 
Hospital,  Brighton  ;  pathologist  and  assistant 
medical  officer  to  the  London  County  Asylum, 
Banstead ;  and  resident  medical  officer  to 
the  North-Western  F"ever  Hospital,  London. 
Dr.  Stanley  has  made  many  contributions 
to  the  contemporary  literature  of  medical 
science,  including  "Diphtheria  and  the  Heart  " 
(Metropolitan  Asyluin  Board  Report,  1897) ; 
"  Properties  of  Sodium  Bichromate  "  {Chemical 
News,  1886)  ;  "  Fermentations  induced  by 
Pneumococcus  of  Friedlander  "  (Jottrnal  of  the 
Chemical  Society,  1891);  "Shanghai  Pasteur 
Institute  "  {Journal  of  Hygiene,  1901) ;  "  Cattle 
Plague  in  Shanghai  and  its  Limitation  by 
the  Gall  Immunisation  of  Koch  "  {Ibid.,  1902) ; 
"  N.iture  of  Beri-beri "  {Ibid.}  ;  "  Beri-beri 
and  the  Heart  "  {Journal  of  Tropical  Medicine, 
1901) ;  and  "  Sudden  Heart  Failure  in  Toxaemic 
Conditions"  {British  Medical  Journal,  1903). 
Dr.  Stanley  married,  in  1903,  a  daughter 
of  Mr.  Benjamin  Johnston,  of  Listowel, 
Co.  Kerry,  Ireland,  by  whom  he  has 
three  children.  He  resides  at  the  Municipal 
Offices. 


FINANCE   AND    BANKING. 


HE  public  financial  position 
of  Shanghai  is  shown  by 
the  assets  and  liabilities  of 
the  International  and  French 
Municipal  Councils. 

The  total  assets  of  the 
International  Council  at  the 
end  of  1907  amounted  to  Tls.  6,530,7 1893, 
and  the  liabilities  to  Tls.  3,521,495-25,  leaving 
a  surplus  of  Tls.  3.009.223-68. 

The  assets  consist  of  land,  buildings,  stock 
and  stores,  and  investments  in  the  Water- 
works Company,  various  industrial  under- 
takings, municipal  and  other  debentures,  &c. 
The  principal  liabilities  are  general  loans 
amounting  to  Tls.  1,483,800,  electricity  loans  to 
Tls.  1,119,000,  and  trust  funds  to  Tls.  405,674. 
The  loans  run  for  periods  varying  from  five 
to  tw-enty  years,  and  for  their  redemption  the 
sum  of  Tls.  119,549  has  been  set  aside. 


by  increasing  the  taxation  on  the  gross  value 
of  land  from  y%  of  one  per  cent.,  at  which 
it  has  stood  since  1898,  to  -f%,  and  on  the 
annual  rental  of  houses  and  buildings  within 
the  Settlement  from  10  to  12  per  cent.  On 
the  assessed  rental  of  houses  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  Settlement  a  general  rate  of 
6  per  cent,  has  been  levied.  It  is  computed 
that  the  land-ta.\  will  yield  Tls.  683.520,  and 
the  general  municipal  rate,  Tls.  1 , 1  oi_),ooo. 
Other  sources  of  income  are  as  follow  : — 
Wharfage  dues,  Tls.  175,000  ;  licence  fees, 
Tls.  396,300;  rent  of  municipal  properties, 
Tls.  38,100 ;  contributions  from  the  gas, 
water,  telephone,  and  tramways  companies, 
Tls.  28,000. 

The  following  tables  show  at  a  glance  the 
receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  Council  in 
1907  and  the  leading  items  in  the  estimates 
for  1908  : — 


EXPENDITURE. 


-District. 

1903. 

1907. 

Central        

Northern     

Eastern        

Western       

Mow. 

2,220-642 

2,015-923 

.4,938-862 

3,950-675 

Taels. 
30,086,586 

9.714.534 

12,541,081 

8,081,572 

Mow. 
2,224503 
2,126853 
5.753-083 
5.538186 

Taels. 
77,205,106 
23,145,844 
24,306,233 
26,389,074 

Totals      

13,126-102 

60,423,773 

15,642-625 

151,047,257 

A  re- valuation  of  land  in  the  International 
Settlement  was  completed  in  the  middle  of 
1908,  and  showed  an  increase  of  150  per 
cent,  when  compared  with  the  return  for 
1903.  This  increase  was  due  both  to  the 
upward  trend  of  values  and  to  the  registra- 
tion and  taxation  of  new  lots  which  in  1903 
were  still  owned  by  Chinese.  The  figures 
are  as  above  :— 

The  ordinary  income  of  the  Council  for 
the  current  year  is  estimated  at  Tls.  2,429,920, 
and  the  expenditure  at  Tls.  2,041,869,  leaving 
a  surplus  of  Tls.  388,051.  In  view,,  however, 
of  a  deficit  of  Tls.  201,513  carried  forward 
from  1907,  and  extraordinary  expenditure 
upon  public  works  and  upon  the  police  force 
— together  amounting  to  Tls.  625,98o^it  has 
been  decided  to  raise  the  sum  of  Tls.  813,051 
by   issuing    debentures    for   Tls.  400,000,   and 


INCOME. 


Af&. 

1908. 

Taels 
(estimate). 

Land-tax      

456.330-14 

683,520 

General      Municipal 

Rate         

906,110-22 

1,109,000 

Wharfage  Dues 

179.357-53 

175,000 

Licence  Fees 

394.704-76 

396,300 

Rent    of     Municipal 

Properties 

41,298-40 

38,100 

Contributions     from 

Public  Companies 

5,630-78 

28,000 

Total 

1,983,431-83 

2,429,920 

Taels. 

1908. 

Taels 

(estimate). 

Police         (including 

Gaol)         

485/>'«-32 

713,893 

Health     Department 

108,658-93 

'37,049 

Public    Works     De- 

partment   

528,49603 

637,770 

Secretariat  ... 

i.35.2.33'8i 

140,174 

Fire  Brigade 

30,29505 

44,790 

Volunteers 

36,641-63 

46,896 

Public  Band 

40,836-21 

42,300 

Educational     Giants 

32,964-54 

28,700 

General  Charges    ... 

35.446-51 

39,369 

Interest  on  Loans,  &c. 

71,245-52 

91,379 

Redemption    of   De- 

bentures   

31,60000 

119,549 

Stock  and  Stores    ... 

73,926-82 

Total     of     Ordinary 

Pavnients 

1,611,038-37 

2,041,869 

Surplus     transferred 

to      Extraordinary 

Receipts 

372,393-46 

— 

Estimated      Surplus 

— 

388,051 

Total      ... 

1,983,431-83 

2,429,920 

In  order  to  carry  out  certain  public  works, 
including  the  construction  of  municipal 
~oflices,  an  electric  lighting  and  power  station, 
water  and  drainage  works,  &c.,  the  French 
Municipal  Council  arranged,  prior  to  1903, 
for  overdrafts  with  the  Banque  de  I'lndo 
Chine  and  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank. 
To  repay  these  advances  and  obtain  the 
necessary  funds  for  completing  their  various 
projects,  the  Council  decided  to  raise  a  loan 
in  France  of  Fr.  3,000,000  by  redeemable 
debentures.  Of  this  sum  the  Banque  de 
rindo  Chine  and  La  Banque  Privee  agreed, 
under  contract  dated  September  30,  1903,  to 
take  up  Fr.  2,000,000  at  once,  and  to  furnish 
the  balance  when  required.  The  loan,  which 
bears  interest  at  the  rate  of  4J  per  cent,  per 
aniuun,  is  repayable  in  thirty  years  from 
January  1,  1909,  the  debentures  for  repayment 
being  drawn  for  annually.  As  security  the 
whole  of  the  municipal  properties  and  wharf- 
age dues  collected  in  the  French  Concession 
have  been  pledged.  The  dues,  amounting  on 
an  average  to  'TIS.  65,000  a  year,  are  specifi- 
cally applied  to  the  payment  of   interest  and 


HONGKONG  AND  SHANGHAI  BANKING  CORPORATION,  LTD. 


The  Main  Hall. 
The  Bank. 


440     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


EXTRAORDINARY    INCOME. 


Surplus  of  Ordinary  Receipts 
Amount  raised  by  Debentures 
Delicit  carried  forward  to  1908 


1907. 
Tads, 


372.39346 
250,00000 

2oi.5i3'38 


Total 


823,90684 


Estimated  Surplus  on  Ordinary 
Budget     

Amount  to  be  raised  by  Detien- 
tures  if  necessary  

Half  cost  of  two  passenger  pon- 
toons and  jetties  north  of  Cus- 
toms pontoons,  receivable  from 
the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs 

Estimated  Deficit  to  be  carried 
forward 


1908. 

Taelt 
(estimate). 


Total 


388,05100 


400,00000 


25,00000 


14.442-38 


827,493-38 


EXTRAORDINARY    EXPENDITURE. 


1907. 
Taels. 

1908. 

Taels 
(estimate). 

Deficit  from  1906 

13,071-09 

Deficiency  from  1907        

201,513-38 

Bridges        

190.371-45 

Bridges        

39,56000 

Bundings     

21,780-20 

Bundings     

34,30000 

Landing  Stages      

38,495-07 

Drainage      

28,00000 

Land 

158.339-05 

Landing  Stages      

13,750-00 

Buildings     

177,528-14 

Land 

58,550-00 

Roads           

224,321-84 

Buildings     

228,420-00 

Parks  and  open  spaces      

43,400-00 

Ro.-tds          

180,00000 

Total 

823,90684 

Total 

827,49338 

the  formation  of  a  sinking  fund.  They  are 
collected  on  the  Council's  behalf  by  the 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs  Department  and 
paid  direct  to  the  Banque  de  I'lndo  Chine 
in  Shanghai. 

The  assets  of  the  Council  include  TIs.  125.000 
on  tixed  deposit  at  the  Banque  de  I'lndo 
Chine,  and  TIs.  i.35l,756'65,  the  value  of 
pnncipal  properties  as  shown  in  the  inventory 
of  December  31,  1907. 

The  assessable  value  of  land  in  the  Con- 
cession, according  to  a  re-valuafion  carried 
out  in  1908,  is  TIs.  21,389,052-77  gross,  and 
TIs.  20,536,561-75  net.  The  rate  of  }  per 
cent,  on  the  value  of  land  should,  therefore, 
yield  TIs.  106,945-26  next  year  for  the  whole 
area  of  1548-2462  mow  ;  while,  subtracting 
TIs.  4,26245  in  respect  of  1737522  mow- 
exempted  from  the  payment  of  rates,  the  net 
receipts  would  In:  TIs.  102,682-81.  The  rate 
of  8  per  cent,  on  the  annual  rental  of  Euro- 
pean houses  in  the  Concession  is  estimated 
to  produce  TIs.  18,000  in  1908  as  compared 
with  TIs.  16.655-71  in  1907,  and  the  rate  of 
12  per  cent,  on  Chinese  houses  is  expected 
to  yield  TIs.  124.000  as  against  TIs.  116,076-37. 
The  contributions  for  those  living  ticyond  the 
limits  of  the  Concession  are  set  down  at 
TIs.  6,000  for  1908,  an  increase  of  TIs.  872-66 
over  1907. 

At  the  end  of  1907  the  Council  w-ere  left 
with  a  surplus  of  TIs,  33,906  over  an  expendi- 


ture of  TIs.  524,291.  For  1908  the  ordinary 
revenue  is  estimated  at  TIs.  494,381,  and  the 
extraordinary  revenue  at  TIs.  188.906 — a  totjil 
of  TIs.  683,287;  while  the  ordinary  expendi- 
ture is  estimated  at  TIs.  483,268-50,  and  extra- 
ordinary expenditure  at  TIs.  199,735,  being  a 
surplus  of  TIs.  28392.  The  extraordinary 
receipts  include,  in  addition  to  wharfage  dues, 
a  proportion  of  the  receipts  of  the  tramway, 
electric  lighting,  and  waterworks  companies. 

BANKING. 

The  foreign  banks  in  Shanghai  conduct 
business  on  lines  very  similar  to  those  followed 
in  the  great  European  and  American  centres, 
so  far  as  purely  foreign  transactions  are  con- 
cerned, the  main  difference  being  that  in 
Shanghai  exchange  business  is  dealt  with 
more  extensively.  When,  however,  a  foreigner 
wishes  to  deposit  a  cheque  on  a  Chinese 
bank,  or  there  are  transactions  to  be  negotiated 
with  Chinese  banks  and  merchants,  a  method 
of  procedure  entirely  unknown  in  the  West 
is  necessitated.  Each  foreign  bank  has  its 
Chinese  compradore.  a  man  of  undoubted 
integrity,  good  social  standing,  and  consider- 
able wealth,  who  is  under  contract  and  bond 
to  accept  entire  responsibility  for  all  dealings 
between  the  foreign  hank  and  either  Chinese 
banks  or  merchants.  He  employs  a  staff  of 
accountants  and  shroffs,  and  has  his  own 
sets  of  books  entirely  distinct  from  those  kept 


bv  the  foreign  staff  of  tlie  bank.  The 
compradore  and  his  shroffs  make  it  tlicir 
business  to  know  the  tinancial  status  of  tlie 
various  native  lianks  and  ol  the  leading 
Chinese  merchants,  and  their  judgment  in 
accepting  or  rejecting  a  cheque,  or  an 
application  for  a  loan  is  seldom,  if  ever,  at 
fault. 

Very   little   can    be    ascertained    regarding 
the  foreign  banks  in  existence  in  the  earlier 
days   of  the  Settlement.     One  of   the   first   to 
be  established  was  a  brancli  of  the  Chartered 
Bank   of   India,    Australia,    and   China,    which 
was    opened    in    1857,   and   was    located   on 
the  site  now  known  as  "  Makalee  "  (from  the 
Chinese  name  of    the   bank),  in  tlie  Kiangse 
Road.    The  present  offices  on  the  Huncl  were 
purchased    in    1892   from    the   New   Oriental 
Bank.     The  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Banking 
Corporation  commenced  operations  in  Shang- 
hai in  April,  1S65,  the  year  in  whicli  their  head 
office    was   established    in     Hongkong,      The 
Deutsch-Asiatische  Bank,  wliich  was  founded 
by  several  of  the  leading  German  financiers 
for  the  purpose  of  furtlicring  Germany's  trade 
interests    in    Asia,    started    business     in     the 
Settlement   in    1889,     The    Yokohama    Specie 
Bank   established   an   agency   in   Shanghai   in 
Mav.    1893,    wliich    was    obliged    to    suspend 
operations  in  September  of  the  following  year 
owing   to  the   outbreak  of   hostilities  between 
China  and  Japan.     All  outstanding  affairs  were 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Compti)ir  Nationale 
d'Escompte     de     Paris,     until     business    was 
resumed  in   July,    1895.      The   other   existing 
banks  are  the  Mercantile  Bank  of  India,  Ltd., 
formerly  known    as   the  Chartered   Mercantile 
Bank  of  India  ;  the  Banque   de   I'lndo  Chine, 
practically    a    contiiuiation   of    the    Comptoir 
Nationale   d'Escompte   de    Paris  ;    the    Kusso- 
Chinese     Bank ;    the     International     Banking 
Corporation    (New    York)  ;  the   Nederlandsche 
Handel-M,-iatschappij ;  the  Sino-Belgian  Bank  ; 
and   the    Imperial    Bank    of    China,    a    semi- 
official   organisation    established    by   imperial 
decree   in    1897,      Of  hanks   which    have  long 
ceased    to   exist    in    the    Settlement    may    be 
mentioned  the  Bank  of  Agra  and  Masterman's 
Bank   (afterwards  the  Agra   Bank)  ;  the  Bank 
of   Hindustan  ;  the   Central   Bank  of  Western 
India ;   the   Commercial    Bank  ;  the   National 
Bank  of  India  :  and  the  New  Oriental  Bank, 
which    occupied   the    site    where   now    stands 
the  Chartered  Bank  of  India. 

All  the  foreign  banks,  except  three,  issue 
notes,  which  are  current  in  the  Settlement 
and  at  many  of  the  other  Treaty  ports. 

Intermediate  between  the  banks  and  the 
foreign  merchants  come  the  exchange  brokers, 
who  have  formed  themselves  into  an  associa- 
tion, limited  to  thirty  members.  New  members 
are  elected  by  ballot,  the  final  selection  resting 
with  the  banks.  There  is  also  in  Shanghai 
a  Stockbrokers'  Association,  with  offices  on 
the  Bund. 

Chinese  banks  may  be  divided  into  three 
classes,  viz.,  (i)  the  Kwan  Yin  Hao,  or  official 
banks  ;  (2)  the  Hwei  Piao  Hongs,  or  private 
merchants'  exchange  banks  ;  and  (3)  the 
Ts'ien  Chwang  or  Ts'ien  Pu,  usually  called 
cash  shops.  The  official  banks  receive  on 
deposit  official  revenues,  besides  carrying  on 
the  ordinary  business  of  banking,  such  as 
receiving  fixed  deposits,  advancing  loans, 
keeping  current  accounts,  and  transferring 
money  from  place  to  place.  The  largest 
bank  of  this  description  in  Shanghai  is  the 
Yuen  Tung,  known  also  as  the  Customs 
Bank,  which  receives  all  the  Customs  duties 
collected  at  the  port.  The  second  class  of 
banks  are  established  by  merchants  who  have 
business  in  many  places  in  order  to  facilitate 
the  transfer  of  their  money,  and  to  retain  for 
themselves  the  profits  which  arise  from  their 


GkXERAL  OKFlChS. 


CHARTERED    BANK    OF    INDIA,    AUSTRALIA,    AND    CHINA. 

The  IUxk  Blildixgs. 


L   L  2 


442     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


extensive  exchange  transactions.  The  stand- 
ing of  these  banks  depends  entirely  upon 
the  status  of  their  respective  committees,  and 
not  necessarily  upon  the  amount  of  their 
capital.  Strictly  speaking,  the  capital  is  purely 
nominal,    often    twing    only    Tls.  20,000,   and 


bills.  They  will  not  advance  money  on 
shares,  land,  or  houses,  but  will  accept  only 
c;irgo  and  first-class  bill  discounts  as  security. 
For  lams  they  charge  from  8  to  12  per  milie 
per  mensem,  according  to  the  state  of  the 
money  market  and  the  nature  of  the  cargo  ; 


H.  E.  R.  Hlstek, 
Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Banking  Corporation. 

S.  K.  SizcKi,  KoBERT  Miller, 

Yokohama  Specie  Bank.  Mercantile  Bank  of  India. 

E.  B.  Skottowe,  H.  KlGGE, 

diartered  Bank  of  India,  Australia,  and  China.  Dcutsch-Asiatische  Bank. 


seldom  more  than  Tls.50,000  ;  but  in  reality 
the  capital  is  limited  only  by  the  financial 
•'  strength "  of  the  committee.  These  banks 
do  not  transact  ordinary  banking  business 
beyond  receiving  fixed  deposits  ;  they  depend 
entirely  upon   making  loans  and  discounting 


while  for  fixed  deposits  they  pay  interest 
calculated  at  the  average  daily  rate  of  interest 
for  the  month.  The  third  class  of  banks 
stand  in  the  same  relationship  to  the  retailers 
and  working  classes  as  do  the  second  class 
to     the     wholesale     traders     and     well-to-do 


Chinese.  Their  capital  ranges  from  Tls.5,000 
to  Tls.  10,000,  and  they  advance  small  loans 
at  a  proportionately  higher  rate  of  interest, 
and  derive  some  profit  from  petty  exchange 
transactions.  Though  there  is  no  Govern- 
ment control  of  Chinese  banks,  a  certain  local 
control  is  exercised  by  the  bankers'  guilds, 
which  formulate  rules  by  which  their  members 
abide. 


HONGKONG   AND   SHANGHAI 

BANKING  CORPORATION. 

In  the  section  of  tliis  book  which  deals 
with  banking  in  the  Colony  of  Hongkong, 
reference  is  made  to  the  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  Banking  Corporation,  and  details 
are  given  of  its  history  and  resources.  It 
is  unnecessary  to  re-capitulate  these  in  this 
notice  of  the  Shanghai  Branch  of  the  bank, 
but  a  few  local  particulars  may  be  given. 

The  Shanghai  branch  was  opened  at  the 
same  time  as  the  head  office  in  Hongkong, 
namely  in  April,  1865.  The  bank  was 
fortunate  in  securing  the  services  of  Mr. 
David  McLean  as  its  first  manager  in 
Shanghai.  Under  his  charge  the  bank  made 
steady  progress,  and,  when  he  left  Shanghai 
in  1873  to  manage  the  London  office  of 
the  Corporation,  Sir  (then  Mr.)  Ewen 
Cameron,  K.C.M.G.,  was  appointed  to 
succeed  him.  The  business  of  the  bank 
increased  steadily  under  Sir  Ewen  Cameron's 
able  management,  and  in  1S89,  when  he, 
like  his  predecessor,  returned  to  I^ondon  to 
become  one  of  the  managers  of  the  bank 
there,  the  Corporation  had  attained  a  leading 
position  amongst  financial  institutions  in 
China.  Sir  Ewen  Cameron  is  now  a  member 
of  the  bank's  consulting  committee  in  London. 
The  present  manager  of  the  local  branch  is 
Mr.  H.  E.  R.  Hunter. 

The  premises  occupied  by  the  bank  are 
situated  in  about  the  centre  of  the  English 
Bund,  and  were  acquired  in  1873.  The 
building  then  erected  has  been  enlarged  on 
several  occasions,  and  is  still  inadequate  to 
the  large  volume  of  business  transacted  by 
the  bank. 


THE   YOKOHAMA    SPECIE    BANK, 

LTD. 

This  bank  opened  an  agency  in  Shanghai  on 
May  15,  1893.  Temporary  premises  were 
obtained  at  No.  IIA,  Nanking  Road,  and  for 
the  first  few  weeks  business  was  conducted 
by  Mr.  M.  Toshima.  The  management  was 
then  taken  over  by  Mr.  T.  S.  Nisliimaki,  and, 
early  in  1894,  the  offices  were  removed  to 
No.  21,  The  Bund.  The  outbreak  of  hostilities 
between  China  and  Japan,  in  September, 
1894,  necessitated  tlie  temporary  suspension 
of  business  at  Shanghai,  and  all  outstanding 
affairs  were  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Coinptoir 
Nationale  d'Escomptc  de  Paris.  At  the 
termination  of  the  war  the  bank  re-opened 
its  offices.  This  was  in  July,  1895.  Increas- 
ing business  rendering  more  commodious 
premises  necessary,  new  quarters,  at  No.  31, 
The  Bund,  were  taken  on  September  i, 
1900.  On  March  4,  1901,  Mr.  Sakio  Choh 
succeeded  Mr.  T.  S.  Nishimaki,  who  was 
first  transferred  to  Kobe  and  subsequently 
to  London.  Mr.  Sakio  Choh  was  transferred 
to  the  branch  at  Dalny  on  May  10,  1907,  his 
place  being  filled  by  Mr.  S.  K.  Suzuki,  formerly 
manager  of  the  Tientsin  branch.  The  bank 
commenced  its  issue  of  notes  on  December  I, 
1902. 


THE    DEUTSCH-ASIATISCHE    BANK. 


444      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


t.yeis. 


. ..  .•.;-'i»."»'^i' 


.-.■  "'^:?w-yM(S?^iv-*':wt_t-^^--rri.  '^X* 


THE    SHANGHAI    PREMISES    OF    THE    YOKOHAMA    SPECIE    BANK. 


CHARTERED   BANK  OF   INDIA, 

AUSTRALIA,   AND    CHINA. 

The  Chartered  Bank  of  India,  Australia, 
and  China,  which  has  its  head  ottices  in 
London,  and  branches  and  agencies  all  over 
the  world,  was  incorporated,  under  Royal 
Charter,  in  1853.  It  has  a  paid-up  capit:il  of 
£1.200.000.  and  a  reserve  fund  of  ^1,475,000, 
while  the  reserve  liability  of  the  share- 
holders amounts  to  ;fi. 200.000.  Every 
description  of  exchange  and  banking  business 
is  transacted,  and  drafts  are  granted  upon 
any  commercial  centre  of  reasonable  im- 
portance. 

The  Shanghai  branch  of  the  bank  was 
opened  in  1857.  the  premises  being  situated, 
in  the  first  instance,  in  Mackley  Terrace. 
near  Szechuen  Road,  immediately  behind 
the  Shanghai  Club.  The  present  offices  on 
the  Bund  were  purchased  from  the  New 
Oriental  Bank  in  1892.  The  first  manager 
in  Shanghai  was  Mr.  Kellar ;  to-day  the 
business  is  conducted  under  the  supervision 
of  Mr.  Skottowe.  who  was  born  in  the  Isle 
of  Man.  and  obtained  general  banking  ex- 
perience with  the  City  of  Glasgow  Bank  in 
Douglas.  He  came  to  the  East  in  1882,  and 
obtained  his  present  position  in  1891.  Mr. 
Skottowe  is  a  member  of  the  Imperial 
Institute,  and  of  all  the  local  clubs.  In  his 
absence.  Mr.  George  Miller  assumes  control 
of  the  bank's  interests.  The  staff  in  Shang- 
hai, which  is  the  headquarters  lor  China, 
numbers  about  forty.  Agencies  have  been 
established  in  Hankow,  Cheffio,  Xcwchwang, 
and  Tsingtau. 


DEUTSCH-ASIATISCHE  BANK. 

This  B.ink  was  established  in  P'ebruary, 
1889,  -by  some  of  the  leading!  bankers  and 
financiers  of  Germany,  such  as  the  Dis- 
conto  -  Gesellschaft  ;  the  Deutsche  Bank  ; 
Bleichroder ;  Rothschilds,  &c.  It  has  a  capital 
of  Tls.  7,500.000.  in  7.500  shares  of  Tls.  1,000 
each,  and  was  founded  primarily  for  the 
purpose  of  advancing  the  general  interests 
of  commerce  between  Germany  and  Asia, 
and  also  for  the  transaction  of  ordinary 
banking  business.  It  buys  and  sells  bills, 
stocks,  and  shares  of  all  descriptions,  keeps 
current  accounts  in  taels  and  dollars,  accepts 
fixed  deposits,  and  does  every  description  of 
exchange  business.  For  the  ytav  ending 
December  31,  1906,  the  net  profit  made  by 
the  bank  was  Tls.  839,473,  and  dividends 
amounting  to  ii  per  cent,  were  paid.  The 
headquiirters  are  at  Shanghai,  and  there  are 
branches  at  Berlin,  Hamburg,  Calcutta,  Hong- 
kong. Peking.  Hankow.  Singapore,  Tsingtau. 
Tsinanfu.  Yokohama,  and  Kobe.  The  pre- 
mises of  the  Bank  at  Shanghai,  Hankow, 
Tsingtau,  Tsinanfu,  Tientsin,  Peking,  and 
Yokohama  are  the  bank's  own  property. 
The  manager  at  Shanghai  is  Mr.  H.  Kigge, 
and  the  offices,  of  which  a  photograph  is 
reproduced,  form  an  imposing  building  in 
the  very  centre  of  the  Bund. 


IMPERIAL   BANK  OF   CHINA. 

The  Imperial  Hank  of  China,  the  head- 
quarters of  which  are  finely  situated  on  the 
Bund,  was  established  at  Shanghai,  by 
imperial    decree,    in    1897.      It     is    a    semi- 


ofticiali  organisation  conducted  on  entirely 
modern  lines.  The  capital  amounts  to 
Tls.  5,000,000,  half  of  which  is  paid  up,  and 
there  are  branches  at  Peking,  'Tientsin,  and 
Hankow,  The  bank's  business,  of  course, 
is  chiefly  with  the  Chinese.  H.  E.  Sheng 
Kung  Pao  is  the  director-general,  and  the 
directors  include  Messrs.  ShC-n  Tun-ho.  Wong 
Tsuen-shan,  and  Ku  Jen-chang.  Mr.  H.  C. 
Marshall  is  the  acting  chief  manager,  and 
Mr.  Liah  Lun  Fun  the  native  manager. 


SHANGHAI   LAND    INVESTMENT 

COMPANY,  LTD. 

The  Shanghai  Land  Investment  Company, 
Ltd.,  was  formed  in  1888,  and  incorporated 
under  the  Companies'  Ordinances  of  Hong- 
kong, with  a  capital  of  Tls.  1,000,000,  in 
20,000  shares  of  Tls.  50  each,  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  on  the  class  of 
business  ordinarily  conducted  by  land  in- 
vestment, land  mortgage,  and  building 
estate  companies.  The  assured  and  per- 
manent nature  of  investments  in  property 
situated  within  a  reasonable  distance  from 
great  centres  was  pointed  out  in  the  pro- 
spectus, and  emphasis  was  laid  upon  the 
fact  tliat  the  conditions  required  to  bring  an 
adequate  return  for  money  invested  in  this 
way  existed  in  an  exception;d  degree  in 
Shanghai^"  the  foremost  for  a  long  time 
among  the  Treaty  ports  of  the  East."  No 
dilticuity  was  experienced  in  raising  enough 
money  to  float  the  enterprise  successfully. 
Unlike  most  investment  companies,  this  one 
began  operations  with  the  advantage  of 
possessing   properties   by   means  of   which  it 


SHANGHAI    LAND    INVESTMENT    COMPANY,    LTD. 


A  Fixe  Business  Block 
at  the  corner  of  Szechuen  and  Kiukiang  Roads. 


Private  Residexces  ix  Whakgpoo  Road. 
Mercantile  Marine  Officers  .Vssociatiox  Biildixgs. 


Private  Residences  ix  Great  Westerx  Road. 


446     TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE   IMPERIAL   BANE    OF    CHINA. 


could  secure  an  immediate  and  profitable 
employment  of  its  capital.  The  first  directors 
were  Messrs.  Edward  Jenner  Hogg,  Alexander 
George  Wood  (of  Messrs.  Gibb,  Livingston 
&  Co.),  John  Graeme  Purdon  (of  Messrs. 
Maithmd  &  Co.),  and  Walter  Cyril  Ward 
(of  Messrs.  Iveson  &  Co.).  Mr.  H.  Snethlage, 
who  took  a  prominent  part  in  promoting  the 
enterprise,  was  chosen  as  general  manager, 
and  Messrs.  Gibb,  Livingston  &  Co.  were 
appointed  agents,  a  position  which  they  still 
retain. 

The  properties  owned  by  the  Company 
at  the  commencement  of  its  operations  were 
all  situated  in  Hongkew,  and  included  Wills' 
estate  and  two  other  properties,  containing 
together  some  159J  mow.  Although  some 
of  the  land  was  such  as  to  yield  an  imme- 
diate return,  the  larger  part  was  more  or 
less  waste  ground.  The  main  object  of  the 
Company  was  then,  as  it  has  been  in  subse- 
quent purchases,  to  acquire  such  land  in 
favourable  situations  at  reasonable  prices  and 
develop  it. 

The  prudence  and  good  judgment  displayed 
in  the  conduct  of  the  Company's  affairs  have 
been  productive  of  excellent  results.  A 
dividend  of  i^  per  cent,  was  paid  on  the 
first  year's  working,  and,  although  the  capital 
of  the  Company  has  been  increased  from 
time  to  time  until  it  amounts  now  to 
Tls.  3,goo,ooo,  in  78,000  shares  of  Tls.  50 
each,  a  dividend  of  12  per  cent. — to  say 
nothing  of  frequent  bonuses — has  been  regu- 
larly declared  since  1901.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  present  year  the  Company  owned  no 
fewer  than  23  estates,  which  stand  in  the 
books  at  a  value  of  about  Tls.  6,000,000. 
Space  does  not  allow  of  a  detailed  description 
of  all  these  properties,  but,  in  order  to  show 
what  an  important  part  the  Company  has 
played  in  building  up  the  Settlement,  mention 
of  a  few  of  them  may  be  permitted.  Upon 
the  Jinkee  Road  estate  the  Company  has 
erected  a  number  of  large  foreign  offices  in 
place  of  the  old,  unattractive,  buildings  that 
formerly  existed  there,  and  the  property  has 
appreciated  in  value  very  considerably.  The 
Hongkew  Creek  estate,  which  was  nothing 
but  waste  land  a  few  years  ago,  has  been 
covered  with  Chinese  houses  ;  upon  another 
large  area  of  land  in  the  western  district — 
known  as  the  Yates  Road  estate  —  private 
residences  have  been  built  ;  and  the  Chwang 
Hong  estate,  in  the  vicinity  of  Hongkew 
Park,  has  been  opened  up  in  a  similar 
manner,  with  Chinese  and  foreign  houses. 
On  the  Great  Western  Road  estate,  lumber 
houses  on  the  American  principle  are  being 
erected  as  an  experiment,  and  the  Company 
has  some  500  or  600  mow  of  land  wait- 
ing development  in  the  near  future.  This 
enterprise  has  totally  changed  the  appear- 
ance of  some  quarters  of  the  town,  and  it 
says  much  for  the  foresight  with  which  the 


SHANGHAI  LAND  INVESTMENT  COMPANY  LTD.-THE  COMPANY'S  PROPERTY  ROUND  HONOKEW  PARK. 


PLANS   OF    NEW   BUSINESS   BLOCKS    OF    THE    SHANGHAI    LAND    INVESTMENT    COMPANY,   NOW   IN    COURSE    OF   EEECTION   IN 

PEKING    AND   JINKEE    EOADS. 


448     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


directiirs  have  conducted  their  business,  that 
portions  of  land,  which  they  purchased  for 
TIs.  300  a  mow.  have  risen  in  value  during 
the  last  ten  years  to  such  a  remarkable 
extent  that  a  mow  could  not  now  l>e  pur- 
chased for  less  than  TIs.  5.000. 

Formerly  the  business  of  the  Company 
was  transacted  at  Xo.  22.  The  Bund,  but  the 
headquarters  were  removed  to  Jinkee  Road, 
some  six  years  ago.  Mr.  Peebles  has  held 
the  position  of  general  manager  for  the  past 
four  years,  and  the  foreign  staff  includes  an 
assistant  manager,  an  account;>nt,  two  clerks 
of  works  and  a  book-keej')er. 

THE   CHINA  MUTUAL 

LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY,  LTD. 

The  Company  was  founded  early  in  the 
year  1898,  and  incorporated  under  the 
Hongkong  Companies"  Ordinances.  The 
capital  stock  was  fixed  at  TIs.  500.000. 
divided  into  5.000  shares  of  TIs.  100  each, 
all  of  which  were  duly  subscribed  for. 

Although  a  certain  amount  of  stock  was 
required  to  cover  initial  expenses  and  to 
furnish  a  sufficient  guarantee  to  policy- 
holders, the  Company  offers,  as  its  name 
implies,  mutual  benefits  to  its  policy-holders. 
The  articles  of  incorporation,  or  deed  of 
settlement,  provide  that  policy-holders  may 
attend  and  vote  at  general  meetings  of  the 
Company,  and  be  eligible  for  election  as 
directors.  They  also  stipulate  that  at  least 
90  per  cent,  of  the  net  surplus  of  the 
Company  shall  be  applied  as  bonuses  to 
polic->-holders. 

The  chief  consideration  which  led  to  the 
establishment  of  the  Company  was  the  fact 
that  very  much  higher  rates  of  interest 
can  be  obtained  from  safe  investments  in 
Shanghai  and  the  Far  East  generally  than 
in  Europe,  Canada,  or  the  United  States. 
It  is  pretty  generally  known  that  only  a  com- 
paratively small  proportion  of  each  premium 
on  the  average  policy  is  absorbed  by 
expenses  and  current  death  claims,  the 
greater  part  of  the  premium  being  in  the 
nature  of  a  deposit  which  has  to  be  accumu- 
lated at  interest  to  pay  the  policies  as  they 
mature.  It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  the 
rate  of  interest  earned  by  a  company  on 
its  investments  has  a  very  important  bearing 
on  its  general  progress,  and  particularly  on 
the  amount  of  profits  to  be  divided  among 
its  policy-holders. 

The  funds  of  the  China  Mutual  are 
invested  in  very  much  the  same  class  of 
securities  as  those  of  companies  at  home, 
and  are  largely  confined  to  municipal  and 
company  det>entures  and  first  mortgages  on 
real  estate.  As  regards  the  safety  of  such 
investments,  the  tact  that  during  its  entire 
existence  the  Company  has  suffered  no  loss 
speaks  for  itself.  It  should  be  remembered, 
moreover,  that  the  Company's  investments 
are  made  almost  exclusively  in  the  Inter- 
national Settlement  of  Shanghai,  the  "  London 
of  the  East."  the  integrity  of  which  is 
guaranteed  not  by  one  nation  but  by  the 
leading  nations  of  the  world  in  combination. 

As  regards  the  rate  of  interest  earned  on 
investments,  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  other 
life  insurance  company  in  existence  is  more 
favourably  situated.  At  the  close  of  its  fiscal 
year  ending  March  31,  1908,  the  Company 
held  the  following  investments  : — First  mort- 
gages on  real  estate,  over  TIs.  1,600.000, 
earning  an  average  rate  of  interest  of  7-91 
per  cent.  ;  loans  on  the  security  of  company 
policies.  TIs.  312,000,  earning  an  average  rate 
of  interest  of  8-64  per  cent.  ;  stock  kjans, 
TIs.  83,000,  bearing  8  per  cent.  ;  municipal 
and     company     debentures,      TIs.  1,106,000, 


yielding  ail  average  rate  of  6  20  per  cent.  ; 
and  stiK'ks  owned  amounting  to  TIs,  338,000, 
on  which  annual  dividends  are  paid  at  the 
rate  of  10  per  cent. 

A  further  very  important  factor  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Company  in  Shanghai 
was  the  conviction,  based  on  ;in  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  conditions  of  life  in 
China,  that  the  average  mortality  on  care- 
fully selected  native  lives  would  be  found  to 
be  no  higher  than  among  Europeans  residing 
in  the  East.  The  experience  of  the  Com- 
pany has  shown  that  the  mortality  has  on 
the  whole  been  favourable,  and  tlie  deatli 
losses  well  within  the  rate  anticipated  when 
calculating  the  premiums  to  be  charged. 

The  Company  commenced  operations  in 
Shanghai,  and  it  was  found  that  the  Chinese 
took  very  kindly  to  the  idea  of  life  insurance. 
It  was  thought  desirable  to  accept  only  short 
term  endowment  insurances  on  native  lives, 
and  these  were  freely  applied  for  by  leading 
Chinese  ofticials  and  merchants,  not  only  as 
an  investment  but  for  the  protection  of  the 
family.  The  field  of  operations  has  been 
gradually  extended  until  agencies  have  been 
established  in  all  the  Treaty  ports  in  China, 
and  at  Hongkong,  the  Philippines.  Singa- 
pore, the  Federated  Malay  States,  the 
Netherlands  Indies,  Burma,  and,  more 
recently,   India  and  Egypt. 

One  important  result  of  the  Company's 
rapid  growth  is  the  decision  recently  taken 
by  the  directors  to  report  annually  to  the 
Board  of  Trade  in  England,  in  the  same 
manner  as  other  British  companies,  and  to 
make  the  deposit  of  ^'20,000  required  by  the 
Board  of  Trade  with  the  Accountant-General 
of  the  Court  of  Chancery  in  England.  Tliis 
step  has  been  taken  in  view  of  the  ever- 
increasing  immber  of  Europeans,  principally 
British,  who  have  insured  in  the  Company. 
Many  of  these  have  already  returned  home, 
and  for  their  convenience  in  remitting 
premiums  Messrs.  Thomas  Cook  &  Son,  the 
well-known  tourist  and  banking  agents,  have 
been  appointed  agents  of  the  Company,  and 
premiums  can  be  paid  to  them  at  their  head 
office,  Ludgate  Circus,  London,  E.G.,  or  at 
any  of  their  branch  offices  in  Great  Britain 
and  on  the  Continent. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  rapid  and  highly 
satisfactory  progress  of  the  Company  during 
the  first  decade,  which  ended  on  March  31, 
1908,  the  following  comparative  figures  are 
given,  showing  the  total  assets,  total  business 
in  force,  and  reserve  held  for  security  of 
policy-holders,  at  the  end  of  each  quinquen- 
nium, also  the  premium,  interest,  and  total 
income  for  the  years  ending  March  31,  1903, 
and  1908. 


Total 
Assets. 

Business  in 
Force. 

Reserve. 

For   first    five 
years     end- 
ing    March 
31,  1903   ... 

For    second 
five   years 
ending 
March     3 1 , 
1908 

T.iels. 
640,801 

4,446,027 

Taels. 
6,953,000 

25,194,000 

Taels. 
458.575 

3,834,463 

Premium 
Income. 

Interest 
Income. 

Total 
Income. 

For  year  end- 
ing    March 

31.   1903   ... 
For  year  end- 
ing    March 
31,  1908  ... 

Taels. 
593734 
1.731.578 

Taels. 
29,608 

242,672 

Taels. 
623..342 
1.974.250 

Owing  to  the  large  and  increasing  num- 
ber employed  on  the  head  office  staff  of  the 
Company,  and  the  urgent  necessity  for 
providing  safe  accommiidation  for  the  Com- 
pany's valuable  and  voluminous  records,  the 
directors,  in  the  latter  part  of  U)o6.  acquired 
the  site  of  the  old  German  Chib  at  the 
corner  of  Szechuen  and  Canton  Koads, 
on  which  the  future  head  offices  of  the 
Company  are  now  in  course  of  erection. 
The  illustration  which  we  reproduce  is  taken 
from  the  architect's  drawing. 

The  managing  director  of  the  Company 
is  Mr.  J.  A.  Wattie.  and  the  secretary  is 
Mr.  Arthur  J.  Hughes. 


THE  STANDARD  LIFE  ASSURANCE 

COMPANY. 

The  proud  position  of  "  doyen "  of  life 
insurance  companies  in  the  East  is  held  by 
this  Company,  whicli  was  established  in 
Edinburgh  in  1825  and  commenced  business 
in  India  in  the  early  forties.  At  that  time 
it  was  the  only  British  Company  liaving  a 
local  board  and  doing  any  considerable  busi- 
ness in  India.  In  1853  power  of  attorney 
was  granted  to  Mr.  Thomas  Moncreiff,  of 
Shanghai,  as  chief  agent  for  China,  with 
authority  to  create  a  local  board  of  directors. 
In  the  early  seventies  a  permanent  board 
was  established,  and,  in  1877,  Mr.  Edward 
Holdsworth  was  appointed  chief  agent.  In 
i88i  the  firm  of  Chapman.  King  &  Co. 
became  agents,  and  in  1883  the  late  Mr. 
W.  T.  Phipps  took  over  the  chief  agency, 
which  he  held  until  his  retirement  in  1900. 
In  that  year  the  directors  at  the  head  office 
decided  to  raise  the  agency  to  the  position 
of  a  branch  under  one  of  their  own  officials, 
and  Mr.  Edward  T.  J.  Blount  was  sent  out 
to  take  charge.  The  long  list  of  prominent 
men  who,  from  time  to  time,  have  acted  on 
the  local  directorate  includes,  among  others, 
Messrs.  Baker,  A,  Michie,  J.  P.  Tate,  K.  1. 
Fearon,  H.  E.  Hanssen,  Krauss,  F.  H.  Bell, 
C.  S.  Grant,  K.  E.  "Wainewright,  Aug.  'White, 
J.  Cooper,  J.  L.  Scott,  Ayscough,  G.  J.  Morri- 
son, and  J.  C.  Hanson.  The  present  board 
consists  of  Messrs.  B.  A.  Clarke,  D.  McNeill, 
L.  J.  Cubitt,  and  H.  K.  Kinnear. 

'U'ith  such  a  long  experience  in  the  Far 
East  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  "  Standard  " 
has  become  a  household  word  among  the 
insuring  public  in  China,  for  whom  it  caters 
with  all  the  newest  and  best  .schemes  of  life 
assurance.  It  has  agencies  in  all  the  principal 
ports  of  China,  in  the  Straits  Settlements,  and 
in  Manila. 

The  funds  of  the  Company  amoinit  to 
£12,000,000,  and  its  revenue  to  ;tfi, 500,000 
It  has  paid  away  upwards  of  £26,000,000  in 
claims. 


THE  SHANGHAI  LIFE   INSURANCE 

COMPANY,   LTD. 

The  Shanghai  Life  Insurance  Company,  Ltd., 
has  established  quite  a  record  among  organisa- 
tions of  the  kind  in  the  Far  East,  for  in  four 
years  it  has  issued  policies  to  the  value  of 
over  TIs.  5,000,000.  The  object  of  the 
promoters  was  to  cater  for  the  growing 
interest  of  tlie  Chinese  in  life  insurance.  The 
directorate  includes  the  names  of  some  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  Chinese  community, 
and  the  conduct  of  the  business  is  in  the 
hands  of  men  of  long  experience  in  this 
particular  branch  of  finance.  The  head- 
quarters of  the  Company  are  at  No.  17, 
Canton  Road,  Shanghai,  and  while  they  have 
already  over   fifty  branches  and   agencies  in 


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THE    SHANGHAI   LAND    INVESTMENT    COMPANY,    LTD. -HISTORICAL    REVIEW    IN    THE    CHINESE    LANGUAGE. 


450    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


China,  the  Straits  Settlements,  the  Netherlands      continually  extending  their  influence,  especially 
Indies,    India.    Burma,  and   Ceylon,   they  are      in     Manchuria     and     Mongolia,     which     are 


practically  new  iields  for  insurance  enterprise. 
The  published  accounts  for  the  year  ending 
March  31,  1908,  show  that  the  total  business 
exceeded  by  55  per  cent,  that  recorded  for 
the  previous  year,  whilst  the  actual  income 
of  the  Company  had  increased  by  89  per  cent. 
The  managing  director  of  the  Company  is 
Mr.  Robert  H.  Parker  ;  the  secretary  and 
actuary,  Mr.  Arthur  I.  Israel  ;  and  the 
superintendent  of  agencies,  Mr.  Charles  W. 
Frankel. 


THE  YANGTSZE    INSURANCE 

ASSOCIATION,  LTDi 

This  Association  was  established  in  1862  by 
the  American  firm  of  Russell  &  Co.,  for  the 
purpose  of  insuring  the  hulls  and  cargoes  of 
the  Shanghai  Steam  Navigation  Company's 
steamers — a  fleet  of  ships  trading  at  that 
time  on  the  coast  under  the  American  Hag, 
and  managed  and  practically  owned  by 
Messrs.  Russell  &  Co.  themselves.  The  origi- 
nal capitiil  of  the  Company  was  Tls.  400,000 
in  400  shares  of  Tls.  i.ooo  per  share.  In 
1883  the  Association  had  extended  its  under- 
writing operations  to  London  and  other  parts 
of  the  world,  and  it  was  therefore  decided  to 
re-organise  the  Company  and  register  it  in 
London  as  a  limited  liability  company,  with 
a  capital  of  Tls. 800,000.  It  was  again  re- 
organised in  1899  and  registered  under  the 
Hongkong  ordinances.  The  Association  was 
represented  by  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Russell  & 
Co.,  as  secretaries,  from  its  establishment 
until  June  3,  1891,  w-hen,  that  firm  having 
failed,  the  Association  became  an  independent 
company  under  a  board  of  directors.  It  now 
has  a  subscribed  capital  of  $1,200,000,  a  paid- 
up  capitiil  of  $720,000,  and  a  reserve  fund  of 
$r,ooo,ooo.  The  Association  has  seventy-five 
branches  and  agencies,  and  does  an  under- 
writing business  in  practically  all  parts  of  the 
world.  The  chairman  of  directors  is  Mr. 
James  M.  Young,  and  other  members  of  the 
board  include  Messrs.  H.  J.  Such,  of  Messrs. 
W.  Hewett  &  Co. ;  John  Prentice,  chairman  of 
the  Shanghai  Dock  and  Engineering  Com- 
pany, Ltd.  ;  C.  W.  Wrightson,  of  Messrs. 
Fearon,  Daniel  &  Co.  ;  and  George  Miller, 
manager  of  the  Chartered  Bank  of  India, 
Australia,  and  China.  The  head  office  is 
situated  at  No.  26,  The  Bund,  Shanghai,  and 
Mr.  W.  S.  Jackson  carries  out  the  duties  of 
general  secretary  and  underwriter.  Besides 
agencies  at  all  the  principal  ports  of  India, 
China,  Japan,  Australia,  Canada,  and  the 
United  States  of  America,  there  are  branches 
in  London,  at  Leadenhall  Buildings,  E.C., 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Richard  Blackwell  ; 
in  Yokohama,  at  No.  70,  Main  Street,  under 
Mr.  John  W.  Cain  ;  in  Kobe,  at  No.  52, 
Harima  Machi,  under  Mr.  J.  D.  Thompson  ; 
and  in  Sydney,  at  Royal  Exchange  Buildings, 
No.  56,  Pitt  Street,  under  Mr.  H.  S.  P.  Storey. 


OFFICES    OF    THE    YANQTSZE    INStmANCE    ASSOCIATION,    LTD. 


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SHIPPING,    COMMERCE,    AND    CUSTOMS. 


|HANGHAI  is  soiiiedmes  styled 
the  '■  Commercial  Metropolis 
of  China."  To  this  proud 
title  the  magnitude  of  its 
foreign  trade,  which  consti- 
tutes more  than  one-half  of 
the  total  for  the  whole  of  the 
Empire,  gives  it  an  unassailable  right.  With- 
out in  any  way  disparaging  the  enterprise  of 
its  foreign  residents,  who  have  been  respon- 
sible for  developing  its  possibilities  to  the 
fullest  extent,  it  must  be  conceded  that,  in 
the  first  instance,  Shanghai  owes  its  great 
prosperity  to  its  exceptionally  favoured  geo- 
graphical position.  Situated  on  the  Whang- 
poo,  about  12  miles  above  the  junction  of 
this  river  with  the  most  southern  arm 
of  the  Yangtsze-Kiang,  the  great  waterway 
of  China,  it  is  the  natural  centre  for  the 
exchange  of  commodities  between  the  middle 
and  northern  parts  of  the  Empire  and  the 
rest   of   the  world. 

Shanghai  is  a  regular  port  of  call  for  all  the 
largest  shipping  companies  engaged  in  the 
Eastern  trade,  including  the  Peninsular  and 
Oriental  Company,  Norddeutscher  Lloyd, 
Messageries  Maritimes,  Canadian  Pacific 
Railway    Company    (Royal    Mail    Steamship 


Line),  the  Pacitic  Mail  Steamship  Company, 
Nisshen  Risen  Kaisha,  Nippon  Yuscn  Kaisha, 
Great  Northern  Steamship  Company,  Portland 
and  Asiatic  Steamship  Company,  Eastt-rn 
and  Australian  Steamship  Company,  and 
many  others.  Along  the  banks  of  the 
Whangpoo  are  a  number  of  line  wharves 
large  enough  to  accommodate  any  steamer 
that  comes  over  the  bar  ;  these  are  flanked 
by  huge  godowns,  and  there  is  a  general 
appearance  of  activity  tliat  speaks  eloquently 
of  commercial  prosperity. 


Year. 

No.  of 

Vessels. 

Tonnage. 

1856 

1,017 

3^0,458 

1898 

6,810 

8,205.028 

1899 

7,400 

«,937,943 

1900 

7,322 

9,432,419 

1901 

8,361 

10,781,185 

1902 

8,830 

12,041,166 

1903 

9.330 

12,342,535 

1904 

9,434 

12,181,798 

1905 

63,081 

15,579,310 

1906 

61,619 

17,372,962 

1907 

52,704 

17,545.523 

The  increase  in  the  tonnage  of  the  vessels 
entered  and  cleared  at  the  port  since  1856, 
the  earliest  date  for  which  figures  are  available, 
is  sliovvn  above  : — 

The  great  difference  between  the  figures 
for  1902  3-4  and  those  for  the  la^t  three 
yeais  is  accounted  for  in  large  measure  by 
the  fact  that  towed  passenger  boats  and  cargo 
junks  were  not  taken  into  consideration 
previous  to  1905.  The  returns  for  1907 
represent  15,936  steamers  with  a  tonnage  of 
16,487.946,  10.590  sailing  vessels  with  a  ton- 
nage of  397,116.  and  26,178  junks  with  a 
tannage  of  660,461. 

Great  Britain  has  carried  the  bulk  of  the 
trade  ever  since  1856.  In  that  year  out  of 
a  total  tonnage  of  320,458  registered  at  the 
port,  182,215  tons  were  British  and  74,678 
American,  while  the  shipping  of  all  other 
nationalities  was  represented  by  63,565. 
During  the  past  ten  years  Japan,  America, 
and  Germany  have  advanced  rapidly,  the 
percentage  of  the  increase  in  tonnage  being 
remarkable  in  the  case  of  all  three  countries, 
while  in  the  case  of  Japan  the  actual  increase 
has  been  greater  than  that  of  Great  Britain, 
as  will  be  seen  from  the  appended  tabuLtr 
statement : — 


British 

Chinese  

Japanese  

German  

Swedish  and  Norwegian 

French  

American 

Russian  

Danish 

Austrian  

Dutch 


1898. 


Xo. 

3."6 

2,244 

602 

390 

J33 

117 
89 
46 
30 
16 

4 


1899. 


Tons. 

No. 

4498,278 

3.348 

1,899.550 

2,360 

575-833 

811 

516463 

375 

137,713 

107 

226,108 

106 

159.450 

112 

84.044 

117 

24.IW 

16 

44.936 

16 

6,556 

4 

Tons. 
4,792,417 
1,942,812 

903,871 
511.580 

123,640 

227,389 

218,237 

137,401 

13.322 

39,566 

5490 


1900. 


No. 
3,526 

1,777 
860 
628 

79 

107 
172 
102 

35 
20 
10 


Tons. 
5,043,723 
1,449,565 
1,076,961  - 
1,065,056 

102,378 

233)520 

259,356, 

1 10,258 

34,646 

37,640 

15,182 


1901. 


No. 
4,186 
1,359 
888 

1.074 

152 

104 

374 

107 

■  56 

33 

18 


Tons. 
5,7.20,316 

964,910 
1,285,108 
1,699,856 

172,525 
220,790 

4 '7:778 

13J.193 

71,970 

62,037 
26,728 


No, 

3,835 

2,193 

991 

960 

241- 
184 

197 

137 

54 

23 

II 


;02. 

Tons. 

No. 

5,723,663 

3,705 

1,853,717 

2,230 

1,653,293 

1,078 

',641,575 

970 

245,939 

I     13 
t  331 

232,201 

479 

328,350 

183 

234,874 

215 

70,554 

73 

36,435 

26 

13,027 

27 

1903- 


Tons. 

5,597.35« 
1,954,3 '2 

1,744,249 

1,5^)6,066 

14,500 

316,201 

266,176 

.361,757 

318,157 

85,630 

75,576 

42.553 


SHANGHAI    DOCK    AND    ENGINEERING    COMPANY,    LTD. 

The  Old  Dock. 


The  Ixterxaiioxal  Dock. 


The  New  Dock. 


M  M 


454     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


1904. 

1905. 

190<>. 

1907. 

No. 

TiMlR. 

Xo. 

Tons. 

No. 

Tons. 

No. 

Tons. 

British 

4,233 

6,524,801 

4,385 

7.139.843 

4.211 

7,016,217 

3,864 

6,848,400 

Chinese 

2,249 

2,009,049 

2,338 

2,062,992 

34.280 

2,895,535 

.12,717 

2,906,871 

Japanese 

397 

495,292 

421 

4!'9,82i 

11,956 

2,401,571 

12,703 

3,102,070 

German 

988 

1,614.027 

1,231 

1.928,084 

1,094 

1,867,626 

931 

1,708,623 

Swedish 

10 

8,404 

34 

25.032 

19 

16,124 

4 

8,720 

Norwegian 

596 

529r»»6 

954 

878,870 

693 

574.873 

325 

335,547 

French 

637 

292,357 

488 

446.932 

2,880 

840,245 

1,746 

1,247,223 

American 

171 

394.659 

235 

977,912 

215 

1,031,603 

152 

820,448 

Russian 

29 

41.765 

28 

71.973 

112 

224,644 

96 

184,853 

Danish 

48 

67,439 

54 

55,427 

94 

147,404 

62 

94,017 

Austrian 

40 

129,422 

50 

175.707 

44 

170,164 

50 

197,564 

Dutch 

34 

73.087 

40 

82,629 

43 

99,490 

43 

78,868 

SILK. 

Year. 

Silk. 

Wild. 

Waste.         Cocoons. 

1900 

-   48.3.55   • 

..    13,068   ... 

.39.157    ...      6,484 

1 90 1 

...    71..358    . 

..    14.115  -.. 

.36,668   ...      4,823 

1902 

...   63,370   . 

..    10,819  ... 

.39,515  .-     9,493 

1903 

...    .38,162    . 

..    15,945   ... 

45,692  ...  15,633 

1904 

...   54.135    ■ 

..   27,276  ... 

3.5,626  ...    6,958 

1905 

...   4.5,766   . 

..    19,201    ... 

55.570  ...    9,247 

1906 

...   50,520   . 

..    18,865  ." 

49,708  ...     8,443 

1907 

...    54.032    . 

..   16,952   ... 
COTTON 

71,4.38  ...     8.851 

1900 

.      771.825 

1901 

.       359.664 

1902 

•       843,274 

1903 

.      844,651 

1904 

.    1.284,928 

1905 

.      826,868 

1906 

•       825.333 

1907 

•      994.867 

Kou);hly  speaking,  during  llie  last  liaU- 
century  the  gross  value  of  the  trade  of  the 
port  has  increased  seven  or  eight  fold.  In 
1859  it  amounted  to  Tls.  57,305,736,  and  in 
1868  to  Tls.  112,000.000.  It  rose  steadily 
each  year  until  1881,  when  it  reached 
Hk.  Tls.  141.921.357,  but  from  that  date  it 
declined  seriously,  the  total  for  1884  being  20 
per  cent,  less  than  that  for  1881.  There  has 
since  t>een  a  rapid  recovery.  In  1906  the  total 
trade  was  equivalent  to  Hk.  Tls.  421.956,496. 
and  in  1907  to  Hk.  Tls.  392.731.600.  In  the 
following  table,  showing  the  gradual  develop- 
ment during  the  last  ten  years,  distinction 
is  made  between  gross  imports,  which  include 
all  goods  brought  to  Shanghai  for  re-shipment, 
and  net  imports,  which  consist  only  of  mer- 
chandise consigned  to  this  particular  Customs 
district  : — 


The   imports   from   foreign   countries,   exclusive   of    foreign    goods   imported    from    Chinese 
ports,  during  the  last  six  years  were  made  up  as  shown  below  : — 


1902. 

1903. 

1904. 

1905. 

1906. 

1907. 

Hk.  Tacls. 

Hk.Tatls. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  Tacls. 

Hk.  Tacls. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Cotton    goods  in- 

cluding    cotton 

yarn     

99,303,917 

92,217,079 

93,169,36^) 

143,595,630 

113,888,695 

83.827,739 

Opium     

21,245,981 

26,604,91  1 

21,289,063 

18,536,232 

16,820,597 

15.559.496 

Mebils      

5,937.7.56 

7,449,919 

9,690,872 

19,502,081 

11,801,679 

9,478,650 

Woollen  goods  ... 

3,159,085 

2,821,791 

2,977,686 

3,048,075 

3,416,203 

3,012,310 

Sundries 

51,754,523 

53,453,892 

65.521,035 

71,275,532 

74,888,790 

77,026,586 

Miscellaneous 

piece  goods    ... 

778.533 

1,205,481 

1,519,439 

1,436,760 

2,301,970 

1,846,821 

Woollen     and 

cotton  mixtures 

- 

439,886 

858,476. 

987,068 

1,925.317 

- 

2,013,477 

.898. 

1899. 

1903, 

1901. 

1902. 

1903. 

"1904. 

I905. 

1906. 

1907. 

Foreign  Goods 

Hk.  TaeK 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  TaeU. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  Taels 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  TaeU. 

Gross  imports 

127,156,897 

154,254,623 

126,808,218 

160,120,312 

183,295,031 

l85,22I,.356 

196,905,998 

2.59,575,765 

227,535,546 

194,468,147 

Net 

29.426.510 

38,823,995 

38,729.112 

41.663.387 

53..394.947 

.39,205,714 

45,288.100 

92,207,173 

74,972,150 

46,328,982 

Xativk  Produce 

Gross  imports 

76.090.915 

81,624,293 

r)6.534,8o3 

75,788,456 

85.995.730 

100,937,149 

127,970,828 

112,274,251 

115.424,0^)9 

124,525,907 

Net 

11,259,760 

14,958,250 

8,736,291 

14,216,377 

8,548,658 

14,565,081 

20,004,636 

12,667,774 

14,767,298 

16,991,711 

Origi.vai.  EXK)RTS 

47,958,025 

70,822474 

50,263.756 

62,546,012 

76,832,103 

65,042,104 

80,187,4.34 

72,104,246 

78,996,881 

73.737.546 

Allowing  for  the  fluctuations  in  exchange  these  figures  show  that  the  value  of  the  total 
import  and  export  trade  carried  in  foreign  bottoms  for  the  last  ten  years  has  been  as 
under  : — 


1898  Hk.  Tls.  251,205,837  at  Ex. 


1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 

•903 
1904 

1905 
1906 
1907 


306.701,390 
243,606.777 
298454.780 
346.122.864 
351.200,609 
405,064,260 
443.954,262 
421,956.496 
392,731,600 


151 
iii3 
1  '55 
1-52 
151 
154 
1-.S5 
ii)5 
1  54 
151 


Mex.  $379,320,814  at  Ex.  2s.    lojd. 


$469,253,127 
$377..S90..504 
^453.65 1, 266 
$522,645,525 
$.54 1, .348,938 
$627,849,603 
.$688, 1 29. 1  oV) 
$649,813,033 
$593,024,716 


3s- 
3s. 

2S. 
2S. 
2S. 

2S. 

3s- 
3s. 
3s. 


oid. 

lid. 

iiftd. 

7id- 

lojd. 

o^d. 

3Jd. 

3cl- 


i,"36,24 1,775 
;t46,l64,949 

;t37, 809,802 

1:44,224.159 

i'44.995.972 
£.46.338,9fKj 
^■58,059,2 10 
^'66,778, 120 
^'69.447,006 
1'63,«  18,885 


The  total  Customs  revenue  from  this 
trade  was  in  1898,  Tls.  6,907,194 ;  in  1899, 
Tls.  8. 1 20,845  ;  in  1900,  Tls.  7.1 17,387  ;  in  1901, 
Tls.  8,152.696 ;  in  I902,  Tls.  10,814.078  ;  in 
1903.  Tls.  9,924,891  ;  in  1904,  Tls.  10,323,434  ; 
in  1905. Tls.  12.080,186;  in  1906, Tls.  i2,823,8"iK; 
and  in  1907,  Tls.  11,007454. 

The  export  of  tea,  silk,  and  cotton  for 
the  last  eight  years,  stated  in  piculs,  has 
been  : — 


Year. 

1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
"Pi 
1905 

i9of) 

1907 


Black. 
210.912 
178,075 
185,255 
231.025 
182,810 
104,323 
175,803 
197,824 


TEA. 

lirick. 
...  210.623 
...  168,877 
...  101,643 
...  181,8.32 
."  137.532 
...  98,389 
...  269,485 
...   311.138 


Green. 

196.542 
192.277 
250.560 
294,861 
243.341 
2.59.077 
2.33,837 
279,031 


The  corresponding  figures  in  1859  were 
186,943  piculs  of  black  tea,  228.047  piculs  of 
green  tea,  59,609  piculs  of  raw  silk,  and 
64,165  piculs  of  cotton. 

These  figures  show  very  clearly  the  present 
stagnation  in  the  piece-goods  trade.  In  1905 
and  1906  the  large  houses  considerably  over- 
stocked themselves,  and.  as  a  natural  con- 
sequence, the  import  of  cotton  goods  in  that 
year  showed  an  increase  of  over  50  per  cent., 
when  compared  with  1905.  The  exports  of 
the  United  States  to  Shanghai,  consisting 
mainly  of  piece  goods,  jumped  from 
Hk.  Tls.  25,986.201  to  Hk.  Tls.  60,247,687. 
This  period  of  abnormal  activity  was  followed 
by  a  re-action  which  was  fell  acutely  in  1907. 
The  appended  tabic  shows  the  contributions 
which  the  chief  competing  countries  have 
made  to  Shanghai's  total  imports  during  the 
last  six  years.  From  this  it  will  be  seen  that 
Great  Britain  easily  outstrips  all  competitors. 

The  exports  of  Chinese  produce  from 
Shanghai  during  the  last  six  years  have  gone 
chiefly  to  the  following  countries  : — 


SHANGHAI   DOCK    AND    ENGINEERING    COMPANY,    LTD. 
The  Cosmopolitax  Dock. 


s.s.  "klxg  hsis,"  built  by  the  compaxy. 
The  Tuxg-Ka-Doo  Dock. 


456     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


igo3. 

1903 

1904. 

1905- 

1906. 

1907. 

Hk.  Tads. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Hk.  Taels. 

Great  Britain 

9,563,180 

8,929,484 

10,279,451 

9,897,088 

11,420,203 

9,880,541 

India      

2,652,130 

1,658,063 

1,925.129 

2,416,010 

I, .398,995 

2,635,07s 

Singapore  and  Straits  Settlements 

691,668 

954.772 

933.305 

845,104 

937,070 

1,010,853 

British  America            

34.^-461 

443.051 

505.217 

378,010 

710,143 

690,463 

United  States 

22,823,040 

18,519,139 

26,012,116 

23,289,786 

23,913,820 

25,835,.557 

/Germany... 

3,982,234 

4-641.435 

4,756,098 

1  Netherlands 

400,264 

465.779 

572,670 

Continent  of  Europe,  Russia  excepted 

38,929,134 

33,764.506 

40,452,136 

J  Belgium   ... 
France     ... 

2,092,649 
18,496,988 

2,604,244 
23,565.311 

3,347,568 
29,627,664 

Italy 

8,133,227 

8,264,943 

7.807,385 

^Austria     ... 

361,688 

465,830 

611,990 

Russia  in  Europe         

1,754.570 

2,391.786 

2,742,190 

2,804,601 

3,115,954 

2,794,239 

Russia  in  Manchuria 

982,864 

3.372.847 

35.747 

1.575.005 

6,895,140 

5,890,552 

Korea     

891,459 

1,056,204 

1,238,737 

1 ,899,002 

1,166,^44 

1,633,051 

Japan     

18,158,681 

18,575.361 

30,909,622 

20,702,773 

18,879,154 

23,117,524 

Hongkong         

9,263,468 

8,814,180 

10,444.532 

8,505.155 

8,584.966 

8,676,730 

Full  Total          

107,850,898 

101,250,642 

130,064,800 

107,961,631 

118,990,510 

131,963.587 

Great  Britain 

Hongkong        

India      

Singapore  and  Straits  Settlements 
British  America  


1902. 


1903. 


Hk.  Taels. 
52,890,412 
32,735,189 
32.033.444 
2.595.078 
2,831,854 


Hk.  Taels. 

45,810,824 

36,266,500 

31.574.999 
2,809,003 

624.519 


1904. 


Hk.  Taels. 
53,182,018 
30,319,151 
29,918,715 
2,912,758 
2,160,815 


Hk.  Taels. 
77,246,434 
30,820,793 
32,448,433 
2,541,828 
2,363.340 


1906. 


Hk.  Taels. 
68,268,278 
29,776,669 
29,629,407 
2,270,605 
4,443,025 


1907. 


Hk.  Taels. 

65.370,933 

26,501,562 

28,542,282 

2,929,096 

1,054,072 


United  States 


Europe,  Russia  excepted 


Japan 

Russia  in  Europe 

Sumatra 


27,862,156 


12,695,147 


15,710,812 

885,195 
498,263 


22,695,894 


13,891.707 


25,536,080 
1,908,078 
1,501,114 


25,986,201 


14.977,224 


28,012,096 
3.274.461 
1,824,460 


60.247,687  I     34,640,413 


Germany   ... 
Belgium     . . . 
France 
Austria 
Netherlands 


10,796,020 
4.851,752 
2.247,415 
1,140,050 

1.353.377 

26,461,762 

1,680,773 

2,445,749 


11,371,568 
4,189,294 
2,825,167 
2,637,468 

977,793 
27,940,088 

4,232 
2,730,691 


19,458,276 

8.429.745 
5,279,626 

1,793,953 

1.255,87s 

931,112 

23,890,610 

2,373 
3,264,097 


In  the  alx>ve  table  only  those  countries 
whose  exports  to  Shanghai  amount  to  more 
than  a  million  taeU  a  year  have  been  taken 
into  consideration. 


MR.  HERBERT  ELQAR  HOBSON,  Com- 
missioner of  Customs  at  Shanghai,  entered 
the  service  of  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs 
Department  as  long  ago  as  1862,  coming  to 
Shanghai  in  June  of  that  year.  In  the 
following  year  he  proceeded  to  Peking,  and 
whilst  there  acted  as  private  secretary  and 
interpreter  to  the  late  Inspector-General,  Mr. 
Lay.  and  Captain  Sherard  Osborn.  R.N., 
during  the  I^y-Osborn  fleet  negotiations. 
In  March,  1864,  he  was  appointed  Staff 
Interpreter  to  General  Gordon,  and  served 
with  him  up  to  the  recapture  of  Nanking 
and  the  collapse  of  the  Taeping  rebellion. 
For  services  then  rendered  Mr.  Hobson  was 
awarded  the  First  Order  of  the  Precious 
Star  of  China.  Rejoining  the  Customs  staff, 
he  served  successively  at  Ningpo,  Swatow, 
Hankow,  Chefoo,  and  Tamsui.     In  January, 


1877,  he  opened  the  Customs  House  at  the 
new  Treaty  port  of  Wenchovv.  From  thence 
he  proceeded  to  Takow,  Amoy,  Tamsui,  and 
Tientsin,  taking  charge  of  those  districts 
successively,  and  at  the  end  of  1882  he 
was  appointed  to  Shanghai.  From  Shanghai 
he  went  home  on  leave,  and,  on  his  return  to 
China,  he  was  stationed  at  Ichang,  and  opened 
the  Customs  House  at  Chungking.  He  then 
served  successively  at  Kowloon,  Wuhu,  and 
Yatung  (on  the  Thibet  frontier).     In  March, 

1900,  he  established  the  Customs  House  at 
Tengyueli,  In  Yunnan,  and  on  his  return 
from  that  expedition  was  posted  to  Shanghai, 
where    he    has   been    in   charge    since  April, 

1901.  In  recognition  of  his  services  he  has 
been  granted  Chinese  civil  rank  of  the 
second  class,  and  the  Order  of  the  Double 
Dragon  of  the  Third  Division,  First  Class. 
Mr.  Hobson,  who  was  born  at  Ashbourne, 
in  Derbyshire,  and  was  educated  at  King 
William's  College,  Isle  of  Man,  Is  a  son  of 
the  late  Mr.  Robert  Hobson,  formerly  pro- 
prietor and  editor  of  the  Shropshire  News, 
and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Shropshire. 


THE   SHANGHAI    DOCK   AND    ENOINEERINQ 
COMPANY,  LTD. 

In  the  scope  of  their  operations,  and  the 
enterprise  which  characterises  their  manage- 
ment, the  Shanghai  Dock  and  Engineering 
Company,  Ltd.,  are  in  every  way  worthy  of 
the  chief  port  of  China.  In  their  various 
yards  and  docks  they  can  build  ships  of 
large  tonnage,  and  carry  out  repairs  of  any 
kind  that  may  be  required,  while,  In  their 
engineering  works,  they  possess  every  modern 
facility  for  executing  orders  with  efficiency 
and  despatch.  Each  department  is  under  the 
superintendence  of  Europeans. 

The  Company  Is  a  combination  of  the  old- 
established  firms  of  Boyd  &  Co.,  founded  In 
1862,  and  S.  C.  Farnham  &  Co.,  founded 
In  1865.  who  had  already  absorbed  a  new 
company  known  as  the  Shanghai  Engineering, 
Shipbuilding,  and  Dock  Company,  I,td.  The 
amalgamation  took  place  In  1900,  under  the 
style  of  S.  C.  P'arnliam,  Boyd  &  Co.,  Ltd., 
with  a  capital  of  Tls.  5,570,000,  equal,  roughly, 


SHANGHAI    DOCK    AND    ENQINEERINa    COMPANY,    LTD. 


Kn-rixG  Shop  at  Pootuxg. 

Foundry  at  Pootung. 


Machine  Shop  at  Pooiiixg. 

Boiler  Shop  at  the  Cosmopolitan  Dock. 


458     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


at  the  (hen  r.itc  of  exchange,  to  about 
;t75aooo.  The  present  name  of  the  Company 
was  adopted  in  May,  \(}Oti.  The  various 
extensive  properties  owned  by  the  Company 
ct)mprise  the  Pootung  Engine  Works,  the 
New  Dock,  the  Old  Dock,  the  Cosmopolitan 
Dock,  the  International  Dock,  and  the 
Tung-Ka-Doo  Dock. 


capable  of  cutting  36-inch  logs  Into  i-inch 
deals  at  one  cut  ;  hand  and  circular  saws, 
wood  planing  and  moulding  machines,  {4c. 
The  carpenters'  shop  is  134  feet  by  40  feet, 
with  a  moulding  loft  overhead  large  enough 
for  drawing  down  vessels  of  any  size.  The 
machine  shop,  200  feet  by  55  feet,  and 
38    feet   high,    is    lighted    by   electricity,  and 


J.  II,  OsBDKNK,  S.crclary. 
J.  GRA.VT-MACKENZIK,  General  Manager.  \V.  S.  HiRXS,  Assist.inl  Manager. 

J.  Pkkxtick,  Managing  Director. 


On  account  of  their  relative  importance 
Uie  Pootung  Engine  Works  may  be  de- 
scribed first.  They  cover  an  area  of  16 
acTes.  The  buildings  arc  very  substantial, 
being  constructed,  for  the  most  part,  of 
brick  and  masonry.  In  the  yard  is  the 
largest  hydraulic  double  piston  riveter  in 
China.  The  pattern  shop  is  complete  with 
wood-working  machinery.  The  saw-mills 
have    two    self-acting    steam    upright    saws, 


contains  a  lo-ton  overhead  travelling  tranc 
running  the  length  of  the  building.  It  is 
fitted  with  all  modern  machinery  and  is 
capable  of  turning  out  work  In  the  most 
expeditious  manner.  Adjoining  Is  an  erect- 
ing and  titling  shop.  200  feet  by  55  feet, 
and  38  feet  high,  with  a  20-ton  overhead 
travelling  crane.  The  foundry,  which 
measures  163  feet  by  62  feet,  and  is  31 
feet    high,  contains    two  drying   stoves — one 


33  feet  long,  21  feet  wide,  and  18  feet 
high,  and  the  other  25  feet  long,  8  feet 
wide,  and  18  feet  high  ;  live  cupolas  con- 
nected to  a  Baker's  patent  blower  and 
engine ;  one  brass  air  furnace  for  large 
castings  ;  three  brass  crucible  furnaces  ;  one 
20-ton  steam  crane  with  a  radius  of  25 
feet ;  and  six  hand  cranes  of  various 
capacities.  In  the  blacksmiths'  shop  (173 
feet  by  62  feet,  and  31  feet  high)  are  fifty 
fixed  hearths,  two  4-lun  cranes,  and  three 
steam-hammers.  The  smiths'  forge,  97  feet 
by  63  feet,  and  25  feet  high,  is  equipped 
with  a  reverberatory  furnace,  two  8-ton 
cranes  of  20  feet  radius,  one  ij-ton  steam- 
hammer,  and  twelve  fixed  hearths  for  large 
forgings.  The  boiler  shop  and  shipyards, 
which  are  partly  under  cover,  have  five 
plate  rolling  machines  capable  of  taking 
plates  20  feet  long,  a  double  power 
hydraulic  riveting  and  plate  closing  ma- 
chine, with  sleam  accumulator  and  pump, 
of  a  maximum  pressure  of  150  tons, 
to  rivet  ij-inch  diameter  rivets;  one 
hydraulic  riveting  machine  for  the  same 
purpose  ;  five  portable  riveting  machine 
beams  and  lifts  ;  plate  and  angle  furnaces ; 
drilling,  countersinking,  punching,  shearing, 
and  plate-edge  planing  machines,  &c., 
and  pneumatic  tools  of  the  most  up-to-date 
kind  for  bollermaking  and  shipbuilding. 
The  coppersmiths'  shop,  52  feet  by 
47  feet,  and  17  feet  high,  is  replete 
with  everything  necessary  for  carrying  out 
work  appertaining  to  it.  A  very  large 
assortment  of  materials  for  building  and 
repairing  ships,  engines,  and  boilers  is 
stocked  in  four  spacious  godowns.  A  pair 
of  sheer  legs  stand  at  the  head  of  the 
wharf,  whence  a  railway  line  runs  to  the 
various,  shops.  The  shipbuilding  yards 
face  the  river,  and  there  are  berths  for 
building  steamers  of  all  sizes.  Wharves 
and  pontoons,  at  which  steamers  can  moor 
during  repairs,  are  arranged  alongside  the 
property,  the  water  frontage  being  about 
700  feet. 

The  New  Dock  is  situated  at  Pootung,  just 
within  the  harbour  limits  (lower  section|,  and 
is  of  the  following  dimensions  : — Length  on 
coping,  473  feet  ;  length  on  blocks,  450  feet  ; 
width  on  bottom,  50  feet ;  width  at  top, 
134  feet  ;  width  at  entrance  pier  heads, 
75  feet  6  inches ;  width  at  entrance  at 
ordinary  high-water  level,  74  feet  ;  depth  of 
high  water  at  ordinary  spring  tides  on  sill, 
21  feet  6  Inches  ;  height  of  sill  above  bottom 
of  dock,  2  feet, 

Hy  means  of  four  centrifugal  pumping 
engines  the  dock  can  be  pumped  out  in 
about  three  hours.  The  area  of  the  property 
is  7562  mow,  or  I2'6  acres,  and  the  water 
frontage,  1,084  feet.  On  each  side  of  the 
dock  there  Is  a  wharf  with  iron  sheer  legs 
capable  of  lifting  65  tons.  A  smithy, 
machines  for  working  ships'  plates,  a  paint 
store,  and  ample  godowii  accommodation  are 
also  to  be  found  on  the  property. 

The  Old  Dock  is  situated  In  Hongkew, 
opposite  the  Pootung  works.  Its  dimensions 
arc  : — Length  on  cf)plng,  400  feet  ;  length 
on  blocks,  399  feet  ;  breadth  at  entrance  at 
liigh-water  ordinary  spring  tides,  53  feet  ; 
depth  of  high  water  at  ordinary  spring  tides 
on  sill,  16  feet  ;  height  of  sill  above  tiottom 
of  dock,  I  foot. 

This  dock  is  fitted  with  three  centrifugal 
pumps,  driven  by  compound  engines,  and 
can  be  emptied  in  about  two  hours.  A  pair 
of  sheer  legs  capable  of  lifting  40  tons 
are  In  position  on  tlic  wharf. 

The  Cosmopolitan  Dock,  below  the  har- 
bour limits  at  Pootung,  is  of  the  following 
dimensions  : — Length    on    coping,    560    feet  ; 


460    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


length  on  blocks,  532  feet ;  width  at  entrance 
at  coping,  79  feet  6  inches  ;  width  at 
entrance  at  high-water  ordinary  spring 
tides,  77  feet  6  inches  ;  depth  of  water  at 
ordinary  spring  tides  on  sill,  24  feet ;  height 
of  sill  above  bottom  of  dock,  2  feet  6  inches. 
The  dock  is  conveniently  situated  l>elow 
the  shipping,  and  has  an  easy  entrance  lying 
at  attout  an  angle  of  44  degrees  to  the  river. 
It  is  capable  of  accommodating  any  vessel 
which  can  come  over  the  bar,  and  particular 
attention  has  t>een  given  to  every  detail  for 
docking  and  repairing  ships.  The  pump- 
house  is  fitted  with  three  boilers — two  of  the 
Lancashire  t>-pe  and  one  of  the  water-tube 
type^having  a  working  pressure  of  135  lbs. 
to  the  square  inch.  They  supply  steam  to 
five  centrifugal  pumps,  driven  with  com- 
pound engines,  which  are  capable  of  pump- 
ing out  the  dock  in  three  hours.  There  are 
on  the  property,  also,  a  large  shipyard, 
carpenters'  shop,  saw-mill,  paint  store,  &c. 
The  t>oiler  shop  is  300  feet  long.  A  travelling 
crane,  capable  of  lifting  60  tons,  traverses 
the   whole   length   of  the   building,  which   is 


by  compound  engines  capable  of  emptying 
the  dock  in  about  two  hours.  A  wharf  is 
situated  on  each  side  of  the  entrance  to  the 
dock,  and  there  is  a  large  yard  for  building 
ships  and  undertaking  repairs  which  is  titled 
with  sheer  legs  for  lifting  heavy  weights. 
The  workshops  include  a  machine  shop, 
boiler  shop,  moulding  shop,  pattern  shop, 
coppersmiths'  shop,  blacksmitlis'  shop,  car- 
penters' shop,  paint  store,  &c,  A  railway 
line  passes  through  them  to  the  wharf 
and  shipyards.  The  machine  shop,  which 
measures  260  feet  in  length,  has  machinery 
of  the  most  up-to-date  description,  capable 
of  meeting  any  demands  that  can  be  made 
upon  i(.  The  boiler  shop  has  a  drilling 
machine  to  lake  a  boiler  with  a  diameter  of 
15  feet,  and  a  plate-edge  planing  m.ichine 
with  a  range  of  24  feet.  There  is  a  complete 
set  of  hydraulic  riveters  up  to  i|  inches 
in  diameter.  The  blacksmiths'  shop  has  a 
4-ton  steam  hammer,  in  close  proximity  to 
blowers  and  furnaces,  for  the  forging  of 
shafts  16  inches  in  di,ameter.  For  lighting 
the    dock  and  works   there   are    57    arc  and 


THE    CUSTOMS   HOUSE. 


equipped  with  a  complete  plant  of  the  most 
modern  type  for  executing  general  repairs 
and  manufacturing  boilers  ;  with  plate  and 
angle  furnaces,  a  t^evelling  machine,  and  all 
the  latest  appliances  for  extensive  shipbuild- 
ing. Electric  light  has  been  installed  for 
night  work,  and  can  be  connected  with 
steamers  under  repair. 

The  International  Dock  adjoins  the  Cosmo- 
politan Dock.  Its  size  is  as  follows  : — Length 
on  coping.  540  feet  ;  length  on  Ihe  blocks 
to  the  outer  chase,  528  feet ;  length  on  the 
blocks  to  the  caisson  when  in  inner  chase, 
460  feet ;  width  of  the  entrance  at  the  bottom, 
64  feet ;  width  of  entrance  on  top,  79  feet 
6  inches  ;  width  of  entrance  at  ordinary  high- 
water  level,  77  feet  6  inches  ;  width  in  the 
dock  at  tx)tt(>m.  54  feet ;  width  of  the  dock 
at  the  top,  128  feet ;  depth  of  high  water 
at  ordinary  spring  tides  on  the  sill,  23  feet 
6  inches  ;  height  of  sill  above  bottom  of 
dock,  I  foot  6  inches. 

This  dock  is  cai>able  of  accommodating 
any  vessel  which  can  come  to  Shanghai,  and 
is  fitted   with  four  centrifugal  pumps  driven 


220  incandescent  lamps,  and  steamers  under 
repair  can  be  supplied  with  the  light. 

The  water  frontages  of  the  Cosmopolitan 
and  International  Docks  adjoin  and  measure 
together  about  4,465  feet,  with  deep  water 
for  the  whole  length.  The  combined  area 
of  the  property  at  these  two  docks  is  over 
340  mow,  or  58  acres.  Large  buildings  at 
both  places  afford  ample  room  for  housing 
crews,  storing  material,  &c.,  and  dwelling 
houses  on  the  south  side  give  plenty  of 
accommodation  for  foremen  and  workmen. 

The  Tuiig-Ka-Doo  Dock  at  Footung,  above 
the  harbour  limits,  is  of  the  following  dimen- 
sions :— Length  on  coping,  362  feet  ;  length 
on  blocks,  350  feet ;  breadth  at  entrance 
at  coping,  69  feet ;  breadth  at  high-water 
ordinary  spring  tides,  67  feet ;  depth  of  high 
svater  at  ordinary  spring  tides  on  sill,  16 
feet  ;  height  of  sill  above  bottom  of  dock, 
1  foot. 

The  dock  can  be  pumped  dry  in  about 
three  hours.  The  area  of  the  property  is 
357  mow,  and  the  water  frontage  about 
700  feet.     On   the    south    side    of    the    dock 


there  is  a  carpenters'  shed  and  slipway 
for  repairs  to  small  craft,  and  also  a 
blacksmiths'  shop.  Sheer  legs  are  provided 
capable  of  lifting  60  tons. 

The  head  office  of  the  Company,  to  which 
is  attached  a  machinery  show-room,  is  at 
No.  26,  Broadway,  Hongkew,  on  the  Old 
Dock  premises,  close  to  the  principal  business 
houses.  It  is  in  direct  telephonic  communica- 
tion with  all  the  docks,  between  which 
launches  ply  continually,  and  a  steam  ferry 
runs  at  regular  intervals. 


THE  SHANGHAI  AND  HONGKEW 
WHARF  COMPANY. 

Some  forty  or  fifty  years  ago  the  wharves  in 
Shanghai  were  few  and  small,  being  suitable 
only  for  coasting  steamers  and  light  draught 
vessels.  Where  the  present  Japanese  Consulate 
stands  there  was  an  old  wooden  wharf  by 
the  name  of  "  Howard's,"  to  the  east  of  that 
was  Heard's  Wharf,  and  a  small  wharf 
belonging  to  the  Shanghai  Steam  Navigation 
Company  that  is  now  the  central  wharf  of 
the  China  Merchants.  Then  followed  the 
"Old  Dock,"  Hunt's  Wharf,  Troutman's, 
Oliphant's,  the  Hongkew  Wharf  Company's 
property,  the  present  lower  wharf  of  the 
China  Merchants,  the  old  "Dry  Dock," 
the  old  Ningpo  Wharf,  and  Gibb's  Wharf, 
On  the  P'rench  Concession,  beyond  the 
Yang-king-pang,  were  the  wharves  of  the 
Union  Steamship  Company  and  of  Butterfield 
&  Swire.  On  the  Pootung  side  were 
the  old  wooden  '"  T "  headed  Lindsay 
Wharf  and  the  old  British  Naval  Yard. 
These  are  now  the  Shanghai  and  Hongkew 
Company's  Pootung  wharves.  Of  dry  docks 
there  were  Collyer's  (now  the  Cosmo- 
politan), available  only  for  river  steamers, 
the  Old  Dock,  and  Boyd's.  Opposite  the 
present  "  Ewo "  hong  on  the  Bund,  on  the 
Pootung  side,  were  Jardine,  Matheson  & 
Co.'s  wharves  and  wooden  godowns,  at 
which,  until  1870,  ocean-going  steamers  and 
Tientsin  liners  used  to  lie,  but,  on  account 
of  the  silting  of  the  river,  this  site  is  now 
some  500  feet  inland.  These  wharves  and 
the  Tung-Ka-Doo  Wharf  were  at  this  time 
the  only  real  wharves  in  existence,  for  the 
frontage  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  has 
only  been  built  up  within  the  last  fifteen 
years. 

In  1865,  Holts,  of  Liverpool,  commenced 
running  a  line  of  steamers  round  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  and  it  was  then  that  the  Hongkew 
wharves  really  came  into  prominence  as  a 
place  of  discharge  for  ocean-going  vessels. 
Previous  to  the  opening  of  the  Suez  Canal,  in 
1869,  they  were  practically  the  only  public 
wharves  on  the  river.  In  1872  the  Company 
having  charge  of  them  was  re-organised, 
Oliphant's  Wharf  was  purchased,  and  the 
Company  became  known  as  the  Shanghai 
and  Hongkew  Wharf  Company.  A  wharf 
running  parallel  to  Ihe  river  was  constructed 
of  wood  ;  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co. 
acquired  the  properties  of  Troutman  and 
Hunt,  and  in  1875  an  amalgamation  took 
place  between  the  Shanghai  and  Hongkew 
Wharf  Company  and  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co., 
under  a  ten  years'  agreement.  The  name  of 
the  Company  was  changed  to  the  Shanghai  and 
Hongkew  and  Jardine's  Associated  Wharves, 
and  of  this  enterprise  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co. 
became  the  general  agents. 

With  the  growth  of  the  port  the  business 
of  this  organisation  gradually  developed.  In 
1884  the  old  Ningpo  Wharf  was  purchased, 
and  in  the  following  year  the  agreement  was 
extended  for  another  ten  years.  In  1891  the 
British    Naval    Yard    was    acquired,   on    the 


JABDINE,    MATHESON    &    CO. 

SHANGHAI   AND    HONGKEW    WHARF    COMPANY,    LTD. 

The  old  Ningpo  Wharf. 
A  Busy  .Scene  at  the  Hoxgkew  Wharf. 


46i     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


joint  account  and  Jardine,  Mathcson  also 
bought  Shaw's  gixlowns,  which  were  then 
the  Kerosene  Oil  Whart,  and  tlic  properties 
of  the  Pootung  Wharf  and  Godown  Conip;iny, 
including  the  land  on  which  the  Tung-Ka-Doo 
Wharf  is  now  situated. 

In  i8q5  a  new  and  final  arrangement  was 
made,  under  which  Jardine,  Matheson  disposed 
of  the  whole  of  their  interests,  including 
Heard's  Wharf,  piirtly  for  debentures  and 
partly  for  shares,  to  the  Shanghai  and 
Hongkew  Wharf  Company.  Ltd.  The  earnings 
of  this  Company  have  grown  in  proportion 
to  the  increase  in  the  number  of  ships  entered 
and  cleared  at  the  port.  In  1887  they 
amounted  to  Tls.  80.000,  while  in  1906  they 
reached  Tls.  784,000.     The  ciipital  was  raised 


of  Mr.  Duncan  Glass,  the  superintendent, 
some  twenty  foreigners,  numerous  clerks,  and 
about  six  thousiuut  coolies,  so  that  despatch 
in  the  handling  of  cargo  is  assured. 


THE    CHINA    MERCHANTS    STEAM 

NAVIGATION  COMPANY,  LTD. 

Thk  China  Merchants  Steam  Navigation 
Company  is  probably  the  largest  enterprise 
of  its  kind  owned  and  controlled  exclusively 
by  Chinese.  Although  of  comparatively  recent 
origin  its  importance  and  influence  are  very 
considerable.  On  several  occasions,  especially 
in     cases    of    national     disturbance,     it     has 


the  best  business  principles.  In  conjunction, 
therefore,  with  Mr.  Chu  Yu  Cliee,  another 
progressive  man,  who  can  claim  to  have  been 
the  pioneer,  also,  of  tlic  Chinese  Kngineering 
and  Mining  Companies,  he  raised  a  capital 
of  Tls.  1, 000,000  and  formed  the  Company. 
L'nder  the  able  management  of  Mr.  Tong 
Kin  Sing,  director-general,  and  Mr.  Chu  Yu 
Chee,  his  colleague,  rapid  progress  was  made. 
The  Company's  first  steamer,  the  Aden,  was 
purchased  from  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental 
Company  and  placed  on  the  Shanghai  and 
Tientsin  Line.  The  Government  granted  the 
Company  the  use  of  the  transport  Kong  Chi 
for  three  years,  and  two  years  later  the 
steamers  Fu  Sing.  Lee  Yncn,  and  Yung  Citing, 
were  added  to  the  fleet.     Mr.  Tong  Kin  Sing 


JARDINE,  MATHESON  &  CO. 
SHANGHAI  AND  HONGKEW  WHARF  COMPANY,  LTD. 

PLAX  "H    HoXGKKW,   SHOWIXO    KlVEK    FRONT   IX    l8f^. 

Plax  or  Wharves  axd  Godowxs  at  Hoxgkew  at  the  Pkksext  Dav. 


from  the  original  Tls.  200,000  to  Tls.  3,600.000, 
and  in  1906  there  was  a  new  debenture  issue 
of  Tls.  800,000.  In  this  year  the  actuaries 
estimated  the  value  of  the  properly  at  con- 
siderably over  Tls.  5.000,000.  which  sum. 
however,  in  reality  scarcely  represents  one- 
third  of  its  present  market  value. 

The  wharves  now  owned  by  the  Company 
are  Heard's,  Hunt's  and  Hongkew,  "  Old 
Ningpo,"  Pootung  East,  Pixjtung  West,  and 
the  Tung-Ka-D<K)  Wharf,  which  together  have 
a  frontage  of  9,278  feet,  and  cover  an  area  of 
1 11^  acres  of  land.  The  godowns  of  the 
Company,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  photo- 
graphs which  we  reprfKluce,  arc  solidly  built 
structures  of  three  or  four  storeys,  and  the 
area  of  their  floor  space  is  no  less  than 
1,978,913    superficial    feet.   The   staff  consists 


placed  its  resources  loyally  at  the  disposal 
of  the  nation  and  been  of  the  greatest  service 
to  the  Government.  During  the  Kusso- 
Japanese  War,  for  instance,  a  great  many 
Chinese  workpeople  owed  their  escape  from 
Manchuria  solely  to  the  Company,  upon 
whose  ships  they  were  granted  free  passages 
to  their  homes. 

To  Mr.  Ton.g  Kin  Sing  and  Mr.  Chu  Yu 
Chee  belongs  the  chief  credit  for  the  founda- 
tion and  remarkably  successful  development 
of  the  undertaking.  It  was  some  thirty-five 
years  ago  that  Mr.  Pong  Kin  Sing,  compradore 
to  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  and  one 
of  the  best  known  business  men  in  China, 
saw  what  a  splendid  opening  there  was  for 
a  fleet  of  steamers  that  should  be  owned  by 
Chinese,   and    operated    in    accordance    willi 


had  the  conlrolliiig  interest  in  the  steamers 
Tung  Ting  and  Yting  Ning,  and  placed  them 
on  the  Shanghai-Hankow  Line  till  the  fine 
steamers,  Kinngkwan  and  Kiangynng,  were 
built.  In  1875  the  Finigslinn  and  Pau-Tnlt 
were  constructed,  and  Ihey  were  for 
many  years  the  best  ships  in  the  Northern 
trade,  as  well  as  being  the  first  possessing 
good  accommodation  for  Chinese  passengers. 
Other  steamers  were  added  to  the  fleet  in 
rapid  succession,  and  on  March  i,  1877.  the 
Company  purchased  the  entire  fleet  of  17 
vessels  and  the  other  property  of  the  Shanghai 
Steam  Navigation  Company,  of  which  Messrs. 
Kussell  &  Co.  were  the  managers  and  agents. 
This  transaction  was  effected  with  the  sanction 
of  the  Imperial  Government,  and  the  enter- 
prise, as  a  whole,  was  promoted  and  carried 


JARDINE,    MATHESON    &    CO. 

SHANGHAI   AND    HONGKEW   WHARF    COMPANY,    LTD. 

VARinrs  Tvi'Ks  ok  (iooouxs  at  thk  Whaimios. 

The  Whahk  Ofiicks. 


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466    TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  OEPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


on  under  the  patronage  of  His  Excellency 
Li  Hung  Chang.  Vicx-roy  of  Chihli,  the  Super- 
intendent of  Northern  Trade,  &c.  Of  the 
steamers  taken  over  from  the  Shanghai  Steam 
Navigation  Company,  some  were  condemned 
and  broken  up,  and  the  others  were  renovated 
and  brought  up  to  d;ite.  Additional  steamers 
were  built  from  time  to  time  until  the  Com- 
pany had  ships  running  to  all  the  open  ports 
of  China.  They  also  operated  steamers  from 
Swatow  and  Hongkong  to  Singapore  and 
Penang.  and  from  Canton  to  Honolulu  and 
San  Francisco,  besides  sending  a  steamer  on 
a  trial  voyage  to  London.  The  success  of  the 
undertaking  was  assured  from  the  commence- 
ment, Chinese  business  men  naturally  being 
always  inclined  to  give  this  company 
preference  o\-er  others. 

The  Heet  at  present  consists  of  3 1  steamers, 
with  an  aggregate  of  59,.^32  tons  and 
39,700  horse-power.  The  Company  have  also 
a  fleet  of  tugs  and  lighters  at  Tientsin  and 
Kiukiang.  At  a  rough  estimate  their  properties 
are  worth,  altogether,  fully  Tls.  25.000.000 — 
TIs.  13.000.000  being  counted  as  the  value  of 
their  land,  and  Tls.  12,000,000  as  the  value 
of  the  steamers.  The  headquarters  of  the 
Company  have  always  been  in  Shanghai,  but 
there  are  also  wharves  and  various  interests 
of  the  Company  at  Chungking,  Ichang, 
Hankow,  Kiukiang,  Chekiang,  Wuhu,  Nanking, 
Ningpo,  Wenchow,  Amoy,  Swatow,  Foochow, 
Canton.  Hongkong.  Chefoo,  Newchwang,  and 
Tientsin. 

Although  the  Company  have  had  a  very 
prosperous  career,  they  have  experienced 
some  ups  and  downs.  During  the  Boxer 
troubles,  for  instance,  the  whole  of  their 
property  at  Tientsin  was  conliscated  by  the 
Allied  Powers,  and  it  was  only  with  the 
greatest  difficulty,  and  by  the  exercise  of  no 
little  ingenuity,  that  their  general  manager 
at  that  time — Mr.  Middleton — was  enabled 
to  secure  its  restitution. 

In  the  course  of  years  certain  changes  have 
been  effected  in  the  ownership  of  the  Com- 
pany. At  the  date  of  its  formation  from  75 
to  85  per  cent,  of  the  stock  was  held  by 
Chinese  merchants,  but  from  time  to  time 
Chinese  officials  have  purchased  shares,  until 
now  they  control  as  large  an  interest  in  the 
undertaking  as  did  the  merchants  formerly. 
After  the  death  of  Tong  Kin  Sing,  Shen 
Taoutai,  the  Taoutai  of  Chefoo,  and  afterwards 
Taoutai  of  Tientsin,  the  Chief  Director  of 
Chinese  Telegraphs  and  Railways,  acquired 
a  large  share  in  the  conduct  of  the  enterprise 
until  his  retirement,  on  the  death  of  his  father, 
some  four  years  ago.  But  for  a  period  of 
no  less  than  twenty-five  years,  terminating 
in  1907,  Mr.  Middleton.  who  had  formerly 
been  in  the  service  of  Messrs.  Russell  &  Co., 
carried  out  the  duties  of  general  manager. 

Having  dealt  with  the  origin  of  the  Com- 
pany, and  the  extent  of  their  operations,  it 
only  remains  now  to  survey  the  present 
position,  more  particularly  in  Shanghai. 
Here  they  possess  live  large  wharves — 
the  Kin-lee-yuen,  Central,  Lower  Hongkew. 
Eastern,  and  Yang-kah  du.  The  last-named 
wharf,  situated  at  Pootung,  is  of  most  recent 
structure,  and  possesses  about  1,600  feet 
of  river  frontage,  with  unlimited  depth 
of  water,  and  most  modern  warehouses. 
Practically  the  whole  of  this  property, 
together  with  the  Kin-lee-yuen  Wharf,  is 
devoted  to  the  ctrast  trade  of  the  Company's 
ships.  Up  to  within  some  six  or  seven  years 
ago,  indeed,  the  Company  gave  up  all  (heir 
wharves  to  the  local  trade,  dealing  chiefly 
with  Messrs.  Siemssen  &  Co.'s  boats,  the 
Hungon  Company's  river  steamers,  and  a 
casual  tramp  steamer.  All  this  has,  however, 
been  altered  now  to  make  room  for  a  some- 


what different  class  of  work.  Since  October, 
1907.  the  Company  h.ive  been  entrusted  with 
the  entire  business  of  the  Peninsular  and 
Oriental  Line,  whose  steamers  are  berthed 
at  the  Lower,  Central,  and  Eastern  Wharves, 
where  there  is  excellent  accommodation. 
The  warehouses  and  river  frontage  aggregate 
some  3,000  feet  in  length,  and  the  depth  of 
water  is  such  that  all  ships  which  come  over 
the  bar  can  be  berthed  there.  The  Eastern 
Wharf,  particularly,  has  been  the  growth  of 
recent  years.  It  was  purchased  by  the  Com- 
pany when  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  who 
le;ised  part  of  the  property,  aci|uirecl  a  wharf 
of  their  own  farther  down  the  river.  Besides 
the  Peninsular  and  Oriental  steamers,  the 
Company  wharf  the  "Shire"  boats,  for 
which  Messrs.  Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co.  are 
the  agents ;  the  '"  Glen"  steamers,  operated 
by  Macgregor  Bros.  &  Gow  ;  and  do  a 
portion  of  the  business  of  Messrs.  Dodwell 
&  Co.,  the  agents  for  the  "  Mogul "  Line  ; 
the  Boston  tow  boats,  and  other  tramp 
steamers  trading  from  New  York  and  else- 
where. 


T.   H.   HARRIS, 

General  Manager  of  the  China  Merchants  Steam 
Navigation  Company's  Wharves. 


Mr.  Thomas  H.  Harris  has  been  the 
general  manager  of  this  department  of  the 
Company's  interests  since  October,  1907. 
He  came  to  Shanghai  some  twenty-five 
years  ago.  For  the  first  five  years  he 
was  in  the  employment  of  the  American 
firm,  the  China  and  Japan  Trading  Com- 
pany, after  which  he  transferred  his  services 
to  the  Shanghai  and  Hongkew  Wharf 
Company,  with  whom  he  remained  as 
a  general  office  assistant  for  seven  years. 
He  first  joined  the  China  Merchants  as  an 
accountant — a  position  which  he  occupied 
for  twelve  years,  acting  as  general  manager 
on  three  or  four  occasions  when  the 
general  manager  was  on  leave.  It  was 
then  considered  that  the  growth  of  the 
business  warranted  the  appointment  of  a 
sub-manager,  and  Mr.  Harris  filled  this  office 
until  he  was  promoted  to  his  present  respon- 
sible position. 


BUTTERFIELD   &   SWIRE. 

In  the  pages  of  this  work  devoted  to 
Hongkong  reference  is  made  to  the  opera- 
tions of  this  firm.  It  is,  therefore,  unnecessary 
here  to  do  more  than  say  that  in  Shanghai 
the  operations  of  the  Company  are  on  a  most 
extensive  scale,  and  embrace  many  depart- 
ments of  commercial  activity.  The  house 
employs  a  great  number  of  assistants  in  its 
various  branches,  and  plays  a  part  in  Shanghai 
life  second  to  that  of  no  other  trading  or- 
ganisation. 


HAMBURG-AMERIKA   LINIE. 

Seventy  years  have  elapsed  since  the 
first  steamship  crossed  from  Europe  to 
America,  and  from  that  time  down  to  the 
present  tlie  history  of  North  Atlantic  steam- 
ship enterprise  has  been  one  of  great  and 
continuous  improvement. 

In  the  improvements  which  have  taken 
place  the  share  of  the  Hamburg-American 
Line  has  been  a  large  one.  It  was  in  the 
spring  of  1847  that  a  number  of  the  most 
respected  merchants  of  Hamburg  assembled 
to  discuss  a  proposal  for  establishing  a 
regular  line  of  ships  between  Europe  and 
America.  The  views  of  these  merchants 
were  very  modest  ;  they  agreed  to  start  a 
company  with  a  capital  of  ;^22,5oo,  divided 
into  60  shares  of  jf375  each.  The  shares 
were  taken  up  by  about  41  shareholders, 
the  greatest  number  of  shares  subscribed 
for  by  any  individual  being  four.  The 
Company  commenced  operations  with  four 
small  sailing  ships,  three  of  which  were 
built  in  Germany,  while  one  was  built  in 
England.  The  names  of  the  first  three, 
which  cost  on  an  average  about  £'4,000 
each,  were  Dciitschland,  Rhciu,  and  Amcrika. 
The  Dciitschland,  which  was  the  largest  of 
the  four,  was  capable  of  accommodating 
about  two  hundred  emigrants  and  twenty 
cabin  passengers,  and  had  a  carrying  capacity 
of  717  tons. 

Like  most  new  enterprises,  the  Hamburg- 
American  Line  had  to  meet  many  difficulties 
and  disappointments,  but  the  Company  suc- 
ceeded, nevertheless,  in  extending  both  their 
Heet  and  their  commercial  operations.  By 
careful  navigation,  strict  discipline,  prudent 
management,  efficient  organisation,  and  con- 
stant efforts  to  promote  the  comfort  and 
convenience  of  their  patrons,  the  Company 
grew  and  prospered  year  by  year,  until 
to-day  they  are  one  of  the  greatest  steam- 
ship companies  in  the  world.  They  maintain 
fifty  services,  and  their  flag  is  to  be  §een 
on  all  the  ocean  trade  routes  of  the  globe. 
Above  the  doorway  of  their  magnificent 
head  offices  in  Hamburg,  overlooking  the 
Alster,  there  is  carved  in  stone  the  appro- 
priate legend,  "The  world  is  my  field." 
On  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  they  have 
earned  a  reputation  second  to  none  for  the 
care  they  take  of  those  who  travel  by  their 
ships,  and  for  the  interest  which  they  exhibit 
in  all  matters  affecting  the  well-being  of 
their  passengers.  Including  ships  in  course 
of  construction,  the  colossal  Heet  which 
to-day  Hies  the  flag  of  the  Hamburg-Amerika 
Linie  comprises  178  ocean  steamers,  with 
a  total  aggregate  tonnage  of  923,439  tons, 
and  192  tugs,  lighters,  river  boats,  &c.,  equal 
to  39,163  tons,  giving  a  grand  total  of  370 
vessels  a'nd  962,602  tons.  In  the  year  ended 
December  31,  1906,  the  ships  of  the  fleet 
completed  2,532  round  trips,  and  carried  an 
aggregate  of  431,955  passengers  and  6,182,868 
dim.  of  freight. 


CHINA   MERCHANTS    STEAM    NAVIGATION    COMPANY. 

S.S.  "  KIA\G  Hsix." 

S.S,  "HsiN  Ming." 

The  Compaxvs  Head  Offices  ox  the  Bund. 


^ 


-i$r-  ■i...LZ^^vm.!:.^ 


CHINA    MERCHANTS    STEAM    NAVIGATION    COMPANY. 

Thk  Lowfr  Hoxgkew  Wharf. 

The  Ckxtral  Wharf. 
A  Typical  Discharging  Scene. 


CHINA    MERCHANTS    STEAM    NAVIGATION    COMPANY. 
The  i.vTox  Craxk. 

Vakiols  Tyi'p;s  (ik  Godowxs  at  thk  Wharvks. 
The  5-Tox  Ckaxe, 


470     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE   NIPPON   VUSEN   KAISHA. 

Tex  years  ago,  that  is  to  say  in  i8g8,  the 
tonnage  of  steamers  entering  and  clearing 
Japanese  ports  aggregated  8,000,000  tons, 
and  o(  that  total  Japan's  flag  floated  above 
only  2,000,000.  Even  this  latter  figure  was 
remarkable,  since  it  represented  a  growth 
from  3,000  tons  in  about  twenty-five  years. 
But  in  1907  the  total  tonnage  reached 
30.000,000,  and  Japan's  share  of  this  was 
nt)  less  than  g,ooo,ooo.  For  this  striking 
development  credit  is  chiefly  due  to  the 
Nippon  Yusen  K:iish:t,  or  Jap:in  Mail  Steam- 
ship Line,  which  occupies  much  the  s:inie 
position  in  the  mercantile  marine  of  Japan 
as  the  North  German  Lloyd  does  in  that  of 
Germany.  The  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha  came 
into  existence  in  1885.  It  resulted  from 
the  amalgamation  of  two  comp;inies— one 
ofiicially  protected,  the  other  independent — 
and  the  united  fleets  of  these  two  com- 
prised 58  steamers  displacing  64,365  tons. 
The     Nippon     Yusen     Kaisha's     Hag     now 


which  have  established,  in  connection 
with  these  seruces,  a  remarkable  record, 
since  throughout  the  two  campaigns,  ex- 
tending over  more  than  four  ye.irs,  and 
involving  voyages  to  seas  and  coasts  liltle 
visited  and  imperfectly  surveyed,  not  [one 
steamer  was    cast   away  owing    to   error   on 


REMPEI   KONDO, 

I'KHSIItEM. 

floats  over  95  vessels  aggregating  345,000 
tons.  The  Company  enjoys  a  measure  of 
State  aid  in  return  for  carrying  mails, 
maintaining  certain  flxed  lines,  and  equip- 
ping its  large  vessels  so  that  they  shall  be 
available  at  any  moment  as  military  trans- 
ports or  auxiliary  cruisers.  Twice  during 
the  past  decade  the  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha 
has  been  able  to  render  signal  services  to 
the  Japanese  Kmpire ;  first,  in  the  China- 
Japan  War  (1894  95),  when  it  carried  the 
main  part  of  the  country's  soldiers  to  Korea, 
Manchuria,  and  Shantung  ;  and,  secondly,  in 
the  Russo-Japanese  War  (1904  51,  when  if 
performed  the  task  of  transporting,  to  and 
from  the  continent  of  Asia,  the  major 
pf)rtion  of  armies  aggregating  a  million 
men,  with  all  their  stores  and  equipment. 
Without  high  competence  on  the  part  of 
the  >taff,  as  well  as  full  preparedness  of 
its  ships,  the  Company  could  never  have 
discharged,  on  these  two  occ-asions,  duties  so 
essential  to  the  country's  safety  and  success. 
Passengers  by  the  Company's  steamers  have 
thus  the  advantage  of    travelling    in   vessels 


MASAYOSHI    KATO, 

VlCK-I*RKSM>KXT. 


the  part  of  her  navig.itors  or  incompetence 
on  that  of  her  crew.  No  more  conclusive 
piactical  proof  could  be  furnished  of  the 
sea-worthiness  of  these  steamers  and  the 
capacity  of  their  officers  and  men. 

It  will  be  observed  from  the  above  figures 
that  the  95  steamers  formnig  the  Company's 
fleet  average  over  3,600  tons  each.  For 
the  purpose  of  coastwise  Irade  in  domestic 
waters,  comparatively  small  low-draught 
vessels  are  convenient,  but  for  ocean-going 
uses  ships  of  large  size  and  high  speed  are 
alone  used.  Thus  the  Company's  European 
service  is  maintained  with  12  steamers 
of  over  6,000  tons  each,  and  6  vessels  of 
8,000  tons,  now  in  course  of  construction, 
will  soon  be  added  to  the  fleet.  Possessing 
am]  le  reserves,  the  Company  has  been 
careful  to  renew  its  steamers  on  a  liberal 
scale,  so  that  all  those  on  its  important  lines 
have  been  but  a  few  yeais  at  sea.  and  aie 
equipped  with  every  modern  improvement 
and   convenience. 

It  may  be  remarked  here  that,  fnri  passu 
with  the  development  of  Japan's  mercantile 
marine,  the  pressure  of  its  competition  has 
been  felt,  and  certain  publicists,  unacqmiinted 
with  the  history  of  its  progress,^  have  been 
betrayed  into  an  outcry  about  secret  subsi- 
dies, and  even  about  a  deliberate  attempt  on 
Japan's  part  to  oust  British  shipping.  Secret 
subsidies,  however,  are  out  of  the  question 
in  a  constitutionally  governed  country  such 
as  Japan.  And  as  for  any  Japanese  attempt 
to  oust  British  shipping,  it  is  true  only  in  so 
far  as  all  maritime  competition  must  appear 
to  be  directed  against  England,  because  of  the 
enormous  preponderance  of  her  mercantile 
marine  in  every  part  of  the  world. 

The  regular  services  nosv  m;iint;iined  by 
steamers  of  the  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha 
between  Japan  and  foreign  ports  are  as 
follows  : — 


1.  European  I^ine.— A  fortnightly  service 
from  Yokohama  to  London  and  Antwerp, 
maintained  with  12  steamers  of  over  6,000 
tons  each,  calling  at  Kobe,  Moji,  Shanghai, 
Hongkong,  Singapore,  Penang.  Colombo, 
Suez,  Port  Said,  and  Marseilles.  Travellers 
by  this  line  have  the  advantage  not  only  of 
the  cheapest  rates  charged  by  any  company, 
but  also  of  performing  the  whole  voyage 
without  any  change  of  steamer. 

2.  American  Line. — A  fortnightly  service 
from  Hongkong  to  Seattle,  maintained  with 
six  steamers  ranging  from  5,800  to  7,500  tons, 
the  ports  of  call  being  Shanghai,  Moji,  Kobe, 
Yokohama,  and  Victoria,  British  Columbia. 
The  path  taken  by  these  vessels  lies  to  the 
north  of  the  storm  area,  and  is  absolutely  a 
fine-weather  route.  At  Seattle  connections 
are  made  with  the  Great  Northern  and  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railways,  which  are  not 
surpassed  by  any  of  the  parallel  lines  in 
point  of  comfort  and  convenience  or  in 
picturesqueness  of  districts  traversed. 

3.  Australian  Line. — A  four-weekly  service 
from  Yokohama  to  Melbourne,  maintained 
by  three  steamers  ranging  from  3,900  to 
5,600  tons,  calling  at  Kobe,  Moji,  Nagasaki, 
Hongkong,  Manila,  Thursday  Island,  Towns- 
ville.  Brisbane,  and  Sydney.  This  is  the 
favourite  line  for  travellers  between  Japan 
and  Australia,  the  vessels  being  exceptionally 
well-fitted  and  comfortable. 

4.  Bombay  Line. — A  fortnightly  service 
from  Kobe  to  Bombay,  maintained  with  six 
steamers,  calling  at  Moji,  Shanghai,  Hong- 
kong, Singapore,  Penang,  Madras,  Coloinbo, 
and  Tuticorin.  The  ships  are  large  and  com- 
modious, but  at  present  they  are  engaged 
chiefly  in  the  transport  of  merchandise,  and 
do  not  offer  any  special  facilities  to  passengers. 

5.  Shanghai  Line. — A  semi-weekly  service 
from  Yokohama  to  Shanghai,  maintained  with 
six  steamers,  including  the  Red  Cross  vessels, 
Kosai  Martt  and  Hakiiai  Mam,  the  ports  of 
call  being  Kobe,  Moji,  and  Nagasaki.  All 
the  steamers  on  this  line  have  acquired  a 
high  reputation  for  comfort  and  punctuality, 
and  are  widely  patronised  by  the  tiavelling 
public. 

6.  Kobe-Vladivostock  Line. — A  two-weekly 
service,  maintained  with  excellent  steamers, 
calling  en  tonic  at  Moji,  Nagasaki,  Fusan, 
Gensan,  and  Songching. 

7.  Lines  to  Korea  and  North  China.— These 
services  are  maintained  with  medium-sized, 
well-equipped  steamers,  which  offer  every 
inducement  to  passengers.  The  lines  are  as 
follows  : — (a)  A  fortnightly  service  between 
Kobe  and  Newchwang.  viii  Moji,  Nagasaki, 
Fusan,  Chemulpo,  Dairen  (Dalny),  and  Taku. 
(ft)  A  weekly  service  between  Kobe  and 
Newchwang,  via  Moji,  Nagasaki,  Chefoo, 
and  Taku.  (c)  A  service  four  limes  a 
month  between  Kobe  and  Dairen  (Dalny), 
viii  I'jina  and  Moji.  (</)  A  fortnightly  service 
between  Yokohama  and  Newchwang,  via 
Yokkaichi,  Kobe,  Moji,  Chemulpo,  Dairen 
(Dalny),  and  Taku. 

8.  .Services  in  Hoine  Waters. — Of  these 
services  there  are  several,  including  one 
semi-monthly  between  Kobe  and  Keelung, 
and  one  monthly  between  Yokohama  and  the 
Ogasawaia  (Bonin)  Islands.  Tourists  travel- 
ling by  these  steamers  can  visit  almost  every 
place  on  the  coasts  of  the  Japanese  i;mpire, 
from  Saghalien  in  the  extjcme  north  to 
Formosa  in  the  south. 

The  Company's  chief  office  is  in  Tokyo, 
and  it  has  branches  in  nine  home  cities  and 
as  many  foreign,  with  agencies  at  some  thirty 
places  in  foreign  lands.  Its  lines  extend  from 
Seattle  in  the  East  to  London  in  the  West, 
and  from  Saghalien  in  the  North  to  Melbourne 
in    the    South.      Travellers    by    its    steamers 


Pi 


P 
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fa 

M 

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E-i 

& 
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BUTTERFIELD    &    SWIRE. 
CHINA    NAVIGATION    COMPANY,    LTD. 


S.S.     "  KiNLINb. 

S,S,    "Lkciiow." 


S.S.      "CHINHL'A." 

S.S.    "  Fengtiex.' 


TlIK  Promkxaoe  Dkck. 


HAMBUBQ-AMERIKA    LINIE. 

S.s.  "Admiral  vox  Tikpitz." 
The  Saloox. 


The  Smokixg  Koom. 


474     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


h;«vc  Ihe  privilege  of  [lerforniiii};  by  rail 
within  the  Japanese  Knipire  such  {xirts  of 
their  journey  as  lend  iheniselvts  to  that 
facility,  leaving  their  he;>vy  baggage  to  be 
carried  by  steamer. 

The  Shanghai  branch  of  the  Comp;»ny  was 
opened  in  18S5.  Since  then,  however,  they 
have  re-built  their  oftices  and  godowns,  and, 
furthermore,  in  1903  they  made  a  line  addition 
to  their  property  by  ihe  purchase  of  Ihe 
"Wayside"  Wharf,  owned  by  the  late  Mr. 
George  McBain.  European,  Americm.  Bom- 
bay, and  other  liners  are  berthed  here,  and 
the  Shanghai-Yokohama  liners  aie  moored 
alongside  the   Nippon   Yusen    Kaisha   Wharf. 


space  of  ground  here  for  the  storage  of  coal. 
The  business  in  Shanghai  is  conducted  under 
the  supervision  of  Mr.  Y.  Ito,  who  lias  been 
in  the  service  of  the  Company  for  twelve 
vears. 


THE   INDO.CHINA   STEAM   NAVIQATION 
COMPANY. 

The  Indo-China  Steam  Navigation  Company, 
of  which  Messrs.  Jardine.  Matheson  &  Co., 
Ltd.,  are  the  agents,  was  forined  in 
November,  1881.  The  nucleus  of  their  fleet 
was    obtained    by    purchasing    the    steamers. 


Shanghai,  and  Japan  ;  from  Hongkong  to 
Java,  Hriiish  North  Borneo.  Swatow,  Chefoo, 
Tientsin,  and  Manila  ;  from  Shanghai  to 
Tsingtau,  Wciliaiwei,  Chefoo,  Tientsin, 
Newclnvang.  Swatow,  Hongkong,  Canton, 
Foochow,  Chinkiang,  Nanking,  Wuhu,  Kiu- 
kiang,  and  Hankow  ;  and  from  Hankow 
to  Shasi,  Ichang.  Changsha,  and  Siangtau. 
Kound  trip  tickets  are  issued  from  Shanghai 
to  Hankow,  and  from  Tientsin  to  Shanghai, 
and  vice  versa,  at  reduced  rales  ;  and  all  the 
steamers,  more  especially  those  on  the 
Calcutta,  Yangtsze,  and  Tientsin  routes,  have 
excellent  accommodation  for  both  European 
and  Chinese  passengers. 


OFFICES    OF    MESSRS.  HOPKINS,   DUNN    &    CO.,  AT    YAN&-KING-PANQ. 


There  are  c:ipacious  godowns  near  at  hand, 
and  here  all  the  cargo  is  stored.  Passengers 
find  these  arrangements  very  convenient, 
and.  besides,  they  are  spared  the  trouble  of 
going  or  coming  by  the  tender  to  and  from 
Woosung.  The  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha  Wharf 
has  a  frontage  of  640  feet.  In  conjunction 
with  it  there  are  two  ponloons,  one  measuring 
300  feet  and  the  other  240  feet,  and  four 
godowns  with  a  storage  capacity  of  50,000 
tons.  The  Wayside  Wharf  has  a  frontage  of 
867  feet,  with  two  pontoons,  each  measuring 
200  feet,  and  six  godowns  capable  of  taking 
30,000   tons  of  cargo.      There  is  also  a  large 


hulks,  &c.,  belonging  to  the  China  Coast 
Steam  Navigation  Company,  the  Yangtsze 
Steamer  Company,  and  Jardine,  Matheson  & 
Co.  The  authorised  capital  was  ;f  1,200,000, 
of  which  ;f495,89o  was  paid  up.  The  fleet 
of  12  steamers,  with  which  they  commenced 
trading,  had  a  gross  tonnage  of  13,567 
tons.  The  development  in  the  Company's 
activities  during  the  last  thirty  years  has 
been  remarkable.  The  fleet  at  the  present 
day  consists  of  41  steamers  with  a  gross 
tonnage  of  97,260  tons,  and  has  a  book  value 
of  ;fi.o62,985.  The  vessels  ply  between 
Calcutta,    the    Straits    Settlements,    Hongkong, 


NISSHIN   RISEN   KAISHA. 

The  shipping  on  the  Yangtsze  was  for  a  long 
while  entirely  carried  on  under  the  British 
and  Cliinese  flags.  January,  1898,  however, 
saw  a  new  service  inaugurated  by  the  Osaka 
Shosen  Kaisha.  of  Osaka,  Japan,  with  two 
steamers,  under  mail  contract  with  the 
Imperial  Japanese  Government.  Develop- 
ment of  trade  led  to  the  replacement  of 
these  ships  by  six  new  specially  designed 
steamers.  Soon  there  were  three  other 
Japanese  shipping  companies  plying  on  the 
same  route — the  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha.  the 
Konan  Kisen  Kaisha,  and  the  Tailo  Stcimship 
Company.  The  Japanese  Government  then 
stepped  in  and  advised  amalgamation,  and, 
this  suggestion  being  acted  upon,  resulted  in 
the  formation,  on  April  1,  1907,  of  the  Nisshin 
Kisen  Kabushiki  Kaisha  (the  Japan-China 
Sleamsliip  Companyl  with  a  paid-up  capital 
of  8,100.000  yen,  which  has  now  been 
increased  lo  12.000,000  yen.  The  Company, 
whose  head  office  is  at  Tokyo,  have  branches 
and  agencies  at  Shanghai,  Hankow,  Chin- 
kiang, Nanking,  Wuhu,  Kiukiang,  Changsha, 
Changteh,  Shasi,  Ichang,  Chungking,  Hong- 
kong, Soochow,  Hangchow,  and  Ciiingkiangpoo. 
Their  steamers  include  the  Yoliyaiiji  Mam, 
3.588  tons  ;  Naiiyauji  Main,  3,588  tons  ; 
Siiiiify'iiiifl  Main,  3,588  tons ;  Ta/00  Marti, 
2,836  tons  ;  TcUaiiji  Mnru,  2,711  tons  ;  Take 
Mam,  2,246  Ions;  Taclii  Mam,  2,078  tons; 
Tahuiiji  Mam.  1,759  tons  ;  layiien  Mam, 
1  694  Ions  ;  Wooliii^  Mam,  1,458  tons  ;  Suilcc 
Marii,  974  tons ;  Hnalcc  Marti,  957  tons ; 
Siaitiikiaitg  Main,  935  tons ;  and  the  Yticit- 
kiaiisi  Mam,  935  Ions.  They  have  also  21 
steam  launches  of  a  gross  tonnage  of  560. 
The  Company's  routes  are  : — Shanghai  lo 
Hankow,  via  Chinkiang,  Nanking,  Wuliu, 
and  Kiukiang,  four  times  weekly  besides 
occ-asional  service  ;  Hankow  to  Ichang,  via 
Yochow  and  Shasi,  six  times  monthly  ; 
Hankow  to  Siangtau,  via  Yochow  and 
Changsha,  twice  weekly  ;  Hankow  to 
Changteh,  viii  Yochow,  weekly ;  Kiukiang 
lo  Nanchang,  via  Woochang.  six  times 
monthly  ;  Shanghai  to  Soochow,  Shanghai 
to  Hangchow,  Soochow  to  Hangchow,  every 
day  from  both  ends  of  each  line  ;  Soochow 
to  Chinkiang.  every  three  days  from  both 
ends  ;  Chinkiang  to  Yangchow,  three  times 
a  day  fiom  both  ends  ;  Chinkiang  to  Ching- 
kiangpoo,  every  day  from  both  ends. 

Mr.    K.    Kobata    is    the    manager    of    the 
Shanghai  branch  of  the  Company. 


HOPKINS,    DUNN    &    CO. 

It  was  Mr.  George  Lewis,  an  employe  of 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  who 
started,  in  1870,  the  firm  which,  under  the 
style  of  Hopkins,  Dunn  &  Co.,  now  carries 
on    a     general    brokerage     and     commission 


NIPPON    YUSEN    KAISHA. 

The  Wayside  Wharf. 

The  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha  Wharf. 


The  Offices,  shaxchai. 


S-S.    "SiKKo  Maui." 


NIPPON    YUSBN    KAISHA. 


SALOOX,     S.S.      "TAXUO   MARU.' 


Head  okkicks,  Tokvo. 
Social  Hall,  S.S.  "  Nikko  Maru." 


S.S.    "TUCKWO." 


JARDINE,    MATHESON    &    CO. 

INDO-CHINA    STEAM    NAVIGATION    COMPANY,    LTD. 

thk  s.m.oox. 

The  Smoking  Koom. 


The  Prome.naue  Deck. 


478     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


business  at  Xo».  6  and  7,  Yang-kiiig-paii};-  The 
name  of  the  Company  has  hecn  changed  on 
several  oocasi>ins.  When  Mr.  Lewis  admitted 
Mr.  Hopkins  into  p;irlnership  it  was  known  as 
Messrs.  Lewis  &  Hopkins.  In  1878,  when 
Mr.  Lewis  retired  and  Mr.  Dunn  became  a 
partner,  the  name  was  altered  to  Hopkins, 
Dunn  &  Co.  .Alter  the  death  of  Mr.  Hopkins 
two  other   partners   were  admitted,  but  their 


connection  with  the  firm  was  not  of  lonj; 
duration.  In  1891  Mr.  Brodie  Clarke  took 
over  the  business.  From  i8()5  to  11)07  Mr. 
J.  Tulloch  was  associated  with  him  in  the 
management,  but  since  last  year  Mr.  Clarke 
has  been  the  sole  proprietor. 

The  interests  of  the  firm  are  varied  in 
character.  Hesides  being  ship,  freight,  oil, 
coal,   metal,   land,   stock,    share,   and   general 


brokers.  Messrs.  Hopkins,  Dunn  iS:  Co.  are 
auctioneers  and  agents,  and  general  managers 
of  the  Kocliien  Transportation  and  Tow  Boat 
Company,  Ltd.,  which  possesses  a  large 
number  of  small  vessels  carrying  on  an 
extensive  trade  in  and  around  the  Settlement, 
and  has  a  first-class  fleet  of  up-to-date  steam 
tugs  and  launches,  with  steel  lighters  capable 
of  moving  7,000  tons  dead  weight. 


SHANGHAI    HARBOUR. 


SHANiiH.Al  Harbour,  defined  by  lines  drawn 
acToss  the  Whangpfx)  above  and  below  the 
Settlement  at  Kiangnan  Arsenal  and  at  Tung 
Kou  Creek  respectively,  is  about  eight  miles 
in    length,    and    varies    from    a    qiuirter    to 


three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  breadth.  Prior 
to  iXt/)  the  harbour  extended  only  from 
the  French  Police  Station  on  the  Bund  to 
the  Shanghai  Waterworks,  the  reach  which 
now  includes   sections    1    to  9;    in    lyoo   the 


I.    H.iE.  HoBSOK, 
CommiMioner  at,Shangli:tl. 

J.    Captain  W.  A.  C.iKisox. 
HartKJur  Ma»trr  at  Shanghai. 


a.    V.  Dkxt, 
Deputy  Commissioner  at  Shanghai. 


limits  were  carried  to  the  Lu  Kah  Pang 
Creek  and  the  Yang-king  Creek,  and  in 
1907  they  were  extended  to  embrace  the 
present  area,  which  is  now  divided  into 
sections  for  the  distribution  of  berths. 
Upper  Section  A  lies  between  Kiangnan 
Arsenal  Wharf  and  Pai  Lien  Creek,  and  is 
used  for  vessels  laid  up.  and  for  those 
requiring  repairs  at  the  dock.  Upper  Section 
B  extends  from  the  Pai  Lien  Creek  to  I>u  Kah 
Pang  Creek,  and  affords  an  anchorage  for 
vessels  discharging  timber  or  coal,  and  for 
vessels  laid  up.  Upper  Section  C.  stretching 
from  IjU  Kah  Pang  Creek  to  a  point  opposite 
the  French  Police  Station,  is  largely  occupied 
by  junks,  and  no  foreign  vessels  may  dis- 
charge on  the  Shanghai  side.  There  are, 
however,  several  large  foreign  wharves  on 
the  Pootung  side  at  which  cargo  may  be 
landed  or  shipped.  Opium-receiving  vessels 
are  moored  in  this  section.  From  this  point 
sections  J  to  II  follow  one  another  down 
stream  for  a  distance  of  about  four  and  a  half 
miles,  terminating  opposite  the  Standard  Oil 
Company's  wharf.  Section  i  is  reserved  as 
a  man-of-war  anchorage.  Section  2  provides 
mooring  berths  for  the  Norddeutscher-Lloyd 
and  the  Messageries  Maritimes  Companies' 
steamers;  and  section  3,  opposite  the  Customs 
House,  contains  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental 
Company's  berths  and  the  British  Senior 
Naval  Officer's  moorings.  Sections  4  and  5, 
situated  at  the  bend  of  the  river  opposite 
the  Soochow  Creek,  are  kept  free  at  all  times 
to  facilitiite  the  navigation  of  the  fairway. 
In  sections  6,  7,  and  8  nine  600  feet  berths, 
with  head  and  stern  mooiings,  are  set  apart 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  largest  ocean- 
going steamships  visiting  the  port.  Sections 
9,  10,  and  u,  extending  from  Pootung  Wharf 
(West)  to  the  Standard  Oil  Company's  wharf, 
serve  as  a  general  anchorage.  Ihe  remain- 
ing section,  known  as  the  Lower  Section,  is 
kept  free  on  account  of  its  narrow  deep-water 
chainiel,  no  vessels  being  permitted  to  moor 
within  its  limits.  Wharves,  docks,  ware- 
houses, godowns,  and  engineering  and  ship- 
building yards  stretch  along  both  banks  of 
the  river  for  nearly  the  whole  length  of  the 
harbour,  and  testify  to  the  vast  connncrcial 
activity  of  the  Settlement. 

The  depth  of  the  water  at  the  various 
moorings  in  the  harbour  ranges  from  6J  to  3J 
fathoms.  At  spring  tides  vessels  drawing 
24  feet  or  25  feet  of  water  can  come  up  the 
river  from  Woosung  ;  but  at  neap  tides  only 
those  drawing  21  feet  or  22  feet  can  cross  the 
inner  bar  at  the  entrance  to  Ship  Channel. 
The  distance  from  Woosung  to  the  Bund  at 
Shanghai  is  about  13  miles. 


I 

■ 


■  m 

II 


TUGS  AND  LAUNCHES  OF  THE  KOCHIEN  TRANSPORTATION  AND  TOW  BOAT  COMPANY,  LTD. 


480     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  HarfxMir  Deparlment  is  a  department 
of  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  and  the 
reguUitions  for  the  guidance  of  shipping 
visiting  the  port  are  issued  through  the 
Commissioner  of  Customs  at  Shanghai  by 
order  of  the  Inspector-General.  The  Harbour 
Master  is  charged  with  the  administration 
of  the  regulations,  which  provide  for  the 
berthing  of  vessels,  the  projier  ligliting  of  the 
harbour  and  of  the  shipping  in  it,  the  signal- 
ling of  arrivals  and  dep;irtures,  the  exercise 
of  precautions  in  respect  of  vessels  carrying 
explosives,  the  segregation  of  vessels  having 
on  board  cases  of  infectious  disease,  and  the 
imposition  of  penalties  for  infringement  of 
the  port  rules. 

The  limits  of  the  anchorage  at  Woosung, 
within  which  foreign  seagoing  vessels  may 
discharge  into  or  load  from  cargo-bo;its,  are, 
on  the  outside,  a  line  drawn  south-east  from 
the  Woosung  Lighthouse,  and,  on  the  inside, 
a  line  drawn  north-north-east  from  a  beacon 
standing  on  the  left  bank,  2,500  yards  above 
the  Customs  Station.  The  regulations  for 
WixMung  Harbour  deal  principally  with  pre- 
cautions to  be  obser\'ed  by  vessels  in  crossing 
the  outer  and  inner  bars,  and  with  the 
distribution  of  berths. 

Many  of  the  larger  mail  steamers  lie  at 
anchor  in  the  Yangtsze,  off  the  mouth  of  the 
Whangpoo,  and  passengers  for  Shanghai  make 
the  jouniey  up  the  river  in  one  of  the  well- 
appointed  tenders  built  specially  for  the  run. 
Passengers  by  the  Norddeutscher-Lloyd  and 
the  Messageries  Maritimcs  mail  steamers  land 
at  a  jetty  in  the  French  Concession.  Those 
by  other  European  mail  steamers,  and  by  the 
American  lines,  land  in  the  International 
Settlement,  at  the  public  passenger  pontoons, 
which  are  situated  next  to  the  Customs  Jetty, 
opposite  the  Russo-Chinese  Bank.  These 
pontoons  are  under  the  joint  ownership  of  the 
Municipal  Council  and  the  Customs  Depart- 
ment. Passengers  by  coasting  steamers  are 
landed  at  the  respective  companies'  wharves. 

The  Kivf.r  Police. 

The  Shanghai  River  Police  were  formed  in 
1867.  and  have  always  been  under  the  direct 


control  of  the  Harbour  Department.  There 
are  now  an  inspector,  three  sergeants,  and 
thirteen  const;ibles  on  the  foreign  roll,  and 
their  principal  duties  are  to  patrol  tlie  Harbour 
and  Scv>chow  Creek.  They  are  also  trained 
to  man  the  fX)werful  1,500  gallon  steam  iire- 
tlo;it  maintained  by  the  Harbour  Department 
for  the  protection  of  shipping  at  Shanghai 
and  Wixjsung. 

The  Shanghai  Pilotage  Service. 

The  Shanghai  Pilotage  Service,  being  a 
branch  of  tlie  Chinese  Pilotage  Service,  is 
subject  to  the  regulations  for  that  service 
published  in  1868.  and  to  local  rules  drawn 
up  by  the  Harbour  Master  in  consultation 
with  the  Consular  body  and  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  which  constitute  the  General 
Pilotage  Authority.  Prior  to  1868  general 
authority  as  regards  the  service  was  vested 
in  the  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Vacancies  in  the  service  are  tilled  by 
competitive  examination,  open  to  aindidates 
without  distinction  of  nationality,  provided 
that  they  possess  a  master's  certificate  of 
competency  and  can  prove  having  served 
in  the  position  of  mate  or  master  for  at 
least  two  years.  Licences  are  issued  by  the 
Commissioner  on  behalf  of  the  Chinese 
Government,  and  penalties  are  imposed  on 
commanders  of  vessels  employing  unlicensed 
pilots. 

There  are  at  present  thirty-five  licensed 
pilots,  including  cruising  pilots,  available  for 
any  vessel  requiring  a  pilot  ;  monthly  pilots, 
who  are  in  the  exclusive  employment  of 
one  shipping  company  ;  and  travelling  pilots, 
who  are  engaged  by  mail  lines  to  travel 
with  the  steamer  in  order  to  avoid  the  delay 
of  boarding  off  and  on. 

Formerly  the  pilots  worked  independently, 
but  in  1900  the  Licensed  Pilots'  Association, 
chartered  by  the  General  Pilotage  Authority, 
was  formed.  The  Association  has  power  to 
make  by-laws  supplementing  the  official 
regulations,  to  collect  pilotage  tees,  to  create 
a  fund  for  equipping  and  maintaining  pilot- 
boats,  and  to  inquire  into  cases  of  professional 
misconduct.      The    ottice    is    managed    by    a 


s;ilaried  ofticial,  whose  principal  duties  are 
to  appoint  pilots  to  vessels  and  to  supervise 
the  Association's  books.  The  pilots  work  in 
rotation,  and  their  earnings  are  divided  under 
an  elaborate  pooling  scheme. 

Altogether  the  establishment  of  the  As- 
sociation has  led  to  a  far  more  equitable 
and  satisfactory  condition  of  things  in  the 
Shanghai  Pilotage  Service  than  tliat  which 
prevailed  previously,  and  it  would  be  dit'ticult 
to  find  in  any  [wrt  of  the  world  a  more 
eiticient  service  than  it  provides. 


CAPTAIN  W.  A.  CARLSON,  who  has  charge 
of  the  Harbour  Department  of  the  Imperial 
Maritime  Customs  at  Shanghai,  was  born  at 
Ystad,  Sweden,  of  a  family  which  for  many 
generations  had  followed  the  sea.  When 
only  thirteen  years  of  age  he  left  Sweden,  and 
served  his  time  on  the  coast  of  England.  In 
1861  he  ciime  to  Shanghai,  and  remained  on 
the  coast  of  China  until  1864,  when  he  went 
home.  Three  years  later  he  returned  to 
China,  and  up  to  that  time  he  had  served  in 
the  following  merchant  vessels  : — The  British 
brigs,  Edwin  and  'J'cligrnpli  ;  the  American 
ship,  Oliver  Moses  ;  the  British  barque, 
Clievalier  ;  the  British  steamer,  Swatow  ;  the 
American  ship,  Hots/^tir  ;  the  British  barque, 
Mainioin  ;  the  British  steamer,  Sir  Charles 
Forbes  ;  and  the  British  schooner,  Sifift.  In 
January,  1868,  he  joined  the  Imperial  Maritime 
Customs  at  Shanghai  as  Berthing  Oflicer.  He 
was  appointed  Assistant  Harbour  Master  in 
April,  1897,  Acting  Harbour  Master  in  July, 
1903,  and  Harbour  Master  in  April.  1904.  In 
recognition  of  his  services  he  has  received 
from  the  Chinese  Government,  the  decoration 
of  the  Imperial  Order  of  the  Double  Dragon, 
Third  Divi.sion,  First  Class,  Captain  Carlson, 
who  is  still  only  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his 
age,  was  married  in  1864,  and  has  a  daughter, 
two  grand-daughters,  and  a  great  grandson. 
He  lives  at  No.   108,  Bubbling  Well   Road. 


THE    CONSERVANCY    OF    THE   WHANGPOO. 


SHOlfTLV  after  the  port  of  Shanghai  was 
opened  to  foreign  trade  by  the  Treaty  of 
Nanking,  public  attention  was  directed  to 
the  condition  of  the  Whangpoo  River,  upon 
which  the  Settlement  stands,  and  from  that 
time  onwards,  for  a  period  of  nearly  sixty 
years,  the  question  of  the  conservancy  of 
the  fairway  has  occupied  a  more  or  less 
prominent  pf>sition  in  the  domain  of  local 
politics.  Those  in  authority,  however,  were 
tenacious  of  their  pfjlicy  of  procrastination. 
In  spite  of  the  representations  of  the  Cham- 
ber of  0)mmercc,  of  successive  harbour 
masters,  of  shipowners,  and  of  the  public 
in  general,  and  in  culpable  disregard  of  re- 
p<»rts  as  to  the  urgency  of  the  work  by  men 
of  acknowledged  authority,  the  Chinese 
Government  left  the  river  to  pursue  its 
course  of  self-obliteration. 

At    length,    under    the    Protocol    of    1901 
between  China  and  eleven   foreign   Powers, 


a  portion  of  the  Bo.\er  indemnity  was  set 
aside  for  "  straightening  the  Whangpoo " 
and  improving  its  course,  and  a  Con- 
servancy Board,  composed  of  representatives 
of  the  Chinese  Government  and  of  foreigners 
interested  in  the  shipping  trade  of  Shanghai, 
was  created,  and  charged  with  the  manage- 
ment and  control  of  the  works. 

The  cost  of  the  works,  and  of  the  general 
management  of  the  undertaking,  was  esti- 
mated at  460,000  Haikwan  t:iels  a  year  for 
the  tirst  twenty  years,  and  the  Protocol  stipu- 
lated that  this  sum  should  be  furnished  in 
equal  portions  by  the  Chinese  Government 
and  by  the  foreign  interests  concerned. 

It  was  not.  however,  until  three  months 
after  the  signature  of  the  Whangpoo  Con- 
servancy Convention  in  September,  1905, 
that  an  engineer  was  actuiilly  appointed  and 
preparations  for  carrying  out  the  work  were 
begun.       Under     that     Convention     a     new 


method  of  procedure  was  agreed  upon, 
whereby  the  Chinese  Government  itself 
undertook  to  carry  out  the  work  at  its  own 
expense,  the  general  management  being 
entrusted  to  the  Customs  Taoutai  and  the 
Commissioner  of  Customs  at  Shanghai.  As 
guarantee  for  the  sum  stipulated — TIs.  460,000 
annually  for  twenty  years — China  gave  "  the 
whole  of  the  duty  on  opium  of  S/echuen 
and  of  Soochowfu  in  Kiangsu";  it  being 
provided  that  no  tax  or  contribution  should 
be  levied  either  upon  riparian  property  or 
upon  trade  or  navigation. 

Before  outlining  the  scheme  which  is  now 
in  process  of  execution,  a  brief  description 
of  the  Whangpoo  must  be  given.  Strictly 
speaking,  the  Whangpoo  is  not  a  river,  but 
a  backwater  of  the  Yangtsze.  Only  a  small 
proportion  of  its  waters  is  derived  from  the 
country  nominally  forming  its  basin  ;  by  far 
the    larger    part    is    tidal    water,    the    tides    at 


The  Smoking  Room. 
The  Promenade  Deck. 


JARDINE,    MATHESON    &    CO. 
INDO-CHINA    STEAM    NAVIGATION    COMPANY,    LTD. 


s.s.  '  kooxshixg.' 
The  S.\loox. 


482     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Shan)<hai  having  a  range  of  aKiut  ten  feet. 
When  it  is  remembered  that  the  whole 
countr>-  for  miles  around  the  Settlement  is 
alluvial,  formed  in  the  pnKess  of  time  by 
silt  washed  down  by  the  Yangtsze.  it  is  easy 
to  see  that  the  silting  up  of  the  VVhangpoo 
must,  in  the  absence  of  artiticial  checks, 
eventually  have  led  to  the  dis;ippeanince  of 
Shanghai's  waterway.  Within  living  memory, 
what  is  now  known  as  Gough  Island,  was 
merely  a  bank,  covered  even  at  dead  low 
water ;  and  this  instance  of  the  deterioration 
of  the  fairway  is  by  no  means  isolated. 

.\nother  factor  which  has  come  to  have 
an  importiint  bearing  on  the  vit;il  question 
of  conservancy  is  the  increasing  tonnage  of 
ocean-going  vessels.  With  the  deepening  of 
the  Suez  Canal  vessels  from  Europe  will 
probably  be  built  of  larger  draft,  while  the 
liners  on  the  trans-Pacitic  routes  have  already 
attained  to  huge  dimensions.  It  is.  there- 
fore, as  much  with  the  object  of  anticipating 
future  developments  as  of  bringing  the  river 
right  up  to  existing  requirements  that  the 
present  scheme  of  iinprovement  and  con- 
ser\-ancy  is  being  carried  out. 

As  to  the  feasibility  of  the  scheme  there 
is  little  room  for  doubt.  The  engineer 
responsible  for  the  project,  and  now  super- 
intending the  work,  is  Mr.  Joh.  de  Rijke,  a 
Member  of  the  Royal  Dutch  Engineers,  and 
therefore  familiar  with  the  methods  adopted 
in  a  country  where  hydraulic  engineering  has 
been  brought  almost  to  an  exact  science. 
Mr.  de  Rijke,  who  was  formerly  in  the 
employment  of  the  Japanese  Government, 
for  whom  he  carried  out  several  important 
works,  has  been  acquainted  with  the 
Whangpoo  for  upwards  of  thirty  years,  for 
as  far  back  as  1876  he  came  over  from 
Japan  with  Mr.  Esher,  at  the  request  of  the 
Senior  Consul  at  Shanghai,  to  make  a  report 
on  the  river.  This  report  dealt  exhaustively 
with  the  st;ite  of  the  VVhangpoo  at  that  date. 
indicated  the  certainty  of  further  deteriora- 
tion unless  steps  were  taken  to  prevent 
it,  and  recommended  practically  the  same 
measures  as  those  advocated  in  1872  by 
Captain  Arthur,  R.X..  and  Lieutenant  Tracy. 
R.X..  namely,  that  the  river  should  be  confined 
to  one  channel,  through  which  the  flow  and 
ebb  could  run  freely.  Upon  this  point  all 
the  experts  who  have  since  examined  the 
river  have  agreed.  Disagreement  has  only 
arisen  as  to  which  of  the  existing  channels 
— the  Junk  Channel  on  one  side  of  Gough 
Island,  or  the  Ship  Channel  on  the  other — 
should  be  closed,  and  competent  opinion  has 
for  the  most  part  favoured  the  closing  of  the 
Ship  Channel,  one  of  the  strongest  argu- 
ments in  favour  of  this  course  being  that 
the  awkward  bend  at  Pheasant  Point  will 
thus  be  improved. 

The  reports  made  in  the  seventies  were, 
as  has  been  shown,  almost  entirely  dis- 
regarded. In  1896  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce invited  Mr.  de  Rijke  to  re-visit  the 
port  and  make  a  preliminary  report  as  to 
the  best  means  of  conserving  the  river. 
Accordingly,  in  the  autumn  of  1898,  after  a 
patient  examination  of  the  river,  and  a 
careful  comparison  of  his  observations  with 
those  noted  by  him  in  1876,  Mr.  de  Rijke 
submitted  two  definite  projects  :  A.,  the 
cutting  of  a  new  mouth  through  the  Pootung 
Peninsula  ;  and  B.,  the  closing  of  the  Ship 
Channel  and  the  training  of  the  river  along 
a  straightened  and  properly  defined  course 
through  the  Junk  Channel.  Of  these  alterna- 
tives, project  A.,  though  admittedly  more 
practical,  and,  in  the  long  run  more 
economical,  had  to  be  dismissed  as  involv- 
ing the  abandonment  of  Woosung  ;  and 
project  B.,  after  a  further  lapse  of   nearly  a 


decade,  is  the  one  upon  which  work  is  now 
proceeding. 

The  stream-regulating  operations,  wliich 
commenced  early  in  1907.  extend  at  present 
from  the  Woosung  Forts  to  the  vicinity  of 
Point  Hotel,  and  arc  being  undertaken 
departmentally,  Mr.  de  Rijke  having  entire 
discretion  in  regard  to  the  technical  details, 
while  Captain  H.  W.  Forbes,  formerly  in 
the  Royal  Dutch  Engineers,  exercises  general 
superintendence  as  Chief  Engineer.  The 
chief  difficulty  to  be  overcome  arises  out  of 
the  fact  that  Ship  Channel,  to  the  north  of 
Gough  Island,  cannot  be  closed  until  Junk 
Channel,  to  the  south.  Is  made  navigable  for 
(xrean-going  vessels.  Until  it  Is  closed  the 
efliclency  of  the  tidal  action  as  a  scouring 
agent  must  necessarily  be  greatly  reduced, 
and  it  Is  to  this  powerful  agency  that  the 
engineers  look  for  the  ultimate  fulfilment  of 
their  plans.  The  operations  may  be  classed 
under  two  headings  (i|  tho.se  directed  towards 
the  training  of  the  river  between  normal 
parallels,  and  (2)  those  involving  the  dredging 


JOH.    DE    RIJKE, 

Enfiincer-in-Chicf,  WlKuij'poo  Coiiserv.incy. 

of  various  banks  In  the  Junk  Channel  and 
within  the  parallels  above  and  below  Gough 
Island. 

The  method  of  constructing  the  works  to 
fix  the  parallels  Is  similar  to  that  generally 
followed  In  Holland,  where  for  centuries 
engineering  skill  has  been  directed  towards 
the  perfection  of  these  means.  A  large 
mattress,  or  raft,  of  brushwood,  held  together 
by  wicker  ropes,  is  constructed,  and  a  fence 
of  brushwood,  one  to  two  feet  high,  is  placed 
on  each  of  its  four  sides,  while  similar  fences 
are  employed  to  divide  It  into  compartments 
of  about  one  yard  square.  The  raft  is  then 
towed  to  the  required  position  and  sunk  by 
filling  the  compartments  with  stone.  It  is 
by  no  means  an  easy  task  to  sink  these 
ziiiksliicks  (sink-pieces|.  as  they  are  called  in 
the  Netherlands.  In  the  exact  position  desired, 
for  the  unwieldy  structures  measure  any- 
thing up  to  150  feet  in  length  and  85  feet  In 
width.  Especially  Is  the  difficulty  apparent  at 
places  where  great  depth  and  strong  currents 


arc  encounteretl,  long  experience  in  the  work 
being  necessary  to  ensure  success.  In  a  very 
short  space  of  time  the  ziiikstiick  becomes 
solidified  by  silt  deposit,  and  another  is  placed 
upon  it.  Thus,  by  degrees,  training-walls  are 
formed  capable  of  resisting  the  most  powerful 
tides  and  even  the  fury  of  typhoons.  Con- 
structions requiring  less  strength  are  built 
up  of  j^iihh/oiii.  or  cylindrical  wicker  baskets 
filled  with  stones.  These  baskets  are  bound 
round  with  brushwood,  and  then  dropped 
from  pontoons  into  position.  The  siiikstncks 
and  fliibhioiii  are  made  by  Ningpo  men, 
under  the  supei'vislon  of  a  special  staff  oi 
fascine   workers  from   Holland. 

.\t  the  same  time  five  dredgers  are  con- 
stantly at  work,  the  mud  which  they  excavate 
being  deposited  between  the  cribs  and  other 
works  at  Gough  Island.  PYom  the  commence- 
ment of  the  work  up  to  June  6,  1908, 
2,128,481  cubic  yards  had  been  removed  by 
the  dredgers. 

Early  as  it  is,  there  are  yet  abundant  signs 
that  the  expectations  of  Mr.  de  Rijke  are 
being  realised.  The  Hood  tide  already  shows 
a  tendency  to  flow  by  way  of  the  Junk 
Channel,  and  tidal  action  In  that  waterway 
is  apparent  in  that  the  depth  of  a  passage 
dredged  through  the  bank  off  the  south 
end  of  Gough  Island  Is  fairly  well  maintained. 
At  the  present  rate  of  progress  the  Junk 
Channel  should  be  ready  for  navigation  by 
ocean  steamers  at  the  end  of  1909,  and  most 
of  the  principal  improvements  in  the  reach 
should  be  effected  within  the  next  three  or 
four  years.  Vessels  drawing  20  feet  of  water 
will  then,  It  Is  confidently  expected,  be  able 
to  reach  Shanghai  at  any  state  of  the  tide 
but  the  lowest,  and  the  largest  vessels  on 
the  Far  Eastern  routes  will  have  access  to  the 
port  at  Hood  tide. 

No  reliable  data  is  available  upon  which  to 
base  the  final  cost  of  the  work,  the  con- 
structional cost  is  sure  to  be  more  than  a 
million  sterling. 

I# 

MR.    JOHN    DE    RIJKE,    Engincer-in-Chief 

of  the  Whangpoo  Conservancy  Works,  is  a 
native  of  Holland,  and  was  born  in  1842  on 
the  Island  of  North  Beveland,  in  the  delta 
of  the  Scheldt,  His  grandfather  was  for 
fifty  years  in  the  Government  service  as  an 
engineer  in  sea  defence  and  river  works,  and 
his  father  was  engaged  in  Government  and 
private  contract  work  of  the  same  nature. 
Mr.  de  Rijke's  peculiar  experience  in  con- 
servancy and  other  work  of  the  kind  qualify 
him  in  an  exceptional  degree  for  the  difficult 
task  that  he  has  in  hand.  He  was  engaged 
for  seven  years  on  the  Amsterdam  North  Sea 
Canal,  witnessing  the  whole  work  from 
beginning  to  end  ;  and  he  was  afterwards 
for  a  year  and  a  half  employed  on  the  con- 
struction of  a  big  lock.  In  1873  he  went  to 
Japan,  In  which  country  he  remained  for 
thirty  years  as  Advising  Engineer  to  the 
Home  Department.  His  knowledge  of  Japan 
is  probably  more  extensive  than  that  of  the 
great  majority  of  Japanese  themselves,  (or 
his  work  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  travel 
through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land, 
except  In  the  sterile  and  sparsely  Inhabited 
regions  of  the  extreme  north.  He  visited 
America  and  Shanghai,  and  at  Intervals 
re-vislted  Holland.  Whilst  in  Shanghai  on 
various  occasions  he  inspected  and  reported 
upon  the  condition  of  the  Whangpoo,  and 
It  was  his  knowledge  of  the  river  which  led 
to  his  appointment,  subsequently,  as  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  the  Whangpoo  Conservancy  Bo;ird. 
He  arrived  in  Shanghai  In  February,  1905, 
and  resides  at  No.  3D,  Peking  Road. 


A  Slkkpixc.   Bkrjh, 


NISSHIN    KISEN    KAISHA. 

S.S.  "Naxyaxg  Maru." 
Thk  Saloon. 


Promexadk  Deck. 


EDUCATION. 


[it  may  be  said  that  the  true 
history  of  the  education  of  the 
foreifjn  children  in  Shanj^hai 
began  with  the  movement 
inaugurated  by  the  Masonic 
body  in  ii*«5,  whereby  was 
founded  the  Shanghai  Masonic 
School  Fund.  The  object  of  the  fund  was 
to  provide  for  the  free  tuition  and  mainten- 
ance of  the  children  of  deceased  or  indigent 
freemasons.  The  Council  of  the  Fund  had 
in  its  constitution  a  School  Council,  compris- 
ing president,  vice-president  and  eight  other 
members,  including  an  honorary  secretary. 
The  contributors  to  the  fund  were  classified  as 
\icc-patrons.  vice-presidents,  life  governors — 
which  included  the  various  lodges  as  repre- 
sented by  delegates  therefrom  —  life  sub- 
scriliers  and  subscritiers.  A  General  Court  of 
Masonic  Contributors  was  to  t>e  held  once  in 
each  year  to  receive  the  Council's  report 
and  to  elect  a ,  president  and'  brethren  to 
serve  on  the  Council  for  the  ensuing  year. 

An  annual  subscriber  was  one  who  gave 
not  less  than  live  taels.  An  individual  donor 
of  twenty-live  taels  in  one  sum  became  a 
life  subscriber.  A  life  governor  was  an 
individual  donor  of  fifty  taels,  or,  in  the 
case  of  a  lodge,  chapter,  or  other  Masonic 
body,  a  donor  of  one  hundred  taels. 
A  donation  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  taels 
by  an  individual,  or  of  five  hundred  by  a 
Ma.sonic  body  constituted  the  donor  a  vice- 
president.  A  vice-patron  was  an  individual 
donor  of  five  hundred  taels,  or  in  the 
case  of  a  Masonic  body,  a  donor  of  one 
thousand  taels.  Votes  were  allotted  accord- 
ing to  subscriptions.  In  the  year  1887  there 
were  4  vice-presidents,  13  life  governors, 
23  life  subscribers,  and  8  subscribers, 
representing  donations  to  the  amount  of  just 
over  TIs.  3,000. 

The  school  was  established  in  1886,  in 
accordance  with  the  scheme  agreed  to  by 
all  the  Masonic  Ivxiies.  By  the  following 
year  the  Council  was  able  to  report  that 
it  was  self-supporting,  an  arrangement  having 
been  entered  into  with  the  headmaster 
and  lady  principal,  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  Court  of  Ctintributors,  by  which 
the  expenditure  in  future  should  not  exceed 
the  income.  The  main  points  of  the  arrange- 
ment were  that  the  headmaster  and  lady 
principal  should  receive  the  gross  earnings 
of  the  school  and  defray  all  expenses,  from 
September  5,  1887,  and  take  all  responsibility 
for  l<»ss.  Any  surplus  left,  after  paying  the 
salaries   of    the     headmaster    and    the     lady 


principal,  was  to  be  divided  between  tlieni 
and  the  fund.  One  Masonic  orphan  was  to 
be  boarded  and  lodged,  and  two  otliers  were 
to  be  educated,  free  of  charge,  and  children 
recommended  by  Masonic  bodies  were  to  be 
taken  on  such  terms  as  the  circumstances  of 
the  cases  should  seem  to  demand. 

A  prospectus  of  the  school  was  issued  in 
1889,  under  the  title  of  "The  Shanghai  Public 
School,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity."  There  were  then  on  the  staff, 
Mr.  George  Lanning,  headmaster,  a  matron 
and  three  assistant-mistresses.  The  subjects 
of  instruction  were  the  ordinary  English 
subjects,  with  mathematics,  science,  drawing, 
languages,  music,  calisthenics,  drill,  and  Chi- 
nese. A  limited  number  of  boarders  were 
received  though  the  school  was,  in  the 
main,  a  day  school. 

In  the  succeeding  years  the  number  of 
pupils  grew  steadily,  though  there  had  to  be 
frequent  appeals  to  the  community  for  funds. 
In  i8i>4  there  were  iii  children  under 
instruction — 56  boys  and  55  girls,  of  whom 
54  were  boarders.  The  fees  received  in 
1895  amounted  to  $7.1 12-90,  as  against 
$5,68373  in  the  previous  year ;  the  expense 
of  the  Home  amounting  to  $9,60580. 
Subscriptions  reached  $83512.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  income  was  made  up  of 
municipal  grant,  TIs.  1.500,  and  interest  on 
Endowment  Fund. 

The  Report  for  1895  states  that  :  In  1895  a 
new  building  fund  was  started  with  the 
object  of  adding  to  the  school  buildings, 
and  by  December  31st  the  sum  of  $11, 961 -55 
had  been  subscribed,  including  a  donation 
of  TIs.  4,000  from  the  Marcliese  Thomas 
Hanbury.  The  work  was  begun  in  October, 
1896,  and  by  the  following  year  a  new  wing 
had  been  added  to  the  school.  The  year 
1904  closed  with  104  boys  and  87  girls 
attending  the  sch(Kil.  On  the  boys'  side 
were  the  headmaster,  one  assistant-master, 
and  one  assistant-mistress.  On  the  girls'  side 
were  the  lady  superintendent  and  three 
assistant-mistresses.  The  working  account 
showed  a  credit  balance  of  $377-19.  The 
municipal    grant    was    now   TIs.  1,500. 

The  next  important  stage  in  the  growth 
of  the  school  was  the  signing  of  an  agreement, 
in  1893,  whereby  the  school  became  the 
property  of  the  Shanghai  Municipal  Council, 
subject  to  the  following  rules  passed  at  the 
ratepayers'    meeting    held    on    February    28, 

1893:- 
I.  The  school  shall  be  called  "  The  Shanghai 
Fublic  School." 


2.  It  shall  (when  considered  practicable)  be 

converted  into  a  day  school  only. 

3.  All  matters  in  connection  with  the  school 

shall  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  an 
educational  committee  consisting  of 
five  ratepayers,  three  to  form  a  quorum, 
who  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
Shanghai  Municipal  Council,  and  who 
shall  continue  in  oflice  for  three  years. 
Vacancies  to  be  filled  up  by  the 
fcommittee,  but  at  least  one  member 
of  the  C(jmmittee  to  be  also  a  member 
of  the  Council. 

4.  The    committee    shall    make    all    leases 

and  agreements  necessary  for  the 
working  of  the  school  ;  they  shall 
engage  and  dismiss  teachers  and 
assistants,  and  tix  the  scale  of  school 
fees,  with  power  to  make  alterations 
from  time  to  time  as  may  seem 
desirable.  They  shall  also  present 
an  annual  report  in  January  of  each 
year  to  the  Shanghai  Municipal 
Council. 

5.  A     chairman     and     secretary     shall     be 

appointed  from  the  committee,  the 
latter  of  whom  shall  conduct  all 
correspondence  of  the  connnittee  under 
the  instructions  of  the  chairman. 

6.  The  committee  or  any  authorised  section 

thereof  shall  visit  the  school  at  any 
time,  and  regulate  such  matters  as  they 
deem  desirable, 

7.  All  salaries  shall  be  fixed,  and  financial 

arrangements  conducted  by  the  com- 
mittee, excepting  such  as  tliey  decide 
to  delegate  to  the  headmaster,  who 
shall  render  a  monthly  account  to  the 
secretary. 

8.  The  headmaster  shall  draw  up  the  rules 

for  working  the  school  under  the 
approval  of  the  committee. 

9.  The  school   shall  be  open  to  all  classes 

of  children,  the  committee  reserving 
the  right  to  refuse  admission  or  to 
expel  any  children  whose  presence 
might  be  or  is  considered  by  them 
detrimental  to  the  school,  under  the 
advice  of  the  headmaster. 

10.  The  headmaster  shall  be  the  means 
of  communication  between  the  com- 
mittee and  the  staff  of  the  school, 
unless  any  member  of  the  staff  should 
feel  aggrieved,  when  a  right  of  appeal 
shall  be  granted  to  the  committee  by 
letter  only. 

11.  Minutes  shall  be  kept  of  all  meetings 
of  committee. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     485 


The  same  vear  saw  the  commencement  of 
the  steps  for  tlie  transfer  of  the  school  from 
its  old  premises  in  Fekinj;  Road  to  its  present 
situation  in  Honglcew.  In  the  early  part  of 
the  year  named,  negotiations  were  entered 
into  by  the  committee  and  the  owners  of 
the  school  property  with  a  view  to  obtaining 
a  renewal  of  the  lease,  but  it  was  found 
impossible  to  come  to  terms.  As  a  result 
of  considerable  deliberation  it  was  decided 
to  ask  the  ratepayers  for  Tls.  45,000  for  the 
purchase  of  a  site  suitable  for  the  buildings 
of  a  school  which  was  growing,  and  in 
which  the  need  for  more  commodious 
quarters,  and  the  desirability  of  isolating 
different  departments,  were  becoming  pressing. 
The  children  attending  the  school  in  1893 
were:  foreign  division,  117;  native,  25.  At 
about  this  time,  since  the  attendance  of  the 
native  division  had  greatly  fallen  off,  this 
section  of  the  school  was,  in  1904,  abandoned  ; 
none  but  European  children  being  admitted 
after  this  date. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  ratepayers  of 
February  27.  1894.  the  following  resolution 
was  passed  :  "  That  the  Municipal  Council 
be,    and    are    hereby,     empowered     to     issue 


child  shall  be  refused  admission,  or  expelled, 
except  for  his  or  her  own  personal  misconduct 
or  offensiveness  ;  provided  always  that  there 
is  room  in  the  school,  and  that  the  fees 
are  duly  paid,'  be  substituted  for  Rule  8  of 
the  prospectus  of  the  school,  which  reads  as 
follows  : — 

"  'The  school  shall  be  open  to  all  classes 
of  children,  the  committees  reserving  the 
right  to  refuse  admission  or  to  expel  any 
children  whose  presence  might  be  or  is 
considered  detrimental  by  them  to  the  school, 
under  the  advice  of  the  headmaster.' " 

Subsequently  the  following  amendment  was 
proposed  : — 

"  That  the  Eurasian  children  now  at  the 
Shanghai  public  school  be  allowed  to  remain 
as  scholars  at  the  school,  and  that  Eurasian 
children  shall  continue  to  be  admitted  to  the 
school." 

A  long  discussion  took  place,  the  result 
being  that  the  amendment  was  carried  by 
a  considerable  majority. 

The  school  continued  to  grow  during  the 
next  few  years,  and  at  the  close  of  1901  the 
total  of  pupils  had  reached  250.  In  this 
year    the    fees    were    again    raised    to    $9'0O, 


departments.  It  was  decided,  therefore,  to 
introduce  a  new  syllabus  of  work  based  on 
the  Cambridge  Local  Examination  system, 
with  such  modifications  and  emendations  as 
would  render  it  a  suitable  standard  for  local 
requirements,  and  in  doing  so,  the  existing 
syllabus  was  carefully  consulted.  A  certain 
amount  of  prejudice  had  to  be  met  at  first, 
arising  largely  from  a  confusion  of  the  terms 
"Cambridge  Local  Examination  "and  "Univer- 
sity Education."  It  soon  came  to  be  realised, 
however,  that  the  range  of  subjects  presented 
by  the  syllabus  was  so  wide  that  it  was 
possible  to  select  from  them  as  many  as 
should  be  considered  necessary  in  a  sound 
modern  commercial  education. 

The  matter  of  biblical  instruction  in  the 
school  next  occupied  the  attention  of  the 
committee.  Previous  to  1903  the  teaching 
of  the  school  had  been  secular  only  ;  the 
committee  now  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
Municipal  Council  in  which  they  stated  their 
desire  for  the  approval  of  the  ratepayers  of 
the  introduction  of  biblical  instruction  as  a 
part  of  the  school  curriculum.  A  resolution  : 
"  That  the  introduction  of  Bible  teaching  at 
the   school   on   the   lines    laid    down    in    the 


THE    PUBLIC    SCHOOL,    SHANGHAI. 


debentures  to  an  amount  not  exceeding 
Tls.  45.000  for  the  purchase  of  the  site 
and  buildings  now  occupied  by  the  public 
school,  or,  failing  that,  of  such  other  suitable 
site  as  may  be  obtainable."  A  site  (9'864  mow) 
was  at  once  acquired,  and  on  April  5,  1895. 
the  new  buildings  were  formally  opened. 

In  1904  the  attendance  had  risen  to  177, 
and  the  staff  had  been  increased  to  head- 
master, matron,  one  assistant  master,  four 
assistant  mistresses,  four  junior  assistant 
mistresses,  and  a  Chinese  teacher. 

The  development  of  the  school  had  been 
such  that  the  educational  committee,  in  their 
report  to  the  Municipal  Council,  expressed 
the  hope  that  before  long  they  might  be 
able  to  open  a  separate  division,  to  be  termed 
the  collegiate  or  high  school.  In  1895  "ie 
average  attendance  was  184.  In  consequence 
of  a  letter  put  forward  by  the  committee 
to  the  effect  that  only  children  of  Europeans 
could  be  received  as  pupils  of  the  school, 
the  following  resolution  was  brought  before 
the  ratepayers'  meeting  of  1897.  It  was  : 
"  That  the  following  rule  :  '  That  the 
Shanghai  public  school  shall  be  open  to  all 
classes  of   children   as   formerlv,  and  that  no 


S6'0O,   S4'oo,   for   the    first,   second,    and   third 
child  respectively,  and  $200  for  all  others. 

The  year  of  1903  was  one  of  great  im- 
portance in  the  life  of  the  school.  Several 
steps  were  taken,  all  of  which  tended  greatly 
to  promote  the  efficiency  of  the  school.  In 
the  first  place  the  members  of  the  staff  were 
permitted  to  have  their  agreements  drawn 
up  in  new  form,  in  harmony  with  the  plan 
upon  which  municipal  employes  in  other 
departments  were  engaged.  The  school 
henceforth  was  definitely  a  municipal  institu- 
tion, and  the  members  of  the  staff  municipal 
employes.  This  was  a  step  of  some  im- 
portance, as,  formerly,  teachers  had  been  in 
the  somewhat  anomalous  position  of  being 
restricted  by  certain  municipal  regulations 
while  not  being  allowed  to  participate  in  the 
privileges  of  municipal  service.  "The  collec- 
tion of  fees,  payments,  &c.,  were  now  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  municipal  accountant,  the 
headmaster  being  relieved  of  a  great  deal 
of  clerical  work  by  this  arrangement.  The 
matter  of  the  curriculum  had  been  engaging 
the  attention  of  the  committee  for  some  time, 
and  the  conclusion  was  arrived  at  that  there 
was     room     for     improvement     in     several 


letter  addressed  to  the  Council  by  the  chairman 
of  the  public  school  committee  under  date 
of  January  18,  1904,  be  approved,"  was 
accepted  by  the  ratepayers  in  1904,  practically 
with  unanimity.  The  conditions  under  which 
the  Bible  was  taught  were  as  follows  : — 
Hours  :  from  9  to  9.15  daily.  Exemption  : 
children  provided  with  letters  from  parents 
or  guardians  expressing  conscientious  objec- 
tions to  be  formed  into  classes  for  ordinary 
school  work.  Teaching  :  to  be  religious, 
but  no  denominational  dogma  or  creed  to 
be  taught. 

The  staff  in  1904  comprised  :  Principal, 
vice-principal,  two  as.sistant  master.s.  eight 
assistant  mistresses,  two  junior  assistant 
mistresses,  and  a  Chinese  teacher. 

In  the  year  1905  the  numbers  had  increased 
to  340.  This  brings  us  almost  up  to  the  time 
of  writing,  the  only  noteworthy  incidents 
in  the  interim  being  the  resignation  of 
Mr.  Lanning,  the  headmaster  who  had 
been  in  charge  of  the  school  since  its  incep- 
tion, and  a  small  change  in  administration 
by  which  the  secretarial  work  of  the  Com- 
mittee was  handed  over  to  the  municipal 
secretariat. 


48fi     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Ill  conclusion  may  be  given  a  few  par- 
ticulars from  the  Headmaster's  latest  report, 
and  from  the  newly  issued  prospectus  (190**). 

STAFF. 

Headmaster  :  G.  M.  Billings.  B..\  .  Honours 
Final  Schixil  of  Natural  Science,  late  Exhi- 
bitioner of  Jesus  College,  Oxford. 

AssisUnt  Masters:  M.  F.  Gray.  B.A., 
H«>nours  Classical  Tripos,  late  Exhibitioner 
t>l'  Gonville  and  Ciiius  College,  Cambridge  ; 
A.  J.  Stewart.  Queen's  Scholar,  Westminster 
College,  Ltindon  ;  F.  K.  Ward,  B.A.,  Honours 
Natural  Science  Tripos,  late  Scholar  of  Christ's 
College.  Cambridge  ;  a  French  Master  ;  Wang 
T/u    Hung,   Teacher   of   Chinese   (Mandarin). 

Assistant  Mistresses  :  Miss  F.  Astill.  Music 
Mistress  ;  Miss  E.  Black.  Form  Mistress  ; 
Miss  M.  Cardwell.  Art  Mistress  :  Miss  E. 
Chaning-Pearce.  formerly  of  Froebel's  Educa- 
tional Institute,  late  Headmistress  of  Dr. 
Bamado's  Babies'   Castle  (Kindergarten   Mis- 


acter  that  entrance  to  them  often  was 
attended  by  conditions,  and  possibilities. 
which  could  not  fail  to  be  in  coiiHict  with 
native  prejudices. 

E.xceilent  work  was  being  done  indepen- 
dently and  on  a  small  scale  by  certain 
missionary  institutions,  but  the  pupils  were 
largely  drawn  from  the  class  of  Chinamen 
who  wished  to  go  no  farther  than  the  acqui- 
sition of  some  slight  knowledge  of  English 
—enough,  in  fact,  to  gain  them  positions  as 
writing  clerks.  There  was,  it  may  almost  be 
said,  no  school  where  a  Chinese  boy  could 
be  taken  through  anything  but  the  simplest 
English  course,  such  as,  naturally,  quite 
failed  to  appeal  to  the  parents  who  were 
anxious  to  provide  for  their  sons  something 
better  than  a  mere  smattering  of  the  English 
language.  There  was  moreover  a  strong 
feeling  among  the  well-to-do  Chinese  that 
something  should  be  done,  and  they  were 
ready  to  pay  their  share  towards  educating. 


Attendance.                   Upper  School. 

L.(iwer  School, 

Kindergarten. 

Total, 

Average 
Attendance. 

Per  cent 

January.  1907      255 

June,   1907           256 

December,   1907 248 

89 
107 

29 

47 

.^67 

402 

86 

88 
91 

tress) ;  Miss  G.  Martin,  Lower  School 
Mistress  ;  Mrs.  F.  L.  Garner,  L.L  A.,  formerly 
of  St.  Andrew's  University  ;  Miss  L. 
Goodfcllow,  Kindergarten  Assistant;  Miss  M. 
Mercer  ;  Miss  J.  Patterson,  formerly  of 
Whitelands  College.  London  :  Mrs.  M.  G. 
Stuart,  formerly  of  Scottish  Education  Depart- 
ment ;  Miss  M.  Wheen.  Kindergarten  Assistant. 

New  pupils  (September  to  December 
only)   78. 

Greatest   number  on   books  403.    (In  1906, 

365.) 

Cambridge   Local   Examination   results : — 
Kntered.  Passed. 


1904 

1905 
1906 
1907 


12 

17 
12 

23 


13 

7 

17 


our  purpose  now.  however,  to  call  atten- 
tion to  one  department  only,  and  that  is 
the   Educational. 

Inasmuch  as  all  the  most  advanced 
nations  are  unanimous  about  the  necessity 
of  devoting  a  reasonable  sum  of  their 
revenue  to  aid  education,  we  think  that 
it  is  unnecessary  to  waste  your  time  on 
arguments  in  favour  of  education,  especi- 
ally as  you  are  already  making  various 
grants  in  aid  of   it. 

We  only  wish  to  call  attention  to  the 
fact  that,  other  things  being  equal,  the 
peoples  who  are  best  educated  prosper 
most.  If,  therefore,  we  wish  to  keep 
abreast  of  other  places  we  must  see  to  it 
that  all  classes  of  our  community  are  well 
educated.  As  the  Chinese  are  taxed  like 
Europeans,  they  sliould  also  reap  the 
advantages  of  education,  for  tliere  is  a 
solidarity  in  communities  as  well  as  of 
races.  The  Chinese  feel  that  they  are 
not  well  treated  in  this  respect,  and  it 
produces  an  alienation  of  feeling  that 
should  not  exist. 

To  neglect  one  class  is  to  injure  all. 

On  comparing  education  in  our  Settle- 
ment with  that  given  elsewhere  we  find 
that  somehow  we  have  in  this  respect 
allowed  ourselves  to  fall  behind  other 
places,  some  of  which  devote  a  much 
larger  proportion  of  their  revenue  to  edu- 
cation than  we  do,  e.g. — 


Great  Britain 

France     

Germany... 

Hongkong 

The  French  Municipal  Council,  Shangluii 

The  Cosmopolitan  Settlement  of  Shanghai  i  „        only. 

Again. 

The  population  of  Hongkong  is     ...         ...         246.000 

The   number  of   pupils  aided  by  grants    ...         ...         ...         ...  6,313 

Total  grant         ...         ...         

The  population  of  the  Cosmopolitan   Settlement  of  Shanghai   is         317,000 

The  number  aided  by  grants  here  is  ; — 

Public  School 208  ...         Grant 

Thomas  Hanbury's      ...         ...         124 

St   Xavier's       127 

The  French  Orphanage        102 


10  per 
6 
6 

cent 

27 

2-3 

I 

$58,000 


Tls.  4,000 
1 ,500 
1,500 
1,000 


Table  showing   municipal  grants-in-aid  for 

the  past  14  years: — 

Taels. 

1893  4,000 

1894  ...  4.000 

1895  4,000 

1896  4,000 

1897  4,000 

1898  4,000 

1899  4,000 

1900  4.000 

1901  10,000 

1902  10,000 

1903  6,000 

1904  13,000 

1905  (approx.)  9,000 

1907  (approx.)  14.500 

THE    SHANGHAI    PUBLIC    SCHOOL 
FOR    CHINESE. 

Previous  to  the  year  i89<>  the  opportunities 
offered  to  the  middle  class  and  poorer 
Chinese — of  whom  the  native  community  of 
Shanghai  comprises  so  great  a  number — to 
give  their  sons  a  thorough  sch<K)l  course  of 
English  under  qualitied  English  teachers  and 
according  to  a  well  regulated  curriculum, 
without  undue  sacrifice  of  their  own  lan- 
guage, were  comparatively  few.  Many  of 
the  existing   schfK>ls    were   of    such   a  char- 


Total   pupils     571 


Total  Grant     Tls.  8,000 


not  only  their  own  children,  but  others 
whose  parents  were  unable  to  pay  anything 
but  the  lowest  fees. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  motive 
of  individual  self-interest  was  predominant 
in  the  movement  now  commencing.  The 
enlightened  Chinese  business  man  saw  that 
the  demands  of  the  future  would  he  met 
only  by  proper  steps  being  taken  at  the 
present  day  ;  the  travelled  Chinaman  had 
returned  with  a  very  real  conception  of  the 
part  which  education  played  in  foreign 
countries  ;  and,  throughout  all,  there  ran, 
undeniably,  a  current  of  healthy  patriotism. 

The  widespread  desire  for  improvement 
in  the  education  of  the  Chinese  may  be  said 
eventually  to  have  materialised  in  the  fol- 
lowing letter  addressed  to  the  secretary  of 
the  Shanghai  Municipal  Council,  and  signed 
by  three  foreigners  of  high  standing  in  both 
the  foreign  and  the  Chinese  communities. 

SHANtiHAl, 

5th  June,   1899. 

Dear  Sir,— Shanghai  being  the  largest 
port  in  the  Far  East,  it  is  important  to 
see  that  it  is  developed  on  all  lines  that 
are  essential  to  its  highest  prosperity.  We 
rejoice  that  in  so  many  ways  we  can  com- 
pare  favourably   with    other    ports.      It    is 


The  number  of  children  of  school  age 
in  Europe  is  21  per  cent,  of  the  popu- 
lation. But  as  the  number  of  women  in 
Shanghai  is  not  equal  to  that  of  the  men, 
probably  16  per  cent,  would  be  nearer  the 
mark  here.  This  would  make  the  number 
of  school-age  children  in  Shanghai  about 
30,000. 

The  number  attending  Protestant  Mis- 
sion  Schools  in  Shanghai  is  2,300. 

Mr,  Jansen,  when  on  the  Municipal 
Council  about  five  years  ago,  got  a  rough 
census  of  the  Chinese  schools  taken.  We 
do  not  know  the  number  attending  purely 
native  schools  now. 

There  are  always  people  sufficiently 
interested  in  most  other  departments  to 
call  adention  to  any  lagging  behind  in 
them.  We  blame  ourselves  lliat  we  have 
not  hitherto  brought  up  this  matter  of 
education  with  suflicient  emphasis  to  con- 
vince the  Council  of  the  need  of  more 
action  in  this  direction. 

We  therefore  wish  to  call  your  attention 
now  to  the  necessity  of  further  action  and 
a  more  systematic  working  of  an  edu- 
cational system  which  shall  bring  about 
the  best  results  for  the  good  of  all  con- 
cerned (the  Chinese  as  well  as  Europeans 
and    Eurasians)    so   that   instead   of    being 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      487 


behind  we  might  become  the  model  of 
educ;iti(Jii  as  we  are  in  so  many  other 
departments. 

As  to  the  nature  of  education,  it  must 
consist  in  developing;  the  whole  power  of 
man — physical,  intellectual,  moral,  spirit- 
ual—in such  a  way  as  to  be  best  adapted 
to  the  four  conditions  of  life,  viz.,  the 
material,  the  social,  the  intellectual,  and 
the  spiritual  environment. 

We  propose  in  the  main  to  adopt  the 
Honj^kong  grant-in-aid  scheme  of  Edu- 
cation, which  they  have  perfected  after 
many  years'  experience. 

But  we  propose  two  important  changes, 
viz.: — 

I. — That  no  grants  be  given  m 
aid  of  purely  native  schools  any  more 
than  to  purely  religious  Western  schools, 
but  grants  are  made  for  so  many  hours 
of  useful  knowledge,  leaving  the  remain- 
ing hours  to  be  devoted  to  such  subjects 
as  the  managers  think  fit. 

2. — That,    as    the    Mandarin    language 

would  be  a   valuable,  useful   knowledge, 

we    propose    that   the    Chinese   teaching 

should    be    preferably   in    the    Mandarin 

language,  so  as  to  be  in  harmony  with 

the     tendency    of     all     nations     not     to 

multiply   languages   but    to    reduce    their 

number  as  far  as  possible. 

Herewith    we   enclose  a  proposed    code 

of   a   grant-in-aid    system   of   education    for 

Shanghai.      Will   you   kindly   lay   it   before 

the   Council   and   say  that   we   respectfully 

beg  them  to  consider  it  and  hope  they  will 

adopt  it  ? 

We  believe  it  will  give  great  satisfaction 
to  the  Chinese,  that  it  will  be  no  small 
boon  to  the  Settlement,  and  that  it  will  be 
of  great  service  in  the  future  opening  up 
and  development  of  the  resources  of  this 
great  Empire.  Well-trained  Chinese  are 
greatly  wanted  in  all  departments,  and 
rapid  development  is  simply  impossible 
without   education. 

Appointed  for  the    work  of    representing 
this   matter  before   you  by  the   Society  for 
the    Diffusion    of     Christian    and    General 
Knowledge  among  the   Chinese, 
We  are.  Sir, 

Yours  most  respectfullv, 
TIMOTHY   RICHARD. 
JOHN   C.    FERGUSON. 
F.    L.    HAWKS   POTT. 
The  Secretary,  Municipal  Council. 

The  reply  to  this  letter  and  the  correspon- 
dence which  arose  from  it  are  of  sufficient 
importance  to  justify  their  being  given  in 
full. 

Council  Room,  Shakghai, 

13th  June,  1899. 
Gentlemen, — Your  letter  of  5th  inst.  on 
the  subject  of  a  municipal  grant-in-aid  of 
school  in  Shanghai,  has  been  duly  sub- 
mitted to  the  Council,  and  the  proposals 
therein  contained  for  establishing  a  system 
of  controlled  education,  assisted  out  of  the 
public  funds,  will  receive  the  careful  con- 
■   sideration  it  deserves. 

In  reply  to  the  more  important  points 
which  you  have  raised,  I  am  directed  now 
to  state  : — 

1.  That  the  provision  of  suitable  educa- 
tion for  native  children  residing  in  the 
Settlement  is  recognised  by  the  Council  as 
a  public  duty,  and  one  which,  in  justice  to 
the  Chinese  taxpayers,  should  be  met  (so 
far  as  the  exigencies  of  the  Budget  and  local 
conditions  permit)  out  of  the  public  funds. 

2.  That  the  Council  is  generally  in 
sympathy  with  the  opinions  which  you 
have  expressed    on   behalf    of    the   Society 


for  the  Diffusion  of  General  and  Christian 
Knowledge  among  the  Chinese,  and  would 
be  glad  to  support  in  due  time  a  practical 
scheme  with  a  view  to  attaining  the 
objects   set    forth    in    your  letter. 

3.  That  the  actual  voting  of  public 
funds  for  educational  or  other  grants-in-aid 
is  a  matter  requiring  the  formal  assent  of 
the  ratepayers  in  meeting  assembled.  The 
Council  considers  that,  before  going  min- 
utely into  details  or  framing  regulations 
for  the  expenditure  of  such  grants-in-aid, 
the  general  principle  of  municipal  educa- 
tion requires  to  be  brought  forward  in  the 
form  of  a  resolution  at  a  ratepayers'  meet- 
ing, discussed  in  all  its  bearings,  and 
approved.  The  principle  once  admitted  a.s 
regards  the  Chinese  community,  the  con- 
ditions under  which  it  would  be  carried 
into  effect  would  be  properly  a  matter  for 
the  Council's  deliberations.  Under  these 
circumstances  it  is  now  suggested  that  a 
definite  scheme  of  municipal  education  for 
Chinese  (giving  approximate  estimate  of 
cost  and  results)  should  be  drawn  up  by 
yourselves,  as  the  representatives  of  that 
section  of  the  foreign  community  most 
directly  interested  in  the  matter,  and  laid 
before  the  next  annual  meeting  of  rate- 
payers, and  the  Council  will  be  glad  to 
confer  in  due  course  on  the  financial  and 
adininistrative  questions  involved. 

4.  That  for  these  reasons  the  Council 
refrains  at  present  from  discussing  the 
code  of  proposed  regulations  submitted  by 
you,  but  would  merely  suggest  that  on 
closer  inquiry  into  existing  conditions  it 
may  perhaps  be  found  that  the  peculiar 
local  features  obtaining  in  this  essentially 
cosmopolitan  community  will  render  difti- 
cult  any  strict  adherence  to  the  system 
adopted  in  the  British  Crown  Colony  of 
Hongkong,  and  that,  were  a  scheme  so 
wide-reaching  as  that  which  you  have  sug- 
gested adopted  in  Shanghai,  the  provision  of 
a  permanently  adequate  grant-in-aid  from 
municipal  funds,  as  now  available,  might 
prove  to  be  a  matter  of  grave  difficulty. 
It  is  evident  that  from  the  ratepayers'  point 
of  view  the  scheme  as  a  whole  will  require 
the  most  careful  consideration. 

5.  F"inally,  the  Council  would  suggest, 
with  a  view  to  formulating  a  scheme  suffi- 
ciently definite  in  its  financial  and  general 
bearings  to  enable  it  to  be  laid  before  the 
ratepayers  in  the  form  of  a  resolution, 
that  your  Society,  and  others  interested  in 
the  question,  should  ascertain  to  some 
extent  the  amount  of  support  which  a 
municipal  system  of  education  would  be 
likely  to  receive  from  the  better  class  of 
native  residents,  and  further,  that  certain 
representative  members  of  that  class  should 
be  led  to  interest  themselves  in  the  move- 
ment and  to  identify  themselves  personally 
with  the  objects  in  view.  The  Council 
has  no  doubt  that,  were  this  done,  and  a 
clearly  defined  scheme  for  carrying  out 
this  necessary  and  important  work  laid 
before  the  ratepayers,  the  latter  would  in 
justice  to  the  native  community,  which 
provides  so  large  a  share  of  the  taxation, 
sanction  the  expenditure  involved  and  pro- 
vide the  means  for  meeting  it.  A  certain 
amount  of  preliminary  ventilation  of  the 
Society's  views  in  the  local  press  would 
doubtless   be   of   general  advantage. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be. 

Gentlemen, 
Your  Obedient   Servant, 
J.   O.   P.   BLAND,  Secretary. 
Rev.    Timothy    Richard. 
Rkv.   F.   L.   Hawks    Pott. 
J.   C.  Ferguson,   Esg. 


Shanghai,  29th  December,  1899. 

Dear  Sir, — In  the  communication  received 
from  you,  dated  June  13th,  1899.  in  regard 
to  the  education  of  the  Chinese  in  the 
Settlement,  you  ask  that  we  should  prepare 
a  definite  scheme  with  estimates,  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Municipal  Council. 

We    now    beg    leave    to   lay   before   the 

Municipal   Council  the   following  proposals, 

and  respectfully  ask  that   the  same   should 

be  put  before  the  next  ratepayers'  meeting. 

Proposals. 

1.  That  an  Anglo-Chinese  School  for 
boys  should  be  opened  in  the  Settlement, 
to  be  known  as  the  Shanghai  Public 
School   for   Chinese. 

2.  That  the  sum  of  thirty  thousand 
taels  (Tls.  30,000)  for  the  school  building 
and  residences  for  foreign  masters,  should 
be  contributed  by  the  Chinese  themselves. 

3.  That  the  Municipal  Council  should 
make  a  grant  of  a  piece  of  land  upon 
which  the  buildings  shall  be  erected, 
and  should  also  give  an  armual  grant  of 
five  thousand  taels  (Tls.  5.000)  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  foreign  headmaster 
and  foreign  assistant-instructor,  and  to- 
wards the  current  expenses  of  the  school. 

4.  That  the  school  should  be  built  to 
accommodate   five   hundred  pupils. 

5.  That  the  pupils  should  be  drawn 
from  the  middle  class  and  should  pay 
fees,  and  that  the  money  collected  from 
them  should  be  used  for  helping  to  de- 
fray the  current  expenses  of  the  school, 
and  for  the  salaries  of  the  assistant 
Chinese   teachers. 

6.  That  a  committee  of  five  persons, 
three  foreigners  and  two  Chinese,  should 
be  appointed  annually  by  the  Municipal 
Council,  to  have  the  entire  management 
of  the  school  and  its  funds,  and  that  said 
committee  should  render  a  report  to  the 
Municipal  Council  at  the  close  of  each 
school  year. 

7.  That  the  services  of  the  head- 
master and  assistant  instructor  should  be 
engaged  by  the  Municipal   Council. 

8.  That  the  school  building  and  resi- 
dences erected  shall  be  the  property  of 
the  Municipal  Council. 

We  would  also  state  that  we  have  inter- 
viewed some  of  the  leading  Chinese  gen- 
tlemen of  Ihe  Settlement,  such  as  the  late 
director,  the  present  director,  and  the  present 
manager  of  the  China  Merchants  Steam 
Navigation  Company,  and  the  compradores 
of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Banking 
Corporation,  and  of  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co. 
And  that  they  have  guaranteed  to  secure 
the  sum  of  'tis.  30,000  for  the  erection  of 
the  buildings. 

We  would  c.ill  attention  to  the  fact  that 
the  carrying  out  of  this  scheme  would  not 
be  a  very  great  drain  upon  the  resources  of 
the  Municipality,  that  it  would  not  pauperise 
the  Chinese,  that  it  would  be  heartily 
welcomed  by  the  Chinese  themselves,  and 
that  it  would  be  an  acknowledgment  on 
the  part  of  the  foreign  community  of  their 
interest  in  the  best  welfare  of  the  Chinese 
residents   in    the    Settlement. 

Trusting  that  the  scheme  will  commend 
itself  as  practicable  to  the  members  of 
tile  Municipal  Council,  and  that  they  will 
incorporate  it  in  a  suitable  resolution 
for  bringing  it  forward  at  the  next  rate- 
payers' meeting.       We  are. 

Most  respectfullv  vours, 

TIMOTH'i^  RICHARD. 
JOHN  C.  FERGUSON. 
F.    L.    HAWKS     POTT. 

J.  O.  P.  Bi-ANU,  Esq., 

Secrelary  of  the  Miim'cifiil  Council. 


488      TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


CorxciL   Room,   Shan'ohai. 
13th    January,   igoo. 

Gentlemen. — I  am  direited  to  acknow- 
ledge the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the 
2Qth  ultimo,  conveying  to  the  Council  your 
proposals  in  regard  to  a  scheme  for  the 
establishment  of  a  school  lor  Chinese 
boys. 

The  attitude  of  the  members  towards 
the  question  generally  has  been  fully  com- 
municated to  you  in  my  letter  of  13th  June 
last.  and.  in  continuation  thereof.  I  am 
directed  to  siy  that  the  Council  is  much 
struck  with  the  progressive  and  public- 
spirited  action  of  the  Chinese  in  this 
matter,  and  will  strongly  recommend  for 
adoption  by  the  ratepayers  at  the  forth- 
coming annual  meeting  that  the  foreign 
community  contribute  the  share  of  the 
expenditure  indicated  in  your  letter.  In 
ac-cordance  wherewith  a  sum  of  Tls.  3,000 
will  be  inserted  in  the  Municipal  Budget 
as  representing  the  probable  outlay  which 
will  be  incurred  during  the  year,  and 
the  selection  of  a  suitable  site  for  the 
building  will  be  a  matter  for  early 
settlement. 

The   Council    will   be  glad   if  this   latter 
point    may    be    made    a    subject    for    dis- 
cussion   between    Mr.    Ferguson    and    the 
Municipal  Engineer. 
I  am.  Gentlemen. 

Your  obedient  servant. 

\V.  E.  LEVESOX, 

Assistant  Secretary. 

Key.  Timothy  Kichakd. 

Key.  F.  L.  H.  Pott. 

J.  C.  Ferguson,  Esq. 

With  this  offer  on  the  part  of  the  Chinese 
to  contribute  Tls.  30.000  provided  that  the 
Council  made  a  grant  of  a  suitable  piece  of 
land  upon  which  the  school  buildings  might 
be  erected,  and  that  they  gave,  further,  an 
annual  grant  of  Tls.  5.000  for  the  main- 
tenance of  foreign  headmaster  and  foreign 
assistant-instructor,  and  towards  the  current 
expenses  of  the  school,  the  whole  matter  was 
placed  before  the  ratepayers  at  the  annual 
meeting   in   igoo. 

It  was  then  proposed  (Resolution  VI.)  by 
Mr.  F.  Anderson  : — 

"That  the  Council  be.  and  is  hereby. 
authorised  to  inaugurate,  establish,  and 
control  a  system  of  public  education  for 
the  benefit  of  Chinese  residents  in  the 
Settlement,  and  that  to  this  end  the  Coun- 
cil be  authorised  to  accept  the  offer  made 
by  certain  Chinese  residents  to  subscribe 
Tls.  30.000  for  the  erection  of  a  building 
suitable  for  a  Chinese  public  school,  to 
make  an  annual  grant  not  exceeding 
Tls.  5.000  from  the  public  funds  for  the 
maintenance  thereof,  and  to  provide  a  site 
for  the  said  huilding ;  the  management  of 
the  said  school  to  be  in  the  hands  of  a 
committee  appointed  by  the  Council,  under 
conditions  generally  similar  to  those  exist- 
ing in  the  case  of  the  Shanghai  public 
school." 

Several  speakers  addressed  the  meeting, 
and  one  or  two  points  were  raised,  an 
important  one  being  that  regarding  the 
class  of  Chinese  to  be  benefited  by  the 
proposed  step. 

The  mover,  in  his  reply,  stated  that  it  was 
the  wish  of  the  Council  to  benefit  the  poorer 
or  lalxiuring  classes,  who  could  not  afford 
to  pay  more  than  $2  or  $3  a  month.  He 
stated,  further,  that  the  Tls.  30.000  had  been 
offered  by  philanthropic  Chinese,  regardless 
of  whether  their  own  children  would  or 
would  not  attend  the  school.  At  the  same 
time  it  was  to  be  expressly  understood  that 


the  resolution  before  the  ratepayers  was 
only  a  preliminary  one.  On  its  being  put  to 
the  meeting  it  was  carried  unanimously. 

The  uprising  in  North  China  occurred  in 
1900.  and,  on  this  account,  it  was  not  until 
.•Vugust,  1901,  that  the  amount  promised,  viz., 
lis.  30,000,  was  deposited  with  the  Council. 
I'pon  this  having  been  done,  a  sum  of 
Tls.  20.000  was  at  once  recommended  in  the 
Municipal  Budget  to  be  expended  on  the 
provision  of  a  site  for  the  school  buildings. 
In  October.  1902,  a  piece  of  land  measuring 
mow  I3'655  was  purchased,  and  plans  were 
prepared  by  the  Municipal  Engineer  and 
approved  by  the  Council.  The  school 
buildings  were  completed  without  loss  of 
time,  and  in  January,  1904.  the  headmaster 
and  his  assistant  arrived  from  England.  In 
the  same  year  the  school  was  formally 
opened  with  fifty  pupils  on  the  books. 

The  curriculum  embraced  English  subjects, 
to  which  the  greater  part  of  the  day  was 
given,  and  Chinese  language  and  literature, 
&c..  which  occupied  the  rest  of  the  time. 
The  English  course  is.  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  the  same  as  that  to  be  found  in 
an  English  elementary  school,  of  course 
slightly  modified  to  meet  local  conditions. 
The  idea  of  acquiring  merely  a  working 
knowledge  of  the  English  language  is 
strongly  discouraged,  and  much  attention  is 
paid  to  the  gaining,  by  each  scholar,  of  a 
sufficient  knowledge  of  his  mother  tongue. 
Since  1904  the  school  has  grown  rapidly. 
There  were  in  1905  no  less  than  120  pupils — 
an  increase  of  60  on  the  preceding  year — 
while  in  1906  the  number  was  250.  In 
1907  there  were  305  scholars  on  the  boaks, 
and  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  engage 
another  assistant-master  from  England.  In 
the  present  year  there  are  more  pupils 
applying  for  admission  than  can  be  accom- 
modated ;  the  desirability  of  engaging  a 
third  assistant  from  home  is  being  urged, 
and  there  seems  to  be  every  possibility  that 
the  matter  of  extension  of  the  school  buildings 
will  have  to  be  considered. 

An  interesting  summary  of  the  history  of 
this  movement  is  contained  in  two  com- 
memorative brass  tablets  which  were 
unveiled  in  the  main  hall  of  the  school 
during  March  1907.  The  names  of  the 
subscribers  to  the  building  fund  are  engraved 
on  one  tablet,  and  a  translation  of  the  other 
follows  : — • 

'•  Shanghai  Municipal  Council. 

'■  Tablet  commemorating  the  foundation  of  the 
"  Public  School  for  Chinese. 

"  That  human  abilities  are  dependent  upon 
the  implanting  thereof  by  means  of  education 
is  a  principle  admitted  in  every  country  of 
the  East  and  West  and  tJiroughout  the  Globe. 
Hence  the  Municipal  Council,  acceding  to 
the  request  of  the  Society  for  the  Diffusion 
of  Christian  and  General  Knowledge, 
established  the  Public  School  for  Chinese. 

■'To  retrace  events,  in  the  month  of  June, 
1899,  three  members  of  the  Society  made 
personal  representations  to  the  Council  to 
the  effect  that  although  Chinese  sojourning 
in  the  Settlement  paid  taxes  in  accordance 
with  regulations,  the  Council  had  not  provided 
for  the  establishment  of  a  school  in  which 
the  Chinese  might  learn  and  receive  the 
benefits  of  education,  and  that  therein  lay 
inequality  of  treatment  ;  and  asking  that 
some  cause  be  devised  to  remove  this  cause 
for  discontent. 

"  The  Council  having  signified  its  consent, 
a  meeting  of  the  heads  of  the  various  native 
firms  was  held  after  the  space  of  one  year, 
in  which  the  proposal  received  general 
support,  and  the  matter  was  settled. 


"  It  was  decided  to  appropriate  public  moiiev 
for  the  purchase  of  land  and  to  set  aside 
money  for  yearly  expcndilure.  whilst  tlie 
Chinese,  by  means  of  subscriptions,  would 
bear  the  cost  of  constructing  the  building. 
These  points  were  hardly  settled  when  the 
Boxer  troubles  broke  out  in  the  North,  the 
South  being  also  affected,  with  the  result 
that  progress  in  the  matter  was  delayed.  In 
the  next  ye.ir  the  following  Chinese  gentle- 
men— Chang  Kwang-ying,  Toiig  Kid-son,  and 
Chun  Kai-ting — solicited  subscriptions  and 
collected  the  amount  as  promised.  The 
Municipal  Council,  therefore,  also  acted  as 
already  arranged  and  bought  land  as  a  site 
for  the  school,  thus  enabling  the  building  to 
commence. 

"  Materials  and  workmen  were  accordingly 
provided,  and  after  diligent  efforts,  in  a  brief 
space,  a  handsome,  elegant,  and  lofty  struc- 
ture stood  at  the  north  of  Shanghai  —  so 
massive  and  spacious  in  appearance  as  to 
resemble  the  wide  halls  mentioned  by  Tu 
Ting.  All  who  came  to  view  it  applauded 
with  delight,  and  its  completion  was  the 
subject  of   general   congratulation. 

"  The  object  of  this  tablet  is  to  record  the 
commencement  and  the  end  of  the  matter, 
and  to  form  a  recognition  of  the  generous 
action  of  the  originators  and  their  alacrity  in 
bestowing  this  public  benefit. 

"  The  names  of  the  various  subscribers  are 
inscribed  below  in  remembrance.  Henceforth 
education  in  Shanghai  will  progress  and 
talent  will  flourish.  This  tablet  is  placed  to 
incite  the  men  who  come  after  to  affectionate 
and  undying  memory  of  the  founders." 


THE    ELLIS    KADOORIE    SCHOOL. 

The  history  of  the  origin  of  the  Ellis 
Kadoorie  Schools  belongs  to  Hongkong,  as 
it  was  there  that  their  founder,  Mr.  Ellis 
Kadoorie,  began  his  public-spirited  work. 
With  a  large  school  firmly  established  in 
Hongkong  and  another  almost  as  successful 
in  Canton,  it  was  decided  to  open  a  school 
in  Shanghai.  This  was  done  in  the  spring 
of  1902,  and  150  pupils  were  at  once  en- 
rolled. The  numbers  increased  so  rapidly 
that  within  a  year  there  were  more  than  300 
in  attendance.  A  branch  was  then  opened 
in  Nantao,  a  Chinese  district  on  the  borders 
of  the  P'oreign  Settlement,  and  within  a  month 
there  were  90  scholars  on  the  books,  a 
number  which  exhausted  the  accommodation 
of   the   building. 

In  the  Kadoorie  School  the  children  re- 
ceived instruction  in  English  and  in  Chinese, 
the  curriculum  being  similar  to  tliat  of  the 
Chinese  Public  School  now,  but  no  fees  were 
charged.  The  expenses  were  met  by  volun- 
tary subscriptions  from  foreign  and  Chinese 
firms  and  private  persons.  Though  in  the 
matter  of  work  and  the  number  of  pupils 
the  schools  in  Shanghai  were  eminently 
successful,  the  financial  support  received  was 
discouraging,  by  f;u'  tlie  greater  part  of  the 
expenses  having  to  be  borne  by  the  founder 
himself.  It  was  therefore  decided,  after  the 
first  year,  to  charge  a  low  fee,  and  though 
this  step  had  the  effect  of  cutting  down 
the  numbers,  the  school  in  Shangliai  has 
continued  to  be  successful  up  to  the  present 
time. 

In  1907  Mr.  Kadoorie,  by  offering  to 
secure  subsLriptions  aggregating  Tls.  25.000  -- 
of  which  he  would  contribute  half  towards 
the  establishing  of  a  school  for  Chinese, 
afforded  the  Council  an  opportunity,  which 
appeared  acceptable,  of  building  a  second 
municipal     school,     but     the     scheme     was 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     489 


regarded  as  somewhat  preniatiiie  Mr. 
Kadoorie  later  consented  to  tiokl  his  offer 
at  the  Council's  disposal  until  a  more  suit- 
able time,  and,  in  view  of  the  increasing 
vogue  which  the  existing  school  is  obtaining, 
there  is  reason  to  expect  that  the  execution 
of  the  project  need  not  be  long  deterred. 


The  French  Concession  contains  a  small 
municipal  school  which  is  attended  by  about 
two  hundred  Chinese  scholars,  who  receive 
instruction  from  foreign  and  Chinese  masters. 
It  is  the  intention  of  the  French  Municipal 
Council  in  the  future  to  establish  another 
municipal  school  and  a  small  Franco-Chinese 
University  in  the  Concession,  for  which 
purpose  the  sum  of  Tls.  25,000  has  been  set 
aside.  It  is  expected  that  a  contribution  of 
a  similar  amount  to  this  will  be  received 
from   the   French   Government. 


(g) 


THE   THOMAS    HANBURY    SCHOOL 
AND    CHILDREN'S    HOME. 

On  April  30,  1888,  there  was  presented  to 
the  public  the  first  annual  report  of  the 
committee  of  the  Children's  Home.  The 
constitution   of  the    Home   was  as  follows  : — 

Revised   Form   ok   Constitution   for 
The   Children's   Home. 

I.  The  institution  shall  be  called  "  The 
Children's  Home." 

II.  The  object  is  to  provide  a  home, 
with  secular  and  religious  training,  for 
destitute  and  other  children  of  various 
nationalities. 

HI.  The  institution  shall  be  under  the 
control  of  a  general  committee  of  at  least 
ten  members,  five  of  whom  shall  form  a 
quorum,  to  be  elected  at  an  annual  public 
meeting  by  subscribers  to  the  Home,  and 
this  committee  shall  select  the  officers  of 
the  Home,  viz.,  president,  vice-president, 
secretary,  treasurer,  and  such  sub-com- 
mittees as  they  may  see  fit.  The  general 
committee -shall  have  power  to  fill  up  any 
vacancies  in  the  number  that  may  occur 
between  the  annual  meetings. 

IV.  The  annual  meeting  of  subscribers, 
of  which  ten  days'  notice  shall  be  adver- 
tised by  the  secretary,  shall  be  held  in 
May,  at  which  meeting  the  audited  accounts 
and  report  of  the  proceedings  for  the  year 
ending  30th  of  April  shall  be  presented, 
the  general  committee  for  the  ensuing 
year  shall  be  appointed,  and  the  business 
of   the    Home  considered. 

V.  A  special  meeting,  of  which  ten 
days'  notice  shall  be  advertised  by  the 
secretary,  may  be  called  at  the  request  of 
three  or  more  members  of  the  general 
committee  for  the  consideration  of  business 
to  be  specified  in  the  notice. 

VI.  Free  education,  board,  and  clothing 
will  be  provided  for  destitute  children,  but 
a  certain  monthly  charge  will  be  made  to 
those  who  are  able  to  pay. 

VII.  All  property,  whether  real  or  per- 
sonal, now  or  hereafter  belonging  to  the 
Home,  shall  be  vested  in  three  gentlemen 
as  trustees,  to  be  elected  by  the  general 
committee ;  and  it  shall  be  competent 
for  these  officers,  acting  in  accordance 
with  a  resolution  passed  by  the  general 
committee,  to  invest  monies  and  to  buy, 
lease,  sell,  convey,  transfer,  mortgage,  or, 
sub-let  any  land  or  buildings  the  propertv 
of,  or  intended  for  the  use  of,  the  Home  ; 
and    the    production    of    a     copy     of    the 


said  resolution,  certified  by  the  president 
or  vice-president  and  secretary,  shall  be 
accepted  as  full  authority  for  their  action 
on  behalf  of  the  Home.  The  general 
committee  shall  have  the  power  to  appoint 
new  trustees  as  vacancies  may  occur. 

VIII.  If  at  any  time  hereafter  it  shall 
be  resolved  by  the  majority  of  the  sub- 
scribers present  at  an  annual  or  special 
meeting  that  the  institution  be  closed,  it 
shall  then  be  competent  for  the  general 
committee,  through  its  officers,  to  sell  the 
whole  or  any  part  of  the  property  of 
the  Home,  and  to  bestow  or  invest  the 
proceeds  arising  from  it  in  such  manner 
as  may  appear  to  them  in  their  absolute 
discretion  to  be  best  fitted  to  promote 
the  well-being  and  education  of  destitute 
children    in    Shanghai. 

IX.  Power  to  change,  supplement,  or 
amend  the  constitution  of  the  Home  shall 
reside  in  the  majority  of  the  subscribers 
present  at  an  annual  or  special  meeting. 

X.  The  general  committee  shall  have 
power  to  change,  supplement,  or  amend 
the  by-laws. 

In  August,  1887,  there  had  been  issued  a 
prospectus  of  the  Home,  in  which  its  object 
and  nature  were  clearly  set  forth  and  sub- 
scriptions for  the  maintenance  of  the  work 
in  hand  solicited.  A  considerable  sum  of 
money  was  forthcoming  from  Shanghai  and 
neighbourhood,  notably  from  Ningpo,  but  it 
was  not  held  to  be  desirable  that  the  Home 
should  be  established  until  a  sum  of  Tls.  4,000, 
independent  of  the  Endowment  Fund,  should 
be  available.  In  1889  the  necessary  funds 
were  raised  and  a  house  in  Carter  Road  was 
rented  and  opened  as  the  Children's  Home 
on  May  9,  1889.  Two  mistresses  arrived 
from  England,  and  promises  of  three  or  four 
children  to  be  under  their  care  were  at  once 
received.  The  committee  considered  them- 
selves pledged  not  to  receive  more  than  ten, 
unless  the  state  of  their  finances  fully  justified 
their  incurring  the  additional  expense. 

The  sisters  began  work  with  one  child  and 
after  one  year  there  were  fourteen,  varying 
in  age  from  three  to  seventeen  years.  There 
were  eight  paying  pupils  and  six  supported 
by  the  Home.  In  1890  the  committee  an- 
nounced that  through  the  liberality  of  a  late 
resident,  Mr.  Thomas  Hanbury,  a  valuable 
piece  of  land  in  Hongkew,  on  which  the 
present  Eurasian  School  for  Boys  stood,  had 
been  made  over  as  a  trust  to  the  Municipal 
Council  of  Shanghai  for  the  use,  and  to  be 
under  the  management  of,  the  committee  of 
the  Children's  Home.  With  the  promise 
of  the  land  Mr.  Hanbury  made  an  offer  of 
Tls.  5,000  towards  building  expenses  on  con- 
dition that  a  similar  sum  of  Tls.  5,000  should 
be  collected  from  the  community  by  the  end 
of  February — within  two  months  from  the 
time  his  letter  making  the  offer  was  received 
in  Shanghai.  This  was  successfully  done, 
the  subscriptions  amounting  to  Tls.  7,ii3'8i. 
The  trust  deed  duly  arrived  in  Shanghai,  and 
the  property  was  transferred  to  the  Municipal 
Council. 

The  work  of  building  was  carried  forward 
in  1890,  and  in  1891  the  whole  was  com- 
pleted and  the  new  school,  comprising  the 
Children's  Home  and  the  Eurasian  School  for 
Boys  and  Girls,  was  opened  in  Boone  Road, 
under  the  name  of  the  Thomas  Hanbury 
School  and  Children's  Home,  on  the  site 
given  by  Mr.  Thomas  Hanbury. 

There  were  22  boarders  in  the  school 
and  II  day  pupils,  and  the  work  was 
similar  to  that  of  an  elementary  school  in 
England  and  carried  on  by  a  staff  of  four 
mistresses.  In  the  matter  of  finance,  it 
is  recorded    that    in    the    "  Boys'  "    Working 


Account  there  was  a  loss  of  Tls.  I,3i8'29 
which  was  met  by  the  municipal  grant  to 
the  extent  of  Tls.  1,200,  the  balance  being 
carried  forward.  In  the  Girls'  Department 
the  loss  was  Tls.  63324,  while  in  the 
Building  Account  the  total  expenditure  was 
Tls.  I5,788'97,  while  the  total  amount  raised 
was  Tls.  13,665-41,  leaving  a  balance  of 
Tls.  2,12356  still  to  be  raised.  To  meet  this 
Tls.  1,000  were  borrowed  from  the  general 
funds  and  there  was  incurred  an  over- 
draft at  the  Chartered  Mercantile  Bank  of 
Tls.  1,123-56.  It  was  hoped  that  all  debts 
would  be  wiped  out,  together  with  the  cost 
of  various  improvements  to  the  building,  by 
contributions  during  the  next  year.  In  1892 
there  were  39  boarders  and  28  day  pupils, 
of  whom  24  boarders  were  supported  wholly 
or  mainly  by  the  Home.  In  this  year  the 
debt  on  the  Building  Account  was  wiped  out 
and  a  sum  of  81,278-39  transferred  to  the 
Endowment  Fund,  which  then  reached  a 
total  of  $7,857-64.  The  municipal  grant  was 
again  Tls.  1,000. 

In  the  latest  report  (1907)  the  death  of 
Sir  Thomas  Hanbury  was  recorded.  Sir 
Thomas  was  the  constant  friend  of  the  school 
since  its  commencement,  and  it  is  not  saying 
too  much  to  add  that,  from  a  financial  point 
of  view,  it  is  to  him  that  the  school  owes 
its  growth  to  its  present  size  and  importance. 
He  left  the  school  a  legacy  of  Tls.  20,000. 
With  the  name  of  Sir  Thomas  Hanbury 
may  be  mentioned  those  of  the  late  chaplain, 
the  Rev.  H.  C.  Hodges,  and  the  late  Cornelius 
Thorne,  Esq.,  two  gentlemen  who  worked 
indefatigably,  and  withal  successfully,  on 
behalf  of  the  school  almost  throughout  its 
career.  Mr.  Thorne  left  the  school  a  legacy 
of  ;f  1,000. 

At  the  present  time  there  are  ten  girls  and 
one  boy  being  provided  with  board,  tuition, 
and  clothes  free  of  cost,  in  addition  to  which 
there  are  one  boy  and  twelve  girls  being 
educated  at  reduced  fees. 

There  are  in  attendance  no  boys  and  64 
girls  ;  total,  174  pupils.  The  staff  comprises 
head  master,  second  master,  head  mistress, 
second  mistress,  third  mistress,  matron 
mistress,   and   two  assistant   mistresses. 


ST.    FRANCIS   XAVIER'S    SCHOOL. 

This  school,  situated  in  Hongkew,  was 
founded  by  the  Jesuit  P'athers,  and  managed 
by  them  until  it  was,  in  1895,  handed  over 
to  the  Marist  Brothers,  a  religious  order 
having  schools  in  England,  Scotland.  Ireland, 
America,  Africa,  Australia,  and  New  Zealand. 
The  members  of  this  order  are  well  qualified 
to  undertake  the  work  of  such  a  school, 
but  their  progress  was  greatly  retarded  by 
lack  of  funds.  St.  Xavier's  is  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Kiangnan 
Mission,  and  is  a  day-school,  but  boarders 
and  half  boarders,  who  dine  and  lunch  at 
the  institution,  are  also  admitted.  Both 
foreign  and  Chinese  boys  are  admitted. 
"  The  school  is  conducted  on  strictly  Catholic 
principle,  but  members  of  any  religious 
denomination  are  admitted,  provided  they  be 
willing,  for  the  sake  of  order,  to  be  present, 
with  proprietv,  at  all  the  common  exercises 
of  the  school."  The  Municipal  Council  gave 
grants-in-aid  from  time  to  time.  In  1893  a 
grant  of  Tls.  1.500  was  made,  and  at  this 
time  there  w-ere  30  orphans  and  100  poor  day 
pupils  at  the  school.  The  school  was  for  the 
poor,  and  so  was  dependent  almost  entirely 
for  income  on  donations.  In  1896  there  were 
36  orphans  and  no  poor  day  pupils,  and  the 
deficit  for  the  year  was  over  $4,500. 


STAFF    OF    THE    IMPERIAL    POST    OFFICE.    SHANGHAI. 


POSTS,    CABLES,    AND   TELEPHONES. 


WING  to  the  fact  that  China 
has  not  entered  the  Postal 
Union,  six  foreign  Post 
Offices  are  maintained  in 
Shan>;li'i'  by  the  respective 
Governments  of  Great  Brit;iiii, 
France.  Germany.  Russia, 
Japan,  and  the  I'nited  States  of  Americ-a  for 
the  purpose  of  deahn^  with  international 
correspondence.  The  Chinese  Post  Olifice 
undertakes  the  conveyance  of  letters  and 
parcels  to  any  part  of  the  Empire,  and  the 
charges  for  local  letters  and  for  letters 
addressed  to  any  place  in  which  it  has  a 
branch  are  about  half  those  made  by  the 
foreign  oftices.  that  is  to  say.  they  are  one 
cent  and  two  cents  respectively.  The  Chinese 
Post  Office  is  the  only  medium  for  the  trans- 
mission of  inail  matter  to  and  from  places  in 
China  in  which  the  Foreign  Powers  have 
not  established  postal  agencies  of  their  own. 
To  any  country  in  the  Postal  Union  letters 
and  parcels  may  be  sent  at  Union  rates,  but 
not  at  the  domestic  rates  adopted  by  alien 
post  oflices  in  China.  Consequently,  were 
it  not  for  the  existence  of  the  British  Post 
Ofiice.  the  transmission  of  letters  between 
Shanghai  and  the  various  parts  of  the  British 
Empire,  except  Hongkong  and  Weihaiwei, 
would  cost  10  cents,  instead  of  four.  Money 
orders  are  issued  by  the  Chinese  ofiice  for 
use  in  China  only,  but  some  of  the  foreign 
offices  do  not  provide  even  this  convenience. 
Telegraphic  communication  between  Shanghai 
and  the  rest  of  the  world  is  furnished  by 
private  enterprise,  which,  also,  is  responsible 
for  the  telephone  system  in  the  Settlement 
itself. 

American  mails  are  received  and  des- 
patched by  the  Canadian  Pacific,  North 
Pacific.  Pacific  Mail.  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha. 
Toyo  Kiscn  Kaisha,  and  the  Occidental  and 
Oriental  steamship  lines  ;  while  European 
mails  are  carried  by  the  Peninsular  and 
Oriental  Steam  Navigation  Company.  Nord- 
deulscher  Lloyd,  and  Messagerics  Maritimes 
lines  ;    by  the  Trans-Siberian  Railway  ;    and 


by  the  Canadian  Pacific  Raihvav  Company's  and  samples  are  conveyed  overland,  but  it  is 
steamers.  At  the  time  of  writing,  oiily  expected  that  full  postal  facilities,  via  the 
letters,  postcards,  newspapers,  prnited  matter.       Trans-Siberian  route,  will   he  granted  before 


TWENTIETH    CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONOKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     491 


SoKrixG  A  Xewsi'apek  Mail, 


IMPERIAL    POST    OFFICE. 
The  Parcel  Despatch  Room. 


The  Main  Counter. 


the  end  of  1908.  Letters  addressed  to 
Russia  and  sent  through  other  post  oflices 
in  Shanghai  are  sorted  at  Vladivostock.  but 
all  transit  mails,  i.e..  mails  for  England. 
Germany,  France,  and  other  countries  beyond 
Russia,  are  made  up  at  Shanghai  in  the 
respective  post  offices,  and  are  forwarded  in 
closed  bags  to  Vladivostock  or  to  Tongku, 
and  thence,  by  rail,  viii  Mukden  to  Harbin, 
where  they  are  delivered  to  the  Russian  Post 
Office.  These  closed  bags  can  be  opened 
only  at  the  place  of  destination,  so  the  idea 
which  prevails  with  the  public  in  Shanghai 
that  correspondence  sent  via  Siberia  is  not 
mviolable  is  without  foundation  in  fact. 
Newspapers  printed  in  Chinese,  Korean,  and 
Japanese,  however,  are  subject  to  Russian 
censorship  on  the  Siberian  frontier. 


THE    CHINESE    IMPERIAL    POST 
OFFICE. 

Thk  Shanghai  Postal  district  at  the  date  of 
its  establishment  in  1897,  was  attached,  like 
other  districts,  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Commissioner  of  Customs,  as  District  Post- 
master ex  officio,  and  the  Imperial  Post  Office 
was  accommodated  in  the  eastern  wings  of 
the  Shanghai  Custom  House,  the  local  post 
previously  administered  by  the  Municipality 
of  the  International  Settlement  being  takeii 
over  as  a  department  by  the  Imperial  Post. 
In     i()02    Mr.    H.     J.     von     Brockdorff     was 


appointed  specially  as  District  Postmaster,  in 
conjunction  with  the  Customs  Commissioner 
acting  ex  officio,  and  he  was  followed  in  the 
same  capacity   by  Mr.   C.    H.   Brewett-Taylor 


E.   GILCHRIST, 

Commissioner.  Imperial  Post  Office. 


in  1903.  On  November  24.  1905.  Mr. 
P.  M.  G.  de  Galembert  took  over  charge  of 
the  district  as  Postal  Commissioner,  his 
duties  being  carried  on  independently  of  the 
Customs  Commissioner.  On  May  6.  i</)7,  he 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  F.  E.  Taylor  as  Postal 
Commissioner  officiating.  On  November  2nd 
following  the  Imperial  Post  Office  was 
removed  from  the  Customs  House  to  a  new 
building  on  the  Peking  Road,  erected  specially 
for  its  accommodation,  and  on  December  6th 
Mr.  Edward  Gilchrist  took  charge  from  Mr. 
Taylor  as   Acting  Postal  Commissioner. 

The  new  Post  Office  occupies  a  corner  site 
next  to  the  British  Post  OHice,  with  front- 
ages to  the  Museum,  Peking,  and  Szechuen 
Roads.  The  building  is  of  red  brick,  faced 
with  stone,  and  is  four  storeys  in  height. 
The  ground  floor  is  occupied  by  a  line,  lofty, 
and  spacious  office,  which  comprises  the 
parcels  section,  general  office,  registered  mails 
office,  and  other  special  sub-offices.  F"rom 
the  parcels  section  of  the  main  office  three 
parcel  lifts  connect  with  the  sorting  and 
despatching  offices  situated  on  the  second 
floor.  There  is  a  strong  room  in  both  the 
main  office,  and  the  despatching  and  sorting 
office  on  the  second  floor  for  the  temporary 
protection  of  all  registered  mail  matter.  The 
second  floor  also  contains  an  office  for  dealing 
solely  with  Chinese  correspondence,  and  a 
Union  Mail  Office  in  readiness  to  deal  with 
Union  Mails  as  soon  as  China  shall  have 
joined  the  Postal  Union,  which,  it  is  hoped, 
will  be  shortly.  On  the  third  storey  are  the 
private   offices,   where  the  administrative  and 


492     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


most  of  the  principal  clerical  and  b<x>k  -keeping 
duties  are  perl'oniied.  On  the  s:inie  floor  are 
two  dining  rooms  for  the  foreign  and  Chinese 
employes  respectively,  as  well  as  bedrooms 
and  hathriKims  for  foreign  and  Chinese 
caretakers. 

At  the  end  of  1905  there  were  45 
subMiftices,  branch  ofticx-s,  and  agencies  under 
the  head  otSce,  with  a  tot;il  stiff  of  27 
foreigners  and  368  Chinese.  There  were 
33  miles  of  foot-courier  routes.  270  miles  of 
native  boat  routes,  80  miles  of  steamer  routes. 


B.    C.   RADOMSKI, 

Deputy  I*<jstinaster.  Shanghai. 


and  24  miles  of  railway  routes.  Nearly 
6.goo.ooo  articles  of  mail  matter  were  received, 
and  nearly  5,000.000  despatched  ;  while  more 
than  2,000.000  were  locally  distributed  during 
the  year.  At  the  end  of  1907,  the  oflices 
controlled  by  the  district  head  olilice  had 
intTeased  to  50,  with  a  tot;il  staff  of  20 
foreigners  and  422  Chinese  ;  the  foot-courier 
lines  had  attained  82  miles,  native  boat  lines 
413  miles,  steamer  lines  remained  at  80  miles. 
and  railway  lines  41  miles.  More  than 
7,200,000  articles  of  mail  inatter  were  received, 
and  more  than  15.100.000  were  despatched, 
while  1.700,000  were  locally  distributed. 


MR.  EDWARD  OILCHRIST,  at  present 
Acting  Postal  Commissioner,  is  a  native  of 
Boston.  Mass..  U.S.A.  He  joined  the  Imperial 
Maritime  Customs  Service  in  1890;  served 
at  Kiukiang.  Hankow.  Shanghai,  Wuhu,  New- 
chwang.  and  Canton  ;  was  temporarily  in 
charge  of  the  Swatow  and  Hoihow  Customs 
districts  in  1903  ;  and  was  appointed  Deputy 
Commissioner  at  Newchwang  in  May.  1904- 
He  succeeded  to  charge  of  that  district  in  the 
following  July,  but  surrendered  it  on  being 
granted  two  years'  furlough  in  October,  1905. 
Chinese  Civil  Kank  of  the  Fourth  Class  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  imperial  edict  in  1904. 
the  Order  of  the  Double  Dragon  in  1907.  and 
Civil  Rank  of  the  Third  Class  in  1908. 


BRITISH    POST    OFFICE.    SHANGHAI. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Settlement  letters 
were  received  and  despatched  at  tlie  British 
Consulate  ;  but  in  1861  a  packet  agency  was 
established  at  Shanghai,  the  first  agent  being 
Mr.  J.  P.  Martin.  The  office  was  known  as 
a  packet  agency  until  the  year  1868,  when 
it  was  first  called  the  British  Post  Oflice. 
Mr.  Martin  remained  in  charge  until  lie  died 
in  1876. 

The  packet  agency  was  first  located  111 
rented  premises  in  Nanking  Road,  between 
S/.echuen  and  Kiangse  Roads,  and  was 
moved  several  times  as  an  agency  and  post 
oflice  before  a  post  oflice  was  buiit. 

On  September  24.  1873.  His  Excellency  the 
Governor  of  Hongkong  authorised  the 
building  of  a  post  office  at  Shanghai.  The 
site  (a  portion  of  the  present  one)  was 
obtained  on  lease  from  the  Chinese  Imperial 
Government  at  a  nominal  rent,  and  the  office 
was  designed  by  Mr.  Boyce.  Govcrninent 
Surveyor,  Her  Majesty's  Office  of  Works, 
who  superintended  the  erection.  The  office 
was  completed  in  1874.  and  was  occupied  in 
the  following  year. 


receiving  letters  to  and  from  the  United 
Kingdom  and  British  Possessions  at  the 
penny  postage  rate,  a  privilege  not  enjoyed 
by  those  living  in  places  in  China  where 
British   postal  agencies  do  not  exist. 

The  British  Post  Oflice  in  Shanghai  is 
prepared  to  deal  with  any  branch  of  postal 
work  that  can  be  dealt  with  under  the 
regulations  of  the  Hongkong  oflice.  but  in 
the  inatter  of  local  delivery  makes  no  attempt 
to  compete  with  the  Chinese  Post  Oflice. 
The  rate  of  postage  at  the  British  oflice 
for  letters  for  delivery  in  Shanghai  is 
2  cents  per  half  ounce,  while  at  the  Chinese 
local  Post  Oflice  the  rate  is  i  cent  per  half 
ounce. 

The  mails  to  and  from  Europe  rid  Suez 
and  Canada  are,  of  course,  the  same  in 
numlier  as  those  dealt  with  by  the  Hong- 
kong office  ;  in  addition,  however,  to  the 
mails  by  these  routes,  the  Shanghai  oflice 
despatches  and  receives  closed  mails  to  and 
from  Europe  by  the  Trans-Siberian  route. 
The  average  time  occupied  in  transit  between 
Shangliai  and  London  via  Siberia  is  twenty- 
one  days.  The  mails  from  London  vici 
Siberia     are      received     once      weeklv      (on 


THE    BRITISH    POST    OFFICE. 


In  1905,  in  consequence  of  representations 
made  as  to  the  inadequacy  of  the  premises 
for  dealing  with  the  greatly  increased  postal 
work,  the  Hongkong  Government  obtained 
from  the  Imperial  Government  a  lease  of 
a  piece  of  land  at  the  back  of  the  Post 
Office,  for  the  extension  of  the  est:iblishment. 
At  the  same  time  extensive  alterations  were 
made  in  the  old  building  to  adapt  it  to 
modern  requirements.  This  work  was 
carried  out  under  the  superintendence  of 
His  Majesty's  Surveyor,  and  was  completed 
in   1906. 

As  the  British  Post  Office  in  Shanghai  is 
a  branch  of  the  Hongkong  office,  the  regula- 
tions of  the  latter  office  apply  to  it,  and 
Hongkcmg  stamps  are  used. 

The  purpose  of  the  British  Post  Office  in 
Shanghai  is  to  serve  as  a  medium  for  the  des- 
patch and  receipt  of  mails  to  and  from  the 
United  Kingdom.  Hongkong,  &c.  Inciden- 
tally, it  may  be  mentioned  that  through  the 
existence  of  a  British  Post  Office  in  Shanghai 
the  large  British  population  of  the  Settlement 
enjoys     the     privilege     of    despatching     and 


Wednesday),  and  those  to  London,  &c.,  are 
despatched  once  weekly  (on  Kriday).  Letters 
from  Hongkong  and  southern  agencies  for 
despatch  to  Europe  by  the  Siberian  route 
come  to  the  Shanghai  office,  and  are 
included  in  the  mails  made  up  there  for 
despatch.  The  letters  from  the  United  King- 
dom for  Hongkong  and  the  South  received 
via  Siberia  are  included  by  the  London 
office  in  the  mails  for  the  British  Post 
Office,  Shanghai,  and  are  forwarded  to  their 
destination  by  the  first  opportunity  after 
receipt  here. 

Mails  are  despatched  daily  by  the  British 
Post  Office  to  the  British  agencies  at  Ningpo 
and  Hankow,  and,  when  opportunity  offers, 
mails  are  also  sent  to  the  British  agencies  at 
Chefoo,  Tientsin,  Liu  Kuiig  Tau,  Koochow, 
Amoy,  and  Swatow.  Mails  are  received 
daily  from  Ningpo  and  Hankow,  and  fre- 
quently from  the  other  agencies  mentioned. 

Mail  matter  for  places  in  China  where 
the  Hongkong  Post  Office  does  not  maintain 
agencies  is  handed  over  to  the  Chinese 
Imperial  Post  Oflice  for  transmission. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     493 


Althoujjh,  as  stated  above,  the  Hoiijjkong 
regulations  apply  to  the  Shanghai  office, 
there  is  one  important  point  of  difference, 
inasmuch  as  from  Slianghai  the  unit  of 
weight  for  letters  is  20  grammes,  whereas 
from  Hongkong  it  is  one  ounce. 

Under  the  Postal  Union  Convention  of 
Rome  of  1906  the  rate  of  postige  throughout 
the  Union  is  the  equivalent  of  25  centimes 
for  the  first  20  grammes,  and  of  15  centimes 
for  each  additional  20  grammes  or  fraction 
thereof.  Countries  which  do  not  have  the 
decimal  system  of  weight  are  permitted 
under  the  convention  to  take  one  ounce  as 
the  unit  of  weight  instead  of  20  grammes, 
and  one  ounce  is  therefore  adopted  as  the 
unit  of  weight  in  Hongkong.  In  Shanghai, 
however,   there  are    post    offices    maintained 


The  receipts  in  1907  showed  an  increase 
over  those  for  1906,  except  in  the  case  of 
stamps  sold.  The  falling  off  under  this 
heading  was  due  to  the  reduction  in  rates 
of  postage  which  came  into  force  on 
October  ist.  The  average  numbers  of  stamps 
of  the  different  values  sold  in  a  month  are 
as  follow: — I  cent,  1,000;  2  cents,  15,000; 
4  cents,  48,000  ;  5  cents,  1,000  ;  6  cents,  700  ; 
8  cents,  2,000  ;  10  cents,  9,000  ;  12  cents, 
100  ;  20  cents,  1,600  ;  30  cents,  700  ; 
50  cents,  300  ;  Si-oo,  300.  About  100  post- 
cards of  the  4  cent  value  are  sold  in  a 
month,  but  the  other  values  are  not  used 
much. 


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the  twelve  months  13,044  registered  letters 
were  despatched,  while  5,893  were  received. 
No  money  orders  or  postal  notes  are  issued, 
and  no  parcels  are  handled,  but  a  large 
business  is  done  in  the  forwarding  of  news- 
papers and  samples,  especially  samples  of  tea. 


THE    UNITED   STATES   POST   OFFICE. 

The  offices  of  the  United  States  Postal 
Agency  in  Shanghai  occupy  a  portion  of  the 
ground  floor  of  the  Consulate  in  the  Whang- 
poo  Road.  The  agency  was  established  in 
1868,  with  the  Con.sul-General  as  Postal 
Agent,  and  this  arrangement  continued  until 
1907,  when  the  business  had  grown  to  such 
an  extent  that  it  was  necessary  to  separate 
the  Post  Office  from  the  Consulate. 

Special  domestic  rate  facilities  are  afforded 
for  the  transmission  of  mail-matter  between 
Shanghai,  the  United  States,  Canada,  Mexico, 
Cuba,  Porto  Rico,  Hawaii,  the  Philippines, 
and  the  Ladrone  Islands,  the  rates  being 
two  cents  gold  per  ounce  for  letters  and  all 
first-class  mail  matter,  one  cent  gold  for 
postcards,  and  one  cent  gold  for  each  four 
ounces  for  newspapers,  periodicals,  and 
second-class  mail  matter.  The  cent  gold  is, 
for  postal  purposes,  equivalent  to  two  cents 
(Mexican).  The  rates  to  Postal  Union  countries 
are  those  common  to  the  other  oflices  in  the 
Settlement.  Parcels  not  exceeding  four 
pounds  in  weight  are  accepted  at  the  rate 
of  one  cent  gold  an  ounce.  The  stamps 
issued  are  similar  to  those  used  in  the 
United  States,  and  are  not  surcharged. 

Closed  bags  are  made  up  for  all  countries. 
Those  for  Europe  are  forwarded  by  way  of 
the  United  States,  there  being  three  places 
of  entry  -  San  P'rancisco,  Seattle  (via  Van- 
couver), and  Taconia.  The  southern  mails 
to  the  Straits  Settlements,  India,  Africa,  and 
elsewhere,  are  sent  direct.  Letters  are  not 
accepted  by  the  agency  for  the  Trans-Siberian 
routes. 

During  the  fiscal  year  1907  the  agency 
received  12.480  bags  of  mails  from  the  U'nited 
States,  and  4,600  from  Manila,  Hongkong, 
and  the  Straits  Settlements,  and  despatched 
26,726  and  15,422  bags  respectively.  The 
value  of  money  orders  received  during  the 
twelve  months  was  $164,651-69  gold,  and 
of  money  orders  paid  out,  $3i,o6o'40.  These 
sums  were  governed  by  the  daily  bank-rate 
of  exchange,  the  gold  dollar  averaging  during 
the  year  about  $i'97  (Mexican). 


THE    AMERICAN    POST    OFFICE. 


by  countries  using  the  decimal  system  of 
weights,  and  to  avoid  any  unfair  competition 
with  those  offices  the  unit  of  weight  at  the 
British  Post  Office  is  the  same  as  theirs. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the 
business  done  by  the  British  Post  Office 
during  1906  and  1907  : — 


1906. 

1907. 

Dollars. 

Dollars, 

Stamps  sold 

66,110-84 

65,127-70 

Money   Orders  is- 

sued       

131,91398 

136,052-15 

Imperial  Postal 

Notes  sold 

17,804-51 

30,997-33 

Local      Postal 

Notes  sold 

1,288-33 

2,24604 

THE    RUSSIAN    POST    OFFICE 

The  correspondence  of  Russians  resident  in 
Shanghai  was  dealt  with  by  a  department  of 
the  Russian  Consulate  until  1898,  in  which 
year  a  post  office  was  established  as  a  separate 
organisation,  working  under  the  conventions 
of  the  Postal  Union.  The  office  is  now 
situated  in  Boone  Road,  having  been  removed 
from  Quinsan  Gardens  in  October,  1907. 
Stamps  are  issued  annually  to  the  value  of 
$15,000,  the  stamps  being  similar  to  those 
issued  in  Russia,  but  surcharged  "  China " 
for  local  use.  The  unit  is  the  kopek,  loo 
kopeks  make  a  rouble,  and  a  rouble  is 
approximately  equivalent  to  one  dollar.  The 
sale  of  stamps  is  the  only  guide  as  to  the 
number  of  ordinary  letters  sent  away  from 
the  office.  The  number  of  ordinary  letters 
received    during    1907    was    48,261.     During 


THE    GERMAN    POST    OFFICE. 

The  Imperial  German  Post  Office  at  Shanghai 
was  opened — first  in  the  character  of  a  Postal 
Agency — on  August  24,  l886,  in  the  buildings 
of  the  Imperial  German  Consulate-General, 
in  connection  with  the  establishment  of  the 
mail  packet  service  between  Germany  and 
East  Asia  by  the  Norddeutscher- Lloyd.  Owing 
to  the  increase  in  postal  traffic  the  agency 
was  eventually  transformed  into  a  post  office, 
and  premises  in  the  Kiukiang  Road  were 
rented.  The  present  building  was  erected 
between  the  years  1903  and  1905,  the  formal 
opening  taking  place  on  May  15,  1905.  In 
the  meantime  a  postal  direction  had  been 
established  at  Shanghai  as  a  superior  authority 
of  administration  for  all  the  German  post 
offices  existing  in  China  and  in  the  Kiaochau 
Protectorate. 

The   purpose   of    the   German    Post   Office 
at   Shanghai   and   the   others  in  China  is   to 


491     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


scr\e  as  media  for  the  desp;>tch  and  receipt 
i)f  mails  to  and  from  Germ;»iiy.  the  German 
ooliMiies,  and  I'nion  countries.  Closed  mails 
to  and  irom  Kurojx-  are  despatched  and 
received  by  the  Trans-Siberian  routes  (Vladi- 
\-ost<vk-Harbin.  Daircn-Mukden-Harbin.  and 
Hankow-Pekin-Mukden-Marbin),  the  Canadian 
route,  and  by  mciins  of  the  three  jjreat  European 
steamship  lines  (the  Peninsular  and  Oriental. 
Norddeutscher-I.loyd.  and  Messageries  Mari- 
timcsl.  A  regular  exchange  of  postal  articles 
of  all  kinds  takes  place  between  Germany 
and  China.  The  relations  between  the  respec- 
tive administrations  are  stipulated  in  a  special 
agreement.  Correspondence  sent  to  and  from 
Germany  through  the  German  post  oflices 
is  liable  to  the  charges  laid  down  in  the 
International    Postal    Convention    of     Home  : 


thirty-third  year  of  Meiji  (1900)  it  was  re- 
moved to  a  sep;irate  building  in  Hixme  Road, 
Hongkew.  and  subsequently  to  tlie  present 
office  in  the  Whangpoo  Road.  The  ol'tice, 
which  is  subordinate  to  the  head  iiflice  at 
Tokyo,  handles  domestic  and  foreign  mails 
and  parcels,  transiicts  nione\-  order  business. 
and  accepts  savings  bank  deposits.  The 
international  postal  conventions,  and  arrange- 
ments for  the  transaction  of  mail  business, 
as  well  as  the  usual  domestic  regulations,  are 
observed  by  the  ofticc. 

Statistics  are  compiled  quarterly,  and  an 
idea  of  the  business  Which  passes  through 
the  ofiice  may  be  gathered  from  the  following 
figures  relating  to  the  si.\  months  commen- 
cing in  April  and  ending  in  September.  IQ07, 
which   are   the   latest   available  ;— Mail    matter 


occupied  by  Messrs.  Melehers  &  Co.,  on  the 
French  Bund  ;  its  next  home  has  since  become 
the  Cercle  des  Voluntaires  et  des  Pompiers, 
in  the  Rue  Montauban  ;  and  it  now  occupies 
premises  at  Xo.  48.  Rue  Montauban.  The 
French  Post  Ofiice  gives  the  agreed  postal 
rates  to  all  countries  within  the  Postal  l^nion, 
and  domestic  rates  to  all  French  post  oftices 
in  China.  Special  tariffs  are  also  provided 
for  printed  matter,  patterns,  and  commercial 
papers,  while  parcels  not  exceeding  5  kilo- 
grammes in  weight.  60  centimetres  in  length. 
or  20  decimetres  cube  in  volume,  are  accepted 
at  rates  varying  according  to  tlie  tariffs  agreed 
with  the  countries  to  which  they  are  con- 
signed. Parcels  for  Belgium,  France,  Switzer- 
land, Turkey  in  Europe,  and  Turkey  in  Asia 
are  accepteti  up  to  10  kilogrammes  in  weight. 


« 


THE   QEBHAN   POST    OFFICE. 


THE    FRENCH    POST    OFFICE. 


but   for  the  "  domestic "  service   in   China   a 
special  tariff  is  lixed. 

The  German  Post  Ofilice  at  Shanghai,  like 
stnru:  of  the  other  offices,  is  prepared  to  deal 
with  any  branch  of  postal  work  coming 
under  the  regulations.  As.  however,  the 
German  postal  administration  does  not  intend 
to  compete  in  China  with  the  Imperial 
Chinese  post  oflices,  the  German  post  oflices 
do  not  receive  any  mail  matter  for  places  in 
China  where  the  German  administration  does 
not  maintain  offices  or  agencies. 


THE   JAPANESE    POST   OFFICE. 

Thk  Japanese  Post  Office  in  Shanghai  was 
f>pened  in  the  ninth  year  of  Meiji  (thirty- 
three  years  ago)  in  the  premises  of  the 
Imperial  Jap:inese  Consulate-General.     In  the 


despatched,  including  mails  accepted  at  the 
Chinese  Post  Office,  "50.872 ;  mail  matter 
received,  including  mails  re-forwarded  to  the 
interior  through  the  Chinese  Post  Oflice, 
828,874  •  parcels  despatched,  5.363  ;  parcels 
received,  11,506.  Money  and  postal  orders 
were  issued  to  the  value  of  ¥224,474638, 
and  were  paid  to  the  value  of  ¥98,411-389. 


THE    FRENCH    POST   OFFICE. 

The  French  Post  Ofiice  was  estiiblished  some 
time  about  the  sixties,  and  has,  apparently, 
always  been  quite  distinct  from  the  Consulate. 
It  has  had  at  least  four  locations.  At  one 
time  it  was  situated  at  what  is  nfiw  Xo.  4, 
yuai  de  Yang-king-pang  ;  later  it  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  first  Hoor  of   the  building  now 


Money  orders  are  issued  for  all  countries 
except  Spain,  the  fees  being  25  centimes  per  50 
francs.  As  the  local  authorities  are  forbidden 
to  disclose  any  information,  it  is  impossible 
to  state  the  amount  of  business  transacted. 


SHANGHAI    MUTUAL    TELEPHONE 
COMPANY,    LTD. 

The  early  history  of  the  telephone  in  Shang- 
hai is  summed  up  in  a  letter  addressed  by 
the  China  and  Japan  Telephone  Company, 
Ltd.,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Municipal 
Council  some  years  since.  In  this  letter  it 
was  stated  that  the  Company  had  been 
working  in  Shanghai  since  1881,  and  that 
the  necessary  permission  to  carry  on  the 
business,   which,  during   the   first   few  years' 


THE     SHANGHAI    MUTUAL    TELEPHONE    COMPANY'S    NEW    PREMISES    IN    KIANGSE    EOAD. 


496     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


working,  had  been  terininahle  at  twelve 
months'  notice,  had  been  liable  latterly  to  be 
revoked  at  one  month's  notice  only.  The  under- 
taking was  thus  placed  upon  so  preairious  a 
fooling  that  the  directors  had  not  felt  justified 
in  recommending  the  raising  of  new  capitiil. 
In  return  for  a  definite  licence  to  carry 
on  business  for  a  specified  number  of  years 
the  Compiiny  undertixik  to  provide  an 
entirely  modem  equipment  at  a  fixed  maxi- 
mum charge.  At  this  time  the  Company 
had  a  total  of  338  substxibers  exclusive  of 
the  municipality. 

In  reply  to  this  communication,  a  resolution 
was  adopted  at  the  ratepiiyers'  meeting  on 
March  10.  1898,  authorising  the  Council  to 
enter  into  negotiations  with  the  China  and 
Japan  Telephone  Comjiany.  or  with  any  other 
similar  company,  and.  in  its  discretion,  to 
grant  a  lease.  Tenders  were  subsequently 
invited  for  permission  to  supply  Shanghai 
with  a  telephone  service,  and  that  of  the 
Slianghai   Mutual   Telephone  Comp:iny,  Ltd., 


and  Architects.  A  few  extracts  from  this 
will  furnish  some  idea  of  the  progress  that 
has  been  made.  Under  the  agreement  with 
the  Council  the  Company  was  to  complete 
the  lines  on  April  I,  1901.  but  by  August  I, 
1900.  a  service  was  opened  between  a 
hundred  of  the  principal  stations,  and  upon 
the  day  appointed  for  the  completion  of  the 
work  of  construction  the  Company  was  able 
to  announce  that  it  had  connected  all  the  old 
subscribers  and  had  also  added  a  considerable 
number  of  new  ones.  The  original  capacity 
of  the  exchange  was  for  600  subscribers 
only,  and  this  innnber  was  reached  in  1902. 
The  Company  then  raised  its  capita!  from 
Tls.  100.000  to  Tls.  350,000,  and  increased  the 
capacity  of  the  exchange  to  2.500  subscribers. 
Three  years  later  it  was  obliged  again  to 
increase  its  capitiil— this  time  to  Tls.  1,000.000 
—for  the  purpose  of  extending  the  capacity 
of  the  exchange  to  5.000  subscribers.  The 
Company  appeared  to  give  general  satis- 
faction,   and    when,  the     Municipal     Council 


SUPERVISORS    OF    THE    TELEPHONE    EXCHANGE. 


was  accepted,  partly  liecjiuse  the  Company 
was  formed  Icxxilly  with  directors  in  Shanghai, 
and  partly  because  it  offered  to  supply  the 
scr\ice  at  a  lower  rate  than  its  competitors. 
In  the  prospectus  inviting  the  public  to  take 
shares  in  the  new  undertiiking,  the  original 
diretlors — Messrs.  K.  M.  Campbell,  X.  Mac- 
leod,  J.  Johnston,  O.  Middleton,  H.  Heyn, 
Paul  Brunat,  and  H.  K.  Hearson — stated  : 
•■  The  object  of  this  Company  is  to  install 
and  carry  on  a  tirst-class,  double  wire,  under- 
ground and  aerial  telephone  service  of  the 
most  recent  type,  fultilling  all  the  require- 
ments of  the  Municipal  Council  from  those 
invited  recently  to  tender  for  a  franchise, 
and  probably  costing  the  subscribers  less 
than  is  p<»sible  by  any  company  conducted 
on  any  other  than  the  co-operative  principle. 
No  franchise  is  asked  for,  this  Company  being 
prepared,  like  others  established  in  Shanghai, 
to  rely  on  the  excellence  of  its  .service  and 
the  gocxl  faith  <>(  the  community."  The 
details  of  the  development  of  this  Company 
and  the  experiences  gained  during  its  opera- 
tions in  Shanghai,  are  related  in  an  interesting 
paper  which  was  read  by  Mr.  G.  L.  Oberg 
before   the    Shanghai    Society    of    Engineers 


offered  a  thirty  years'  lease  in  return  for 
a  cerUiin  number  of  fully  paid-up  shares  it 
was  regarded  as  a  sign  that  the  object  for 
which  the  Company  was  formed  had  been 
attained. 

The  Company  now  has  a  paid-up  capital 
of  Tls.  672,000,  and  nearly  3.300  subscribers. 
It  employs  about  30  Europeans,  men  and 
women,  and  200  Chinese,  and  has  a  plant 
capable  of  serving  5,000  subscribers.  In  the 
new  building  now  approaching  completion 
provision  is  being  made  for  dealing  with 
about  15,000  subscribers. 


THE   GREAT   NORTHERN 
TELEGRAPH    COMPANY,   LIMITED. 

This  Company,  whose  head  oflice  is  at  Copen- 
hagen, extended  its  operations  to  the  Far 
East  in  1870,  when  the  cables  connecting 
Shanghai  with  Hongkong  and  Japan  were 
manufactured.  As  far  back  as  1854,  the 
question  of  telegraphic  communication  with 
America  by  means  of  a  land-line  viii  Siberia, 


and  a  connecting  cable  across  to  Alaska,  was 
under  discussion.  In  1865  the  building  of 
the  Trans-Siberian  land-line  was  commenced  . 
by  the  Russian  Government,  but  as  the 
original  project  was  shortly  afterwards 
rendered  unnecessary  by  the  successful  estab- 
lishment of  cable  connection  between  Europe 
and  America  across  the  Atlantic  (in  1865-66), 
the  line  across  Siberia  was  taken  advantage 
ol  to  establish  communication  with  Japan  and 
China  by  means  of  cables  between  Vladi- 
vost(.x.k,  Nagasaki,  Shanghai,  and  Hongkong. 
The  cable  between  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
was  opened  in  April,  1871,  the  sections 
between  Shanghai-Nagasaki  and  Nagasaki- 
Vladivostock  a  little  later  in  the  same  year, 
while  the  connection  of  the  cable  system 
with  the  Siberian  line  was  completed  on 
November  17,  1871.  In  1873  Amoy  was 
connected  with  the  system,  and  in  1883  the 
cables  between  Shanghai-Nagasaki-Vladivos- 
tock  were  duplicated.  In  the  same  year 
the  Company  introduced  the  telegraph  in 
Korea  by  laying  a  cable  between  Nagasaki 
and    Fusan. 

From  the  very  beginning  the  Company  has 
kept  before  it  the  importance  of  obtaining 
connection  with  the  principal  towns  in  the 
interior  of  China  by  means  of  land-lines.  In 
1875  an  attempt  was  made  to  build  a.  land- 
line  between  Amoy  and  Foochow,  and 
between  Foochow  and  Pagoda  Anchorage. 
The  hostility  displayed  by  the  Chinese  against 
the  telegraph  was,  however,  too  strong,  and 
the  building  of  the  lines  h.ul  to  be  aban 
doned.  It  was  not  till  1881  when  the  Chinese 
themselves  felt  the  want  of  telegraphic  com- 
munication with  North  China  that  the  late 
Viceroy,  Li  Hung  Chang,  commissioned  the 
Company  to  build  a  land-line  between  Shan- 
ghai and  Tientsin.  The  latter  was  completed 
in  November,  1881,  under  the  supervision 
of  the  Company,  whose  engineers  thus 
became  the  pioneers  of  telegraphy  in  China. 
The  subsequent  building  of  the  numerous 
lines  which  at  present  cross  the  Chinese 
Empire  in  all  directions  has  also  been 
entrusted  to  Danish  engineers,  trained  in  the 
service  of  the  Company. 

The  Company  was  from  the  outset  fully 
alive  to  the  necessity  of  tinding  a  means  of 
enabling  the  Chinese  to  telegraph  in  their 
own  language,  and  already  at  the  opening 
of  the  Hongkong-Shanghai  cable,  a  system 
was  ready  which  permitted  telegraphing  in 
Chinese.  It  consisted  of  an  arrangement  of 
double  types  arranged  systematically  in  boxes, 
and  containing  the  Chinese  characters  most 
frequently  used,  coupled  with  a  corresponding 
group  of  four  figures,  the  latter  being  used 
for  telegraphing.  The  type  system  was  sub- 
sequently simplified  by  the  introduction  of 
regular  dictionaries,  in  which  each  Chinese 
character  is  printed  opposite  its  corresponding 
group  of  four  figures.  These  dictionaries  are 
still  the  general  means  of  telegraphing  in 
Chinese. 

The  Company  originally  occupied  offices  in 
Nanking  Road,  but  in  1882  removed  to  No.  7, 
The  Bund.  The  present  Telegraph  Building, 
which  provides  offices  also  for  the  Eastern 
Extension  Australasia  and  China  Telegraph 
Company,  Ltd.,  and  the  Commercial  Pacific 
Cable  Company,  was  erected  in  1906-7. 

The  following  constitute  the  board  of 
directors  : — Commodore  E.  Suenson,  D.R.N. 
(chairman),  Rear-Admiral  F".  C.  C.  Bardenfleth, 
D.R.N.,  Mr.  M.  Melchior,  Baron  Reedtz-Thott, 
Col,  V.  E.  Tvchsen,  D.R.E.,  Mr.  P.  Vedel, 
D.C.L.  The  board  of  management  consists  of 
Messrs.  K.  Suenson,  P.  Michelsen,  K.  O.  A. 
Gulstad,   and   Captain    H.   Rothe,   D.R.E. 

The  Company's  general  manager  in  China 
and  Japan  is  Captain  J.  J.  Bahnson,  D.R.E, 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     497 


GREAT    NORTHERN    TELEGRAPH    COMPANY'S    BUILDING    ON    THE    BUND. 


THE  EASTERN  EXTENSION  AUSTRA- 
LASIA AND  CHINA  TELEGRAPH 
COMPANY,    LTD. 

The  first  attempt  to  lay  a  submarine  cable 
in  the  East  was  made  in  the  Red  Sea  in 
1859.     Unfortunately,  this  cable  only  worked 


a  few  days  and  was  afterwards  abandoned. 
The  successful  layinj;  and  working  of  the 
Atlantic  cables  of  1865  and  1866,  caused  the 
idea  of  submarine  telegraphic  communication 
to  the  P'ar  East  to  be  re-considered,  and  it 
was  carried  into  effect  by  the  formation  of 
various  companies  which  were  afterwards 
merged  into  the  Eastern  and  Eastern  Exten- 


sion Telegraph  Companies,  whose  system 
now  links  together  the  continents  of  Europe, 
Africa,  Asia,  and  Australasia.  The  formation 
of  this  great  system  was  due  to  the  enterprise 
of  the  late  Sir  John  Pender,  and  the  success 
which  it  has  attained  is  mainly  due  to  his 
energy  and  ability  as  an  organiser  and 
administrator. 

A  cable  was  laid  in  1869  from  P'linders 
(Australia)  to  Tasmania,  and  in  1870  cables 
were  laid  from  Suez  to  Aden  and  Bombay, 
and  from  Madras  to  Penang,  Singapore  and 
Java.  In  1871  the  system  was  extended  to 
Australia  and  to  China,  by  cables  laid  between 
Java  and  Port  Darwin  (Australia)  and  between 
Singapore  and  Hongkong  via  Saigon. 

Prior  to  the  establishment  of  direct 
telegraphic  communication  with  China,  the 
quickest  means  of  communication  with  Europe 
was  by  mail  steamer  to  Ceylon  and  thence 
by  telegraph  via  India  ;  or  by  pony  express 
to  Kiachta,  in  Siberia,  and  thence  by  the 
Russian  land  lines. 

The  following  are  the  principal  extensions 
that  have  been  made  to  the  Eastern  Extension 
Company's  cable  system  since  1871  : — 

1876     Sydney        to  New  Zealand 

1880    Hongkong  to  Manila 

1883    Hongkong  to  Foochow  and  Shanghai 

1883  Saigon         to  Haiphong  (Tonkin) 

1884  Hongkong  to  Macao 

1889    Java  to  Roebuck  Bay  (Australia) 

1 891     Penang        to  Sumatra 
1894    Singapore    to  Labuan 

1900  Chefoo         to  Weihaiwei 

1901  Mauritius     to  Rodriguez 
1901     Rodriguez    to  Cocos 

1901     Cocos  to  Fremantle  (Australia) 

1901     F"remantle    to  Glenelg  (Australia). 

To  minimise  the  risk  of  interruption  to 
telegraphic  communication,  the  Eastern 
Extension  Company  have  laid  duplicate 
cables  throughout  their  system,  from  Madras 
to  Australia  and  \ew  Zealand,  and  from 
Madras  to  China  ;  and,  with  a  view  to 
increase  the  speed  of  working  and  lessen 
the  risk  of  errors,  have  adopted  automatic 
transmission  and  the  use  of  relays. 

In  the  present  year  (1908)  a  cable  has  been 
laid  from  Java  to  the  Cocos  Island,  which 
affords  an  alternative  route  from  the  Var  East 
to  Australia,  and  to  Europe  via  Mauritius  and 
Durban. 

In  1900  the  Eastern  Extension  Company 
and  the  Great  Northern  Telegraph  Company 
jointly  laid  cables  from  Shanghai  to  Chefoo 
and  from  Chefoo  to  Taku,  for  the  Imperial 
Chinese  Telegraph  Administration.  These 
cables  are  worked  jointly  by  the  two 
companies  on  behalf  of  the  Administration. 

The  Eastern  Extension  Company  have 
altogether  34  cables  of  a  total  length  of 
25,118  nautical  miles.  Their  capital  is  now 
:£3.752.400. 

The  manager  in  China  is  Mr.  W.  Bullard, 
who  has  been  with  the  Company  for  thirty- 
one  years,  and  has  held  his  present  appoint- 
ment since  1903.  The  clerical  staff  at  present 
employed  by  the  Company  in  China,  numbers 

177- 

The  Shanghai  station,  situated  on  the  Bund, 
is  open  d;iy  and  night  for  the  acceptance  of 
telegrams. 


A  MEET  OF  THE  PAPER  HUNT  CLUB. 


SPORT. 


By    W.    R.    Parkin,    of   the    "Nonh    China    Daily    News.' 


H  E  foreign  residents  of  Shang- 
hai are  exceptionally  well 
favoured  with  facilities  for 
indulgence  in  all  forms  of 
out-door  sports  and  pastimes, 
except  those  which  depend 
on  frost  and  snow.  The 
wide  expanse  of  flat  open  country  which 
stretches  for  miles  beyond  the  Settlement 
affords  ample  opportunity  for  following  the 
hounds,  and  furnishes  e.xcellent  sport  with 
the  gun.  The  Whangpoo  meets  the  require- 
ments of  the  oarsman  and  yachtsman,  and 
three  excellent  baths  compensate  the  swim- 
mer for  any  shortcomings  of  the  river. 
Within  the  Settlement  there  are  two  spacious 
reserves,  the  first  in  importance  being  the 
Recreation  Ground,  which  is  probably  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  the  Far  East.  It  is 
bordered  by  a  fine  racecourse,  equipped  with 
stands,  lawn,  stables,  &c.  Within  the  course 
there  is  a  riding  ring,  and  the  centre  of  the 
ground  is  devoted  to  cricket,  football,  tennis, 
golf,  polo,  base-ball,  and  bowls.  F"or  this 
splendid  open  space  the  public  are  in- 
debted to  Messrs.  R.  C.  Antrobus,  H.  Dent, 
A.  Heard,  and  J.  Whittall.  who,  with  keen 
foresight,  purchased  a  plot  of  ground,  34 
mow  in  extent,  in  the  early  sixties  for 
the  sum  of  lis.  2.245.  '^"'^  'hen  invited  the 
public  to  subscribe  to  the  cost  of  converting 
it  into  a  recreation  ground  (Tls.  4,4001. 
So  rapidly  did  the  property  increase  in 
value  that  the  trustees  were  able  within  two 
or  three  years  to  sell  it  for  Tls.  49.000. 
With  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  the  present 
site  of  430  mow  (about  72  acres)  was  acquired, 
and  laid  out  at  a  cost  of  Tls.  12,500,  the 
unexpended  balance  being  applied  to  the 
repayment  of  the  original  subscriptions,  and 
the  formation  of  a  fund  which  since  that 
day  has  been  devoted  to  the  promotion  of 
every  form  of  public  recreation.  To  relieve 
the  growing  pressure  at  the  Recreation 
Ground  another  large  area  of  261  mow  has 
recently  been  acquired  in  the  Hongkew  dis- 
trict, and  this  is  now  being  laid  out.  At  the 
time  of  writing  a  scheme  is  on  foot  also 
for  constructing  a  racecourse  and   recreation 


ground   in   the   Siccawei  district,  for  the  use 
of  Chinese  as  well  as  of  foreigners. 

a 

HORSE-RACING. 

The  earliest  record  of  sport  in  the  Settle- 
ment relates  to  horse  and  pony-racing,  which 
has  at   all   times   been   conducted   on  strictly 


first  week  of  November — and  at  each  there 
are  three  days  of  what  is  termed  "  legiti- 
mate "  racinj;,  with  ten  events  per  day,  and 
an  off-day  011  whicli  beaten  ponies  compete, 
and  on  which  the  Grand  National  Slet-plechase 
is  run.  At  the  Spring  Meeting  the  principal 
races  are  the  Griflins'  Plate,  Criterion  Stiikes, 
Shanghai  Derby,  and  the  Champions'  Sweep- 


A    WELL-KNOWN    "WALER"     MARE    ON    THE    SHANGHAI    TURF. 


amateur  lines  by  the  Shanghai  Race  Club. 
Prior  to  1854,  in  the  days  of  garrisons  and 
when  money  was  plentiful,  English  thorough- 
breds were  imported,  but  since  that  year 
the  racing,  except  at  three  meetings  in  i</)i  2, 
has  been  confined  to  Mongolian  ponies. 

Two   meetings  are   held  annually — one   in 
the  first  week  of  May  and  the  other  in  the 


.stakes  (for  all  ponies  that  have  won  races 
during  the  meeting)  ;  while  at  the  Autnnni 
gathering  the  most  important  events  arc  the 
Maiden  Stakes,  Criterion  Stakes,  Shanghai 
St.  Leger,  and  Champions'  Sweepstakes. 

The  best  times  on  record  made  by  Mongo- 
lian ponies  on  the  Shanghai  Racecourse  are 
as  follow  : — 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     499 


m 


public  recreation  {irouiul,  the  interior  of 
which  was  sold  to  the  Public  Kecreation  Fund 
Trustees   in   1863. 

The  first  race  niectinj;  held  in  Shanghai, 
of  which  there  remains  any  record,  was  the 
Autumn  Meetinj;  of  1850,  which  was  held 
on  the  first  mentioned  course,  and  consisted 
of  seven  events — the  Union  Cup,  Strangers' 
Plate,  Manila  Stiikes,  Ladies'  Purse,  Tsatlee 
Stakes,  Woosunj;  Plate,  and  a  race  for 
natives.  The  first  meeting  held  on  the 
present  racecourse  took  place  in  i860,  and 
since  that  year  there  have  been  two  meetings 
annually  without  a   break. 

At  present  the  Shanghai  Race  Club  con- 
sists of  about  320  voting  members,  in  whom 
the  control  of  affairs  is  vested,  and  some 
500  non-voting  members,  who  have  all  the 
privileges  of  voting  members  except  that 
they  possess  no  share  in  the  property  of  the 
Club  and  no  voice  in  its  management. 

As  no  Chinese  are  admitted  to  the  Race 
Club  enclosure  or  the  grand-stand,  an 
International  Race  Club  has  recently  been 
formed,  and  about  400  mow  of  land  has 
been  purchased  at  Siccawei  for  a  racecourse, 
but  the  scheme  is  not  yet  complete. 


A   "  WELL-BUNCHED  "    FINISH. 


Distance. 

Pony. 

Year. 

Time. 

Min 

Sec. 

i  mile 

Set 

1903 

55! 

5  furlongs    ... 

Blackberry 

1893 

I 

15 

f  mile 

Worcester 

1908 

I 

29* 

7  furlongs    ... 

Temeraire 

igo8 

I 

464 

I  mile 

Orion 

1895 

2 

2i 

„ 

Brockton 

1908 

2 

2.i 

ij  miles 

Moriak 

1908 

2 

34 

li  miles 

Manchu  King 

1908 

3 

94 

If  miles 

Lavender 

1907 

3 

43i 

2  miles 

Heathfield 

1908 

4 

i6i 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  all  these  records 
have  been  made  at  Spring  Meetings,  and 
that  no  fewer  than  five  were  made  at  the 
Spring  Meeting  of  1908. 

Shanghai's  first  racecourse  was  a  plot  of 
ground  known  as  the  Old  Park,  situated  at 
the  north-west  corner  of  Park  Lane  (now 
Nanking  Road)  and  Barrier  Road  (now  Honan 
Road),  but  in  1854,  as  this  site  was  rapidly 
increasing  in  value,  the  Race  Club  purchased 
a  larger  piece  of  ground,  the  boundaries  of 
which  were  the  Hupeh,  Chekiang,  Chefoo, 
Pakhoi,  and  Thibet  (Defence  Creek)  Roads. 
The  grand  stand  stood  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Defence  Creek,  opposite  to  the  stables 
now  occupied  by  Mr.  George  Dallas.  There 
was  considerable  trouble  with  the  Chinese 
over  the  acquisition  of  this  property,  and 
rioting  occurred,  which  was  quelled  only 
wlien  the  Taoutai  issued  a  proclamation 
asserting  that  the  foreigners  were  acting 
within  their  rights.  As  the  Settlement  in- 
creased in  size,  the  Race  Club  .tgain  found 
it  necessary  to  go  further  afield,  and  in  1858 
they    purchased    the  present    racecourse  and 


PAPER   HUNTING. 

Membership  of  the  Paper  Hunt  Club  is 
practically  open  to  any  one  who  is  able  to 
keep  a  pony,  and  the  fees — $5  subscription 
and  $1  for  registration  of  each  pony-  are  not 
high  enough  to  injure  the  pocket  of  any  one 
who  can  afford  to  indulge  in  riding.  The 
management  of  the  Paper  Hunt  Club  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  stewards,  who  are  elected 
annually,  and  the  hunt  is  controlled  by  the 
master,  who  is  appointed  by  the  stewards. 
The  season  opens  on  the  first  Saturday  in 
December  and  closes  in  February,  the  hunts 
taking  place  on  every  Saturday  afternoon 
throughout  the  season,  as  well  as  on  Christ- 
mas and  New  Year  Days.  For  each  hunt 
two  prizes  are  offered,  in  the  shape  of  small 
silver  cups — one  for  the  first  light-weight 
to  pass  the  post,  the  other  for  the  first 
heavy-weight — and,  according  to  the  rules, 
the  winner  of  one  hunt  is  not  allowed  to 
win  either  of  the  next  two  hunts.  The 
course  for  the  initial  hunt  of  the  season  is 
laid  by  the  master,  and  courses  for  succeed- 
ing hunts  are  laid   by    the  previous  winner, 


SHANGHAI    RACING    PONIES    WHEN    FIRST    BROUGHT    DOWN    FROM    THE    PLAINS    OF    MANCHURIA-THE 
BLACK    PONY    IS    "BROCKTON,"    WINNER    OF    THE    "CHAMPIONS,"    190S. 


500     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


sometimes  with  the  assistance  of  the  master 
or  his  duly-app«>inted  deputy.  The  paper  is 
scattered,  under  the  direction  of  the  layers 
of  the  course,  by  live  mounted  maloos.  In 
addition  to  the  ordinary  hunts  there  is  an 
annual  cross-country  handicap  over  a  known 
course  of  about  seven  miles,  and  the  season 
concludes  with  a  race  meetinjj  held  on  the 
Shanghai  Racec-ourse  in  March.  The  pro- 
gramme of  this  meeting  consists  of  four 
steeplechases  and  three  or  four  flat  races. 
and  entries  are  limited  to  those  who  have 
taken  part  in  at  least  one  paper  hunt  during 
the  season.  The  membership  of  the  Club 
has  now  reached  about  230.  and  the  Christ- 
mas Day  run  attracts  from  140  to  150 
starters. 

In  the  old  days  the  hunts  used  to  finish 
on  the  present  Iticecourse.  but  with  the  ever- 
increasing  e.xtension  of  the  Settlements  and 
the  culti\'ation  of  outlying  ground,  it  has 
become  necessary  to  go  further  aticld.  and 
now.  in  the  majority  of  cases,  the  Hunt 
starts  and  finishes  in  the  Siccawei  district. 
beyond  Nan>-ang  College.  A  c-ross-country 
ri<Ung  fund  has  been  established  recently 
(or  the  purpose  of  compensating  the  country 
people  for  any  damage  done  to  their  land, 
and  it  has  done  a  great  deal  towards  lessen- 
ing the  hostile  attitude  formerly  adopted  by 
native  land-owners  towards  the  Hunt  and  its 
members.  Out  of  the  same  fund  money  is 
drawn  for  making  and  rebuilding  bridges 
across  the  numerous  creeks,  and  for  con- 
structing what  are  known  as  platform 
jumps. 

In  the  sixties  the  hunt  used  to  start  at 
the  western  end  of  the  present  Foochow 
Koad.  which  in  those  early  days  was  good 
snipe-shooting  country.  The  first  Paper 
Hunt  Handicap,  held  in  1870.  was  won  by 
Mr.  R.  W.  Shaw,  the  present  master  of  the 
Drag  Hunt. 


THE   DRAG    HUNT. 

In  1868  the  "taipans"  of  Messrs.  Jardine. 
Matheson  &  Co.  imported  a  pack  of  hounds. 
An  occasional  fox  provided  good  sport,  but 
more  often  the  aniseed  trail  was  followed. 
In  1880  Mr.  J.  Bell-Irving  presented  the  pack 
to  a  committee  which  organised  the  Shanghai 
Drag  Hunt  Club.  The  season  begins  in  the 
first  week  in  December,  and  continues  until 
March,   three   hunts  a   week_  being   held    on 


speaking,    the    course  is   limited   to  an   area  has    attended    the     hunts     are     due     to     his 

within    a    radius    of     from    12    to    14    miles  energetic  supervision  and  management, 

from    Shanghai,    owing    to    the    increase    in  In    March    of    this    year    about    24    mem- 

cultix-atioii    of    the    country   imniediateh    sur-  hers   of    tlie   Hunt    took   the   train   as   far   as 

rounding    the    Settlement.      From    seven    to  the   Grand   Canal,  about   eight   miles   on   the 

ten  couples  of  hounds  are  usually  taken  out  ;  Shanghai   side   of    Chinkiaiig,  and    140   miles 


A    •WELL-KNOWN    SHANGHAI    RACING    ilAN    AND 
SOME    OF    HIS    TROPHIES. 


and  though  the  membership  of  the  Hunt  is 
limited  to  fifty,  there  is  generally  a  field  of 
between  thirty  and  forty  members,  as  well 
as  several  ladies.     The  trail  is  laid  on  horse- 


PAPER    HUNTING-"  AWAY.' 


an  average.  The  principal  hunting  days 
are  Saturdays  and  Sundays,  when  a  start  is 
made  at  10.30  a.m.,  and  the  hunt  usually 
extends  over  a  15  or  16-mile  course  ;  while 
the  mid-week,  or  early  morning  hunt,  is 
limited    to    about     seven     miles.      Generally 


back,  asafcetida  being  used  for  the  scent. 
The  hounds  are  drawn  from  various  packs 
at  home,  and  a  new  draft  is  imported  every 
year.  Mr.  K.  W.  Shaw  has  been  master  for 
the  past  eleven  years,  and  the  present 
excellence  of  the  pack  and  the  success  which 


from  the  Settlement.  The  Shanghai-Nanking 
K;iihvay  Company's  ofiicials  placed  a  special 
train  with  horse-boxes  at  the  service  of  the 
Hunt,  and  lent  one  of  their  houses  for  use 
as  a  mess-room.  Hunting  was  continued  for 
eight  days,  and  two  foxes,  four  badgers,  and 
several  hares  were  bagged,  while  a  deer  gave 
the  pack  a  long  run.  No  opposition  was 
shown  by  the  country  people,  who  seemed, 
in  fact,  rather  to  welcome  tlie  innovation 
than  otherwise  ;  but  the  Chinese  officials 
were  somewhat  inclined  to  offer  obstruction. 
The  experiment  proved  so  successful  that  it 
is  to  be  repeated  next  year  and,  if  possible, 
made  an  annual  event. 


POLO. 

Pkkvious  to  1900  little  interest  was  taken 
in  polo,  except  by  the  actual  members  of  the 
Shanghai  Polo  Club,  but  in  that  year  Shanghai 
became  temporarily  a  garrison  town,  and 
many  good  games  were  played  between  the 
local  club  and  the  regimental  teams.  After 
the  departure  of  the  military,  the  Club's 
matches  were  again  limited  to  pick-up  games, 
and  annual  tournaments  between  teams 
selected   from   among    the    members    of    the 


R.    E.    TOEG    AND    SOME    OF    HIS    BEST    KNO"WN    PONIES. 


Rio  Graxde. 
Shanghai  Spring  Meeting,  1899,  Derby,  Dead  Heat. 


W.AHOSH, 

Autumn  Meeting.  1901,  St.  Leger. 


Z.\MBESI, 

Slianghai  Spring  and  Autumn  Meeting,  1504,    Concordia  Cup, 
St.  Lecer  Chnmrioi:^. 
Yexisei.  Gatiiering  to  Celebrate  Mississippi's  Victory  in  the  Derby,  1895.  Coxox, 

Derby  Club  CliallenKe  Cup,  Spring,  1901. 
Mississippi,  Euphr.ates,  Amazon. 

Shanghai  Spring  Meeting.  1895,  Racing  Stakes,  Shanghai  Spring  Meeting,  iS«6.  Racing  Stakes,  Derby,  Shanghai    Autumn  Meeting.  1897,  Maiden  Stakes, 

Shanghai  Derby.  Concordia  Cup.  St.  Leger. 

P  P 


502     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


C.  K.  BENNETT  AND  SOME  OF  HIS  BEST  KNOWN  PERFORMERS  ON  THE  TURF. 

Bkocktox.  •  c.  R.  Bexxett. 

Gold  Clp.  Salem. 

Worcester. 


TAOvros. 


Club,  until,  in  1907,  Mr.  Henry  Keswick  offered 
a  handsome  silver  cup  for  competition 
between  teams  from  any  recognised  polo 
club  in  Hongkong  or   China,  the  contests  to 


take  place  in  Hongkong  or  Shanghai.  The 
first  competition  for  this  trophy  took  place  in 
the  autumn  of  1907,  when  a  team  from  the 
3rd   Middlesex   Regiment,   then    stationed    at 


THE  LAWN,  SHANGHAI  RACE  CLUB. 


Hongkong,  visited  Shanghai,  and  in  a  game 
of  four  chukkers,  were  defeated  by  two  goals 
to  nil.  The  teams  were  :  -  Shanghai  Polo 
Club— Messrs.  J.  Johnstone,  K.  J.  McEuen, 
G.  Dallas,  and  G.  A.  Kobins.  3rd  Middlesex 
Regiment — Colonel  Scott-Moncrieff,  Captain 
Davy,  Lieutenants  Dixon  and  Large. 

The  second  inter-port  polo  match  for  the 
"  Keswick  "  Cup  took  place  at  Hongkong  on 
August  loth  of  this  year  between  the  Shanghai 
and  the  Hongkong  Polo  Clubs,  and  ended  in 
a  victory  for  the  latter  team  liy  1 1  goals  to  7. 
The  Shanghai  team  consisted  of  Dr.  H.  E. 
Keylock,  Lieut. -Colonel  Bruce,  and  Messrs. 
A.  W.  Burkill  and  V.  Davies.  Hongkong  was 
represented  by  Captain  J.  S.  Cunningham  and 
Messrs.  H.  E.  Large.  W.  L  Webb-Bowen  and 
J.   Dixon,  all  of  the  Middlesex  Regiment. 


a 


CRICKET. 

The  ground  of  the  Shanghai  Cricket  Club 
is  equal  to  many  of  the  English  countv 
grounds,  both  in  size  and  condition,  and 
though  the  play  of  the  strongest  local  team 
is  only  on  a  par  with  that  of  the  English 
public  schools,  the  Settlement  holds  its  own 
fairly  well  in  inter-port  matches,  and  from 
time  to  lime  the  local  elevens  include  names 
which  have  been  previously,  or  afterwards 
become,  prominent  in  first-class  cricket  at 
home. 

The     ground     occupied     by    the     Shanghai 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     503 


Cricket  Club  was  levelled  and  turfed  for 
cricket  in  1865.  In  the  'seventies  and 
'eighties  the  game  suffered  from  the  scarcity 
of  competing  teams.  The  weekly  matches 
were    practically   limited    to    such    games   as 


enough  to  challenge  the  premier  Club.  Since 
that  year  the  two  Clubs  have  opposed  each 
other  two  or  three  times  annually,  with 
varying  success.  During  the  past  fifteen 
years    the    Golf    Club    and    Race    Club    have 


INTER-PORT    POLO-HONGKONG    VERSUS    SHANGHAI. 

A  Run  at  Goal. 

"  3rd  Middlesex  "  Players— Hongkonc  Team. 

Collision  with  the  Goal. 


Married  v.  Single,  Bankers  v.  Brokers,  Eng- 
land V.  Scotland,  or  the  World,  &c.,  varied 
by  an  occasional  inter-port  match  against 
Hongkong.  In  1900.  however,  the  present 
Shanghai  Recreation  Club,  which  had  been 
formed  two  years  previously,  became  strong 


put  cricket  teams  into  the  field,  while  in  1894 
the  past  and  present  boys  of  the  Shanghai 
Public  School  formed  a  club,  and  managed 
to  get  together  a  team  which  was  able 
at  times  to  defeat  both  the  Cricket  and 
Recreation    Clubs.     In    recent    vears    several 


companies  of  the  Shanghai  Volunteer  Corps 
have  formed  cricket  clubs,  as  well  as  the 
Shanghai  Municipal  Police,  and  several  junior 
organisations,  such  as  the  Parsees,  St.  Andrew's 
and  Customs  Cricket  Clubs,  have  sprung  into 
existence.  In  short,  the  number  of  cricket 
i;lubs  now  is  so  great  that  there  is  little 
difficulty  in  completing  fixture  lists,  and  the 
only  trouble  is  the  lack  of  accommodation  in 
the  way  of  suitable  grounds.  In  May,  1908, 
at  a  specially  convened  meeting  of  repre- 
sentatives of  the  local  clubs,  a  sub-committee 
was  appointed  to  formulate  a  scheme  for  a 
Cricket  League  in  Shanghai,  but  there  the 
matter  rests  for  the  present. 

Inter-port  cricket  matches  between  Shanghai 
and  Hongkong  have  been  referred  to  in 
detiiil  in  the  "  Hongkong "  section  of  this 
volume,  but  mention  must  be  made  here  of 
the  encounters  between  Shanghai  and  Kobe, 
Yokohama,  and  Weihaiwei.  In  1893  a 
Shanghai  team  visited  Japan  to  try  con- 
clusions with  Kobe,  but  suffered  defeat  by 
an  innings.  In  1895  Kobe  returned  the  call, 
and  were  defeated  on  this  occasion  by  an 
innings  and  14.9  runs,  f'arbridge  scoring  III 
runs  for  Shanghai,  and  St.  Croix  81.  In  1900 
Shanghai  again  went  over  to  Japan  and  won 
a  match  against  Yokohama  by  four  wickets, 
and  against  Kobe  by  132  runs.  In  1899  a 
Shanghai  team  of  moderate  strength  visited 
Weihaiwei,  but  were  badly  beaten  by  311 
and  26  for  two  wickets,  to  220  and  116. 
Inter-port  matches  have  been  arranged  for 
the  current  year  (1908)  at  Shanghai  against 
Hongkong  and  Tientsin. 


LAWN    TENNIS. 

There  are  innumerable  Lawn  Tennis  Clubs 
in  Shanghai,  but  it  is  only  at  the  Cricket 
Club,  Country  Club,  and  Recreation  Club 
that  any  realiy  high-class  play  is  witnessed. 
Other  clubs  by  which  the  game  is  patronised 
include  the  German  Country  Club,  the 
"  Fifty  "  Tennis  Club.  St.  Andrew's,  Customs, 
and  Police  Recreation  Clubs,  while  "  A  "  and 
"  B "  Companies  of  the  Shanghai  Volunteer 
Corps  are  able  to  produce  fairly  strong  teams. 
The  majority  of  these  clubs  hold  singles  and 
and  doubles  handicap  competitions  each 
season,  but  the  most  interesting  events  in  the 
Settlement  are  the  annual  matches  between 
the  Country  Club  and  the  Cricket  Club,  and 
the  annual  competitions  for  the  Lawn  Tennis 
Singles  Championship  Cup  and  the  "Lester" 
Hong  Doubles  Championship  Cup. 

In  1901  subscriptions  were  raised  for  the 
purchase  of  a  valuable  cup  for  the  singles 
championship,  the  conditions  being  that  the 
cup  was  to  be  won  by  the  same  player  three 
times  in  succession  or  five  times  in  all  to 
become  his  absolute  property.  As  Mr.  N.  B. 
Ramsay  was  champion  in  1901-2-3,  a  second 
cup  was  offered  in  1905,  and  in  that  and  the 
two  following  years  Mr.  Ramsay  did  not 
compete.  This  trophy  was  won  in  1905 
by  Mr.  W.  C.  E.  Gibson,  in  1906  by  Mr.  G.  M. 
Wheelock,  in  1907  by  Mr.  H.  de  Voss,  and 
in   1908  by  Mr.  Ramsay. 

The  "  Lester  "  ■  Hong  Doubles  Cup  was 
presented  in  1905  by  Mr.  Henry  Lester  for 
competition  between  pairs  from  loc;il  hongs. 
To  be  won  outright  the  trophy  was  to  be 
lield  three  times  in  succession  by  members 
of  the  same  hong.  In  1905  the  cup  was 
secured  bv  Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire  ;  and 
in  1906  and  1907  by  llie  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  Bank. 

Several  inter-port  lawn  tennis  games  have 
taken  place,  but  not  between  the  best  teams 
from    each    port.      The   custom    has    usually 


504     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


been  for  the  two  best  exponents  of  the  game 
in  the  visiting  cricket  team  to  oppose  in 
singles  and  doubles  the  best  of  the  home 
team. 


FOOTBALL. 

At    the    beginning    of     1902     the    Shanghai 
Footlull  Club  had  only  tifteen  members,  but 
at  a  meeting  held  in  July  of  that  year  several 
recruits    were    enlisted    and    the    Club    was 
properly     organised.       Some     difficulty    was 
experienced  in  obtaining  a  ground,  but  eventu- 
ally the   use  of  the   Horse   Baza;ir's  grazing 
land  on   the   Public  Recreation   Ground   was 
obtained,    and    several    matches    under    t>oth 
Rugby    and    Association    rules    were    played 
during    the    ensuing    season.     The    principal 
event  was  a  match  on  Chinese   New   Year's 
Dav     tietween     the     Club    and     the    Marine 
Engineers   for   the  possession  of   a  cup   pre- 
sented by  the   latter,  and   it  resulted  in   the 
only    drawn   game   which  has  l>een  recorded 
in    the    history   of    this    annual    competition, 
each    club    having    now    won    eight    times. 
From  this  date  until  1900  football  in  Shanghai 
languished,    but    in    the     latter    year,    when 
several     men-of-war     visited     the     port     and 
Shanghai  became  a  garrison  town  on  account 
of    the    Boxer    reticllion.   one  or   two  games 
were    played    weekly   under   each    code.      It 
was  not  until   1903,  however,  that  any  great 
enthusiasm  was  evinced  in  the  game.     In  that 
year  Mr.  E.  B.  Skottowe  offered  a  handsome 
cup  for  competition   under  Association  rules. 
In    the    lirst    season    only    two    teams  —  the 
Shanghai    Football   Club  and   the   Dock    and 
Engineers'   P'ootball   Club — were  able   to  put 
a  team  of   moderate   strength   into  the   field, 
and   the    Engineers    carried    off    the    trophy. 
In     1904-5-6    the    Shanghai     P'ootball     Club 
proved  successful,  but  in  KJ07  their  members 
were  distributed  amongst  other  teams  for  the 
purposes  of  this  competition,  and  "  A "  Com- 
pany   Shanghai    Volunteer     Corps,   scored   a 
popular    victory,   which    they    have    repeated 
in  the  current  year.      In  the  meantime  other 
clubs  and  teams   had    been    formed,  and   in 
October,    1907,  a    league    championship    was 
instituted,   for   which   the   Shanghai    Football 
Club,  .  ••  A "    Company    Shanghai     Volunteer 
Corps,     Engineers'     Football     Club,     Deluge 
Company   Shanghai    F"ire    Brigade,   Shanghai 
Recreation  Club,  and  the  Navy  entered.     The 
Shanghai    FcK)tball   Club  emerged   victorious. 
In   view  of   the  success  which  had  attended 
the  league  championship,  Messrs.  John  Pren- 
tice and  E.  B.  Skottowe  offered  a  handsome 
cup  for  competition  annually  by  international 
teams,  and  m   the   spring  of    1908   England 
became  the  first  holders  of  the  trophy. 

Shanghai's  first  inter-port  Association  football 
match  took  place  this  year.  Representatives 
of  the  port  visited  Hongkong,  and  on  F"ebruary 
3rd  were  defeated  by  the  Hongkong  Football 
Club  by  three  goals  to  nil,  and  on  the 
following  day  lost  to  the  United  Services  by 
one  goal  to  nil. 

Since  the  autumn  of  1904  the  Shanghai 
Football  Club  has  adhered  solely  to  the 
Association  code.  On  September  22,  1904, 
at  a  meeting  convened  by  several  Rugby 
enthusiasts,  it  was  decided  to  form  a  football 
club  under  the  laws  of  the  Rugby  Football 
Union,  to  be  called  the  Shanghai  Rugby 
Union  Football  Club.  The  Club  has  made 
great  headway,  and  in  t'ebruary,  1907,  invited 
the  Tientsin  Rugby  team  to  Shanghai  and 
defeated  them  by  one  goal  and  three  tries 
to  nil.  In  1908  a  return  visit  was  paid  to 
Tientsin  and  the  Club  again  scored  a  victory, 
this  time  by  two  goals  (one  dropped)  and 
four  tries  (18  points)  to  nil. 


BASE-BALL. 

Ever  since  there  were  enough  .Americans 
to  form  a  base-ball  nine,  the  game  has  been 
played  in  Shanghai,  the  Shanghai  Base-ball 
Club  b>eing  among  the  first  to  obtain  per- 
mission to  use  part  of  the  Public  Recreation 
Ground.  The  Club,  however,  has  had  a 
chequered  career,  and  has  been  reorganised 
on  several  occasions.  Knowledge  of  the 
game    is    practicjilly    confined    to    American 


the  Independence  Day  celebrations  would  not 
be  considered  complete  without  a  game  of 
base-ball. 


GOLF. 

It  was  not  until  fifteen  years  ago  that  any 
attempt  was  made  to  organise  a  golf  club  in 
Shanghai.  In  the  late  eighties  a  few  ardent 
Scots  used  to   knock   the   balls  about   in   the 


SHANGHAI    SPORTSMEN. 
A.  W.  BuRKiLL,  ERIC  Prince, 

Gentleman  Rider  and  Polo  Player.  Swimming  Ciiampion,  1907. 

J.  SCOT^ON,  CAI'T.   E.  J.  M.  HARRErr, 

Noted  Shanghai  Footballer 


Shanghai  Cricket  Club. 


residents,  who  have  little  opportunity  for 
practise,  except  occasional  games  against 
teams  from  the  American  men-of-war  which 
visit  the  port.  That  the  game  would  be 
extremely  popular  if  properly  encouraged  is 
evidenced  by  the  fact  that  hundreds  of 
spectators  of  all  nationalities  assemble  on  the 
base-ball  ground  on  July  4  in  each  year  to 
witness  the  match  between  the  local  team  and 
the  United  States  men-of-war  in  port.     In  fact, 


open  country  to  the  west  of  the  recreation 
ground,  but  it  was  not  until  January,  1894, 
that  anything  was  done  in  the  way  of  laying 
out  golf  links.  In  that  year  a  meeting  was 
held  in  the  board  room  of  the  Shanghai  Horse 
Bazaar  (now  Mr.  G.  Dallas's  stables)  with  a 
view  to  forming  a  golf  club.  Eighteen 
enthusiasts  attended,  and  a  committee  was 
elected  consisting  of  Messrs.  B.  A.  Clarke 
(capt.),  A.  G.  Rowand  (hon.  treasurer),  R.  Carr 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPEESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      505 


(hon.  secretary), 
Wade  Gardner 
were  drawn  up 
— such    of   the    i 


E.   O.  Arbuthnot,  J.  Fearon, 

and    F.    E.    Alford.     Rules 

and  adopted,  but  the  ground 

nterior  of   the  Racecourse  as 


a  small  annual  subscription  are  necessary  to 
become  a  member  of  the  Ladies'  Golf  Club 
and  to  enter  into  the  competitions  which  it 
promotes. 


M«i?^jsiij  m 


INTER-PORT    CRICKET— HONGKONG    VERSUS    SHANGHAI. 


The  Golf  Club  holds  numerous  competitions 
throughout  the  season,  including  mixed  four- 
somes and  monthly  cup  competitions.  Among 
several  handsome  trophies  competed  for 
annually  are  the  Hankow  Challenge  Cup, 
presented  in  May,  1895,  by  the  Hankow  Golf 
Club,  in  return  for  one  offered  to  them  by  the 
Shanghai  Golf  Club  ;  the  "  Ferrier "  Cup, 
presented  by  the  late  Mr.  J.  Ferrier  ;  and  the 
"  Campbell  "  Shield,  presented  by  Mr. 
Alexander  Campbell.  To  become  the  absolute 
property  of  the  winner,  these  trophies  must 
be  won  by  him  twice  in  succession  or  three 
times  in  all.  A  Challenge  Cup,  which  carries 
with  it  the  championship  of  the  Club,  is  also 
competed  for  each  year.  This  cup  can  never 
be  won  outright,  but  the  winner  receives  a 
miniature  replica.  The  holders  have  been  as 
follow  : — A.  J.  Wicks,  1901  ;  J.  Mann,  1902  ; 
J.  H.  T.  McMurtrie,  1903  ;  A.  W.  Walkinshaw, 
1904  ;  J.  H.  T.  McMurtrie,  1905  ;  A.  W. 
Walkinshaw,  1906  ;  A.  W.  Walkinshaw,  1907  ; 
and  G.  M.  Wheelock,  1908. 

It 

YACHTING. 

Yachting  has  been  a  popular  pastime  in 
Shanghai  from  the  opening  days  of  the 
Settlement.  In  the  fifties  and  sixties  a  Sailing 
Club  existed,  which  had,  at  Wayside,  a 
comfortable  bungalow,  and  an  inspection 
tower  from  which  to  view  Jhe  races.;  but 
eventually  the  property  was'  sold,  and  the 
proceeds  were  divided  amongst  the  niembers. 


was  not  already  reserved  for  cricket  and  lawn 
tennis — was  quite  unsuitable.  The  open  part 
which  remained  was  rented  by  the  Shanghai 
Horse  Bazaar  for  grazing  purposes,  and  the 
remainder  consisted  of  thick  grass,  reeds,  and 
grave  mounds.  In  1896  the  graves  were 
removed  and  the  ground  was  levelled,  and 
the  Horse  Bazaar  was  bought  out.  Since  that 
time  the  links  have  been  gradually  improved, 
but  they  still  lack  space  and  natural  bunkers. 
Originally,  the  rules  limited  the  membership 
to  75,  but  as  this  number  was  quickly  reached, 
the  limit  was  extended  to  150  in  1898,  and  has 
since  been  abolished.  There  are  now  about  500 
members,  and  more  than  100  lady  associates. 
The  subscription  of  a  member  entitles  his 
wife,  sister,  or  daughter  to  play  on  the  links 
and  to  use  the  room  set  apart  for  lady 
associates,  but  an  additional  entrance  fee  and 


FOOTBALL-SHANGHAI    PUBLIC    SCHOOL  VERSUS  THOMAS   HANBURY    SCHOOL. 


YACHTING—"  BEFORE    THE    WIND.' 


In  1869  the  present  Yacht  Club  was  organised 
under  the  name  of  the  Shanghai  Sailing 
Club.  Until  1873  the  boats  were  of  the 
house-boat  yacht  type,  with  heavy  centre- 
boards, and  ranging  from  thirty  to  sixty  tons  ; 
but  in  the  eighties  cutter-rigged  boats  with 
heavy  centreboards  were  introduced,  and 
these  averaged  about  fifty  tons  each.  As  the 
traffic  in  the  river  became  greater  the  heavy 
type  of  boat  was  gradually  abandoned  in 
favour  of  a  smaller  class  of  boat.  Rules  were 
drawn  up,  and  the  2j-rater  class  was  intro- 
duced, while  in  1896  the  "Flapper"  Class 
was  created,  and  five  boats  were  built  in 
Hongkong  to  the  design  of  Mr.  A.  J.  Watson. 
The  present  fleet  is  divided  into  three  classes 
of  racing  boats  and  one  cruiser  clabs.  Class  "A" 
includes  all  boats  above  2  rating,  and  at 
present  consists  of  ten  yachts — cutters,  sloops, 
and  luggeis — of  from  250  to  610  rating. 
Class  "  B "  consists  of  luggers  from  075  to 
099  rating,  and  there  are  now  six  boats  in  the 
class.  The  third  racing  class  consists  of  the 
"  Flappers  "  or  "  Swallows,"  all  of  one  design, 
while  the  cruiser  class  comprises  yawls, 
sloops,   luggers,  motor  boats,  &c.     Races  are 


506     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONCxKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


held  weekly  throughout  the  season  (May  to 
October),  and  tiike  place  on  the  river 
Whangpoo  over  courses  N-arjing  from  six 
to  twenty  miles,  though  one  race  has  been 
held  this  year  over  a  course  of  120  miles. 
The  cxHirses  are  up-river  or  down-river, 
according  to  the  state  of  the  tide.  The  usual 
starting  point  is  opposite  the  centre  of  the 
Bund,  but  not  infrequently  the  start  for  up- 
river  races  takes  place  at  Prince's  Pier, 
Woosung. 

In  IQ05  the  Yacht  Club  obtained  from  the 
Commissioners  for  executing  the  office  of 
Lord  High  Admiral  of  the  United  Kingdom, 
permission  to  Hy  the  Blue  Ensign,  but  this 
prixilege  is  confined  to  British  members  of 
the  Club.  The  flag  was  broken  by  Miss 
Warren,  daughter  of  Sir  Pelham  Warren, 
K.C.M.G.,  the  Consul-General,  at  a  ceremony 
which  took  place  on  the  Bund  foreshore  in 
April,  1905. 


ROWING. 

The  Shanghai  Rowing  Club  has  been  in 
existence  for  nearly  half  a  century,  but  it  is 
only  from  1867  that  there  are  any  authentic 
and  complete  records.  The  first  regatta  of 
which  there  is  any  mention  took  place  on 
May  15.  1872,  and  was  held  on  the  Pootung 
side  of  the  Whangpoo  River,  but  thence 
onwards  until  1897  the  annual  regattas  were 
almost  in\-ariably  held  on  the  Soochow  Creek. 
In  1875  the  Rowing  Club  acquired  the 
I'pper  Boat-house  alongside  the  Soochow 
Creek,  near  the  Stone  Bridge,  but  they 
disposed  of  it  in  1901  as  it  had  ceased  to  be 
of  much  use  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
regattas  were  then  taking  place  on  the  river. 
In  the  meantime  the  Club  had  acquired  the 
Lower  Boat-house,  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
Soochow  Creek,  opposite  Union  Church  ;  but 
with  the  ever-incTeasing  membership  this 
soon  became  too  small,  and  in  February, 
1903.  a  special  meeting  of  members  of  the 
Club  in%'ested  the  committee  with  full  power 


'•  Dent  "  Hong  Challenge  Cup  Fours,  Sculling 
Championship,  Junior  Sculls,  Griffins'  Fours. 
and  Senior  Eights. 

The  records  of  the  Rowing  Club  disclose 
only  three  inter-port  contests.  In  1874  and 
again  in  H)Oi  a  four-oared  crew  went  over 
to  Japan  and  had  to  be  content  with  second 
place.  Kobe  taking  first  and  Yokohama  third 
on  each  occasion.  In  1884  a  four-oared  race 
against  Hongkong  was  won  hy  the  southern 
port  by  a  bare  length. 


and    two    lengths    (66J    yards) 
42  seconds. 


ill    less    than 


THE   INTERNATIONAL   WALKING 
MATCH. 

This  competition  was  organised  in  Shanghai 
in  11x14  for  the  purpose  of  providing  a  form 
of  athletic  contest,  in   which  members  of   all 


HOWING-THE    FINISH   OF    THE    EIGHTS. 


SWIMMING. 

U.NTII,  the  erection  of  the  Shanghai  Rowing 
Club's  lower  boat-house  and  swimming  bath, 
those  who  were  desirous  of  practising  the 
art  of  natation  had  either  to  join  the  some- 
what exclusive  and  expensive  Swimming  Bath 
Club,  or  resort  either  to  the  Whangpoo  or 
to  a  pond  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Rifle  Butts. 
Now,  however,  the  Shanghai  Rowing  Club 
have  an  excellent  swimming  bath,  the  sub- 
scription and  entrance  fee  to  which  are 
reasonable,  and  in  the  spring  of  1907  a 
public  swimming  bath  was  erected  by  the 
Municipal  Council  at  the  new  Hoiigkew 
Recreation    Ground.     Shortly   afterwards    an 


HONQKEW  RECREATION  GROUND, 


lo  acquire  a  site  for  a  new  boat-house  and 
swimming  bath.  To  the  energy  and  fore- 
sight of  that  committee  the  Club  is  indebted 
for  the  splendid  building  it  now  occupies  on 
the  bank  of  the  S<xx.how  Creek.  From  1897 
until  1905  the  spring  and  autumn  regattas 
were  held  on  the  Pfxrtung  side  of  the 
Whangpoo  River,  up-stream  or  down-stream, 
according  to  the  state  of  the  tide,  but  since 
1905  the  autumn  races  have  been  removed 
to  Henli,  near  Quinsan.  The  principal  events 
are  the   International   Fours  and  Eights,  the 


International  Swimming  Club  was  formed 
which  is  granted  the  use  of  the  public  bath 
on  terms,  at  certain  specified  times.  Both 
the  Shanghai  Rowing  Club  and  the  Inter- 
national Swimming  Club  hold  annual  galas, 
which  prove  very  attractive.  At  a  recent 
gala  of  the  Rowing  Club  the  first  Inter-Club 
Squadron  Race  was  held,  and  resulted  in  a 
victory  for  the  Rowing  Club  by  a  bare  yard. 
As  a  criterion  of  the  skill  of  local  swimmers, 
it  is  worthy  of  mention  that  one  length 
(331  yards)  lias  been  covered  in   18  seconds, 


nationalities  could  meet  on  equal  terms.  The 
competition  is  open  to  teams  of  four  men 
each,  and  some  reponsible  official  has  to 
certify  that  each  of  tlie  entrants  is  a  bond 
fiilc  citizen  or  subject  of  the  nationality 
which  he  seeks  to  represent.  Each  team 
may  appoint  four  reserves,  to  be  used  as 
substitutes  if  necessary.  Individual  entries 
are  received  to  any  number.  Fair  heel  and 
toe  walking  is  insisted  upon.  The  team 
competition  is  decided  as  follows  : — The 
position  of  each  competitor  (first,  second, 
third,  &c.),  is  noted,  and  the  team  whose 
total  in  place  numbers  is  lowest  is  declared 
the  winner.  The  course  is  usually  about  18 
miles  in  length,  the  finishing  point  being 
opposite  to  the  grand-stand  on  the  race- 
course. The  contest  is  held  on  a  Sunday 
morning  towards  the  latter  end  of  November 
in  each  year. 

For  the  first  competition  in  1904  the  entries 
incUided  Dutch,  Japanese,  Swiss,  French, 
English,  Scotch,  British  Colonials,  Danes, 
Italians,  Germans,  and  Russians,  each 
nationality  entering  a  team  of  four  men 
except  the  Scotch,  Russians,  and  British 
Colonials.  The  result  was  as  follows  : — 
1st,  English  Team  (Messrs.  Ayres,  O.  V. 
Lanning,  Gerrard,  and  Quelch)  ;  2nd,  French 
Team  (Messrs.  Oudin,  Girbud,  Marges,  and 
Saubolle)  ;  3rd,  Danish  Team  (Messrs. 
Poulsen,  Mathiesen,  Klubien,  and  Kolte). 

Points.  —  England:  6,  9,  10,  15  =  40; 
France:  i,  2,  4,  34^41;  and  Denmark: 
5,  8,   13,   18  =  44. 

Individual  prizes. — Messrs.  Oudin  (French) 
I  ;  Giroud  (French)  2  ;  Horst  (Dutch)  3  ; 
Marges  (French)  4 ;  Poulsen  (Danish)  5  ; 
Ayres  (English)  6  ;  Anderson  (English)  7  ; 
Mathiesen  (Danish)  8  ;  Lanning  (English)  9  ; 
and  Gerrard  (English)  10. 

In  1905  the  entries  included  Swiss,  German, 
Portuguese,  English,  Austro-Huiigarian,  Nor- 
wegian, Irish,  Frencli,  Dutch,  and  Scotch 
teams,  ajid  ten  individual  entries.  The  result 
was  :— 1st,  French  (Messrs.  Marges,  Servanin, 
Blum,  and  Chapeaux)  ;  2nd,  English  (Messrs. 
Gerrard,  Burton,  Sayer,  Bowerman,  and 
Sparke)  ;  3rd.  Irish  (Messrs.  Young,  Kingston, 
Bookless,  and  MacCabe). 

Points.— France  :  I,  4,  6,  11  =  22;  Eng- 
land :  2,  5,  7,  14  =  28  ;  and  Ireland  :  3,  8, 
13,  26  =  50. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     507 


Iiiclividual  prizes  : — Messrs.  Marges  (French) 
I  ;  Gerrard  (English)  2  ;  Young  (Irish)  3  ; 
Chapeaux  (Krench)  4  ;  Burton  Sayer  (English) 
5  ;  Servanin  (French)  6  ;  Bowerinan  (English) 
7  ;  Kingston  (Irish)  8  ;  Anderson  (Scotch)  Q  ; 
Loevhaug  (Norwegian)  10. 


In  1906  there  were  thirty-live  entries,  and 
the  result  was  as  follows  : — 1st,  English 
(Messrs.  Gerrard,  P'eatherstonhaugh,  Webb, 
and  Moores)  ;  2nd.  P'rench  (Messrs.  Marges, 
Lucas,  Hluni.  and  Servanin)  ;  3rd,  Scotch 
(Messrs.  Cameron,  Roberts,  Mills,  and  Chicken). 


SHANGHAI   POLICE    SPORTS. 

The  Winning   Higli  Jump. 

Start  of  the  Cycle  Kace. 

Tug  of  War. 


Points. — England  :  i,  3,  4,  7  =  15  ;  France  : 
2,  6,  14,  16  =  38  ;  Scotland  :  5,  9,  15,  19  =  48. 

Individual  prizes  : — Messrs.  Featherston- 
haugh  (English)  i  ;  Marges  (French)  2  ;  Webb 
(English)  3  ;  Gerrard  (English)  4  ;  Cameron 
(Scotch)  5  ;  T.  Wade  (Individiuil)  6  ;  G.  A. 
Turner  (Individual)  7  ;  J.  B.  Lucas  (French)  8  ; 
A.  R.  Moores  (English)  9 ;  J.  L.  Wade 
(Individual)  10. 

In  1907  five  teams  entered  and  twenty- 
five  competitors  started,  with  the  following 
result : — 1st,  French  (Messrs.  B.  Lucas,  C. 
Marges,  J.  Gilis,  and  J.  Donne)  ;  2nd,  German 
(Messrs.  F.  Martin,  W.  Jessel,  R.  Bahlmann, 
and  F.  Karge)  :  3rd,  Portuguese  (Messrs.  C. 
Collaco,  M.  J.  Collaco,  J.  M.  d'Almeida,  and 
A.  M.  Collaco). 

Individual  prizes  :— Messrs.  W.  S.  Feather- 
stonhaugh  (English)  i  ;  B.  Lucas  (French)  2  ; 
C.  Marges  (French)  3  ;  F.  Martin  (German)  4  ; 
W.  Jessel  (German)  5  ;  T.  Wade  (Individual)  6  ; 
G.  A.  Turner  (English)  7  ;  C.  Collaco  (Portu- 
guese) 8  ;  W.  L.  Gerrard  (English)  9  ;  T. 
McKenna  (Scotch)  10. 

In  this  competition  three  of  the  English 
team  caine  in  ist,  6th,  and  8th  respectively, 
but  the  fourth  failed  to  complete  the  course. 


I# 


SHOOTING. 

The  real  sportsman  who  enjoys  hunting 
his  quarry  will  have  no  fault  to  find  with 
Shanghai.  Though  at  times  recourse  is  had 
to  native  "  beaters,"  an  organised  and  disci- 
plined gang  of  beaters,  such  as  is  seen  at 
the  average  shoot  at  home,  is  unknown  in 
China.  Shanghai  is  within  easy  reach  of 
country  in  which  game  abounds,  and  on  the 
very  borders  of  the  Settlement  snipe  and 
pheasant  are  to  be  obtained.  Pheasants, 
however,  though  fairly  plentiful,  are  becom- 
ing scarcer  every  year  as  the  cultivation  of 
land  extends.  Further  afield  there  are  dis- 
tricts, easily  approachable  by  house-boat,  in 
which  an  abundance  of  game  is  to  be  foiMid, 
and  it  is  no  uncommon  occurrence  fcr  a 
party  to  acquire  a  large  and  mixed  bag  of 
pheasant,  teal,  snipe,  wild  duck  and  wood- 
cock, with,  occasionally,  a  deer  or  wild  boar. 
In  addition  to  the  winter  snipe,  there  are 
periodiail  visits  of  the  migratory  snipe,  which 
arrive  from  the  south  in  the  latter  pait  of 
April  and  early  in  May,  and  return  from  the 
north  late  in  August  or  early  in  September. 
During  the  winter  months  wild  fowl  is  met 
with  in  large  numbers  on  the  shores  of  the 
islands  outside  Woosung  in  the  estuary  of 
the  Yangtsze  River,  and  wild  swan,  geese, 
teal,  widgeon,  and  duck  are  found  in  profu- 
sion at  Tsungming,  Blockhouse,  and  Small 
and  Bush  Islands,  which  are  best  reached 
in  the  large,  flat-bottomed  Chinese  sampan. 

During  the  suminer  months  —  the  close 
season  for  game — the  local  gun  clubs  afford 
excellent  practise  and  recreation  by  organising 
trap-shooting.  The  Shanghai  Gun  Club  was 
formed  in  1895  and  its  first  ground  was  at 
"  Trefancha,"  Markham  Road,  until  in  1903 
a  lease  was  obtained  of  a  more  suitable  plot 
of  land  bordering  Connaught  Road.  Here 
weekly  competitions  are  held,  and  an  inter- 
port  competition  against  the  Foochow  (iun 
Club  takes  place  annually.  Until  1904  each 
club  was  credited  with  four  victories,  but 
since  1901  the  Shanghai  Gun  Club  has  been 
successful  every  year,  and  has  now  won  the 
contest  on  eight  occasions  out  of  twelve. 

The  Sportsman's  Gun  Club  was  organised 
in  1901  and  occupied  a  piece  of  ground 
adjoining  the  Rifle  Range  until  1906.  In  that 
year  the  Club  removed  to  more  commodious 
quarters  olf  the  Yangtszepoo  Road,  near  the 


508     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Four  Mile  Post.  In  the  first  year  of  its 
existence  the  Sportsman's  Gun  Club  took 
part  in  an  inter-port  contest  against  the  Foo- 
chow  Gun  Club  and  won  by  85  birds  to  68, 
but  the  contests  fell  into  abe>'ance  until  the 
institution  of  the  "  Wingard  "  Challenge  Cup 
in  1905.  Two  or  three  matches  are  held 
annually  between  the  Sportsman's  Gun  Club 
and  the  Shanghai  Gun  Club,  and  up  to  the 
present  time  the  first-named  heads  the  list 
of  successes. 


though  the  police  play  occasionally  on  the 
station  greens,  and  the  game  is  now  being 
encouraged  by  the  Shanghai  Cricket  Club. 
An  open  championship,  held  six  years  ago, 
was  won  by  Mr.  D.  McAlister,  of  tlie  Shanghai 
Recreation  Club,  and  then  discontinued.  At 
the  Shanghai  Recreation  Club  the  game  is 
followed  with  great  interest,  and  singles 
and  doubles  handicap  competitions  are  held 
annually.  This  year  fi.\tures  have  been 
arranged  against  the  Shanghai   Cricket  Club 


THE    BRIDOE    IN    HON&KEW   RECREATION    GROUND. 


A  third  gun  club — the  Clay  Pigeon  Club — 
was  established  in  November,  1907,  and 
obtained  the  use  of  the  Navy  League  Recrea- 
tion Ground  in  Siecawei  Road.  The  opening 
shoot  took  place  on  April  4.  1908,  and  since 
that  date  cup  competitions  have  been  held 
regularly  every  Sunday. 

In  1905  Mr.  H.  j.  Craig,  of  Shanghai, 
presented  a  handsome  silver  cup  for  com- 
petition between  projierly  organised  gun 
clubs  in  Far  Eastern  ports.  The  conditions 
provide  that  the  competition  shall  take  place 
on  August  1 2th  each  year ;  that  only  one 
team  consisting  of  five  men  may  be  entered 
by  each  club  ;  that  40  birds  are  pulled  to 
each  member  of  a  team  (200  birds  in  all)  at 
a  distance  of  18  >-ards  ;  and  that  Magau  traps 
are  used.  The  winning  team  have  the  cus- 
tody of  the  cup  for  one  year,  and  each 
member  receives  a  miniature  facsimile.  The 
Sportsman's  Gun  Club  carried  off  the  trophy 
in  1905  with  the  record  score  of  184  birds; 
the  Shanghai  Gun  Club  in  the  following  year 
with  158  birds  ;  the  Foochow  Gun  Club  in 
1907,  and  this  year  the  Sportsman's  Gun  Club 
was  again  successful  with  a  score  of  180 
birds. 


OTHER   SPORTS   AND   PASTIMES. 

There  arc  only  three  clubs — the  Shanghai 
Recreation  Club,  the  Wigwam  Club,  and  the 
Franco-Italian  Club — which  have  taken  up 
the  game  of  lawn  bowls  with  any  enthusiasm, 


and  the  Shanghai  Municipal  Police  Recreation 
Club. 

A  Bowling  Club  has  been  established  in 
Shanghai  for  more  than  forty  years,  with 
headquarters  and  an  alley  situated  on  the 
north  side  of  Nanking  Road.  Here  the  game 
has  many  patrons  among  the  older  genera- 
tion, and  matches  frequently  take  place 
between  this  Club  and  the  German  Club 
(Club  Concordia)  and  the  Hongkong  Club 
Bowling  Alley.  A  few  of  the  country  hotels 
also  have  bowling  alleys. 

A  Hockey  Club  still  exists  in  Shanghai, 
but  the  games  are  few  and  far  between. 
Occasionally  the  local  Club  meets  a  team 
from  a  British  man-of-war  in  port,  but  little 
public  interest  is  taken  in  the  encounters. 
Several  interesting  pick-up  games,  also,  are 
held  during  the  winter  season  by  a  Ladies' 
Hockey  Club. 

Athletic  sports  are  held  annually — in  the 
spring  by  the  Boys'  Brigade  and  the  Foreign 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  in 
the  autumn  by  the  Shanghai  Municipal  Police 
and  the  Shanghai  Public  School.  At  the 
Police  Sports  held  five  years  ago,  W.  G. 
Brown,  who  weighed  more  than  twelve 
stone,  was  credited  with  covering  one 
hundred  yards  in  ten  seconds  dead  !  At  the 
Shanghai  Municipal  Police  and  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  Sports  several  open 
championships  are  held,  but  the  times  made 
do  not  call  for  comment. 

In  1865  a  Tennis  and  Rackets  Club  was  in 
existence,   but   it   soon   died  a  natural  death, 


and  the  game  of  rackets  has  not  been  revived 
since. 

In  January,  i()o6,  the  Shanghai  Harriers 
Club  was  formed,  and  held  an  opening  run 
in  the  second  week  of  that  month.  The 
membership  numbered  26,  but  afterwards 
increased  to  55.  Several  enjoyable  runs 
were  held,  but  it  was  found  impossible  to 
obtain  sufficient  active  support  to  make  the 
Club  a  success,  and  the  Harriers  ceased  to 
exist  after  January,  1907. 

Of  other  clubs  which  are  now  extinct, 
mention  may  be  made  of  the  Badger  Club, 
whose  members  in  the  olden  days  used  to 
find  good  sport  with  fox-terriers  and  dachs- 
hunds ;  a  Skating  Club,  which  had  the  right  to 
use  a  pond  in  the  Public  Recreation  Ground, 
but  for  many  years  has  had  no  ice  upon 
which  to  skate  ;  and  the  Tandem  Club, 
which  had  to  be  disbanded  owing  to  the 
scarcity  of  suitable  roads. 


INSPECTOR   WALTER     KINIPPLE,    S.M.P. 

MR.  WALTER  KINIPPLE,  a  native  of  Kent, 
and  formerly  of  the  City  of  London  Police, 
was  specially  selected  in  1903  by  the  Com- 
missioner of  Police  in  Shanghai  to  fill  the 
position  of  Traffic  Inspector  of  the  Shanghai 
Mounted  Police.  Whilst  in  London  he  was 
a  prominent  member  of  the  City  Police 
Athletic  Club,  and  since  his  arrival  in 
Shanghai  he  has  entered  enthusiastically 
into  all  local  sports.  For  four  years  he  has 
been  secretary  of  the  Police  Sports,  and  has 
captained  the  winning  tug-of-war  team  each 
year  against  the  Navy,  the  Volunteers,  and 
all  comers.  He  is  a  member  of  the  police 
first  cricket  eleven,  he  plays  football,  and  is 
a  strong  swimmer. 


METEOROLOGY. 

HONGKONG. 

By    F.  G.    FlGG,    Director   of   the    Hongkong   Observatory. 


fUE  Colony  of  Hongkong  is 
situated  just  within  the  nor- 
thern tropic  and  within  the 
region  which  comes  alter- 
nately under  the  influence 
of  the  southerly  and  north- 
easterly monsoon  systems. 
Hence  the  year,  as  regards  climate,  may 
be  popularly  divided  into  two  periods — the 
former,  or  summer  monsoon,  which  prevails 
from  June  to  September  ;  and  the  latter,  the 
winter  monsoon,  prevailing  from  October  to 
March,  while  April  and  May  are  subject  to 
very  changeable  weather  and  may  be  charac- 
terised as  months  between  the  monsoons. 

The  table  appended  hereto  gives  the  means 
of  some  of  the  piincipal  meteorological 
elements  for  a  period  of  twenty-four  years 
(1884  to  1907  inclusive),  the  figures  being  the 
result  of  observations  made  at  the  Hongkong 
Observatory,  which  is  situated  on  the  Kow- 
loon  Peninsula  at  a  height  of  109  feet  above 
mean  sea-level.  A  glance  at  this  table  shows 
at  once  that  the  climate  of  the  Colony  has  a 
considerable  annual  variation.  The  summers 
are,  of  course,  hot,  but  the  winters  are  cool. 
The  bright  weather  characterising  the  early 
winter  gives  place  usually  during  the  second 
half  of  January  to  increasing  cloudiness, 
with  a  corresponding  decrease  of  sun- 
shine, decreasing  temperature,  and  increasing 
humidity.  In  the  first  half  of  P'ebruary  the 
mean  temperature  falls  to  its  lowest  point, 
slightly  over  56  deg.  Thereafter  the  tempera- 
ture rises  steadily  to  about  65  deg.  by  the  end 
of  March.  In  the  latter  month,  however, 
there  is  a  further  increase  of  cloudiness. 
which  is  at  a  maximum  in  this  month,  while 
the  amount  of  sunshine  received  is  at  a 
minimum.  The  humidity  is  also  high,  and 
fog,  which  usually  begins  to  appear  in 
January,  is  at  the  maximum.  Thunderstorms, 
which  seldom  occur  from  December  to 
February,  make  their  appearance,  and  the 
rainfall,  which  is  slight  during  the  winter 
months,  now  begins  to  increase. 

The  temperature  continues  to  rise  steadily 


during  April  and  May,  and  at  the  end  of  the 
latter  month  it  has  almost  attained  its  summer 
level.  The  rainfall,  also,  increases,  and 
thunderstorms  occur  frequently  by  the  end 
of  May.  The  wind  direction,  which  has 
been  slowly  veering  from  E.  by  N.  in 
February  to  E.  by  S.  in  May,  now  shifts 
more  rapidly  to  the  SE. 

From  the  beginning  of  June  till  towards 
the  end  of  September,  the  southerly  mon- 
soon period,  the  mean  temperature  recorded 
is  between  80  deg.  and  82  deg.,  and  the 
humidity  remains  high — about  82  per  cent. 
Rain,  the  greater  part  of  which  falls  during 
thunderstorms,  totals  in  June,  July,  and  August 
about  43  inches.  This  is  therefore  the  most 
trying  part  of  the  year  to  most  people.  It  is 
not  tliat  the  temperature  is  excessively  high, 
but  the  fact  that  it  is  accompanied  by  such  a 
humid  atmosphere,  that  renders  this  season 
of  the  year  so  enervating.  The  daily  range 
of  temperature  is  only  just  over  8  deg.,  so  that 
the  minimum  night  temperature  is  from  77  deg. 
to  78  deg.,  while  the  humidity  rises  at  night  to 
about  87  per  cent.  Under  these  conditions 
people  find  it  difficult  to  sleep,  the  more  par- 
ticularly as  there  are  a  good  proportion  of 
nights  during  the  summer  when  the  wind  is 
almost  calm  on  the  lower  levels.  At  the  peak 
there  is  usually  a  breeze. 

In  September  the  temperature  and  humidity 
are  slowly  decreasing,  and  on  an  average 
there  is  a  marked  diminution  in  the  rainfall. 
The  southerly  monsoon  is  now  retreating,  and 
bursts  of  north-east  monsoon  occur  occasion- 
ally towards  the  end  of  the  month,  while  in 
October  it  is  usually  established.  Skies  are 
then  clearer,  sunshine  is  at  the  maximum  of 
the  year,  and  temperature  and  humidity  are 
steadily  decreasing.  Thence  onwards  till  the 
end  of  the  year  the  weather  is  usually  very 
fine,  the  humidity  is  down  to  about  65  per 
cent.,  there  is  no  lack  of  sunshine,  and  the 
temperature  falls  rather  quickly  to  about 
62  deg.  by  the  middle  of  December. 

The  weather  during  the  closing  months 
of    the  year    is  hence    very    agreeable,    and 


whatever  may  be  said  of  the  conditions  of 
the  summer,  little  fault  can  be  found  with 
those  of  the  early  winter. 

Hitheito,  in  speaking  of  temperature 
reference  has  been  made  to  the  mean 
temperature  as  derived  from  observations 
made  hourly.  It  will  be  seen  on  consulting 
the  table  annexed  hereto  that  in  February, 
the  coldest  month,  the  mean  maximum  tem- 
perature is  62' I  deg.,  and  the  mean  minimum 
54'5  deg. ;  while  in  July,  the  hottest  month,  the 
mean  maximum  temperature  is  865  deg.  and 
the  mean  minimum  78*2  deg.  The  daily  range 
of  temperature  is  rather  small,  amounting  on 
an  average  of  the  whole  year  to  8-3.  It  is 
slightly  less  than  this  in  the  spring  when 
skies  are  clouded,  and  slightly  greater  in  the 
late  summer  and  early  winter  when  skies  are 
clearer. 

The  absolute  maximum  temperature,  97  deg., 
during  the  twenty-four  years  under  notice, 
occurred  ou  August  19,  1900,  when  a  typhoon 
was  approaching  the  Colony  from  the  east- 
ward, while  the  absolute  minimum,  32  deg., 
was  recorded  on  January  18,  1893,  when  an 
anticyclone  lay  over  China.  The  absolute 
range  of  temperature  for  this  period  is, 
therefore,  65  deg.  Except  on  the  above 
occasion,  when  the  temperature  fell  to  the 
freezing  point  with  fatal  effects  to  much 
vegetation  in  the  Colony,  the  minimum 
temperature  has  only  fallen  below  40  deg. 
on  two  occasions,  viz.,  37-5  deg.  in  January, 
1900,  and  384  deg.  in  February,  1901.  It 
must  be  understood  that  these  observations 
are  from  the  Observatory  records.  Slight 
frost  is  not  exceptional  on  Victoria  Peak. 

The  mean  annual  rainfall  of  the  twenty- 
four  years  is  84'I3  inches.  The  greater  part 
of  this,  84  per  cent.,  is  received  during 
the  six  months,  April  to  September  inclusive, 
leaving  only  16  per  cent,  for  the  other  six 
months,  October  to  March  inclusive.  June 
is  the  wettest  month,  with  16-43  inches,  May, 
July,  and  August  falling  some  2  tj  4  inches 
below  this  amount.  December  has  the  mini- 
mum with  i'o6  inches. 


a 

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a 
in 
o 
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o 

o 
o 

a 

< 

m 
a 

m 
w 

P5 
->1 


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TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF 


HONGKONG, 


SHANGHAI,  ETC.      Ml 


THE  GREAT  TYPHOON-DAMAGE  DONE  ON  SHORE. 


The  year  of  maximuin  rainfall  was  1889 
with  11972  inches,  and  the  maximum  fall 
occurring  in  any  one  month  was  48-84  inches 
in  May  of  the  same  year.  The  greater  part 
of  this  abnormal  fall  was  received  during  a 
terrific  thunderstorm  or  series  of  thunder- 
storms, which  took  place  on  the  29th  and 
30th  of  the  month.  Rain  commenced  to  fall 
on  the  29th  at  2.30  a.m.,  and  it  finally  ceased 
on  the  30th  at  5.30  p.m.  During  this  interval 
33'ii  inches  of  rain  were  collected.  Of  this 
27-44  inches  fell  in  the  twenty-four  hours 
ending  at  6.30  a.m.  on  the  30th,  and  in  the 
three  hours  2.30  a.m.  to  5.30  a.m.  on  the  30th, 
9-60  inches  were  measured.  As  might  be 
expected,  this  enormous  fall,  in  so  short  a 
time,  caused  great  damage  in  the  Colony,  par- 
ticularly to  roads. 

The  minimum  annual  rainfall,  4583  inches, 
was  recorded  in  1895.  '"  January  and  De- 
cember, 1884,  no  rain  fell,  and  in  some  years 
February,  October,  and  November  have  been 
practically  rainless.  The  rainfall  of  Septem- 
ber and  October  is  very  variable  in  amount. 
In  years  when  typhoons  approach  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  Colony  good  falls  are  noted, 
while  in  the  absence  of  such  disturbances  the 
rainfall  in  these  two  months  is  comparatively 
small. 

The  Colony  is  subject  to  the  devastating 
effects  of  tropical  cyclones,  usuallv  designated 
typhoons  in  the  Far  East.  These  disturb- 
ances, of  which  about  16  occur  on  an  average 
every  year,  originate,  usually  between 
the  latitudes  of  10  deg.  N.  and  20  deg.  N., 
chiefly  over  the  Pacific  and  less  frequently 
in  the  China  Sea.  They  move,  at  first, 
towards  W.  and  N'W.,  and  are  liable  to 
reach     the     coast     of    China    from    June    to 


October.  A  proportion  of  them  recurve 
towards  N.  and  NE.  whilst  still  in  the 
Pacific,  and  ultimately  reach  Japan  or  pass 
away  eastwards  to  the  south  of  japan.  The 
rate  of  translation  varies  in  different  latitudes 
and  in  different  typhoons,  but  of  those  that 
cross  the  north  part  of  the  China  Sea  the 
rate  of  progression  js  9  miles  per  hour  on 
an  average.  They  occur  inost  frequently  on 
the  China  coast  in  July,  August,  and  Septem- 
ber.    The   south  coast  of   China,   and   hence 


the  neighbourhood  of  Hongkong,  has,  how- 
ever, been  visited  by  these  disturbances  as 
early  as  May  and  as  late  as  November  (e.g. 
that  of  November  9  to  10,  1900),  but  this 
is  unusual. 

Means  of  some  of  the  principal  Meteoro- 
logical Elements  and  monthly  extremes  of 
Temperature  and  Rainfall  registered  at  the 
Hongkong  Observatory  during  the  twenty- 
four  years   1884  to   1907  inclusive  : — 


Temperature. 

Humi- 
dity. 

R:iinfa]l. 

nright 
sunshine. 

Clouds. 

Wind. 

Montli. 

P 

s 
S5£ 

SB 

4,  5 

11 

11 

4 

rt 

1 

B 

3 
S 

§1 

c  a 

*J  0 

0.0 

4 

^■52 

s 

"i 

s.s 

<l 

0 

~. 

S 

c 

.  -0 

It 

'■B 

Per 

Per 

Per 

Deg. 

Deg. 

DeR. 

Des. 

Deg. 

cent. 

ins. 

ins. 

ins. 

hrs. 

cent. 

cent. 

1 

Jan.    ... 

600 

64=; 

S6-2 

7*>-^ 

32-0 

74 

1-41 

«-43 

0-00 

142-8 

40 

63 

E.I4°N.      13-9 

Feb.  ... 

:;8-0 

62-1 

=;4s 

79-1 

38-4 

76 

1-70 

7-94 

002 

87-8 

30 

76 

E.I4°N.     14-5 

March  . 

62-7 

66-9 

$^A 

821 

4=50 

83 

2-9.T 

ir-49 

0-17 

79-8 

23 

84 

E.  7"^'•    15-9 

April... 

70-2 

74-6 

670 

88-6 

Sl-8 

8=1 

566 

14-89  1  1-23 

105-3 

30 

80 

E.       t    14-7 

May  ... 

76-8 

8 1-4 

7r6 

qi-5 

631 

8.3 

12-7.1 

48-84!  1-15 

151-0 

40 

75 

E.  13°S.  1    13-0 

June  ... 

80-7 

8VI 

77'1 

93-6 

.68-9 

83 

16-43 

34-37  1  2-33 

156-6 

42 

76 

K.53°S- 

12-3 

July  ... 

81-8 

86-S 

78-2 

940 

72-1 

82 

12-37 

28-23 ;  4-57 

200-8 

52 

68 

E.54°  S. 

no 

August. 

81-3 

86-3 

77-4 

970 

71-6 

83 

14-29 

27-86  3-97 

200-9 

54 

64 

E.5i°  S. 

9-8 

Sept.... 

80-4 

8V3 

76-6 

94-0 

6v6 

77 

Q-47 

30-60  0-63 

197-3 

5« 

57 

E.  ii°N. 

12-0 

Oct.  ... 

76-3 

80-9 

726 

93-8 

=i7'4 

71 

4-53 

17-87  :  0-02 

213-8 

65 

50 

E. 19°  N. 

14-5 

Nov.  ... 

692 

741 

6s-o 

8S-6 

46-7 

6S 

1-51 

7-32;o-oi 

189-6 

62 

50 

E. 28°  N. 

13-2 

Dec.  ... 

62-7 

67-8 

58-6 

81-9 

407 

66 

106 

4-10 

000 

182-4 

59 

50 

E. 24°  N. 

12-4 

Year ... 

71-6 

76-3 

68-1 

970 

320 

77 

8413 

48-84 

o-oo 

1,908-1 

47 

6''>      E.   4°  S.      13-1 

ol2     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


During  the  past  twenty-four  years  45  gales 
of  force  8  and  upwards,  due  to  t\-phoons, 
have  blown  in  the  Colony.  They  were  dis- 
tributed as  follows  : — June  once,  July  8  times, 
Au);ust  10  times,  September  17  times, 
Octolier  8  times,  and  November  once.  Full 
typhoon  force  was  experienced  in  July  once, 
in  August  once,  in  September  twice,  in 
October  twice,  in  November  once.  Storm 
force  was  recorded  in  September  on  three 
additional  occasions.  It  is  seen,  therefore, 
that  this  part  of  the  coast  is  most  frequently 
visited   by   these   disturbances  in   September. 

The  most  violent  typhoon  experienced  in 
the  Colony  during  the  past  twenty-four  years 
was  that  of  July  29,  1896,  when  the  average 
hourly  wind  velocity  reached  lo8  miles. 
Usually  a  large  amount  of  rain  falls  during 
the    passage    of    a    typhoon,     but    on    this 


occasion  the  fall,  3  inches,  was  comparatively 
slight.  On  the  other  hand,  in  the  typhoon 
of  October  5,  1894,  the  fall,  amounting  to 
nearly  17  inches,  was  abnormal.  It  was  due 
to  the  typhoon  centre  recurving  slowly  in 
the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  the  Colony. 
After  passing  to  the  southward  and  westward, 
it  finally  moved  away  on  the  mainland  to 
the  north  and  north-east  of  Hongkong.  The 
storm  was  consequently  very  prolonged,  the 
wind  blowing  with  the  force  of  a  strong 
gale  for  thirty  hours,  and  with  storm  force 
and  upwards  for  twelve  hours. 

The  influence  of  these  disturbances  on  the 
meteorological  character  of  the  summer  and 
autumn  seasons  in  individual  years  is  some- 
times considerable.  It  has  already  been 
shown  that  the  rainfall  of  the  autumn  months 
is  particularly  affected  by  the  near  approacli, 


or  otherwise,  of  typhoons,  and  it  may  now 
be  stated  that  the  temperature  is  adversely 
affected  in  seasons  when  the  trajectories  of 
these  disturbances  lie  chiefly  over  the  Pacific. 


MR.  FREDERICK  OEOROE  FIQQ,  Director 
of  the  Hongkong  Observatory,  was  born  on 
February  10,  1856,  and,  on  completing  liis 
education,  entered  the  observatory  at  Kevv  as 
assistant,  afterwards  becoming  magnetic 
observer.  He  arrived  in  Hongkong  in  1883 
as  first  assistant  to  the  Director  of  the  Obser- 
vatory, and,  after  having  on  several  occasions 
filled  the  post  of  Acting  Director,  he  was 
confirmed  in  his  present  appointment  in 
September,  1907. 


SHANGHAI. 


By    the    Rev.   Father   FrOC,    Director   of   Siccawei    Observatory. 


The  great  port  of  Shanghai,  as  well  as  the 
remainder  of  the  coast  of  China,  is  subject 
to  the  climacteric  system  of  monsoons,  as 
has  t>een  authoritatively  stated  and  proved  by 
Pere  S.  Chevalier,  in  the  bulletin  of  the 
Siccawei  Observatory,  year  1890. 

The  sunmier  monsoon,  caused  by  the  high 
temperature  and  consequently  low  pressure 
which  prevails  over  the  continent,  sets  in 
progressively,  the  change  beginning  in  March 
or  April  in  the  north,  and  in  May  in  the 
Formosa  Channel.  Its  duration  at  Shanghai 
is  of  about  four  months — from  April  to 
August — and  its  direction  from  south-east. 
The  winter  monsoon  is  caused  by  the  low 
temperature  and  high  pressure  prevalent  in 
Asia,  and  sets  in  about  the  first  half  of 
September,  and  sometimes  even  during  the 
last  weeks  of  August.  At  Shanghai  it  lasts 
nearly  seven  months.  It  is  not  only  the 
longer,  but  by  far  the  steadier  of  the  two 
monsoons.  Its  direction  is  from  north-east 
in  the  Formosa  Channel,  and  from  north- 
west at  Shanghai. 

During  the  south-east  or  summer  monsoon 
the  climate  of  Shanghai  is  sub-tropical,  whilst 
for  the  remainder  of  the  year  it  is  temperate. 
Let  us  now  examine  one  by  one  the  chief 
elements  of  the  rather  complicated  climate. 
Barometric  Pressi-rk. 

The  mean  tiarometric  pressure  for  Siccawei, 
reduced  to  freezing  point  and  sea-level,  is  as 
follows : — 


Inches. 

Indies. 

Januao' 

3033 

July 

2969 

Februarv 

3028 

August 

2973 

March 

3017 

September 

2991 

April 

3000 

October 

3011 

May 

2987 

November 

3024 

June 

2974 

December 

30-31 

Yearly  mean    3003 

The  annual  variation  is  0-64  inch,  the 
highest  reading  being  reached  about  the 
middle  of  January,  and  the  lowest  in  July. 
A  rapid  and  considerable  departure  from 
the  mean  generally  forebodes  bad  weather, 
a  gale  or  other  disturbance,  as  the  case 
may  be. 


The  pressure  undergoes  every  day  a  double 
oscillation,  on  tide,  principally  determined  by 
the  sun,  and  not  by  the  moon,  as  in  the  case 
of  the  sea  tide.  It  is  not  so  regular  here  as 
in  lower  latitudes,  but  is  better  defined  during 
summer,  when  the  climate  is  more  similar 
to  that  of  the  tropics.  The  minima  occur 
about  4  a.m.  and  4  p.m.,  the  maxima  about 
10  a.m.  and  10  p.m.;  the  total  range  may 
be  from  0'04  to  008  inch. 

Temperature. 
Annual  Change. — At  Shanghai  the  coldest 
weather  occurs  about  the  beginning  of 
February,  and  the  warmest  about  the  ist  of 
August,  in  each  case  nearly  forty  days  after 
the  solstices.  It  will  be  of  interest  to  find 
here  the  mean  temperature  for  each  period 
of  five  days.  The  figures  are  the  result  of 
thirty  years  of  observation,  and  give  a 
fair  idea  of  the  variation  throughout  the 
year  : — 

Mean  Temperature  at  Siccawei. 


c. 

F. 

c. 

F. 

Jan.      I 

DeK. 
3-29 

Deg. 

379 

Mar.22 

Deg. 

878 

Deg. 

47-8 

6 

290 

37-2 

27 

10-33 

50-6 

11 

352 

38-3 

Apr.   I 

11-23 

52-2 

16 

278 

370 

6 

11-84 

53-3 

21 

2-82 

371 

II 

1297 

55-3 

26 

318 

377 

16 

13-41 

56-1 

31 

2-59 

367 

21 

14-90 

58-8- 

Feb.     5 

273 

369 

26 

15-74 

60-3 

10 

262 

367 

May  I 

16-30 

61-3 

15 

4-12 

394 

6 

17-42 

63-4 

20 

491 

40-8 

II 

18-20 

64-8 

25 

5-87 

426 

16 

18-64 

65-6 

Mar.    2 

5-66 

422 

21 

19-84 

67-7 

7 

680 

44-2 

26 

20-39 

687 

12 

677 

442 

31 

21-13 

700 

17 

793 

463 

June  5 

21-59 

709 

C. 

F. 

c. 

F. 

Deg. 

Deg. 

Deg. 

Deg. 

June   10 

22-37 

72-3 

Sep.  23 

21-25 

70-3 

15 

23-35 

74-0 

28 

20-59 

69- 1 

20 

23-90 

75-0 

Oct,   3 

19-80 

67-6 

25 

24-35 

75-8 

8 

19-31 

66-8 

30 

25-21 

77-4 

13 

1806 

64-5 

July  5 

26-36 

79-4 

18 

17-56 

63-6 

10 

27-00 

80-6 

23 

15-67 

60-2 

15 

27-64 

8i-8 

28 

15-29 

595 

20 

2762 

817 

Nov.  2 

13-69 

566 

25 

27-74 

819 

7 

13-42 

56-2 

30 

28-29 

82-9 

12 

11-55 

52-8 

Aug.  4 

27-86 

82-1 

17 

11-79 

53-2 

9 

27-56 

81-6 

22 

1014 

S0-3 

14 

27-52 

81-5 

27 

8-15 

46-7 

19 

26-85 

80-3 

Dec.  2 

7-81 

46-2 

24 

26-52 

797 

7 

6-91 

44-5 

29 

2578 

78-4 

12 

6-28 

43-3 

Sep.    3 

24-84 

76-7 

17 

4-66 

40-4 

8 

24-07 

75-3 

22 

4-74 

405 

13 

22-78 

73-0 

27 

4-27 

397 

18 

22-14 

71-9 

32 

3-29 

379 

E.xtremc  Temperatures. — What  we  practi- 
cally experience  is  not  the  mean,  but  the 
actual  temperature.  A  sailor  passing  from 
24  deg.  outside  to  80  deg.  in  an  engine  room 
will  have  had  a  mean  of  52  deg.,  the  same  as 
a  resident  living  at  home  with  a  minimum  of 
50  deg.  and  a  maximum  of  54  deg.  It  is, 
consequently,  of  great  importance  to  know 
how  much  the  thermometer  departs  from  the 
mean. 

If,  during  a  period  of  thirty  years  of  uniform 
observations,  we  compare,  within  each  year, 
the  coldest  and  warmest  month,  we  find  that 
the  greatest  variation  was  49-7  deg.  in  1878 
and  1893,  and  the  smallest  369  deg.  in  1902. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     513 


Computing  now  the  difference  between  the 
highest  and  lowest  monthly  mean,  for  each 
particular  month,  in  different  years,  we  obtain 
the  following  table  : — 

Variability  of  the  inontltly  mean  at  Siccawei. 


Month. 

Var. 
Deg. 

January 

U7 

February     ... 

10-4 

March 

9"0 

April 

8-6 

May 

59 

June 

7-6 

July 

7-6 

August 

70 

September  ... 

5-8 

October 

74 

November   ... 

99 

December   ... 

10-4 

on  the  whole,  is  the  coldest  month,  and 
February  is  a  little  colder  and  certainly  more 
disagreeable  than  December. 

Slianghai  Summers.  —  The  summer  at 
Shanghai  is  usually  very  hot  and  damp.  The 
absolute  maximum  occurs  generally  in  July 
or  August,  sometimes  in  June.  In  1876, 
however,  the  hottest  d;iy  was  May  19th, 
when  the  thermometer  reached  96'3  deg. 
The  hottest  summer  was  that  of  1892,  fol- 
lowed immediately  by  the  coldest  winter. 
But  the  summer  of  1894,  nearly  as  warm, 
was  succeeded  by  a  moderate  winter. 

Here  is  a  list  of  the  highest  temperatures 
registered  each  year  from  1873  to  1907  : — 


There  is  less  difference  between  the  same 
summer  month  in  different  years  than 
between  the  same  winter  month.  Let  us 
remark,  too,  that  this  variability  is  greater  in 
high  than  in  low  latitudes. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  difference 
between  the  absolute  maximum  and  the 
absolute  minimum  experienced  within  the 
same  year  had  its  highest  value,  902  deg., 
in  1893,  and  its  lowest,  742  deg.,  in  1882. 
But  from  August  15,  1892,  to  January  19, 
1893,  a  total  difference  of  927  deg.  was 
registered  within  about  live  months. 

AH  these  temperatures  are  recorded  in  a 
good  shade,  and  in  a  position  allowing  very 
free  passage  to  the  air.  In  other  circuin- 
stances  (in  the  streets,  e.g.)  the  thermometer 
may  rise  much  higher  or  fall  much  lower. 
For  instance,  the  white  bulb  thermoineter, 
ill  vacuo,  over  the  lawn  at  Siccawei,  rises 
above  115  deg.  several  times  every  year,  and 
an  ordinary  maximum  thermometer  on  the 
grass  in  full  sunshine  recorded  118  deg.  on 
August  9,  1907. 

Sltaiigliai  Winters. — The  winter  season  is 
very  fine  on  account  of  the  dry  weather  and 
bracing  air.  In  its  entirety  it  extends  from 
October  to  April.  We  append  here  certain 
data  concerning  that  period  for  thirty  different 
winters  : — 


Deg. 

Deg. 

1873 

100-4 

I89I 

98-6 

1874 

977 

1892 

102-9 

1875 

102-0 

1893 

100-4 

1876 

963 

1894 

102-9 

1877 

943 

1895 

100-2 

1878 

977 

1896 

too-o 

1879 

101-7 

1897 

102-0 

1880 

96-1 

1898 

I0I7 

I88I 

96-4 

1899 

99-3 

1882 

943 

1900 

100-4 

1883 

97-3 

190 1 

970 

1884 

957 

1902 

930 

1885 

I0O-2 

1903 

979 

1886 

98-6 

1904 

959 

1887 

100-4 

1905 

997 

1888 

lOO-I 

1906 

98-1 

1889 

100-4 

1907 

97-0 

1890 

99-1 

Number  of  Days  with 

Temperature. 

Minimum 

Temperature 

below  32  degrees. 

Mean 

Temperature 

below  32  degrees. 

Maximum 

Temperature 

below  32  degrees. 

Number  of  Hours 
of  Frost. 

Degrees. 

Mean  185 

47 

II 

2 

408 

The  number  of  hours  of  frost  is  distributed  as  follows  : — 


Maximum. 

Mean. 

Minimum. 

Percentage. 

November 

47     (1880) 

10 

0  (It  times) 

tV 

December 

190     (1884I 

III 

2       (l888| 

+ 

January        

266    (1883) 

146 

39      (1901) 

i 

February     

314     (1901) 

119 

18       (1890) 

h 

March          

95    (1895) 

19 

0  (3  times) 

V^ 

It  is  seen  that  frost  always  occurs  in 
December,  January,  and  February,  almost 
always  in  the  first  days  of  March,  and  pretty 
often  at  the  end  of  November.  The  earliest 
date  when  frost  was  recorded  is  November 
5th  ;    the    latest,   March   30,    1901.      January, 


Oppressive  nights,  chiefly  when  attended 
with  dead  calms  or  SW.  winds,  are  those 
during  which  the  thermometer  does  not 
fall  below  77  deg.  Fah.  This  is  how  they  are 
distributed  :^ 


Number  of  oppressive  nights. 

Above  (77-0  deg.) 

Above  (78-8  deg.) 

Max.  j  Mean 

Min. 

Max. 

Mean 

Min. 

June 

3         0 

0     1      I 

0 

0 

July         ... 

14  !  7 

2 

10 

2 

0 

August    ... 

15    i    6 

0 

6 

2 

0 

September 

3    1    0 

0 

0 

— 

— 

Daily  variation. — Every  day,  except  under 
abnormal  circumstances  (not  very  infrequent, 
however),  the  lowest  temperature  takes  place 
shortly  after  sunrise,  and  the  highest  about 
2  p.m. 

The  difference,  or  range,  between  the 
coldest  and  warmest  temperature  of  the 
same  day,  which  is  of  paramount  impor- 
tance for  health,  varies  considerably.  The 
difference  is  greater  in  March,  April,  May, 
October,  Noveinber,  and  December,  and  less 
in  January,  February,  March,  June,  July,  and 
August,  the  wider  range  thus  occurring 
during  the  transition  months. 


Mean 

range,  Fah. 

Mean 
range,  Fah. 

Deg 

Deg. 

January 

10-0 

July 

10-7 

F'ebruary   ... 

93 

August 

9-6 

March 

11-6 

September 

111 

April  . 

120 

October    ... 

120 

May 

127 

November 

12- 1 

June.. 

10-7 

December 

12-2 

A  characteristic  feature  of  the  climate  is 
the  suddenness  of  variations,  on  a  very 
large  scale,  at  the  passage  of  the  depressions 
followed  by  NW.  gales.  Thus  on  April  24, 
1908,  from  3  p.m.  to  7  p.in.  the  temperature 
fell  by  360  deg.  Fah.,  the  rate  of  decrease 
being  9-0  deg.  an  hour. 

Hygrometry. 

The  relative  humidity  is  the  percentage 
of  the  actual  vapour  pressure  to  that  of 
saturated  water  vapour  of  the  air,  at  the 
same  temperature.  The  annual  variation  at 
Siccawei  is  insignificant,  there  being  only 
a  slight  maxiinum  during  the  summer  mon- 
soon. The  mean  monthly  inaximuin  is 
83  per  cent.,  the  minimum  69  per  cent.,  and 
the  mean  78  per  cent. 

It  is  of  interest  to  know  the  amount  of 
watery  vapour  contained  in  the  atmosphere, 
without  reference  to  temperature.  This  is 
given  by  the  ratio  which  the  weight  of 
vapour  bears  to  the  weight  of  dry  air.  As 
the  amount  is  very  small,  the  figures  in  the 
following  table  have  been  multiplied  by 
100,000. 


Month. 

Amount  of 
Vapour. 

Month. 

Amount  of 
Vapour. 

Jan. 

607 

July     ... 

301 1 

Feb.      ... 

647 

Aug.    ... 

2982 

March  ... 

840 

Sept.   ... 

2270 

April 

1239 

Oct.     ... 

1564 

May      ... 

1699 

Nov.    ... 

1038 

June 

2348 

Dec.    ... 

705 

514      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  minimum  occurs  during  January,  while 
the  maximum  is  reached  in  July.  Then,  while 
the  summer  south-eastern  monsoon  is  blowing 
from  the  Pacific,  the  \-apour  in  the  atmosphere 
is  almost  exactly  five  times  what  it  is  in 
winter,  when  the  winds  are  coming  from 
the  plains  of  Mongolia  and  Siberia. 

Cloudiness.— Vfe  append  the  results  of 
three-hourly  observations  made  from  4  a.m. 
to  9  p.m.  A  cloudless  sky  is  represented 
bv  o,  while  10  means  a  sky  completely 
overcast.  At  the  same  time  we  give  the 
means  obtained  at  Kew  (near  London)  for 
Jl  years.  The  difference  is  striking  :  in 
Shanghai,  clear  cloudless  days  are  to  be 
expected  in  November  and  December,  while 
June  is  the  month  of  greatest  cloudiness. 


Uaxi 

Mean 

Uin. 

Kew 

January 

91 

6-3 

2-4 

74 

February 

93 

6-8 

4-2 

72 

March 

ti 

6-8 

51 

6-4 

April 

80 

67 

3-6 

6-4 

Mav 

87 

70 

55 

6-3 

June 

90 

74 

5-6 

6-5 

July    

8-6 

6-2 

3-9 

6-5 

August 

86 

5-6 

3-3 

6-2 

September    ... 

8-2 

6-3 

39 

6/ 

October 

90 

5-8 

37 

67 

November     ... 

8-4 

5' 

^•5 

72 

December     ... 

80 

47 

27 

7-! 

Year  .. 


Yearly  Mean. 

1    7-2     1     6-2 


55 


07 


fog_ — Fog  is  but  a  cloud  in  contact  with 
the  ground.  It  occurs  more  frequently  from 
3  to  7  a.m..  and  more  rarely  from  9  a.m.  to 
5  p.m.  than  at  any  other  time  of  the  day. 
At  the  mouth  of  the  Yangtsze-Kiang,  fog  is 
common  in  spring  and  quite  an  exception  in 
autumn.  It  is  the  same  along  the  coast  to 
the  south  of  the  Formosa  Channel.  On  the 
north  coast  the  maximum  takes  place  in  July, 
and  the  minimum  from  August  to  November. 

Rainfall. — Any  day  during  which  there  is 
a  fall  of  O"004  inch  or  more  of  rain,  snow, 
hail.  &c..  is  "a  rainy  day."  A  number  of 
fine  davs  are  thus  necessarily  recorded  as 
•'  rainy  days,"   or  days  wilh  rat  11. 

Days  with  rain  at  Siccawei 
(1873-1902). 


Month. 

Mean 

Nunibcr. 

Month. 

Mean 
Number. 

Jan.         ... 

10 

July       ... 

II 

Feb. 

10 

Aug.      ... 

II 

March     ... 

13 

Sept.     ... 

12 

April       ... 

13 

Oct       ... 

10 

May 

13 

Nov. 

8 

Jane 

14 

Dec.      ... 

7 

Month. 

Average 

(.inches). 

Month. 

Average 
(inches). 

Jan. 

215 

July         ...> 

S-io 

Feb. 

229 

Aug. 

594 

March      ... 

3-21 

Sept.       ... 

472 

-April 

357 

Oct. 

3-31 

May 

360 

Nov.       ... 

1-85 

June 

6-66 

Dec. 

ri8 

Year   ... 

4360 

June  is  pre-eminently  the  rainy  month,  both 
for  frequency  and  abundance.  In  June,  1875, 
there  was  a  rainfall  of  19'3I  inches  in 
twenty-one  days.  This  is  a  maximum. 
August  is  noteworthy  for  heavy  showers. 
In  December,  which  is  the  dry  month,  there 
are  at  least  17,  and  often  28  or  29,  days 
without  a  drop  of  rain.  A  higher  figure  may 
even  be  reached  if  to  December  be  added 
the  second  half  of  November.  In  Hongkong 
the  total  rainfall  is  nearly  twice  that  in 
Shanghai,  while  in  Peking  it  is  only  one-half. 

Snmv. — Although  of  rare  occurrence,  snow 
falls  at  Shanghai  every  winter.  The  maxi- 
mum number  of  falls  during  the  cold  months 
is  : — 


Month. 

Maximum 
Number  of  Days. 

November 

I   (6  times). 

December 

4  (1882). 

January     

8  (mi)- 

February  ... 

5  (thrice). 

March        

'      5  (t\vice). 

April          

I  (1882). 

The  earliest  recorded  snowfall  took  place 
on  November  11.  1887,  and  the  latest  on 
April  4,  1882.  The  maximum  quantity  of 
one  fall  was  8'66  inches  on  January  29,  1893. 

Wind. 

The  diurnal  variation  of  the  force  of  the 
wind  is  very  well  marked  in  Shanghai.  The 
breeze  is  light  at  night,  increases  shortly 
after  sunrise,  remains  steady  from  10  a.m. 
to  4  p.m.,  and  then  abates  rapidly. 

The  annual  variation  is  double  ;  it  increases 
gradually  from  October  to  April,  then  falls 
considerably  until  June,  rises  very  briskly 
in  July,  and  abates  again  until  October. 

During  the  winter  monsoons,  the  wind 
tends  to  blow  from  W.  in  the  morning,  then 
from  N.  and  E.  in  the  evening,  as  if  there 
was  a  continuous  call  of  the  air  towards  the 
sun.  During  the  summer  monsoons  the 
general  direction  is  SE,,  but  twice  a  day 
there  is  a  marked  tendency  to  blow  from  the 
S.  about  10  a.m.  and  after  sunset. 

Annual  variation  of  the  wind  at  Siccawei — 


The  amount  of  rainfall  is  measured  by  the 
height  of  the  water  recorded  in  the  rain-gauge. 
Here  is  the  average  rainfall  at  Shanghai 
from  1873-1902  :— 


Jan.   .. 

.  N.   9  deg 

w. 

July  . 

.  S.  39  deg 

E. 

Feb.  . 

.  N.  8    „ 

E. 

Aug.  . 

.  S.  62     „ 

E. 

Mar.  . 

.  N.S2    „- 

E. 

Sept. . 

.  N.45     „ 

E, 

April  . 

.  S.  76    .. 

E. 

Oct.  . 

.  N.31     „ 

E. 

May  . 

.  S.  5.,-     „ 

E. 

Nov.  . 

.  N.    8     „ 

W 

June  . 

.  S.  S3    ,. 

E, 

Dec.  . 

.  N.23     „ 

W 

Atmospheric  Perturbations. 
Thunderstorms  are  formed  when  low 
barometric  pressures  meet  with  high  tem- 
peratures. At  Shanghai,  the  general  direction 
of  thunder  clouds  is  from  VV.  to  E.  The 
passiige  causes  a  heavy  fall  of  pressure, 
which  rises  very  briskly  when  the  clouds 
burst  over  the  station,  usually  with  a  shower 
of  rain  or  hail  and  a  frcsii  gale.  Electric 
storms  are  more  frequent  in  the  afternoon, 
principally  during  suMinicr. 

Total   number    of    thunderstorms    observed 
at  Siccawei  (1873-93)  ■ — 


Month. 

No. 

Month. 

No. 

January 

0 

July 

70 

F"ebruary  ... 

5 

August 

69 

March 

12 

September... 

21 

April 

41 

October      ... 

II 

May 

26 

November . . . 

2 

June 

34 

December ... 

0 

Since  1893,  cases  of  thunderstorms  have 
occurred  during  December  and  January. 

Cyclonic  Storms. — Cyclones  or  whirling 
storms  offer  the  following  characteristics. 
The  barometric  pressure  is  alinonnally  low 
over  a  more  or  less  restricted  area.  All 
around  this  defiression  or  centre,  oftentimes 
rather  irregular  in  form,  the  winds  blow 
spirally  inwards,  in  anti-clockwise  direction, 
that  is,  contrariwise  to  the  movement  of  the 
hands  of  a  watch,  from  right  to  left,  and 
with  a  sometimes  disastrous  violence.  In 
the  southern  hemisphere  the  movement  is 
clockwise.  Besides  this  whirling,  the  body 
of  the  vortex,  moves  about  as  a  whole,  with 
variable  direction  and  velocity.  Neither 
general  rate  can  be  given  for  the  speed  of 
litis  movement,  nor  universal  rule  concerning 
the  track.  The  area  covered  by  the  storm 
is  sometimes  very  considerable :  the  "  de 
Witte "  typhoon  of  1901  made  itself  felt  at 
the  same  time  oti  August  3rd  at  Nagasaki 
by  an  ESE.  gale,  and  at  Macao  by  fresh 
WSW.  winds ;  which  shows  a  diatneter  of 
more  than  2,200  km.  (1,350  nautical  miles). 
But  other  typhoons  may  not  lie  50  nautical 
miles  broad. 

Typhoons     scarcely     approach  Shanghai, 

except   frotn    July  to    Septetnber.  They   are 

ushered  in   by  a   fall  of   the  glass  with   NE. 
winds. 


[For  these  notes  the  excellent  pamphlet  of 
Father  Jos.  de  Moidrey,  S.J.,  on  "  The  Clitnate 
of  Shanghai "  has  been  laid  utider  con- 
tribution, and  in  many  instances  transcribed 
ad  vcrlnini.'] 


THE    RESIDENCK    OF    H.    J.    CRAIG,    BUBBLINa    WELL    ROAD. 


'DENNARTT,"    SHANGHAI,    THE    RESIDENCE    OF    W.    V.    DRUMMOND. 


LEADING    RESIDENTS    OF   SHANGHAI. 


MR.  W.  V.  DRUMMOND,  of  Lincoln's  Inn. 
barrister-at-la\v,  who  holds  the  position, 
under  the  Chinese  Government,  of  Chief 
Law  Officer  for  Foreign  Affairs  in  the 
southern  ports  of  China,  has  a  record  of 
voluntary  public  service  which,  in  many 
respccis,  is  unique.  He  has  lived  in  China 
for  nearly  forfj'  years,  and  throughout  the 
whole  of  that  time  he  has  studied  local  and 
imperial  affairs  connected  with  the  Far  East 
so  closely  that  he  is  now  a  recognised 
authority.  This  special  knowledge  he  has 
placed  at  the  disposal  of  his  country  on 
more  than  one  occasion,  and,  in  return,  has 
received  the  warm  acknowledgments  of 
two  Secretaries  of  State.  Born  in  London 
in  1841,  Mr.  Drummond  is  the  son  of  the 
late  Rev.  James  Drummond,  at  that  time  of 
Highgate.  He  was  called  to  the  Bar  in  1870, 
and,  after  practising  in  Hongkong  for  two 
years,  c-ame  to  Shanghai,  where  he  has 
taken  the  greatest  interest  in  municipal  and 
social  matters.  During  the  last  thirty  years 
he  has  been  closely  associated  with  num- 
t>ers  of  Chinese  officials,  has  entertained 
many  of  them,  exchanged  views  with  them 
on  current  topic-s.  and  so  kept  abreast  of 
the  trend  of  thought  among  the  governing 
classes  of  the  Empiie.  In  ihif().  al  the 
request  of  the  Viceroy,  Mr.  Drummond 
formed  a  committee  to  raise  money  in  all 
parts  of  the  world  for  the  relief  of  distress 
in  the  famine  areas  in  China  ;  and  of  this 
committee,    which    collected    about    ;£5o,ooo, 


he  became  chairman.  During  the  Chino- 
Japanese  War  and  the  Boxer  outbreak, 
Mr.  Drummond  proved  a  mine  of  informa- 
tion to  the  British  Minister  in  China,  and 
his  services  were  so  highly  valued  that  on 
each  occasion  he  received  the  thanks  of  the 
British  Government  through  Lord  Kimberley 
and  Lord  Salisbury.  The  Emperor  of  China 
also  conferred  upon  him  the  Order  of  the 
Sapphire  Button,  of  the  Third  Kank,  and  last 
year  he  was  presented  with  the  Red  Button 
of  the  Second  Rank,  the  second  highest  rank 
in  China  as  a  Mandarin.  In  politics  Mr. 
Drummond  is  a  strong  supporter  of  Mr. 
Joseph  Chamberlain,  and  is  a  vice-president 
of  the  council  of  the  Liberal  Unionist 
League,  a  member  of  the  Tariff  Reform 
League,  the  Liberal  Unionist  Association, 
the  Liberal  Union  Club,  and  the  British 
Empire  League,  as  well  as  of  several 
London  clubs.  Mr.  Drummond  is  also  the 
founder  and  chairman  of  the  Perak  Sugar 
Cultivation  Company,  Ltd.,  and  the  Kaluni- 
pong  Rubber  Company,  Ltd.,  two  very  large 
companies  carrying  on  business  in  the  Stale 
of  Perak  in  the  Malay  Peninsula,  all  the  capital 
for  which  was  raised  at  Shanghai.  He  owns 
and  lives  in  a  fine  residence,  standing  in 
its  own  ornamental  grounds,  on  the  Siccawei 
Road. 


MR.    EDWARD    JENNER    HOOQ,    who   has 

the  distinction  of  being  the  doyen  of  foreign 
residents  in  Shanghai,  may  be  said  to  have 
taken,  indirectly,  a  larger  share  than  any 
other  man  in  the  work  of  developing  the 
Settlement.  He  has  seen  it  grow  gradually 
from  comparative  insignificance  to  its  present 
proud  position  of  commercial  supremacy, 
and,  far  from  being  merely  an  interested 
onlooker,  he  has  been  actively  concerned  in 
many  of  the  industrial  enterprises,  the  success 
0/  which  has  brought  this  transformation 
about.  Born  in  Cheshire  in  1838,  Mr.  Jenner 
Hogg  was  educated  privately,  and  came  to 
Shanghai  as  early  as  1857  to  join  the  old 
firm  of  Lindsay  &  Co.,  which  had  been 
established  many  years  previously  by  former 
servants  of  the  East  India  Company.  He 
remained  with  the  firm,  in  which  his  brother 
was  a  partner,  until  i860,  when  he  and  his 
brother  commenced  trading  together  on  their 
own  account.  In  1870  Mr.  Hogg  practically 
retired  from  business,  but  he  has  remained 
upon  the  directorate  of  several  of  the  most 
important  local  industrial  and  development 
companies,  and  is,  at  the  present  day,  chair- 
man of  the  Land  Investment  Company  and 
of  the  Shanghai  Gas  Company.  He  has 
always  played  a  prominent  part  in  the  social 
life  of  the  Settlement.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  "makers"  of  the  racecourse;  a 
foundation  member  of  the  Country  Club  ;  an 
oflicer  of  the  old  "  Rangers,"  now  the  Light 
Horse ;    and    was    at    one    time    Consul    for 


MAJOR    BRODIE    A.    CLARKE'S    RESIDENCE    IN    BUBBLING    WELL    ROAD. 


Q  Q 


518     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Italy.  In  return  for  his  ser\-ices  in  this  last 
capacity  he  was  decorated  with  the  Order 
of  the  Crown  of  Italy.  Mr.  Hogg  is  still 
identilied  with  practiailly  every  social  organi- 
sation in  Slianghai  and  is  a  member  also  of 
the  Conser\-ative  Club,  London.  He  is,  in 
short,  a  line  type  of  the  sturdy  pioneer  of 
British  enterprise  and.  at  the  ripe  age  of 
seventy   vears.   hale  and   hearty  as  ever,   he 


MR.  VVVYAN  DENT,  acting  Deputy- 
Commissioner  (Outdoor,  Boiiding  and 
Returns),  of  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs, 
is  one  of  the  most  familiar  figures  in 
Shanghai.  Motoring  is  his  favourite  recrea- 
tion, and,  as  he  follows  his  bent  to  the 
fullest  possible  extent  in  his  leisure,  his  car 
is  often  to  be  seen  round  about  the  country- 
side.      Its    owner    mav  claim    more   than   a 


MR.    AND    MRS.    E.    JENNER  fHOQO. 


can  look  back  upon  his  career  with  justifi- 
able pride.  It  is  interesting  to  recall  that 
his  beautiful  residence  stands  upon  the  site 
formerly  occupied  by  a  modest  little  bunga- 
low which  he  and  his  brother  built  for  use 
at  week-ends  pn  the  banks  of  the  Soochow 
Creek,  near  the  Chinese  village  of  "Cnkaza," 
at  the  time  that  General  Gordon  constructed 
the  Jesstield  Koad  in  connection  with  the 
operations  against  the  Taeping  rebels. 


passing  acquaintance  with  many  and  varied 
districts  in  China.  He  was  born  in  1862, 
when  the  great  firm  of  Dent  &  Co.  was  at 
the  height  of  its  prosperity,  and,  except  for 
the  years  spent  in  completing  his  education 
at  Haileybury  College,  England,  and  the 
''  Realschule  "  Cassel,  Germany,  he  has  lived 
in  China  ever  since.  He  joined  the  Imperial 
Maritime  Customs  in  18K2,  and  served  in 
various  capacities  at  Hankow,  Chefoo  (during 


the  China-Japan  War),  Kiukiang,  Foo- 
chow,  and  Peking,  before  taking  up  his 
present  appointment.  Mr.  Dent  is  a 
musician  of  considerable  ability,  and  several 
of  his  published  compositions  have  been 
very  well  received  both  by  the  professional 
critic  and  the  public.  He  is  also  a  collector 
of  Chinese  and  other  curios,  and  was 
awarded  a  silver  medal  at  the  St.  Louis 
Exhibition  and  the  Diplome  d'Honneur  and 
gold  medal  at  the  Liege  Exhibition,  for  the 
valuable  articles,  both  artistically  and  histori- 
cally interesting,  which  he  placed  on  view. 
In  recognition  of  his  services  to  the  Chinese 
Government,  he  has  been  decorated  with 
the  Fourth  Civil  Rank  of  the  Imperial  Order, 
"  Ssu  Pin  Hsien."  Mr.  Dent  married,  in 
1892,  Ada,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  I.  W. 
Batinson.  His  son,  Robert  Vyvyan,  who 
is  an  even  more  enthusiastic  motorist  and 
mechanician  than  he,  has  inherited  his 
father's  musical  talents,  and,  although  only 
fourteen  years  of  age,  has  already  obtained 
recognition  in  the  musical  world  through  his 
published  work. 


MR.  J.  H.  TEESDALE,  a  partner  in  the 
well-known  legal  firm  of  Messrs.  Stokes, 
Piatt  &  Teesdale,  was  born  at  Eltham, 
Kent,  on  March  7,  1873,  being  the  eldest 
son  of  Marmaduke  John  Teesdale,  of  Walton- 
on-the-Hill,  Surrey.  Educated  at  Albion  House 
School,  Margate,  and  at  Winchester  College, 
he  served  his  five  years'  articles  of  clerkship 
with  Messrs.  Maples,  Teesdale  &  Co.,  of  6, 
Frederick's  Place,  London,  E.G.,  remaining 
with  them  for  two  years  afterwards  as 
managing  clerk.  In  1899  he  came  to  Shanghai, 
where  he  joined  Messrs.  Stokes  &  Piatt, 
and  in  1904  he  entered  into  partnership  with 
them,  the  firin  then  assuming  its  present 
style.  Hfi  has  become  intiinately  identified 
with  local  sport  as  an  active  participant.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Municipal  Committee 
for  Parks  and  Open  Spaces.  As  a  member 
of  the  Rowing  Club,  he  rowed  in  the  English 
four  and  eight  during  1899  and  1900.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Paper  Hunt,  Cricket,  and 
Polo  Clubs,  and  is  a  well-known  member  and 
performer  of  the  Shanghai  Amateur  Dramatic 
Club.  A  good  shot,  he  spends  much  of  his 
lime  during  vacations  in  pursuit  of  game 
up  country.  His  clubs  are  the  Shanghai  and 
Country  Clubs,  Shanghai,  and  the  Junior 
Carlton  and  Thatched  House  Clubs,  London. 


MR.  HAROLD  BROWETT,  of  Shanghai,  was 
born  in  Birmingham,  England,  on  October  6, 
1862,  and  educated  at  Ashfurlong  School, 
Sutton  Coldrteld,  at  Loughborough  Grammar 
School,  and  at  Northcote  House,  Rugby.  He 
was  admitted  a  Solicitor  of  the  Supreme 
Court  on  January  18,  1887,  and  enrolled  as 
a  member  of  the  Bar  of  Her  Britannic 
Majesty's  Supreme  Court  for  China  and 
Japan  (now  China  and  Korea)  on  Sep- 
tember 26th  of  the  same  year,  and  has 
practised  since  then  as  a  solicitor  and 
advocate. 


MR.    EDWARD    S.    LITTLE    has    travelled 

extensively  in  different  parts  of  China  during 
fourteen  years'  missionary  work,  and  has 
gained  an  acquaintance  with  the  habits  of 
the  people  and  a  knowledge  of  their 
languages,  which  prove  of  the  greatest  assis- 
tance in  the  conduct  of   his  business.    Born 


The    Resideace,   Seymour    Road. 
The    Drawing!  Room. 


R.    E.    TOEa. 

The    Billiard    Room. 


The   Dining   Room. 


The    Hall. 


520     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


in  Dorsetshire,  in  1864,  he  was  educated  at 
Queen's  College,  Taunton,  ,iik1  at  Cambridge 
I'nivcrsity.  He  came  to  China  in  1886,  and 
besides  visiting  practiailly  every  part  of  the 
Empire,  he  has  also  travelled  in  Manchuria, 
Cochin  China,  and  Korea.  He  is  thoroughly 
conversant  with  the  Mandarin  dialect,  and 
has  spent  a  certiiin  amount  of  time  profitably 
in  the  study  of  \-arious  other  dialects.  In 
iS»)5  he  purchased  a  p;irt  of  the  Li  Mountain. 


already,  over  250  houses  have  been  erected 
on  the  estate.  In  1900  Mr.  Little  resigned 
his  mission  work  in  order  to  undertake  the 
position  of  general  manager  in  China  and 
Korea  for  Messrs.  Brunner,  Mond  &  Co., 
Ltd.  In  1904  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Municipal  Council,  remaining  in  office 
until  l<;)07,  when,  through  pressure  of  business, 
he  declined  to  stand  for  re-election.  He 
in.iugurated  the  Chinese  Famine  Relief  Fund, 


DAVID   LANDALB,    CHAIRMAN    MUNICIPAL    COUNCIL. 


near  Kiukiang,  some  450  miles  up  the  Yangtsze 
River.  Its  height  is  some  4,000  feet,  and 
upon  the  summit,  which  has  an  area  of 
several  square  miles,  the  climate  resembles 
a  fine  English  summer.  Here  he  founded  a 
sanatorium,  which  he  named  Ruling,  and  it 
is  now  visited  annually  by  more  than  a 
thousand  Europeans.  The  enterprise,  having 
proved  successful,  was  vested  by  Mr.  Little 
in  a  board    of   trustees,    free    of   cost,  and, 


and  was  made  chairman  of  the  Executive 
Committee.  This  fund,  in  conjunction  with 
the  Chinkiang  Committee  and  others,  raised 
a  sum  of  about  $1,600,000.  Mr.  Little  is  the 
chairman  of  the  Foreign  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  a  director  of  the 
Christian  Literary  Society,  and  a  member 
of  several  committees  carrying  on  useful 
social  work.  He  married  the  daughter 
of    the    late    Kev.    John    Bate,   a    Wesleyan 


Methodist    minister,    and    has    one    son    and 
one  daughter. 


MR.  JAMES  JOHNSTON,  who  has  lived  in 

retirement  in  Shangliai  lor  some  years  past, 
was  at  one  time  a  partner  in  the  well-known 
firm  of  Messrs.  Boyd  &  Co.,  engineers  and 
shipbuilders,  and  is  still  a  director  of  the 
Shanghai  Dock  and  Engineering  Company, 
Ltd.,  and  of  the  Mutual  Telephone  Company, 
Ltd.  He  occupies  a  charming  residence, 
known  as  ''  The  Elms."  in  the  Bubbling 
Well  Road.  Mr.  Johnston  is  a  native  of 
Glasgow,  and  was  born  in  the  year  1841. 
After  serving  an  apprenticeship  with  the  firm 
of  A.  J.  Inglis,  engineers  and  shipbuilders, 
he  went  to  Australia  as  an  engineer  in  1864, 
and  was  there  for  about  three  years.  He 
came  to  Shanghai  in  1867,  and  was  for  some 
years  with  the  engineering  firm  of  Messrs. 
Boyd  &  Nicholas  ;  and  later,  after  a  term  at 
sea,  he  rejoined  the  firm,  which  in  the 
meantime  had  become  known  as  Boyd  &  Co. 
Eventually  he  acquired  a  partnership  in  the 
business,  having  as  co-partner  anotlier  well- 
known  gentleman,  Mr.  John  Prentice.  Mr. 
Johnston  is  a  member  of  all  the  principal 
local  clubs  and  of  the  Thatched  House  Club, 
London. 


MR.  HENLING  THOMAS  WADE,  author  of 
our  article  on  the  tea  trade  of  Cliina, 
is  a  recognised  authority  on  this  subject.  Tlie 
foundations  of  his  knowledge  were  laid  in 
London,  for,  although  a  native  of  Shanghai, 
he  was  educated  at  Leatherhead  and  at  Kings 
College,  and  afterwards  entered  an  office  in 
Mincing  Lane.  Mr.  Wade  was  born  in  the 
forties,  his  father,  a  sailor,  belonging  to  an 
old  Devonshire  family.  Since  his  return  to 
Shanghai,  in  the  sixties,  he  has  always  taken 
a  prominent  part  in  local  affairs.  There  have 
been  few  more  enthusiastic  sportsmen  in  the 
Settlement  than  Mr.  Wade.  He  ran  first  in 
a  meinorable  mile  race  in  ]868,  and  in  the 
same  year  was  elected  to  play  for  Shanghai 
in  an  inter-poit  cricket  match.  In  1888  he 
captained  the  English  team  against  a  Scottish 
eleven,  and  at  about  the  same  time  he 
assumed  the  secretaryship  of  the  Shanghai 
Cricket  Club,  which  he  restored  to  prosperity. 
From  the  earliest  days  Mr.  Wade  has  been 
one  of  the  most  energetic  members  of  the 
Paper  Hunt  Club.  He  is  widely  known  as 
the  author  of  "  With  Boat  and  Gun  in  the 
Yangt.sze  Valley,"  still  the  most  complete  and 
reliable  guide  to  sportsmen  visiting  that 
region.  He  has  owned  some  of  the  finest 
pedigree  pointers  and  Clumber  spaniels  that 
have  been  shipped  to  the  East,  and  he  has 
been  a  pigeon  fancier  since  liis  younger 
days,  when  he  was  a  pupil  of  Mr.  W.  B. 
Tegetmeier,  who  was  for  many  years  poultry 
editor  of  the  Field.  Mr.  Wade  was  largely 
responsible  for  the  success  which  attended 
the  Shanghai  Debating  Society,  of  which  he 
was  at  one  time  secretary. 


fi 


MR.  CHARLES  BENNETT,  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  CS.A,,  is  well  known  as  one 
of  the  best  sportsmen  in  Shanghai,  and  as 
the  owner  of  "  Brockton,"  the  clever  little 
black  pony  which  broke  the  record  for  the 
Derby  at  ilie  1906  Spring  Meeting,  covering 
the  mile  and  a  half  in  3  min.  11 J  sees. 
Mr.  Bennett  started  racing  at  the  Autumn 
Meeting  in   1904,   adopting   the   riding   name 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     521 


of  "  Mr.  Beverley,"  and  taking  over  Mr. 
Mustard's  old  colours — white  jacket  and  red 
cap.  His  pony  "  Salem  "  won  the  Maiden 
Stakes  and  Gold  Cup.  He  did  not  meet 
with  any  luck  in  1905,  althouj^h  he  had 
several  ponies  in  training  ;  and  again  in 
1906  out  of  a  batch  of  four  griflins  bought 
privately  from  Chinese  owners,  there  was 
not  one  which  proved  of  any  use.  Mr. 
Bennett's  head  riding  boy,  however,  picked 
out  a  black  pony  from  another  lot  of  eight, 
and  this  was  "  Brockton."  At  the  Spring 
Meeting  "  Brockton "  won  the  Gold  Cup, 
which  thus  became  Mr.  Bennett's  own 
property,  and  also  established  the  record 
already  alluded  to.  At  the  Autumn  Meeting 
he  won  the  St.  Leger  ;  in  tlie  spring  of 
1907,  the  Shanghai  Stakes  ;  in  the  autumn, 
the  Autumn  Cup  and  the  Champion  Stakes  ; 
while  in  the  spring  of  the  following  year 
he  was  first  home  in  the  Criterion  Stakes. 
Mr.  Bennett's  other  successes  include  the 
Maiden  Stakes  in  the  autumn  of  1907,  and 
the  Grilfins'  Race  in  the  following  spring, 
"  Worcester "  establishing  a  record  for  the 
three-quarter  mile  by  covering  the  distance 
in  1  min.  29J  sees.  But  racing  is  not  the 
only  sport  which  Mr.  Bemiett  has  followed 
with  success.  In  his  student  days  he  repre- 
sented his  college  in  base-ball,  football,  and 
running,  and  during  the  whole  time  that 
he  has  been  in  Shanghai  he  has  been 
manager  of  the  Base-ball  Club  and  captain 
of  various  teams.  He  is  also  an  ardent 
motorist.  Mr.  Bennett  came  to  China  in 
1897  to  join  his  father,  a  partner  in  the  firm 
of  Messrs.  Mustard  &  Co.  In  1907,  how- 
ever, he  entered  the  China  Investment 
Corporation,  of  which  he  is  now  vice- 
president. 

MR.  ALEXANDER  WILLIAM  CROSS,  Acting 
Commissioner  of  Customs  at  Soochow,  has 
been  in  the  service  of  the  Imperial  Maritime 
Customs  Department  for  nearly  twenty  years. 
He  was  born  in  Negopotam  in  1872,  his  father, 
Mr.  Morris  Cross,  being  a  Judge  in  the  Indian 
Civil  Service,  and  was  educated  at  King's 
School,  Canterbury.  He  joined  the  Customs 
Department  in  1889,  and  was  stationed  at 
Tientsin,  where  he  remained  as  an  Assistant 
until  1892.  He  was  transferred  successively 
to  Tamsui,  Swatow,  Kiukiang,  and  Chungking, 
and  was  then  placed  in  charge  of  Samshili,  a 
station  on  the  West  River  at  Canton.  In  1900 
he  was  appointed  Acting  Commissioner  at 
Yochovv,  and  in  1902,  on  returning  from 
leave,  became  Acting  Deputy  Commissioner 
at  Hankow.  Later,  in  the  same  year,  he  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  district,  remaining  in 
that  position  until  his  transference  to  Soochow 
in  1907.  Mr.  Cross  had  received  the  Brevet 
Order  of  the  Third  Button,  with  Civil  Rank  of 
the  Third  Class.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Shanghai  Club,  and  his  chief  recreations  are 
shooting  and  tennis. 


MR.  VILHELM  MEYER,  who  was  appointed 
Danish  Vice-Consul  at  Shanghai  in  1905,  was 
born  at  Copenhagen,  Denmark.  He  came 
to  Shanghai  in  1903,  and  was  in  the  service 
of  the  Russo-Chinese  Bank  for  two  and  a 
half  years.  This  position  he  resigned  in 
order  to  start  trading  on  his  own  account. 
He  is  the  founder  of  the  well-known  firm 
of  Andersen,  Meyer  &  Co.,  who,  at  their 
offices  at  4  and  5,  'Vuen-ming-yuen  Road,  carry 
on  a  large  engineering  business  besides 
holding  agencies  for  several  important  houses 
and  insurance  companies.  Mr.  Meyer  is  a 
member  of  all  the  local  clubs. 


MR.  ALEXANDER  McLEOD,  who  has  lived 
in  China  for  forty-four  years,  may  justly 
claim  not  only  that  he  is  one  of  the 
"  oldest  residents,"  but  that  few  men  have 
been  so  intimately  associated  with  the 
cominercial  and  administrative  affairs  of  the 
Settlement  of  Shanghai  during  tlie  greater 
portion  of   that  time.      He   arrived  in  Hong- 


Mr.  McLeod  obtained  a  situation  as  junior 
shipping  clerk  in  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Gibb, 
Livingston  &  Co.,  Hongkong.  He  served 
with  this  firm  in  various  departments  until 
June,  1872,  when  he  was  admitted  a  partner. 
In  July  of  the  same  year  he  proceeded  to 
Shanghai,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since, 
having  been  absent  only  about  thirty  months 


MRS.    DAVID    LANDALE. 


kong  in  1864  in  the  employment  of  the 
Peninsular  and  Oriental  Steam  Navigation 
Company,  after  having  been  for  some  years 
in  the  London  office,  and  was  appointed 
private  secretary  to  Mr.  (now  Sir)  Thomas 
Sutherland,  at  that  time  superintendent  of 
the  company  in  China.  In  the  following 
year,  upon  Mr.  Sutherland's  recommendation. 


in  thirty-six  years.  He  is  now  the  senior 
representalive  of  the  firm  in  the  Settlement, 
and  is  a  director  of  a  number  of  local  com- 
panies. One  of  the  original  promoters  of 
the  Shanghai  Waterworks  Company,  he  has 
been  the  chairman  since  its  incorporation 
in  1881.  He  has  undertaken  many  public 
duties.     He  presided  over  the  Shanghai  Fire 


Q  Q  2 


5i>2      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


^y"^..  v^ 


— }  X,  .'??WS;.'3:tS5=5S5i3iS« 


H'^JSt,. 


^L  v> 


-^■~^' 


THE    RESIDENCE    OF    CARL    SEITZ    IN    KIAOCHOW    ROAD. 


Conimission  from  1876  (o  the  date  of  the 
dissolution  of  the  Commission  in  March, 
1908.  For  several  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Shanghai  Municipal  Council,  and  in 
1901-2  held  the  office  of  vice-chairman. 
When  the  Police  Inquiry  Committee  was 
appointed  in  1907  he  was  elected  vice-chair- 
man, and  materially  assisted  its  deliberations. 
Mr.  Mcleod  is  chairman  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  International  Institute, 
Shanghai,  in  which  he  has  always  taken 
the  greatest  interest.  He  is  a  warm  friend 
of  Dr.  Gilbert  Reid,  the  direclor-in-chief, 
whom  he  has  known  for  many  years, 
and.  like  Dr.  Keid.  thoroughly  believes  tliat 
the  institute  will  be  the  means  of  promot- 
ing  friendly  feelings  and  harmony    between 


foreigners  in  China  and  the  higher  classes 
of  Chinese.  For  many  years  Mr.  McLeod 
has  been  governor,  trustee,  and  chairman  of 
the  Shanghai  General  Hospital,  whilst  in 
the  promotion  of  public  amusement  and 
recreation  his  name  is  associated  with  the 
Kecreation  Fund  Trustees  and  the  Trustees 
of  the  Lyceum  Theatre,  of  which  bodies  he 
is  the  chairman,  and  with  the  Shanghai 
Race  Club,  of  which  he  has  been  a  steward 
and  chairman  for  upwards  of  thirty  years. 


^ 


MR.  0.  R.  GROVES,  senior  partner  in   the 
firm  of  Messrs.  G.  R.  Groves  &  Co.,  architects 


and  surveyors,  was  born  at  Hongkong  in 
1883  and  received  his  education  at  the 
Diocesan  Home  and  at  Queen's  College  in 
that  Colony.  After  practising  for  some  time 
in  Hongkong  he  came  to  Shanghai  in  1903 
and  established  the  firm  which  now  bears 
his  name. 


MR.  F.  J.  d'ALMEIDA,  F.R.O.S.,  comes  of 
a  very  old  I^ortugiicse  family,  who  emigrated 
many  years  ago  to  Macao.  He  was  born  in 
1858,  and,  after  receiving  a  good  education, 
entered  upon  a  success!  ul  business  career. 
He  has  spent  thirty  years  in  China,  and  for 
many  years  was  in  charge  of  Messrs.  Evans, 


"The   Elms," 
Shanghai   Residence  of  James  Johnston. 

The  Stables, 


"  KiLDONAN." 

The   Korean  Country  Seat  of  James  Johnston  at  Chemulpo. 
"The   Poplars," 
Shanghai  Residence  of  M.  Hocrter. 


524      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Pugh  &  Co.'s  estiblishnient  in  Hankow. 
Whilst  in  Hankow  he  tilled  the  office  of 
Vice-Consul  for  the  Netherlands.  Latterly 
he  has  bieen  in  the  emploviiient  of  Messrs. 
Jardine.  Matheson  &  Co..  and  is  now  in 
charge  of  the  Indo-China  Steam  Navigation 
C*^>mpany's  booking  oHice.  He  occupies  a 
leading  position  in  the  loc;il  Portuguese  com- 
munity, and  is  president  of  the  Portuguese 
Club.  He  was  cTeated  a  Knight  of  the  Or'-.-r 
of  Jesus  Christ  by  the  late  King  Carlos  of 
Portugal,  in  recognition  of  services  rendered; 
and  in  1905  he  was  elected  a  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Geographic-;il  Society.  London. 


knowledge  of  all  the  details  of  the  trade  here 
stood  him  in  good  stead,  for  his  operations 
have  been  entirely  successful,  and,  as  the 
result,  he  is  now  the  head  of  a  large  and 
flourishing  enterprise  and  the  owner  of  a 
considerable  amount  of  real  estate.  He  is 
married  to  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas  Southey, 
of  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  and  has 
two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Mr.  Hahr  is  an 
enthusiastic  horticulturist,  and  a  collector  of 
pictures  and  Oriental  china.  He  has  devoted 
much  time  and  money  to  these  liobbies,  and 
his  fine  residence,  which  is  surrounded  in 
summer  time  by  beautiful  ficjwers  of  numerous 


VIEWS    OF    A.   W.    BAHR'S    RESIDENCE, 
L)usijined  and  Huiit  to  his  own  ideas. 


MR.  ABEL  WILLIAM  BAHR  is  a  man  who 

has  achieved  success  by  steady  application  to 
business,  for  he  started  upon  his  career  with- 
out those  advantages  which  many  others  enjoy. 
Born  at  Shanghai  on  December  11,  1877, 
he  was  educated  here,  and,  at  the  early  age 
of  fourteen  years,  entered  a  coal  merchant's 
business.  Three  years  later  he  started  in 
business  for  himself  !  Four  years  afterwards 
he  amalgamated  with  Messrs.  Hopkins,  Dunn 
&  Co.,  and  has  since  been  in  charge  of  their 
coal     department.      His    carefully    acquired 


varieties,    contains    many    choice    pieces     of 
porcelain  and  numerous  artistic  treasures. 

MR.  FRANK  W.  WHITE,  manager  and 
co-proprietor  of  ].  W.  Gande  &  Co.,  is  the 
son  of  the  late  Mr.  J.  K.  Wliite,  of  Hongkong, 
and  was  born  in  Hongkong  on  October  14, 
1870.  After  receiving  his  education  at  the 
Government  Central  School,  and  at  St.  Paul's 
College,  he  was  engaged  in  a  variety  of 
businesses  until  190T,  when  he  entered  the 
wine  and  spirit   trade.    After  bei4)g  for  two 


years  with  Messrs.  H.  Price  &  Co..  of  Hong- 
kong, lie  joined  Messrs.  Caldbeck,  Macgregor 
&  Co.  He  came  to  Shanghai  011  June  i, 
1907.  and  purchased  his  present  undertaking. 
While  in  Hongkong,  Mr.  White  was  a  well- 
known  memlier  of  several  sporting  clubs. 
His  connection  with  the  Victoria  Recreation 
Club  dates  from  1884,  and  he  carried  out  the 
duties  of  secretary  for  four  years.  In  various 
branches  of  athletics  he  gained  considerable 
distinction.  As  a  sprinter,  cyclist,  swimmer, 
cricketer,  and  oarsman,  he  has  won  many 
prizes,  and  his  services  as  a  coach  have  often 
been  requisitioned  by  crews  training  for  the 
Victoria  Regatta,  Hongkong,  and  by  the  Scottish 
crew  for  the  International  Challenge  Cup  at 
the  Shanghai  Rowing  Club  Autunm  Regatta. 
The  Scottish  team  that  entered  for  the 
international  walking  match  held  at  Shanghai 
on  November  24,  1907,  was  also  under  his 
charge.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Zetland 
Lodge  of  Freemasons.  525  E.C.,  Hongkong, 
and  holds  the  office  of  Scribe  E.  in  St. 
Andrew's  Chapter,  628  S.C.  His  recreations 
are  rowing,  swimming,  tennis,  cricket,  golf, 
riding,  and  cycling.  He  has  lately  joined  the 
Maxim  Company  of  the  Shanghai  Volunteers. 


MR.  JAS.  SCOTSON,  the  assistant  manager 
of  the  Shanghai  branch  of  Richard  Haworth 
&  Co.,  Ltd.,  has  a  record  as  a  footballer 
which  it  is  highly  improbable  that  any 
resident  in  China  at  the  present  time  could 
equal.  When  a  boy  of  about  fourteen  he 
assisted  Manchester  to  win  the  English  School- 
boys' Championship  Competition.  Within  a 
few  years  he  was  playing  regularly  for 
Manchester  City,  which  he  represented  in 
a  number  of  First  League  games.  His 
usual  position  was  inside  left,  but  on 
more  than  one  occasion  he  has  partnered 
Meredith,  the  famous  international,  on  the 
right  wing,  and  has  often  played  in  com- 
pany with  Threlfall,  who  has  since  joined 
Fulham  Football  Club,  and  is  now  generally 
recognised  as  one  of  the  best  forwards  in 
tile  Second  League.  Mr.  Scotsoii  was  a 
member  of  the  Manchester  City  team  that 
won  the  Manchester  Cup  in  1901,  but  had 
at  last  to  sever  his  connection  with  the 
club  because  the  travelling  required  for 
carrying  out  a  First  League  football  pro- 
gramme appeared  likely  to  interfere  with 
his  business  duties.  Subsequently  he  joined 
Stockport  County,  and  rendered  them  valuable 
service  before  Messrs.  Haworth  &  Co.,  Ltd., 
in  whose  employment  he  has  been  for  some 
eight  or  nine  years,  desired  him  to  proceed 
to  Shanghai.  He  arrived  in  China  in  1905, 
and  has  since  that  time  taken  an  active  part 
in  football  here.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Shanghai  P'ootball  Club,  and  has  played  in 
several  of  the  inter-port  matches  with  out- 
standing success ;  he  was  also  the  captain 
of  the  "A"  Company  team  that  won  the 
Skottowe  Cup  this  year  for  the  second  year 
in  succession.  Mr.  Scotson  is  fond  of  riding, 
and  finds  this  form  of  recreation  an  excellent 
means  of  keeping  in  condition  for  the  more 
strenuous  winter  pastime. 


PROMINENT    CHINESE    RESIDENTS. 


HIS  EXCELLENCY  YEN-FUH,  who  recently 
resigned  the  presidency  of  the  P'uli-tan 
College  at  Woosung  in  order  that  he  might 
have  more  leisure  to  follow  those  literary 
pursuits  in  which  he  takes  so  great  a 
delight,  is  a  man  whose  brilliant  scholarship 
has  won  recognition  in  all  parts  and  among 
all  classes  of  the  Chinese  Empire.  His 
translations  into  Chinese  of  such  books  as 
Adam  Smith's  "Wealth  of  Nations,"  Herbert 
Spencer's  "  Study  of  Sociology,"  John  Stuart 
Mill's  "  System  of  Ixigic,"  and  Huxley's 
work  on  "  Evolution "  have  made  his  name 
famous  in  the  world  of  sinologues,  while  in 
the  realm  of  original  composition,  he  is 
regarded,  by  the  literati  of  his  own  country 
as  a  writer  whose  purity  of  style,  forceful 
expression  and  wide  knowledge,  entitle  him 
to  a.  place  in  the  front  rank  of  Chinese 
authors.  As  Mr.  Yen-Fuh  is  only  fifty-four 
years  of  age,  and  his  mental  faculties  are 
unimpaired,  he  will  probably  add  other 
valuable  works  to  his  already  long  list  of 
publications  before  laying  his  pen  aside. 
Apart  from  his  contributions  to  Chinese 
literature  Mr.  Yen-Fuh  has  many  claims  to 
distinction.  During  his  career  he  has  held 
a  number  of  high  official  positions,  and  in 
each  case  has  discharged  his  duties  with 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  Government.  He  obtained  his  early 
education  as  a  naval  cadet  at  the  P'oochow 
Arsenal,  and,  after  five  years'  instruction 
in  English,  mathematics,  and  navigation,  he 
spent  some  time  in  a  training  ship  cruising 
around  the  Chinese  coast  and  in  the  Straits 
of  Malacca.  In  1872  he  visited  Japan,  Manila, 
and  the  Straits  Settlements  in  another  train- 
ing ship  —  a  steam  corvette,  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  K.  E.  Tracey,  B.R.N. — 
and  four  years  later  he  was  selected  by  the 
late  Viceroy  Li  Hung  Chang,  of  Chihli,  to 
to  accompany  the  Chinese  Educational 
Mission  to  Europe.  For  two  sessions  he 
studied  at  the  Royal  Naval  College,  Green- 
wich, and  upon  his  return  to  China,  in 
1880,  was  immediately  appointed  head- 
master of  the  Naval  School  of  the  F"oochow 
Arsenal.  Under  the  auspices  of  Li  Hung 
Chang  in  the  following  year  he  established 
a  Naval  College  in  Tientsin,  capable  of 
accommodating  one  hundred  executive  and 
one  hundred  engineering  students.  The 
teaching  staff  included  three  British  naval 
officers,  and  for  nineteen  years,  until  it  was 
seized  by  the  Russians  during  the  Boxer 
troubles  of  lyoo,  the  college  furnished  a 
constant    supply    of    young    officers    for    the 


Chinese     Navy.       In     1901-2     Mr.    Yen-Fuh  employed '  in    educational    work    both  in   the 

was     the     director    of    the     Chinese     Engi-  north    and    south    of    China.      Altogether,    as 

neering     and      Mming     Company,     Ltd.,     at  will    be    seen,   he   has   had  a  very  active  and 

Tientsin,    and,    in    1904,    he    visited    England  useful  career. 

again — this    time    in    connection    with    a    law 

suit   which  arose  between  the  Company  and  f^ 

its     promoters.       Upon    his    return    he    was  qP 


HIS    EXCELLENCY    SHENG   KUNG   PAO. 


526     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


SHENQ  KUNO  PAO.  —  Sheng  Hsuan-huai 
(H-'i  ig-sun)  i«  a  native  of  CtiangchoJV  in  the 
province  of  Kian^su.  and  was  born  on 
October  5.  1845.  His  family  has  been  promi- 
nent in  the  political,  social,  and  financial 
affairs  of  the  province  for  several  generations, 
and  his  father  attained  the  rank  of  Provincial 
Treasurer.  After  successfully  passing  the 
literary  examinations  for  the  iirst  degree, 
Sheng  became  one  of  the  private  secretaries 
of    His    Excellency     Li     Hung    Chang,    and 


He  relinquished  both  these  positions  in  igo3. 
when  he  went  into  mourning  for  his  father. 
In  1896  he  was  given  the  Metropolitan  Fourth 
Rank  and  became  director-general  of  the 
Peking-Hankow  Railway  and  of  Southern 
Railways.  In  his  capacity  as  Director-General 
of  Railways  he  negotiated  the  contracts  for 
the  building  of  the  Peking-Hankow,  Canton- 
Hankow,  Shanghai -Nanking,  and  Chengchow- 
Taiyuen  Railways,  and  must  be  considered 
the    pioneer    of    railway    building   in    China. 


4.    Yocx  Hex  Kee. 


1.    ZiH  Li  Kl'ng. 


CHINESE    FINANCIERS. 
V.  K.  ZEA  SiH  Vang. 


in  1897.  He  has  been  instrumental  in  sending 
many  students  from  these  two  schools  abroad 
for  further  studies,  and  many  pupils  who 
owe  their  education  to  his  foresight  are 
now  filling  important  positions  in  the  Govern- 
ment service.  In  conjunction  with  Chang 
Chih-tung  he  started  the  Hanyang  Iron 
Works,  and  in  connection  with  them  the 
Ping-hsiang  Mines.  These  two  companies 
have  recently  been  consolidated  with  the 
Ta-yeh  Iron  Mining  Company  into  a  new 
company,  the  Han-piiig-yeh  iron  and  Coal 
Company,  with  a  capital  of  $20,000,000, 
which  gives  promise  of  great  success.  He 
is  the  leading  shareholder  in  the  Hwa- 
hseng  Cotton  Mill,  Shanghai,  and  was  for 
many  years  its  director-general.  Many  im- 
perial honours  have  been  conferred  upon 
him,  as  well  as  numerous  foreign  decora- 
tions. He  was  Junior  Guardian  of  the  new 
Emperor  ;  holds  the  brevet  rank  of  President 
of  the  Board  ;  was  formerly  Senior  Vice- 
President  of  the  Board  of  Works ;  and  is 
now  Vice-President  of  the  Board  of  Posts 
and  Communications.  The  much  -  coveted 
privilege  of  riding  on  horseback  within  the 
Forbidden  City  has  been  accorded  him.  His 
residence  is  No.  no,  Bubbling  W^ell  Road, 
Shanghai.  His  garden  in  Soochow,  known 
as  Liu  Yuen,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
examples  of  Chinese  landscape  gardening, 
and  is  yearly  visited  by  great  numbers  of 
people.  Although  he  has  attained  a  very  high 
position,  he  is  still  familiarly  known  as 
Sheng  Taoutai. 

HIS    EXCELLENCY    SHEN    TUN-HO    has    a 

remarkable  record  of  public  service,  and  is 
deservedly  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by 
Chinese  and  foreigners  alike.  His  lil'e-story 
includes  many  great  achievements  and  bitter 
disappointments,  for  his  career  has  not  been 


3.     VlH  MreC  TSAH. 

5.    Yc  Yah  Chixg.  6,    Woo  Kee  May 

7.    Woxo  HiEX  Chl-sg.  8.    U  H.  ZlAH. 


remained  in  this  position  until  he  became 
chief  secretary.  On  account  of  his  brilliant 
work  in  that  capacity  he  was  appointed 
Taoutai  at  Chefoo  in  July,  1886,  and  Taoutai  at 
Tientsin  in  1892,  both  of  which  positions  he 
filled  with  exceptional  ability.  During  these 
years  he  was  instrumental  in  founding  the 
Chinese  Telegraph  Administration,  becoming 
at  first  a  director  and  later  director-general. 
He  was  also  interested  in  the  foundation  of 
the  China  Merchants  Steam  Navigation  Com- 
pany, of   which   he   became   director-general. 


After  the  creation  of  the  Board  of  Posts  and 
Communications  in  Peking,  this  office  of 
Director-General  of  Railways  was  abolished. 
In  1902  he  was  appointed  Senior  Commis- 
sioner for  Treaty  Revision,  and  negotiated 
the  new  commercial  treaties  with  Great 
Britain,  the  United  States.  Japan,  and  Portugal. 
He    still    retains    this    office.      He    was     the 

founder  of  the  Imperial  Bank  of  China,  and  simply  a  long  series  of  successes.  As  a 
continues  to  be  its  director-general.  He  was  patriot  actuated  with  a  smgle-mmded  desire 
the  leading  spirit  in  founding  the  Tientsin  to  serve  his  country,  he  has  earned  the 
University  in  1895,  and  the  Nanyang  College     gratitude  of  thousands  of  his  fellow  country- 


HI8   EXCELLENCY    SHilN    TUN-HO. 


"WELL-KNOWN    CHINESE    MERCHANTS    AND  RESIDENTS. 

I.    Lee  YixG  Su. 

2.    Cbux  Kwax  Yeh.  3.    CHi-x  Koo  Leoxu.  4.    Chin  Mixg  Huxg.  5.    C.  S.  Chew.  6.    Chv  Hex  Tsii. 

7.    Hoo  Erh  Mai.  8.    Chixg  Bixg  Him.  9.    Kix  Gen  Saxg.  la    Woo  Chau  Cbix.     11.    V\co  Tex  Yix. 

IX    YiH  Zuxg  Ts.\h.         13.    Lo  Hox  CHix.         14.    J.  D.  Wong.  15.    Cwr  Pao  Sax.         16.    Cbai  Lai  Fo.vg.         17.    Lo  Kixc.  Krr.         18.    Chaxg  Lixg  Kwai. 

19.    Zee  Wat  Zuxg.  20.    Koo  Kixg  Cbar.  21.    Cpeoxg  Chi  Pio.  22.    S.  K.  Toxc.  23.    S.  D.  Foxg. 

24.    T.  S.  YUE.  25.    CHt-x  YiK  Chee.  26.    Low  Che  Chvxg. 


528     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


men  ;  as  a  man  of  wide  experience 
and  liberal  education,  fully  appreciating 
the  benefits  to  be  derived  from  China's  free 
intercourse  with  the  outer  world,  he  has 
upon  occasion,  incurred  the  grievous  dis- 
pleasure of  the  throne,  wilh  its  natural 
corollary — banishment  and  degradation.  The 
second  son  of  Mr.  Shen  Siao  Yu,  a  tea 
merchant  of  Ningpo,  Mr.  Shen  Tun-ho  was 
born  in  1857.  In  his  early  training  he  had 
all  the  advantages  which  parents  in  comfort- 
able financial  circumstances  could  bestow. 
After  being  privately  educated  at  Shanghai 
he  went  to  England,  and  was  entered  as  a 
student  at  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge. 
Here  he  devoted  his  attention  chiefly  to  the 
study  of  political  economy,  but,  unfortunately. 


Excellency  Tso  Tsung-toug,  decided  to  retain 
Shen's  services  in  connection  with  the 
estahlishment  of  a  torpedo  college.  Captain 
Frederick  Har\'ey,  R.N.,  the  inventor  of 
Harvey's  torpedo,  was  brought  out  from 
England  to  act  as  instructor,  and  Shen  was 
promoted  to  be  co-director  of  the  Torpedo 
College  with  him.  Together  Ihey  started  a 
large  institution,  in  the  conduct  of  which 
Shen  found  full  occupation  for  four  busy 
years.  During  the  Franco  -  Chinese  War. 
however,  orders  came  from  Peking  appointing 
him  as  blockade-runner  to  get  men  and  money 
through  to  Formosa  as  its  governor,  Lui 
Ming-Chuen,  was  in  desperate  straits.  Arriving 
at  Shanghai  he  established  an  office.  Two 
transport    steamers   were   requisitioned,    and, 


KixoiAx,  rj.D.s, 


Professor  Lke  Tl'.vg  Hwkk,  B.A. 
Prenktent,  Wiwid's  Chinese  Students'  Fedenition. 


\V.  V.  SKA. 


was  anable  to  complete  the  prescribed  course, 
for  after  twelve  months  he  was  recalled  to 
China  owing  to  the  death  of  his  father. 
Within  a  year  of  his  return  he  was  appointed 
interpreter  to  Mr.  Chen,  Magistrate  of  the 
Mixed  Court  at  Shanghai ;  but  it  was  in  1881 
that  Mr.  Shen  made  his  first  important  rise 
in  life.  Liu,  the  Taoutai,  of  Shanghai,  at  that 
lime,  recommended  him  to  His  Eminence  the 
late  Liu  Kun  Yi,  Viceroy  of  Nanking,  who 
was  contemplating  starting  the  Nanking  and 
Chinkiang  line  of  telegraphs.  After  the 
telegraphic  line  had  been  laid,  Shen  svas 
appointed  to  organise  a  school  for  instruction 
in  English  in  the  Nanking  Arsenal.  Within 
twelve  months  Viceroy  Liu  was  removed 
from  his  high   oSice,  but   his  successor,    His 


although  not  ideal  ships  for  the  purpose,  they 
actually  succeeded  in  running  about  twenty 
limes,  without  disaster,  between  Shanghai 
and  Formosa.  For  his  services  in  this  con- 
nection Shen  was  raised  another  step  on  the 
official  ladder.  He  was  appointed  to  work  in 
co-opeiation  with  Captain  E.  C.  Trollope  on 
the  building  of  a  new  fort  at  Woosung,  of 
which,  subsequently,  he  was  given  charge. 
When  the  new  Opium  Convention  of  Hong- 
kong was  signed  on  September  11,  1886,  he 
was  present  at  the  negotiations  as  Secretary 
to  the  Chinese  Commissioners,  Sir  Robert 
Hart  and  Shao  I'aoutai,  and  his  next  appoint- 
ment was  that  of  a  director  of  the  new  Naval 
College  at  Nanking.  The  outbreak  of  the 
China-Japan  War,  in   1894,  meant  more  active 


employment  for  him.  He  was  sent  to  lay 
mines  in  the  North  Channel  at  Shanghai,  and 
was  subsequently  placed  in  charge,  under  the 
late  Mr.  Moorhe.id.  Commissioner  of  Customs 
at  Hankow,  of  the  lower  Yanglsze  forts.  He 
was  also  appointed  General  on  the  staff  of 
the  Tsechang  Brigade — the  well-known 
Geiman-drilled  army  of  Nanking— and  was 
given  the  rank  of  Taoutai  in  order  that  he 
niiglit  have  every  possible  facility  for  efficiently 
carrying  out  his  duties.  So  far  Shen's 
career  had  been  an  unbroken  series  of 
advances  ;  but  now,  for  a  time,  fortune  turned 
against  him.  Upon  his  recommendation. 
Woosung  had  been  made  an  open  port, 
and  a  Peking  censor,  in  a  memorial  to  the 
Throne,  alleged  that  he  had  been  bribed  by 
foreigners  to  have  it  so  mac'e  in  order  that 
they  might  get  possession  of  the  fortifications. 
The  Minister  who  had  the  task  of  enquiring 
into  the  charges  could  find  no  foundation  for 
them,  but,  nevertheless,  sentence  of  banish- 
ment was  passed.  Shen  was  sent  to  Kalgan, 
a  town  of  Chihli,  and,  in  accordance  with 
usage,  was  nominally  appointed  to  a  small 
military  post  in  Mongolia.  It  was  at  the 
beginning  of  June,  1900,  that  he  arrived  at 
the  city  of  his  e.\ile.  The  Chief  Magistrate 
was  an  acquaintance  of  his,  and  the  Boxer 
trouble,  then  just  making  itself  felt,  came  up 
for  ^liscussion.  Shen  advised  that  all  foreign- 
ers should,  for  their  own  safety,  leave  the 
place,  and  when  the  imperial  decree  ordering 
the  slaughter  of  all  foreigners  reached  the 
oflicials  he  suggested  it  should  be  locked  up 
and  kept  as  secret  as  possible.  Three  daj-s 
after  the  last  foreigner  had  departed  there 
arrived  in  Kalgan  a  body  of  Boxers  500 
strong.  They  were  furious  at  the  Hight  of 
the  foreigners,  and,  making  inquiries,  dis- 
covered through  whom  the  information 
which  led  to  their  escape  had  been  given. 
They  surrounded  Shen  Tun-ho's  house  and 
demanded  to  know  where  the  foreigners 
had  gone,  threatening  to  take  his  life  if  the 
information  was  not  forthcoming.  In  this 
extremity  Shen  resorted  to  a  desperate 
measure,  and,  placing  himself  in  command 
of  a  number  of  Chinese  horse-dealers,  attacked 
the  rebels  and  dispersed  them.  Subsequently, 
at  the  request  of  the  people  who  desired  to 
protect  their  interests  from  the  foreign  army, 
he  elected  himself  President  and  established 
a  protectorate  over  Kalgan,  Hsueiihuafu,  and 
Chimingyeh.  In  this  capacity  he  was  enabled 
to  arrange  matters  so  smoothly  with  the 
invading  army  that  the  places  were  left 
unmolested.  One  effect  of  this  unexpected 
success  for  China,  in  Kalgan,  was  the  resti- 
tution by  the  Court  of  all  Shen's  dignities 
and  decorations.  Another  was  his  removal 
to  a  larger  sphere  of  work.  The  occupation, 
early  in  1901,  of  the  Kukuan  passes  was 
regarded  as  a  menace  to  the  Shansi  Pro- 
vince. Shen  was  ordered  thitlier,  and,  in 
order  that  he  might  command  Manchu  troops, 
he  was  given  the  rank  of  a  Manchu  ofiicer, 
being  the  first  Chinese  to  receive  such  a 
distinction.  At  Kalgan  the  approacliing  de- 
parture of  Shen  Tun-ho  caused  something 
like  consternation,  and  500  men,  kneeling 
round  the  Governor's  Yamen,  prayed  that 
he  might  remain  as  their  President.  After- 
wards, when  Shansi  was  being  invaded,  the 
skill  with  which  -Shen  conducted  the  negotia- 
tions leading  to  the  withdrawal  of  the 
troops  was  everywhere  recognised.  His 
diplomacy,  born  of  a  shrewd  knowledge  of 
affairs,  was  m  every  case  successful.  His 
many  important  services  were  marked  by 
appropriate  advancement  in  rank  and  dig- 
nities. He  was  made  Taoutai  of  Taiyuanfu  ; 
in  1902  he  was  called  to  Peking  to  till  the 
office  of  co-director  of  the  Bureau  of  Mines 


CHEONG    CHI    PIO. 

Verdant  villa. 

The  HAixi.\(i  Roam  Resiuexce, 


530    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  Railways,  and  at  the  Imperial  audience 
granted  him  by  the  Empress  Dowager  and 
the  Emperor  he  was  awarded  the  First- 
class  Button,  a  signal  mark  of  the  imperial 
favour.  In  1903.  on  account  of  eVe  trouble. 
Mr.  Shen  Tun-ho  retired  from  official  work 
and  came  to  Shanghai.  He  has.  however, 
by  no  means  lived  a  life  of  quiet  seclusion 
since  that  date.  Always  possessed  of  the 
desire  to  serve  his  country  to  the  best  of  his 
ability,  his  activities  were  directed  along 
the  lines  of  philanthropic  and  charitable  effort 
as  soon  as  official  work  ceased.  In  conjunc- 
tion with  many  of  his  foreign  friends  in  the 
Settlement.  Mr.  Shen  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Russo-Japanese  War.  started  the  National 
Red  Cross  Society  of  Shanghai.  They 
engaged  a  t>o;it  to  go  to  Port  Arthur,  and, 
acting  as  blockade  runners,  saved  the  lives 
of  many  Chinese.  Russian,  and  German 
workpeople.  They  started  a  hospital  in  con- 
nection with  the  Scotch  Mission  in  Manchuria. 


Company,  the  first  Chinese  life  insurance 
company  started  in  China.  In  the  winter  of 
1904  Mr.  Shen's  assistance  was  obtained 
by  Mrs.  Archibald  Little  in  promoting  the 
work  of  the  Anti- Foot-binding  Society.  He 
addressed  many  large  meetings  in  the  Town 
Hall,  and  gave  the  movement  great  impetus. 
Within  a  short  while  60  per  cent  of  the 
women  in  Shanghai  had  taken  the  tight 
wrappings  from  their  feet,  and  now  fully 
92  per  cent,  of  the  women  in  Shanghai  have 
abandoned  the  unnatural  practice.  In  1906 
Mr.  Shen  was  elected  president  of  the  society, 
branches  of  which  have  been  established  in 
every  province.  He  threw  himself  with 
characteristic  energy,  also,  into  the  work  of 
raising  funds  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers 
during  the  terrible  famine  in  Central  China 
in  1906,  and  altogether  a  sum  of  $1,600,000 
was  collected.  Mr.  Shen  acted  as  secretary, 
and  took  a  large  share  in  the  organisation  and 
successful  carrying  out  of  the  National  Fancy 


and  Mrs.  Shen  have  two  sons  ;  the  elder, 
aged  twenty-one,  is  in  England  studying 
engineering  at  Diilwich  College  ;  while  the 
younger,  who  is  thirteen  years  of  age,  is 
learning  English  at  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Ass(Kiation. 

MR.  CHU  PAO  SAN,  head  of  the  firm  of 
Shing,  Yii  &  Co..  is  a  son  of  the  late  Mr. 
Chu  Yu  Su,  a  former  military  official  of 
Ningpo.  Born  in  1847,  and  educated  pri- 
vately at  Chusan,  he  came  to  Shanghai  at 
the  age  of  sixteen,  and  after  a  thorough 
training  in  business  methods,  started  the 
firm  in  which  he  is  now  the  senior  partner. 
The  firm  has  been  in  existence  for  upwards 
of  thirty  years,  and  carries  on  an  extensive 
import  and  export  business,  the  head  offices 
being  at  No.  13,  Foochow  Road.  Mr.  Chu 
Pao   San   is   also   chairman   of    the    Wah   An 


Y.  C.  TONO  AND  HIS  SONS  ALBERT  AND  GEOBOE. 


Civilians  were  attended  here,  and  afterwards 
sent  by  rail  to  Tientsin  and  thence  to  their 
homes.  Free  passages  were  granted  by  the 
China  Merchants  Steam  Navigation  Company 
and  by  the  Chinese  railways,  and  in  this 
way  some  96.000  Chinese  escaped  from  this 
district  during  the  progress  of  hostilities. 
Realising  how  important  and  useful  the  Red 
Cross  Society  was,  Mr.  Shen  used  all  his 
influence  towards  placing  it  upon  a  perma- 
nent basis.  He  raised  about  Tls.  620,000  for 
this  purpose  amongst  his  countrymen,  and, 
with  assistance  from  the  Chinese  Government 
funds,  a  hospital  and  a  school  were  erected 
at  Shanghai  which  continue  to  carry  on  a 
most  valuable  work.  In  the  summer  of  1904 
he  was  appointed  Commissioner  of  the 
Shanghai  -  Nanking  Railway.  He  superin- 
tended the  construction  of  the  line  from 
Shanghai  to  Wusieh.  but  when  this  section 
was  completed  he  resigned  in  order  to  become 
the  managing  director  of  the  Imperial  Bank 
of  China,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He 
founded   also    the   Wah    An    Life    Insurance 


Fair  in  Shanghai,  the  result  of  which  was  a 
contribution  of  some  $74,000  to  the  general 
fund.  In  all  these  ways  and  many  others 
Mr.  Shen  has  laboured  for  the  good  of  his 
fellows  ;  no  worthy  cause  has  appealed  to 
him  in  vain,  and  his  great  organising  ability 
has  often  been  the  means  of  bringing  such 
a  one  to  a  successful  conclusion.  During 
his  long  public  career  Mr.  Shen  has  received 
many  decorations  and  marks  of  distinction 
from  various  nationalities.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Order  of  the  Imperial  Dragon  ;  a 
Chevalier  of  the  Legion  d'Honneur  ;  has 
the  special  decoration  from  the  Chinese  Red 
Cross  Society  ;  and  is  the  possessor  of  gold 
medals  presented  to  him  by  Russian  and 
Siberian  merchants  for  services  during  the 
Boxer  troubles.  He  married  the  daughter  of 
Mr.  Chang,  a  military  officer  of  Anhwei.  His 
wife  takes  a  deep  interest  in  much  of  her 
husband's  social  and  philanthropic  work  and 
started  a  girls'  school  in  Shanghai,  in  con- 
nection with  the  Anti-P"oot-binding  Society, 
which   has  now  a  membership  of   J20.     Mr. 


Fire  and  Life  Insurance  Company,  and  a 
director  of  the  Wah  Shing  Fire  and  Marine 
Insurance  Company,  Imperial  Bank  of  China, 
Racine  Ackerman  Conipagnic  Asiatique  de 
Navigation,  Chung  Sliing  Flour  Mill,  Tah 
Yue  Oil  Mills,  Tebong  (Straits  Settlement 
and  Federated  Malay  States)  Rubber  Com- 
pany, Hankow  Waterworks,  and  Canton 
Waterworks.  He  is  connected  with  many 
charitable  institutions,  and  is  a  keen  supporter 
of  educational  movements.  He  is  treasurer 
of  the  Central  Famine  Fund  at  Shanghai, 
and,  in  conjunction  with  Dr.  Paulun,  acts  as 
chairman  of  the  German  Medical  College. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  committee  of  the 
Shanghai  Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
and  was  chairman  of  that  body  in  1906.  He 
has  a  handsome  private  residence  in  Arsenal 
Road,  and  his  family  consists  of  five  sons 
and  five  daughters.  His  eldest  son,  Mr. 
Chu  Tsz  Kuai.  is  now  managing  the  business 
of  Shing  Yu  &  Co. 


CHEONQ    CHI    PIO. 

The    IJIPLOMA   COXKKRKIXG    THK    PORILGIESE   ROYAI.  ORDER  OK   MERIT. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cheong  Chi  Pio. 


The  late  Cheong  Lixg  Chow, 
Father  of  Cheong  Chi  Pio. 

Cheong  Chi  Pig  and  children. 


532     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


MR.  TONO  YUEN  CHAM,  better  known, 
perhaps,  as  Y.  C.  Tong.  is  a  member  of 
the  famous  Tong  family,  and  was  tiorn  in 
1862  at  Kwantung.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
he  formed  one  of  a  party  of  120  young 
Chinese  gentlemen  who  were  sent  to  the 
United    States    bv  the    Chinese    Government 


ting  he  returned  to  China,  but,  together 
with  hiSv^^'Uow  students,  was  slighted  by 
the  Goveriihient  of  that  day.  Ten  years 
ago,  however,  the  Government  acknowledged 
the  usefulness  of  their  former  proteges. 
Coming  from  a  prominent  and  influential 
family,     Mr.     Tong     naturally    took    a    high 


WELL-KNOWN    CHINESE    GENTLEMEN   AND   BUSINESS    MEN." 


I. 

I.KK   P.»H    PAO. 

2. 

Vu  Ko  Mixo. 

1- 

Yei-  CHON'G  Suh. 

4.    Yaxc  Six  Che, 
7.    THOMAS  Ward  (Taix  Wa). 

.■;• 

SIXO  TlXG    HOAXO 

6. 

KO  DeSAXG. 

8. 

Ylxg  Chb  Pixc. 

M. 

HCF.  Cheng  Yosti. 

10.     Z.  SOXG  Ching. 

n. 

WoxG  SAY  Che. 

12. 

YIK  SIH  CHAXG. 

13.      YOL-  SlXG  TlXG, 

14- 

T.    K.  TSIAXG. 

to  receive  a  Western  education.  During  the 
eight  years  which  he  spent  in  America, 
Mr.  Tong  went  through  the  usual  educational 
course,  passing  the  Grammar  and  High 
schools  and  qualifying  for  entrance  to 
Columbia   University  in  if<6i.    After  gradua- 


position  and  became  well  known  in  public 
life.  A  Taoutai  in  rank,  he  has  filled  a 
number  of  offices  with  credit  to  himself 
and  advantage  to  his  country.  He  accom- 
panied Their  Excellencies  Viceroy  Tuan 
Fang     and     Tai     Hung    Tze    on    their    tour 


round  the  world,  and  received  many  decora- 
tions from  the  rulers  of  the  countries  visited. 
Mr.  Tong  is  at  present  the  chief  superin- 
tendent and  acting  general  manager  of  the 
Imperial  Chinese  Telegraph  Administration. 
Deputy  to  His  Excellency  the  Viceroy  of  the 
Liang  Kiang,  Commissioner  of  the  Inland 
Likins,  a  Director  of  the  Canton  Guild,  a 
representative  of  the  Kwangtung  Province  on 
the  Chamber  of  Connnerce,  and  a  director 
or  committee  member  of  several  companies 
and  local  institutions.  Mr.  Tong's  two  sons, 
Albert  and  George,  are  now  being  educated 
at  St.  Paul's  School,  London.  They  have 
been  in  England  for  four  years,  and  will 
enter  Cambridge    University  in  a  year  or  two. 


MR.  CHEONQ  CHI  PIO  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  widely  known  members  of 
the  Chinese  community  in  Shanghai.  His 
career  has  been  an  interesting  one,  for 
serious  reverses  have  intermingled  strangely 
with  the  greatest  strokes  of  good  fortune, 
and,  sometimes,  just  when  his  prospects 
seemed  darkest  the  outlook  has  suddenly 
cleared.  His  father  —  Mr.  Cheong  Ling 
Chow  or  Mr.  Sing  Yu,  as  he  was  some- 
times called — was  born  at  Canton  in  1790, 
and  studied  medicine  and  surgery.  For 
some  time  he  managed  a  drug  store  be- 
longing to  his  father,  but,  in  1853,  opened 
a  hardware  store  on  his  own  account. 
When,  however,  Canton  was  attacked  during 
the  Taeping  rebellion  the  premises  were 
looted.  Left  without  means,  he  commenced 
to  practise  as  a  surgeon,  and,  in  a  short 
while,  had  saved  enough  to  open  another 
drug  store.  Being  of  a  charitable  and  kindly 
disposition  he  did  a  great  deal  of  good,  and 
attended  many  of  the  poorer  people,  in  his 
own  district,  free  of  charge.  Physically  he 
was  a  tine  specimen  of  manhood,  and,  being 
an  adept  at  the  "  noble  art "  of  sell-defence, 
he  used  to  take  a  delight,  during  his  leisure 
moments,  in  teaching  his  friends  how  to 
use  their  fists.  He  died,  in  1872,  ten  years 
after  his  wife,  in  very  straightened  circum- 
stances, but  so  highly  esteemed  that  thousands 
of  people  attended  his  funeral.  He  left  five 
sons  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  Cheong  Chi 
Pio,  who  was  born,  in  1853,  at  Macao,  was 
obliged,  owing  to  his  father's  misfortunes, 
to  do  without  the  advantages  of  an  education. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  came  to  Shanghai  and 
was  apprenticed  to  Mr.  Fisher,  a  furniture 
manufacturer  and  general  contractor.  After 
eighteen  months'  experience  he  was  appointed 
foreman,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for 
three  and  a  half  years.  During  this  time 
he  became  a  warm  friend  of  Mr.  Lubello, 
who  gave  him  $300,  with  which  he  started 
business  as  a  ship's  painter,  decorator,  and 
contractor,  under  the  style  of  J.  Lee  Chong, 
which  chop  is  well  known  to  the  present 
day.  Only  sufficient  business  was  done  to 
cover  expenses,  but,  subsequently,  Mr.  Lubello, 
admiring  his  perseverance  and  earnestness, 
recommended  him  to  his  friends  and  adver- 
tised the  business  exten.sively  in  the  news- 
papers. The  result  was  a  large  increase  in 
orders,  and  the  tide  of  prosperity  seemed  to 
be  flowing.  Three  years  before  the  outbreak 
of  the  Franco-Chinese  War,  Mr.  Cheong 
Chi  Pio  was  instrumental  in  starting  the 
Hongkew  Iron  P'oundry,  but  the  hostilities 
between  the  two  nations  brought  extensive 
losses,  and  Mr.  Cheong,  almost  in  de- 
spair, settled  his  accounts,  handed  over  the 
management  of  his  business  to  his  brother, 
and  retired  to  Canton.  After  a  stay  of 
twelve   months    in    this    city   he   returned   to 


S.    K.    TONG'S   RANGE    ROAD   RESIDENCE. 


534    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


w 

•   u 

M     tJ 

i 

n 

iHJ 

a 

BS 

htf^ 

^  Ju 

\ 

kAA  ^FJj^Ac)" 

i" 

m^ 

I 

w 

^^ 

A 

;^^  ■ 

WELL-KNOWN    CHINESE 

GENTLEMEN    AND    BUSINESS    MEN. 

I. 

Vf   PING  UR. 

2.      KWAX  CHIPIXG. 

3.     CHAXG   Y1!E  Chee. 

4- 

Ytixo  Sf)V  HsuxG 

5- 

SlA  TSZE 

Nax. 

6.    BoxG  Lai  Chixg. 

10.      WOXG   SZE  SHIXG. 

7- 

12. 

Wong  Fuk  Chixo.                8.    M.  Zekn. 

Zea  Zofix  Bixo.                    11.     H.  K.  Yex  Fuh. 

«. 

S.  C.  Young, 

i\ 

K.  T.  Chaxg. 

14.    Tad  Mai  Sex. 

IS. 

Lee  Sih  Gxax.                     ifi.    Sze  Tsay  Kor. 

17. 

TOXG  SHIX   YUE. 

l8. 

Rev.  Woxo  Pixo  Sax. 

19.    Kix<i  Chix  San. 

20.    Zea  Koo  Chixg. 

21. 

T.  SUICHOW. 

Shanghai  to  resume  control  of  his  business 
in  Hainin);  Road,  which  his  brother  had 
been  unable  to  run  at  a  profit.  About 
this  lime  Mr.  Cheong  was  lucky  enough  to 
win  three  prizes  in  the  M'aising  lottery. 
Within  ten  years  he  won  $80,000.  $50,000, 
and  about  75  per  cent,  of  $400,000.  This 
good  fortune  was  partly  counterbalanced  by 
a  loss  of  $170,000,  but  sufficient  money  re- 
mained to  place  Mr.  Cheong's  various  enter- 
prises on  a  sound  financial  basis.  Since  then 
all  his  speculations  have  proved  successful. 
Mr.    Cheong    recognises    the    obligations    of 


riches,  and.  like  his  father,  he  is  very  charit- 
able. He  has  liberally  supported  hospitals, 
schools,  and  other  public  institutions.  Kor 
his  munificence  he  was  made  a  Knight 
Commendador  of  the  Civil  Koyal  Order  of 
Industrial  Merit  by  the  King  of  Portugal 
on  December  24,  1904,  and  was  granted  the 
rank  of  Taoiitai  by  tlie  Chinese  Government. 
Now,  in  the  closing  years  of  his  life,  Mr. 
Cheong  takes  as  small  a  share  as  possible  in 
the  perpetual  worries  attendant  upon  large 
business  and  financial  operations.  Formerly 
he     derived     considerable     enjoyment     from 


shooting,  but  <idvancing  years  have  obliged 
him  to  relinquish  this  form  of  recreation. 
His  town  house  is  in  Hainiiig  Street,  and  he 
has,  .ilso,  a  delightful  residence  —  Verdant 
Villa — situated  some  little  distance  from 
Shanghai,  in  the  direction  of  North  Honan 
Koad.  Here  is  to  be  found  everytliing  calcu- 
lated to  promote  ni;iterial  comfort.  The  rooms 
are  tastefully  and  luxuriously  furnished,  and 
the  extensive  grounds,  which  are  splendidly 
laid  out.  contain  an  artificial  lake  and  several 
excellent  specimens  of  Chinese  rockery.  Mr. 
Cheong   married   Miss   Cheong   Ja    See,    and 


The  Car 


S.    K.    TONG. 
'The  Hollies."  Bubblixg  Well  Road  (in  course  of  construction;. 
The  Country  House  at  Jesskield. 


536    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


has  a  (amily  of  nine  sons  and  six  daughters. 
His  eldest  son.  Mr.  Chcong  Tsing  Potii  has 
now  taken  over  a  large  part  of  his  father's 
business  interests. 


» 


MR.  WONO  I.  DINO,  a  son  of  Mr.  Wong 
La  Yih.  a  well-known  merchant  of  Chekiang. 
was  tx)rn  at  Ptx>tung.  and  was  educated 
privately  at  the  Kiangnan  Arsenal,  gaining 
special  distinction  in  drawing  and  mathe- 
matics. On  leaving  school  he  became  an 
assistant  in  a  native  bank,  and  afterwards 
manager  of  Ting  Hing.  a  firm  of  Japanese 
cargo  agents  dealing  principally  in  matches 
and  cotton-j-am.     After  acting  for  a  time  as 


the  committee  of  the  Chinese  Commercial 
Association  in  Bubbling  Well  Road.  A 
liberal  patron  of  education,  he  supports 
many  schools  in  Shanghai,  and  has  estab- 
lished and  endowed  a  free  school  near 
Pootung,  his  ancestral  village.  Mr.  Wong 
I.  Ding  resides  at  Mo  Ka  Loong.  He 
is  married  and  has  three  sons.  The  eldest 
son  is  at  present  receiving  a  military  training 
in  Japan,  and  the  second  son  is  being  edu- 
cated at  Nanyang  College. 


MR.  K.  T.  CHANQ  may  claim  to  have 
been  one  of  the  lirst  to  introduce  to  his 
countrvmen       the       celebrated       "  Sherlock 


at  Tokyo,  and  attended  the  ceremony  at  which 
His  Excellency  Yu  Keng,  the  Chinese  Minister, 
presented  his  credentials  to  the  Japanese 
Knipcror.  Returning  from  Japan  he  was 
engaged  as  translator  for  the  well-known 
Chinese  magazine,  Chinese  Pivf^ifss,  published 
under  the  auspices  of  His  Excellencv  Chang 
Chih  Tung,  the  Viceroy  of  Hupeh.  The 
periodical  had  a  wide  circulation  over  the 
whole  of  the  Chinese  Empire,  and  many  of 
its  articles  were  used  in  other  publications. 
It  was  during  this  time  that  Mr.  Chang 
wrote  his  translations  of  English  rtclion. 


t*- 


MR. 

millionai 


TONQ     SHOU     KIANQ,    a    Cantonese 
•'■•■    's   a   son   of   the   late   Mr.    Toiig 


SOO    PAO    SUN    AND    SONS. 


compradore  to  the  China  Mutual  Life  Insur- 
ance Company,  he  became  compradore  to 
the  Osaka  Shosen  Kaisha  in  1900,  and, 
subsequently,  compradore  to  the  Nisshin 
Kisen  Kaisha.  He  is  interested,  as  a  director, 
in  several  large  concerns,  including  the 
Mukden  Land  and  Investment  Company, 
the  Shanghai  Xi  Ching  Land  Company,  the 
Li  Dah  Klour  Mill,  Soochow  Creek  ;  the  Wa 
Tung  Fire  and  Marine  Insurance  Company, 
the  Wa  Sing  Fire  Insurance  Company,  the 
Shanghai  Inland  Electricity  Works,  and  the 
Shanghai  Spinning  Company,  Soochow  Creek; 
whilst  he  is  director-general  of  the  Sing  Seng 
Savings  Bank.  Shanghai.  He  is  vice-chairman 
of  the  Chinese  Municipal  Council,  president 
of  the  Inland  Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
vice  -  president  of  the  Chinese  Merchants' 
Volunteer    Association,    and    a    member    of 


Holmes,"  for  he  translated  Sir  A.  Conan 
Doyle's  masterpieces,  as  well  as  several 
other  well-known  works  of  fiction,  into 
Chinese.  Among  more  weighty  matter 
which  Mr.  Chang  has  rendered  into  the 
language  of  his  forefathers  is  "  Broom's 
Philosophy  of  Law,"  of  which  more  than  one 
thousand  copies  have  been  circulated.  A 
native  of  Shanghai,  Mr.  Chang  attended  the 
Kiangnan  Arsenal  Government  School  in 
1876,  and  was  educated  in  English  for 
eleven  years.  He  then  entered  the  Chinese 
Consular  Service  as  Secretary  to  the 
Consulate  at  Chemulpo,  Korea,  and  was 
transferred  to  Fusan  a  year  later  in  the 
same  capacity,  remaining  there  until  the 
Chino-Japanese  War  broke  out.  Upon  the 
conclusion  of  peace,  he  was  appointed 
Secretary-Interpreter  to  the  Chinese  Legation 


Soy  Chee,  who  was  known  at  Hankow  as 
the  "  Tea  King."  Three  years  ago  Mr. 
Tong,  who  is  only  twcnty-tive  years  of  age, 
inherited  his  father's  wealth,  and.  upon  the 
advice  of  several  Chinese  and  foreign  medical 
men,  removed  to  Shanghai,  handing  over  the 
entire  management  of  his  business  at  Hankow 
to  his  uncle.  In  Shanghai  lie  founded  "  the 
Land  Investment  Syndicate,"  of  which  he 
is  managing  director,  with  a  holding  of  half 
the  shares.  He  is  also  the  local  agent  for 
the  Tung  On  P'ire  Insurance  Company, 
Ltd.,  of  Hongkong.  Mr.  Tong  is  very  popular 
amongst  both  Chinese  and  Europeans.  He 
is  fond  of  outdoor  amusements,  and  owns 
several  tine  horses  and  a  powerful  motor 
car.  Although  he  has  a  large  house,  built 
and  furnished  on  European  lines,  in  Range 
Road.  Hongkew.  and  a  fine  country  residence 


YU    YAH    CHINO    AS    VOLDNTEER   OPFICEB,    AND    HIS   RESIDENCE. 


538     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONO,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


at  JessAeld,  he  is  building  a  palatial  dwelling 
on  the  Bubbling  Well  Road,  and  is  sparing 
neither  pains  nor  expense  to  make  it  per- 
fection. 


MR.  SOO  PAO  SUN.— Mr.  Soo  Duck-piao. 
alias  Pao-sun,  is  a  native  of  the  Tsing 
district  of  Xingo  Prefecture,  Chekiang,  and 
was  born  on  the  first  day  of  the  third  inoon 
of  the  fifth  year  of  Hienfung  (1855).  He 
married  first  Kan,  and.  after  her  death. 
Chen,  his  present  wife.  He  has  live 
daughters  and  three  sons — the  eldest  son, 
Gun-lun,  is  thirteen  years  of  age.  the  second, 
Gun-yi,  twelve  years  of  age,  and  the  youngest, 
Gun-shen,  ten  years  of  age.  Mr.  Soo's 
father,    Tien-yuen,     improved     the     financial 


ITOsition  after  six  years,  on  account  of  his 
mother's  loneliness,  and  resumed  his  former 
calling  at  Shanghai.  At  the  age  of  thirty-seven 
he  was  a  prosperous  man  of  business.  Since 
then  he  lias  undertaken  several  enterprises, 
such  as  Zung  Kee,  Yee  Yuen  Zunge  Piece- 
Goods  Shop,  Kui  Tai  Clothing  Shop,  Chen 
Duck  Dispensary,  San  Tai  Yarn  Factory, 
Loong  Chong  Paper  Mill,  Land  Investment 
Company,  and  Wah  Shing  Insurance  Company. 
Many  of  these  were  established  by  himself  and 
others  as  joint  stock  enterprises.  A  rich  man 
but  unostentatious,  he  is  always  ready  to  con- 
tribute to  educational  and  philanthropic 
work.  A  year  or  two  back  he  took  an 
active  part  in  soliciting  subscriptions  for 
the  famine  relief  of  Shensi  and  Anliwei 
Provinces,  and  organised  the  Red  Cross 
Society.     In    recognition    of    his    merits    he 


ness  men  in  the  Settlement.  The  son  of 
Mr.  Yu  Cliing  Wan,  he  was  born  at  Xingpo 
in  1856,  and  gained  his  first  insight  into 
business  as  a  shop  assistant  in  his  native  city. 
Here  he  remained  for  ten  years.  Subse- 
quently, for  a  period  of  nine  years,  he  carried 
out  the  duties  of  compradore  to  Messrs. 
Keuter.  Brocklemann  &  Co.,  and  for  twelve 
months  prior  to  taking  up  his  present  post 
he  was  compradore  to  the  Russo-Chinese 
Bank.  By  exerci.sing  scrupulous  care  in 
discharging  his  business  responsibilities,  Mr. 
Yu  Yah  Cliing  has  earned  the  full  confidence 
of  his  fellow  countrymen,  who  some  years 
ago  elected  him  a  member  of  the  committee 
of  the  Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce.  On 
more  than  one  occasion  he  has  been  the 
means  of  establishing  a  better  understanding 
between    Chinese    and     foreigners.      In     the 


MR.   YU    YAH    CHINQ    AND    FAMILY. 


position  of  his  family  by  trading  in  piece 
gMxls,  and  had  three  sons,  ol  whom  Mr.  Soo 
is  the  youngest.  When  his  father  died 
Mr.  Soo  was  only  four  years  old,  and  he 
was  compelled  to  leave  school  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  and  enter  upon  his  apprenticeship  in 
a  piece-go<jds  shop  in  Ningpo.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  left  Ningpo.  as  the  city  was  not 
a  commercial  centre,  and  accepted  employ- 
ment at  Shanghai  in  Dong  King  Kee.  a  piece- 
gfxxls  shop.  He  lost  no  opportunity  of 
studying  business  methods,  and  made  many 
friends  among  prominent  Chinese  and 
foreigners  in  Shanghai.  At  the  age  of  thirty- 
one  he  was  engaged  as  a  compradore  in  one 
of  the  steamers  of  the  China  Merchants'  Steam 
Navigation  Company,  sailing  from  Shanghai  to 
Tientsin,  Yingkow,  and  Ctiefoo,  and  visiting 
all    other    open    ports.      He    resigned    this 


has  been  recently  elected  President  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  in  Shanghai.  His 
opinions  upon  important  problems  concerning 
the  public  interest,  always  receive  respectful 
attention  from  the  members  of  the  com- 
mittee. After  the  death  of  his  mother  in 
1902  and  the  subsequent  death  of  his  elder 
brother,  Mr.  Sof>  was  desirous  of  with- 
drawing from  commercial  life,  but  lie 
sacrificed  his  wishes  in  this  matter  in 
deference  to  the  representations  of  his 
colleagues. 


MR.  YU  YAH  CHINQ,  who  for  the  past  five 
years  has  been  compradore  to  the  Nether- 
lands Bank  in  Shanghai,  holds  a  prominent 
and  influential  position  among  Chinese  busi- 


Shanghai  Mixed  Court  Riots  of  1905  he  was 
the  only  person  who  ventured  to  arrange 
matters  with  the  Shanghai  Municipal  Council 
and  the  local  Taoutai.  It  was  owing  largely 
to  his  influence  and  effort  that  order  was 
restored,  and  members  of  both  the  Chinese 
and  foreign  communities  acknowledged  the 
value  of  the  assistance  he  rendered  on  that 
occasion.  In  1906  he  founded  the  Shanghai 
Chinese  Merchants'  Physical  Association  for 
inducing  young  men  to  engage  regularly  in 
physical  exercises,  and  it  afterwards  formed 
the  nucleus  of  the  Chinese  Company  of  the 
Shanghai  Volunteer  Corps.  Mr.  Yu  Yah  Ching 
has  two  sons — Shun  Ung  and  Shun  Mow — 
both  of  whom  are  still  at  school. 


ZIH    LI    KUNG,    HIS   FAMILY,    AND    RESIDENCE. 


540     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


MR.  WOO  KEE  MAY.  the  compradore  of 
the  Sino-Belgian  Bank,  is  the  son  of  Mr. 
Woo  Zing  Tsah.  a  former  hanker  of  Shanghai, 
and  was  bom  in  1848.  His  early  education 
was  received  from  a  Chinese  tutor,  and  for 
some  time  before  entering  upon  his  business 
career  he  attended  an  English  school.  After 
spending  some  ten  years  in  a  Chinese  bank 
he  was  appointed  shroff  in  the  National 
Bank,  and  subsequently  held  a  similar 
position  in  the  Commercial  Bank.  Having 
thus  obtained  \'aluable  experience,  he  accepted 
posts  of  higher   responsibility,   and    became. 


is  a  typical  Chinese  gentleman  with 
advanced  modern  ideas.  In  commercial 
circles  throughout  the  Far  East,  he  is  widely 
known  as  a  progressive  man.  who  is  always 
ready  to  do  anything  that  lies  in  his  power 
to  advance  the  interests  of  his  fellow 
countrymen,  and  to  promote  commerce  in 
general.  He  is  interested  in  many  business 
enterprises,  and  is  on  the  local  directorate 
of  the  Lung  Hwa  Tannery,  the  Anglo- 
Chinese  Cotton  Mill  and  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, the  Equitable  Life  Assurance  Society  of 
U.S.A..  and   the   International    Institute.      He 


Chin  Foo  as  compradore  to  the  Hongkong 
and  Shanghai  H.inkiiig  Corporation  shortly 
after  its  establishment,  two  of  his  brothers 
acting  in  similar  capacities  for  the  Chartered 
Bank  of  India,  Australia,  and  China,  and  the 
National  Bank  of  India,  while  the  youngest 
became  compradore  to  the  important 
Bombay  and  China  lirm  of  E.  D.  Sassooii 
&  Co.  Mr.  Zih  Li  Kung,  who  is  now 
forty-four  years  of  age,  has  succeeded  to 
his  father's  position,  and  with  his  brothers 
and  cousins,  all  of  whom  are  now  well-to-do 
men    ideiitilicd    with    several    foreign    banks 


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ZIH    LI    KUNG. 


in  turn,  the  assistant  compradore  of  the 
National  Bank  and  of  the  Chartered  Mer- 
cantile Bank.  When  the  compradore  left  the 
latter  institution  he  filled  the  vacancy  for 
five  years.  When  the  bank  closed  he  acted 
as  secretary  to  the  Yamen  for  twelve  months. 
and  was  manager  of  the  Sing  Chong  Filature 
for  a  similar  period.  This  post  he  resigned 
to  become  compradore  to  the  Russian  Bank, 
in  which  position  he  remained  for  another 
five  years,  when  he  received  his  present 
appointment  Mr.  Woo  Kee  May  has  lived 
ail  his  life  at  Shanghai,  and  enjoys  the 
respect  of  the  Chinese  community.  He  has 
a  family  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Two  of  his  sons  are  still  at  school,  while  the 
other  two,  both  of  whom  are  sergeants  in  the 
Chinese  Volunteer  Company,  assist  their 
father  at  the  bank. 


MR.   YIH    MINO  TSAH,   born  in  Shanghai, 
and  educated    at   the   Anglo-Chinese   School, 


is  honorary  treasurer  and  secretary  of  the 
Ellis  Kadoorie  School,  and  compradore  of 
the  Yokohama  Specie  Bank,  Ltd.,  at  Shanghai. 
This  post  he  has  held  since  1891,  having 
previously  had  ten  years'  training  in  the 
old  tea  hong  of  "  Kung  liee."  His  pet 
hobby  is  gathering  together  ancient  Chinese 
curios,  of  which  he  has  a  valuable  and 
unique  collection. 


MR.  ZIH  LI  KUNG,  compradore  to  the 
Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Banking  Corpora- 
tion. Shanghai,  is  the  head  of  the  well-known 
and  highly  respected  Zih  family  of  the 
Ta  Hcx>  Lake  district,  near  Soocliow.  His 
father,  Zih  Chin  Foo,  when  a  young  man, 
fled  with  other  members  of  the  family  from 
Soochow  to  Shanghai,  to  escape  the  Taeping 
rebels.  He  and  his  three  brothers  entered 
into  partnership  in  Shanghai,  and  in  a  very 
short  time  found  employment  with  native 
banks.     This  led  to  the   appointment   of   Zih 


and      large      European      firms,      is     worthily 
maintaining  the  faniily  traditions. 


MR.  YEN  TZE  KINO,  who  has  large 
mercantile  interests  in  Shanghai,  Peking, 
Tientsin,  Honan,  Hankow,  Canton,  Foochow, 
Hongkong.  Swatow,  Anioy,  Hangchow,  and 
Nmgpo,  is  a  son  of  the  late  Mr.  Yen  Shiu 
Fong,  a  gentleman  of  official  rank,  formerly 
well  known  in  the  Settlement  and  outports. 
It  was  Mr.  Yen  Shiu  P'ong,  or  Mr.  Yen 
Shing  Hou.  as  he  was  also  known,  who,  in 
IQ02,  organised  the  Guild  of  Commerce  of 
Shanghai,  which  afterwards  became  the 
Shanghai  Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
and  he  was  elected  president  for  three  years. 
Mr.  Yen  Shiu  Fong,  who  was  sixty-nine  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  a  native 
of  the  village  of  Chechihsien,  in  the  district 
of  Ningpofu,  Chekiang  Province.  He  was  a 
Chinese  scholar,  and,  applying  his  attainments 


Woo  Kee  May. 


YuE.v  Hux  Kee. 
Woo  Kee  May  and  Sons 


YUE.N'  YlXG  Kc:cG. 


YIH    MING   TSAH'S    BEAUTIFUL    RESIDENCE. 


woo    TING    SENG    AND    HIS    FAMILY. 


544     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


to  a  business  career,  he  amassed  a  large 
fortune,  establishing  the  widespread  business 
in  general  merchandise  to  which  his  son 
has  succeeded.  During  the  Taeping  Rebel- 
lion   he   ser\-ed   in  the   Chinese    Armv.    and 


nection  with  the  famine  relief  brought 
him  to  Shanghai  in  1888.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  promoting  the  Tientsin  -  Taku 
Railway  in  1883,  and  afterwards  established 
several   spinning  and   weaving  companies  in 


Shanghai  Silk  Guild,  the  Shanghai  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  and  the  Wusieh  Cocoon  Guild. 
He  owns  a  considerable  amount  of  real 
estate  in  Shanghai.  Mr.  Yang  is  the  third 
son  of  the  late  Mr.  Yang  Nee  Yien,  who 
was  a  highly  respected  resident  of  Chin- 
kiang  district.     He  has  two  children. 


MR.  WOO  TING  SENO,  Chinese  repre- 
sentative of  the  British-American  Tobacco 
Company's  business  in  Northern  China,  is 
a  native  of  Ningpo.  His  father,  Mr.  Woo 
Tsai  Dzing.  has  for  the  past  tliirty-two  years 
been  a  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Mission  in 
Northern  and  Southern  China.  Mr.  Woo 
Ting  Seng  was  born  in  1876,  and  received 
his  education  first  at  the  Ningpo  Mission 
School  and  afterwards  at  the  Anglo-Chinese 
College,  Shanghai.  When  twenty-two  years 
of  age  he  joined  the  American  (now  the 
British-American)  Tobacco  Company  as  an 
interpreter,  and  in  1904  he  was  appointed  to 
his  present  position.  Obtaining  leave  in  1907 
he  made  a  tour  of  the  world,  going  by  way 
of  Siberia  to  Europe,  and  thence,  after  visit- 
ing most  of  the  cities  of  interest,  to  the 
United  States  of  America,  in  the  capital  of 
which  he  spent  three  months.  He  was 
most  hospitably  entertained  by  his  American 
friends.  After  visiting  Reidsvilie,  North  Caro- 
lina, he  returned  to  New  York  and  proceeded  to 
San  Francisco,  where  he  sailed  on  the  steam- 
ship Doric  to  Shanghai  via  Japan.  He  retained 
his  national  costume  throughout  the  whole 
journey.  Mr.  Woo  holds  the  title  of  an 
Expectant  Taoutai.  and  has  a  seat  on  the 
committee  of  the  Chinese  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce as  a  representative  of  tobacco  interests. 
He  is  president  of  a  small  chapel  at  Hongkew, 
and  his  brother,  Mr.  Woo  Hing  Seng,  is  the 
secretary. 


YEN    SHIU    FONG. 


received  recognition  at  the  hands  of  His 
Excellency  Li  Hung  Chang,  who  conferred 
upon  him  the  rank  of  Expectant  Taoutai,  the 
privilege  of  wearing  the  Peacock's  Feather, 
and   the   brevet  rank  of  Prefect.     For  a  tune 


YEN    TZE    KINO. 


he  was  Salt  Commissioner  at  Honan,  and  in 
1885  he  was  appointed  Acting  Sub  Salt 
Commissioner    at    Tientsin.    Work    in    con- 


Shanghai  and  Ningpo,  being  among  the  first 
to  introduce  machine  mills  in  China.  Not 
long  before  his  death  Mr.  Yen  was  granted 
an  imperial  audience,  and  later  received  the 
rank  of  Expectant  Taoutai,  in  the  province  of 
Chihii,  and  was  registered  by  the  Grand 
Council  as  a  competent  official.  Since  his 
demise,  tablets  in  commemoration  of  his 
many  good  works  have  been  granted  by 
Their  Majesties  the  Empress  Dowager  and 
the  Emperor  of  China,  and  a  monument  has 
been  erected  to  him  by  imperial  decree. 
Mr.  Yen  Tze  King,  who,  in  accordance  with 
his  father's  instructions,  has  devoted  a  portion 
of  his  inheritance  to  charitable  purposes,  is 
also  a  man  of  considerable  ability,  and 
occupies  a  seat  on  the  Second-class  Com- 
mittee of  the  Imperial  Board  of  Agriculture, 
Industry,  and  Commerce. 


m 


MR.  YANG  SHIN  TSZE  is  a  brother  of 
Mr.  Yang  Zong  King,  formerly  Chinese 
Minister  in  Belgium.  A  native  of  Chin- 
kiang  district,  he  came  to  Shanghai 
forty-two  years  ago,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
oldest  silk  merchants  in  the  Settlement.  He 
established  the  silk  hong  known  as  Tab 
Kong  Chang  in  1878,  and  the  Hung  Kce 
Silk  Filature  in  1890.  At  the  Milan  Exhibi- 
tion of  1906  he  was  awarded  a  silver  medal 
for  a  brand  of  silk  bearing  his  "  gold  tiger  " 
chop.       He    is    on    the    committees    of    the 


MR.  CHINQ  YUE  is  one  of  the  best 
known  men  in  the  piece-goods  trade  in 
Shanghai.  He  is  a  native  of  Ningpo,  and 
was  born  in  1876.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  came  to  Shanghai  and  joined  the  old 
Ching  Yue  Hong,  then  in  Nanking  Road, 
but  now  removed  to  322,  Tientsin  Road. 
Seven  years  later  he  became  a  partner, 
and  he  is  now  the  principal  piece-goods 
dealer  for  the  firms  of  Messrs.  Barlow  & 
Co.,  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co., 
Messrs.  Dodwell  &  Co.,  Messrs.  Shewan, 
Tomes  &  Co.,  Messrs.  Rohde  &  Co., 
and  Messrs.  G.  Reiss  &  Co.  He  is  on 
the  committee  of  the  Piece-Goods  Guild,  and 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Ningpo  Guild  and 
of  the  Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
Shanghai.  His  native  place  is  indebted  to 
him  for  an  excellent  school,  which  he 
founded  and  endowed.  Mr.  Ching  Yue  is 
married  and  has  four  sons  and  three 
daughters. 


MR.  KIN  GEN  SANG,  or  Mr.  King  Tsing- 
piao,  to  use  the  official  name  given  him  by 
reason  of  his  rank  as  an  Expectant  Taoutai, 
comes  from  a  good  old  stock.  He  is  the  son 
of  Mr.  King  Shou-Chien,  formerly  one  of 
the  leading  merchants  in  Shanghai,  and 
many  of  his  ancestors  have  been  litterateurs 
of  the  Hauling  College  and  substantial 
officials.  He  was  born  at  Shanghai,  and  upon 
his  father's  death  succeeded  to  the  ship- 
ping business  carried  on  in  Honau  Road, 
Shanghai,    under    the    style    of    Yung    Kee, 


CHING    YUE    AND    FAMILY. 


Ki\'  Gkx  Saxo 

IX   HIS 
VOLUXTEKKIXU   DAYS. 


KIN   OEN    SANO,  HIS   FAMILY,   DRAWINO   BOOM,   AND   CARRIAGE. 


LO    HON    CHUN    (LO    KING    KEE),    HIS    CHILDREN,  AND  RESIDENCE. 


548     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  in  Haiikow  Ktiad  under  the  name 
of  Woo  Kcf.  He  is  also  aj;cnt  for  the 
Asiatic  Oil  Company  in  Hangchow.  His 
business  interests  have  hroujjht  him  into 
contact  with  many  of  the  foreign  merchants 
in  the  Settlement,  all  of  whom  hold  him  in 
high  esteem,  while  his  kindly  disposition 
has  secured  for  him  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
among  his  Own  countrymen.  Mr.  Kin  Gen 
Sang  is  president  of  the  Soochow  Guild  and 
the  Associated  Shippers'  Guild,  and  is  a 
committee  member  of  the  Chinese  Chamber 
of  Commerce  and  of  the  "  Door  of  Hope." 
By  order  of  the  Viceroy  he  has  a  seat, 
also,  on  the  committee  of  the  Xanyang 
Commercial   Exhibition. 

m 

MR.  LO  KINO  KEE,  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Ci'ntonese  community  in  Shanghai,  is 
in  his  forty-fifth  year,  and  holds  the  position 
of  general  compradore  to  the  fii  m  of  Messrs. 
Rciss  &  Co.  He  entered  the  service  of  the  firm 
at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  his  present  appoint- 
ment, dating  from  May  i,  iyo5,  was  the 
result  of  a  special  recommendation  from  the 
manager,  Mr.  J.  Stern.  He  is  connected  with 
several  other  important  enterprises,  including 
the  Cheang  Mow  Steaniship  Company,  of 
which  he  is  a  director.  The  business  of  this 
company,  owing  largely  to  his  influence,  has 
steadily  flourished  in  spite  of  the  long- 
prevailing  depression  in  trade  generally.  Mr. 
Lo  King  Kee's  brother,  Mr.  Lo  Hon  Chun, 
who  is  in  his  sixtieth  year,  has  been  in  the 
employment  of  Messrs.  Keiss  &  Co.  for 
upwards  of  forty-one  years,  and  has  latterly 
managed  the  extensive  silk  and  tea  business^ 
carried  on  by  the  firm.  Being  Mandarins  of 
the  fourth  grade,  both  brothers  have  a  large 
and  influential  circle  of  friends  among  the 
mercantile  and  official  classes,  and  are  held 
in  great  respect.  They  are  liberal  supporters 
of  many  of  the  principal  charitable  organisa- 
tions in  the  Settlement,  and  are  both  on  the 
committee  of  the  Kwang  Siu  E.  Yuen 
(Cantonese  Hospitall  situated  in  Haining 
Road.  The  elder  brother  has  a  family  of 
one  son  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  Lo  King 
Kee  has  six  sons,  three  daughters,  and  a 
grandson  four  years  of  age.  His  eldest  son, 
Mr.  Lo  Chin  Tai,  who  is  twenty-three  years 
of  age,  assists  him  in  business.  In  the 
Haining  Road.  Mr.  Lo  King  Kee  has  a  newly 
built  residence,  well  and  comfortably  furnished, 
and  his  receptions,  attended  by  both  Chinese 
and  Europeans,  are  very  popular  functions. 


* 


MR.  CHAI  LAI-FONO,  a  compradore  in  the 
employment  of  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  & 
Co.,  and  of  the  Shanghai  Electric  Construc- 
Oon  Company,  Ltd.,  is  a  native  of  Wusfeh  in 
the  province  of  Kiangsu.  He  came  to  Shang- 
hai in  1872,  when  seventeen  years  of  age, 
and  in  course  of  time  established  the  firm 
of  Yueng  Chong,  trading  in  coal  and  other 
minerals.  This  venture  proving  eminently 
successful,  Mr.  Chai  turned  his  attention  to 
shipping,  and  ran  a  number  of  steamers 
between  Singapore,  Shanghai,  Japan,  and 
intervening  coast  ports.  The  profits  from 
this  enterprise  he  invested  in  mills,  and  at 
the  present  day  there  are  few  gentlemen 
with  larger  interests  in  the  various  branches 
of  the  milling  industry.  Among  the  mills 
with  which  he  is  more  prominently  assfK'iated 
may  be  mentioned  the  Yuen  Chong  Silk  Mill, 
established  thirteen  years  ago  and  now  his 
own    property,  which    has  325  silk   basons ; 


the  Wah  Shing  Flour  Mill,  with  a  capital 
of  Tls.  300.000,  half  of  which  was  subscribed 
by  himself,  and  equipped  with  modern  ma- 
chinery supplied  by  the  well-known  London 
tirm  of  Messrs.  E.  K.  R.  Turner  «:  Co.. 
through  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  ; 
the  Yuen  Chong  Rice  Mill,  which  was 
established  in  1888  and  was  afterwards  amal- 
gamated with  the  Shanghai  Rice  Mill,  owned 
by  the  .American  Trading  Company,  the  com- 
bined mills  having  a  capital  of  tls.  300,000. 
with  56  machhics  and  an  output  of  from  two 
to  three  thousand  shih  (=  i^  piculs)  a  day  ; 
and  the  Kung-yik  Cotton  Mill,  with  18,200 
spindles  and  a  aipital  of  Si. 000,000,  of  which 
Mr.  Chai  owns  two-thirds,  and  Mr.  Koo  King 
Chai  the  remainder.  This  last-named  mill 
stands  in  a  compound  containing  60  mow 
of  land  at  Jessfield,  Shanghai  ;  it  is  lilted 
with  machinery  of  the  best  quality  supplied, 
through  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co., 
by  the  London  firm  of  Messrs.  Tweedale, 
Smalley  &  Co.  It  commenced  working  about 
a  year  ago,  and  there  is  every  prospect  of 
a  good  return  from  the  investment.  The 
whole  machinery  of  the  mills  was  installed 
by  Mr.  Kerfoot  and  is  managed  by  Mr. 
Harrop,  an  Englishman  of  great  experience. 
The  rice  mill  has  been  less  profitable  than 
formerly  since  the  law  was  passed  prohibit- 
ing the  export  of  rice  from  Shangliai.  Mr. 
Chai  has  also  invested  largely  in  land  and 
house  property,  and  holds  shares  in  many 
of  the  leading  native  banks.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  committees  of  the  Shanghai  Muni- 
cipal Public  School,  of  the  Shanghai  Chinese 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  of  the  Shanghai 
Paper  and  Oil  Mills  ;  and  he  is  chairman 
of  the  Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce  at 
Wusieh.  He  is  a  liberal  supporter  of  educa- 
tion, and  to  one  school  alone  contributes 
between  $3,000  and  $4,000  annually.  In 
Chinese  oflicial  circles  he  ranks  as  an 
Expectant  Taoutai,  and  in  IQ07  he  was 
awarded  by  imperial  edict  the  Order  of  the 
Button  of  the  Second  Class.  He  is  married, 
and  by  his  wife,  who  is  surnamed  Chen,  he 
has  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 


m 


MR.  ZEE  WAY  ZUNG,  who  has  had  a  higlily 
successful  business  career  in  Shanghai,  is  the 
son  of  Mr.  Zee  How  Chong,  and  was  born 
at  Ningpo  some  forty-three  years  ago.  After 
obtaining  an  excellent  knowledge  of  English 
by  studying  successively  at  St.  John's  College, 
the  Anglo-Chinese  School,  and  the  Anglo- 
Chinese  College,  he  served  for  four  years 
as  a  clerk  in  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs. 
This  appointment  he  resigned  in  order  to 
start  a  hardware  business,  on  his  own  account, 
in  the  Broadway.  A  shop  was  opened  under 
the  style  of  Zung  Lee,  and  some  Tls.  100,000 
was  invested  in  the  enterprise.  Under  the 
skilful  management  of  Mr.  Zee  Way  Zung, 
the  returns  have  increased  steadily  each  year, 
and  the  stock  now  is  of  the  estimated  value 
of  Tls.  500.000,  Besides  his  responsibilities 
in  connection  with  the  undertaking,  Mr.  Zee 
carries  out  the  duties  of  compradore  in 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.'s  machinery 
department.  In  the  supervision  of  his  many 
business  interests,  he  receives  valuable  assist- 
ance from  his  three  sons — Jullen  T.  A.  Zi, 
T.  Y.  Zi,  and  T.  H.  Zi.  Some  few  years  ago 
he  contributed  largely  to  the  Shantung 
Province  Famine  Relief  Fund,  and,  in  recogni- 
tion of  this  and  of  his  do'nations  to  other 
charitable  objects,  the  rank  of  Taoutai  was  con- 
ferred upon  him  by  the  Chinese  Government. 


SERGEANT  JULIEN  T.  A.  ZI,  musketry  in- 
structor of  llie  Chinese  Company,  Shanghai 
Volunteers,  is  the  son  of  Mr.  Zee  Way  Zung. 
He  received  the  first  part  of  liis  education  at 
various  English  and  Chinese  local  schools, 
and  in  1903  entered  St.  John's  College,  where 
he  had  an  excellent  record.  He  was  chosen 
as  a  member  of  the  first  China  inter-collegiate 
sports  team  ;  in  1905  Prince  Pu  Lun,  who 
was  on  his  way  to  the  St.  Louis  Exhibition, 
presented  him  with  a  medal  ;  and  in  1906  the 
Faculty  granted  him  a  certificate,  and  placed 
his  name  on  the  roll  of  honour.  In  the 
same  year  Mr.  Yu  Ya  Chiiig  and  other 
members  of  the  Chinese  community  made 
him  a  caplain  in  the  Shanghai  Chinese 
Merchants'  Physical  Association,  which  had 
been  formed  for  the  purpose  of  instructing 
young  Chinese  in  physical  exercises  and 
in  the  American  methods  of  drilling.  For 
his  services  he  received  a  medal  each 
from  Viceroy  Tuan  Fang  and  the  Chinese 
merchants.  His  aptitude  for  business  has 
been  no  less  marked  than  his  ability  in  other 
directions.  He  was  invited  to  be  the  Cliiiiese 
manager  and  treasurer  of  the  American-Chinese 
Medical  College,  and  for  a  time  he  carried 
out  the  duties  of  compradore  lo  Messrs.  H. 
F'orrester  &  Co.  Subsequently,  he  took  Ihe 
position  of  assistant  compradore,  under  his 
father.  In  the  machinery  depnrtinent  of 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  and 
this  post  he  still  retains.  In  December,  1907, 
he  was  appointed  musketry  instructor  to  tlie 
Chinese  Company  of  the  Shanghai  Volunteer 
Corps  with  the  rank  of  corporal,  and  In 
March,  1908,  he  became  the  first  Chinese 
sergeant  in  the  Corps.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  World's  Chinese  Students' 
P'ederation  and  of  the  St.  John's  Alumni 
Association. 


MR.  CHEW  CHUK  SHAN,  one  of  the  best 
known  niercliaiits  and  sliip  owners  in  the 
North  of  China,  owes  his  success  solely  to 
his  own  initiative  and  energy.  He  was 
horn  in  1866  at  Hongkong,  but  received 
Ills  education  at  the  Anglo-Chinese  School  in 
Shangliai.  After  five  years'  experience  of 
sliipping,  he  chartered  many  steamers  on  his 
own  account,  and,  his  speculations  proving 
profitable,  he  purchased  the  Kiang  line  of 
steamers,  consisting  of  four  ships  of  from  2,000 
to  2,800  tons  each.  With  these  he  traded  be- 
tween Yangtsze  ports,  Hongkong,  Canton, 
other  Cliina  coast  ports,  and  Japan.  His  under- 
takings have  always  proved  reimuierative, 
and  now  Mr.  Chew  is  desirous  of  with- 
drawing fnmi  active  participation  In  business, 
and  returning  to  his  ancestral  city— Canton. 
He  is  married  and  has  tvi'o  sons  and  two 
daughters.  His  two  sons —Chew  Yuen  Tsai, 
aged  sixteen  years,  and  Chew  Yue  Lin,  aged 
fourteen  years — are  still  at  school. 


MR.  CHUN  KOO  LEONO  was  born  in  1830 
in  the  Heungshan  district  of  the  Kwang- 
tung  Province,  and  comes  from  a  well-to-do 
family.  His  father,  who  was  an  Industrious 
agriculturist,  attained  the  ripe  age  of 
eighty-four,  and  his  mother  reached  her 
seventy-fourth  year.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Chun 
had  finished  his  education  he  went  to 
San  Francisco  as  a  merchant.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-six  he  came  to  Shanghai  to  join 
his  cousin  In  the  firm  now  known  as  Fearon, 
Daniel  &  Co.,  and  upon  his  cousin's 
retirement    from    business    he    succeeded    to 


CHAI    LAI    FONG. 


The  Kuxg  Yih  Coitox  Mill. 
In  THE  Silk  Filature. 


The  Reeling  Room. 


S  3 


550     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  position  of  compradore.  In  conjunction 
with  this  Company  he  established  a  flour  mill, 
and  started  dealing  in  cotton,  tea,  and  piece 
goods.  Subsequently  he  was  invited  to  join 
the  China  Navigation  Company,  Ltd.,  to  which 
he  has  acted  in  the  capacity  of  compradore 
for  over  twenty  years,  and  before  long  he 
became  compradore  also  to  Messrs.  Butterfield 
&    Swire.      Mr.  Chun    Koo  Leong   has   been 


Sub- Prefect,  and  was  decorated  afterwards 
with  the  Peacock's  Feather  in  recognition  of 
charitable  work  during  the  Chihii  famine. 
An  imperial  decree,  also,  has  been  received 
authorising  the  erection  of  a  stone  gateway 
in  commemoration  of  his  generosity  ;  and, 
recently,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Taoutai  on  account  of  substantial  contributions 
to    the   Central    China    F"amine    Fund.      Mr. 


Y.  C.  Woxd. 


Wong  Su  Pixo. 

WOXG   SlEN    HIXG. 
WONO  KWEI  CHEK. 


WOXG  Lu  Chee. 


on  the  Committee  of  the  Cantonese  Guild 
for  over  two  decades,  and  during  this  long 
term  of  service  he  has  been  untiring  in  his 
efiforts  to  raise  subscriptions  amongst  his 
fellow  provincials  to  build  the  Cantonese 
hospital  and  cemetery,  and  to  form  the 
Cantonese  Guild  Schrjol  and  the  Hongkew 
Cantonese  Free  School.  In  return  for  his 
contribution  towards  the  Government  Revenue 
Fund     he     obtained    the     brevet     rank    of 


Chun,  who  has  five  brothers,  four  sisters, 
seven  sons,  three  daughters,  and  seventeen 
grandchildren,  lives  in  a  large  English 
house,  which  he  erected  in  Chapoo  Road, 
in  1903.  His  eldest  son,  Chiu  Kwei,  is  a 
provincial  graduate,  and  his  second  and 
third  sons,  Ngok  Chiu  and  Shiit  Kai,  who 
both  speak  English,  and  hold  the  Brevet 
Rank  of  Sub-Prefects,  are  assisting  their 
father    in    the    China    Navigation    Company, 


Ltd.,   and   in    Messrs.   Buttcrlicld    &|  Swire's 
business    respectively. 

m 

MR.  LEANG  SHINQ  HEM,  who  holds  the  fourth 
rank  of  the  Order  of  the  Peacock's  Feather, 
is  the  son  of  the  late  Mr.  Leang  Tsah  Kem,  a 
merchant  of  Kiukiang,  and  Mrs.  Gone  Leang. 
Born  at  Kiukiang  in  1864,  he  was  educated 
privately  at  Shanghai,  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  entered  the  shipping  department 
of  Messrs.  Hutterlield  S:  Swire.  He  has 
remained  in  the  service  of  this  firm  ever  since 
— a  period  of  twenty-six  years.  He  is  now 
the  compradore  of  the  steamer  Pekiiifi.  and, 
besides  his  other  duties,  carries  on  a  private 
business  as  a  ship-chandler  under  the  style 
of  "  Lyang,"  in  Fearon  Road,  and  has  the 
contract  for  supplying  the  Ocean  Steamship 
Company's  steamers.  Mr.  Leang  Shing  Hem 
has  two  sons,  the  elder  of  whom,  T.  C. 
Leang,  is  now  being  educated  at  Holme 
School,  Norwood,  England,  preparatory  to 
entering  the  legal  profession.  Mr.  Leang 
Shing  Hem's  residence,  "  Ong  Ting  Lee," 
in  Tsepoo  Road,  was  built  by  him  in  1898. 


THE  WONG  FAMILY.— Among  the  personal 
photographs  wliicli  we  reproduce  are  those 
of  the  late  Mr.  Wong  Suen  Hing  and  four 
of  his  sons,  a  family  greatly  respected  by  their 
fellow  countrymen  and  by  the  foreigners  with 
whom  they  have  been  brought  into  contact. 
Mr.  Wong  Suen  Hing,  born  in  1836,  was  a 
native  of  the  Hang  Sarn  district,  in  the 
province  of  Kvvangtung,  where  he  began 
business  life  as  a  merchant  and  junk  owner, 
trading  to  Hongkong  and  Macao.  In  i86g 
he  came  to  Shanghai,  and,  after  spending 
thirty-one  years  in  business  on  his  own 
account  with  the  southern  ports,  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  China  Navigation  Company, 
Ltd..  in  the  capacity  of  feeder  of  cargo  to  the 
steamers  of  that  Company  clearing  Shanghai, 
Chinkiang,  and  Wuhu  for  Hongkong  and 
Canton.  He  was  with  the  Company  for 
twenty  years,  and  was  then  for  seven  years 
compradore  to  the  Union  Insurance  Society 
of  Canton,  Ltd.  In  1900  he  retired  to  Macao, 
and  made  his  home  there  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  two  years  later.  As  a  man 
upright  and  generous,  as  a  merchant  just  in 
his  dealings,  and  as  a  servant  faithful  to  his 
trusts,  he  was  an  object  of  widespread  affec- 
tion and  esteem,  and  his  liberality  to  those 
distressed  by  flood  or  famine  was  so  much 
appreciated  by  the  Chinese  Goveriunent  that 
he  was  honoured  with  the  fourth  rank  of 
Prefect,  with  brevet  rank  of  the  third  grade, 
and  was  decorated  with  the  Order  of  the 
Peacock's  P'eather.  He  lived  long  enough 
to  see  four  of  his  seven  sons  successfully 
started  in  life.  The  eldest,  Mr.  Wong  Lu 
Chee  was  educated  first  privately  and  then  at 
Queen's  College,  Hongkong.  He  joined  the 
China  Navigation  Company,  Ltd.,  Shanghai, 
in  1875,  and  then  entered  upon  an  official 
career.  He  was  first  stationed  in  the  province 
of  Anhwei,  and  has  since  served  in  different 
districts  as  Collector  of  Likin  and  as  Acting 
Magistrate.  He  was  promoted,  on  the  repre- 
sentation of  the  Governor  of  his  province, 
to  the  rank  of  Prefect  unattached  to  any 
province,  with  the  rank  of  Expectant  Taoutai 
on  filling  the  post  of  Prefect.  In  the  mean- 
lime  he  has  been  designated  to  the  post  of  Act- 
ing Magistrate  of  Han  San.  Mr.  Y.  C.  Wong, 
the  second  son,  was  educated  at  Springfield 
Hooker  Grammar  School  and  Hartford 
High   School,   being  one   of  a   hundred    and 


The  Wah  Shixg  Flour  Mill. 


CHAI    LAI    FONG. 

Thic  Press  Packing  Mill. 
In  the  Rice  Mill. 


The  Wah  Shixg  Flour  Mill. 


55l>     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


twenty  Govcmineiit  students  who  were  sent 
i>\-er  to  study  in  the  I'nited  States  in  the 
autumn  of  1874.  He  returned  in  1881,  and 
being  allowed  to  leave  Government  service 
on  account  of  the  death  of  his  mother,  he 
joined  the  lirst  cotton  mill  started  in  China. 


third  son,  Mr.  Wonj;  Su  Ping,  was  educated 
at  various  English  schools  in  Shanghai,  and 
at  the  Government  Schcx>l  at  Tientsin,  where 
he  studied  telegraphy  and  electricity.  In  1881 
he  joined  the  service  of  tTie  Imperial  Chinese 
Telegraph,  and  was  stationed  lirst  at  Shanghai 


Woo  Chau  Chix.  Mrs.  Woo  Chai;  Chin. 

Mm  Woo  Yi«  CHIM.  Mks.  Sung  Tse  Yin.  Mrs.  Leb  Chung  Woo. 

Woo  TON  Yin,  Mrs.  Sze  Sing  Par. 


In  the  spring  of  1884  he  entered  the  service  of 
Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire  at  Shanghai,  and 
six  months  later  was  transferred  to  Hankow. 
He  remained  twelve  years  in  Hankow,  and 
was  then  placed  in  charge  of  the  firm's 
agency  at  Ichang,  a  post  which  he  has  filled 
since   the   beginning  of    August,    1896.     The 


and  afterwards  at  Chinkiang.  In  the  winter 
of  1884  he  entered  Messrs.  Butterfield  & 
Swire's  shipping  department  at  Shanghai  as 
a  junior  assistant  on  the  Chinese  office  staff, 
and  four  years  later  was  promoted  chief 
assistant.  He  is  also  sole  owner  of  the  Sin 
Cheong  tai,  and  part    owner    of   a    general 


store  and  import  and  export  business.  The 
fourth  son,  Mr.  Wong  Kwei  Chek,  was 
educated  in  Chinese  and  Knglish  in  Shanghai, 
and  proceeded,  in  the  spring  of  1885,  to  join 
his  brother,  Mr.  Y.  C.  Wong,  in  Hankow, 
in  the  service  of  Messrs.  Butterfield  \'  Swire. 
Four  years  later  he  returned  to  Shanghai, 
and  assisted  his  father  in  the  management  of 
a  newly  formed  shipping  hong,  the  steamers 
of  which  were  run  in  conjunction  with  those 
of  Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire  in  the  ship- 
ping of  cargo  to  the  northern  ports.  He  also 
represented  his  father  as  compradore  of  the 
Union  Insurance  Society  of  Canton,  Ltd.,  and 
as  chief  cashier  to  His  Excellency  Tsai,  the 
Shanghai  Customs  Taoutai.  In  1897  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  position  formerly  held  by  his 
father  as  feeder  of  cargo  to  the  China 
Navigation  Company,  Ltd.,  and  he  also 
started  in  business  as  a  merchant,  under  the 
style  of  Kwei  Kee,  in  order  to  further  the 
interests  of  the  firm.  Of  Mr.  Wong  Suen 
Hing's  twenty  grandsons,  two  are  being 
educated  in  the  United  States— one  studying 
civil  engineering  at  Yale  University,  the  other 
being  prepared  for  college  —  while  others 
who  are  old  enough  are  being  sent  to  St. 
John's  College,  Shanghai,  or  to  Chinese 
schools  in  the  Settlement. 


MR.  CHUN  KWAN  YEH,  assistant  com- 
pradore to  Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire,  was 
born  in  1858  at  Kaichung,  a  village  in 
the  Heungshan  district  of  the  Kwanglung 
Province.  His  father,  who  was  a  tea  mer- 
chant, died  when  Kwan  Yeh  was  only  five 
years  old,  but  the  family  were  left  in 
comfortable  circumstances,  and  the  three 
sons  and  one  daughter  were  given  a  sound 
education  by  their  mother.  The  eldest  son 
died  at  Hongkong  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years.  The  second  son,  Chan  Kan  Tung, 
who  had  a  successful  business  career,  first 
as  assistant  compradore  to  Messrs.  Butterfield 
&  S%vire,  and  afterwards  in  the  tea  trade  at 
Hankow,  has  now  retired.  When  Kwan 
Yeh  left  school  he  became  an  assistant  to 
his  uncle,  Mr.  Chan  Koo  Leong,  who  was 
at  that  time  compradore  to  Messrs.  Kearon, 
Low  &  Co.  He  remained  in  this  position 
for  about  fourteen  years,  leaving  it  in 
order  to  continue  with  his  uncle  when  that 
gentleman  was  appointed  compradore  to 
Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire.  Mr.  Kwan 
Yeh  is  a  man  of  progressive  ideas ;  on 
more  than  one  occasion  he  has  been  asked 
by  old  school  friends,  several  of  whom 
have  risen  to  high  oHicial  rank,  to  leave 
commercial  for  official  life,  and  throw  in  his 
lot  with  them.  This  he  has  steadfastly 
refused  to  do,  being  but  poorly  impressed 
with  the  opinions  and  customs  of  the  Chinese 
officials  as  a  body.  He  has  a  very  high 
opinion  of  the  training  to  be  obtained  at 
the  Universities  of  England  and  America, 
and  would  always  advise  his  countrymen 
to  study  in  those  countries  in  preference 
to  Japan.  He  considers  that  the  Japanese, 
actuated  by  feelings  of  jealousy  and  rivalry, 
will  not  give,  freely,  the  instruction  most 
needed,  and  that  a  student  returning  from 
Japan  knows  little  of  any  branch  of  learning 
other  than  law.  Of  a  kind  and  charitable 
disposition,  Mr.  Kwan  Yeh  gives  freely  to 
those  needing  assistance.  He  has  a  wide 
circle  of  friends,  both  foreign  and  native, 
by  whom  he  is  much  respected. 


MR.  CHUN  MINO  HUNO,   who   has  carried 
out     the     duties     of     shroff     to     the      China 


ZEE    WAY    ZUNG,    HIS    SONS,    AND    HIS    BUSINESS    PREMISES    AND    GODOWNS    IN    THE   BROADWAY. 


554    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Navigation  Company  since  1884,  has 
recei\"ed  several  marks  of  imperial  favour. 
He  was  appointed  a  Suh-Prefect  and  decx)- 
rated  with  the  Peacock's  F"eather  in  return 
for  charitable  work  on  the  occasion  of  the 
Shansi  famines  of  1882,  and  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Taoutai  in  recognition  of 
assistance  rendered  in  the  Central  Chinese 
famine  of  1906.  A  son  of  Mr.  Chun  Sing 
Fai,  a  merchant  having  business  interests 
in  Hongkong,  Shanghai,  Kiukiang,  and 
Hankow,  Mr.  Chun  Ming  Hung  was  born 
in    the    Heungshan    district    of    the   Kwang- 


MR.  WOO  CHAU  CHIN,  chief  c-ompradore 
to  the  well-known  iirm  of  Messrs.  Arnhold, 
Karberg  &  Co.,  is  fifty-six  years  of  age.  He 
belongs  to  the  family  of  Woo  Chow,  whose 
ancestral  home  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Chekiang.  \\'hen  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
came  to  Shanghai,  and  for  three  years  carried 
on  business  as  an  import  and  export  merchant, 
dealing  chiefly  in  Chinese  and  Japanese  goods. 
He  was  then  for  a  time  a  silk  mercer. 
Eventually  he  entered  the  service  of  Messrs. 
Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co.,  and  in  i8g6  was 
appointed    to  the   position   he   now   occupies. 


Shanghai.  After  having  been  educated 
privately,  he  became  his  father's  assistant 
in  the  service  of  Messrs.  Arnhold,  Karberg  & 
Co.,  and  is  now  the  assistant  compradore. 
He  holds  the  decoration  of  the  Fourth  Button. 
Like  his  father,  Mr.  Woo  Ton  Yin  is  very 
popular  in  private  life,  and  takes  the  keenest 
possible  interest  in  all  institutions  which  tend 
to  the  general  welfare  of  his  countrymen, 
especially  in  the  Chinese  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association. 


MR.    AND    MRS.   EUH   HON    SHUN. 


tang  Province  in  July,  1853.  After  leaving 
school  he  came  to  Shanghai  and  entered 
the  service  of  Messrs.  Augustine  Heard  as 
a  junior  shroff.  Subsequently  he  became 
an  accountant  in  the  compradore's  depart- 
ment of  Messrs.  Fearon,  Low  &  Co.,  and 
a  book-keeper  in  the  Shanghai  Insurance 
Company.  It  was  in  1883  that  he  first 
joinc»J  the  China  Navigation  Company,  and 
within  twelve  months  he  was  promoted  to 
his  present  post.  Mr.  Chun  Ming  Hung  has 
three  sons  and  four  grandchildren.  He  is 
extremely  fond  of  pictures,  and  is  himself 
an  artist  of  some  ability. 


Mr.  Woo  is  also  a  director  of  the  Soy  Chee 
Cotton  Mill,  the  Say  Lung  Silk  Filature,  and 
the  Sun  Life  Insurance  Company.  He  has 
a  seat  on  the  committees  of  the  Chinese 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  Silk  Guild,  and 
Dr.  Keed's  Institute  ;  and  he  has  taken  a  keen 
interest  in  promoting  the  Anti-Opium  Move- 
ment locally.  In  recognition  of  his  ability, 
the  Chinese  Government  has  appointed  him 
Long  Chung,  the  Oflicial  at  Peking  for 
Commerce,  and  has  decorated  him  with  the 
Orders  of  the  Third  Button  and  the  Peacock's 
F"eather.  His  son,  Mr.  Woo  Ton  Yin,  is 
twenty-nine   years  of   age,  and  was   born  in 


MR.  TONG  CHONO  LEONQ,  compradore  to 
the  Iirm  of  Messrs.  Dodwell  &  Co.,  Shanghai, 
in  whose  employment  he  has  been  ever  since 
he  left  school,  is  a  Mandarin  of  the  Fifth 
Degree.  He  was  horn  in  the  Shou  Son 
district,  in  the  Kwongchow  department  of 
Canton.  His  father,  Mr.  Min  Chee,  who 
died  about  six  years  ago  at  the  ripe  age  of 
eighty-one.  was  at  one  time  a  merchant  in 
California,  but  in  later  life  returned  to  China. 
Mr.  Tong  came  to  Shanghai  while  young, 
and  having  studied  both  English  and  Chinese, 
entered  upon  a  commercial  career.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  ordinary  duties,  as  compradore, 
he  carries  on  business  as  a  tea  merchant. 
He  is  married,  his  wife's  maiden  name 
having  been  Chock  Chee,  and  he  has  ten 
children.  Two  of  his  sons  are  now  at  the 
High  School,  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  two 
others  are  at  school  in  Berlin.  The  eldest 
son,  Mr.  P.  T.  Tong,  is  twenty-two  years 
of  age.  Mr.  Tong,  resides  in  a  house  known 
as  "  Taiping  I^ee,"  in  the  Woochang  Road. 

m 

MR.  WAI  LUK  CHUNE,  who  for  the  past 
ten  years  has  held  tlie  position  of  compra- 
dore to  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Macy  &  Co.,  of 
Shanghai,  was  formerly  a  tea  merchant  in 
Foochow.  He  holds  the  rank  of  Taoutai,  and 
is  decorated  with  the  Peacock's  Feather  and 
the  Light  Blue  Button  of  the  Third  Class. 
He  is  the  third  son  of  Taoutai  Wai  Loo  Chip, 
a  native  of  Tse-Mee  Village,  in  the  district 
of  Hong-Shon,  Kwangtung  Province,  who  is 
eighty-one  years  of  age,  and  has  lived  in 
retirement  for  many  years.  In  his  younger 
days  Ta'.utai  Wai  Loo  Chip  and  his  brothers 
were  tea  merchants  in  the  Fokien  Province. 
He  has  five  children,  and  thirteen  grand- 
children and  great-grandcliildren.  His  kindly 
nature  and  charitable  disposition  have  won 
a  wide  circle  of  friends.  These  same 
characteristics,  also,  have  made  Mr.  Wai 
Luk  Chune  highly  popular,  both  among  his 
fellow  countrymen  and  the  foreign  community. 


MR.  KUM  HON  SHUN,  who  was  born  at 
Canton,  in  1858,  has  been  in  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Shanghai  &  Hongkew  Wharf 
Company  for  the  past  thirty-three  years. 
Entering  the  office  as  a  junior  clerk,  he 
worked  his  way  through  all  the  lower 
grades  to  his  present  position  of  chief 
compradore  for  the  three  large  wharves 
-Hunt's,  Heard's,  and  Hongkew.  He  is 
one  of  the  best  known  Chinese  in  Shanghai, 
and  his  three  sons  and  liis  daughter  are 
receiving  an  English  education  at  local  schools. 


m 


MR.    CHEN    TSZ    YUEN,     compradore    to 
Messrs.     Hopkins,     Dunn     ct    Co.,    was    born 


CHUN   KOO    LEONO,   HIS    SONS    CHUN    NOOK    CHIU    AND    CHUN    SHUT    KAI.    AND   HIS   RESIDENCE. 


55G      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  E'I'C. 


in  Macao  in  1X65.  and  after  completing  his 
schoListic  course  at  Heungshan  and  at  the 
Anglo-Chinese  School.  Shanghai,  joined  the 
China  Merchants  Steam  Navigation  Com- 
pany. Ltd.  In  their  service  he  remained 
for  two  years,  and  was  afterwards  with 
the  Shanghai  Steamship  Company  for 
four   years.       In  recognition  of  his   business 


the  Anglo-Chinese  College.  We  reproduce 
a  group  photograph  of  Mr.  Chen's  two  sons 
and  four  brothers — Mr.  Chen  Tsz  Chuen, 
Mr.  Chen  Ts/.  Ming,  Mr.  Chen  Tsz  Xuen. 
and  Mr.  Chen  Tsz  Mav. 


m 


CHEN    TSZ    YUEN,    HIS   TWO    SONS   AND    FOUR    BROTHERS. 


capacity  and  integrity,  work  of  a  most 
responsible  kind  was  continually  entrusted 
to  him.  For  ten  years  he  was  in  the 
employment  of  the  well-known  firm  of 
Messrs.  H.  Mandl  &  Co.,  and,  in  1902, 
was  appointed  to  his  present  important  post. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  Kochien  Transpor- 
tation and  Tow-Boat  Company,  Ltd.  Mr. 
Chen  has  two  sons,  one  of  whom  is  attending 


MR.  HOO  ERH  MAI,  who  has  recently 
accepted  the  position  of  compradore  to 
Messrs.  Melchers  &  Co.,  was  born  in  1859 
in  the  Kien-tuh  district  of  the  .Chi  Chow 
prefecture,  in  the  province  of  Anhwei.  He 
received  his  education  at  P'oochow  College, 
for  when  quite  young  he  went  to  the 
P'okien  Province  with  his  father,  Cho  Tse, 
who    was    then    the    District    Magistrate     of 


Chang  Tai.  Mr.  Cho  Tse  was  hijihly 
esteemed  by  the  people  on  account  of  his 
mild,  benelicient  rule,  and  he  was  known, 
also,  as  one  endowed,  in  a  liberal  measure, 
with  the  combined  gifts  of  the  poet  and 
the  artist.  These  talents  his  son  has 
inherited.  After  his  father's  death  in  1877, 
Mr.  Hoo  Erh  Mai,  or  Mr.  Hoo  Chi  as  he 
is  now  sometimes  called,  came  to  Shanghai, 
and  for  three  years  was  engaged  in 
secretarial  work.  He  then  became  com- 
pradore to  Messrs.  Telge  &  Schroetcr,  and, 
subsequently,  to  Messrs.  Mandl  &  Co.,  in 
whose  employment  he  remained  for  twenty- 
three  years.  When  only  twenty-seven  years 
of  age.  Mr.  Hoo  Krh  Mai  assisted  the  Govern- 
ment to  purchase  warships  and  naval  equip- 
ments for  the  Nanyang  Squadron,  and  for  this 
service  the  late  Marquis  Tso  Chung  Tang 
obtained  for  him  the  oflicial  rank  of 
District  Magistrate.  At  the  age  of  forty 
he  was  promoted,  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  the  late  Marquis  Li  Hung 
Chang,  to  the  rank  of  Taoutai,  in  recogni- 
tion of  his  relief  work  in  Tientsin  and  his 
service  in  the  purchase  of  ammunition. 
Mr.  Hoo  Erh  Mai  now  takes  a  prominent 
part  in  both  the  commercial  and  public 
life  of  Shanghai.  Besides  carrying  out  the 
duties  attacliing  to  his  responsible  position 
as  compradore  to  Messrs.  Melchers  &  Co., 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Native  Municipal 
Council,  the  manager  of  the  Sing  Loong 
Land  Investment  Company,  and  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Shanghai  Chinese  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  the  Commercial  Society,  and 
the  Local  Self-Government  Association. 


MR.  CHUN  BINQ  HIM,  the  compradore  to 
Messrs.  A.  K.  Burkill  &  Sons,  was  born  in 
1864,  at  Macao,  where  his  father,  Mr.  Chun 
Sing  Long,  formerly  carried  on  business  as 
a  provision  merchant.  He  has  been  con- 
nected with  Messrs.  Burkill  &  Sons  for 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  as  he 
entered  their  service  directly  he  left 
school.  Under  the  guidance  of  his 
brother,  who  had  been  in  the  same 
employment  for  some  years  previously,  he 
learnt  the  details  of  the  business  and  was 
subsequently  appointed  book-keeper.  This 
post  he  retained  for  about  five  years,  and 
then,  when  the  old  compradore  died,  he 
and  his  brother  jointly  succeeded  to  the 
vacancy.  Mr.  Chun  Bing  Him,  whose  pri- 
vate residence  is  at  No.  91,  Range  Road,  has 
two  wives  and  a  family  of  ten  children — 
six  daughters  and  four  sons,  His  eldest 
child  is  thirteen  years  of  age  and  is  still  at 
.school. 


MR.  WONQ  HIEN  CHANO,  compradore  to 
the  Chartered  Bank,  has  had  a  long  and 
successful  business  career.  Born  in  Shang- 
hai, and  educated  locally,  he  was  for  a 
number  of  years  employed  in  various  native 
banks.  In  j888  he  became  shroff  to  Messrs. 
E.  D.  Sassoon  &  Co.  and  remained  with 
the  firm  for  six  years,  after  which  he 
carried  out  the  duties  of  compradore  at  the 
National  Bank  of  China  for  three  years. 
In  1897  he  re-entered  the  service  of  Messrs. 
E.  D.  Sassoon  &  Co.,  this  time  as  their 
assistant  compradore.  Altogether  he  was 
with  the  firm  for  some  nineteen  years,  and 
when  he  severed  his  connection  with  them 
in  1907,  in  order  to  take  up  his  present 
appointment,  the  members  of  the  staff  pre- 
sented   him    with    a   gold    watch   as   a   mark 


LEANG    SHING   HEM,   HIS   'WIFE,    SON    (MASTEE   T.    C.   LEANG),   AND   RESIDENCE. 


558     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


of  friendship  and  as  a  token  of  their  appre- 
ciation of  his  loyal  co-operation  in  the 
conduct  of  the  business.  Besides  his  duties 
as  coinpradore,  Mr.  Wong  Hien  Chang 
controls  a  Chinese  bank,  and  has  opened  a 
piece-goods  hong  and  a  silk  hong,  under 
the  title  of  Tien  Zung  &  Co..  in  Honan 
Road,  No.  459c. 

m 

MR.  CHUN  VIK  CHEE,  coinpradore  to 
the  Standard  Oil  Company,  is  a  native  of 
the  village  of  Chak-Yuan,  in  the  district  of 
Hiang,  in  the  province  of  Kwangtung.  He 
was  born  in  1870,  and  was  the  fourth  son  of 
the  late  Mr.  Shu-tang.  His  father  was  a 
scholar  in  his  youth,  and  afterwards,  by  order 
of  His  E.xcellency  Viceroy  Li.  was  ordered 
to  assist  His  late  Excellency  Tong   Kin-sing 


at  length  recommended  his  appointment  to 
the  position  which  he  has  now  held  for 
upwards  of  fourteen  years.  A  man  of  charit- 
able disposition,  he  has  twice  been  honoured 
by  the  Imperial  Government  for  his  donations 
towards  the  relief  of  distress  caused  by  Hoods 
and  famine  in  the  provinces  of  Shuntien  and 
Chihii,  being  made  lirst  a  Sub-Prefect  and 
afterwards  being  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
full  Prefect  with  the  decoration  of  the 
Peacock's  Feather.  He  is  married,  and  by 
his  wife,  surnamed  Wei,  he  has  three  sons 
and  one  daughter. 


MR.  SZE  ZINO  TSAH,  has  been  in  the 
service  of  the  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha  for 
twenty-three  years,  for  the  last  twelve  of 
which   he  has   held   the   responsible   position 


is  attending  a  Chinese  school  at  present, 
but  will  be  sent  later  on  to  England  to 
complete  his  education. 


MR.  LIU  ZAY  CHIN,  compradore  to  the 
firm  of  Messrs.  Davics  &  Thomas,  civil 
engineers,  architects,  land  and  estate  agents, 
was  born  in  Anhwci  in  1878.  When  only 
two  years  of  age  he  was  taken  to  Nanking, 
and  when  eight  years  old  was  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Shanghai.  He  attended  a 
local  native  school  until  he  was  fifteen,  at 
which  age  he  was  sent  to  the  Anglo-Chinese 
College,  No.  18,  Quinsan  Road,  under  Dr. 
A.  P.  Parker.  As  a  member  of  the  World's 
Chinese  Students'  Federation,  he  still  keeps 
himself  in  touch  with  many  of  his  old  school- 


SZE    ZING    TSAH    AND    HIS    SON. 


in  establishing  the  China  Merchants  Steam 
Navigation  Company.  Afterwards  a  memorial 
was  sent  to  the  Throne  asking  that  Mr. 
Shu-tang  be  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  Taoutai, 
and  he  was  given  the  first  "  Expectancy "  in 
the  province  of  Chihii.  Later  Mr.  Shu-tang 
was  appointed  His  Chinese  Majesty's  Consul- 
General  to  the  United  States  of  America,  and 
subsequently  became  Resident  Commissioner 
of  Foreign  Affairs  in  Korea.  For  his  services 
he  was  decorated  with  the  Second  Rank,  and 
with  F"irst  Rank  for  the  three  foregomg 
generations  by  special  decree.  He  died  in 
his  sixty-third  year.  Mr.  Y.  C.  Chun,  after 
studying  Chinese,  entered  upon  a  mercantile 
career,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  came 
to  Shanghai  as  assistant  to  his  father-in-law, 
Mr.  Wei  Mun-fu,  at  that  time  compradore  of 
the  Chartered  Bank.  He  proved  himself  so 
trustworthy  and  reliable  that  his  father-in-law 


of  compradore.  Born  at  Tung  Show,  Mr. 
Sze  received  a  thoroughly  sound  and 
comprehensive  education,  and,  after  an 
efficient  business  training,  was  appointed 
compradore  to  the  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha  in 
Nagasaki.  In  this  capacity  he  served  for 
eleven  years,  and  travelled  extensively,  visiting 
most  of  the  towns  in  Japan  in  which  the 
Company  had  offices.  For  some  consider- 
able time  he  was  actively  engaged  at 
the  headquarters  in  Tokyo.  He  came  to 
Shanghai  twelve  years  ago.  Mr.  Sze.  who 
speaks  Japanese  fluently  and  has  an  excellent 
command  of  English,  enjoys  the  full 
confidence  of  his  employers.  His  capacity 
for  dealing  with  the  intricate  details  of  a 
large  shipping  business  is  undoubted,  and 
his  genial  manner  and  kindly  disposition 
have  won  him  many  friends.  He  is  married 
and  has  one  son,  thirteen  years  of  age,  who 


fellows.  Upon  the  completion  of  his 
education,  in  1897,  he  joined  Messrs. 
Davies  &  Thomas,  and  eight  years  later 
became  compradore.  He  is  married  to  a 
sister  of  Mr.  P.  L.  Chang,  and  resides  at 
No.  91,  Avenue  Road.  His  official  name  is 
Liu   Mow   Yung. 


MR.  T.  S.  YUE,  compradore  to  Messrs. 
Siemssen  &  Co.'s  machinery  and  fire-arm 
department  at  Shanghai,  was  born  in  the 
Settlement,  but  his  ancestral  home  is  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Chekiang.  Mr.  Yue, 
who  is  thirty-live  years  of  age,  is  a  man  of 
substance,  owning  several  large  stores  and 
much  real  estate  in  Shanghai. 


TONG    CHONG   LEONG,    SOME    MEMBERS   OF   HIS   FAMILY,    AND    HIS   RESIDENCE 

TONG   CHOXG    I.EONG, 

and  his  four  sons,  who  are  being  educated  in  America 
land  Germany. 


560     TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


MR.  Y.  K.  ZEA  SIH  VANG,  who  since 
July  1.  1907,  has  held  the  position  of 
cooipradore  to  the  Kusso-Chinese  Bank, 
has  had  upwards  of  thirty  years'  experience 
in  linancial  business.  He  was  born  at 
Dong  -  Ding  -  Shang.  near  Soixhow,  and 
was  educated  at  Shanghai.  At  the  age 
of    fourteen    he    entered    the    Zung     Tuck 


Vang  jxissesscs  in  marked  degree  the 
ability  and  integrity  required  for  the  fulfil- 
ment of  the  many  resixinsible  duties  which 
devolve  upon  the  compradore  of  a  foreign 
bank,  and  it  was  in  recognition  of  these 
qualities  that  in  1907  the  Kusso-Chinese 
Bank  offered  him  the  position.  In  private 
life    Mr.    Zea   Sih   Vang   has   made   a   large 


LIU    ZAY    CHIN,  HIS    BROTHER,    AND   HIS    OFFICE. 

Native   Bank,   in  the  Nanking  Koad,   where  circle   of  friends,   which    includes  foreigners 

he    remained   three    years,   gaining   a    sound  as    well    as    his    fellow    countrymen.      He  is 

knowledge     of     the     principles    of    banking.  married,     and     in     Mr.     T.     Y.     Zea     Zoon 

On    January    29.    1879,    he    began    his    long  Bing,  who  is  in  the  service  of  the  Chartered 


ajnnection  with  the  Chartered  Bank  of 
India.  Australia,  and  China.  He  has  held 
successively  the  positions  of  shroff,  book- 
keeper or  assistant  compradore,  and,  for 
eleven    years,    compradore.       Mr.    Zea    Sih 


Bank,     he     has     a     son     who     promises     to 
follow   worthily   in   his   footsteps. 


THE  LATE  MR.  YEN  CHINQ  CHONG, 

ofticially  known  as  Mr.  Yuh  Cheng  Cluing, 
several  of  whose  children  now  hold  prominent 
positions  in  Shanghai,  has  left  a  record  which 
furnishes  an  encouraging  e.xample  of  wh.it 
may  be  accomplished,  in  the  face  of  seemingly 
overwhelming  odds,  by  a  man  of  ch.iracter 
and  ability.  He  started  upon  his  career  with 
few  advantages,  and  but  poorly  equipped  by 
education  for  the  battle  of  life,  yet  he  succeeded 
ill  placing  the  fortunes  of  his  family  on  a 
film  b.isis.  and  when  he  died  full  of  honour, 
some  nine  years  ago,  he  was  mourned  as 
a  lost  friend  by  hundreds  of  those  whom 
his  generosity  had  helped  on  their  path.  The 
second  son  of  Mr.  Yeh  Tze  Yu,  a  poor  farmer 
of  Ningpo,  Mr.  Yeh  Ching  Chong  was  born 
in  1H40,  at  Chinhai,  in  the  Ningpo  Prefect  of 
the  Chekiang  Province.  He  lost  his  father 
when  he  was  but  six  years  of  age,  and  the 
small  farm,  consisting  of  eight  mow  of  rice 
iields,  situated  in  a  small  village  near  his  home, 
had  to  be  cultivated  by  his  mother,  his  elder 
brother,  and  his  aunts.  At  the  age  of  nine 
he  was  sent  to  school,  but,  after  six  months, 
although  his  mother  earned  a  little  extra 
money  for  his  support  from  spinning  and 
weaving,  he  was  withdrawn  on  account  of 
her  inability  to  pay  the  fees.  He  then  entered 
an  oil  mill  as  an  apprentice,  and  when  eleven 
years  old  was  earning  1,000  copper  cash 
(a  dollar)  and  a  picul  of  fuel  per  annum.  In 
this  employment  he  remained  for  three  years, 
when,  acting  on  the  advice  of  Mr.  Ni,  who 
gave  him  2,000  cash  (two  dollars)  for  travelling 
expenses,  he  came  to  seek  work  in  Shanghai. 
Through  his  patron's  influence  he  obtained 
a  position  in  a  grocery  shop  in  the  French 
Concession,  and  every  day  from  morning  to 
night  in  all  weathers,  for  three  years,  he 
sold  Chinese  and  foreign  goods  to  the  vessels 
anchored  in  the  Whaiigpoo.  In  1862  he 
opened  business  on  his  own  account  in 
Hanbury  Road.  During  the  same  year  he 
removed  to  larger  premises  in  the  Broadway 
on  account  of  rapidly  increasing  custom,  and, 
in  a  comparatively  short  time,  opened  branch 
shops  in  all  the  Treaty  ports  of  China.  He 
organised  and  controlled  the  business  with 
marked  ability,  and  the  nucleus  was  soon 
formed  of  the  large  fortune  which  he  subse- 
quently amassed.  He  established  several  silk 
filatures  and  a  match  factory  in  Shanghai 
and  Hankow,  and  m,ade  every  endeavour 
to  promote  these  industries  in  China.  The 
hard  struggles  ,and  bitter  experiences  of  his 
youth  had  broadened  and  quickened  his 
sympathies,  and  in  the  days  of  his  prosperity 
Mr.  Yeh  Ching  Chong  did  not  forget  those  of 
his  countrymen  who  were  in  less  fortunate 
circumstances.  In  addition  to  many  private 
bequests,  he  accorded  liberal  support  to  a 
number  of  philanthropic  and  educational 
institutions.  He  established  several  public 
schools  and  vaccination  departments  in  his 
native  place,  and  contributed  Tls.  30.000 
towards  the  cost  of  constructing  and  main- 
taining the  Ningpo  Cemetery  at  Shanghai. 
At  the  wish  of  his  mother  he  reserved  400 
mow  of  land  for  his  ancestral  temple.  He 
gave  20  mow^  of  land  in  the  nortlieiii  part  of 
the  International  Setllemeiit  as  a  site  for  the 
Ching  Chong  Primary  School,  and  afterwards 
furnished  more  than  Tls.  100,000  towards  the 
upkeep  of  the  institution.  He  spent  Tls.  20,000 
in  building  the  Huei  Teh  Tang  lor  the  widows 
and  children  of  those  who  had  been  in 
his  employment,  and  distributed  rice  and 
clothes  among  the  poor  each  winter.  For 
these  and  many  other  acts  of  a  like  nature 
he  received  the  royal  thanks  inscribed  upon 
a  tablet  by  Emperor  Kwangsu,  and  obtained, 
also,  by  special  Imperial  Decree,  the  highest 
praise  for  his  relief  work  during  the  famine 


woo    CHAU    CHIN,    HIS    SON,    DAUaHTEB-IN-LAW,    GRANDCHILDREN,    AND    RESIDENCE. 


562     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


in  the  Fengtien  Province  of  Manchuria.  In 
his  latter  yeirs  Mr.  Yell  Ching  Chong  was 
made  an  E.xpectant  Taoutai.  and  held  the 
second  brevet  rank  till  his  death.  He  left  a 
handsome  sum  of  ntoney  to  his  widow  and 
seven  sons. 


MB.  VUE  KO  MINO,  who  is  a  member  of 
the  Chinese  Municipal  Council,  has  held  the 
position  of  compradore  to  Messrs.  Buchheister 
&  Co.  for  the  past  fifteen  years.  He  was 
bom  at  Soochow  in  1869,  and  was  educated 
at  Tung  Wen  College.  He  came  to  Shanghai 
at    the   age    of    twenty,  and,    previously    to 


Kor  is  a  member  of  the  Chinese  Chainber 
of  Commerce  and  of  the  Shanghai  Piece 
Goods  Guild.  He  has  three  sons  and  two 
daughters. 


PROF.  LEE  TUNQ  HWEE.  B.A.,  founder 
and  president  of  the  World  Chinese  Students' 
Federation  and  managing  editor  of  the 
IVoild  Chinese  Stiiiieitts'  Journal,  was  born  in 
Batavia,  Java.  The  son  of  a  wealthy  Chinese 
merchant,  he  received  all  the  educational 
advantages  which  money  could  provide,  first 
at  the  Anglo-Chinese  College,  Singapore,  and 
afterwards  at  the  Ohio  Weslevan  Universitv 


educationalists  in  the  movement,  with  the 
result  that  the  society  was  formallv  and 
tiniily  established.  The  object  of  the  organ- 
isation is  to  help  in  the  advancement  of  the 
Chinese  Empire  by  the  introduction  of  a 
common  language,  the  promotion  of  unity 
among  Chinese  students,  and  the  diffusion 
of  Western  knowledge  by  the  translation  of 
Western  books  into  Chinese.  The  federation 
now  numbers  about  five  hundred  members, 
and  has  branches  at  Penang,  Foochow,  and 
Honolulu.  It  is  hoped  that  ultimately  it  may 
become  aftiliated  with  all  the  student  associa- 
tions of  the  world.  Since  his  arrival  in 
Shanghai.  Mr.  Lee  Tung  Hwee  has  helped 
to  organise  and  develop  the  Modern   Chinese 


TAO    MAI   SEN,    COMPRADORE    AT    HIS    BRITANNIC    MAJESTY'S    CONSULATE,    AND    HIS    FAMILY. 
I.    Miss  Zvs  Pao  Tao.  'i.    Zlxg  Tse  Tao.  i-    Miss  Kan  Pao  Tao. 

4.    Mrs.  Tao  Ciuh  Chih.  5.    Tao  Mai  Sex.  6.    Mrs.  Tao  Mai  Sen.  7.    Tao  Chih  Chih. 

8.    Tao  Chew  Ji.\g.  9.    Miss  Sing  Pao  Tao. 


accepting  his  present  appointment,  was  for 
four  years  an  interpreter  in  the  cotton  cloth 
mills. 

m 

MR.  SZE  TSAY  KOR,  the  compradore  of 
Messrs.  Richard  Haworth  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  was 
bom  at  Ningpo  in  1863.  At  the  age  of 
thirteen  he  came  to  Shanghai,  and,  after 
serving  for  four  years  in  a  Chinese  bank, 
entered  the  piece-goods  business  which  he 
still  carries  on.  In  1884  he  became  assistant 
compradore  to  Messrs.  Holliday.  Wise  &  Co.. 
and  remained  with  them  until  he  secured 
his  present  position  in   1903.     Mr.  Sze  Tsay 


and  at  Vale  University,  where  he  graduated 
with  honours  in  1897.  During  the  last  year 
of  his  university  career  the  reform  move- 
ment in  China  was  inaugurated,  and  ended 
with  the  flight  of  Kang  Yu  Wei  and  the 
persecution  of  his  followers.  The  news  of 
the  coup  d'etat  in  Peking  created  a  deep 
impression  upon  Mr.  I..ee  Tung  Hwee's  mind, 
and  he  resolved  henceforward  to  devote  his 
life  to  the  service  of  his  fellow  countrymen. 
His  first  attempt  at  organisation  was  the 
establishment  of  the  Philo-mathean  Society 
in  Penang.  He  matured  his  scheme  for  the 
World  Chinese  Students'  Federation  in  ii>04, 
and.  arriving  in  Shanghai  the  following  year, 
he    interested    many    eminent    scholars     and 


College,  of  which  he  is  now  Principal  and 
Chief  Professor.  Recently  he  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  Yu  Chuan  Pu  (Board  of 
Ports  and  Communications),  Peking,  and  he 
is  also  Honorary  Adviser  to  the  Commissioner 
of  Education  in  Soochow. 


m 


MR.    TAO    MAI     SEN,    who    has    been    the 

compradore  at  His  Britannic  Majesty's  Con- 
sulate, Shanghai,  fcir  more  than  twenty  years, 
is  a  son  of  a  former  Chief-Writer  in  the  Con- 
sulate. Althougli  practically  the  whole  of  his 
life  has  been  spent  in  the  Government  service, 


WAI    LUK    CHUNK,    HIS    FATHEK    (WAI    LOO    CHIP),    AND    HIS   RESIDENCE. 


564     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


for  he  is  only  forty-two  years  of  age  now. 
he  has  nevertheless  found  time  to  interest 
himself  in  many  commercial  and  industrial 
enterprises.  He  founded  the  Chinese  news- 
paper Sze  Su  Ptio,  established  a  silk  spinning 
mill,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  pro- 
motion of  the  King  Zung  Weaving  Company. 


by  profession,  but  assists,  also,  in  the  work 
at  the  Consulate,  and  is  employed  by  the 
Vacuum  Oil  Company.  He  is  a  corporal 
in  the  Chinese  Company  of  the  Shanghai 
Volunteer  Corps.  The  second  son,  Tao  Zung 
Chih,  is  a  student  of  St.  John's  University. 


CHUN  NEA  CHING  AND  SONS. 


long,  and.  during  tlic  course  of  the  next 
year  he  established  the  chop  of  "  Tung  Wo 
Kung,"  which  has  now  a  brancli  at  Tientsin, 
and  carries  on  an  extensive  shipping  and  piece- 
goods  trade.  Mr.  Chun  Nea  Cliing  is  vice- 
chairman  of  the  Nanking  Guild,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  Shanghai  Shipping  Guild 
from  1891  to  IQ06.  During  tlie  period  of 
famine,  two  years  ago.  he  not  only  gave 
generously  from  his  own  private  purse,  but 
interested  himself  actively  with  Mr.  C. 
Montague  Ede  in  the  collection  of  large 
sinns  of  money  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers. 
His  trading  ventures  have  prospered  exceed- 
ingly, and  he  is  now  a  man  of  considerable 
inrtuence,  possessing  large  properties  both 
in  Shanghai  and  Nanking. 


m 


MR.  KWAN  CHEPINQ,  compradore  to 
Messrs.  Meyer  &  Co..  in  Shanghai,  has  had 
an  interesting  career.  His  father,  the  late 
Kwan  Tsit  Tong,  was  a  scholar  of  some 
standing.  He  had  been  educated  by  the 
London  Mission,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
Chinese  appointed  to  teach  English  in  the 
Government  School  at  Hongkong.  Mr. 
Kwan  Cheping  was  born  in  that  Colony  in 
1872.  and  was  educated  at  Queen's  College. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  joined  the 
Chinese  Mining  and  Engineering  Company 
at  Tongshan.  and,  after  working  at  the 
mines  for  two  years,  was  transferred  to  the 
shipping  department  at  Tientsin,  where  he 
remained  for  ten  years.  At  the  end  of  this 
term  he  obtained  permission  ia  visit  Hong- 
kong, but  as,  in  the  meantime  the  Boxer 
troubles  broke  out,  Mr.  Kwan  Cheping  came 
to  Shanghai,  instead  of  returning  to  Tientsin, 
and  subsequently  proceeded  to  Port  Arthur, 
where  he  was  employed  as  assistant  com- 
pradore by  the  Russo-Chinese  Bank.  He 
was  forced  to  leave  Port  Arthur,  however, 
after  three  years  in  consequence  of  the 
outbreak  of  the  Russo-Japanese  'War,  and 
he  then  came  to  Shanghai  and  accepted 
his  present  post  with  Messrs.  Meyer  &  Co. 
Mr.  Kwan  Cheping,  who  is  married  and  has 
two  sons  and  one  daughter,  is  the  owner  of 
property  in  Hongkong. 


MR.  WONa  FOK  CHINQ,  the  compradore 
to  Messrs.  H.  M.  H.  Nemazee  &  Co.,  was 
born  at  Shanghai  in  1859.  He  started  his 
business  career  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years 
as  a  clerk  in  a  Chinese  bank,  but  it  was 
not  long  before  he  resigned  this  position 
in  order  to  join  the  tea  hong  of  Sum  Shun 
Hung.  For  five  years  he  carried  out  the 
duties  of  a  general  office  assistant,  and 
then,  having  gained  sufficient  experience, 
he  acted  as  a  tea-broker  on  behalf  of  the 
firm,  in  whose  employment  he  remained 
altogether  for  fifteen  years.  Subsequently  he 
commenced  trading  on  his  own  account  as 
a  tea-broker,  but,  in  1898,  he  was  offered 
and  accepted  the  position  which  he  holds 
with  Nema/ee  &  Co.  at  the  present 
day.  Mr.  Wong  Fok  Ching  is  a  married 
man   with   two   sons   and   a   daughter. 


These  undertakings  having  proved  successful, 
he  is  at  the  present  day  a  wealthy  man.  and 
the  owner  of  considerable  property  both  in 
and  around  Shanghai,  and  at  Woosung. 
Mr.  Tao  Mai  Sen  has  two  sons,  three 
daughters,  and  two  grandchildren.  His 
elder  son,   Dr.  Tao  Chih  Chih,  is  a  dentist 


MR.  CHUN  NEA  CHINQ,  vice-chairman 
of  the  Shanghai  Shipping  Guild,  is  a  son  of 
the  late  Mr.  Chun  Shu  Chang,  of  Nanking. 
Born  in  1867,  at  Shanghai,  he  received  a 
sound  education,  and  in  1884  entered  a  river 
shipping  firm.  Ambition,  however,  would 
not   permit   him   to   remain    in   this    position 


MR.  YD  PINO  UR,  chairman  of  the 
Shanghai  Piece  Goods  Guild  and  part 
proprietor  of  the  firm  Ping  Ur  &  Co., 
was  born  at  Shanghai  in  1853,  and  educated 
at   the  Chinese  Government  School.      At  the 


THE    LATE    YEH    CHING    CHONG,    HIS    SON    (T.    U.    YIHl,    AND    GROUP    OF    STUDENTS    OF    THE    OHING    CHONG 

PRIMARY    SCHOOL    FOUNDED    BY    HIM. 


566     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


age  of  fifteen  he  was  apprenticed  for  one 
ytat  to  a  Chinese  piece-goods  hong,  hut 
for  the  following  three  years  acted  as  an 
assistant  in  a  Shipping  Otfice.  This  position 
he  resigned  in  order  to  join  Messrs.  Na 
Kee,  by  whom  he  was  admitted  to  partner- 
ship, but  four  years  later  the  business 
failed.  Mr.  Yu  Ping  Vr  then  worked  on 
commission  for  Messrs.  Seong  Cheng  & 
Co..  until  offered  the  position  of  com- 
pradore  to  Messrs.  Holliday,  Wise  &  Co. 
He  remained  in  the  service  of  this  firm  for 
eighteen  years,  with  the  exception  of  a 
two-years'  rest,  rendered  necessary  by  ill- 
health.  In  1897,  in  conjunction  with 
several  other  prominent  Chinese  business 
men.  he  established  the  firm  of  •'  Ping 
Ur."  which  has  its  headquarters  at  Nos.  20 
and  21,  Nanking  Road,  and,  having  purchased 
some  shares  in  the  Laou  Kung  Mow 
Cotton  Mill  in  1902.  he  has,  since  that 
time,    actively    interested    himself   in    buying 


the  sons  are  Maipah,  Maihsicn.  Mailan,  and 
Maishien.  Mr.  Sun  Ting  Huan  has  pur- 
chased the  official  rank  of  Expectant  Sub- 
Prefect  of  the  Kiangsu  Province. 


m 


MR.  CHU  YU  CHEE,  who  is  a  native  of 
the  little  village  of  Paksan-ling.  near  M.icao, 
came  to  Shanghai  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen 
to  join  his  uncle,  who  was  conipradore  to 
the  old  English  firm  of  Dent  &  Co.  He 
subsequently  accompanied  Mr.  Webb,  a 
partner  of  the  firm,  up  the  Yangtsze  to  assist 
in  opening  agencies  in  the  Treaty  ports,  and 
on  their  return  they  visited  Chefoo.  New- 
chwang,  and  Tientsin,  at  which  ports  they 
also  established  agencies.  After  performing 
similar  work  at  Nagasaki  Mr.  Chu  Yu  Chee 
and  Mr.  Webb  went  to  Hongkong,  where 
they  purchased  the  steamer  Governor  General 


PON   KUCE    HIEN,    COMPRADORE    TO    THE    SHANGHAI    MUNICIPALITY. 

AND    HIS    SONS. 


and  selling  cotton  and  cotton  yarn  on  its 
t)ehalf.  Besides  being  chairman  of  the 
the  Shanghai  Piece  Goods  Guild,  Mr.  Yu 
Ping  I'r  is  a  member  of  the  Chinese 
Chamber  of  Commerce  and  of  the  Chinese 
Municipal   Council. 

MR.  SUN  TING  HUAN-or  Mr.  Sun  Tsung 
Feng,  as  he  is  sometimes  called — is  the  son 
of  a  former  tea-merchant  in  Shanghai,  named 
Manhuai,  and  was  born  at  Yu  Yao  Hsien. 
in  the  Chekiang  Province,  in  1854  Before 
accepting  his  present  position  as  Chinese 
manager  to  the  Shanghai  Land  Investment 
Company,  he  was  for  nineteen  years  manager 
for  Hsing  Mo  &  Co.  He  has  also  been  a  native 
banker,  and  at  the  present  day  owns  a  pawn- 
shop in  Shao-hsing  and  many  valuable 
properties  of  different  kinds  in  Shanghai. 
His  wife's  name  is  Yii  S/.e,  and  he  has 
four  sons  and  five  daughters.    The  names  of 


with  which  to  trade  up  the  Yangtsze.  Before 
Mr.  Webb  retired  from  business  he  recom- 
mended his  employe  to  purchase  all  the 
land  he  could  in  Shanghai,  and,  acting  on 
the  suggestion,  Mr.  Chu  Yu  Chee  acquired 
three  thousand  mow  of  land  in  and  near 
the  Settlements,  and  erected  three  thousand 
houses,  his  income  from  which  amounted  to 
Tls.  620  a  day.  In  1873,  Mr.  Chu  Yu  Chee, 
in  conjunction  with  other  Chinese  gentlemen, 
founded  the  China  Merchants  Steam  Navi- 
gation Company,  and  at  the  same  time  took 
up  large  holdings  in  various  stock,  but,  owing 
to  the  PVench  war  with  China,  property  fell 
so  much  in  value  and  the  shrinkage  of  Invest- 
ments became  so  serious  that  he  was  obliged 
to  part  with  the  larger  portion  of  his  property. 
When  peace  was  restored  after  the  Boxer 
troubles  in  Tientsin,  in  1901,  Mr.  Chu  Yu  Chee 
established  the  Tientsin  Land  Investment 
Company,  and  was  able  in  some  measure  to 
retrieve  his  position.  During  a  long  and 
active  career  he  has  interested  himself   in  a 


variety  of  commercial  and  industrial  enter- 
prises. He  took  part  in  the  promotion  of  the 
Chinese  Mining  and  Engineering  Company, 
and  has  supervised  mining  operations  in 
Kweichi,  Tienhua,  Nanpiao,  and  Shaiihaikwan. 
He  established  the  Tung-Wen  Lithographic 
Works,  and.  under  instructions  from  the 
Empress  -  Dowager  and  the  Emperor  of 
China,  undertook  the  printing  of  the  Chinese 
Government  Encyclopiedia,  consisting  of 
over  three  thousand  volumes.  Entering  the 
Government  service,  he  has  been  succes- 
sively Director  of  the  Robber  Suppressing 
Office,  the  Opium  Tax  Collectorate.  tlie 
Bureau  of  Foreign  Affairs,  the  Grand  Canal 
Transportation,  the  Relief  Work  Oftice,  and 
the  Chinese  Students'  Office.  Through  his 
initiative  m.any  guilds  and  charitable  halls 
have  been  established.  Not  only  has  he  con- 
tributed largely  from  his  own  purse  towards 
the  m.iintenance  of  many  philanthropic  insti- 
tutions, but  during  the  great  famine  in 
Tongshan  in  1895  'le  collected  $300,000  for 
relief  work,  and,  by  the  careful  distribution 
of  this  sum  among  the  sufferers,  was  largely 
instrumental  in  preventing  a  threatened  out- 
break of  robbery  and  violence.  The  portrait 
of  Mr.  Chu  Yu  Chee  reproduced  in  this 
volume  was  painted  when  he  was  forty  years 
of  age.  He  is  now  seventy-two,  and.  having 
retired  from  business,  is  living  quietly  at  his 
delightful  house  in  Bubbling  Well  Ko.id  with 
his  children  and  grandchildren,  several  of 
whom  have  been  educated  at  Oxford  and  at 
American  Universities. 


m 


MR.  CHU  SOK  PIN,  the  son  of  Mr.  Chu  Yu 

Chee,  was  born  at  Shanghai  in  1872.  and 
was  educated  at  St.  Francis  Xavier  School. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  joined  his  father, 
who  was  in  charge  of  the  China  Merchants' 
mines  both  in  the  south  and  north  of  China. 
Mr.  Chu  Sok  Pin  remained  in  the  south 
some  time,  but  subsequently  took  charge  of 
30,000  men  working  in  the  gold,  silver,  and 
coal  mines  on  the  northern  side  of  the 
Gre.at  Wall.  In  spite  of  hardships,  due  to 
the  scarcity  and  bad  quality  of  the  food 
obtainable,  he  remained  at  the  post  for 
seven  years.  Afterwards  he  assumed  control 
of  his  father's  building  operations  in 
Tientsin,  but  at  the  commencement  of  the 
Boxer  riots  he  returned  to  Shanghai,  and 
became  compradorc  to  a  German  firm 
engaged  in  shipping,  import,  and  export 
business.  Owing  to  the  great  business 
depression  that  prevailed,  this  firm  sustained 
heavy  losses,  and  he  suffered  to  the  extent 
of  $500,000.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
present  year  he  accepted  the  position  of 
compradore  to  the  Hamburg-Amerika  Linie. 
Mr.  Chu  Sok  Pin  has  four  sons  and  three 
daughters. 


* 


MR.  LEE  Sin  GNAN,  tlic  manager  of 
Messrs.  Nan  Shing  Tah  &  Co.,  originally 
intended  to  enter  the  Government  service, 
and  had  already  passed  the  Imperial  Chinese 
e.xamin.itions  for  the  degrees  of  B.A.  and  M.A., 
called  in  Chinese  "  Kewyen,"  when  he  changed 
his  mind,  and  decided  to  adopt  a  business 
career.  Having  once  come  to  this  decision, 
he  entered  whole-heartedly  Into  the  task  of 
equipping  himself  for  the  new  sphere,  and, 
in  order  to  gain  as  wide  an  experience  as 
possible  of  business  methods,  he  visited 
Sing.apore,  the  Malay  States,  Saigon,  Japan, 
and  the  Treaty  ports  of  China.  At  the  com- 
pletion   (if   this   tour    he    entered    his    father's 


THE    SINZA   ROAD    RESIDENCE    OF    K.    T.    CHANG. 


568     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


business,  the  Xaii  Sih  Xgaii.  which  had  hecii 
established  some  thirty  years  previously.  The 
c<.>nipany  which  he  now  controls  has  its  head- 
quarters at  55.  the  French  Kund.  Mr.  Lee 
Sih  Cnan,  who  is  only  thirly-eifjht  years  of 
age.  holds  the  rank  of  an  Exix-clant  Taoutai, 
and  is  the  owner  of  a  considerable  amount  of 
property  both  at  Swatow,  his  birthplace,  and 
at  Shanghai.  He  has  three  sons  and  live 
daughters. 

MR.   H.   B.   KINGMAN,    D.D.S.,   M.A.,   was 

bom  at  Hongkong,  and  was  educated  at 
Queen's  College  in  that  Colony,  and  at 
Philadelphia  University,  where  he  took  his 
degree  as  Doctor  of  Dental  Science  (first 
class   honours)  in   1905,  being   the  youngest 


the  Chinese  Board  of  Education  to  establish 
a  college  of  oral  surgery  and  dentistry  in 
Shanghai. 


MR.  PON  KUCK  HIEN  and  his  father. 
Mr.  Pon  Yue  Ming,  have  between  them 
held  the  position  of  compradore  to  the 
Shanghai  Municipal  Council  for  practically 
the  whole  period  of  the  Council's  existence. 
Mr.  Pon  Yue  Ming  liad  a  record  of  twenty- 
six  years'  service,  and  upon  his  death  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  son,  who  had  for  some  time 
previously  been  acting  as  his  assistant. 
Mr.  Pon  Kuck  Hien  was  born  at  Canton  in 
1868.  and  upon  leaviTig  school  was  appointed 
a  Chinese  examiner.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
five   he  entered   the   office   of  tlie  Taoutai  of 


VICTOR    L.    YANG 

(Second  Son). 


YANG    HAI    TSAR    AND    FAMILY. 


member  Of  his  class  to  pass  the  examination. 
He  travelled  for  some  time  in  Europe, 
and  then  returned  to  the  Far  East.  After 
remaining  for  a  short  period  in  Hongkong 
he  came  to  Shanghai  and  joined  his  brother, 
who  had  been  in  practice  as  a  dental 
surgeon  for  ten  years.  Proceeding  to 
Peking  in  iyo6.  to  enter  for  the  Chinese 
Imperial  Examination  for  students  who  had 
studied  in  foreign  universities.  Mr.  Kingman 
pa.ssed  in  the  highest  grade  although  he  was 
again  the  youngest  of  the  successful  candi- 
dates, and  the  degree  of  M.A.  was  conferred 
upon  him  by  the  Emperor  of  China.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Garretsonian  Society, 
the  British  -  American  Society,  and  the 
Chinese  Country  Club  in  Shanghai.  He  is 
also  managing  director  of  the  Wan  Tak 
Company,  and  has  received  the  sanction  of 


Honan,  but  resigned  at  the  end  of  twelve 
months,  in  order  to  join  his  father.  He  now 
owns  a  considerable  amount  of  property  both 
in  Canton,  where  his  mother  is  still  living, 
and  in  Shanghai.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  of  the 
committees  of  the  Canton  Guild,  the  Nanhai 
Guild,  and  the  Canton  Chinese  Hospital. 
Mr.  Pon  Kuck  Hien  has  four  sons  and  six 
daughters. 

MR.  CHU  HUN  TSAI  is  a  member  of  the 
Ningpo  Guild  and  of  the  Chinese  Municipal 
Council  of  Shanghai,  and  has  a  seat  on  the 
committee  of  the  Commercial  Club.  Among 
other  work  of  a  philanthropic  nature,  he  has 
founded  and  endowed  a  private  school  in  Ning- 


po, his  native  city.  He  commenced  business 
life  in  Shanghai,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  as  an 
operator  in  the  Chinese  Telegraph  Com- 
pany. This  position  did  not  satisfy  him  for 
long,  and  he  returned  to  Xingpo  to  conduct 
the  business  of  the  steamship  Cass,  owned 
by  the  Formosa  Steam  Navigation  Company. 
He  was  then  engaged  for  a  while  in  the 
timber  trade  at  Hankow,  and  afterwards  on 
railway  work  ni  Tientsin.  Eventually,  after 
serving  for  five  years  as  assistant  com- 
pradore and  accountant  to  Messrs.  Telge  & 
Co..  Shanghai,  he  became  assistant  Govern- 
ment business  compradore  to  Messrs.  Mandl 
&  Co.,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
appointed  to  his  present  position  as  general 
compradore   to  Messrs.  H.  M.  Schultz  &  Co. 


* 


MR.  YUNG  SOY  HSUNG,  the  second  son 
of  the  late  Mr.  Yung  Chi-ping,  who  died 
in  190S  at  the  age  of  71  years,  has  pro- 
moted, and  is  still  a  director  of  many 
flourishing  companies  in  and  around  Shang- 
hai. Born  at  Wusieh  in  1872,  he  was 
educated  privately,  and  at  the  age  of  16 
joined  his  father  in  the  firm  of  cotton 
dealers  known  as  Yung  Jfwong  Tai, 
which  was  founded  by  his  grandfather  more 
than  a  century  ago.  Subsequently  he 
became  the  Cliinese  agent  lor  the  Inter- 
national Cotton  Mill  for  five  years.  He 
resigned  this  position  in  order  to  start  the 
Shanghai  Chen  Wha  Cotton  Mill,  which 
was  afterwards  acquired  by  a  company, 
Of  which  Mr.  Yung  is  a  director.  In  1902 
he  established  the  Wu  Sieh  Mow  Sing  Flour 
Mill  ;  three  years  later  he  founded  the 
Wu  Sieh  Mow  Sing  Kice  Cleaning  Com- 
pany, and  last  year  he  promoted  the  Sing 
Yek  Fire  Insurance  Company.  Mr.  Yung 
Soy  Hsung,  who  is  a  generous  supporter 
of  charitable  institutions,  established  a  school 
at  Wu  Sieh  four  years  ago,  and  still  maintains 
it  at  his  own  expense. 


MR.  SIA  TZE  NAN,  the  proprietor  of  the 
well-known  silk  shop  "Sun  Yuen,"  has 
carried  on  a  large  retail  trade  in  Shanghai 
for  many  years  past,  and  holds  a  high 
reputation  among  the  increasing  number  of 
foreigners  who  visit  his  store.  He  is  the 
owner  of  a  pawn  shop  in  Soochow,  and  so 
well  have  his  various  businesses  prospered 
that  he  now  owns  considerable  property 
in  the  Settlement,  and  is,  comparatively 
speaking,  a  wealthy  man.  A  native  of 
Wuchenghsien,  in  the  province  of  Chekiang, 
he  was  born  in  1842.  His  mother,  who  is 
86  years  of  age,  seems  as  hale  and  hearty 
as  ever.  Mr.  Sia  Tze  Nan  has  four  sons  and 
three  daughters,  and  four  grandsons  and 
four  grand-daughters.  Three  of  his  sons  — 
Laii  Sung,  Sze  Ding,  and  T/.i  Sung — are 
in  business  in  Shanghai  ;  while  the  youngest, 
Wai  Ching,  is  studying  mechanical  engineer- 
ing in  England.  Mr.  Sia  Tze  Nan's  eldest 
grandson.  Zing  Tsoo,  is  a  student  at  St.  John's 
University,  Shanghai,  and  the  others  Lan 
Dong,  Wen  Pao  and  Sung  Pao  -are  being 
educated  at  home. 


MR.  Z.  SONG  CHING,  who  is  a  native  of 
Wuchow,  obtained  his  commercial  training 
in  the  silk  trade.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  came  to  Shanghai,  and  for  five  years 
was  an  assistant  to   Mr.   W.   E.  Hunt,   a   silk 


CHU    SOK   PIN,    COMPRADORE    OF    THE    HAMBURG-AMERIKA    LINIE,    AND    AN    INTERESTING    ACCOUNT    OF   HIS   FATHER'S 

LIFE    IN    THE    CHINESE    LANGUAOE. 

T  T  2 


570     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  (^F  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


inspector.  Subsequently  he  t>ecaine  a  silk 
broker  on  his  own  account,  and  in  i8()8  he 
entered  the  well-known  Paris  house  of 
Olivier  &  Co..  to  whose  Shanghai  branch 
he  is  now  the  chief  compradore. 


MR.  CHANQ  YUE  CHEE,  compradore  to  the 
China-Jax'a  Export  Company,  Shanghai,  is  a 
son  of  Mr.  Chang  Wai  Sang,  compradore  of 
the  Shanghai  Building  Company.  A  native 
of  the  Settlement.  Mr.  Chang  was  educated 
at  St.  John's  College,  and  on  leaving  sch(X)l 
in  igoo  joined  his  father  as  an  assistant.  In 
the  following  year  he  was  appointed  assistant 
compradore.  and  in  11)04  became  compradore 
to  the  China-Java  Export  Company.  He  is 
now  only  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  In 
1902  he  married  Wong  Su  Ching,  the 
daughter  of  a  retired  merchant  formerly  well 
known  in  Shanghai,  and  has  by  her  one 
sur\iving  child,  a  girl.  He  resides  at  30, 
Kue  Voisin.  in  the  French  Concession. 


* 


MR.  YANO  HAI  TSAR,  compradore  to 
Messrs.  Ward.  Probst  &  Co.,  and  to  Messrs. 
Nabollz  &  Co..  is  the  chairman  of  the 
Shanghai  Silk  Guild.  He  is  the  fourth  son 
of  the  late  Mr.  Yang  Say  Say.  of  Wuchow, 
in  which  town  he  was  born  in  1846.  Educated 
in  Shanghai,  Mr.  Yang  was  only  twenty-two 
years  of  age  when  he  took  charge  of  his 
father's  silk  hong,  known  as  the  Yung  Tab 
Zun.  No.  75.  Xingpo  Road,  of  which  he  is 
now  proprietor.  He  also  joined  others  in 
the  establishment  of  several  cotton  mills  and 
silk  filatures,  but  lost  a  lot  of  money  in  this 
way.  and  eventually  decided  to  confine  his 
attention  solely  to  his  silk  business.  In  1892, 
he  became  compradore  to  Messrs.  Naboltz 
&  Co.,  but  four  years  later  resigned  and 
accepted  a  similar  post  with  Messrs.  Ward, 
Probst  &  Co.  In  January,  1908,  however, 
he  was  asked  to  rejoin  the  former  firm,  and 
at  the  present  moment  he  is  acting  as  compra- 
dore to  both  firms.  Mr.  Yang  has  four  sons 
and  two  daughters,  his  sons  being  Yang  Pah 
Tow,  V.  L.  Yang,  Yang  Song  Hung,  and 
Yang  Che  Liang. 

m 

MR.  YOU  SAN  TrNQ,  during  his  twenty 
years'  service  with  the  firm  of  Sing  Chong 
Loong,  has  risen  from  the  position  of  junior 
clerk  to  that  of  a  partner.  The  eldest  son 
of  the  late  Mr.  Yan  King  Young,  of  Kiangsu, 
he  was  born  at  Shanghai  in  1872,  and  entered 
the  employment  of  the  Sing  Chong  I.oong 
Company  in  1887.  In  1902  he  was  appointed 
manager,  and  five  years  later  became  one  of 
the  proprietors.  P'rom  its  headqwirters  in 
Wusieh  Road,  the  Company  carry  on  an 
important  export  and  shipping  business.  Mr. 
You  San  Ting  is  a  well-known  member  of 
the  Shanghai  Shipping  Guild. 

MR.  LEE  PAH  PAO  is  a  well-known 
merchant  in  Shanghai  and  a  prominent 
member  of  the  committee  of  the  Chinese 
Piece  Goods  Guild.  The  fourth  son  of  the 
late  Mr.  Lee  Yu  Ting,  a  merchant  trading  in 
Kiangsu  Province,  he  is  a  native  of  Chanso, 
where  he  received  his  education.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  joined  a  French  piece-goods 
firm,  and  remained  with  them  for  ten  years. 


He  was  then  appointed  manager  of  the  Hoon 
Tah  piece-gixids  hong,  situated  at  5oi>. 
Nanking  Road.  Shanghai,  and  has  now  a 
large  interest  in  the  business.  Mr.  Lee,  who 
is  forty-one  years  of  age,  is  married,  and  has 
one  son. 

m 

MR.  WONG  SAY  CHE,  the  proprietor  of 
the  Chinese  export  hong  known  as  E.  Shun 
Chong.  and  agent  for  the  China  Merchants 
Steam  Navigation  Company  at  Chcfoo,  holds 
the  oflicial  rank  of  Expectant  Taoutai  for  tlie 
province  of  Kiangsu.  His  father,  Mr.  Wong 
Kin  Choong,  who  attained  the  great  age 
of  one  hundred  years,  was  successful  in  liis 
younger  days  in  obtainhig  by  imperial 
examination,  the  highest  degree  in  the 
Empire — that  known  as  Han  Ling.  Mr.  S. 
C.  Wong  was  born  in  1843  at  Wong  Tung 
in  Shantung  Province.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-five  he  came  to  Shanghai  and  joined 
an  American  firm  as  Chinese  salesman.  He 
was  next  with  a  Chinese  shipping  firm  for 
three  years  and  eventually,  about  the  year 
1874.  established  the  firm  of  E.  Shun  Cliong, 
exporters.  He  extended  the  business  gra- 
dually, and  opened  branches  in  Vladivostock, 
Harbin,  Tientsin,  Hankow,  Tsingtau,  Korea, 
and  Japan,  under  the  name  of  I.  Chong 
Shig.  It  was  in  1885  that  Mr.  Wong  was 
appointed  agent  for  the  China  Merchants 
Steam  Navigation  Company.  Ltd.,  at  Che- 
foo.  In  course  of  time  the  rivalry  between 
the  steamers  of  the  China  Steam  Navigation 
Company,  Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire,  and 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  became 
very  keen,  but  through  the  good  offices  of 
Mr.  Emmett,  the  manager  of  Messrs. 
Butterfield  &  Swire's  shipping  department, 
and  Mr.  Wong,  a  combine  was  formed,  and 
the  necessity  for  rate-cutting  was  thus 
removed.  Mr.  Wong  founded  the  Shantung 
Trades'  Guild  in  1901.  and  is  vice-president 
of  the  Shantung  Shipping  Guild.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Shanghai  Chamber  of 
Commerce.  He  owns  extensive  property  in 
Shanghai  and  in  Shantung,  and  is  greatly 
respected  in  those  neighbourhoods,  more 
especially  on  account  of  his  liberality  to- 
wards his  poorer  countrymen.  He  has 
been  married  twice.  He  had  two  children 
— a  son  and  a  daughter — but  as  the  son 
died  when  seventeen  years  of  age  Mr.  Wong 
adopted  one  of  his  nephews,  Mr.  Wong  In 
Lie.  who  is  now  compradore  to  Messrs. 
Butterfield  &  Swire's  steamship  Shiiiitieii.  At 
the  age  of  fifty-four  Mr.  Wong  married  his 
second  wife,  by  whom  he  has  had  three 
sons  and  a  daughter. 

MR.  S.  C.  YIN,  who  is  al,so  known  as  Mr. 
Yin  Sih  Chang,  has  long  been  in  bushiess 
as  a  piece-goods  merchant,  and  has  a  seat 
on  the  committees  of  the  Piece  Goods  and 
Cotton-Yarn  Guilds,  besides  being  a  member 
of  the  Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce.  He 
is  proprietor  of  the  firm  of  Yuen  Sheng  &  Co., 
of  99P,  Nauking  Road,  Shanghai,  which 
he  and  a  few  friends  founded  in  1894,  and 
he  is  also  a  director  of  the  .Shanghai  Cotton 
Mills.  Mr.  Yin  is  a  native  of  Kiading 
district,  and  was  born  in  1865.  He  came  to 
Shanghai  in  1879.  and  joined  the  Za  Sin 
Sheng  piece-goods  hong,  remaining  there 
for  three  years  as  an  apprentice,  and  for  a 
further  twelve  years  as  an  assistant.  He  then 
founded  the  firm  of  which  he  is  now  the  head. 
The  years  1906  7  will  always  be  remembered 
by  Mr.  Yin  as  those  in  which  he  took  a  trip 


round  the  world.  He  travelled  through  India, 
Arabia,  Egypt,  Italy,  Germany,  Austria- 
Hungary.  Holland,  Belgium,  France,  England. 
Scotland,  the  United  States  of  America,  and 
Japan,  visiting  the  principal  cities  in  each 
country.  The  whole  journey  occupied  130 
days.  Mr.  Yin  is  married,  and  has  two  sons 
and  two  daughters. 


MR.  TSANG  SUICHOW,  compradore  to  the 
firm  of  Walter  Scott,  architects  and  civil 
engineers,  was  born  in  Shanghai  in  1863, 
and  was  sent,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  to  the 
Kiangnan  Arsenal  Scliool.  Among  the  studies 
which  he  pursued  was  that  of  mechanical 
engineering  under  the  personal  supervision 
of  Mr.  John  M.  .'illen.  In  October,  1882,  he 
entered  the  employment  of  tlie  late  Mr.  G.  J. 
Morrison,  who  founded  the  firm  now  known 
as  Walter  Scott,  architects  and  civil  engineers. 
For  twelve  years  he  served  as  draughtsman 
and  clerk,  and  was  promoted  to  his  present 
post  as  compradore  in  1894.  Mr.  Tsang  is 
married,  and  has  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 
The  elder  son,  Hanson,  is  now  a  clerk  in 
the  employment  of  the  Shanghai-Nanking 
Railway  Company;  while  the  younger, 
Handing,  who  has  been  educated  at  Bedford 
Grammar  School,  England,  is  engaged  as  a 
translator  by  the  Tientsin-Poukon  Railway 
Company. 


m 


MR.  KG  DESONG,  shipowner  and  com- 
pradore to  Messrs.  Thorensen  &  Co.,  has 
been  connected  with  import  and  export 
business  in  the  Settlement  for  nearly  sixteen 
years.  The  son  of  Mr.  Ko  Cho  Szi,  he 
was  born  in  1877,  and  educated  at  Shang- 
hai. At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was 
apprenticed  to  Messrs.  Ilbert  &  Co.,  and 
in  1897  he  became  compradore  to  Messrs. 
Moller  Bros.  He  received  his  present 
appointment  in  1907.  He  carries  on  a 
good  deal  of  business  on  his  own  account, 
importing  and  exporting  merchandise,  deal- 
ing in  machinery,  arms,  and  ammunition, 
and  buying  and  selling  steamers  of  small 
tonnage.  At  the  present  he  owns  three 
vessels  of  1,019,  1.500,  and  2.400  tons  gross 
register  respectively,  and  with  them  engages 
in  general  shipping.  He  is  also  owner  of 
a  small  cotton  mill  with  3,000  spindles 
known  as  Yik  Kee.  Mr.  Ko  Desong  is 
married,   and   has   four   sons. 


MR.  S.  C.  YGUNG,  vvho  is  also  known 
as  Mr.  Young  Shun  Chee,  is  a  partner  in 
the  firm  of  Messrs.  G.  R.  Groves  & 
Co.,  architects  and  surveyors,  Shanghai.  A 
native  of  Macao,  he  attended  the  Victoria 
School  at  Hongkong  for  a  time,  but  at  the 
age  of  eight  he  was  taken  by  his  brother 
to  Oniika,  in  the  United  States,  and  was 
at  school  there  for  three  years,  until  failing 
health  necessitated  his  return  to  China. 
After  a  couple  of  years'  rest  he  entered 
the  Shanghai  Public  School,  under  Mr. 
George  Lanning,  and  four  years  later 
passed  two  first  examinations  in  drawing 
and  writmg.  He  joined  a  firm  of  arcliitects 
and  civil  engineers  in  the  Settlement-  the 
firm  being  known  successively  as  Morrison 
&  Grattan,  Morrison,  Grattan  &  Scott, 
Scott  &  Grattan.  and  now  as  Walter  Scott. 
He  remained  with  them  for  upwards  of 
nineteen    vears.   until,   early   in    1908.   having 


VIEWS    OF    CHANG    YUE    CHEE'S   RESIDENCE    AND    OFFICE. 


572     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


heen  apfKiinled  to  an  olVicial  position  under 
the  Chinese  Govcrnnjcnt.  he  prtKeeded  to 
Nanking,  with  the  rank  of  Prefect.  The 
work  involved  did  not  suit  him,  however, 
and  he  soon  relinquished  the  post.  Re- 
turning   to   Shanghai,    he    entered    the    lirni 


Shanghai,  was  born  at  Nan  Wai  on 
February  13.  1822.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  converts  to  Christianity  made  in 
Shanghai,  embracing  the  faitli  after  a  long 
struggle  with  old  customs  and  prejudices. 
Two    or    three    years    after    his    baptism   he 


8HAO    GIN    TOW,    AND    FAMILY. 


of  Messrs.  G.  R.  Groves  &  Co.,  as  a 
partner,  on  July  1st,  Mr.  Young  has  one 
son  and   one   daughter. 

m 

THE  REV.  WONO  PINO  SAN,  the  first  native 
pastor  of    the  Shanghai    Baptist    Church    in 


became  a  deacon  of  the  Church,  and  seven 
years  later  was  ordained  pastor,  tilling  that 
oflice  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  February, 
1890.  Whilst  deacon  and  pastor  he  gave  his 
services  to  the  Church  voluntarily.  Of  his 
three  sons,  only  one,  Mr.  Wong  Ya  Koh,  is 
alive.     Mr.  David  Wong  is  his  grandson. 


MR.  M.  ZEEN,  or  Mr.  Zeen  Ching  Ling 
as  he  is  sometimes  called,  is  the  compradoic 
to  Messrs.  Moutrie  &  Co.,  and  the  founder 
and  proprietor  of  the  firm  of  Yuen  Sing 
Foong,  which  carries  on  a  general  import 
and  export  business  in  Honan  Road.  He 
was  born  at  Shosing  in  1H63,  and  came  to 
Slaajighai  at  tlie  age  of  twenty-live.  For  the 
hrst  two  years  he  found  employment  as  an 
assistant  storekeeper  to  -4  Chinese  company. 
From  1881  to  1884  he  was  a  ship's  conipra- 
dore  at  Chinkiang,  and  for  the  next  three 
years  he  carried  out  the  duties  of  compradore 
at  one  of  Messrs.  Russell  &  Co.'s  Pootung 
wharves.  This  position  he  resigned  in  order 
to  start  trading  on  his  own  account,  and  in 
iiX>,1.  by  which  time  the  business  had  been 
placed  on  a  lirm  basis  and  no  longer  required 
his  constant  personal  supervision,  he  accepted 
his  present  appointment  with  Messrs.  Moutrie 
&  Co.  Mr.  Zeen  is  a  director  of  the  Com- 
mercial Ha/aar,  the  Tabaqueria  General,  and 
Hope  Bros.  In  1905  he  was  given  a  com- 
mission in  the  Chinese  Physical  Association, 
and  now  holds  the  rank  of  major.  He  is 
married  and  has  four  sons. 


# 


MR.  YEN  CHINQ  SUH,  who  holds  the 
official  appointment  of  Deputy  Rice  Tribute 
Collector  at  the  China  Merchants  Steam 
Navigation  Company's  office,  is  the  second 
son  of  a  former  well-known  official,  Mr.  Yen 
Liung  Shun,  Prefect  of  Foochow.  Though 
born  at  Shanghai  in  the  year  1878,  Mr.  Yen 
was  educated  at  the  Anglo-Chinese  College  at 
Foochow,  and,  being  of  a  literary  turn  of 
mind,  he  was  employed  at  Peking,  after 
completing  his  education,  to  assist  in  com- 
piling a  work  dealing  with  the  lives  of  the 
Emperors.  This  work  was  accomplished  in 
three  years,  and  he  was  then  appointed 
magistrate.  At  the  time  of  the  Boxer  troubles 
Mr.  Yen  was  in  some  danger,  and  was 
obliged  to  llee  from  Peking  to  Shanghai.  He 
returned  to  the  capital,  however,  as  soon 
as  the  rising  had  subsided,  and  eventually, 
through  the  influence  of  the  Viceroy,  received 
his  present  appointment.  He  also  holds  the 
position  of  Chinese  representative  of  the 
Kochien  Transportation  and  Tug-boat  Com- 
pany, for  which  Messrs.  Hopkins,  Dunn  & 
Co.  are  the  local  agents.  Mr.  Yen  is  married 
and  has  oTie  daughter. 


MR.  SHAO  QIN  TOW,  manager  of  the  Ta 
Foong  piece-goods  hong,  in  which  he  is  a 
shareholder,  occupies  a  prominent  position 
among  his  fellow  countrymen  as  a  member 
of  the  Committee  of  the  Piece  Goods  Guild, 
and  of  the  Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
and  is  widely  esteemed  for  his  beneficence. 
He  is  liberal  to  the  poor,  and  is  ever  ready 
with  a  subscription  towards  a  deserving 
charity.  He  has  been  with  the  Ta  Foong 
hong  since  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age, 
succeeding  to  the  management  in  1893,  He 
has  developed  the  busmess  considerably,  and 
has  fully  maintained  the  high  reputation 
which  it  enjoyed  previously.  Like  his  pre- 
decessor, his  services  have  frequently  been 
in  demand  in  settling  difi'erences  between 
native  dealers  and  foreign  importers.  The 
original  manager  of  the  hong,  which  was 
established  in  1865,  was  Mr.  Hue  Cheng 
Yong,  who  earned  an  excellent  name  for  the 
firm.  So  highly  was  he  esteemed  that  even 
his  competitors  in  business  were  unanimous 
in  electing  him  as  chairman  of  the  Shanghai 
Piece  Goods  Guild.     He  retired  in  1893. 


\^Mm^ 


INDUSTRIES. 


THE   EWO  STEAM   SILK   FILATURE. 

By  far  the  most  valuable  of  silk  products 
exported  from  China  is  raw,  white,  steam 
filature  silk.  No  silk  in  the  world  can  equal 
it  in  quality,  brilliancy,  and  that  subtle 
attribute,  known  to  the  trade  as  "  nerve," 
responsible  for  the  rustle  so  sweet  to  the 
feminine  ear.  China's  steam  filature  silk 
realises  a  better  price  than  any  other  in  the 
market  ;  and  of  the  two  chief  kinds  produced 
that  from  Shanghai  is  far  superior  to  that 
from  Canton,  the  former  realising  in  igo6 
an  average  of  Tls.  770  and  the  latter 
Tls.  605-7  per  picul  (133^  lbs.). 

There  are  in  Shanghai  some  thirty  silk 
filatures,  with  a  total  of  about  8,000  bassines, 
and  an  aggregate  output  of  about  11,000  piculs 
a  year.  One  of  the  oldest  of  these  is  Messrs. 
Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.'s  Ewo  Silk 
Filature,  situated  in  the  Chengtu  Koad,  which 
runs  from  Sinza  Road  to  the  Soochow  Creek. 
It  was  established  in  1882,  and  has  now 
500  bassines,  and  yearly  contributes  nearly 
750  piculs  to  the  total  output  for  the  Settle- 
ment. The  Ewo  Silk  Filature's  product 
realises  very  high  prices— among  the  best  in 
the  market — so  great  is  the  care  taken  in 
reeling  it.  The  filature  gives  employment  to 
200  women  for  peeling  and  sorting  cocoons, 
500  for  reeling,  250  for  ■'  brushing,"  and  100 
for  preparing  waste  silk  for  market,  besides 
shroffs,  engineers,  stokers,  and  coolies  to  the 
number  of  about  fifty.  The  manager  is 
Mr.  D.  Beretta,  who  came  to  Shanghai  in 
1889.  His  staff  consists  of  an  assistant 
manager  and  six  European  female  overseers. 

m 

JIN  CHONQ   SILK   FILATURE  COMPANY. 

The  "  gold  crown,"  the  chop  of  the  Jin 
Chong  Silk  Filature  Company,  is  recognised 
as  a  guarantee  of  good  quality.  Silk  bearing 
this  well-known  stamp  was  awarded  first 
prize  at  the  International  Exhibition  in  Milan 
in  1906.  Since  the  proprietors,  Messrs.  Tong 
Shin  Yue  and  Woo  Yuet  Ling,  opened  their 
factory  in  Wuchow  Koad,  they  have  con- 
sistently maintained  a  high  standard  of 
excellence,  with  the  result  that  their  output  is 
now  seven  hundred  piculs  of  silk  a  year,  and 
seventy  men  and  over  a  thousand  women 
are  given  constant  employment.  Mr.  Tong 
Shin  Yue,  who  was  born  in  Kiangsu-Nieshing 
in  1874,  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the 
silk  trade  all   his   life.     After  completing  his 


education  at  Shanghai  he  was  an  assistant 
at  the  Lunwah  Filature  for  four  years.  At 
the  end  of  this  term  he  was  appointed 
Chinese  manager  of  the  Sin  Chong  Filature, 
and,  in  i(;oo,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Woo 
Yuet  Ling,  he  started  his  present  undertaking. 
Mr.  Tong  Shin  Yue  is  a  member  of  the 
Chinese  Volunteer  Club  and  of  the  Silk 
Filature  Guild,  and  is  a  director  of  the  Sin 
Chong  Silk  Filature  Company.  He  has  two 
sons  and  three  daughters. 


THE   EWO   COTTON   SPINNING   AND 
WEAVING   COMPANY,  LTD. 

This  Company  holds  a  highly  important 
place  in  the  industrial  life  of  the  Settlement. 
The  site  upon  which  the  factory  is  situated 
belongs  to  the  Company.  It  comprises  an 
area  of  70  mow,  and  its  present  value,  not 
including  that  portion  of  the  foreshore 
extending  to  Shenkow,  which  the  Company 
is  allowed  to  use  by  the  Conservancy  Board, 
is  Tls.  315,000.  Deducting  this  amount 
from  the'  present  share-capital,  which  was 
reduced  by  one-half  some  three  years  ago, 
in  order  to  place  the  concern  on  a  sound 
commercial  footing,  a  sum  of  Tls.  435,000 
remains  as  the  value  of  the  plant,  buildings, 
and  machinery.  This  represents  Tl.s.  8-67 
per  spindle,  and  is  less  than  half  the  price 
for  which  it  would  be  possible  to  erect  and 
equip  a  similar  mill  to-day. 

The  mill  was  opened  in  May,  1897, 
but.  owing  to  the  engineers'  strike  in 
England,  the  full  complement  of  machinery 
did  not  arrive  till  twelve  months  later. 
There  are  now  50.176  spindles  and  a  cotton- 
ginning  plant  capable  of  supplying  half  this 
number  of  spindles  with  cleaned  cotton. 
The'  machinery  was  supplied  by  Messrs. 
Piatt,  Bros.  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  of  Oldham,  Lan- 
cashire, and  the  engines,  which  can  develop 
1,500  indicated  horse-power,  by  Messrs. 
J.  &  E.  Wood,  of  Bolton,  Lancashire.  The 
four  boilers  each  30  feet  10  inches  by  8 
inches  diameter,  for  generating  steam,  were 
made  by  the  Oldham  Boiler  Works,  and  a 
fuel  economiser  of  560  pipes  were  sent  out 
by  Messrs.  E.  Green  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  of  Halifax, 
Yorkshire.  For  the  prompt  execution  of 
repairs  to  and  renewals  of  the  mill  machinery 
a  mechanic's  shop  has  been  fully  equipped. 
After  working  day  and  night  for  two 
years,  it  was  found  advisable   to   discontinue 


night  work  and,  for  several  years  the 
machinery  has  been  operated  by  one  group  of 
employes  only,  from  6  a.m.  to  7.30  p.m.  In 
order  to  take  advantage  of  profitable  margins, 
however,  work  has  been  continued  through- 
out the  twenty-four  hours  on  three  different 
occasions  for  periods  of  from  twelve  to 
eighteen  months.  It  has  been  the  practice 
to  overhaul  the  whole  of  the  machinery 
every  year,  to  ensure  its  being  kept  in  a 
proper  state  of  efficiency,  and  various 
improvements  conducive  to  the  more 
economical  working  of  the  plant  have  been 
introduced  from  time  to  time.  Altogether 
Tls.  189,381,  paid  out  of  the  working 
account,  have  been  spent  on  renewals, 
repairs,  and  additions  since  the  mill  started. 
The  average  counts  of  yarn  produced  are 
T5j's,  and  the  production,  per  spindle,  is 
8i  oz.  a  day.  The  shareholders  have  so  far 
received  in  dividends  Tls.  28  per  share  of 
Tls.  100. 

The    general    managers    of     the    mill    are 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd. 

LAOU   KUNG   MOW  COTTON   SPINNING   AND 
WEAVING   COMPANY,   LTD. 

This  Company  was  formed  in  1895  and 
registered  in  Hongkong.  Spinning  operations 
were  commenced  in  March  of  the  following 
year.  The  fully  paid-up  capital  amounts  to 
Tls.  800,000,  in  8,000  shares  of  Tls.  100  each. 
The  machinery,  which  was  made  by  Messrs. 
Tweedales  &  Smalley,  of  Castleton,  Man- 
chester, and  consists  of  30,000  ring  spindles, 
has  given  the  greatest  satisfaction  to  the 
proprietors  of  the  mill  ever  since  it  was 
erected.  Fully  eight  hundred  employes  are 
continually  engaged,  under  the  supervision 
of  Mr.  A.  R.  Murphine,  who  has  been 
resident  manager  since  the  mill  started.  The 
general  management  is  in  the  hands  of 
Messrs.  Ilbert  &  Co.,  who  are  assisted  by  a 
board  of  three  directors. 

Although  now  carrying  on  a  flourishing 
trade  this  mill,  in  common  with  others,  has 
had  to  contend  with  numerous  difficulties, 
chiefly  due  to  Chinese  obstruction  and  to 
the  pernicious  custom  of  watering  the  cotton. 
An  improvement  can  only  be  expected  when 
the  authorities  are  made  to  understand  that 
trade  ought  to  be  encouraged  instead  of 
hampered. 


574     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE  JAPAN  COTTON  TRADING  COMPANY. 
LTD. 

The  Nippon  Menkwa  Kabushiki  Kaisha,  or 
the  Japan  Cotton  Trading  Company,  Ltd..  was 
established  in  l8«>j  for  c:irryin)»  on  business 
as  cotton,  yixm.  and  general  commission 
agents.  The  subscribed  capital  amounts  to 
Yen  2,000,000  of  which  Yen  1,250,000  is 
paid  up.  The  reserve  fund  amounts  to 
Yen  770,000.  The  president  of  the  Company 
is  Mr.  Ichitaro  Tanaka.  and  the  directors 
include  Messrs.  Kichibei  Xoda,  Kanshiro 
Suyeyoshi,  Seihichi  Shikata.  and  Mataizo  Kita, 
who  is  the  general  manager.  During  the 
sixteen  years  of  its  existence  the  Company 
has  made  great  strides.  The  headquarters 
are  in  Osaka,  Japan,  and  branches  have  been 


dividend  at  the  rate  of  12  per  cent,  per  annum 
was  declared,  leaving  a  balance  of  Yen  29,515 
to  be  carried  forward. 

THE   ANQLO-CHINESE   COTTON   MANUFAC- 
TURING  COMPANY,    LTD. 

This  Company  has  not  had  a  very  long 
existence,  but  already  it  is  beginning  to  make 
its  inHiience  felt,  and  there  are  prospects  of 
rapid  development  in  the  near  future.  The 
enterprise  was  started  in  December,  1906, 
by  Messrs.  Yih  Zung  Tsah,  Zih  Lih  Kung, 
Chang  Ling  Kwai,  and  Yoong  Soey 
Hsing.  The  mill,  which  is  equipped  with 
engines     and     machinery      purchased     from 


WU   SIEH   CHEN   SING  COTTON   MILL. 

Thk  proprietors  of  the  \Vu  Sich  Chen  Sing 
Cotton  Mill,  which  is  situated  some  78  miles 
from  Shanghai,  claim  that  they  can  manu- 
facture every  day  thirty  bales  of  cotton  yarn, 
or  five  bales  more  than  any  other  mill  in 
China  equipped  with  the  same  number  of 
spindles.  This  superiority  is  attributed  to 
the  fact  that  there  is  no  waste,  and  that 
Tatchow  cotton  only,  which  is  the  best  in 
China,  is  used.  But  whether  this  claim  as 
to  the  quantity  of  the  output  is  justified  or 
not,  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  quality 
of  the  manufactures.  The  "  Stock  Chop " 
yarn  of  this  mill  is  in  great  favour  with  the 
Chinese,  and  is  purchased  as  quickly  as  it 
can    be   placed   upon    the    market.      The   mill 


-i'ysys^z-^siss^^^wc^  t";  -"■■^!3^Vi-^*  '^-'■ 


fySffU-;!^  ■ 


'% 


[Set  page  573.] 


THE  "JINi  CHONG    SILK    FILATURE. 


established  in  Shanghai,  Chinkiang,  Hankow, 
and  Bombay.  There  are  agencies  in  New 
York,  Tokyo,  Yokkaichi,  and  Kobe. 

The  C<jmpany  came  to  Shanghai  some  six 
years  ago.  Its  cotton-ginning  factory  and 
cotton-spinning  mill  contain  some  10,000 
spindles,  and  give  employment  to  a  large 
number  of  hands.  The  firm  also  owns  five 
well-equipped  factories  in  Hankow.  Mr.  K. 
Ogasawara  is  the  manager  for  the  Company  in 
China,  and  the  important  position  which  the 
Company  now  holds  in  Shanghai  is  due  in 
large  measure  to  his  experience  and  energetic 
supervision.  Some  idea  of  the  financial 
stability  of  the  enterprise  may  be  gained  from 
the  balance  sheet  for  the  six  months  ending 
December,  1907.  According  to  this  the  net 
profit  amounted  to  Yen  105,892,  and  after 
placing   Yen  30,000    to    the    reserv.-    fund,   a 


Alex.  Young  &  Co.  and  Howard  Bullough, 
of  London,  contains  11,000  spindles,  and 
the  yarn  produced  is  so  fine  that  some 
experts  declare  it  to  be  second  to  none 
in  Shanghai.  The  •'  chop,"  or  trade-mark, 
of  the  Company — two  dragons- is  now 
well  known  in  many  parts  of  the  world, 
and  is  already  l(X)ked  upon  as  a  guarantee 
of  excellent  quality.  The  price  of  the  yarn 
is  certainly  somewhat  high,  comparatively 
speaking,  but  that  full  value  is  given  is 
proved  by  the  steadily  increasing  number 
of  purchasers.  The  greatest  care  is  always 
taken  by  the  directors  of  the  Company  to 
buy  only  the  best  cotton  fibre —inferior 
grades  are  rigidly  excluded— and,  as  a 
consequence,  the  yarn  compares  favourably 
with  the  well-known  Japanese  varn  "  Blue 
Fish." 


is  equipped  with  the  best  machinery,  and 
contains  10.000  spindles.  It  is  working  night 
and  day,  and  affords  employment  to  some 
1,200  men. 

Mr.  Yung  Tuck  Sing  carries  out  the 
responsible  duties  of  manager,  and  the 
directors  of  the  Company  are  Messrs.  Chang 
IJng  Kwai  (chairman).  Cho  Ching  Too,  Yes 
Sun  Char,  Yung  Chong  Ching,  Sun  Wo  Fu, 
Che  Tsze  Yu,  and  Yung  Soy  Hsung. 


THE    EWO    TIMBER    DEPOT. 

Messks.  Jardink,  Mathkson  S  Co.,  Ltd., 
opened  the  Ewo  timber  depot,  in  conjunction 
with  Millars'  Karri  and  Jarrah  Company,  in 
1905.     .^  mill  was  erected  at  Yangtszepoo,  and 


EWO    COTTON    SPINNING    AND    WEAVING    COMPANY,    LTD. 
The  Ewo  Mills. 

Thk  Rkelixc,  R(io\r. 


[Sec  pnge  573.] 


Thk  Si'ix.vixd  i^o,)M. 


(Seepage  573.J 


The  Carding  Rnou. 
The  Packing  RnoM. 


BWO    COTTON   SPINNING   AND   WEAVING   COMPANY.   LTD. 

The  Esoixes. 

THK  SCtTCHIXO    KOOM. 


LAOU    KUNG    MOW    COTTON    SPINNING    AND    WEAVING    COMPANY,    LTD. 


[Set  page  573.] 


THE  Mill. 
The  Engl\e.s. 


The  Spinning  Room. 
The  Reeling  Room 


578     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


a  x'ard.  with  a  considcrabk-  Irontanc  to  tlic 
Whangpoo,  was  secured  for  the  storage  of 
timber.  An  additional  >-;ird  facing  the 
Whangpoo  was  obtained  some  eighteen 
months  ago.  and  branches,  with  depots  for 
carrying  stocks,  have  been  ojiened  in  Hankow, 
Xewchwang,  Chinkiang,  and  Nanking. 

Jarrah  wood  is  imported  from  West  Aus- 
traha,  teak  from  Bangkok.  Oregon  pine  from 
America,  and  many  other  varieties  from 
other  countries.  The  depot  secured  the 
contract  for  supplying  the  timber  required 
for  the  Shanghai-Nanking  Railway,  and 
another  large  order  was  entrusted  to  them 
by  the  Municipal  Council  for  the  supply 
of  paving  blocks  for  the  roadways.  It  may 
be  mentioned  ihat  the  jarrah  hardwood, 
owing  to  its  durability,  is  especially  suited 
for  railway  sleepers  and  road  paving.  From 
experience  in  different  climates,  the  life  of 
a  jarrah  sleeper  can  be  safely  computed  at 
fifteen  years.  Quite  recently  a  section  of 
the  jarrah  p;iving  in  the  Nanking  Ro;id,  which 
has  been  down  for  the  past  eighteen  months, 
had  to  be  taken  out  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
in  a  tramway  crossing,  and,  when  the  blocks 
were  measured,  the  wear  during  the  eighteen 
months  was  found  to  be  one-sixteenth  of  an 
inch  only.  ^ 

The  following  figures  show  at  a  glance 
how  the  business  has  developed.  In  1905 
the  Company  imported  3.000,000  super 
feet  of  Oregon  pine,  700,000  cubic  feet  of 
jarrah,  and  200  tons  of  teak.  In  1906  their 
imports  increased  to  29,000,000  super  feet  of 
Oregon,  900,000  cubic  feet  of  jarrah,  and 
I. too  tons  of  teak.  In  1907  the  quantities  were 
about  the  same  as  in  the  previous  year.  When 
it  is  remembered  that  during  1906  the  total 
imports  into  China  from  the  North  Pacific 
coast  divided  between  nine  firms,  amounted 
only  to  96,702.552  super  feet,  it  is  evident 
that  Messrs.  Jardine,  Malheson  &  Co.,  Ltd., 
occupy  a  leading  position  in  the  trade. 

In  the  Shanghai  depot  constant  employment 
is  afforded  to  some  200  men.  The  saw-mill  is 
driven  by  an  electric  motor,  the  power  for 
which  is  supplied  by  the  Municipal  Council. 
The  plant  consists  of  several  block-cut!ing 
machines,  re-sawing,  planing,  and  flooring 
machines.  The  offices  were  at  first  in  a 
specially  constructed  "sample"  building  in 
the  Company's  compound.  They  were  re- 
moved to  the  present  building  in  Peking 
Koad  in  1906.  Mr.  P.  V.  Davies,  who  is  in 
charge  of  the  business,  came  to  China  for 
Millars'  Karri  and  Jarrah  in  1904,  and  was 
app»jinted  general  manager  of  the  Ewo 
Timber  Depot  as  soon  as  it  was  started.  For 
ten  years  he  was  working  among  the  timber 
mills  in  Australia,  and  has  been  through  most 
of  the  timber  countries  of  the  world.  During 
his  wanderings  he  has  gathered  together 
a  most  interesting  collection  of  specimen 
timber  that  is  probably  one  of  the  most 
complete  in  existence.  It  comprises  several 
hundred  varieties  of  wood,  and  these  are 
classified  and  arranged  in  his  privale  office. 

# 
F.   L.   KOW   KEE   &   CO. 

SoMK  thirty  years  ago  Mr.  Chang  Tse  Sliang 
and  several  other  Chinese  merchants  decided 
to  take  advantage  of  the  excellent  market 
for  timber  created  by  the  rapid  growth  of  the 
Settlement  and  the  consequent  impetus  in  the 
building  trade.  From  the  small  yard  which 
they  opened  at  Tung-Ka-Doo  a  fine  business 
has  developed.  They  have  now  splendid 
yards  also  at  Poolung  and  on  the  Soochow 
Creek,  the  three  of  them  covering  altogether 
some  190  mow  (32  acres)  of  land,  while  a 
modern  saw-mill,    containing  machinery  for 


planing,  moulding,  and  scantling,  is  Dpcratcd 
on  the  Chinese  Bund.  Practically  every  kind 
of  timber  is  dealt  with  by  the  firm.  Hard- 
woods are  obtained  from  the  Straits  Settle- 
ments, teak  from  Siam,  Java,  India,  and 
Bangkok,  pine  from  Oregon  and  Japan  ;  a 
variety  of  woods  from  Australia  ;  and  the 
well-known  Chinese  poles  from  F(X)chow  and 
Hankow.  The  large  trunks  are  cut  into  stock 
sizes,  and  the  logs  and  planks  are  then  sent 
into  all  parts  of  China.  The  Company  have 
supplied  poles  and  timber  to  the  Chinese 
Imperial  Goveriujient  for  the  erection  of 
telegraphic  lines  and  buildings,  and  have 
carried  out  contracts  for  the  Kiaiigsu  and 
Chekiang  and  other  railways.  The  Shanghai 
and  outport  dt>ck  ct)nipanies  frequently  lay 
these  yards  under  contribution,  and  the 
Municipal  Council  of  Shanghai  obtained  the 
bulk  of  the  timber  for  bunding  the  Whangpoo 
River  and  Soochow  Creek  from  the  same 
source. 

The  head  offices  of  the  Company  are 
situated  close  to  the  French  Waterworks,  and 
there  is  a  branch  ofiice  near  the  North  Thibet 
Road.  Messrs.  Y.  S.  and  Y.  L.  Chang  are 
both  interested  financially  in  the  enterprise, 
but  the  managing  partner  is  Mr.  N.  K. 
Chu,  who  married  the  original  proprietor's 
daughter.  He  represents  the  firm  on  the 
Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and,  in 
addition,  is  compradore  to  the  Ewo  Timber 
Depot. 

CHINA  IMPORT   AND   EXPORT   LUMBER 
COMPANY,    LTD. 

Stakted  in  1884  by  Mr.  H.  Snethlage,  this 
firm  made  but  little  progress  during  the  first 
ten  years  of  its  existence,  but  in  the  early 
nineties  came  the  turning  point  in  its  career, 
and  from  that  time  onwards  its  record  has 
been  one  of  rapid  advance.  The  headquarters 
of  the  Company  in  Yangtszepoo  Road  occupy 
an  area  of  some  173  mow.  and  here  over 
four  hundred  men  are  constantly  employed. 
Modern  machinery  makes  it  possible  to 
execute  orders  of  all  descriptions  with  des- 
patch, and  the  care  that  is  always  taken 
over  every  detail  has  gained  for  the  firm  a 
high  reputation  for  workmanship.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century  the  business 
was  converted  into  a  limited  liability  company, 
with  Messrs.  Snethlage  &  Co.,  who  also  carry 
on  an  extensive  export  and  import  trade,  as 
the  general  managers.  Mr.  Snethlage  died 
in  1905.  and  since  that  time  his  partner,  Mr. 
C.  L.  Seitz,  has  had  the  entire  condiict  of 
affairs.  Some  idea  of  the  extent  and  impor- 
tance of  the  firm's  present  operations  may  be 
obtained  from  a  visit  to  their  saw-mill, 
which  has  a  daily  capacity  of  about  70,000 
feet  of  worked  lumber  and  is  fitted  with 
a  thoroughly  up-to-date  plant.  There  are 
several  large  planing  machines  of  American 
manufacture  and  of  the  style  adopted  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  large  circular  saws  with  shot- 
gun feed,  gang  saws,  and  hand  saws,  besides 
a  dry  kiln  and  huge  storing  and  seasoning 
sheds.  Comparatively  recently  the  Company 
started  a  building  department,  and  the  first 
year's  working  proved  most  satisfactory. 
Wooden  cottages  of  the  most  modern 
American  design,  villa  residences  with  mag- 
nificent interior  ornamental  finish  in  all 
grades  of  cabinet  woods,  and  especially  oak, 
godowns  and  industrial  buildings,  including 
a  cotton  mill  in  the  Yangtsze  valley,  have 
been  designed  and  constructed. 

The  Shanghai  offices  of  Messrs.  Snethlage 
&  Co,  are  at  No.  2,  Jinkee  Road,  Shanghai, 
and  there  are  branches  at  Tsingtau,  Tientsin. 
Newchwang,  Hankow,  Chefoo,  Chinkiang, 
and  Portland,  Oregon. 


THE  LUNQHWA  TANNERY  COMPANY. 

Rec()(;nisin<:  the  existence  of  a  strong  local 
market  for  manufactured  leathers  of  all 
descriptions,  two  enterprising  Chinese  gen- 
tlemen, Messrs.  Vih  Ming  Tsah  and  S.  D. 
Fong,  established  the  Lunghwa  Tannery 
Company  early  in  the  present  year.  They 
acquired  a  piece  of  land  some  17  mow  in 
extent  on  the  far  side  of  the  Soochow 
Creek  at  Jessfield,  and  upon  it  their  factory 
was  erected  under  the  superintendence  of  a 
foreign  expert.  The  proprietors  are  con- 
fident that  they  will  be  able  to  meet  the 
steady  demand  for  leather  amongst  the 
Chinese,  and  they  also  hope  to  secure  large 
orders  from  Japan  ;  and  certainly  the  scale 
upon  which  they  have  commenced  opera- 
tions and  the  thoroughness  with  which  they 
have  equipped  their  factory  seem  to  justify 
their  expectations. 

The  manager,  Mr.  R.  Carter,  who  has 
only  recently  arrived  in  Shanghai,  was 
thoroughly  trained  in  all  branches  of  the 
work  by  his  father,  who  was  manager  for 
many  years  of  one  of  the  largest  firms  in 
England,  and  for  the  past  twenty-two  years 
Mr.  Carter  has  held  responsible  positions  in 
England,  South  Africa,  and  Chiiia. 

THE   KIANQSU  CHEMICAL   WORKS. 

The  Kiangsu  Chemical  Works,  distant  some 
four  or  five  miles  from  the  business  centre 
of  Shanghai,  call  for  notice  because  they  are 
the  only  works  of  their  kind  existing  in  China. 
Their  history  can  be  traced  back  to  the  early 
sixties,  when  two  brothers  by  the  name  of 
Major  started  a  small  gold  and  silver  refinery 
near  the  Stone  Bridge  which  crosses  the 
Soochow  Creek.  In  the  first  instance  they 
made  their  own  acid  in  large  glasses  or  jars. 
These,  however,  soon  gave  place  to  lead 
chambers.  Other  improvements  were  made 
from  time  to  time,  and  the  business  developed 
until,  in  1875  or  thereabouts,  its  dimensions 
justified  its  conversion  into  a  limited  company. 

The  present  works,  situated  on  the  bank 
of  the  creek,  some  distance  above  the  old 
premises,  were  erected  last  year.  The  site 
upon  which  they  stand  consists  of  33  mow 
of  land,  and  there  is  plenty  of  room  for  the 
extension  which  it  is  con.sidered  will  be 
required  in  the  near  future.  The  processes 
employed  by  the  Company  up  till  quite 
recently  in  the  manufacture  of  their  chemicals 
were  recognised  as  being  antiquated  and  un- 
satisfactory, and  were,  therefore,  abandoned. 
Great  care  was  exercised  in  the  selection 
of  a  suitable  plant,  which  was  purchased  in 
Germany  after  tenders  and  specifications  had 
been  received  from  firms  in  all  parts  of 
the  world.  Two  35  horse-power  engines 
drive  the  dynamos,  the  air-compressors,  the 
water-pumps,  and  ventilators.  Special  con- 
densers have  been  installed  for  the  purpose 
of  condensing  the  acid  smoke  from  the 
gold  and  silver  refining  ;  and  the  laboratory, 
where  the  manager  carries  out  experiments 
and  research  work,  is  undoubtedly  as  well 
furnished  with  scientific  apparatus  as  any 
within  the  limits  of  the  Empire.  The  equip- 
ment of  the  works  as  a  whole  cost  no  less 
than  Tls.  230,000. 

The  gold  and  silver  refining  department 
is  divided  into  twelve  refining  houses,  each 
under  the  supervision  of  a  Chinese  manager. 
Sycee  is  converted  into  ingots  for  the  Chinese 
and  foreign  banks,  and,  witli  the  exception, 
of  course,  that  no  coins  are  manufactured, 
the  work  undertaken  is  similar  in  every  way 
to  that  of  the   royal   mints.      In  order  that  the 


THE   JAPAN    COTTON    TRADING    COMPANY,    LTD.  [See  p.ige  574O 

Thk  Chin-  Zt :xg  CoriON  Mill.  Ix  thk  Wha  Shi.v<;  CoTTON-iiiN:,iN-G  Kactorv. 

Thk  Rkelixi;  Koo.m.  Thk  Spinmxg  Koom. 


[See  page  574  ] 


ANOLO-CHINESE    COTTON    MANUFAOTURINO    COMPANY,  LTD. 
Thk  Sfixxing  .»xi>  Reklix(;  Koojis. 

The  Mills.  The  Exuixes. 


WU    SIEH    CHEN    SING    COTTON    MILL. 


[See  page  574.] 
0  U 


[See  page  574.) 


THE    EWO    TIMBER    DEP6T. 

THK  TlMHKK    YAKKS  AMI  SAW-MILLS. 


THE    TIMBER    YARDS    AND    SAW-MILLS    OF    F.    L.    KOW   KEE    &    CO. 


[See  r.-'-ge  578  ] 


o84     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


metal  obtained  from  Shanghai  one  cUiy  may 
be  returned  the  next,  the  retitiinj;  is  always 
done  duriu);  the  night.  Sulphuric  and  nitric 
acids  are  manufactured  by  a  secret  process 
purchased  from  a  German  lirni  on  the  dis- 
tinct understanding  that  no  one  with  the 
exception  of  the  nian.iger  himself  should  be 
given  any  information  regarding  it.  The 
Company  also  niiuiufacture  sulphate  of  iron, 
sulphate  of  copper,  and  distilled  water,  and 
nuke  a  sjieviality  of  battery  acid  for  use  in 
accumulators.  The  works  employ  some  two 
hundred  and  fifty  men. 

The  general  manager  is  Mr.  J.  C.  Shengle. 
B..A..  B.Sc.,  who,  at  the  conclusion  of  his 
studies  at  the  University  of  Fennsylvaiiia. 
was    for    some    eighteen    months    associated 


tunities  which  were  thereby  afforded  for  the 
development  of  electric  light  and  power  in 
China  that  led  the  Siemens  Schuckertwerke 
to  open  their  technical  bureau  in  Sliangliai 
in  1904. 

The  lirm  of  Siemens  &  Halske  which, 
through  its  incorporation  with  Scliuckert  K 
Co.  ill  the  beginning  of  ii;03,  formed  the 
concern  now  known  as  Siemens  Scluickert- 
werke,  had  been  represented  in  China  for 
inany  years  by  Messrs.  H.  Mandl  &  Co. 
But  the  great  demand  for  electrical  appli- 
ances and  for  engineers  to  erect  installations 
rendered  the  establishment  of  permanent 
uflices  here  a  practical  necessity.  Besides 
being  entrusted  with  many  smaller  contracts, 
Siemens    &    Halske    constructed    the    electric 


Municipality,  and  have  erected  a  number  of 
installations  for  the  German  authorities  and 
for  the  mercantile  and  industrial  comnumily 
generally  right  up  to  Tsinanfu.  They  erected 
an  installation  at  the  great  floating  dock,  the 
pumps  of  which  are  driven  by  electricity  ; 
supplied  the. power  for  working  llie  150-ton 
crane  ;  and  carried  out  the  plans  (or  lighting 
and  signalling  at  the  various  fortilications. 
They  installed  electric  light  also  in  the 
Germania  brewery,  the  German  Chinese  silk 
filature  at  Tsangkau,  and  the  glitss  works  at 
Poshan.  They  erected  a  power-station  at 
Tsinanfu  and  were  responsible  for  the  many 
electric  installations  of  tlie  Shantung  Mining 
Company.  With  the  growing  industrial  im- 
portance of   the  Shantung  Province   and    the 


SIEMENS    SCHUCKERTWERKE. 
Thk  N.4T1VE  City  Power-station,  sh.axghai. 


with  Thomas  A.  Edison  as  the  chemist  in 
charge  of  the  famous  inventor's  experimental 
work.  He  was  then  appointed  manager  of 
one  of  the  chemical  departments  of  the 
Mutual  Chemical  Company,  Jersey  City,  and 
subsequently  came  to  China  to  look  after 
certain  mining  interests  on  behalf  of  Mr. 
J.  P.  Mathieu.  of  Philadelphia.  He  has 
occupied  his  present  position  for  the  past 
three  years. 

The  secretaries  of  the  Company  are  Messis. 
A.  R.  Burkill  &  Sons. 


SIEMENS  SCHUCKERTWERKE. 

It  was  the  growing  interest  of  the  Chinese 
in  all   industrial  enterprises  and    the   oppor- 


railway  from  the  suburb  Machaipu.  where 
the  North  Chinese  Railway  terminated,  to  the 
capital,  Peking.  This  railway  was  worked  in 
conjunction  with  an  electric  lighting  plant, 
but  both  were  destroyed  during  the  Boxer 
troubles  and  have  not  been  re-built. 

It  was  originally  intended  by  the  Sietnens 
Schuckertwerke  to  conduct  the  whole  of 
their  operations  in  China  from  Shanghai,  but 
the  extension  of  the  business  and  the  insuf- 
ficient means  for  transport  made  it  necessary 
to  open  sub-offices  at  the  more  important 
centres,  or  (o  station  engineers  of  the  Com- 
pany at  them  permanently.  The  first  sub- 
office  was  established  at  Tsingtau  in  1904, 
and  all  the  orders  from  the  Shantung  Pro- 
vince are  now  dealt  with  here.  The 
Company  have  built  a  power-station  for   the 


opening  of  the  Nanking-Tientsin  Railway,  it 
is  expected  that  the  value  of  the  Tsingtau 
office,  great  as  it  is  at  present,  will  be  largely 
increased  in  the  very  near  future. 

In  1905  the  Tientsin  BaugeselKschaft  placed 
an  order  with  the  Company  for  the  complete 
electric  lighting  of  the  Gerinan  Concession, 
and  an  engineer  was  .stationed  there  to 
superintend  the  carrying  out  of  the  work. 
The  power  was  supplied  by  an  H5  horse- 
power Diesel  motor  and  transmitted  to  a 
dynamo  of  56  kilowatts.  The  current  was 
supplied  in  smaller  quantities  when  required 
by  means  of  an  accumulator  battery.  After 
two  years'  working  it  was  decided  to  ex- 
tend the  installation  by  the  introduction 
of  an  85  horse-power  steam  engine  with 
dynamo,  which  should  be  ready  for  use  this 


CHINA    IMPORT    AND    EXPORT    LUMBER    COMPANY,    LTD. 


Circular  Saws. 


In  thk  Saw-.mh.i.. 
Thk  Saw-mill  Yaru  at  Yaxgtszkpoo. 


[See  page  578.] 


Ba.nd  Saw. 


586     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


year.  Of  the  larger  installations  which  were 
erected  in  this  district,  either  wholly  or 
partly,  by  the  Siemens  Schuckertwerke, 
mention  should  be  made  of  those  for  the 
trains  at  Tientsin  and  for  the  pits  of  the 
Chinese  Engineering  and  Mining  Company 
at  Kaiping  and  Lhiensi.  For  the  tramways 
running  between  the  Foreign  Settlement  and 
the  Chinese  town,  the  rolling  stock,  over- 
head wires,  &c.,  were  supplied  by  the 
Company,  The  whole  of  the  business  for 
the  province  of  Chihli  and  for  the  north  of 
China  generally  is  now  being  carried  on 
from  the  Tientsin  br;inch. 

When  Messrs.  H.  Melchers  &  Co.  gave 
instructions  to  the  Shanghai  office  to  erect  a 
power-station  for  their  new  albumen  factory 
at  Hankow  it  was  decided  to  open  a  branch 
in  that  settlement.  It  was  considered  that  the 
lighting  of  the  comparatively  few  premises 
in  the  German  Concession  could  be  made 
to  pay  if  carried  out  in  conjunction  with 
the  installation  at  Melchers  &  Co.'s  factory. 
This  idea  was  adopted,  and  the  plant  is 
now^  running  successfully.  The  engineer  at 
Hankow  superintends  all  the  work  in  the 
Hupeh  Province  and,  in  addition  to  erecting 
installations,  the  Hankow  branch  does  a  large 
business  in  electrical  machinery  of  all  kinds, 
and  more  especially  motors  for  industrial 
purposes. 

The  main  office  in  Shanghai,  from  which 
the  whole  of  the  organisation  in  China  is 
directed,  has  carried  out  many  large  installa- 
tions, and  is  now  busy  with  a  number  of 
others.  It  was  responsible  for  the  electric 
lighting  in  the  China  F"lour  and  Oil  Mills, 
the  Club  Concordia,  the  offices  of  Messrs. 
Carlowitz  &  Co.,  the  Kiangsi  Mint,  the  Chin- 
kiangpoo  Mint,  and  the  Haichaw  Glass 
Works,  as  well  as  for  the  electric  lifts  in 
the  godowns  of  Messrs.  Slevogt  &  Co., 
Melchers  &  Co.,  and  other  firms.  It  was 
also  entrusted  with  the  erection  of  the  power- 
stations  for  lighting  the  native  cities  at 
Shanghai  and  Soochow. 

Mr.  H.  Meyer,  who  has  been  connected 
with  the  firm  for  the  past  ten  years,  acts  as 
the  general  manager  for  China. 

THE   AQUARIUS   COMPANY. 

The  demand  for  palatable  non-alcoholic 
beverages  at  home  some  years  ago  led 
to  the  establishment  of  numerous  factories 
for  the  manufacture  of  aerated  mineral 
waters,  and,  once  placed  on  the  market, 
these  table-waters  leapt  at  once  into  popu- 
larity, and  are  now  regarded  as  indispensably 
necessary.  In  the  Far  East,  where  the 
water-supply  cannot  always  be  relied  upon, 
the  need  for  table-waters  is  a  vital  one, 
and  as  the  cost  of  the  home-manufactured 
article  was  prohibitive,  several  enterprising 
firms  opened  manufactories  at  some  of 
the  principal  centres.  Among  them  were 
Messrs.  Caldbeck,  Macgregor  &  Co.,  who, 
in  itiy2,  established  the  Aquarius  Company, 
with  the  sign  of  "  the  Man  that  holds 
the  Water-pot "  as  their  trade  mark.  Land 
was  acquired  at  Wayside,  Shanghai,  and 
upon  it  a  factory  was  built  equipped 
with  elaborate  steam  plant,  embodying  all 
the  latest  scientific  improvements  for  dis- 
tilling, aerating,  bottling,  &c.  The  utmost 
cleanliness  is  insisted  upon,  and  every 
drop  of  water  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  the  various  products  is  distilled.  The 
chief  of  these  products  is  that  which  bears 
the  name  of  the  factory,  "  Aquarius,"  a  pure, 
sparkling,  mineral  table  -  water,  delightful 
either  alone  or  in  combination   with   one   of 


the  numerous  good  whiskies  supplied  by 
Messrs.  Caldbeck,  Macgregor  &  Co.  "  Brisk  " 
is  a  pure  aiirated  water,  free  from  all 
minerals  and  salts,  while  "  Silent "  is  a 
distilled  table-water,  re-supplied  with  atmos- 
pheric air  by  a  patent  process,  but  not 
charged  with  gas.  Soda-water,  sarsaparilla, 
lithia-water,  ginger-ale,  ginger-beer,  tonic 
quinine-water,  potass-water,  and  lemonade 
are  amongst  the  other  popular  drinks 
manufactured. 

Shipments  are  made  not  only  to  the 
ports  of  China  and  the  Far  East  generally, 
but  have  also  been  made  to  England  and 
Australia.  For  local  delivery,  the  Company 
have  their  own  vans  and  motor  vehicles  ; 
indeed  they  were  the  pioneers  of  the 
"commercial"  motor  in  Ihe  Settlement. 

The  manager  of  the  factory  is  Mr. 
Wallace,  who  has  under  him  a  European 
assistant  and  a  large  staff  of  well-trained 
Chinese  workmen. 

# 

THE  A.  BUTLER  CEMENT  TILE 
WORKS,  LTD. 

The  late  Count  von  Butler,  in  his  time  one 
of  the  most  prominent  pioneers  of  new  in- 
dustries in  China,  was  the  originator  of  the 
A.  Butler  Cement  Tile  Works,  Ltd.,  a 
company  which,  with  its  headquarters  in 
Shanghai,  is  carrying  on  a  large  and  in- 
creasing trade  in  many  parts  of  China.  For 
years  Count  Butler  carried  out  experiments 
in  the  manufacture  of  artistically  coloured 
floor-tiles  and  similar  ware,  and,  after  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  the  spring  of  1904, 
Mr.  F.  E.  Schnorr,  now  the  managing  director 
of  the  undertaking,  who  assisted  him  for  some 
time  in  his  work,  succeeded  in  placing  the 
present  enterprise  on  a  practical  basis. 

The  factory  and  property  of  the  Company, 
situated  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Soochow 
Creek,  about  half-way  to  Jessfield,  occupy 
an  area  of  90,000  square  feet.  The  plant, 
consisting  of  six  presses  and  a  number  of  sub- 
sidiary machines,  has  a  daily  output  of  about 
1,200  Hoor-tiles  8  inches  by  8  inches,  2,000 
roof-tiles,  and  600  brick  or  paving-plates  at 
the  present  time,  but  its  capacity  is  about 
three  times  as  great  as  this.  The  steadily 
growing  demand  for  the  Company's  manu- 
factures has  made  it  necessary  to  employ,  on 
an  average,  forty  men  lately,  as  compared 
with  from  ten  to  fifteen  at  the  commence- 
ment of  operations,  when  there  were  but  two 
presses  in  use. 

The  works  produce,  besides  a  number  of 
specialities,  tiles  of  every  description — floor- 
tiles,  roof-tiles  of  eight  different  shapes  and 
all  shades  of  colour,  perforated  ventilation 
bricks,  and  plates  for  paving  purposes.  A 
speciality  is  made  of  stable-flooring.  This  is 
of  a  pattern  adopted  by  British  cavalry 
stables,  and  is  generally  recognised  as  being 
the  best  of  its  kind.  The  process  of  manu- 
facture is  an  interesting  one.  Cement  and 
sand,  the  tvi'o  principal  constituents  of  the  tiles, 
are  obtained  locally,  but  all  the  colours  and 
other  raw  materials  are  imported  direct.  The 
base,  or  mortar,  is  first  of  all  mixed  in  a 
semi-cylindrical  machine  fitted  with  propeller- 
like blades.  After  amalgamation  this  mortar 
is  placed  in  the  moulds,  and  then,  by  means 
of  design-plates,  similar  to  those  used  in 
stencilling  works,  the  various  colours,  some- 
times as  many  as  seven  in  number,  are  laid 
on.  These  colours  are  first  ground  to  the 
finest  dust  in  ball  mills,  and  the  method  of 
mixing  them  is  a  secret  o!  the  manufacture. 
From  the  colour-mixing  room,  the  tile-moulds 
pass  into  one  of  the  large  presses  and,  though 


no  steam  power  is  employed,  they  are  sub- 
jected to  a  hydraulic  pressure  of  about 
200,000  lbs.  in  order  to  give  the  tiles  the 
proper  shape  and  firmness.  From  the  moulds 
the  tiles  pass  to  the  many  tanks  for  setting, 
and  after  that  they  undergo  a  regular  treat- 
ment of  washing,  scrubbing,  watering,  and 
drying,  extending  over  about  three  months, 
before  they  are  ready  for  market.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  if  the  treatment  were  con- 
tinued for  one  month,  more  or  less,  it  would 
be  sufficient,  but  the  principle  of  the  Company 
is  to  supply  only  tiles  that  have  been  allowed 
to  set  and  harden  to  the  greatest  possible 
extent,  and,  therefore,  three  months  are 
allowed  to  elapse  before  the  finished  article 
leaves  the  works.  The  water  supply  is  drawn 
from  a  specially  designed  well  of  about  30 
feet  deep — one  of  the  deepest  sunk  under 
local  conditions — by  means  of  which  all  water 
used  receives  a  certain  amount  of  filtration 
before  it  reaches  the  tanks  and  reservoirs. 
This  clever  contrivance  was  constructed  by 
the  superintendent  of  the  works,  Mr.  G. 
Greiner.  Generally  speaking,  the  demand 
for  an  article  may  be  said  to  prove  its  value. 
The  many  public  and  private  buildings  that 
are  either  roofed  or  floored  with  Butler  tiles 
include  His  Britannic  Majesty's  Consulates 
at  Shanghai,  Chefoo,  and  Nanking  ;  the 
Austrian,  French,  and  Italian  Consulates  at 
Shanghai  ;  the  British  and  German  Post 
Offices,  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank  in 
Shanghai  and  Peking,  the  Deutsch-Asiatische 
Bank,  the  Kusso-Chinese  Bank,  the  Chartered 
Bank,  the  International  Bank,  the  Shanghai 
Gun  Club,  the  Cricket  Club  and  Deutscher 
Garden  Club,  the  Concordia  Club,  the  Alex- 
andra Building,  the  American  Mission  and 
St.  Luke's  Hospital,  the  Imperial  Chinese 
Customs  printing  oifices  and  the  indoor  staff 
quarters,  the  Astor  House  and  Metropole 
Hotels,  Shanghai  Kace  Club,  Rubicon  Club, 
Shanghai  and  Nanking  Railway  offices,  Vulcan 
Iron  Works,  the  Imperial  Chinese  Telegraph 
oifices  at  Chefoo,  the  engine  rooms  of  the 
Shanghai  Gas  Company,  the  Shanghai  Water- 
works, the  Tramway  Company,  and  number- 
less private  residences.  The  offices  of  the 
Company  are  at  No.  123,  Szechuen  Road. 


# 


THE  CENTURY  STONE  COMPANY,  LTD. 

With  so  much  building  in  progress  in  the 
Settlement  and  its  surroundings  it  is  scarcely 
surprising  that  a  company  undertaking  to 
supply  an  .artificial  stone  equal  in  all  respects 
to  natural  stone  should  have  its  capacity 
t.axed  to  the  utmost.  By  a  combination  of 
Portland  cement,  sand,  and  crushed  gninite, 
moulded  into  the  required  shape,  the  Cen- 
tury Stone  Company  produce  hollow  con- 
crete blocks,  and  all  kinds  of  ornamental 
work,  such  as  steps,  sills,  lintels,  string 
courses,  copings,  finials,  trimmings,  &c.  The 
hollow  blocks  are  specially  adapted  for  use 
in  this  climate,  the  air  spaces  tending  to 
render  buildings  constructed  of  them  cooler 
in  summer  and  warmer  in  winter,  besides 
being  proof  against  fire,  frost,  and  damp. 
The  blocks  are  of  enormous  strength,  and 
are  suitable  for  all  classes  of  construction 
—  godowns,  factories,  mills,  residences, 
boundary  walls,  &c.  One  speciality  pro- 
duced at  the  factory  will  certainly  appeal  to 
local  builders,  namely,  the  fireprcxif  chimney 
Hue,  which  is  built  in  sections  about  12 
inches  high,  independent  of  the  wall  and 
with  rebates  to  take  the  mortar  joint,  each 
section    fitting    accurately    inside    the    other. 


CHINA    IMPORT    AND    EXPORT   LUMBER    COMPANY,    LTD. 
The  Uig  Yard  at  the  Point,  Shanghai. 


[See  page  578.] 


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CHINA    IHPORT    AND   EXPORT    LUMBER    COMPANY,    LTD.— DESCRIPTIVE    REVIEW    IN    THE    CHINESE    LANGUAGE. 


THE    LUNGHWA    TANNERY. 


[See  page  578.] 


590     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IIMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


By  the  use  o(  these  flues  the  danger  of  fire 
is  greatly  reduced. 

The  Ccntiir\-  Stone  Conipuny,  Limited, 
was  established  only  recently  with  a  fac- 
tory   near    the    junction  .  of    Markham    and 


C.   H.   GREEN. 

Gordon  Roads.  The  management  is  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  C.  H.  Green,  the  business 
manager,  and  Mr.  \V.  H.  Pierce,  the  works 
manager,  txiih  of  whom  are  engineers  of 
long  experience.  The  Company  intend  to 
cater  for  builders  of  the  class  who  aim  at 
something  better  than  the  usual  run  of 
Shanghai  construction,  and  with  this  object 
in  view  they  are  about  to  add  an  import 
department   to    their  business,  so  as  to  place 


W.    H.    PIERCE. 

the  trade  in  touch  with  all  the  newer  and 
belter  classes  of  building  material,  hardware, 
&c.,  manufactured  in  other  parts  of  the 
world,  and  especially  in  Great  Britain 
and   America. 


» 


THE   VULCAN   IRONWORKS,   LTD. 

Thh  engineering  and  shipbuilding  business 
carried  on  by  the  Vulcan  Ironworks,  Ltd.,  was 
founded  in  1905.    The  nominal  capital  of  the 


Company  is  Tls.  500,000.  of  which  Tls.  311,000 
is  fully  paid  up  (including  Tls.  61,000  new 
issue).  The  yard  and  works  are  conveniently 
situated  at  Yangtszepoo,  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  Whangpoo,  and  can  be  approached  by 
river  and  road.  The  property  embraces  an 
area  of  rather  more  than  37  mow  of  land — a 
little  over  six  acres— and  has  a  river  frontage 
of  360  feet.  About  half  this  area  is  covered 
by  otilices,  workshops,  and  storage  godowns. 
Few  concerns  of  the  kind  in  the  Settlement 
have  a  heavier  or  more  up-to-date  plant,  the 
latest  labour-saving  devices  having  been  in- 
stalled. The  whole  of  the  plant  is  motor- 
driven,  power  being  generated  by  duplicate 
sets  of  75-kilowatt  dynamos,  each  giving 
340  amperes  at  a  pressure  of  220  volts. 
These  sets  are  run  on  alternate  days.  The 
dynamos  are  direct-driven  by  engines  running 
at  550  revolutions  per  minute. 

The  scope  of  the  works  may  best  be  illus- 
trated by  a  detailed  sketch  of  the  various 
departments.  The  general  and  drawing 
oflices  are  spacious,  well-lighted  apartments, 
surrounded  by  wide  verandahs.  The  building 
is  two  storeyed,  and  measures  100  feet  long 
by  62  feet  wide. 

In  the  pattern-makers'  shop,  which  is 
80  feet  long  by  50  feet  wide,  are  band  and 
circular  saws,  planing  machines,  and  lathes, 
grouped  on  a  25  horse-power  motor,  together 
with   a   modern  mitreing  machine. 

The  foundry  is  in  process  of  enlargement, 
and  will  be  204  feet  long  by  63  feet  wide. 
In  place  of  tlie  existing  jib-cranes,  which  take 
up  too  much  room,  a  travelling  crane  of  15 
tons'  cap.icity  will  be  erected.  Castings  up 
to  ten  tons  can  be  made,  the  cupolas  employed 
being  of  the  Thwaites  rapid  pattern — one  of 
5  and  the  other  of  2  tons'  capacity — with 
blast  from  a  Root's  blower. 

The  machine  shop,  which  is  175  feet  long 
by  60  feet  wide,  contains  a  large  chuck-lathe 
of  15  feet  diameter  ;  lateral  lathes  so  arranged 
that  by  combining  two  of  them,  a  piece  of 
work  30  feet  in  length  can  be  taken  ;  shaping, 
planing,  drilling,  slotting,  shearing,  and  screw- 
cutting  machines  ;  a  band-saw  for  iron,  and 
other  machines,  some  of  which  are  grouped, 
while  others  are  geared  independently  to 
motors.  Overhead  runs  a  travelling  crane  of 
5  tons'  capacity  by  Craven  Brothers. 

The  blacksmiths'  shop,  lOO  feet  long  by  52 
feet  wide,  contains  fourteen  tires  supplied 
with  blast  by  independent  Root's  blowers,  and 
is  fitted  with  two  steam  hammers  by  Massey, 
one  being  of  30  cwt.  and  the  other  of  10  cvvt. 
In  the  coppersmiths'  shop,  which  is  45  feet 
long  by  52  feet  wide,  a  complete  plant  has 
been  installed,  consisting  of  two  drilling 
machines,  a  hydraulic  pipe  bender,  rolls, 
punching  and  shearing  machines,  &c. 

The  largest  machinery  in  the  works  is 
that  located  in  the  boiler  shop.  This  building 
is  175  feet  long  by  85  feet  wide.  In  it  there 
are  four  punching  and  shearing  machines, 
two  large  drills,  two  counter-sinking  machines. 
one  plate-edge  planing  machine,  a  set  of 
heavy  rolls  for  bending  plates,  and  a  machine 
known  as  a  "  mangle "  for  straightening 
plates.  There  is  also  a  hydraulic  plant,  the 
accumulator  being  charged  by  means  of  a 
motor-driven  three-throw  pump.  The  power 
is  applied  to  a  large,  fixed  riveter,  with  9  feet 
gap  (on  Tweddle's  system,  by  the  well-known 
firm  of  Fielding  &  Piatt,  of  Gloucester), 
two  portable  riveters,  for  dock,  bridge,  and 
girder  work  ;  a  hydraulic  flanging  machine, 
with  arrangements  for  flanging  Lancashire 
boiler  flues  ;  and  two  4-ton  hydraulic  cranes, 
built  by  the  Vulcan  Ironworks. 

Besides  these  shops  there  is  a  moulding 
loft,  140  feet  long  bv  50  feet  wide,  and  a 
carpenters'   shop    immediately  beneath,  witli 


motor-driven  machinery  of  all  descriptions  ; 
whilst,  to  facilitate  repairs  to  small  vessels  of 
about  100  feet  in  length,  a  patent  slip  has 
been  laid  down,  equipped  with  motor-driven 
hauling  gear  manufactured  by  the  firm. 

In  the  godowns,  the  largest  of  which 
occupies  the  whole  ground  floor  of  the  ofiice 
block,  a  heavy  stock  is  carried  of  everything 
that  can  conceivably  be  said  to  appertain  to 
the  work  undertaken  by  the  firm  ;  and  in 
the  stock  yard  are  storing  places  for  angle 
irons,  plates,  and  rolled  steel  girders. 

During  the  three  years  of  tlieir  existence 
the  Vulcan  Ironworks  have  constructed  a 
creditable  number  of  vessels  of  all  descriptions, 
including  steel  and  wooden  lighters,  pontoons 
and  pontoon-hulks,  tugs,  a  passenger  tender, 
steam  and  motor  launches,  &c.,  ranging  in 
length  from  20  feet  to  250  feet.  In  addition 
to  these,  all  kinds  of  fitting-out  and  repair 
work  have  been  executed  to  ocean-going 
vessels  calling  at  the  port,  and  installations, 
overhauling,  and  general  repairs  have  been 
carried  out  in  the  many  factories  and  mills 
in  and  around  this  busy  and  industrious 
centre  by  skilled  native  labour  under  com- 
petent European  supervision. 


THE   NEW   ENGINEERINO   AND   SHIP. 
BUILDING   WORKS,    LTD. 

In  its  enterprise  and  rapid  development,  this 
company,  founded  as  recently  as  in  1900,  is 
characteristic  of  industrial  activity  and  pro- 
gress in  Shaiigliai.  The  works,  situated  in 
Yangtszepoo  Road,  are  equipped  with  an  up- 
to-date  plant,  which  includes  an  installation 
of  hydraulic  riveting  machinery,  pneumatic 
tools,  and  electric  drilling  machines  for  the 
quick  execution  of  repair  work.  No  expense 
has  been  spared  to  secure  a  high  standard 
of  efliciency,  and  now  the  directors  are 
prepared  to  undertake  any  contract  which 
would  come  within  their  scope  as  engineers, 
millwrights,  shipbuilders,  boiler-makers,  and 
tank-builders. 

Their  operations  have  been  steadily  in- 
creasing, and  their  work — some  of  which 
has  been  of  the  highest  importance — has 
given  general  satisfaction.  They  have  built 
over  one  hundred  vessels  in  steel  and  teak- 
wood,  ranging  from  5  to  500  tons  each. 
Forty  of  these  were  steam  vessels  with  an 
aggregate  of  4,000  indicated  horse-power. 
The  firm  make  a  speciality  of  light  draught 
vessels,  tug-boats,  and  lighters,  and  have 
been  very  successful  with  light  draught  tow- 
boats  of  the  hollow  stern  t\'pe,  some  of 
which  are  now  in  constant  employment  at 
Hankow  and  Chefoo.  They  have  con- 
structed a  number  of  pleasure  craft,  for 
which  the  demand  in  Shanghai  is  growing, 
and,  at  the  time  of  writing,  have  in  hand  a 
new  departure  in  the  form  of  a  native 
sampan,  fitted  with  tanks  for  carrying  60 
tons  of  bulk  oil,  and  propelled  by  two 
motors  of  50  brake  horse-power.  In  their 
engineering  shops  the  firm  have  constructed 
machinery  aggregating  1,200  indicated  horse- 
power for  saw-mills,  cotton  mills,  cigarette 
factories,  &c.  They  erected  tanks  at  Chin- 
kiang,  Tongku,  and  Hangthow  for  the  Shell 
Company,  and  constructed  six  large  oil  tanks 
for  the  Standard  Oil  Company — three  of  them, 
at  Shanghai,  measuring  80  feet  each  in 
diameter  and  25  feet  in  height,  and  three 
at  Hankow  measuring  70  feet  each  in 
diameter.  The  orders  for  the  boilers  of 
American  type,  for  the  Shanghai  and 
Hankow  installations,  were  also  entrusted 
to  the  firm.  At  the  close  of  the  Russo- 
Japanese    War,    the    Company    adapted    five 


^: 


THE    KIANGSU    CHEMICAL    WORKS.- MAJOR    BROS.,    LTD. 


[S;c  p.lSe  578.] 


lUtt  page  586J 


CALDBECK,    MACGREOOR    &    CO. 
The  Offices  and  Works  ok  the  "AgLAKiLs"  Mineral  Water  Company. 


THE    A.    BUTLEH.    CEMENT    TILE    WORKS,    LTD. 


In  the  Works. 


Bird's  Eye  View  ok  the  Works. 
The  Tile  Stores. 
The  Finished  Product. 


[See  ji.ige  }86.J 


594     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


large  vessels  for  the  transport  of  troops. 
Each  was  littcd  with  bunks.  i>tViccrs'  qiuirtcrs, 
hospital  accommodation,  ciwking  ovens,  and 
bathing  appliances  for  a  large  number  of 
men.  the  average  numt>er  carried  bv  each 
steamer  bvcing  2.000.  Altogether  sonie  500 
men  are  constantly  employed  in  the  works. 
The  whole  of  the  business  is  carried  on 
under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  J.  Reynolds. 
M.I.Mech.E.,  who  has  been  in  the  service  of 
the  Company  from  the  beginning. 

HOW.^RTH    ERSKINE,  LTD. 

.\s  structural,  civil,  mechanical,  and  electrical 
engineers,  Howarth  Erskine.  Ltd.,  are  known 
throughout  the  Far  East.     The  business  was 
started  some  thirty  years  ago,  and  was  incor- 
porated   as   a    limited    liability    company    in 
I*/).     Since   then   it   has  been   reconstructed 
several   times,  and   the  capital   is   now   three 
million  dollars.     The  head  offices  and  works 
are  at   Singapore,   and   there    are    flourishing 
branches  at    K;ingoon,    Penang.    Ipoh.   Kuala 
Lumpur,   Bangkok,    Hongkong.    Canton,    and 
Shanghai.     The  London  office  is  at  3,  Lloyd's 
Avenue,     E.C.       In     their     various     depart- 
ments   and    at    their    different    stations    the 
Company  have  modern  plant  powerful  enough 
to    enable     them    to    e.\ecute.    skilfully    and 
expeditiously,    any    contracts     that     mav     be 
entrusted    to    them.      They    employ   a    large 
number  of   expert   civil   and  .  mechanical    en- 
gineers,    draughtsmen,     and     mechanics     to 
carry  out  every  class   of   work  appertaining 
to  civil,  mechanical,  and  electrical   engineer- 
ing.     The    enumeration    of     a     few    of    the 
many     large    contracts    they    have    executed 
successfully   will   suffice   to   give    an   idea   of 
the  extent  of    the    firm's    operations.      They 
constructed  the  Thomson   Road  Waterworks, 
Singapore,  the  Ampang  Waterworks,  the  loco- 
motive boiler   shops    and    carriage   sheds  of 
the     Federated     Malay     States   Railways     in 
Selangor,    the    steel    work    of    the    Victoria 
Memorial    Hall   and    Convent  Chapel,  Singa- 
pore,   the    Port    Trust    Wharf    at    Rangoon, 
bridges  in   the   Malay  States,  the   Peninsular 
and  Oriental  Steamship  Company's  Wharf  at 
Singapore,  filter  beds  for  the  Singapore  Muni- 
cipality, a  hospital  for  the  Straits  Settlements 
Government,    wharves    and     warehouses     in 
Hongkong    and    Canton,    the     Royal    Palace 
and   bridges   in   Siam,   and   the    Garden   and 
Chekiang  Road  bridges  and  Customs  Wharf 
at    Shanghai.       Owing    to    their    constantly 
increa,sing    business    the    Company  found    it 
necessary    in     1903    to     organise    a    special 
department   for  carrying  out  electrical  work. 
Guided    by    experience,    they    were    able    to 
form  a  shrewd  estimate  of  the  rapid  develop- 
ment    that     was    to    be    expected    in    this 
direction,    and    they    equipped     their     shops 
with    every    modern     facility    for    executing 
work  in   the   best  and   simplest  way.     There 
is   no  doubt    as    to    the    success    which   has 
followed  their  enterprise.     Complete  installa- 
tions of  electric  light,  inclusive  of  generating 
machinery,   have   been   supplied    and  erected 
by  them  at  Tyersall  Palace  and  "  Woodneuk  " 
for    His   Highness    the    Sultan   of   Johore,   at 
the  Teutonia  Club,  Singapore,  at  two  palaces 
of    His    Highness    the    Sultan    of    Perak,    at 
Raffles    Hotel,   the    Hotel    de    I'Europe,   and 
the    Adelphi    Hotel,    Singapore,    and    at    the 
Paknam   Forts  for   the  Siamese  Government, 
besides    a    large    number    of    European    and 
Chinese    residences.      In   order   to   be   readv 
for  emergencies  the   Company   keep  a  large 
stock    of    fittings,    and    for    the    quick    and 
careful  way   in   which   they  carry  out  com- 


missions at  short  notice  they  have  earned  an 
enviable  reputation. 

STEAM   POWER   IN   CHINA. 

FiKTV  years  ago  an  eminent  autlioi  ity  on 
Chniese  commercial  affairs  laid  it  down  as 
an  axiom  that  steam  would  always  pav  in 
China.  He  referred  more  parlicularlv,  per- 
haps, to  steam  navigation,  in  which  direction 
the  prediction  has  been  amply  justified. 
Nowadays  the  remark  would  appear  to  be 
equally  true  if  applied  to  mechanical  in- 
dustry. Flour  mills,  cotton  spinning  mills, 
steel  works,  collieries,  waterworks,  and 
electric  light  works  are  springing  up,  not 
only  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Treaty  ports,  but 
throughout  the  country,  for  the  Chinaman  of 
to-day  is  almost  as  familiar  with  steam- 
power  as  is  his  European  contemporary. 
With  the  chemical  production  of  power, 
through  the  medium  of  gas  and  oil,  he  is 
not  concerned  ;  a  succeeding  generation  may 
adopt  this  means  when  the  objections  and 
drawbacks  to  it  are  overcome  and  its  me- 
chanical certainty  and  reliability  fully 
demonstrated.  But  for  years  to  come  steam 
will  occupy  the  foremost  place  in  the  re- 
markable industrial  development  now  taking 
place  among  this  slow-moving  but  deep- 
thinking  and  intelligent  people. 

It  is  only  in  very  recent  years  that  the 
great  engineering  firms  in  Europe,  and 
especially  in  England,  have  made  any  real 
effort  to  cater  for  this  great  market  and  its 
endless  possibilities.  Hitherto  the  practice, 
at  most,  has  been  to  appoint  as  "  agents " 
firms  with  familiar  names  engaged  in  the 
silk,  tea,  or  piece-goods  trade,  as  the  case 
might  be,  without  engineering  knowledge  or 
any  special  training,  and,  therefore,  unable 
to  give  the  Chinese  the  information  they 
required— people,  in  other  words,  who  were 
content  to  "  sit  down  behind  a  brass  plate  " 
and  wait  for  possible  orders. 

All  this  is  now  changed,'  and  some  of  the 
old,  and  many  of  the  new  firms  have 
'organised  engineering  departments,  presided 
over  by  trained  men  and  adequately 
equipped  for  the  business.  It  was  only 
natural  that  one  of  the  first  firms  to  adapt 
themselves  to  the  changed  condition  of 
affairs,  was  the  world-renowned  house  of 
Babcock  &  Wilcox,  Ltd.,  illustrations  of 
whose  works  in  Scotland,  as  well  as  of  a 
power-house  in  Shanghai  which  they 
equipped  for  the  Municipality,  appear  in 
this  volume.  No  better  example  can  be 
given  of  the  truth  of  what  we  have 
written.  Five  years  ago,  when  a  special 
representative  was  appointed  to  China,  a 
few  scattered  installations  was  all  there 
was  to  show  for  many  years  of  so  called 
representation.  To-day  their  justly  famous 
boilers  are  in  use  from  Peking  to  Canton, 
and  if  evidence  of  their  popularity  were 
required  the  firm  might  say,  with  justifiable 
pride,  '•  Si  monutnentum  quieris,  circumspicc." 
The  equally  famous  firm  of  Belliss  & 
Morcom,  Ltd.,  Birmingham,  whose  work 
and  factory  are  also  reproduced,  have  pur- 
sued the  same  course  with  similar  results  ; 
they  are  represented  in  the  same  office, 
and  from  the  point  at  which  Babcock  & 
Wilcox's  work  finishes  in  the  boiler-house 
it  is  carried  on  in  the  engine-room  by 
Belliss  &  Morcom. 

As  a  matter  of  information,  and  as 
helping  to  show  clearly  the  wisdom  of  the 
policy  we  have  attempted  to  indicate,  it 
may    not    be  out  of    place    to  quote  a  few 


of  the  principal  works  and  power-stations 
equipped  by  the  above  firms  which,  in  the 
case  of  Babcock  &  Wilcox,  Ltd.,  totals 
some  30,000  horse-power,  and  in  the  case 
of  Belliss  &  Morcom,  Ltd.,  some  13  000 
horse-power.  In  Peking:  Peking  Electric 
Light  Company,  the  Railway  Administration 
Buildings,  and  the  Royal  l>alace.  In  Tient- 
sin :  the  Tientsin  Gas  and  Electric  Light 
Company,  Takou  (Honan). ;  and  the  Peking 
Syndicate's  collieries  and  railways.  On  the 
Yangtsze  :  the  Hankow  Light  and  Power 
Company,  the  Hankow  (native  citv)  Water- 
works and  Electric  Light  Coiiipanv,  the 
Trading  Company,  and  the  \;inyaiig  Iron 
and  Steel  Works.  In  Shanghai  :  tlie  lighting 
and  tramways  for  the  International  Council, 
the  tramways  in  the  French  Concession,  the 
China  Inland  Electric  Light  Company,  and 
tlie  Shanghai-Nanking  Railway's  shops  and 
stations  at  Shanghai,  Woosung,  and  Soo- 
chow.  And  in  Southern  China:  the  Swatow 
Electric  Light  Company,  the  Hongkong  tram- 
ways, Hongkong  Electric  Light  Coinpaiiv, 
the  Green  Island  Cement  Company,  the 
Naval  Dockyard,  and  the  China  Light  and 
Power  Company  (Canton).  There  are,  also, 
of  course,  many  smaller  works  including 
mills,   collieries,   &c. 

The  combination  includes  W.  T.  Henley's 
Telegraph  Works  Company,  Ltd.,  London,  and 
provides  that  which  was  urgently  required, 
viz.,  a  central  point  where  all  needed  in- 
formation as  to  equipment  and  prices  can 
be  obtained.  P'urther,  and  perhaps  even 
more  importiuit,  it  ensures  that  the  machinery 
and  accessories  of  such  representative  firms, 
wherever  erected  in  China,  shall  stand  as 
a  lasting  monument  to  the  excellence  of 
British   engineering  work, 

Shanghai  is  the  real  commercial  capital 
of  China,  its  greatest  distributing  centre, 
and  the  focus  upon  which  all  business 
enquiries  converge,  and  it  is  here  that  the 
representative  ofiice  is  carried  on  at  No.  19, 
Szechuen  Road, 


# 


OLOF   WIJK   &   CO. 

Messhs.  Oi.of  Wuk  &  Co,  represent  most  of 
the  principal  Swedish  manufacturers  and 
builders  of  general  machinery,  as  well  as 
of  railway  supplies,  war  material,  and  war 
and  merchant  vessels.  Their  head  offices  are 
situated  in  Gothenburg,  they  have  branches 
in  London  and  Hamburg,  while  in  Shanghai 
they  have  extensive  offices  and  showrooms  at 
No.  6,  Kiangse  Road,  a  photograph  of  which 
is  given  in  the  adjoining  group. 

The  firm  are  agents  for  the  well-known 
de  Laval  Steam  Turbine  Company,  of  Stock- 
holm, and  the  photograph  shown  is  one  of 
the  de  Laval  steam  turbines  coupled  direct  to 
a  dynamo  of  330  kilowatts.  The  turbine, 
designed  for  a  normal  load  of  500  brake 
horse-power,  is  one  of  the  firm's  standard 
multiple  type  units,  as  used  for  outputs  of 
300  brake  horse-power,  and  upwards  ;  and 
nowadays  this  type,  together  with  the  de 
Laval  turbine-dynamo,  and  the  single-wheel 
de  Laval  turbine  for  smaller  units,  are  to  be 
seen  all  over  the  world.  These  generating  sets 
approach  more  nearly  to  the  ideal  than  almost 
any  other,  for  they  combine  economy  with 
the  absence  of  vibration  and  a  minimum  of 
floor  space,  while  there  are  no  valves  or 
stuffing-boxes  to  be  attended  to,  and  there 
are  fewer  parts  to  get  out  of  order.  Other 
well-known  plants  manufactured  by  the  de 
Laval  Steam  Turbine  Company  arc  turbine 
pumps,    water  driven   pumps,   mining  plants. 


THE    WORKS    AND    SOME    OF    THE    PRODUCTS    OF    THE    CENTURY    STONE    COMPANY,    LTD.  [Sec  p^f-c  jWi] 


[Sre  pasc  Sffil 


THE    VULCAN    IRONWORKS,    LTD. 

SlIIPRIItLDIN'C    YAKI). 


Machin'f.  shop. 
Steam  Tender  ••  Yl-xg  Shun,"  bkilt  at  the  Works. 


THK    NfAlX    KXGIXES. 

New  Boiler  Shop  ix  colrse  ok  erection. 


■  • 

■  ■ 


THE    NEW   ENGINEERING   AND    SHIPBUILDING     WORKS,    LTD. 
River  Glxboat  turned  out  ix  the  Yard. 

View  of  ihe  Yard  from  thf:  Kiver. 
Types  of  Marixe  Exgixes  built  at  the  Works.  Steam  Tender  turned  out  in  the  Yard. 


[See  p.iyc  sycO 


598    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  turbine  blowers  for  iron-works.  The 
continuous  current  generator  coupled  to  the 
turbine  is  built  by  the  Alhnantia  Svenska 
Klektriska  Aktiebolaget  (the  General  Electric 
Company  of  Sweden),  and  at  a  speed  of 
3,000  revolutions  per  minute  gives  a  pressure 
of  250  volts.  This  Company  has  now  under 
construction  at  their  shops  in  Westeras  two 
three-phase  cuiTent  generators,  each  of  15.000 
brake  horse-power,  the  largest  units  ever  built 
in   Europe. 

The   photograph    occupying   the   centre   of 
the  page   shows  the  t>'pc  of  one  of  several 


railway  bridges  delivered  by  Messrs.  Olof 
Wijk  &  Co.  to  the  Chinese  Railways  in 
the   Aiihwei    Province. 

The  foundations,  piers,  and  abutments  for 
these  bridges  are  made  of  reinforced  concrete 
— the  line  being  one  of  the  first  in  China  in 
which  concrete  constructions  have  been  used 
in  bridge  work.  The  general  plans,  both 
for  the  sub-structure  as  well  as  the  super- 
structure of  these  bridges  have  been  designed 
by  the  engineer-in-chief  of  the  railway.  Mr. 
Einar  Y.  Muller. 

Messrs.    Olof    Wijk    &    Co.    are    connected 


with  many  of  the  best  known  engineering 
experts  in  Sweden,  especially  as  regards 
hydraulic,  mining,  paper  and  saw-mill  en- 
gineering, and  arc  thus  in  a  position  to  take 
an  active  part  in  the  development  of  the 
many  and  varied  industries  of  the  Chinese 
limpire.  Their  agencies  include,  besides 
those  already  mentioned,  and  many  others, 
the  Lux  Company,  Stockholm,  famous  in- 
candescent kerosene  lamps. 

The  engineering  department  at  Shanghai 
is  under  the  charge  of  a  Swedish  engineer, 
Mr.  Fred  C.  Jones,  M.E.,  E.E. 


HOWARTH    ERSKINE,    LTD. 

The  Ciip:kiaxi;  Road  Hkidgk. 

a  coxstrl-ctiox  sckxe. 

The  Gardex  Bridge. 


[See  page  594.] 


r 


^ 


(Sit  pafse  S9«.] 


STEAM    POWER    IN    CHINA. 

Works  of  Babcock  &  Wilcox,  Ltd.,  Rexfrkw,  Scotlaxd. 

The  Boiler  Ixstai.latiox  (Babcock  &  Wiixox)  at  the  Mi-xicipal  Power-statiox.  Shaxghai. 

Works  of  Beli-iss  &  Morcom,  Ltd.,  Birmixgham, 

Belliss'  Exgixes— Municipal  Power-station,  Shaxghai. 


OLOF    WIJK    &    CO.'S    EAST    ASIATIC    AGENCIES,    LTD.  [See  p:ige  594.] 

Tvi'K  OF  Bridge  Supplied  for  Chinese  Railways, 
A  Taxk  Exgixe.  The  de  Laval  JIultiple  Turbine  Generator. 

The  Company's  Staff  at  Shanghai. 


THE    FOREIGN    COMMERCIAL    COMMUNITY. 


JARDINE,   MATHESON   &   CO.,  LTD. 

ALTHorcH  business  has  become  so  highly 
organised,  and  the  stress  of  competition  so 
great  that  it  is  impossible  for  any  firm  to 
hold  a  monopoly  such  as  that  enjoyed  by 
the  East  India  Company  in  the  eighteenth 
centun,',  there  are  usually  one  or  two  business 
houses  still  in  every  great  commercial  centre 
that  eclipse  all  ri\Tils.  Thus,  in  the  China 
trade  there  are  a  few  companies — so  limited 
in  number  that  they  might  be  counted  upon 
the  fingers  of  one  hand— whose  business 
ramifications  stretch  like  a  net-work  along 
the  entire  coast.  They  have  been  engaged  in 
the  import  and  export  trade  from  the  days 
when  the  Celestial  Empire  was  first  opened 
to  the  foreigner,  and  from  then  until  now 
have  been  steadily  extending  the  scope  of 
their  operations.  Among  these  great  enter- 
prises which  have  done  so  much  to  foster 
the  traffic  between  China  and  the  outside 
world,  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd., 
hold  a  proud  place.  Some  account  of  their 
formation  and  growth  appears  in  the  section 
of  this  volume  devoted  to  Hongkong,  the 
headquarters  of  the  Company  in  China.  Their 
branch  in  Shanghai  was  established  as  soon 
as  the  port  was  opened  to  foreign  trade.  In 
those  days  the  staff  consisted  of  about  six 
Europeans,  and  the  business  transacted  was 
that  usually  associated  with  a  general  mer- 
chant's office.  Now,  however,  the  firm  have 
many  and  varied  interests.  They  have  started, 
and  are  successfully  conducting,  several  in- 
dustrial undertakings,  including  the  Ewo 
Cotton  Mill,  the  Ewo  Timber  Depot,  and 
the  Ewo  Silk  Filature,  which,  even  if  judged 
simply  by  the  amount  of  labour  they  employ, 
have  a  very  important  bearing  on  the  pros- 
perity of  the  Settlement.  In  their  capacity 
as  agents  to  the  Indo-China  Steam  Naviga- 
tion CfMnpany,  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  & 
Co.  control  a  line  of  forty-one  steamers  with 
a  tonnage  of  97,260  gross,  and  as  general 
agents  for  the  Shanghai  and  Hongkew  Wharf 
Cfjmpany,  Ltd.,  they  have  under  their  direct 
supervision  property  valued  at  more  than 
Tls.  5.000,000.  They  represent  the  Russian 
Bank  for  Foreign  Trade,  the  Mercantile  Bank 
of  India,  and  numerous  marine  and  lire 
insurance  companies.  When  by  association 
with  the  foreigner  the  Chinese  learned  to 
appreciate  the  advantages  of  mfxiern  ma- 
chinery, Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.  opened  a 
machinery  department,  and,  tn  this  as  in 
other  ways,  have  always  kept  to  the  front 
in  the  cf)nstantly  changing  and  ever  widening 
market  of  China. 


Outside  the  realms  of  business,  too,  this 
house  has  held  a  prominent  position.  In 
the  old  days,  when  there  were  few  clubs 
and  no  recognised  societies  for  providing 
entertainment  and  recreation  the  employes 
of  large   hongs   liad    to   rely    on    their    own 


sporting  institution.  Their  servants  were 
encouraged  to  enter  into  every  phase  of  the 
life  of  the  district  in  which  they  happened 
to  be  located.  Even  to-day,  while  tlie  first 
care  of  the  tirni  is,  of  course,  to  maintain 
their  place  as  a  leading  business  house,  they 


THE    SHANGHAI    PREMISES    OF    OLIVIER    &   00. 


resources.  Jardine  &  Matheson  used  to 
maintain  their  own  pack  of  drag-hounds,  and 
they  have  always  been  patrons  of  the  Kace 
Club  ;  indeed,  throughout  the  history  of  the 
Settlement,  they  have  been  associated,  directly 
or  indirectly,  with   every  leading   social   and 


do  not  neglect  their  responsibilities  in  other 
directions.  For  instance,  the  head  of  the 
firm  is  a  member  of  llie  Legislative  Council 
in  Hongkong,  and  Mr.  David  Landale,  who 
has  charge  of  the  Shanghai  brancli,  is  chair- 
man of  the  Shanghai   Municipal  Council. 


THE   RESIDENT    PARTNERS    AND    HEADS    OP    DEPARTMENTS    OF    MESSRS.    JARDINE,    MATHESON    &   CO. 


J.   JOHN'STONE. 
D.   BEBEITA.  a.   CI.ERICI.  W.    N.    FLEMING. 


W.   F.   IXOI.IS 


A.  K.  Craddock. 


D.  Glass. 


[.  Kerfoot. 


D.  LAxnALE.  the  Resident  Partner. 
A.  Fleet. 
L.  J.  P.  Smith.  E.  A.  Mackay. 

N.  W.   HlCKLIXG. 


P.  V.  Davies. 

s.  Spooxer. 


C.    E.  AXTOV. 


604     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


BECKER    &    BAEDEKER. 

The  many  fine  buildings  in  Shanghai  which 
have  been  constructed  from  plans  designed  by 
Messrs.  Becker  &  Baedeker  bear  sufticient 
testimony  to  the  firm's  activity  during  the  last 
few  years.  Mr.  Becker,  who  is  a  graduate 
from  Munich.  Germany,  passed  five  years  in 
the  service  of  the  Egyptian  Government  before 
he  came  to  China  in  1899.  The  first  large 
undertaking  entrusted  to  his  care  was  the 
preparation  of  the  plans  for  the  Russo-Chinese 
Bank.  These  he  designed  in  conjunction  with 
Mr.  R.  Seel,  of  Yokohama,  and  the  work  of 
construction  was  completed  within  two  years, 
in  spite  of  the  hindrances  occasioned  by  the 
desertion  of  many  of  the  artisans  and  labourers 
during  the  Boxer  riots.  The  bank  occupies  a 
prominent  position  on  the  Bund,  and  its 
general  appearance  of  solidity  and  quiet 
magnificence  is  a  striking  tribute  to  the  skill 
of  the  architects.  The  picturesque  and  rustic- 
looking  house  of  the  new  German  Garden 
Club  was  also  the  work  of  Mr.  Becker,  and 
shows,  in  common  with  many  private  resi- 
dences, that  he  does  not  confine  himself  to 
one  style  of  architecture,  but  is  capable  of 
introducing  many  new  and  pleasing  features 
into  his  works.  Mr.  Becker's  plans  for  the 
Club  Concordia  were  awarded  first  prize  in  a 
competition  open  to  architects  in  China  and 
Japan,  and  other  buildings  designed  by  him 
include  the  •'  Schloss "  at  Chemulpo,  Korea, 
and  the  magnificent  office  and  godowns  of 
Messrs.  Carlowitz  &  Co.  at  Tientsin.  In  1905 
Mr.  Becker  was  joined  by  Mr.  C.  Baedeker, 
and  since  then  the  firm  have  designed  plans 
for,  and  superintended  the  erection    of,  the 


JAKDINE,    MATHESON    &    CO.,    LTD. 
The  Ewo  Hong  on  the  Bund. 

German  Banks  at  Peking,  Tientsin,  and 
Tsinanfu,  the  Russo-Chinese  Bank  at  Hankow, 
and  the  offices  of  the  Chinese  Export  and 
Import  and  Banking  Company,  in  addition  to 
many  private  houses  in  the  Bubbling  Well 
Road  and  the  Avenue  Paul  Brunat,  Shanghai. 


aiBB,   LIVINQSTON   &   CO. 

The  firm  of  Gibb,  Livingston  &  Co.,  was 
founded  prior  to  1840  by  the  late  Mr.  Thomas 
Augustus  Gibb,  who  was  formerly  in  the 
old  East  India  Company's  service.  On  re- 
tiring from  China  he  established  the  firm  of 
T.  A.  Gibb  &  Co.,  London,  while  still  retaining 
an  interest  in  the  China  house  of  Gibb, 
Livingston  &  Co.  The  headquarters  of  the 
firm  were  originally  in  Macao,  afterwards  in 
Hongkong,  and  were  eventually  transferred 
to  Shanghai.  At  different  times  branches 
have  been  established  at  Canton,  P'oochow. 
Tientsin,  and  the  various  Yangtsze  ports,  but 
these  have  been  gradually  disposed  of.  To- 
day the  Company  occupy  offices  in  Shanghai, 
Hongkong,  and  Foochow  only,  but  it  must 
not  be  inferred  from  this  that  their  operations 
are  confined  to  these  three  places. 

The  Company  have  a  fine  record  of  com- 
mercial activity  and,  during  a  long  career, 
have  secured  an  important  place  in  the 
trade  of  the  Far  East.  They  carry  on  a  large 
general  mercantile,  shipping,  and  commission 
business,  and  an  enumeration  of  their  numerous 
agencies  will  be  sufficient  in  itself  to  convey 
some  idea  of  the  extent  and  variety  of  their 
interests.     They  represent  the  Shanghai  Land 


Investment  Company,  Ltd.  ;  Bume  &  Reif, 
of  Bradford  and  Hamburg  ;  the  Federal  Life 
Assurance  Company,  of  Canada  ;  the  China 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  North 
British  and  Mercantile  ¥he  Insurance  Com- 
pany ;  Lloyds,  London  ;  the  London  Salvage 
Association;  the  Liverpool  Salvage  Association; 
the  Maritime  Insurance  Company,  Ltd.,  of 
Liverpool  ;  the  Queensland  Insurance  Com- 
pany ;  the  Scottish  National  Insurance  Com- 
pany, Ltd.  ;  the  Australian  Alliance  Assurance 
Company  ;  the  Underwriting  and  Agency 
Association,  London  (composed  of  Under- 
writing members  of  Lloyd's  only);  the  United 
States  Lloyds  ;  the  Indemnity  Mutual  Marine 
Insurance  Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  Eastern  and 
Australian  Steamship  Company,  Ltd.  ;  the 
"  Ben  "  line  of  steamers,  &c. 

The  past  and  present  partners  in  Gibb, 
Livingston  &  Co.,  have  been  associated  with 
many,  of  the  local  public  companies  in 
the  ports  where  their  branches  have  been 
established.  In  Shanghai  they  are  interested 
in  the  management  of  the  Shanghai  Water- 
works Company  ;  the  Shanghai  Land  Invest- 
ment Company.  Ltd.,  ;  the  Shanghai  and 
Hongkew  Wharf  Company  ;  the  Shanghai 
Tug  and  Lighter  Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  China 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  North 
China  Insurance  Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  China 
Flour  Mill  Company,  Ltd.;  the  Anglo-German 
Brewery  Company,  Ltd.,  and  others.  They 
have  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
municipal  affairs  and  local  institutions.  From 
time  to  time  they  have  been  members  of  the 
Council  and  of  the  Fire  Commission,  trustees  of 
the  Recreation  Fund  and  the  Lyceum  Theatre 
Trust,    governors    of    the    Shanghai    General 


JARDINE,    MATHESON    &    CO. 
The  Machine  Departmeut  Premises  and  Showroom  in  Yuen-ming-yuen  Road. 


[See  page  602.] 


•«,/- 


[See  page  6o4.]  BECKER    &    BAEDEKER,   ARCHITECTS. 

The  German  Po6t  Ofjice.  The  "  Gartenvereix  "  Paviliox. 

Offices  and  Goixiwn  in  Kiangse  Road.  The  Club  Coxcohdia. 


THE    OFFICES    OF    OIBB,    LIVINGSTON    &    CO. 


[Sec  page  604.] 


608     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Hospital,  stewiirds  of  the  Kace  Club,  and  so 
forth.  In  short  they  have  always  been  ready 
to  work  disinterestedly  for  the  general  welfare 
of  any  community  with  which  they  have 
been  associated. 

The  offices  of  the  firm  in  Shanghai  are  in 
Yuen-ming-\-uen  Road,  and  here  Mr,  Alex. 
McLeod  and  Mr.  H.  R.  Kinnear  supervise 
the  general  conduct  of  the  business. 


ILBERT  &  CO. 

Before  1875  practically  the  whole  of  the 
China  trade  \vas  done  by  foreign  merchants 
importing  merchandise  for  sale  on  the 
market :  but  as  business  developed,  a  demand 
was    cTcated    for    new    varieties    of    gtxxis. 


Mr.  A.  Ilbert,  Mr.  S.  Walker,  Mr.  J.  Beattie, 
and  Sir  Charles  J.  Dudgeon.  The  present 
partners  are  Mr.  F.  Anderson,  Mr.  E.  C. 
Pearee.  and  Mr.  H.  E.  Campbell.  For  many 
years  the  partners  in  the  iirm  have  borne 
their  due  share  in  the  local  Municipal  work. 

# 

HOLLIDAY,  WISE   &   CO. 

Of  the  firms  in  Shanghai  whose  records  go 
back  to  the  days  when  the  port  was  first 
opened  to  foreigners,  Messrs.  HoUiday,  Wise 
&  Co.  is  the  only  one  which  can  rightfully 
claim  to  have  been  engaged  in  the  China 
trade  for  a  period  of  over  seventy  years 
without  having  once  changed  their  name  in 
the  least  particular.     The  business  was  estab- 


Company  at  No.  i8n,  Kiangse  Road  stand  on 
a  portion  of  it. 

The  head  oftice  is  in  Manchester,  but  there 
is  also  a  branch  in  London,  for,  while  the 
firm's  trade  has  been  from  the  beginning 
mainly  in  piece  goods,  it  has  not  been  con- 
fined exclusively  to  them.  At  one  time 
Messrs.  Holliday,  Wise  &  Co.  had  branches 
in  Hankow  and  Foochow,  chieHy  for  the 
tea  trade,  but  these  were  given  up  in  1882. 
They  deal  in  general  sundries,  and  have  a 
well-equipped  machinery  department,  besides 
holding  a  number  of  important  agencies, 
including  those  for  the  State,  Central,  and 
Atlas  Insurance  Companies. 

The  present  partners  in  the  firm — Messrs. 
Cecil  Holliday  and  A.  B.  Wise  —  are  the 
direct  descendants    of    the    founders    of    the 


THE    OFFICES    OF    DODWELL    &    CO.,    LTD. 


many  of  which  were  bought  on  indent 
terms  by  Chinese  merchants.  The  firm  of 
Ilbert  &  Co.,  founded  in  1875  by  the  late 
Arthur  Ilbert.  was  amongst  the  first  to 
adopt  this  new  method  of  dealing  with  the 
Chinese.  They  were  also  one  of  the  first 
foreign  firms  to  start  cotton  spinning  in 
China.  At  the  present  time  they  are 
general  managers  of  the  Laou  Kung  Mow 
Spinning  Company ;  resident  secretaries  of 
the  Sun  Life  Insurance  Company,  of  Canada, 
whose  business  amongst  Chinese  is  extensive  ; 
and  agents  for  the  Commercial  Union  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  in  addition  to  being 
general  importers.  For  over  twenty  years  they 
have  been  closely  connected  with  Companies 
engaged  in  sugar-planting  and  rubber-culti- 
vation in  the  Malay  States.  Since  1887  four 
partners  have  retired  from  the  firm,  namely, 


lished  by  Robert  Wise,  a  ship-master,  and 
John  Holliday,  the  son  of  a  small  Cumberland 
landowner,  in  1832.  Their  headquarters  were 
in  England,  and  they  had  branches  at  Cape 
Town  and  Manila.  In  1835,  however,  after 
the  monopoly  of  the  East  India  Company  had 
expired,  they  established  themselves  in  Canton 
as  general  merchants.  Driven  from  Canton 
in  company  with  the  other  foreign  merchants, 
they  went  to  Macao  and,  subsequently,  to 
Hongkong.  When  Shanghai  became  a  Treaty 
port  they  at  once  opened  oflices  here,  on  a 
site  now  forming  part  of  the  New  "  Jinkee " 
Estate.  Shortly  afterwards  they  purchased 
land  and  established  their  "  hong "  at  the 
corner  of  the  P'oochow  and  Kiangse  Roads, 
where  they  remained  without  change  until 
1905.  The  land  was  then  sold  and  developed, 
but  the  present  offices  and  godowns  of   the 


enterprise,  Mr.  Cecil  Holliday,  wlio  has  been 
resident  in  China  for  the  past  thirty  years, 
being  the  youngest  son  of  the  late  Mr.  John 
Holliday,  while  Mr.  A.  B.  Wise  is  the  grand- 
son of  Mr.  Robert  Wise,  Mr.  John  Holiday's 
former  colleague.  Mr.  Robert  Wise  was 
succeeded  by  his  son,  Mr.  John  Wise.  Mr. 
John  Holliday,  who  died  in  1895  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four  whilst  still 
actively  engaged  in  the  business,  had  all  his 
four  sons  in  it. 

DODWELL   &   CO.,   LTD. 

This  firm  was  formed  in  1891  under  the  name 
of  Dodwell,  Carlill  &  Co.,  to  take  over  the 
business  of  Adamson,  Bell  &  Co.,  and  in  1899 
the  style  was  changed  to  Dodwell  &  Co.,  Ltd. 


The  Offices  in  Kianuse  Road. 


HOLLIDAY,    WISE    &    CO. 
The  Machinery  Showroom. 


The  Machinery  Department. 


610     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  head  office  is  in  London,  at  Exchange 
Chambers.  St.  M.iry  Axe.  and  there  are 
numerous  branches  m  the  Far  Kast.  Canada, 
and  America.  These  and  the  names  of  the 
directors  are  set  forth  in  the  Hongkong  section 
of  this  volume. 

In  Shanghai  the  interests  of  the  firm  are 
chiefly  c-entred  in  the  export  of  tea  and 
general  produce  ;  in  the  import  of  piece  goods. 
SouT.  lumber,  machinery.  &c..  and  in  various 
shipping  and  insurance  agencies.  On  the 
local  staff  there  are  nineteen  foreign  em- 
ployes. The  manager  of  the  branch  is  Mr. 
H.  A.  J.  Macray.  and  the  sub-manager  is 
Mr.  J.  Valentine. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  principal 
agencies  held  by  the  firm  :— Steamship  : 
torber's  Xew  York  Line  ;    Boston  Steamship 


Agency,  Ltd..  which  supplies  asbestos,  paints, 
oils,  varnishes,  boiler  compositions,  belting, 
and  engineering  specialities  for  the  use  of 
steamers,  diK'ks,  and  mills,  Messrs.  Dodwell  & 
Co.  employ  two  engineers. 

DAVID  SASSOON   &   CO. 

A  DKSCRiPTioN  of  the  many  activities  and 
varied  interests  of  this  old-established  and 
important  firm  of  Indian  merchants  is  given 
in  the  Hongkong  section  of  this  volume. 
From  their  headquarters  in  Bombay  they 
have  been  engaged  in  the  import  and  export 
trade  with  Cliina  since  the  earliest  days. 
Their   branch    in   Shanghai    was    established 


historical  sketch  appearing  in  the  Hongkong 
section,  is  an  offshoot  of  tlic  still  older  house 
of  David  Sassoon  &  Co.,  was  one  of  the 
first  men  to  start  trading  in  Shanghai  when 
the  port  was  thrown  open  to  the  foreign 
merchant.  Some  details  regarding  the  char- 
acter of  the  trade  carried  on  by  the  Com- 
pany, which  is  one  of  the  most  widely 
known  of  any  in  the  Far  East,  are  given 
elsewhere.  In  Shanghai,  as  in  the  other  ports, 
the  Company  deal  principally  in  Indian 
opium,  Indian  cotton  yarn,  and  cloth,  as 
well  as  kerosene  oil,  and  Manchester  and 
-American  piece  goods.  The  managers  in 
Shanghai  are  Messrs.  S.  A.  Hardoon  and 
Simon  A.  Levy. 


DAVID    SASSOON    &    CO.'S    OFFICES    AT    SHANGHAI. 


Company  and  Weir  Steamship  Lme  (Pacific 
service);  Dodwell's  New  York  Line  ;  "Mogul" 
Line  ;  Natal  Line  ;  the  North  China  Line  ;  and 
the  ■'  Strath  "  Line.  Insurance  :  The  Union 
Assurance  Society;  the  Yorkshire  Insurance 
Company  ;  the  Thames  and  Mersey  Marine 
Insurance  ;  the  Ocean  Marine  Insurance  Com- 
pany ;  St.  Paul  F"ire  and  Marine  Insurance  ;  and 
the  Providence  Washington  Insurance  Com- 
pany. General  :  British  Buffalo  Marine 
Motor  Company,  Ltd.,  Chiswick ;  John  A. 
Bremner  &  Cfj.'s  lubricating  oils ;  Consolidated 
Pneumatic  Tool  Company,  Ltd.,  London  ; 
Taylor  Bros.  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  Leeds  ;  United 
Asbestos  Oriental  Agency,  Ltd.  ;  Underwcxjd 
Typewriter  Company,  New  York  ;  and  Weddel, 
Turner  &  C<j.'s  Tasmanian  hardw(K)ds  for  piles 
and  harbour  work,  railway  sleepers,  &c.  In 
connection  with  the  United  Asbestos  Oriental 


in  1845,  only  two  years  after  the  port  had 
been  opened  to  the  foreign  merchant. 

E.  D.  SASSOON   &   CO. 

Whkk  Warren  Hastings  was  laying  the 
foundations  of  the  British  Empire  in  India 
a  fruitful  source  of  revenue  was  provided  by 
the  import  and  export  trade  with  Canton, 
which  the  Sassoons  had  established  from  their 
headquarters  in  Bombay.  As  soon  as  the 
British  took  possession  of  Hongkong  repre- 
sentatives of  the  family  opened  a  branch 
there,  and  they  have  gradually  extended  their 
business  to  all  the  Treaty  ports  in  China, 
The  founder  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  E.  D. 
Sassoon  &  Co.,  which,   as  stated   in  a  short 


CHINA   AND  JAVA   EXPORT   COMPANY. 

The  Cliina  and  Java  Export  Company,  a 
corporation  formed  under  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  New  Jersey,  U.S.A.,  and  having  its 
head  office  in  New  York,  is  interested  chiefly 
in  the  purchase  of  goat  and  sheep  skins  and 
hides  for  the  markets  of  America  and  Europe. 
The  business  in  China  was  originally  estab- 
lished some  twelve  years  ago,  under  the  name 
of  Chas,  Stiinnann.  After  a  few  years,  it  was 
formed  into  a  company,  with  Chas.  Stiirmann 
as  the  general  manager,  and  since  then  the 
trade  has  developed  to  such  an  extent  that 
branches  have  been  opened  in  Shanghai, 
Tientsin,  Hankow,  Semarang,  Batavia,  Soura- 
baya,  and  Amsterdam.  Millions  of  goal  and 
sheep  skins  are  purchased  every  season,  and, 
after    being    carefully    sorted    under    foreign 


SIEMSSEN    &    CO. 


[See  page  612.] 


The  Godowx. 


Tiric  Offices  on'  the  Bund. 


612     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


supervision,  are  pressed  and  packed  in  the 
Company's  own  spacious  godowns  and 
shipped  to  the  Abe  Stein  Company.  Xew 
York,  and  to  Messrs.  Stein,  Forbes  &  Co.. 
Ltd.,  London,  who  disptwe  of  them  to  tanneries 
for  the  manufacture  of  shoe  leather.  In  the 
godowns  at  Shanghai  the  Company  has  its 
own  packing  presses  driven  hy  a  powerful 
oil  engine.  The  whole  of  one  Hixir  is  used 
for  selecting  the  skins,  and  the  whole  of 
another  for  packing  them,  while  the  roof  of 
the  building  is  used  for  drying  the  skins 
previous  to  packing.  The  Company  employs 
from  three  hundred  to  live  hundred  coolies 
per  day,  besides  a  number  of  sorters.  The 
local  offices  are  at  No.  I2.  Nanking  Road. 


realising  the  requirements  of  China,  tliey 
have  added  a  special  machinery  and  electrical 
department  to  their  business  in  recent  years. 
Their  conunodious  oflfice  buildings  on  the 
Bund,  with  godowns  attached,  were  erected 
in  1865,  and  in  their  style  and  general 
appearance  of  stability  furnish  a  good  illustra- 
tion of  the  resource  and  solidity  which  have 
always  been  characteristics  of  the  Company. 

A  short  historical  sketch  of  the  lirm,  in- 
cluding the  names  of  the  several  partners,  is 
given  in  the  Hongkong  section  of  this  volume. 
The  first  partner  in  charge  at  Shanghai  was 
Mr.  R.  Heinsen.  The  partner  at  present  re- 
siding at  the  port  is  Mr.  Otto  Struckmeyer, 
whose  intimate  knowledge  of  the  China  trade 
has  been  gained  in  various  parts  of  the  Empire 


t)pened  to  trade.  Thereupon  numerous  mer- 
chants fitted  out  trial  expeditions  to  the  Far 
East,  vii'i  India  and  the  Malay  Archipelago, 
in  the  confident  hope  of  finding  new  and 
extensive  markets  and  of  permanently  pre- 
serving them  for  the  use  of  their  own 
country. 

Actuated  by  these  motives,  two  old-estab- 
lished and  highly  respected  tirms  at  Leipzig, 
namely  C.  Hir/el  &  Co.  and  Carl  and  Gustav 
Harkort,  decided  jointly  to  send  out  an  ex- 
pedition. They  chartered  the  Hrcnien  barque 
Aiitm  anil  Elisa,  commanded  by  Captain 
Kahle,  and  shipped  by  her  all  kinds  of 
German  industrial  products,  more  especially 
Saxon  and  Rheinisch-Westphalian  textile  and 
metal  goods.  With  the  sale  of  this  valuable 
cargo  they  entrusted   Richard   von  Carlowitz 


[See  page  6ia] 

Jacob  Sassoon-  (the  present  liead  of  the  Firm). 


E.   D.    SASSOON    &    CO. 


Fro\t  Elevation  of  New  PRE^^SES 
(in  course  of  erection). 


SIEMSSEN   &   CO. 

This  firm  was  established  in  Shanghai  as 
early  as  1856.  by  Mr.  G.  T.  Siemssen,  as  a 
branch  of  the  Hongkong  establishment  which 
he  had  founded.  It  is  the  oldest  German 
house  in  the  port,  and  one  of  the  oldest  in 
China.  Messrs.  Siemssen  &  Co.  were  the 
first  firm  to  establish  a  regular  steamship 
service  between  Shanghai.  Hongkong,  and 
Canton,  and,  in  addition  to  actively  partici- 
pating in  the  coast  trade  themselves,  they 
have  represented  both  German  and  British 
interests  at  various  times.  From  the  outset 
they  have  carried  on  an  extensive  trade  in 
exports  and  imports  of  almost  every  descrip- 
tion, and  their  name  is  known  in  every  com- 
mercial country  in  the  world.  They  make  a 
feature    of   marine   and   fire    insurance,    and, 


during  his  twenty  years'  connection  with  the 
firm. 

CARLOWITZ   &  CO. 

During  the  general  forward  movement  in 
commercial  intercourse  and  economic  life  in 
Germany  in  the  early  forties  of  the  nine- 
teenth century,  powerful  efforts  were  put 
forth  on  all  sides  to  transport  the  various 
products  of  Germany  to  other  parts  of  the 
world,  and  to  exchange  them  for  foreign 
produce. 

Great  Britain,  always  the  leading  country 
in  trans-marine  trade,  after  lengthy  hostilities 
concluded  a  treaty  at  Nanking  on  August  29, 
1842,  with  the  Chinese,  under  which  Canton, 
Amoy,  Foochow,  Ningpo,  and  Shanghai  w^ere 


and  Bernhard  Harkort.  The  former,  born  at 
Dresden  in  1817,  was  the  son  of  a  landed 
proprietor  and  former  captain  in  the  Army, 
Maximilian  Carl  von  Carlowitz,  and  had 
devoted  himself  e.arly  in  life  to  a  commercial 
career,  visiting  the  Scliool  of  Commerce 
whilst  still  working  in  the  office  of  Messrs. 
Harkort  at  Leipzig.  He  was  already  on  the 
board  of  the  Leipzig-Dresden  Railway,  and 
had  also  attended  philosophical  lectures  at 
the  Leipzig  University.  Having  been  em- 
ployed in  the  firm  of  Napier  at  New  York 
since  1840,  he  had  completely  mastered  the 
English  language.  Mr.  Bernhard  Harkort, 
of  Leipzig,  was  a  young  relative  of  the 
owner  of  the  above-mentioned  firm.  The.se 
two  representatives  were  commissioned  to 
visit  Calcutta,  Singapore,  Batavia,  Manila, 
Shanghai,  Chusan,  Ningpo,  Amoy,  Hongkong, 


CARLOWITZ    &    CO. 

The  Offices  at  Shjxghai. 
The  Hide  Godowxs  at  Pootixg. 


y  Y 


614     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


[See  page  611] 


SIEMSSEN    &    CO.     MACHINERY    SHOWROOM. 


and  Canton,  and  obtain  trustworthy  particulars 
regarding  the  possibilities  for  the  sale  of  their 
goods  in  those  distant  countries,  so  that  a 
reliable  basis  might  be  arrived  at  for  further 
undertakings. 

On  November  2,  1843,  the  two  young 
Saxon  merchants  embarked  on  their  long  and 
eventful  voyage  to  the  East  round  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope.  In  order  to  make  the  most 
of  their  time  they  decided  that  each  should 
visit  different  places.  After  staying  four 
weeks  at  Singapore  and  doing  a  fairly  good 
business  there,  Harkort  sent  home  a  con- 
siderable remittance  in  Spanish  dollars  (about 
live  shillings  per  dollar),  and  went  to  Manila, 
while  Carlowitz  proceeded  to  Batavia.  On 
his  return  he  started  from  Singapore  on  his 
journey  to  China.  Like  the  "  Flying  Dutch- 
man "  he  appeared  in  Macao,  Chusan, 
Ningpo,  Shanghai.  Wusung,  Foochow,  and 
Amoy,  and  at  last  arrived  at  Hongkong 
on  September  6th,  and  at  Canton  on 
September    17th. 

Two  further  sailing  vessels  brought  supplies 
of  merchandise  to  Whampoa  Harbour,  and 
special  attention  was  then  devoted  to  the 
purchasing  of  Chinese  products  such  as  tea, 
musk,  rhubarb,  China-root,  gall-nuts,  various 
drugs  (which,  although  they  have  their  origin 
in  the  western  Yangtsze  districts,  find  their 
way  across  the  province  of  Hunan  to  Canton), 
silk,  silk  gcHxls,  galangal,  cassia  lignea,  cassia 
buds,  ginger,  buffalo  hides,  buffalo  horns, 
hog  bristles,  rattans,  sticks,  bamboo  canes, 
china,  Indian  ink,  paper  for  copper-plate 
printing,  carvings  of  all  kinds  in  mother-of- 
pearl,  ivory,  tortoise-shell,  and  sandal-wood, 
lacquered  work,  paintings  on  rice  paper  and 
on  ivory,  embroideries  on  satin  and  crape, 
&c.  They  thus  established  an  interchange 
of  goods  with  Leipzig,  Hamburg,  Bremen, 
and  Paris,  and  more  especially  with  London, 
which,  for  financial  reasons,  had  been  and 
still  remained  the  principal  market  for  all 
imported  goods. 

Another  trip  was  made  by  Richard  von 
Carlowitz  to  Siam,  Battavia,  Singapore,  Pe- 
nang,  and  Calcutta  in  order  to  collect  more 
exact  information  regarding  the  markets  in 
those  places.  He  was,  however,  attracted  to 
Canton  again,  and  .was  appointed  the  first 
Consul  there  for  Prussia  and  Saxony. 

The  two  Leipzig  firms  were  well  satisfied 
with    the    success    of    the    mission,    and    on 


October  31.  1845,  the  announcement  was 
made  tliat  Mr.  Richard  von  Carlowitz  and  Mr. 
Bernliard  Harkort  were  about  to  take  into 
their  own  hands  the  business  resulting  from 
the  experimental  expedition  sent  out  under 
their  charge  to  the  markets  of  Indo-China, 
and  were  establishing  an  independent  house 
of  business  at  Canton  under  tlie  style  of 
Carlowitz,  Harkort  &  Co.  It  was  added 
that  a  branch  would  shortly  be  opened  at 
Shanghai. 


RICHARD    VON    CARLOWITZ 

(Founder  of  the  Firm). 

The  partnership  was  established  for  a 
period  of  ten  years,  and  on  July  I,  1S55,  it 
was  dissolved,  the  name  of  the  firm  being 
changed  to  Carlowitz  &  Co. 

On  July  I,  1 866,  a  branch  house  was 
founded  at  Hongkong.  The  shipping  busi- 
ness likewise  experienced  an  unexpected 
development,  and  tlie  firm  took  part  largely 
in  the  chartering  and  sale  of  steamers  and 
of  sailing  vessels  along  the  coast.  The  fine 
fleet  of  small   French  St.  Malo  sailing  ships. 


which  carried  on  the  trade  between  the 
northern  and  southern  ports  of  China,  were 
also  consigned  to  the  address  of  Carlowitz 
&  Co. 

The  Shanghai  branch  was  established  on 
April  I,  1877,  and  it  has  developed  so  rapidly 
and  become  so  important  that  to-day  it  is  the 
chief  of  all  the  offices  of  Carlowitz  &  Co.  in 
the  P\ir  East. 

In  their  quality  .as  agents  of  different 
shipping  companies,  and  more  particularly  of 
the  Hamburg-Amerika  Linie,  Carlowitz  &  Co., 
in  conjunction  with  the  latter  and  with  the 
firm  of  Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co.,  established  in 
1901  the  Yangtsze  Wharf  and  Godown  Com- 
pany at  Shanghai,  where  numerous  steamers 
discharge  and  load.  This  undertaking  has 
regularly  paid  a  dividend  of  18  per  cent,  per 
annum. 

In  consequence  of  the  opening  of  the 
Yangtsze  and  northern  ports,  under  the  Treaty 
of  Tientsin  in  1862,  a  branch  house  was 
opened  at  Tientsin  in  1886  ;  and,  owing  to  the 
vicinity  of  the  capital,  Peking,  a  considerable 
share  of  its  business  has  reference  to  so-called 
Government  affairs.  The  firm  acted  as  inter- 
mediary for  negotiating  with  Messrs.  Robert 
Warschauer  &  Co.  at  Berlin  the  first  loan  that 
the  Imperial  Chinese  Government  ever  placed 
in  Germany.  It  has  supplied  a  number  of 
provincial  governments  with  mint  apparatus 
for  the  coining  of  money,  and  with  plant  for 
Hour  mills  and  for  powder,  cartridge,  ride,  and 
gun  factories.  As  representative  of  the  Gruson 
works  at  Magdeburg-Buckau,  the  firm  has  also 
supplied  quick-firing  guns  and  ajnniunition, 
railway  material,  rails,  locomotive  engines, 
passenger-cars,  freight-cars,  &c.  At  the  same 
time  the  exportation  from  Tientsin  of  wool, 
straw-plaits,  bristles,  &c.,  especially  to  the 
United  States  of  America,  has  assumed  large 
proportions. 

The  direct  export  by  the  firm  of  so-called 
"  Manchester  goods  "  to  Eastern  Asia  amounts 
in  value  to  many  millions  of  marks  per  annum. 

For  the  puqxjse  of  watching  more  effectually 
over  the  many  different  kinds  of  business  con- 
nected with  the  import  and  export  of  goods, 
and  with  marine  insurance  and  finajicial 
matters,  and  in  order  to  render  tlie  firm 
entirely  independent,  it  was  resolved  in  1886 
to  establish  a  branch  at  Hamburg,  and  this 
employs  agents  and  sub-agents  in  all  the 
larger    towns    of     Germany,    Great    Britain, 


MELCHERS    &    CO. 


[See  p.iRp  618.] 


Thk  Goix)Wxs. 


TnK  Offices  t)X  thk  Kkknch  Iii:xi>. 
The  Hide  and  Skin  Stokes  at  Pootunc. 


616     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Austria.  France.  Italy.  Switzerland,  Scandinavia, 
the  Lc\-ant.  &c. 

In  iSqS  a  new  branch  was  established  at 
Kiaochau.  the  territory  which  had  been  taken 
fKKsession  of  under  a  lease.  The  seat  of  this 
branch  is  Tsingtau.  where  the  lirni  is  largely 
interested  Anancially  in  the  Shantung  Railway 


Shanghai.  Tientsin,  Chefoo,  Tsingtau.  and 
Kobe  to  New  York  and  to  Germany  ex- 
perienced such  an  extension,  that  it  was 
resolved  to  make  matting  and  straw-braids 
specialities,  and  accordingly  the  business  of 
.\.  McGlew  &  Co.,  at  Kobe,  was  acquired 
by   purchase  on  January    i,    1903.    and  here 


[See  patse  fuo.J  CHINA    AND    JAVA   EXPORT    COMPANY. 

The  Baling  Pre.s.s. 
Sorting  Skins. 


and  Shantung  Mining  Company.  The  import 
trade  to  Tsingtau  and  the  export  trade  thence, 
especially  in  straw-braids,  is  rapidly  increasing, 
so  that,  in  order  to  support  it,  a  branch  had 
also  to  be  established  at  Tsinanfu,  the  capital 
of  Shantung. 

Business  in  rush-matting  from  Canton  and 
Kobe  to  New  York,  and  in  straw-braids  from 


all   other  articles   of  import   and    export   are 
now  also  handled. 

Closely  connected  with  this  is  the  establish- 
ment of  a  branch  on  January  i,  1904,  at 
New  York,  where  the  firm  had  been  repre- 
sented for  twenty-two  years  by  American 
agents.  The  firm's  representative,  Mr.  Town- 
send    Kushmore,  who   had   already   in  reality 


been  for  many  years  in  the  service  and  pay  of 
the  tirin  of  Carlowitz  &  Co.,  was  from  this 
date  admitted  a  partner. 

On  July  I,  1905,  the  firm,  for  similar 
reasons,  acquired  the  business  of  Robison 
&    Co.,   at   Yokohama. 

By  an  arrangement  made  with  the  firm 
of  H.  Mandl  tk  Co.  in  China,  which  has 
been  absorbed  by  Carlowitz  &  Co.,  the 
latter  became  the  .sole  agents  for  the  whole 
Chinese  limpire  of  the  world-famed  firm  of 
Fried.  Krupp,  Essen  a.  Ruhr,  Fried.  Krupp 
Grusoinvork,  Madgeburg-Buckau,  and  "  Ger- 
maniawerft "  at  Kiel. 

In  1H91  a  branch  of  the  firm  was  opened 
at  Hankow,  whence  vegetable-tallow,  gall-nuts, 
cantharides,  cotton,  and,  more  particularly, 
animal  products,  such  as  goose  and  duck 
leathers,  bristles,  albumen  and  yolk  of  egg,  and 
buffalo  hides,  to  the  value  of  several  million 
dollars,  are  exported  annually.  Here,  also, 
business  transactions  with  the  Government 
are  negotiated,  and  supplies  are  furnished  for 
gunpowder  mills,  and  steel  factories,  as  well 
as  plant  for  mines,  coke-furnaces,  &c.,  for 
the  neighbouring  coal  mines  of  Pinghsiang, 
which  liave  been  developed  with  capititi 
provided  by  Carlowitz  &  Co.,  and  now 
produce  2,000  tons  of  coal  per  day. 

At  Wuchang,  the  capital  of  Hunan  (situated 
opposite  to  Hankow)  the  firm  has  recently 
erected  dwelling-houses  and  ore-washing  and 
concentrating  plant  for  the  purpose  of  manipu- 
lating and  exporting  the  various  descriptions 
of  ore  which  are  brought  there,  and  many 
thousands  of  tons  are   shipped  annually. 

At  the  present  date  the  firm  is  represented 
by  branch  houses  of  its  own  at  the  following 
places  (enumerated  chronologically)  :— Canton, 
Hongkong,  Shanghai,  Tientsin,  Hamburg, 
Hankow,  Wuchang,  Tsingtau,  Tsinanfu,  Kobe, 
New  York,  and  Yokohama  ;  whilst  it  main- 
tains agencies  in  all  the  larger  cities  of  Europe 
and  America. 

The  sum  represented  by  the  turnover  of 
the  total  imports  of  the  firm  to  Eastern  Asia 
amounts  to  from  forty-five  to  fifty  million 
marks  (about  ^."2, 250,000  to  ;g2,5oo,ooo)  per 
aninim,  and  that  of  the  exports  from  China 
and   Japan   to  an   equal   sum. 

The  following  are  the  landed  properties 
and  buildings  belonging  to  the  firm  :— At 
Shangliai  :  the  main  oflices  in  Kiukiang  Road 
(the  largest  building  in  the  Settlement),  ex- 
tensive warehouses  at  Pootung,  opposite  the 
British  Consulate-General,  and  an  immense 
warehouse  at  the  corner  of  Szechuen  and 
Soocliow  Roads.  At  Tientsin  :  dwelling- 
houses,  offices,  and  warehouses.  At  Canton, 
Kobe,  and  Yokohama  :  dwelling-honses, 
oflices,  and  w.arehouses.  At  Hankow  : 
dwelling-houses,  offices,  and  warehouses, 
with  an  albumen  and  egg-yolk  factory,  and 
an  establishment  for  drying  and  preparing 
buffalo  hides,  altogether  three  separate 
properties.  At  Wuchang  :  dwelling-houses, 
offices,  warehouses,  and  an  ore-concentrating 
plant.  At  Tsingtau  :  dwelling-houses,  offices, 
warehouses,  and  petroleum  tanks.  At 
Hongkong  ;  a  warehouse.  The  value  of  all 
these  together  amounts  to  four  and  a  half 
million  marks  (about  ;t"22.=;.ooo  sterling). 

The  firm  employs  in  its  various  branch 
houses  about  250  Europeans  and  i.ooo  Chinese 
and  Japanese. 

Thus,  from  a  small  beginning,  the  firm  has 
developed  into  one  of  the  largest  German 
undertakings  in  Eastern  Asia,  and  is  able 
to  look  back  with  legitimate  satisfaction  and 
pride  upon  a  many-sided  and  useful  activity 
during  a  period  of  more  than  sixty  years. 


# 


MELCHERS    &    CO. 

Thk  Ciiaxo  Kah  I'AW;  Wharf. 
The  Pontoon  with  the  Tenher  "Brejien.' 
The  Pootinc,  Wharf, 


[Sec  page  Cl8.] 


618      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


MELCHERS    &    CO. 

A  LEAUINC  position  amongst  the  prominent 
foreign  tirms  in  the  Far  East  is  occupied  by 
Messrs.  Melchcrs  &  Co.  The  tirm's  he.-»d 
olfice  is  at  Bremen.  Germany,  where,  on 
January  i,  1806.  Anton  Friedrich  Carl 
Melchers  and  Carl  Focke  established  the  firm 
o(  Focke  and  Melchers,  importers  and  distri- 
butors of  all  kinds  of  colonial  produce.  The 
partnership  was  dissolved  on  December  31. 
1813.  and  Melchers  founded  the  firm  of 
C.  Slelchers  &  Co..  which  still  ranks  as  one 
of  the  first  and  most  respected  commercial 
houses  in  Bremen.    The  founder  died  in  1854. 


subsequently  became  the  head,  the  Honj;konj; 
house  was  well  respected  and  prosperous. 
Business  increased,  and  as  China  was  opened 
up  to  foreign  commerce,  the  firm  extended 
its  operations  to  the  other  Treaty  ports. 
branches  being  opened  in  Shanghai  in  1877, 
Hankow  1884,  Canton  1891,  Tientsin  1896, 
and  Swatow.  Chinkiang.  and  Ichang  in  i8y<>. 
Naturally  Melchers  &  Co.  became  the 
general  agents  in  China  of  the  Norddeutscher 
Lloyd,  when  in  1884  the  Imperial  German 
Mail  Line  to  the  Far  East  was  Inaugurated. 
They  are  now  one  of  the  biggest  supporters 
of  the  line  as  exporters  and  importers. 

The  export   trade   of   China   has    increased 


R.  Nel'Ma.vn. 

ti.  M.   BOYKS. 


A.  W.  Bahr. 
F.  J.  d'Almkida. 


E.  Shakstkom. 
W.  Fl'tterer. 


When,  in  1857,  Bremen  merchants  formed 
the  Norddeutscher  Lloyd,  L.  H.  C.  Melchers, 
eldest  son  of  Mr.  A.  F.  C.  Melchers,  took  an 
active  part  in  the  negotiations,  and  the  senior 
partner  of  the  firm  has  since  been  on  the 
board  of  directors  of  this  important  steamship 
company. 

Hermann  Melchers,  the  second  son  of 
L.  H.  C.  Melchers,  arrived  at  Hongkong  in 
1864,  and  became  the  youngest  clerk  of 
Eduard  Schellhass  &  Co.  He  soon  saw  the 
great  possibilities  of  the  China  trade,  and 
in  company  with  Adolf  Andre  established,  on 
August  I,  1866.  the  firm  of  Melchers  &  Co., 
Hongkong,  in  which  the  home  firm  took  a 
financial  interest  When  Hermann  Melchers 
left  China  in  1873  to  become  a  partner  in 
his  father's  firm   in    Bremen,   of  which    he 


enormously  in  recent  years,  and  the  iirm  has 
had  a  large  share  in  developing  the  business 
to  all  parts  of  the  world  in  hides,  skins, 
tobacco,  gall-nuts,  rhubarb,  bi-istles,  wood-oil, 
animal  and  vegetable  tallow,  China-grass, 
jute,  cotton,  silk  goods,  matting,  egg-yolk  and 
albumen,  sesamum  seeds,  feathers,  &c.  It 
has  its  own  agents  at  every  important  trade 
centre  on  the  Continent,  in  Great  Hritain, 
the  United  States  of  America,  and  all  parts 
of  Asia  having  commercial  intercourse  witli 
China.  The  firm  employs  its  own  hides, 
skins,  and  cotton  inspectors  at  Shanghai, 
Hankow,  and  Tientsin,  and  has  extensive 
establishments  for  packing,  cleaning,  and 
preparing  produce.  With  the  extension  of 
the  railway  lines  into  the  interior  of  China 
it   is  confidently  hoped  that   the  export  trade 


of  China,  especially  in  bulky  articles  such  as 
seeds  that  require  cheap  transport  for  long 
distances,  has  a  brilliant  future  before  it,  and 
that  it  will  lead  to  increased  activity  in  the 
import  trade,  the  natives,  by  getting  more 
money  for  their  agricultural  products,  being 
able  to  take  a  larger  supply  of  foreign  goods. 

For  many  years  the  firm  has  done  a 
regular  business  in  iron  and  metals  from 
Great  Britain,  the  Continent,  and  the  United 
States  of  .-\merica  ;  in  sundry  goods  from 
the  Continent ;  and  in  piece  goods  from 
Manchester  and  Bradford. 

When  in  1897  "i*^  Kiaochau  territory  was 
leased  by  China  to  Germany  and  Messrs. 
Diederichsen.  Jebsen  &  Co.,  of  Kiel,  started 
a  regular  line  of  steamers  between  Shanghai, 
Tsiiigtau,  Chefoo,  and  Tientsin,  Melchers  & 
Co.  were  appointed  the  agents  at  Shanghai 
and  Tientsin  of  this  line,  which  received  a 
subsidy  from  the  German  Government  for 
carrying  the  mails  and  maintaining  a  regular 
service  to  assist  the  development  of  the  new- 
port  of  Tsingtau.  When  in  1901  the  Ham- 
burg-Anierika  I>inie  took  the  line  over  from 
Jehsens,  Melchers  S  Co.  remained  the  agents 
at  Shanghai.  The  present  service  is  all  that 
can  be  desired  and  Is  greatly  patronised  by 
shippers  and  the  travelling  public. 

For  many  years  the  firm  had  steamers 
running  regularly  between  Hankow  and 
Swatow,  but  the  once  Imiiortant  sugar  trade 
has  met  the  same  fate  that  Is  threatening 
the  China  tea  trade,  owing  to  the  adoption 
of  improved  methods  in  other  producing 
centres,  and  the  traffic  becoming  unremunera- 
tive.  the  line  was  given  up  in  1902  and  the 
firm's  Swatow  branch  was  closed  at  the 
same  time. 

The  first  German  river  steamers  on  the 
Yanglsze — the  steanislilps  Mcilcc,  Meishini,  and 
Miidcih — belonged  also  to  the  Norddeutscher 
Lloyd  and  Melchers  &  Co.  They  made  their 
trial  trips  In  1899  and  have  since  been 
running  on  the  river,  carrying,  in  addition  to 
large  quantities  of  native  goods,  cargo  from 
the  river  ports  for  transshipment  at  Shanghai 
Into  the  Imperial  German  Mall  Steamers. 
At  the  various  river  ports  the  cargo  Is 
landed  and  stored  in  hulks  belonging  to 
the  Company,  but  at  Shanghai  the  three 
steamers  go,  alongside  the  firm's  Pootung 
(Lainidu)  Wharf  to  discharge  their  cargoes 
into  four  large  godowns. 

The  facilities  for  discharging  vessels  and 
storing  goods  at  Shanghai  being  found  in- 
adequate at  the  end  of  the  last  century  to 
meet  the  Increasing  traffic,  the  Chang  Kah 
Pang  Wharf  Company  was  started,  and  the 
firm  became  the  general  managers.  With 
three  godowns  and  about  600  feet  of  river 
frontage  the  Wharf  Company  began  opera- 
tions In  1900,  and  It  has  since  so  extended 
its  trade  that  It  has  now  a  frontage  of  more 
than  1,000  feet,  and  the  largest  vessels  that 
come  up  to  Shanghai  can  discharge  their 
cargoes  Into  the  godowns,  which  Include 
more  than  a  dozen  large  single  and  double 
storied  buildings.  The  steamers  of  three  mail 
lines— the  Norddeutscher  Lloyd,  Messageries 
Maritimes.  and  the  American  Pacific  Mail 
Steamship  Company — and  tlie  steamers  of  the 
Chargeurs  Reunis  and  the  East  Asiatic  Com- 
pany of  Copenhagen,  as  well  as  other  steamers 
from  China,  Japan,  and  Java  ports,  regularly 
discharge  their  cargoes  at  these  wharves. 

Messrs.  Melchers  &  Co.  are  agents  for 
the  Nordstern  Life  Insurance  Company,  of 
Berlin  ;  the  Globus  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
of  Hamburg  ;  the  Salamander  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company,  of  Amsterdam  ;  the  Bremen 
Underwriters  ;  the  Germanischer  Lloyd  ;  and 
several  German  and  Swiss  marine  .insurance 
companies. 


The  Offices. 


SHEW  AN,    TOMES    &    CO. 


[See  page  620.] 


620     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG, 


SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The    pnipcrtics    of    the    finii    incUide  :     At  dryin}*  and  packing  estahlishmcnts  for  liidcs 

Shanghai  :  the  large  oftice  building,  dwelling-  and  skins,  grounds   for   inelting  and  relining 

house,  and    godown    on    the    French    Bund,  \vo<.xl-oil  and  tallow,  and  rooms   for   packing 

comprising  about  eight  mow  of  very  valuable  fibres    and   bristles   and    cleaning   seeds.     At 

land  and  foreshore,  and  the  Melchers  &  Co,'s  Canton  :  dwelling-house,  office,  and  godowns. 


Corporation  :  Hongkong  .md  W'hanipoa  Dock 
Company,  l,td.  ;  Hongkong  and  Kowloon 
Wharf  and  Godown  Company,  Ltd.  ;  Hong 
kong  Land  Investment  and  Agency  Company, 
Ltd.  ;  I'nion  Insurance  Society  of  Canton, 
Ltd.  ;  and  China  Traders'  Insurance  Company  ; 
China  Fire  Insurance  Company,  Ltd.,  of 
Hongkong  ;  Hongkong,  Canton,  and  Macao 
Steamboat  Company,  Ltd.  ;  Star  Ferry  Com- 
pany, Ltd.,  of  Hongkong  ;  Slianghai  Tug 
and  Ligliter  Company,  Ltd.  ;  Shanghai  Dock 
and  liiiginecriiig  Company,  Ltd.  ;  and  Laou 
Kung  Mow  Cotton  Spinning  and  Weaving 
Company,  Ltd.,  Shangliai ;  and  on  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Chambers  of  Commerce  of 
Hongkong,  Shanghai,  and  Hankow. 

Since  iX66  Mr.  Hermann  Melchers  has 
been  the  tirm's  senior  partner.  The  other 
partners  are  :  Adolf  von  Andre,  1X66  89  ; 
Wilh.  Keiners,  1874  8?  ;  Carl  Krebs,  1878  81  ; 
Max  Grote,  1884-87;  Carl  Jantzen  1884- 
1901  ;  Stephan  C.  Michaelsen,  1884  97  : 
Adalbert  Korff,  since  1892  ;  Armin  Haupt, 
1S92  1907  ;  Gustav  Ad.  Melchers  1894  1903  ; 
Carl  Michelau,  since  1902  ;  John  W.  Bandow, 
since  1905  ;  Gustav  Friesland,  since  li/)8  ; 
and  Adolf  Widmann,  since   1908. 

In  its  various  branches  in  China  the  tirm 
employs  more  than  100  Europeans  and  1,500 
Chinese.  The  tirm's  compradore  at  Shanghai 
is  Mr.  Hoo  Krh  Mai,  and  his  chief  assistant 
is  Mr.  N'g  Tik  Shun. 

m 

SHEWAN,  TOMES   &   CO. 

Thk  Shanghai  branch  of  this  important  house 
was  established  in  1896.  Oflices  were  at 
first  opened  on  the  Bund,  but  in  1899  the 
business  was  removed  to  the  premises  now 
occupied  in  Yuen-ming-yuen  Road.  The 
various  activities  and  wide  interests  of  the 
Company  are  described  in  detail  in  the  Hong- 
kong section  of  this  work  ;  and  it  is  needless, 
therefore,  to  recapitulate  them.  Suffice  it  to 
say,  that  the  firm  carries  on  an  extensive 
import  and  export  trade,  dealing  in  practically 
the  whole  output  of  the  West,  from  piece 
goods  to  metals,  and  from  Hour  to  cement — 
in  everything,  in  fact,  that  is  required  by 
the  people  of  the  Chinese  Empire.  Messrs. 
Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co.  are  the  sole  agents  for 
the  New  York  Lubricating  Oil  Company,  Ltd., 
whose  godowns  are  situated  in  Kashing  Road. 
Other  agencies  which  they  hold  include  those 
for  the  American  Asiatic  Steamship  Company  ; 
the  Portland  and  Asiatic  Steamship  Company; 
Cliina  and  Manila  Steamship  Company,  Ltd.; 
the  "  Shire  "  line  of  steamers  ;  J.  Marke 
Wood's  steamers  ;  the  Green  Island  Cement 
Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  Hongkong  Rope  Manu- 
fucturing  Company.  Ltd.  ;  the  State  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  Manufacturers' 
Life  Insurance  Company  ;  and  the  Tacoma 
Grain  Company.  The  manager  of  the  local 
branch  is  Mr.  George  Somerville. 


BUSINESS   HEN    OF    SHANQHAI. 


I.      W.   B.   O.   MiDDLETOX. 

4.    R.  B.  LEV1E.V. 

7.   s.  A.  Levy. 

10.     Y.   ITO. 

II.     H.  ARLT. 
16.     R.  Sr>UeRTILI.K. 

17     F.  White. 


2,    A.  Woods. 

5.    E.  s.  Little. 

8.    c.xKi.  Michelau. 

15.    W.  M.  LAW. 

12.    J.  Kkost. 

18.    w.  R.  Malcolm. 


3.    li.  K.  Brightex. 

ft.    K.  Kobato. 
9.    S.  A.  Hardoox. 

14.    A.  K.  Murhhixe. 
13.     H.  E.  Railtox. 

20.    P.  Nctter. 
19.    S.  Fl'KAXo. 


wharf  and  godowns  at  Pootung.  At  Hankow  : 
dwelling-houses,  offices,  and  godowns,  an 
albumen  and  egg-yolk  factory,  an  electric 
installation  which  supplies  the  whole  German 
Ojncession      with     electric     light,    extensive 


At  Tientsin  :  dwelling-house,  office,  and 
godowns.  The  value  of  all  these  properties 
amounts  to  more  than  ;£"200,ooo. 

The  tirm  is  represented  on  the  directorates 
of     the    Hongkong    and    Shanghai     Banking 


THE   MITSUI   BUSSAN   KAISHA. 

Thk  Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  important  department  of  the  famous 
house  of  Mitsui,  the  history  of  which  is 
traced  in  the  Hongkong  section  of  this 
volume.  Eslablished  in  its  present  form  in 
1876,  the  enterprise  now  embraces  almost 
every  kind  of  export  and  import  trade,  and 
has  branches  in  every  part  of  the  world. 
The  aggregate  amount  of  business  transacted 
in  !(//)  was  nearly  Yen  230,000,000.  Of 
this  sum  the  foreign  trade  alone  represented 
Yen  170,000,000,  being   one-fifth    of    the    total 


NEW    PREMISES   OF    THE    MITSUI    BUSSAN    KAISHA,    IN    SZECHUEN   BOAD. 


622     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


foreifni  trade  of  Japan.  The  principal 
articles  exported  by  the  Company  comprise 
coal,  cotton,  \-arn,  raw  silk.  Iiabutai.  rice, 
cotton  cloth,  copper,  silver,  ciniphor.  t-oral. 
cement,  timber,  railway  sleci->ers,  sulphur. 
matches,   &c.     The   chief   imports   are   war- 


.Amcrican  firms  in  Japan  and  in  China  and 
Korea,  besides  actinj;  as  aj;ents  for  a 
number  of  insurance  companies.  It  owns  a 
Heet  of  seven  efficient  steamers,  all  lOO  Ai. 
ag}jre>;atin{«  over  26,900  tons,  gross,  and 
witli    the    exception  of    two,  these  are  subsi- 


8HANOHAI    ARCHITECTS    AND    CIVIL   ENGINEERS. 


i    8.  J.  Hause.  3. 

5.    P.  M.  Beeslet.       6.    a.  E.  Ausah. 
lo.    Arthur  Dalla.s. 


I.      KftBKRT    KOSK. 

The  late  Brkn'A.v  Atkixsox. 

7.      W.    M.    DOWUALI,,  8. 

II.    J.  E.  Dknhah. 

13.      Y,    HiKANO. 


4.    G.  B.  Atkixsox. 
R.  B.  MooRHEAD.       9.    A.  G.  Bray. 
12.    Walter  Scott. 


China,  and  other  Eastern  ports.  But, 
althiiujjh  equipped  with  such  powerful  means 
of  transportation,  by  which  over  half  a 
million  tons  of  merchandise  are  carried 
annually,  the  Company  finds  it  necessary  to 
charter  steam  and  sail  tonnage  both  at 
London  and  in  the  East. 

The  licadquarters  of  the  Mitsui  Bussan 
Kaisha  are  in  Tokyo.  Tliere  are  branches 
and  representatives  of  the  house  in  nineteen 
other  places  in  Japan,  and  also  in  Ixmdon, 
New  York,  Hamburg,  Portland,  .San  Fran- 
cisco (U.S.A.),  Sydney,  Manila,  Calcutta,  Bom- 
bay, Rangoon,  Sourabaya,  Amoy,  Hongkong, 
Foochow,  Canton,  Singapore,  Shanghai,  Han- 
kow, Tsingtau,  Chefoo,  Tientsin,  Dalny, 
Newchwang,  Chemulpo,  and  Seoul. 

In  Shanghai  the  Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha 
is  the  chief  shareholder  in,  and  acts  as 
general  manager  of,  the  Shanghai  Cotton 
Spinning  Company,  Ltd.,  the  Santai  Cotton 
Spinning  Company,  Ltd.,  and  the  Yueng  Lung 
Ginning  Mills.  The  first  two  companies 
alone  have  a  paid-up  capital  of  Tls.  iSo3,66o 
and  operate  44,892  spindles,  while  the 
Yuen  Lung  Ginning  Mills  have  a  capital  of 
Tls.  100,000  and  work  some  167  gins  by 
steam-power. 

The  Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha  has  recently 
constructed  its  own  wharf  at  Pootung  for 
the  storage  of  coal  and  general  merchan- 
dise passing  through  its  hands.  The  wharf 
covers  an  area  of  943,800  square  feet  and 
has  a  frontage  of  800  feet.  There  is  also, 
in  the  Yangtszepoo  Road,  a  lumber  yard 
belonging  to  the  Company  that  covers  about 
90  mow  of  ground  and  has  a  river- 
frontage  of  500  feet.  The  local  offices  are 
at  49,  S/.echuen  Road. 


^ 


A.  R.  BURKILL   &   SONS. 

The  firm  now  known  as  Messrs.  A.  R. 
Burkill  &  Sons,  which  carries  on  a  general 
mercantile  business,  was  established  in  Shang- 
hai nearly  half  a  century  ago.  In  the  old 
days  the  offices  were  situated  in  Kiangse 
Road,  the  present  more  commodious  pre- 
mises in  Kiukiang  Road  being  purcha,sed  as 
recently  as  1900.  The  house  was  known  by 
the  name  of  its  founders — Messrs.  Cromie 
and  Burkill — until  the  death  of  Mr.  Cromie 
in  1896,  when  Mr.  Burkill  admitted  his  two 
sons  into  partnership.  Simultaneously,  also, 
the  scope  of  the  business,  which  had  been 
confined  almost  exclusively  to  raw  and  waste 
silk,  was  enlarged  to  include  general  imports 
and  exports.  Mr.  A.  R.  Burkill  retired  from 
the  active  management  in  1898,  and  is  living 
in  England,  the  conduct  of  the  business  being 
now  vested  entirelv  in  the  two  sons,  Messrs. 
A.  W.  and  C.  K.  Burkill. 

Messrs.  A.  R.  Burkill  &  Sons  are  agents  for 
the  Anglo-French  Land  Investment  Company, 
which  has  a  capital  of  Tls.  2,000,000  ;  the 
Cheang  Mow  Steamship  Company,  which 
possesses  a  number  of  small  boats  trading 
under  the  inland  waters  regulations ;  the 
Manchester  Assurance  Company  ;  and  the 
Royal  Exchange  Assurance  Corporation. 
They  are  also  general  managers  of  the 
Vulcan  Iron  Works,  and  secretaries  for  Major 
Bros.,  Ltd.,  the  proprietors  of  the  Kiangsu 
Chemical  Works. 


ships,  steamers,  ordnance,  locomotives,  steel 
bridges,  electrical  machines,  cotton,  wool, 
rice,  raw  and  refined  sugar,  indigo,  beans, 
wires,  lead,  tin,  zinc,  &c. 

The      Mitsui      Bussan     Kaisha     represents 
■evetal    well-known    British,    European,    and 


dised  by  the  Japanese  Government  under  the 
Marine  Encouragement  Act.  The  vessels  are 
almost  exclusively  engaged  in  the  transpor- 
tation of  the  Company's  own  merchandise  to 
and  from  Shanghai,  Hongkong,  the  Philip- 
pines,   Straits    Settlements,     Rangoon,    Java, 


DICKESON.   JONBS   &   CO. 

This  Company,  which  now  carries  on  a 
large  and  important  trade  as  merchants  and 
general  commission   agents,    was   established 


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THE    MITS0I    BUSSAN    KAISHA-HISTORICAL    REVIEW    IN    THE    CHINESE    LANGUAGE. 


624     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


as  rccenllv  as  in  1901.  The  two  p;irtnt.'rs 
—Mr.  R.  H.  Dicke«)i"i  and  Mr.  C.  Walter 
Jones — in  June  of  that  year  opened  oftices 
at  41,  Dickinson  Street,  Manchester,  and, 
in  a  ver>-  short  time,  owing  to  increasing 
business,  they  found  it  necessary  to  provide 
more  extensive  accommodation  for  their 
rapidly  growing  headquarters"  staff.  Retain- 
ing their  original  offices,  therefore,  they  took 
additional  premises  at  12,  George  Street, 
Manchester,  so  that  now,  besides  the  usual 
managers',  booking,  and  shipping  depart- 
ments, they  have  also  considerable  ware- 
house space  and  a  special  rtxnn  in  which 
all  cotton  and  piece  goods  are  examined  by 
experts  before  being  shipped  to  their  different 
markets. 
Simultaneously    with   the   establishment   of 


the  head  otlice  in  Manchester,  a  branch  was 
opened  in  Shanf;hai  under  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Herbert  E.  Railton.  who  had  had 
considerable  experience  of  the  Manchester 
and  piece-goods  trade  in  China.  Sub- 
sequently, in  order  to  cope  with  the  in- 
creasing volume  of  business,  Mr.  W.  B. 
O.  Middleton,  who  had  had  ten  years' 
experience  in  the  China  trade,  and  a  varied 
commercial  training  in  London,  New  York, 
and  San  Francisco,  was  appointed  agent 
conjointly  with  Mr.  Railton. 

The  principal  business  of  the  firm  is  in 
cotton  and  woollen  textiles.  In  this  depart- 
ment the  Shanghai  branch  deals  direct 
with  headquarters,  whence  large  consign- 
ments are  shipped  also  to  Hongkong,  Tient- 
sin,   and     the     principal     ports     of     Japan. 


Dickcson,  Jones  &  Co.  deal  extensively, 
also,  in  the  chief  exports  from  England, 
France,  Germany,  Helgiuni,  .Austria,  and 
the  I'nited  States,  and  have  built  up  a 
large  business  in  all  classes  of  metals 
and  hardware.  French  ribbons,  German 
sundries,  window-glass,  lumber,  flour,  leather, 
&c.  A  special  feature  is  made  of  the 
lumber  trade.  The  firm  charier  their  own 
steamers  and  have  an  exclusive  agency  for 
tlic  Oregon  Pine  Export  Company,  of 
Portland,  Oregon,  li.S.A.  Of  this  Company, 
Mr.  Osborne  Middleton,  brother  to  Mr.  W. 
B.  O.  Middleton,  is  manager.  The  firm 
represent,  also,  in  the  markets  of  China, 
over  thirty  well-known  British  manufac- 
turing houses,  including  the  Nestle  and 
Anglo-Swiss      Condensed     Milk     Company  ; 


(See  page  (aU} 


BRUNNER,    MOND    &    CO.,    LTD.-THE    GODOWNS    AT    SHANGHAI. 


jlKSfiil^SfiSf^SSSiSS^SSiS^l^f^E^^^ 


A.    R.    BURKILL    &    SONS. 
Thk  New  Officks  ix  KirKUXGiKoAD. 


[See  paj^e  622.] 


62t>     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Priestman  Bros.,  Ltd.,  of  Hull,  the  well- 
known  dredger  and  exca\-ator  manufac- 
turers ;  K.  Reddaway  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  of 
Manchester,  whose  "  camel  "  brand  of 
t>eUing  is  famous  all  over  the  world  ;  the 
Falkirk  Iron  Company,  of  Scotland,  manu- 
facturers of  grates,  baths,  &c.  ;  and  Brintons, 


in  Hamburj;.  Messrs.  Simon,  Israel  &  Co,  ; 
and  in  New  York,  Messrs,  Carleton  & 
Moffat. 


m 


THK    PREMISES   OF    SCOTT,    HARDING    &    CO. 


Ltd.,  of  Kidderminster,  the  well-known 
carpet  manufacturers.  Mr.  John  A.  Hayes 
is  in  charge  of  this  miscellaneous  depart- 
ment which,  it  may  be  mentioned,  has 
recently  sold  a  large  dredging  plant  to  the 
Chinese  Government.  Messrs.  Dickeson. 
Jones  &  Co.'s  agents  in  Lfindon  are. Messrs. 
Tull<x;h    &    Co.,   of    4.   Fenchurch    Avenue  ; 


BRUNNER,  MONO   &   CO.,  LTD. 

This  large  Company  of  alkali  manufacturers 
have  a  capital  of  ^3,000,000.  Tlieir  head- 
quarters are  <it  Nortliwich,  and  they  have 
factories,  also,  at  Sandbach,  Middlewich, 
Silvcrtown,  and  Lostock  Gialani.  They 
produce  and  export  to  all  parts  of  the  world 


pure  alkali  (soda  ash),  soda  crystals,  bi- 
carbonate of  soda,  special  mineral  water, 
caustic  soda,  concentrated  crystal  soda, 
bleaching  powder,  sulphate  of  ammonia, 
pure  zinc,  muriate  of  ammonia,  voltoids, 
calcium  chloride,  &c.  The  alkali  is  used  for 
paper,  glass,  and  soap-making,  for  dyeing 
and  bleaching,  and  for  various  household 
purposes,  the  quality  of  the  material  and  of 
the  general  products  of  the  Company  being 
guaranteed  by  the  eminence  and  technical 
skill  of.  those  in  charge  of  the  enterprise. 
Sir  J.  Brunner,  Bart.,  P.C,  M.P.,  Is  Ihc  chair- 
man of  the  Company,  and  he  has  for 
colleagues,  the  world-renowned  discoverer. 
Dr.  Ludwig  Mond,  with  M.  Tolvay  the 
inventor  of  the  ammonia  process  of  making 
alkalis ;  Mr.  Alfred  Mond,  M,P.,  Mr.  J.  F.  P. 
Brunner,  MP.,  and  others. 

The  chief  office  of  the  firm  in  China  and 
Korea  is  at  Shanghai,  and  there  are  large  go- 
downs  at  Tientsin.  The  Eastern  business 
was  opened  In  1900  by  the  general  manager, 
Mr.  E.  S.  Little,  and,  under  his  guidance, 
has  been  growing  steadily  in  volume. 

SCOTT,  HARDING   &   CO. 

The  history  of  Messrs,  Scott,  Harding  &  Co. 
extends  back  to  the  days  when  Shanghai 
was  first  opened  to  foreign  trade.  There  is 
no  precise  mformation  obtainable  as  to  when 
the  business  was  first  established,  but  the 
operations  of  the  firm  In  China  certainly 
cover  a  period  of  more  than  sixty  years.  In 
1843  they  had  offices  In  Canton,  and  in 
tliose  days  their  representatives  used  to  visit 
the  northern  ports  during  the  tea  and  silk 
seasons.  They  established  permanent  quarters 
in  Shanghai  in  1845,  and  their  hong,  situated 
opposite  the  cathedral,  upon  the  site  now 
occupied  by  Carlowltz  &  Co.,  commanded 
an  uninterrupted  view  of  the  river — a  fact 
which,  in  the  light  of  present-day  circum- 
stances, demonstrates  how  complete  a  change 
has  been  wrought  in  the  appearance  of  the 
Settlement  during  the  last  half-century.  The 
Company,  at  this  time,  were  known  as  Kath- 
bone,  Worthington,  &  Co.,  and  the  partners 
were  James  Worthington  and  Samuel  G. 
Kathbone.  Since  that  time  the  style  of  the 
firm  has  been  changed  on  several  occasions. 
In  1850  the  northern  and  southern  interests 
were  separated,  and  from  that  year  until 
1880  the  Company  were  known  in  Shanghai 
as  BIrley,  Worthington  &  Co.,  the  successive 
partners  during  this  period  being  Messrs, 
F.  P.  BIrley,  Robert  Held,  William  Seaton 
Brown,  L.  G.  Dunlop,  H.  K.  Hardy,  William 
Abbott  Turnbull,  and  William  Howie.  In 
1880  the  name  was  changed  to  Turnbull, 
Howie  &  Co.,  and  during  the  next  eighteen 
years  the  partners  Inchidcd  Messrs.  William 
Abbott  Turnbull,  William  Howie,  James 
Lidderdale  Scott,  and  John  William  Harding. 
In  1898  the  headquarters  were  removed  from 
Kluklang  Road  to  the  present  offices  at  6, 
Peking  Road,  and  the  title  of  the  firm  was 
then  altered  to  Scott,  Harding  &  Co.,  the 
partners  being  Messrs.  James  L.  Scott,  J.  W. 
Harding,  and,  subsequently,  Francis  Ayscough 
and  Leslie  J,  Cubltt.  Mr.  Harding  has  since 
died,  and  the  remaining  partners  -  two  of 
whom  reside  in  Shanghai,  while  one  lives  In 
London— now  remain  the  sole  proprietors 
of  the  undertaking. 

Although  from  time  to  time  the  business 
of  the  Company  has  been  adapted  to  the 
needs  of  the  moment,  yet  the  Importation  of 
Manchester  piece  goods  has  been  Its  main- 
stay throughout.  The  Company  had  a  branch 
in  Hankow  until  1896,  when  they  decided  to 


DICKESON,   JONES    &    CO 
BB  BucKKi-  Dhkdger  fsupplied  to  the  Chinese  Government) 

:it  work  on  tlie  Grand  Canal,  the  Okkices. 


[See  page  622.] 
Chinese  Okficiai.s  waitixi;  for  the  N'ew  Duedger. 
LoADixu  Timber  for  China  ai  Portland,  Oregon. 


628      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ET(L 


abandon  their  trade  in  tea.  They  now  do 
a  large  and  steadily  increasing  business  in 
sundries,  and  have  recently  established  an 
engineering  and  machinery  def>artinent.  Their 
London  house  is  Messrs.  James  Morrison  & 
Co..  Ltd.,  of  5,  Fenchurch  Street.  Messrs. 
Scott.  Harding  &  Co.  hold  a  number  of  im- 
portiint  agencies,  representing,  among  others, 
the  Liverpool,  London,  and  Globe  Insurance 
Companv ;  the  General  Accident  Companv  ; 
W.  H.  Allen.  Sons  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  Bedford  ; 
J.  &  F.  Howard.  Bedford  ;  Frank  Pearn  & 
Co..  Ltd.:  Simplex  Conduits.  Ltd.;  Joseph 
Booth  Bros.  &  Co..  Ltd.;  Wiiites.  Dove  &  Co.; 
Archibald  Smith  &  Stevens  ;  and  Pilkington 
Bros..  Ltd.,  St.  Helens.  They  employ  six 
foreigners  besides  a  considerable  staff  of 
Chinese. 


present  partners  are  Mr.  George  Volkart, 
Dr.  Keinhart-Volkart.  Mr.  J.  J.  Steiner.  and 
Mr.  George  Keinhart.  jun. 

From  the  year  1S95,  until  a  branch  was 
established  in  Shanghai,  the  firm  were  repre- 
sented locally  by  agencies.  Their  offices  at 
No.  I,  Foochow  koad,  were  opened  by  Mr.  M. 
Schwarz,  but  Mr.  M.  Winteler  has  been  in 
charge  since.  Volkart  Bros.,  are  agents,  in 
Shanghai,  for  the  Imperial  Fire  Oflice  ;  the 
Federal  Marine  Insurance  Company,  Ziiricli  ; 
Heineken  &  Vogelsang,  Dallas,  Tex,  and 
Savannah,   Ga. 

DENHAM   &    ROSE. 

Perhaps  the  most  striking  feature  of 
Shanghai  is  the  number  of  substantial  new 
buildings   which    are  to   be   seen   in   all   the 


(o  Shanghai,  where  he  was  joined  by  Mr. 
J,  E.  Denham,  and  shortly  afterwards  by 
Mr.  Robert  Rose.  Outport  work  had  soon 
to  be  given  up,  and  the  energies  of  the 
firm  concentrated  in  Shanghai.  In  1908 
Mr.  Sniedley  retired  from  business,  and  the 
firm  has  since  been  carried  on  under  the 
above  style. 

ATKINSON   &   DALLAS. 

0\K  of  the  most  prominent  firms  of  civil 
engineers  and  architects  in  Shanghai  is  that 
of  Messrs.  Atkinson  «:  Dallas,  founded  in 
1898  by  the  late  Mr.  Hrenan  Atkinson  and 
Mr.  Arthur  Dallas.  Mr.  .\tkinson  was  a  son 
of  the  late  Mr.  John  Atkinson,  formerly 
Superintendent  of  the  Government  Powder 
Mills  at  Lunghwa.     At  the  age  of  eighteen 


L 


DENHAM    &    HOSE,    ARCHITECTS.' 


The  IXTERXATiox.iL  Bank. 


G01X)WX   IX  SZKCHUEX   Ko.AU. 


VOLKART   BROS. 

Mr.  Soi-OMon  Voi.kakt  and  Mr.  T.  G.  Volkart 
established  this  well-known  firm  of  importers 
and  exporters  in  1851.  with  headquarters  at 
Winterthur.  Switzerland,  and  a  branch  in 
Bombay.  The  enterprise  was  successful  from 
the  first,  and  the  increasing  importance  of 
the  undertaking  can  be  gauged  by  the  ex- 
tensions that  from  time  to  time  have  been 
found  necessarj-.  Branches  were  opened  in 
Colombo,  in  1857  ;  C<xhin.  1859 ;  Karachi,  1861 ; 
Lf)ndon.  1868;  Tellicherrv,  1876;  Tuticorin, 
1877  ;  Galle,  Ceylon,  18K7  ;  Madras,  1888  ; 
and  Shanghai,  1901.  The  firm  have  up- 
country  agencies  all  over  India,  and  connec- 
tions throughout  the  world,  for  their  imports 
and  exports  embrace  every  variety  of  produce. 
The  founder  of  the  houiie  died  in  1896.      The 


principal  business  thoroughfares.  This  is 
due  to  the  impetus  given  to  the  building 
industry  as  a  result  of  the  Boxer  troubles  in 
the  north  in  1900.  Mr.  John  Smedley,  the 
originator  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Denham  & 
Rose,  was  one  of  the  architects  attracted  to 
the  Settlement  at  Ihat  time.  He  had  practised 
for  about  eleven  years  in  the  Far  East,  and 
was  well  known  in  Chinese  official  circles. 
Among  some  of  his  achievements  may  be 
mentioned  the  construction  of  roads  at 
Peking,  the  laying  out  of  the  Settlement  at 
Woosung,  and  the  reclamation  works  and 
the  erection  of  buildings  for  the  Chinese 
Customs  at  Chefoo,  of  which  he  had  charge. 
He  was  joined  by  his  son,  Mr.  J.  D.  Smedley, 
in  1898,  whom  he  left  to  carry  on  the  work 
at  the  capital.  Mr.  John  Smedley  died  in 
England  in  1904.     Mr.   J.    D.  Smedley  came 


he  joined  Mr.  Thos.  Kingsmill,  civil  engineer 
and  ai'chitect,  and  remained  with  him  until 
1894,  when  he  started  business  on  his  own 
account,  paving  the  way  for  the  prx-seiit  firm. 
A  prominent  Mason,  and  a  most  popular 
resident,  he  died  in  February,  1907,  at  the 
early  age  of  forty-one.  Mr.  Arthur  Dallas, 
who  for  some  years  held  the  position  of 
Assistant  Municipal  Engineer  in  Shanghai, 
resigned  that  appointment  in  order  to 
take  up  private  practice.  He  is  a  vice- 
pi-esident  of  the  Incorporated  Institute  of 
Architects  in  China,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Shanghai  Society  of  Engineers  and  .•\rcliitects, 
a  fellow  of  the  Royal  Meteorological  Society, 
and  a  member  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Arts. 
Mr.  G.  B.  Atkinson,  a  brother  of  the  late 
Mr.  Hrenan  Atkinson,  entered  the  partnership 
in   1908,  after  having  been   with   the  firm  for 


ATKINSON    &    DALLAS,    ARCHITECTS    AND    CIVIL    ENGINEERS. 

Plan  ok  the  nkw  "Tachixg  Bank"  Buildings. 
The  Government  Paper  Mills  at  Lunghwa. 

Plan  of  "The  Hollies,"  Bl'BBLino  Well  RoAn, 


630 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


si>ine  time  as  an  assistant.  He  was  formerly 
employed  by  the  well-known  tirm  of  Sir 
William   Aniistronj;   &   Co..   Ltd. 

Not   many  firms   of   the    kind   in    the    Far 
East   can    show    such   a   recx>rd  of   work   as 


Hong,  the  Yuen  Yue  Hong  and  shops  in  the 
Broadway,  the  Great  Northern  Telegraph 
Company's  building  on  tlie  Bund,  the  Customs 
Bank,  and  Messrs.  George  McBain's  office 
buildings  in  the  Szechuen  Koad,  the  Taching 


of  the  French  Tramway  Company.  Among 
churches,  &c.,  designed  by  the  firm  are  the 
Chefoo  Church,  Memorial  Cliapel,  Peking, 
tlie  Chinese  Temple  in  Nanking  Koad,  the 
Mahomedan  Mosque  in  Cheklang  Koad,  the 
Free  Christians'  Preaching  Hall  in  Chapoo 
Koad,  and  St.  Andrew's  Church,  Broadway. 
Kesidences,  &c.,  at  Hongkew  Park,  the 
properties  of  the  Shanghai  Land  Investment 
Company,  the  Mercantile  Marine  Officers' 
Association  buildings,  Mr,  Pu  Hoh  Kuan's 
residence  in  VVoosung  Koad,  tlie  Club  Unuao 
in  S/echuen  Koad,  the  Spencer  estate  terraces 
in  Medhurst  Koad,  the  Windsor  estate  houses 
in  Markhani  Koad,  the  Aston  estate  houses  in 
the  Avenue  Paul  Brunat,  Mr.  S.  Benjamin's 
residence  in  the  Bubbling  Well  Koad,  Mrs. 
McBain's  residence,  "  Cecile  Court,"  the  late 
Mr.  K.  M.  Campbell's  residence  in  Sinza  Koad, 
Mr.  Chun  Fai  Teng's  and  Mr.  Tong  Fun  Chce's 
residences  in  Haining  Koad,  Mr.  Sheng  Kung 
Pao's  residence  in  the  Bubbling  Well  Koad, 
and  Mr.  S.  K.  Tong's  residence,  "The  Hollies," 
in  Bubbling  Well  Koad,  and  lunnerous  others 
were  all  built  from  the  plans  and  under  the 
superintendence  of  this  firm,  which  also 
designed  the  Chinese  Goverinnent  buildings' 
pavilion  for  the  St.  Louis  Exhibitiou  and  all 
the  carved  woodwork  for  it.  The  offices  of 
Messrs.  Atkinson  &  Dallas  are  situated  at 
No.  4.  Peking  Koad.  The  firm  is  also  estab- 
lished at  Hankow,  Mr.  S.  O.  Limby  being 
in  charge  of  the  business  at  that  port. 


[See  page  628.] 


DENHAM    &    ROSE,    ARCHITECTS. 
Tkrkace  in'  Ghk\t  Wkstkkx  Road. 


DAVIES  &   THOMAS. 

Some  hundreds  of  domestic  residences,  both 
native  and  foreign,  and  a  large  number  of 
business     premises     have     been     erected     in 


Messrs.  Atkinson  &  Dallas.  They  designed 
and  constructed  the  first  native  waterworks, 
the  first  native  flour  mills,  and  the  first 
Government  paper  mills  in  China,  viz.,  the 
City  and  Nantao  Waterworks,  Shanghai,  the 
Foo  Fong  Flour  Mills,  and  the  Imperial 
Government  Paper  Mills  at  Lunghwa. 
They  also  surveyed  and  drew  up  the  scheme 
for  the  Canton  Waterworks,  the  entire  work, 
including  construction  of  reservoirs,  filters, 
engine  house,  laying  of  pipes,  erection  of 
water  tower.  &c.,  being  carried  out  by  Mr.  G. 
B.Atkinson.  Of  factories  designed  and  erected 
under  the  superintendence  of  the  firm  may 
be  mentioned  the  Soochow  Silk  Filature  and 
the  Yu  Yen  Flour  Mills.  Messrs.  Atkinson 
&  Dallas  erected  the  Science  Hall  at  St.  John's 
College.  Shanghai,  the  Soochow  University 
buildings,  the  Cantonese  Guild  schoolhouse, 
the  Presbyterian  Mission  School,  the  London 
Missionary  S(x:iety's  School,  the  Broadway 
property  belonging  to  the  trustees  of  Ching 
Chong's  School.  Hongkew,  and  the  Laura 
Haygood  Memorial  School  at  SofK-how. 
Business  blocks  for  which  the  firm  have 
been  responsible  include  most  of  the  Shang- 
hai Land  Inve.stment  Company's  business 
properties,  Messrs.  Gibb,  Livingston  &  Co.'s 
oflices,  the  new  buildings  at  the  corners  of 
Peking  and  Szechuen  Koads  and  Jinkee  and 
Szechuen  Koads,  the  Shanghai-Nanking  Kail- 
way  Administration  Offices,  the  Italian  Bank, 
the  China  Merchants  Steam  Navigation  Com- 
pany's head  offices,  and  most  of  their  godowns 
at  the  various  wharves,  the  New  Zealand 
Insurance  Company's  building,  Winchester, 
Gresham,  and  Manchester  Houses  in  Hankow 
Koad,  the  Southern  Mcthixlist  Mission's  print- 
ing house,  the  new  portion  of  the  Astor  House 
Hotel,  the  new  portion  of  the  King's  Hotel 
and  Mr.  Vernon's  residence,  "  Wei-hai-wei," 
the  Sheng  Chin    Silk  and  Hiecc-Goods  Guild 


DENHAM    &    ROSE,   ARCHITECTS. 
Private  Rksidkxce  in  the  Krbxch  Concessiox. 


[See  pa>*c  f)28.] 


Government  Bank  in  Hankow  Koad,  the 
Ningpo  Commercial  Bank  in  Kiangse  and 
Ningpo  Ko.ids,  the  China  Mutual  Life  In- 
surance Company's  buildings,  offices,  and 
residences  at  the  corner  of  Szechuen  and  Can- 
ton  Koads,  the   Mixed  Court,  and   the   offices 


Shanghai  and  the  outports  by  Messrs.  Davies 
&  Thomas,  civil  engineers  and  architects. 
No.  10,  The  Bund.  Shanghai.  Among  the 
principal  office  buildings  which  they  have 
constructed  may  be  mentioned  the  new 
premises  for  the  Shanghai  Mutual  Telephone 


ATKINSON    &    DALLAS,    ARCHITECTS    AND    CIVIL    KNGINEEBS. 
McBain's  Blii-dings,  Szechlex  Road.  The  Customs  Bank. 


[See  page  628.] 


632    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Company.  Ltd.,  situated  in  the  Hankow  and 
Kianjise  Kuads.  and  built  entirely  of  re- 
inforced concrete  ;  and  the  new  oftices  ktr 
Messrs.  Buttertield  &  Swire,  which,  when 
completed,  will  form  one  of  the  most  hand- 
some structures  on  the  French  Bund.  The 
domestic  residences  erected  hy  the  tinn 
include  those  for  His  Excellency  \Vu  Tinj; 
Fanj;.  Chinese  Minister  to  the  United  States 
of  America,  situated  in  Avenue  Ro;id,  and  for 
Mr.  H.  J.  Craig  in  Bubbling  Well  KiKid.  The 
firm  have  in  course  of  erection  the  whole  of 
the  bunding  of  the  foreign  settlement  of 
Wuhu,  on  the  Yangtsze,  and  the  extensive 
wharves,  godowns,  offices,  transit  sheds,  &c.. 
for  Messrs.  A.  Holt  &  Co.,  at  Pootung,  this 
latter  being  one  of  the  largest  contracts  ever 
let  in  Shanghai  for  work  of  the  kind.  Messrs. 
Davies    &   Thomas    have    nearly   completed 


in  Shanghai  and  Tientsin,  notably  the  resi- 
dences of  the  Marquess  Li  Hung  Cliang, 
Lord  Li,  Mr.  E.  S.  Little,  and  the  manager 
of  the  Yokohama  Specie  Bank  ;  Edna  Villas, 
Markham  Place  and  Terrace,  Chante  Clare 
Villas,  the  Russian  Consulate,  the  Canadian 
P.icific  Railway  block,  Alexandra  Building 
(occupied  by  Messrs.  Stokes,  Piatt  &  Teesdale), 
the  Tam  \Va  block  at  the  corner  of  Szechuen 
and  Jinkee  Roads,  Messrs.  Hall  &  Holtz's  pre- 
mises, the  Shanghai  Brewery  and  warehouses, 
the  China  Flour  Mill  warehouses,  and  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  in 
Szechuen  Road,  Shanghai  ;  the  Tientsin 
Club,  and  Messrs.  Forbes  &  Co.'s  pre- 
mises in  Tientsin  ;  and  the  Hotel  Wagons 
Lits  at  Peking.  He  also  laid  out  the  Victoria 
Gardens,  the  Love  Lane  Gardens,  and  the 
Rifle  Range  Gardens  in  Shanghai.     Mr.  Algar 


Institute  of  Architects  in  China.  Mr,  Algar 
was  an  cnthusiiistic  cricketer  and  footballer 
in  his  younger  days,  and  is  a  member  of  all 
local  clubs.  He  is  president  of  the  Sports- 
men's Gun  Club,  and  is  on  the  committee  of 
tlie  M.nsonic  Club. 

WALTER   SCOTT. 

Among  the  more  notable  buildings  designed 
by  Mr.  Walter  Scott,  a  well-known  local 
architect,  may  be  mentioned  the  Palace 
Hotel,  the  new  "Ewo"  offices  and  flats 
on  the  Peking  Road,  Messrs.  Whiteavvay 
Laidlaw's  block,  the  Hongkong  and  Shang- 
hai Banking  Corporation's  premises  at 
Peking    and    Tientsin,     and     the     Chartered 


[See  i»ge  634.] 


Exterior  of  Premises,  with  Stakf. 


H.    M.    80HULTZ    &    CO. 


The  Offices. 


the   plans   for   the   re-building    of    the    three 
principal  wings  of  the  Astor  House  Hotel. 

The  firm  was  established  in  1896  by  Mr. 
Gilbert  Davies.  an  original  member  of  the 
Council  of  the  Institute  of  Architects  in 
China,  from  which  body  he  resigned  on 
returning  home  on  leave  in  1908.  Mr.  C.  W. 
Thomas,  who  became  a  partner  in  1899,  's 
a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  Institute,  and 
also  of  the  Council  of  the  Shanghai  Society  of 
Engineers  and  Architects. 


ALBERT  EDMUND  ALQAR. 

Mk.  Ai.bf.kt  Edmind  Ai.c;.\k.  .M.S. A,,  architect 
and  surveyor,  has  been  responsible  for 
designing   several    handsome    new    buildings 


was  born  in  Quebec  in  1873,  and  was 
educated  at  Victoria  Public  School,  London, 
and  at  the  Protestant  Collegiate  School, 
Chefoo.  On  leaving  Chefoo  in  1888,  he  was 
apprenticed  to  Mr.  T.  W.  Kingsmill,  civil 
engineer  and  architect,  of  Shanghai.  After 
completing  his  apprenticeship  he  remained 
with  Mr.  Kingsmill  until  1896,  and  then 
started  in  practice  on  his  own  account.  In 
August,  1896,  he  was  employed  by  the 
Chinese  Government  in  laying  out  the 
foreign  settlement  at  Hangchow,  and  he 
designed  several  of  the  principal  buildings 
there.  He  returned  to  Shanghai  in  1897  to 
resume  private  practice,  and  since  that 
year  he  has  visited  America  to  study  the 
architecture  of  that  country.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Councils  of  the  Shanghai  Architects' 
and   Engineers'  Society,  and  the  Incorporated 


Banks  buildings  at  Hankow.  Mr.  Scott 
was  born  in  Calcutta,  and  educated  in 
England  at  the  Wesleyan  College,  Taunlon. 
He  was  articled  to  Mr.  Rowland  Plumbe. 
P'.R.I.B.A.,  and  was  subsequently  admitted 
an  A.R.l.B.A.  He  came  to  China  in  1889 
as  an  assistant  to  Messrs.  Morrison  & 
Gratton,  a  firm  of  architects  and  engineers 
originally  established  hy  Mr.  G.  J.  Morrison, 
the  engineer  responsible  for  the  Woosuiig 
Line,  the  first  railway  ever  built  in  China. 
In  course  of  time  Mr.  Scott  became  a 
partner,  and  the  style  of  the  firm  was 
changed  to  Morrison,  Gratton  &  Scott.  In 
1902  Mr.  Scott  succeeded  to  the  whole 
business,  and  was  joined  by  Mr.  Carter, 
the  name  of  the  firm  becoming  ScotI  & 
Carter  ;  while,  since  the  death  of  Mr. 
Carter    in    1907,   Mr.   Scott    has    carried    on 


ATKINSON    &    DALLAS,    ARCHITECTS    AND    CIVIL    ENGINEERS. 


The  Mixkd  Covkt, 


Thk   Koo  F(>X<;    Kl.OlK  IIII.LS 
(The  first  native  Flour  Mills  erected  in  Shanghai). 

The  Shaxghai-Nankino  Railway  Ai>mixistration  Officks. 


[Sec  pajic  628.] 


The  Italtax  Coxsulate. 


634     TWT^NTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  business  under  the  title  of  Walter 
Scott.  Mr.  Scott  is  on  the  Council  of 
the  Shanghai  Institute  of  .\rchitects,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Architects 
and  Engineers.  His  office  is  situated  in  the 
new  "Ewo"  Buildings,  No.  3c,  Peking 
Road. 


MOORHEAD    &    HALSE. 

Both  partners  in  the  lirm  of  Messrs 
Moorhead.  Halse  &  Co.,  architects,  civil 
engineers,  and  surveyors,  had  had  experience 
in  Shanghai  before  they  started  in  practice 
together.  Mr.  Robert  Bradshaw  Moorhead, 
B.A.,  B.A.I..  A.M.Inst.C.E.,  came  to  China 
twentv  years  ago  as  engineer  for  the 
Northern"  Railways.  In  1895  he  joined  Mr. 
W.  M.  Dowdall  in  partnership,  but  in  1900 
he  began  to  practise  on  his  own  account, 
and  in  1907  he  was  joined  bv  Mr.  Halse. 
Mr.  Sidney  Joseph  Halse.  A.R.I.B.A.,  P.A.S.I.. 
who  holds  a  diploma  as  a  district  surveyor 
under  the  London  Building  Act.  is  an  ex- 
student  of  the  Ro>-al  Academy.  Coming  to 
Shanghai  in  1904,  he  joined  the  firm  of 
Messrs.  Scott  &  Carter,  architects,  with 
whom  he  remained  two  years.  He  then 
practised  for  a  while  on  his  own  account 
before  joining  Mr.  Moorhead.  Messrs.  Moor- 
head &  Halse  are  responsible  for  the  erection 
of  the  Shi-Hui  Cloth  Mill  (said  to  be  the 
first  of  its  kind  in  China),  the  Markham 
Bridge  Silk  Filature,  the  Burlington  Hotel, 
and  the  deep-water  bunding  on  the  Xantao 
frontage  of  the  Whangpoo  River,  erected 
for  the  Chinese  Municipal  Council. 


Y.   HIRANO. 

Mr.  Y.  HtRAXo.  architect  and  civil  engineer, 
has  designed  and  built  numerous  business 
premises,  factories,  godowns.  private  resi- 
dences, &c.,  in  Japan  and  in  Shanghai,  and 
in  other  parts  of  China.  He  established 
himself  in  Shanghai  in  1904,  opening  oiifices 
at  No.  39,  Szechuen  Road,  and  since  that 
date  he  has  been  responsible  for  the  erection 
of  offices,  godowns.  and  wharves  at  Shanghai 
and  Hankow  for  the  Osaka  Shosen  Kaisha, 
the  Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha.  and  the  Mitsui 
Bishi  Company,  having  previously  done  much 
work  for  these  and  other  large  firms  in  Japan 
and  elsewhere.  He  designed  the  Shanghai 
Cotton-spinning  Mills,  with  20.000  spindles, 
as  long  ago  as  1897,  and  in  1907  he  built 
the  Chu  Zung  Cotton-spinning  Mills.  He  is 
at  present  engaged  upon  plans  for  the  new 
Japanese  Consulate  at  Hangchow,  the  American 
Presbyterian  College,  and  several  mills.  Mr. 
Hirano,  who  was  at  one  time  known  as  Mi-. 
Y.  Sato,  adopted  his  present  name  in  1898. 
He  was  born  in  the  north  of  Japan  in  1863, 
and  was  educated  at  California  University. 
U.S.A.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  of  four 
years  to  a  Mr.  Coppellette,  and  previous  to 
his  arrival  in  Shanghai  was  in  practice  for 
some  years  as  an  architect  and  civil  engineer 
in  Tokyo.  He  has  published  a  book  on  the 
damage  caused  by  recent  earthquakes,  and  is 
the  patentee  of  an  earthquake-resisting  brick. 
In  1899  he  published  a  Japanese  translation 
of  an  English  work  on  hygienic  air ;  and  in 
the  following  year  patented  a  revolving  system 
for  dry  kilns.  Mr.  Hirano  is  a  member  of 
the  local  Japanese  Club,  and  of  the  Shanghai 
Society  of  Engineers  and  Architects. 


FRAZAR   &   CO. 

This  tirm  is  descended  from  that  of  Wetmore 
&  Co.,  which  was  established  in  Canton  in 
1832.  Afterwards  branches  were  opened 
in  Valparaiso,  New  York,  and  Shanghai,  under 
the  name  of  Wetmore,  Cryder  &  Co..  and,  by 
means  of  their  own  line  of  clipper  ships,  the 
tirm  carried  on  a  large  trade  in  matting, 
silks,  tea,  &c.  In  those  days,  as  there  was 
no  efficient  system  of  telegraphic  communi- 
cation and  there  were  only  limited  banking 
facilities,  return  cargoes  of  coal,  ice,  domestic 
requirements,  &c.,  were  accepted  in  exchange. 
In  1858,  Everett  Frazar  and  his  brother, 
Douglas,  established  the  firm  of  Frazar  &  Co., 
in  Shanghai  and  Nagasaki.  They  carried  on 
business  as  shipping  and  commission  mer- 
chants and  gradually  identified  their  interests 
with  those  of  the  older  company.  The  first 
cargo  of  American  petroleum  that  came  to 
China  was  shipped  by  this  firm  in  the  early 
sixties.  On  the  retirement  of  the  senior 
partners  of  Wetmore,  Cryder  &  Co.  from 
China.  Frazar  &  Co.  took  over  the  entire 
business  in  the  East  and  established  branches 
in  Hongkong.  Yokohama,  and  Kobe.  The 
New  York  olilice,  however,  was  still  con- 
ducted by  Wetmore.  Cryder  &  Co.,  of  which 
firm  Edward  L.  Hedden  and  Duncan  Cryder 
were  the  proprietors,  while  J.  H.  McMichael 
was  the  manager.  The  partners  in  Frazar 
&  Co.,  at  this  time,  were  Everett  Frazar, 
W.  S.  Wetmore,  and  John  Lindsley.  In  1887 
Mr.  McMichael  came  to  Shanghai  as  manag- 
ing partner,  in  company  with  Mr.  W.  S. 
Wetmore.  Wetmore,  Cryder  &  Co.  retired, 
and  Frazar  &  Co.  took  over  the  New  York 
office.  Lindsley  withdrawing  from  the 
Shanghai  firm,  McMichael  bought  Frazar's 
and  Wetmore's  interests,  and  was  sole 
owner  for  many  years.  In  1905  he  was 
joined  by  Walter  S.  Emens,  long  and  favour- 
ably known  in  business  circles  throughout 
China.  The  firm  continues  to  do  a  large 
business  in  American,  British,  and  Conti- 
nental merchandise,  and  in  the  export  of 
China  produce.  The  head  offices  are  at  No.  8, 
Hankow  Road. 


SANDER,  WIELER   &   CO. 

The  activities  of  this  firm  are  not  confined 
to  any  one  trade  or  class  of  trade.  As 
general  merchants  and  commission  agents 
they  cover  an  extensive  field.  They  take 
a  full  share  of  the  import  and  export 
trade  to  and  from  China,  are  representa- 
tives of  various  shipping  interests,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  have  been  agents  for 
the  Austrian  Lloyd  Steam  Navigation  Com- 
pany. The  firm  resulted  from  the  amal- 
gamation in  1898  of  Sander  &  Co.,  which 
had  been  in  existence  about  thirty  years,  and 
Wieler  &  Co.,  an  enterprise  of  some  twenty- 
five  years'  standing.  The  headquarters  are 
in  Hongkong  and  there  are  establishments, 
also,  at  Hamburg,  Sh,anghai,  Tientsin,  and 
Tsingtau.  Their  trade  is  steadily  growing 
in  all  parts  of  China,  and  on  January  1, 
1908,  a  branch  was  opened  in  Canton  in 
order  to  cope  more  easily  and  effectively 
with  the  firm's  large  interests  in  South 
China. 

The  branch  at  Shanghai  was  opened  in 
1900  and  the  firm  now  occupy  fine  new 
premises  in  JInkee  Road.  They  do  a  general 
import  and  export  trade,  and  their  agencies 
include  those  for  the  Austrian  Lloyd  Steam 
Navigation  Company,  Trieste ;  the  General 
Marine  Insurance  Company,  Dresden  ;  Inter- 
national Lloyd  Insurance  Company,  Berlin  ; 
and    Providentia,   AUgemeine     Versicherungs 


Gesellschaft,  Vienna.  Mr.  A.  Sander,  who  has 
charge  of  the  business  interests  in  Shanghai, 
is  assisted  by  a  staff  of  five  foreigners. 

H.  M.  SCHULTZ    &   CO. 

The  business  of  H.  M,  Schultz  &  Co.,  which 
has  branches  in  Tientsin  and  Hamburg,  and 
houses  in  Nanking  and  Tsingtau,  was  founded 
by  Ferdinand  Diers,  who  came  out  to  China 
in  1862,  and  it  is  interesting  to  note  that, 
although  the  style  of  the  firm  has  changed 
several  times,  the  old  hong  name  of  Diers 
(Chinese  :  Diazze),  to  which  Chinese  attach 
so  much  importance,  still  remains.  The  firm 
are  prepared  to  supply  practically  anything 
from  hairpins  "  made  in  Germany "  to  a 
Hotchkiss  machine  gun  or  a  battleship  of 
the  Dreadnoujilit  pattern  constructed  by  the 
well-known  firm  of  Messrs.  John  Brown  & 
Co.,  Clydebank.  The  present  senior  partners 
in  the  Company  are  Messrs.  Oskar  Mordhorst 
and  Arthur  Dabelstein.  For  years  they  have 
had  extensive  dealings  with  the  Chinese 
Government,  being  responsible  for  most  of 
the  machinery  in  the  largest  arsenal  in  China 
—  the  Kiangnan  Arsenal — and  for  the  erection 
of  the  first  steel-works  in  the  country.  They 
have  also  delivered  several  mint  plates  for 
coining  Chinese  money,  one  of  which  would 
be  large  enough  to  coin  the  silver  required 
for  the  whole  of  the  Continent.  They  were 
the  introducers  of  cotton-spinning  machinery 
to  China,  and  have  delivered  several  exten- 
sive mills  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Chinese. 
In  this  connection  it  may  be  mentioned  that 
whereas  foreign-owned  mills  in  Shanghai 
did  not  pay  for  a  time,  those  equipped 
by  this  firm  earned  substantial  profits  from 
the  beginning.  The  Company  have  erected 
sawmills,  bean  oil  mills,  cartridge  and  rifle- 
making  machinery,  and  electric  installations, 
their  latest  achievement  in  the  last  direction 
being  the  lighting  of  the  native  city  of 
Shanghai.  They  are  now  engaged  in  con- 
structing the  whole  of  the  waterworks  in  the 
native  city  of  Canton.  To  give  a  further 
illustration  of  the  extent  and  variety  of  their 
interests,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  Messrs. 
Schultz  &  Co.  are  responsible  for  providing 
with  imitation  silk  clothing  those  Chinese 
who  are  unable  to  afford  the  real  article. 
The  material  is,  of  course,  supplied  from 
Manchester.  In  addition,  they  import  dry 
goods  from  the  United  States  of  America, 
cotton  yarn  from  England  and  Bombay,  and 
at  the  present  time  ,ire  supplying  provisions 
for  the  German  troops  in  the  north.  In 
short,  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  business 
with  a  greater  variety  of  interests  than  that 
of  Messrs.  H.  M.  Schultz  &  Co. 

RICHARD   HAWORTH   &   CO.,  LTD. 

It  is  impossible  to  realise  the  v.ist  extent 
and  iinporlance  of  the  cotton  manufacturing 
business  of  Messrs.  Richard  Haworth  &  Co., 
Ltd.,  without  first  p.aying  a  visit  to  their  great 
mills,  situated  some  fifteen  minutes'  drive 
from  the  Roy.il  Exchange,  Manchester.  Once 
inside  these  buildings,  however,  it  becomes 
immediately  apparent  that  the  enterprise 
must  make  itself  felt  in  all  parts  of  the 
world,  and  that  many  agencies  are  required 
for  distributing  the  results  of  such  astonishing 
and  continuous  activity. 

In  Lancashire,  of  course,  the  name  of 
Haworth  is  a  household  word.  The  rise  of 
the  firm  is  a  remarkable  chapter  in  the 
history    of    Manchester,    and    one    of    which 


DAVIES    &    THOMAS,    ARCHITECTS. 

xur  X..  ■„„„.,,„  r^  .         .    ^  The  New  "Tai  Koo"  Buildings. 

THE  Tllephoxe  Compaxy's  Offices. 

A  Beautiful  Private  Kesidence  ix  Bubblixg  Well  Road. 

OcEAX  Steamship  Compaxys  New  Wharf  (in  course  of  construction). 


[See  page  630.] 


636    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


that  city  is  justly  proud.  The  founder  of  the 
house  was  Richard  Haworth,  who  began 
life  in  a  humble  position  in  a  mill,  and 
forged  his  way  to  the  front  by  sheer  industry 
and  genius.     The   present   head  of  the   firm 


Egerton  Mills,  the  Tatton  Mills,  the  Ordsall 
Mills,  and  the  Throstle  Nest  Mills.  They 
have  two  branch  houses  in  London,  and 
others  in  Glasgow,  Leeds,  Belfast,  Dublin, 
and  Aberdeen,  and  are  represented  in  every 


THE    NEW    PREMISES    OF    EBBEKE    &    CO.,    IN    MUSEUM    ROAD. 
[Set  page  638.] 


is  Richard  Haworth's  eldest  son,  Mr.  G.  C. 
Haworth,  who  himself  has  three  sons  in  the 
business.  During  a  perifxl  of  fifty-six  years 
the  development  of  the  trade  has  been 
remarkable.     Messrs.  Haworth  now  own  the 


capital  in  the  world.  The  mills  contain  200,000 
spindles  and  3,000  looms,  and  afford  employ- 
ment to  3,000  workpeople.  The  engines  are 
of  4,700  horse-power,  and  the  consumption 
of  coal  amounts  to  360  tons  a  week. 


The  raw  material  arrives  in  bales  by  the 
Ship  Canal  and  is  broken  up,  a  little  from 
each  bale  going  into  a  sort  of  churn  to  be 
cleansed.  The  heavier  grit  falls  apart,  and 
the  chastened  cotton  is  sent  over  great 
rollers  in  wide  white  streams  to  the 
next  purifying  machine.  From  machine  to 
machine  it  passes  in  the  process  of  purifi- 
cation until  one  wonders  when  the  snow-white 
rivers,  already  looking  like  the  finest  cotton- 
wool, will  satisfy  the  exacting  master  of  the 
mill.  The  fibre  is  opened  out,  the  short  ends 
are  removed,  and  the  cotton  is  converted 
into  a  roll  or  web  of  uniform  thickness,  and 
of  a  uniform  shade  of  whiteness.  The 
wonderful  carding  machines  separate  every 
fibre,  taking  out  impurities,  such  as  leaf  and 
unripe  fibre,  and  at  length  the  cotton  is  seen 
on  bobbins  ready  for  the  spinning  mill, 
where  barefooted  girls  tend  machines  that 
come  and  go  across  the  floor  as  regularly 
and  resistlessly  as  the  tide  ebbs  and  flows. 
Upon  leaving  the  carding  machine  the  web 
has  a  weight  of  about  three  pounds  to  the 
yard.  It  is  turned  by  the  spinner  into  yarn, 
of  which  25,000  yards  are  required  to  weigh 
a  pound.  In  the  great  weaving  sheds  an 
immense  number  of  women  are  seen  at 
work,  and  the  shrill  music  of  many  shuttles 
fills  the  air.  Regularly  these  mills  consume 
500  bales  of  cotton  a  week,  a  bale  weighing 
on  an  average  500  lbs.  Represented  in 
calico  of  ordinary  width  and  weight  this 
means  that  a  roll  of  cloth  nearly  400  miles 
long  is  turned  out  weekly.  The  whole  of 
the  energy  of  Messrs.  Haworth's  mills  is 
directed  towards  manufacturing  cloths  of 
high  intrinsic  quality.  All  the  goods  are 
marked  with  the  "Spero"  trade  mark,  and 
such  elaborate  care  is  taken  in  testing  the 
cotton  during  each  of  the  many  processes 
through  which  it  passes  that  the  stag's  head, 
the  sign  manual  of  "  Spero  make "  cloths,  is 
now  regarded  all  over  the  world  as  an  abso- 
lutely reliable  guarantee  of  great  durability 
and  all-round  excellence.  Goods  bearing  this 
trade  mark  are  made  from  selected  cotton, 
under  the  closest  supervision,  and  "  Spero 
make "  is  stamped  on  every  yard  of  the 
selvedge.  Messrs.  Haworth  &  Co.  spend  no 
time  upon  producing  that  which  is  artificial 
or  merely  cheap  looking.  By  constant  effort 
to  secure  the  best  results  they  have  won  a 
great  reputation,  and  they  spare  no  effort  to 
maintain  this  unblemished.  The  warehouse 
at  35,  Dale  Street,  Manchester,  is  one  of  the 
largest  and  best  equipped  in  the  British 
Empire. 

The  Far  Eastern  business  of  Messrs. 
Haworth's  has  advanced  by  leaps  and  bounds. 
It  is  only  about  fifteen  years  ago  that  Mr. 
Chester  Haworth,  jun.,  one  of  the  present 
directors,  first  came  to  the  Far  East.  He 
has  made  numerous  visits  since,  and  the 
superiority  of  Haworth's  cloth  is  now  known 
and  appreciated  throughout  the  whole  of 
China,  India,  the  I'hilippine  Islands,  and 
Japan.  Except  in  China,  the  Far  Eastern 
business  of  Haworth's  is  conducted  by 
agencies  at  Bombay,  Calcutta,  Karachi,  Ran- 
goon, Bangkok,  Batavia,  .Singapore,  Manila, 
Hongkong,  Kobe,  and  Yokohama.  For  con- 
trolling their  extensive  operations  in  China  a 
branch  house  has  been  opened  in  Peking 
Road,  Shanghai,  under  the  manageinent  of 
Mr.  Arthur  Woods. 


COLLINS   &   CO. 

This  firm  ol  general  merchants  and  commission 
agents  were  practically  the  pioneers  of  the 
press-packing  business  in  North  China.     The 


^r%. 


A.    E.    ALGAR,    ARCHITECT    AND    SURVEYOR 
Edjja  Villas,  Jessfielu  Koad. 

Residence  in  Burkill  Road. 

Residence  of  the  Late  Marviuess  Li  iHuno  Chang, 


Lord  Li's  Kesdjenck. 


[See  page  632.3 


038      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


trade,  which  was  a  negligible  quantity  until 
they  commenced  operations  in  Tientsin  in 
the  early  seventies,  is  now  of  considerable 
importance.  Collins  &  Co.  have  an  office 
at  70.  Graccchurch  Street,  London,  and  a 
branch  was  opened  tor  them  at  No.  4,  Canton 


America  and  Manchester,  and  various  kinds 
of  machinery.  Mr.  C.  H.  Rutherford  has 
charge  of  the  firm's  interests  in  Shanghai. 


* 


[See  page  64a]  DIEDERICHSEN,    JKBSEN    &    CO. 

The  Godowx  ix  CHAou-KrKjxo  Road. 


Thp;  Offices 
IX  KiAxciSF;  Road. 


Koad,  Shanghai,  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Morling,  in 
1899.  Besides  the  large  press-packing  and 
wool-cleaning  operations  which  they  carry  on 
at  Tientsin,  they  do  an  extensive  import  and 
export  trade.  They  send  wool,  furs,  skins, 
hides,  bristles,  and,  in  fact,  all  Chinese 
produce  to  England,  America,  and  the 
Continent,    and    receive    piece     goods     from 


EBBEKE  &  CO. 

As  far  back  as  1866  Mr.  Hermann  Overbeck 
came  to  Shanghai  and  founded  a  tea  mer- 
chant's and  general  import  and  export 
business,  under  the  style  of  Messrs.  Overbeck 
&  Co.  In  1883,  when  his  brother,  Mr.  Charles 
Overbeck,  became  a  partner,  he  left  for  home. 


but  the  business  was  carried  on  under  the 
old  style  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Charles  Over- 
beck in  i89>).  In  that  year  Messrs.  Carl 
Ebbeke  and  Paul  Kanip,  who  had  been  with 
Messrs.  Overbeck  &  Co.  for  about  six  years, 
succeeded  to  the  business,  and  changed  the 
name  of  the  lirm  to  that  of  Ebbeke  &  Co, 
The  new  proprietors  extended  their  con- 
nections considerably,  and  a  still  further 
advance  was  made  when,  in  ii;)05,  they  were 
joined  by  Mr.  Eduard  Wilkens,  formerly  a 
partner  in  the  firm  of  Messrs.  Shroder, 
Wilkens  &  Co.  This  firm  had  gone  into 
liquidation,  and  part  of  their  goodwill  was 
transferred  to  Messrs.  Ebbeke  &  Co. 


TATA,  SONS   &   CO. 

Ix  1906  the  two  well-known  Bombay  firms 
of  Tata  &  Sons  and  Tata  &  Co.",  both 
carrying  on  an  extensive  trade  as  general 
merchants  in  cotton,  cotton  yarn,  and  cotton 
and  silk  piece  goods,  decided  to  amalgamate, 
and,  under  the  style  of  Tata,  Sons  &  Co.,  to 
extend  their  operations  over  a  wider  field. 
One  new  sphere  which  they  have  since 
entered  is  mining,  operations  upon  a  very 
extensive  scale  having  been  commenced  by 
them  in  certain  iron  and  steel  districts  in 
India.  They  have  also  been  successful  in 
introducing  electric  power  for  industrial 
purposes  in  Bombay.  They  hold  numerous 
agencies  for  insurance,  hotel,  land,  cotton- 
spinning,  and  weaving  companies.  Their 
head  oftice  is  in  Bombay,  and  their  London 
oftice  (Tata.  Ltd.)  at  No.  4,  Lombard  Court. 
They  have  branches  at  Hongkong,  Shanghai, 
Kobe,  Osaka,  New  York,  Paris,  and  Rangoon, 
and  agencies  in  most  of  the  important  trade 
centres.  The  Shanghai  branch  is  situated  at 
No.  65,  Rue  du  Consulat.  The  late  Mr. 
J.  N.  Tata,  who  founded  the  original  firm  of 
Tata  &  Sons,  was  a  practical  philanthropist, 
and  the  many  schemes  which  he  formulated 
for  advancing  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men 
are  being  zealously  carried  out  by  his  sons. 


DALLAS  &  CO. 

The  firm  of  Messrs.  Dallas  &  Co.,  of  Shanghai, 
was  established  in  1853  by  the  late  Mr.  Barnes 
Dallas,  who  came  to  the  Settlement  as  tile 
representative  of  Messrs.  William  Dallas  and 
George  Coles,  of  Austin  Friars,  in  the  City  of 
London.  The  present  head  of  the  firm  is 
Mr.  Richard  Dallas,  youngest  son  of  Mr. 
Barnes  Dallas,  who  died  in   1897. 

The  firm  of  Dallas  &  Co,  is  best  known 
amongst  the  Chinese  merchants  as  "  Yu  Tai 
Yang  Hong,"  and  as  such  has  done  a 
very  considerable  import,  export,  and  China 
Government  business  in  Shanghai  and  in 
most  of  the  Treaty  ports  of  this  empire.  A 
branch  is  now  established  at  Tientsin.  At 
present,  Messrs.  Dallas  &  Co.  are  doing  an 
import  business  in  alinost  all  classes  of  manu- 
factured goods,  but  are  confining  their  export 
trade  to  antimony  only.  They  represent  the 
following  firms  in  China  : — Messrs.  William 
.Stenhouse  &  Co.,  Glasgow  ;  the  Seattle 
Brewing  and  Malting  Company,  Seattle,  Wash- 
ington, U.S.A.  ;  Fromy  Rogee  &  Co.,  St. 
Jean  D'Angely,  pres  Cognac,  France  ;  Fores- 
tier  Freres,  Bordeaux  ;  Saizelet  Lenique, 
Dizy,  Epernay  ;  J.  P.  Wiser  &  Son,  Ltd., 
Prescott,  Ontario,  Canada  ;  the  E.  G.  Lyons 
and  Raas  Company,  San  Francisco.  As 
exporters  and  Government  contractors  they 
represent  the  China  Trading  Company, 
Shanghai  ;    the  Dah  Chick  Chong   Antimony 


WALTER    SCOTT,    ARCHITECT. 

THE    XKW    "EWO"    BUILDIXGS.  1>i.a\  OF  THE   PAI.ACK    HcnKI.    lillll.DlXC! 

Block  of  Buildixgs  ox  Yaxg-king-paxc. 

Whiteawav,  Lmdlaw  S  Co.s  Bliliiings 


[Sec  p.i.nc  632.] 


640    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Mininj!  Company.  Shanjlhai  ;  and  the  Chue 
YiOTg  Mining;  Company.  Ltd.  (coal  and 
capper),  Tientsin.  As  agents  lor  these  com- 
panies they  are  constantly  in  to'.ich  with 
Chinese  officialdom,  and  have  of  late  acquired 
a  few  Government  contracts. 


clusively,  as  East  India  merchants,  but  now 
they  carry  on  large  operations  as  general 
importers  and  exporters.  '1  heir  liead  ofticc 
is  at  7.  Bishopsgate  Street  Without,  l.oiidoii. 
They  have  branches  at  Shanghai  iNo.  17, 
Kiangse  Koad).  Bombay,  and  Lahore,  and 
agencies  at  Calcutta.  Madras,  Karachi.  Kangoon. 
Colombo,     Zanzibar,   and     Mombasa.      They 


Yangts/.e  Valley  district,  among  which  are 
those  for  Lever  Bros.,  Ltd.,  of  Port  Sun- 
light ;  Cadburv  Bros.,  Ltd.,  of  Bouriicville  ; 
J.  &  J.  Colman,  Ltd.  ;  Mellin's  Food.  Ltd.  ; 
Blundell.  Spence  &  Co..  Ltd.  (paint  and  oil 
makers);  D.  and  J.  McCallum  (distillers  of  "  Per- 
fection Whiskey ")  ;  Cercbos  Salt  ;  and  Carr 
&  Co.  (biscuit  manufacturers).  Mr.  Walter 
Nutter,  sen.,  now  has  his  two  sons,  Mr. 
Walter  Nutter,  jun.,  and  Mr.  Percy  John 
Nutter,  in  partnership  with  him.  The  last 
named  is  in  charge  of  the  business  in 
Shanghai.  The  tirni  are  members  of  the 
Chambers  of  Commerce  both  of  London 
and  Shanghai. 


LOCKSMITH   &   CO. 

Thk  firm  of  Messrs.  Locksmith  &  Co., 
merchants  and  commission  agents,  was  estab- 
lished in  Shanghai,  in  1903,  by  Messrs. 
H.  S.  Locksmith  and  J.  J.  Dawe.  The 
present  partners  are  Mr.  Locksmith,  who 
resides  in  London  ;  Mr.  Dawe  and  Mr.  P. 
Biehayn,  who  have  general  charge  of  the 
business  in  Shanghai  ;  and  Mr.  H.  W. 
Wickham,  who  is  in  Loudon.  Tlie  lirni  has 
developed  a  considerable  business  during  the 
past  five  years,  importing  piece  goods  and 
sundries,  and  exporting  silks  and  other 
Chinese  products.  The  offices  are  at  No.  9. 
Hankow  Road. 

m 

BRIGHTEN,    MALCOLM   &   CO. 

This  firm  has  been  established  in  Shanghai 
only  a  short  time,  but  its  name  is  becoming 
widely  and  favourably  known,  and  there  is 
every  prospect  that  in  the  near  future  con- 
siderable extensions  will  be  necessary  to 
cope  with  a  .steadily  increasing  trade.  The 
Company's  business  lies  principally  in  engi- 
neering, but  it  also  embraces  many  sundries. 
The  London  office  at  11  A,  Wormwood  Street, 
E.C.,  is  carried  on  in  conjunction  with  Messrs. 
John  Blandford  &  Co.,  Ltd.  In  Shanghai 
the  Company  are  the  sole  agents  for  Messrs. 
Callender's  Cable  and  Construction  Company, 
Ltd.,  the  well-known  manufacturers  of  electric 
cable,  who,  by  the  way,  supplied  the  neces- 
sary cables  for  the  new  tramways.  The  firm 
are  also  the  sole  representatives  of  Messrs. 
G.  M.  Callender  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  the  British 
Cork  Asphalt  Company,  Ltd.,  the  Leeds 
Copper  \X'orks.  Ltd.,  Messrs.  Hayward-Tvler 
&  Co.,  Ltd.,  Messrs.  Meldrum  'Bros.,  Ltd.. 
Messrs.  Browett,  Lindley  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  the 
Beck  Flame  Lamp  Company,  Ltd.,  and 
Messrs.  McPhail  &  Simpson.  In  their 
general  import  department  they  hold  the 
sole  agency  for  Messrs.  Burroughs  &  Watts, 
Ltd.,  the  well-known  manufacturers  of  billiard 
tables.  The  partners  in  the  Company  are 
Messrs.  E.  K.  Brighten  and  W.  R.  Malcolm. 
Mr.  Brighten  has  had  considerable  expe- 
rience of  engineering  generally,  having  been 
for  some  years  assistant  to  Messrs.  Lacy, 
Sillar  &  I/cigh,  consulting  engineers,  of 
London  and  Manchester,  to  whom  the  firm 
now  act  as  correspondents. 


IStt  page  642.] 


THE  PREMISES  OF  TELGE  &  SCHROETEB,  ON  THE  BUND. 


* 


WALTER   NUTTER   &   CO. 

Established  in  1881,  this  firm  are  original 
members  of  the  East  India  Merchants 
Association,  Mr.  Walter  Xutter,  sen.,  havmg 
been  elected  a  member  of  the  first  council. 
In  the    early   days  they    traded,    almost    ex- 


export  piece  goods  and  general  merchandise 
to  India  and  China,  and  import  hides,  horns, 
c<Koa,  mica,  carpets,  feathers,  and  general 
produce  from  India  and  Ceylon,  and  coffee, 
rubber,  and  general  produce  from  Java  and 
the  Straits  Settlements.  The  firm  hold  many 
valuable    agencies     for     the     Shanghai     and 


DIEDERICHSEN,    JEBSEN    &    CO. 

Although,  comparatively  speaking,  this  firm 
is  a  new  one,  the  enterprise  displayed  by 
its  management  has  secured  for  it  a  prominent 
place  among  the  large  commercial  and  shipping 
houses  in  Shanghai.  A  few  details  in  regard 
to    the    organisation    of  the    lirni    will   not   be 


SANDER,   WIELER    &    CO. 


THK   PREMISKS  IX  JIXKKK   RdAD. 

The  nrpoRT  Departmkxt. 


[Sec  page  6j^.] 

AusTRiAX  Lloyd  Shippixc,  Offick. 

A  PRixTiNG  Machine  Supplied  by  the  Firm. 


642     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


without  interest.  In  1895  Jebsen  &  Co. 
were  established  in  Hongkong  to  take 
over  the  steamers  of  M.  Jchsen  Apenrade, 
which  had  t)een  trading  lor  many  years 
along  the  China  coast.  Subsequently,  H. 
Diederichsen,  01  Kiel,  acquired  a  share  in 
the  business,  and  out  ol  this  amalgamation 
of  interests  arose  the  tirm  of  Diederichsen. 
Jebsen  &  Co.  They  established  themselves 
at  Tsingtau  and  Chefoo,  having  the  distinction 
of  being  the  first  finn  to  open  a  branch  at 
the  fonner  place  after  it  had  been  taken  over 
by  Germany. 

As  their  trade  developed,  Diederichsen, 
Jebsen  &  Co..  established  a  branch  at 
Hamburg,  and  opened  oflices  at  Shanghai 
in  1903,  at  \nadivostock  in  1905,  and  at 
Tientsin  in  1907.     They  own  and  operate  the 


centre  of  the  business  part  of  the  town,  at  No. 
l8.A.  Kiangse  Road,  while  their  huge  godown 
ii\  Chaou-foong  Road  is  in  close  proximity  to 
the  most  important  wharves.  The  firm's 
interests  at  Tsingtau  are  entrusted  to  Carl 
Eichwede  ;  at  Vladivostock,  to  Edu;ird  Eich- 
wede  ;  at  Tientsin,  to  Hugo  Kloeckner  ;  and 
at  Chefoo  to  O.  Graeber. 

TELOE  &  SCHROETER. 

It  is  half  a  ctiitury  since  the  linn  of  Messrs. 
Telge  &  SchriK'tcr,  well-known  merchants, 
of  Shanghai,  was  established  by  Mr.  Bern- 
hard  Telge.  For  many  years  the  business 
was  carried  on  by  the  founder,  and   then   it 


THE    SHANGHAI    PREMISES    OF    VON    DURING, 
WIBEL    &    CO. 


steamers  Lysholt,  Eutin,  &c.,  and,  in  addition 
to  their  shipping  interests,  do  a  large  general 
import  and  export  business.  They  hold  many 
important  agencies.  In  Shanghai  they  repre- 
sent the  Jebsen  line  of  steamers  ;  Farbenfabrik 
Hansa,  G.  m.  b.  H.,  Kiel  ;  Deutscher  Rhederei 
Verein,  in  Hamburg ;  and  Nordischer 
Bergungsverein,  Hamburg.  Quite  recently 
the  firm  started  an  engineering  department, 
which  already  holds  a  number  of  important 
agencies,  including  those  for  the  Mannesmann 
Tut>e-works,  Brown  Boveri,  and  German 
Niles  Works.  This  department  is  under  the 
management  of  an  expert. 

The  partners  in  the  firm  are  H.  Diederichsen, 
Kiel  ;  Jakob  Jebsen,  Hongkong ;  and  J.  H. 
Jessen,  Hamburg.  Their  Shanghai  offices, 
which  are  under  the  direction  of  Johann 
Jessen  and  August  Miiller,  are  situated  in  the 


passed  to  his  nephew,  Mr.  Rudolph  Telge. 
In  1899  Mr.  Herman  Schroeter  joined  the 
firm,  and  the  style  was  then  changed  to 
Telge  and  Schroeter.  The  present  partners  are 
Messrs.  Arnold  Berg  and  Max  Struckmeyer. 
The  bulk  of  the  firm's  business  is  done  with 
the  Chinese  Government  in  munitions  of 
war,  machinery,  railway  materials,  &c.  In 
their  capacity  as  agents  for  the  well-known 
firm  of  F.  Schichau,  of  Elbing,  Messrs.  Telge 
and  Schroeter  have  furnished  the  greater 
part  of  the  Chinese  torpedo  Hotilla.  They 
are  also  general  importers  and  exporters, 
dealing  in  all  kinds  of  merchandise  and 
piece  goods,  and  making  a  speciality  of 
metals  and  ores.  The  offices  are  situated  at 
No.  16,  The  Bund,  Shanghai. 


VON    DURING,    WIBEL   &   CO. 

FiU'.N'DKi)  ill  1900  by  Mr.  Henry  von  Diiriiig. 
this  firm  has  made  remarkable  progress.  At 
the  outset  the  founder  interested  himself 
chiefly  in  Government  business,  electric  light 
plants  for  Chinese  cities,  and  general  ma- 
chinery ;  but  since  January  1,  1905,  when 
Mr.  Kurt  Wibel  was  admitted  into  partner- 
ship, the  scope  of  the  firm's  operations  has 
been  considerably  extended,  and  hraiich  offices 
have  been  established  in  Tientsin,  Tsingtau, 
and  Peking.  The  Government  business  has 
grown  steadily,  and  an  extensive  trade  in 
piece  goods  has  also  been  built  up. 

As  Government  contractors  the  firm  deal 
in  all  kinds  of  arms  and  animuiiituiii.  They 
represent  the  well-known  "  Ehrhaidt "  gun 
works,  Uusseldorf,  Germany,  where  all  kinds 
of  guns  are  manufactured.  They  also  hold 
an  agency  for  the  explosives  manufactured 
by  Westfaelisch-Anhaltische  Sprengstoff  Act. 
Ges.,  in  Berlin.  As  agents  for  the  renowned 
firm.  Vickers,  Sons  &  Maxim,  Ltd.,  they  accept 
commissions  for  every  kind  of  naval  con- 
struction, and  on  behalf  of  John  L.  Thorny- 
croft  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  of  Chiswick,  who  have 
constructed  the  fastest  torpedo-boat  destroyer 
now  in  existence — one  capable  of  running  37 
knots  an  hour — they  are  prepared  to  deliver 
all  sorts  of  shallow-draught  steamers,  launches, 
motor-boats,  torpedo-boats,  and  torpedo-boat 
destroyers.  The  Companv  are  agents,  too, 
for  J.  &  E.  Hall,  D.artford,  and,  as  such, 
are  able  to  supply  ice  and  refrigerating  plants 
of  every  size  and  description.  Von  During, 
Wibel  &  Co.  make  a  special  feature  of 
supplying  and  erecting  machinery  for  flour, 
oil,  paper,  and  cotton  mills.  They  have 
carried  out  electric  light  installations  in  the 
Imperial  Palaces  at  Peking,  and  in  the  cities 
of  Chinkiang,  Wuhu,  itc.  In  addition  to 
a  large  clerical  staff,  therefore,  a  number  of 
engineers  are  employed. 


WILHELM    KLOSE    &    CO. 

The  headquarters  of  this  firm  are  in 
Hamburg,  where,  under  the  style  of  Messrs. 
Wicke,  Klose  &  Co.,  a  very  extensive  business 
is  carried  on  through  agents  in  every  part 
of  the  world,  under  the  management  of  the 
proprietor,  Mr.  Wilhelin  Klose.  The  Shanghai 
branch  was  opened  in  1905,  and  is  .still 
managed  by  Mr.  H.  Arlt,  who  has  had  some 
thirteen  years'  experience  in  China.  The 
firm  import  arms,  machinery,  electrical 
appliances,  haberdashery,  piece  goods,  sundries, 
and  provisions,  and  have  already  established 
a  first-class  connection.  The  offices  are 
situated  at  No.  6,  Kiangse  Road,  in  the 
Chinese  business  centre,  and  the  foreign  staff 
includes,  besides  the  manager,  Messrs.  H. 
Hildebrand,  H.  Borne,  H.  Neubourg,  and  E. 
Widler. 


HILLEBRANDT    &   CO. 

Messrs.  Hii.i.ehkandt  &  Co.  are  one  of  the 
few  Danish  firms  in  China.  Originally  started 
in  1892  in  Shanghai  by  Mr.  Henry  Sylva,  an 
American,  the  firm  carried  on  the  business  of 
general  merchants,  shipping  agents,  and  share 
brokers  under  the  style  of  H.  Sylva  &  Co. 
until  1900.  In  that  year  the  firm  was  taken 
over  by  Mr.  P.  W.  Irvine  and  Mr.  H.  Edblad, 
and  the  name  was  changed  to  Irvine,  Edblad 
&  Co.,  but  in  1905,  Mr.  A.  Hillebrandt, 
who  had  been  in  charge  of  the  trading 
department  for  several  years,  acquired  the 
goodwill  of  that  branch  of  the  business,  and 


RICHARD    HAWORTH    &    CO.,    LTD. 
The  Warehoises  at  Manchester. 
The  .Mills  at  Maxche.ster. 


[See  ji.i.qe  634.] 


The  Shaxohai  Oefices. 


644     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


has  since  been  trading  under  the  present  title. 
The  principal  im(H>rts  handled  are  cotton, 
piece  goods,  sundries,  and  American  flour. 
The  firm  represent  Messrs.  Hills,  Menke  & 
Co.,  of  Birmingham,  Bradford,  and  Man- 
chester ;  Wilkinson,  Hevwood  it  Clark,  Ltd.. 
of  London,  the  world-known  paint  and  varnish 


THE    VICTORIAN   GOVERNMENT 
COMMERCIAL   AGENCY. 

An  agency,  which  in  the  interests  of 
commerce  generally  deserves  to  be  widely 
known,  is  that  established  by  the  Victorian 
Government,    in    1905,    with    the     object    of 


(See  page  ^^2.] 


HILLEBBANDT    &    CO.'S    OFFICES    IN    KIANGSE    ROAD. 


makers ;  the  Hammond  Milling  Company, 
of  Seattle,  U.S.A.,  merchant  millers  ;  Fred- 
erick Stearns  &  Co.,  of  Detroit,  Michigan, 
U.S.A.,  manufacturing  pharmacists  ;  and 
several  other  leading  concerns.  The  offices 
are  at  No.  7,  Kiangse  Road,  and  the  staff,  in- 
cludes, besides  Mr.  A.  Hillebrandt,  Messrs. 
A.  Lutzen  and  E.  Brook. 


circulating  reliable  information  concerning 
the  exportable  products  of  the  State  and 
encouraging  reciprocity  of  trade  with  Kastern 
countries.  Naturally  the  success  or  failure  of 
such  a  scheme  depends,  in  a  large  measure, 
upon  the  initiative  and  enterprise  of  the 
agent  employed.  Mr.  K.  B.  Levien,  who 
was  chosen    by    the    Government   to  act  as 


their  representative,  and  is  empowered  to 
grant  certificates  to  Asiatics  of  the  merchant, 
student,  and  tourist  classes  enabling  them  to 
visit  Australia,  appears  to  be  well  qualilied, 
both  by  nature  and  experience,  to  carry  out 
the  duties  of  the  post.  Born  in  J  874,  near 
Melbourne.  Australia,  he  was  educated  at 
Brighton  Grammar  School.  He  was  engaged 
in  mining  and  general  business  in  South 
Africa  for  two  years,  and  in  India  for  two 
years,  before  coming  to  China  in  1899.  Here, 
also,  he  conducted  a  successful  business, 
previous  to  receiving  his  present  appointment. 

HUGO    REISS    &  CO. 

Hugo  Reiss  &  Co.,  who  succeeded  to  the 
Shanghai  branch  of  the  well-known  firm  of 
G.  Reiss  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  Mancliester,  on  July  I, 
1908,  are  doing  an  extensive  business,  princi- 
pally in  English  and  American  piece  goods, 
Bt)nibay  yarn,  arms  and  ammunition.  They 
are  the  sole  agents  in  China  for  Webley  & 
Scott,  I^td.,  of  Birmingliam,  tlie  well-known 
manufacturers  of  small  arms.  They  are 
agents,  also,  for  the  London  Assurance  Cor- 
poration, and  represent  many  other  important 
concerns.  They  are  contractors  to  the 
Chinese  Government  and  all  the  principal 
Municipal  Councils,  so  that,  while  their  trade 
in  piece  goods  and  Bombay  yarn  occupies 
the  greater  part  of  their  attention,  it  does 
not  by  any  means  monopolise  the  whole  of 
their  activity,  which  is  constantly  finding 
fresh  outlets.  The  Company's  offices  are  at 
No.  4.  Canton  Road,  and  Mr.  Hugo  I-Jeiss, 
who  for  many  years  travelled  in  tlie  interests 
of  G.  Reiss  &  Co..  Ltd.,  in  India,  the  Straits, 
China,  and  Japan,  and  had  been  entrusted  for 
some  time  witli  the  management  of  the 
Shanghai  branch,  is  the  sole  proprietor,  with 
a  substantial  capital  and  credit  behind  him. 


i» 


THE   SHANGHAI   MACHINE   COMPANY. 

Mkssks.  BucHHKisTKK  &  Co.,  who  have 
been  long  and  favourably  known  in  China 
as  contractors  and  engineers,  extended  their 
business  very  considerably  in  a  new  direction, 
in  1904,  when  they  became  proprietors  of 
the  Slianghai  Machine  Company.  The  two 
dcpactnients — Messrs.  Buchheister  on  the  one 
hand,  and  the  Shanghai  Machine  Company 
on  the  other-  are  kept  entirely  distinct, 
although  they  are  under  the  same  manage- 
ment. The  older  firm  contents  itself  with 
carrying  out  Government  work  and  executing 
the  many  large  contracts  entrusted  to  it  ; 
while  the  Shanghai  Machine  Company  devotes 
its  attention  more  especially  to  the  retail 
trade.  From  the  headquarters  in  Nanking 
Road,  and  the  agencies  in  Hankow  and 
Tientsin,  the  Machine  Company  can  supply, 
direct  from  stock,  any  tool  or  appliance 
pertaining  to  mining,  engineering,  irrigation, 
farming,  or  domestic  machinery.  The  business 
is  steadily  increasing,  and  the  range  and 
scope  of  modern  mechanical  contrivances  is 
well  illustrated  in  the  showrooms.  Messrs. 
Buchheister  &  Co.,  and,  through  them,  the 
Shanghai  Machine  Company,  are  agents  for 
Sir  W.  S.  Armstrong,  Whitworth  &  Co.,  of 
Newcastle-on-Tvne  ;  Dobson  &  Barlow,  Ltd., 
Bolton  ;  The  Mint,  Birmingliam  ;  E.  R.  &  F. 
Turner,  Ltd..  Ipswich  ;  Blackstone  &  Co..  Ltd.; 
Schuchardt  &  Schutte,  Berlin  ;  A.  Hogeiiforst 
Leipzig;  Sch:effer  «:  Budenburg;  and  Kiipper's 
Metallwerke. 


* 


THE    FACTORY    OF    WEBLEY    &    SCOTT,    LTD.,    BIRMINGHAM, 

Aiul  some  nf  their  best  known  Anns. 

SOLE    AGENTS    IN    CHINA  :     HUGO    REISS    &    CO.,    SHANGHAL 


(54(5     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


CALDBECK,    MACQREQOR    &    CO. 

In  all  the  principal  centres  in  the  Far  E^ist 
this  well-known  firm  of  wholesale  and  retail 
wine  and  spirit  merchants  have  carried  on 
business  for  many  years,  and  their  name  has 
l>ecome  a  guarantee  of  excellence.  Their 
headquarters  are  in  Rangoon  Street,  Crutched 
Friars,  London,  and  they  have  branches  in 
Glasgow,  Singapore,  Shanghai,  Hongkong, 
and  Tientsin.  They  have  also  established 
agencies  at  Weihaiwei,  Foochow,  Hankow, 
Taiwan,  the  Philippines,  Chefoo,  Canton, 
Pcnang,  and  British  North  Borneo.  In  out- 
ports  where  no  agencies  have  as  yet  been 
established  the  intending  customer  is  placed 
in  close  touch  with  the  firm's  nearest  branch 
by  means  of  a  special  code.  The  firm  are 
agents    for  some  of  the   best   known   cham- 


storeyed  godown  has  recently  been  erected 
wit!)  ample  storage  capacity  for  the  heavy 
stock  of  wines  carried  by  the  firm. 

The  manager  in  Shanghai,  Mr.  R.  B.  Allen, 
has  been  with  the  firm  since  1892.  Mr. 
Allen  assisted  Mr.  E.  J.  Caldbeck,  who  vyas 
then  in  charge  of  the  Shanghai  branch,  in 
establishing  the  "  Aquarius "  mineral  water 
factory,  for  which  the  firm  are  the  general 
managers  in  Shanghai.  A  description  of  the 
factory  is  given  elsewhere. 


J.   W.    QANDE    &    CO. 

This  firm  of  wine  and  spirit  merchants  has 
always  held  a  high  reputation.  Established 
over  twenty  years  ago  by  Messrs.  Gande  and 


foreign  supervision,  and  6,000  bottles  a  day 
could  easily  be  turned  out  if  occasion  re- 
quired it.  The  Company  are  sole  agents  for 
the  famous  "Tansan  "  water  ;  Mol-t  and  Chan- 
don  champagnes;  Hanappier  &  Co.'s  Bordeaux 
claret ;  the  Distillers'  Companv,  Ltd.  ;  Harvir 
Bros.'  C.C.C.  :  Dailnaim-Taliskiii  Uistilleries  ; 
Bass  &  Co.  ;  Penfold's  Australian  wines  ; 
Kohler  &  Van  Bergen  ;  and  Meux's  Indian 
pale  ale  and  stout.  Mr.  F.  W.  White 
personally  superintends  the  conduct  of 
the  business.  Mr.  W.  H.  Jackson  is  the 
accountant,  and  Mr.  H.  Bentlev  the  assistant. 


HALL    &    HOLTZ,    LTD. 

After      encountering      heavy      misfortunes 
Messrs.      Hall     &     Holtz     have     attained     a 


[Sec  p.*iic  *»_so.J 


LANE,    CRAWFORD     &    CO. 
The  Showrooji. 


The  Premises. 


pagnes  on  the  market,  including  those  of 
Pommery  &  Greno;  Bollinger  &  Co.;  Due  de 
Montebello;  Giesler  &  Co.;  Lanson  Pere  et 
Fils;  Ernest  Irroy  &  Co.;  B.  &  E.  Perrier; 
and  Dufaut  Fils.  They  are  the  sole  con- 
signees of  Messrs.  Bulloch,  Lade  &  Co.'s 
Scotch  whiskies,  and,  having  a  branch  in 
Glasgow,  they  are  able  to  offer  other  popular 
whiskies  of  exceptional  value.  Whilst  their 
retail  prices  compare  very  favourably  with 
those  of  other  firms,  Messrs.  Caldbeck,  Mac- 
gregor  &  Co.  offer  special  terms  to  hotels, 
clubs,  private  messes,  house-boat  parties,  &c.. 
and  are  prepared  to  allow  in  full  for  uncon- 
sumed  stock  returned  in  good  order.  They 
do  an  extensive  business  with  the  men-of- 
war  on  the  China  station. 

The  Shanghai  office   is   situated   at   No.  4, 
F<K>chow  K<^d,  behind  which  a  large  three- 


Price,  the  business  made  .steady  progress, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  those  who,  from  time 
to  time,  have  been  in  charge  of  its  interests, 
have  always  striven  to  give  their  customers  a 
fair  quid  pro  quo.  Messrs.  Gande  and  Price 
dissolved  partnership  in  1896,  the  arrange- 
ment being  that  Mr.  Gande  should  remain 
in  Shanghai,  while  Mr.  Price  conducted  the 
business  in  Hongkong.  After  this  Mr. 
Gande  carried  on  trade  under  the  style  of 
J.  W.  Gande  &  Co.  for  eleven  years.  In 
July,  1907,  he  disposed  of  his  interest  to  Mr. 
Frank  W.  White,  who  has  considerably  in- 
creased the  stock  of  wines  and  spirits,  so 
that  now  the  g<xlowns  in  Nanking  Koad 
contain  samples  of  almost  every  vintage  and 
brand  that  it  would  be  possible  to  mention. 
The  bottling  department,  containing  storage- 
room   for   500,000   bottles,    is    under    careful 


leading  position  among  the  retail  establish- 
ments of  Shanghai.  The  business  was 
started  in  1848  by  Mr.  Hall,  who  was  joined, 
in  1854,  by  Mr.  A,  Holtz,  On  September  ], 
1883,  the  undertaking  was  converted  into  a 
Company  under  the  style  of  The  Hall  & 
Holtz  Co-operative  Company,  which  on 
February  28,  1886,  was  registered  under  the 
Hongkong  Ordinances.  This  Company  went 
into  voluntary  liquidation  in  1893,  and  the 
business  was  reconstructed  under  the  stvle 
of  Hall  &  Holtz,  Ltd,  The  directors  at  that 
time  were  Messrs,  F.  W.  Such,  J.  S.  Nazer, 
and  E.  Byrne  ;  while  Mr.  Geo.  Corner  was 
the  auditor,  and  Mr.  W.  Hayward,  the 
secretary.  The  business  is  organised  on 
the  lines  of  Whiteley's  famous  establishment, 
and  there  are  departments  for  ladies'  and 
gentlemen's     outfitting,     millinery,    tailoring, 


THE  SHANGHAI  MACHINE  COMPANY. 

THK   PRKWISKS  IX    XaxKIXC    KoAl). 

Thk  ••  Li>cK"  Room. 


[Sec  I'llgc  644.] 


In  IHK  Showuooms. 


C-IS     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


furnishing,  upholstering,  and  bread  and  bis- 
cuit making,  groceries,  provisions,  general  stores 
and  Navy  contracts.  At  the  Company's  factory 
at  Soochow  Creek  over  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men  are  regularly  employed,  and  here  are 
situated  the  bakehouses  for  the  manufacture 
of    bread    and      biscuits,     and     the     various 


The  buying  centre  of  the  Company  is 
3,  I-;iwrence  Pountney  Hill,  Cannon  Street, 
London,  and  agencies  are  maintained  in 
almost  every  country.  On  two  occasions 
the  store  premises  of  the  firm  in  Shanghai 
have  been  destroyed  by  fire— on  November 
26,   l8g8,  and    again    on    February    li,   1904. 


THE   ARTS   AND   CRAFTS  FURNISHING 
COMPANY,    LTD. 

Thk  original  idea  in  the  minds  of  the  pro- 
moters of  this  Company  was  not  so  much  to 
establish  an  ordinary  furnishing  depot  as  to 
supply  a  studio  of  decorative  design  and 
craftsmanship  in  both  metals  and  wood.  The 
new  houses  rapidly  springing  up  in  the 
neighbourhood  were  mostly  filled  with  furni- 
ture lacking  the  charm  of  true  artistic  quality, 
owing  to  the  failure  of  Chinese  workmen  to 
comprehend  the  essential  points  of  European 
design.  Grotesque  effects  were  often  pro- 
duced by  the  insertion  of  Chinese  carvings 
or  Chinese  outlines  in  furniture  of,  say, 
Elizabethan  or  Renaissance  design.  Conse- 
quently, when  the  Arts  and  Crafts  Furnishing 
Company  was  started  in  1904  it  was  resolved 
that,  in  place  of  a  stock  of  ready-made  furni- 
ture of  hackneyed  design,  special  designs, 
suitable  for  the  purposes  for  which  they  were 
required,  should  be  introduced.  This  idea 
was  carried  out  with  most  gratifying  results. 
The  workmen  were  supplied  with  full-sized 
working  cartoons  for  each  article,  whether 
of  metal  or  wood,  and,  when  necessary,  with 
clay  mouldings  to  show  the  proper  relief 
required  in  carvings.  Proceeding  on  these 
lines,  the  Company  soon  found  that  orders 
increased  by  leaps  and  bounds,  and  to-day 
they  employ  between  150  and  200  workmen, 
many  of  whom  are  specially  trained  in  their 
own  particular  work.  The  scope  of  the 
business  has  been  considerably  extended  ;  for 
in  addition  to  the  importation  of  a  large  stock 
of  Ciirpets,  wall-papers,  and  various  fabi-ics, 
the  decorative  department  has  become  a 
particularly  important  one.  Two  specialities 
of  the  Company  are  leaded  glass  casements, 
and  hand-beaten  copper  and  bronze,  suitable 
for  a  variety  of  purposes.  The  firm  have  just 
secured  the  agency  for  Messrs.  Liberty  & 
Co.,  Ltd.,  of  Regent  Street,  London,  whose 
artistic  productions  have  a  fame  that  is  world- 
wide. They  are  also  sole  agents  in  Shanghai 
fi.ir  Hall's  Sanitary  Distemper,  and  for  the 
Slianghai  Vacuum  Cleaner  Company.  Their 
factory  and  showrooms  are  situated  at  No.  573, 
Nanking  Road,  but  new  and  larger  premises 
at  No.  44,  Nanking  Road,  are  practically  ready 
for  occupation.  A  walk  through  the  show- 
rooms and  factory  will  be  found  full  of 
interest.  The  firm  have  executed  important 
contracts  not  only  in  Shanghai  but  also  in 
Hankow,  Newchwang,  Dalny,  Chemulpo, 
Seoul,  Vladivostock,  and  other  ports,  while 
some  special  work  h.is  been  exported  even 
to  America. 

The  manager,  Mr.  S.  J.  Hicks,  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  firm.  He  was  formerly 
a  designer  of  furniture,  metal-work,  and 
fabrics,  with  a  studio  at  Finsbury  Pavement, 
I^ondon,  E.C.  Other  members  of  the  firm 
are  Mr.  P.  J.  Fitzgerald,  who  has  had  an 
extensive  business  experience  both  in  the 
States  and  in  the  East  ;  and  Mr.  A.  L.  Tayler, 
formerly  of  Messrs.  Tayler  &  Bladwell, 
designers,  Fitzroy  Square,  London,  W.,  who 
is  an  Associate  of  the  Society  of  Designers, 
and  has  had  a  wide  experience  in  artistic 
woik  as  applied  to  almost  every  kind  of 
industrial  purpose. 


tS«  page  652]         THE   PREMISES   OF   KUHN    &    CO.,    IN   NANKING   ROAD. 


departments  devoted  to  the  making  and 
repairing  of  furniture.  The  ground  and 
buildings  are  the  property  of  the  Company. 
The  firm  have  also  erected  large  premises 
at  Tientsin  to  cope  with  the  northern  trade, 
and  have  built  fine  quarters  on  their  own 
ground  in  Hankow,  to  enable  them  to  work 
the  Yangtszc  river  district  to  more  advantiige. 


In  both  cases,  temporary  premises  were 
obtained  and  new  stocks  laid  down  with  as 
little  delay  as  possible.  The  directors  of 
the  Company  are  Messrs.  J.  D.  Clark 
(chairman),  H.  J.  Such,  and  'W.  J.  Vine 
(deputy  managing  director!.  Mr.  A.  R. 
Ix;ake  is  the  auditor,  and  Mr.  E.  R.  Palmer 
the  secretary. 


WEEKS  &   CO.,    LTD. 

Over  30  years  ago — to  be  exact,  in  the  year 
1875 — a  private  house  of  modest  dimensions 
at  the  corner  of  Ningpo  and  Kiangse  Roads, 
was  converted  by  Mr.  George  E.  York  into 
a  drapery  and  outfitting  store.  From  this 
unpretentious     beginning     sprang     the    large 


J.    W.    GANDE    &    CO. 


[See  pat-e  646.] 


The  Presiisi-x 

The  "Tixs.\x"  Store. 


650    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,   ETC. 


enterprise  now  conducted  under  the  style  of 
Messrs.  Wicks  &  Co.,  Ltd.  In  those  early 
da>-s  there  were  not,  at  a  liberal  estimate, 
nwre  than  three  thousand  foreigners  resident 
in  the  Settlement.  But  with  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  town,  the  business  extended 
the  scope  of  its  operations,  and  within  a  few 
years  three  houses  adjoining  the  original 
store  had  been  requisitioned  for  the  purjxise 
of  providing  extra  accommodation.  A  further 
extension  being  found  necessary,  a  large 
godown  at  the  back  of  these  premises  was 
subsequently  lented.  In  1895  ^''^  business 
was  removed  to  the  premises  in  Nanking 
Koad.  now  ik%  upied  as  oftices  by  the  Shanghai 
Gas  Compan> .  Shop  buildings  in  the  centre 
of   the  town  v.ere   then   at  a  .premium,   and 


Shanghai,  and  have  ample  scope  for  future 
extension. 

In  1902  a  branch  was  opened  in  the  rapidly 
growing  Settlement  of  Hankow,  which  had 
previously  been  served  by  the  travellers  who 
were  despatched  by  the  firm  twice  a  year  to 
the  Yangtsze  ports. 

This,  in  broad  outline,  is  the  history  of 
one  of  the  largest  retail  trading  houses  in 
Shanghai.  Started  as  a  drapery  and  out- 
fitting establishment,  the  enterprise  has 
gradually  embraced  various  allied  trades,  and 
a  "  deiiartment  stores "  has  been  evolved. 
At  the  present  day  Messrs.  Weeks  &  Co.,  Ltd., 
are  milliners,  house  furnishers,  upholsterers, 
and  decorators,  and  have  also  a  large  general 
department.     The  top  storey  of  their  premises 


length  of  the  building  on  the  first  Hoor, 
and  contain  everything  appertaining  to  ladies' 
dress.  On  the  ground  Hoor  are  the  outfitting 
and  general  departments,  stocked  with  all 
kinds  of  gentlemen's  clothing  and  many 
articles,  such  as  electro-plate  ware,  travelling 
requisites,  and  sporting  gear,  which  cannot 
be  classified  under  any  one  head.  The 
Company  are  sole  agents  for  the  "  K  "  boots, 
for  Dr.  Jaeger's  goods,  and  for  "  Swift " 
bicycles.  Each  department  is  under  the 
management  of  a  foreign  buyer.  The  staff  con- 
sists of  about  twenty-five  Europeans  and  fully 
one  hundred  Chinese.  The  undertaking,  as 
a  whole,  is  conducted  by  Mr.  T.  E.  Trueman, 
who  entered  the  business  in  18S3.  For  some 
time  he  was  the  sole  proprietor  ;  then  -two  of 


[See  page  654.] 


THE    'WKLL-KNO'WN    PHOTOGRAPHIC    STUDIO    OF    DENNISTON    &    SULLIVAN. 

L.  L.  Hopkins,  Proprietor. 


this  was  the  only  chance  the  proprietors  had 
of  securing  a  frontage  on  a  main  thorough- 
fare. Five  years  and  a  half  later  they  moved 
into  their  present  quarters,  which  had  just 
been  built. 

During  all  this  while  the  business,  which 
had  undergone  several  changes  in  ownership, 
had  been  steadily  developing,  and,  in  1901, 
it  was  floated  as  a  limited  liability  com- 
pany, with  a  capital  of  200,000  Mexican 
dollars.  Two  years  later  the  capital  was 
doubled,  and  the  Company  were  enabled  to 
purchase  the  freehold  premises  in  which 
they  carry  on  their  trade,  and  the  four  ad- 
joining establishments — two  in  Nanking  Koad, 
and  two  in  Kiangse  Road — with  the  result 
that  at  the  present  time  they  occupy  a  site 
which    is    undoubtedly    one    of    the    best   in 


is  given  up  entirely  lo  (he  furnishing  de- 
partment, and  here,  tastefully  arranged  in  the 
various  showrooms,  may  be  found  everything 
required  for  making  a  home  comfortable  and 
attractive.  The  stock  is  varied  enough  to 
suit  all  classes  of  customers.  Particular 
mention  should,  perhaps,  be  made  of  the  ex- 
cellent collection  of  pictures,  which  includes 
reproductions  of  the  best  work  of  some  of 
the  greatest  artists,  as  well  as  numbers  of 
engravings,  etchings,  &c.  In  order  to  make 
the  department,  as  a  whole,  thoroughly  com- 
plete and  up  to  date,  the  Company  purchased 
quite  recently  the  freehold  of  a  factory  where 
every  style  of  furniture  is  made  to  order, 
and  where  a  picture  can  be  framed  to  suit 
any  particular  taste.  The  drapery  and  milli- 
nery   departments    extend     over     the     whole 


his  assistants  were  admitted  into  partnership  ; 
and  when  the  business  was  converted  into  a 
limited  liability  company  he  became  the 
managing  director. 


LANE,   CRAWFORD   &   CO.      . 

The  popularity  of  large  departmental  stores 
is  undoubted.  Comparatively  speaking  of 
recent  growth,  these  establishments  have 
advanced  rapidly  in  public  favour  because 
they  enable  iiilcnding  purchasers  to  obtain, 
with  a  minimum  expenditure  of  time  and 
trouble,  practically  any  article  that  is  required. 
These  stores  control  the  European  retail  trade 
in  the  Far  East,  and  the  names  of  several 
which    have   branches   in   various  ports  from 


WaLl&  holt?./. 

"   .      FACTORY. 


HALL    &    HOLTZ,    LTD. 

The  Storks. 

The  Showrooms. 

The  Furniture  Factokv. 


[S<c  pane  646.] 


r.o2      TWENTIETH  (CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


ColomtH)  to  Yokohama  arc-  known  Ihrou^hvut 
the  world.  AinoMf;  these  a  hit>h  place  U  held 
by  Messrs.  Lane,  Cniwford  &  Co.,  who  com- 
menced business  in  Hongkong  some  forty 
ycars  ago,  and  subsequently  opened  large 
branches  in  Shanghai  and  Yokohama.-n  At  the 
present  time,  however,  the  connection  between 
these  branches  is  only  nominal.  In  iH</>  the 
Shangliai  house  was  incorporated  as  a  limited 
liability  company,  with  a  capital  of  $250,000, 
and   since   that   time   it  has  p:iid  an  average 


Crawford  is  managing  director,  and  Mr.  U. 
Campbell  manager  in  Shanghai,  and  the  staff 
is  composed  of  sixteen  Kuropeans  and  a 
large  number  of  natives.  The  interests  of 
the  linn  in  London  are  l(M>ked  after  by  Mr. 
W.  C..IU-. 

KUHN   &   CO. 

This  establishment  is  one  of  the  most 
attractive  of  its  kind  in  Shanghai.     It  has  a 


[See|Mge65+] 


H.  JAFTER. 

H.  M.  B.  RIZAEF7. 


H.  M.  B.  AFSHAR. 


dividend  of  about  12  per  cent.  The  Com- 
pany carry  on  business  as  tailors,  drapers, 
outfitters,  provision  dealers,  and  wine  and 
spirit  merchants.  Each  department  is  distinct. 
and  forms  a  separate  bu.siness  in  itself,  but 
easy  access  is  obtained  from  one  to  another. 
To  meet  the  steadily  increasing  volume  of 
their  trade  the  Company  purchased  the  adjoin- 
ing building  in  Nanking  Koad,  formerly  occu- 
pied by  Messrs.  Mustard  &  Co.,  and.  in  July  of 
last  year,  opened  it  for  business.     Mr.  U.  W. 


wide  frontage  on  the  Nanking  Koad,  and  full 
advantage  is  taken  of  this  for  the  artistic 
display  of  many  elegant  articles  offered  for 
sale.  When  the  developments  and  improve- 
ments which  are  under  contemplation  shall 
have  been  carried  inio  effect,  the  house  will 
undoubtedly  (Kcupy  the  premier  position 
among  the  retail  businesses  of  a  similar 
character  in  North  China.  Messrs.  Kuhn  & 
Co..  who  have  established  a  high  reputation 
in    the    Far    East,    commenced    trading    as 


Japanese  and  Chinese  tine  art  dealers  in 
Yokohama  in  1869,  and  later  on  they  opened 
a  branch  at  Kyoto.  About  six  years  ago  the 
business  was  purchased  by  Mr.  G.  M.  Boyes, 
who  had  for  some  years  previously  been  in 
the  service  of  Messrs.  Kelly  &  Walsh  in 
Yokohama.  He  retained  agencies  in  Japan, 
and  made  his  headquarters  at  No.  29,  Nanking 
Koad,  Shanghai.  Finding  that  these  premises 
were  inadequate  he  removed  to  No.  35  two 
years  ago.  His  energetic  personal  super- 
vision has  resulted  in  the  introduction  of 
many  nevy  features.  Besides  being  fine  art 
dealers,  Kuhn  &  Co.  are  now  the  wholesale 
and  retail  agents  for  Mappin  &  Webb,  Ltd., 
of  London  and  Sheffield,  whose  name  is  a 
sufficient  guarantee  of  the  quality  of  the 
goods  supplied.  Messrs.  Kuhn  dc  Co.  hold 
large  stocks  of  sterling  silver-ware.  Prince's 
plate,  cutlery,  and  elaborately  filled  dressing- 
cases.  They  are  jewellers  also,  and  are 
making  preparations  for  developing  this  side 
of  their  business  very  considerably.  They 
have  a  fine  collection  of  old  Chinese  porce- 
lain and  bron/es,  Chinese  sacred  jade,  both 
mounted  and  uinnounted,  and  a  large  variety 
of  Japanese  curios  of  unique  design  ;  Damas- 
cene inlaid  ware,  ivories,  lacquer  ware, 
Salsuma  and  other  tea-sets,  embroidered 
screens,  kiminos,  carved-wood  furniture,  and 
hand-made  lace  from  the  Siccawei  Convent, 
— all  these  and  hundreds  of  other  articles 
are  effectively  arranged  on  the  shelves  and 
in  the  show-cases,  so  that  the  premises  have 
a  fascitiation  for  those  interested  in  Oriental 
craftsmanship  and  articles  of  vcrtii. 


C.    BRACCO  &   CO. 

This  firm  took  over  the  import  and  export 
business  of  Messrs.  J.  Gaillard  Jeune  on 
January  1.  1904.  Their  address  for  two 
and  a  half  years  was  No.  20,  Kmkiang  Koad, 
but,  finding  these  quarters  too  small,  they 
removed  to  their  new  and  connnodious 
offices  at  No.  i,  Szechuen  Koad.  Their 
operations  have  grown  steadily  and,  with  a 
capable  management,  progress  continues  to 
be  made.  Their  specialities  are  wines, 
spirits,  liqueurs,  and  provisions,  in  which 
they  represent  many  leading  Continental 
firms  and  do  a  wholesale  trade  only.  They 
deal  largely,  also,  in  sundries,  piece  goods, 
&c.,  and  export  curios,  hides,  and  tea. 
With  the  enterprise  which  has  characterised 
their  conduct  of  the  business  from  the 
beginning  they  are  always  prepared  to 
receive  any  specialities  from  Europe  and 
display  these,  free  of  charge,  in  their 
spacious  showrooms.  Although  it  would 
be  impossible  to  describe,  in  detail,  their 
many  activities,  a  brief  enumeration  of  their 
agencies  may,  perhaps,  help  to  a  realisation 
of  the  importance  and  extent  of  their  under- 
takings. They  are  sole  agents  for  Marie  Bri- 
zard  &  Koger,  Bordeaux,  brandies,  liqueurs  and 
rums  ;  Maison  Marceau,  Bordeaux,  high-class 
Bordeaux  wines  ;  Bouchard,  Pere  H,  Fils, 
Beauiie  and  Burgundy  wines  ;  A.  T.  C  Carrara, 
while  marbles  ;  Perinet  &  F'ils,  Kheims,  high- 
class  champagne  wines  ;  Picon's  famous  bitter  ; 
Beccaro  F'ratelli,  Acqui,  Piedmont  wines  ;  Get 
Kreres'  peppermint  ;  E.  Cogliati  &  Co.,  Era- 
pbli,  high-class  Chianii  wines  ;  Pernod  Filg, 
absinihe  ;  N.  Spano  &  Co.,  Marsala,  high-class 
Marsala  wines  ;  Noilly  Prat  &  Cie.,  French  ver- 
mouth ;  Gius  Scala,  Naples,  Capri  and  Malvasia 
wines  ;  Marquis  del  Mcrito,  Jeres  dc  la  Fron- 
tera,  sherry,  Madeira  and  port  ;  Sclioll  & 
Hillebrand.  Riidesheim-aKliein,  hocks  and 
Moselles  ;  Branca  Fratelli,  Milan,  Fernet  bitter 


THE  ARTS  AND  CRAFTS  FURNISHING  COMPANY  LTD. 

„         „  A  Bedroom  Suite  (as  supplied  bj-  the  Company*. 

&OMK  BEALTIFUL  IKTERIORS  OK  SHANGHAI  REsiUE.V'CES  (furnisbcd  by  the  Company). 


[See  page  648.] 


654     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG, 


SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  brandies ;  E.  Marliiia/zi  &  Co.,  Turin, 
Italian  vermouth  ;  M.  B.  Foster  &  Sons, 
Ltd.,  London,  ales  and  stouts  ;  G.  Bellentani, 
Modena,  Bologna  sausages  and  mortadellas ; 
Dalidet  &  Cie.,  Bordeaux,  high-class  pre- 
serves ;  Ausonia  Trading  Company,  Genoa, 
Italian  rice,  Lucca  olive  oils,  lemons  and 
oranges,  pastes,  high-class  provisions  and 
sundry  goods ;  S.  Venchi  &  Co.,  con- 
fectionery ;  San  Pellegrino  mineral  water ; 
Massoni  &  Moroni,  Schio  leather  and  camel 
beltings  :  P.  Miliani  Kabriano,  papers ;  and 
Nebiolo  &  Co.,  Turin,  printing  machinery, 
types,  &c. 


H.    H.    BODEMEVER  &   CO. 

By  reason  of  the  popular  favour  with  which 
cigars  are  regarded  in  the  Far  East,  many 
Arms  of  high  standing  engage  in  their  im- 
portation, and  competition  is  consequently 
exceptionally  keen.  In  these  circumstances 
Messrs.  Bodemeyer  &  Co.  may  well  point 
with  pride  to  the  fact  that  fully  twelve  million 
cigars  pass  through  their  hands  each  year, 
for  if  this  is  not  a  record  for  Shanghai  it 
comes  very  near  to  it.  The  lirm  carry  on 
such  an  extensive  business  that  they  might 
themselves  quite  easily  deal  with  the  entire 
output  of  a  small  factory.  They  have  branch 
offices  in  Xingpo.  Hankow,  and  Tientsin,  and 
are  the  sole  agents  for  the  Royal  Dutch 
Cigar  Works,  of  which  Messrs.  Eugene 
Goulmy  &  Baar  are  the  proprietors.  The 
factory  has  been  visited  by  some  of  the 
principal  crowned  heads  in  Europe,  and  its 
cigars  are  supplied  to  most  of  the  royal 
households.  Every  box  sold  by  Bodemeyer 
&  Co.  has  ••  H.H.B."  stamped  upon  it  to 
safeguard  the  public  against  imitations.  The 
offices  of  the  firm  are  at  Xo.  ii,  Museum 
Road,  where  an  extensive  assortment  of 
cigars  includes  the  well-known  brands  :  Klor- 
de-Martinez,  Princesa.  En-tous-Cas,  H.H.B. 
Special,  Orlanda.  Barabra.  Melanie,  and  Li 
Hung  Chang.  Of  the  Flor-de-Martinez  cigars 
alone  Messrs.  Bodemeyer  &  Co.  import  some 
three  millions  per  annum. 

*^ 

DENNISTON   &   SULLIVAN. 

For  many  of  the  photographs  which  are 
reproduced  in  the  Shanghai  section  of  this 
work  we  are  indebted  to  Messrs.  Denniston 
&  Sullivan,  who  undoubtedly  hold  pride  of 
place  among  local  practitioners  of  the  photo- 
graphic art.  They  keep  well  abreast  of 
modern  developments,  and  in  their  studio  at 
^"0.  373.  Xanking  Road  they  employ  several 
experienced  operators.  The  high  standard  of 
their  work  has  given  us,  in  common  with 
their  other  patrons,  every  satisfaction.  The 
business,  which  was  started  some  six  years 
ago  by  Messrs.  Denniston  &  Sullivan,  passed 
into  the  possession  of  Mr.  L  L.  Hopkins 
and  Mr.  J.  J.  Gilmore  in  June,  1906.  The 
proprietors  stock  every  variety  of  photo- 
graphic material,  and  also  carry  on  a 
considerable  trade  as  newsagents,  stationers, 
and  booksellers. 


* 


RIZAEFF   FRERES. 

In  Persia  and  the  vast  hinterland  ot  Turkestan 
large  quantities  of  tea  are  consumed,  the 
Persians  favouring  black  tea  and  the  people 
frf  Turkestan  the  green-cured  variety.  Much 
of  this  tea  comes  from  China,  and  it  was  to 
participate    in    the    trade    that,    in    1903,  the 


lirm  of  Rizaelf  Freres  opened  offices  at  No.  17, 
Foochow  Road,  Shanghai.  The  firm  was 
founded  in  1864  by  Mr.  H.  M.  B.  Kizaeff,  and 
develo|ied  rapidly,  branches  being  established 
in  London,  Tiflis,  Baku,  Samarkand,  Turkestan, 
Organdje,  Meshad,  Kesht,  Tabris,  and  Telieran. 
Messrs.  Rizaeff  Freres  carry  on  general 
banking  business  between  India,  Persia, 
Russia,  and  England,  and  in  Persia  have  a 
large  depot  for  the  export  of  carpets  and 
silk.  Messrs.  M.  D.  Rizaeff  and  M.  R.  Farad- 
joulla,  partners  in  the  firm,  have  charge  of 
the  business  in  Shanghai. 


MESSRS.   n.   M.   H.   NEMAZEE   &  CO. 

For  over  half  a  century  Messrs.  H.  M.  H. 
Nemazee  &  Co.  have  been  actively  engaged 
in  the  import  and  export  trade  of  China. 
Their  record  is  one  upon  which  they  can 
look  back  with  pride,  for,  in  spite  of  increasing 
competition,  the  volume  of  their  business 
has  grown  wiih  each  succeeding  year.  As 
general  merchants  they  handle  goods  of  any 
description  for  which  there  is  a  demand,  but 
they  import  chiefly  opium  and  piece  goods, 
and  export  tea,  silk,  and  Chinese  products. 

The  founder  of  the  firm  was  Mr.  H.  M.  K. 
Xemazee,  who  established  a  branch  in  Hong- 
kong in  1855,  and  personally  superintended 
it  for  some  years.  His  nephew,  Mr.  H.  M. 
Xemazee,  succeeded  to  the  business  in  1889, 
and,  except  for  brief  absences  occasioned  by 
visits  to  the  Company's  headquarters  at  Shiraz, 
Persia,  he  has  been  in  charge  of  the  Hong- 
kong office  since  that  time. 

The  Shanghai  branch  was  opened  in  1895. 
Mr.  M.  Jaffer,  the  manager,  has  been  in  the 
service  of  tlie  Company  for  thirteen  years, 
and  before  entering  upon  his  present  duties 
was  manager,  under  Mr.  Nemazee,  in  Hong- 
kong. For  upwards  of  a  hundred  years  the 
firm  have  been  represented  in  India,  and 
they  have  numerous  agents  in  Persia  as  well 
as  in  the  Far  East. 

m 

MIRZA  MOHAMED  BOWKER  AFStlAR  &  CO. 

Among  the  few  Persian  firms  in  Shanghai 
participating  in  the  increasing  trade  between 
India,  China,  and  Persia,  Messrs.  M.  M.  B. 
Afshar  &  Co.  have  quickly  secured  a  leading 
position.  Their  branch  was  opened  in  1897, 
and  now,  besides  exporting  large  quantities 
of  tea,  silk,  and  piece  goods  to  India  and 
Persia,  they  do  a  thriving  commission 
business  and  hold  several  important  agencies. 
From  their  offices  at  No.  128,  Szechuen  Road, 
Mr.  R.  S.  Kermani  superintends  the  firm's 
interests  in  China.  Mr.  M.  M.  B.  Afshar, 
the  founder  of  the  enterprise,  and  the  senior 
partner  in  it,  is  stationed  at  Bombay. 

# 

SHANQHAI    ELECTRIC  AND   ASBESTOS 
COMPANY. 

In  a  thriving  business  centre,  where  new  and 
well-equipped  offices  are  constantly  being 
required,  there  are,  naturally,  exceptional 
opportunities  for  a  firm  which  has  a  large 
and  varied  assortment  of  electrical  appliances 
always  in  stock,  and  is  capable  of  carrying 
out  with  despatch  all  kinds  of  electrical  work. 
That  the  Shanghai  Electric  and  Asbestos 
Company  have  availed  themselves  of  these 
opportunities  to  the  fullest  possible  extent  is 
proved  by  the  remarkable  advance  which 
they    have    made    in    a    comparatively    short 


period.  The  business  was  started  twelve 
years  ago  by  Mr.  Bell  as  an  agency 
for  Bell's  Asbestos  Packings  and  Suter 
Hartmann's  &  Rahtjen's  Composition  Com- 
pany, Ltd.  Three  years  later  Mr.  Price 
became  associated  with  the  enterprise,  which 
was  then  conducted  under  the  names  of 
Messrs.  Bell  &  Price.  It  was  floated  as  a 
Company,  and  registered  under  the  Hong- 
kong Ordinances  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Price 
in  1902,  Mr.  Bell  assuming  the  position  of 
manager,  while  Mr.  J.  Frost,  A.M.I.E.E.,  a 
former  employe  of  the  General  Electric 
Company,  Ltd.,  London,  was  appointed 
electrical  engineer.  When  Mr.  Bell  died  in 
1906  Mr.  Frost  was  placed  in  charge. 

The  Company  have  fitted  several  cotton 
mills,  and  ships,  as  well  as  many  private 
dwellings,  with  electric  light  ;  indeed,  they 
have  carried  out  most  of  the  large  electric 
installations  in  the  Settlement  during  recent 
years.  They  are  agents  for  the  well-known 
"  Easton "  electric  lifts,  of  which  they  have 
erected  nearly  twenty  in  Shanghai  alone, 
including  four  "  Otis "  elevators  in  the 
General  Hospital,  and  a  Waygood  "  lift  in 
the  new  offices  of  Messrs.  Bulterfield  & 
Swire.  They  are  agents  also  for  Suter 
Hartmann's  and  Rahtjen's  ship  paint,  which 
is  used  on  all  the  vessels  of  the  British 
Navy,  and  for  the  "Express"  marine  oils, 
which  have  a  world-wide  reputation  among 
marine  engineers. 

The  authorised  capital  of  the  Company  is 
$200,000  in  8,000  shares  of  $25  each,  and  for 
the  last  few  years  an  average  dividend  of 
10  per  cent,  has  been  declared. 


KIRCHNER   &   BOQER. 

When  they  first  started  business  some  forty 
years  ago,  Messrs.  Kirchner  &  Boger  dealt 
largely  in  both  imports  and  exports.  Their 
export  trade,  however,  has  been  relinquished 
gradually  until  now  the  firm  give  their 
undivided  attention  to  the  importation  of 
goods  for  the  local  market.  Mr.  Hoger  died 
in  1903,  and,  in  1904,  Mr.  Kirchner  admitted 
to  partnership  Mr.  Kupsch,  the  present 
manager  of  the  Shanghai  office.  Mr.  A. 
Kirchner  now  resides  at  Liibeck.  The  firm 
are  represented  in  Hamburg  by  Messrs. 
Coenns,  Cremer  &  Co.,  and  in  Manchester 
by  Mr.  H.  Boger,  and  they  have  connections 
in  all  parts  of  the  world.  In  Shanghai  they 
are  the  sole  agents  for  Messrs.  Gottlieb 
Taussig,  of  Vienna ;  Messrs.  Maritz  SmI. 
Esche  Chemintz,  Saxony  ;  Messrs.  Heinrich 
Kaufmann  &  Sohne,  Solingen  ;  Messrs.  Carl 
Jiiger,  Diisseldorf  ;  and  several  fire  insur- 
ance companies  whose  head  oflices  are  in 
Hamburg  and  Batavia. 

€> 

MAX  MITTAO. 

FoK  upwards  of  five  years  the  firm  of  Max 
Mittag  have  carried  on  business  at  Shanghai 
and  Hankow  as  importers  and  exporters  and 
commission  agents,  Mr.  Mittag,  the  founder, 
came  out  to  Shanghai  in  1886,  and  joined 
the  firm  of  Messrs.  Gipperich  &  Burchardi, 
general  merchants,  in  which,  eventually,  he 
became  a  partner.  Messrs.  Gipperich  & 
Burchardi  went  into  liquidation,  and,  on  the 
retirement  of  Mr.  Biircliardi,  Mr.  Mittag  started 
a  business  of  his  own,  opening  an  office  on 
January  1,  1903,  at  No.  24,  Kiangse  Road. 
Mr.  Mittag  lives  at  "  Willfried,"  in  the  Great 
Western  Road. 


WEEKS    &    CO.,    LTD. 

The  Showrooms. 
The  Kirxiti're  Dei'artmext, 


The  Premises. 


[See  page  648.] 


656     1'^VENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


RICHARD  NEUMANN. 

The  oversea  Colonies  and  Settlements  in 
the  Far  East  afford  plenty  of  opportunity  for 
men  possessed  of  energy  and  perseverance 
to    come   to    the    front    rapidly    and   achieve 


success.  An  illustration  of  this  is  afforded 
by  the  career  of  Mr.  Richard  Neumann,  a 
native  of  Berlin,  who,  after  having  been 
a  nourishing  tradesman,  lost  his  business 
and  resources  through  circumstances  over 
which     he     had    no    control,    and    came    to 


%-^ 


[Set  page  654.] 


MAX    MITTAG. 
•  WiULf'RiED,"  Cheat  Wksierx  Road. 
UfFicES,  KiAxiiSK  Road. 


China  in  January,  1901.  For  five  months 
he  held  a  position  in  the  Chinese  Post 
Office  and  then  resigned  to  open,  in  a 
humble  way,  his  piesent  well-known  butchery 
establishment.  By  paying  special  attention 
to  the  wants  of  the  men  of  the  International 
Fleet  as  well  as  the  Army  of  Occupation 
during  the  Boxer  troubles  of  1900  and  1901, 
he  rapidly  built  up  a  large  business  which 
to-day  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  in  the 
Settlement.  He  was  the  first  to  cater 
specially  for  the  German  community,  im- 
porting and  manufacturing  all  kinds  of 
German  <lfliknlfsscii,  and  opening  a  real 
old-fashioned  German  kiicifc  and  breakfast 
room.  He  supplies  large  contracts  for  the 
German,  American  and  Russian  Fleets  as 
well  as  the  steamers  of  the  Hamburg-Amerika 
Linie  and  the  Norddeutscher  Lloyd.  To 
such  a  perfection  were  his  butchery  and 
bakery  business  carried  that  the  Chinese 
were  led  to  copy  his  methods,  a  better 
system  being  thus  introduced  into  the  whole 
of  the  Shanghai  butchery  trade.  For  services 
rendered  to  the  Japanese  Red  Cross  Society 
during  the  late  Russo-Japanese  War  he 
received  the  Society's  medal  as  well  as 
another  Japanese  decoration.  Mr.  Neumann 
is  a  great  lover  of  horses.  He  was  the 
first  to  import  high-class  German  carriages 
and  harness,  and  to-day  possesses  some  of 
the  finest  equipages  in  Shanghai.  His  pre- 
mises are  situated  in  Astor  Road,  at  the  back 
of  the  Astor  House  Hotel,  and  are  known 
to  everybody  in  the  Settlement.  Altogether 
Mr.  Neumann  is  a  fine  example  of  the  self- 
made  man  of  business,  having  acquired  his 
present  standing  through  tireless  energy  and 
strict  attention  to  his  business. 


W.   FUTTERER. 

Mr.  W.  Futterer,  who  carries  on  an  extensive 
trade  as  a  butcher,  came  out  to  China, 
in  1900,  with  the  German  Expeditionary 
Forces  under  Count  Waldersee.  Two  years 
later  he  left  the  Army,  and  settled  in  Shang- 
hai, opening  his  present  premises  in  the 
Broadway  in  October,  1903.  By  dint  of  per- 
severance and  haid  work  he  has  succeeded 
in  building  up  a  large  connection,  especially 
amongst  the  German  community.  He  has 
introduced  all  the  latest  and  most  approved 
sanitary  principles  into  the  conduct  of  his 
business,  and  has  his  own  electric  power 
and  lighting  installations.  Owing  to  the 
rapid  growth  of  his  business  he  contemplates 
making  considerable  additions  to  the  plant 
and  to  the  staff  in  the  near  future.  He 
supplies  the  German  Naval  flotilla  and 
several  mercantile  marine  companies  of 
various  nationalities,  besides  the  Club  Con- 
cordia, the  Kalee  Hotel,  and  other  large 
establishments.  Mr.  Fiitterer  is  a  native  of 
Baden. 

THE   INSHALLAH   DAIRY   FARM. 

Some  nine  or  ten  years  ago  a  mild  outbreak 
of  cholera  in  Shanghai  induced  several 
foreigners  to  discuss  the  advisability  of 
starting  a  farm,  managed  on  Western  lines, 
for  the  purpose  of  supplying  milk  of 
guaranteed  purity,  and  vegetable  produce 
grown  in  cleanly  surroundings.  Mr.  A.  M. 
A.  Evans,  who  had  just  at  that  time  returned 
from  Australia,  where  he  had  been  buying 
up  horses,  cows,  and  other  live  stock,  under- 
took to  carry  out  the  idea,  provided  sufficient 
support    was    forthcoming    from   the    leading 


C.    BRACCO    &    CO. 
IX  THK  Ciomnvxs. 


[See  page  653.] 


THK  Showroom. 


The  Stokks. 


658     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE   ESTABLISHMENT    OF    WM.    FttTTERER,    ON    THE    BROADWAY. 
(See  pace  656,] 


local  hotels,  clubs,  and  private  consumers. 
This  support  having  been  promised,  Mr. 
Kvans  proceeded  with  the  establishment  of 
the  Inshallah  Dairy  Farm,  which  was  opened 
in  H)oo.  The  farm  comprises  120  mow  of 
land  in  Ward  Koad,  in  the  Eastern  district 
of  the  Settlement.  A  comfortable  farmhouse 
has  been  built,  together  with  a  dairy,  a  byre 
with  accommodation  for  eighty  cattle  and  forty 
horses,  a  piggery,  pigeon-cote,  rabbit-burrow, 
and  fowl  runs.  As  there  are  no  commons 
or  grazing  grounds  in  or  around  Shanghai 
it  was  found  necessary  to  lay  down  grass — 
an  expensive  process — for  seed  had  to  be 
imported  and  experimented  with  to  see  if 
it  would  stand  the  variable  climate.  In  the 
absence  of  a  serviceable  water  supply  re- 
course was  had  to  an  artesian  well,  from 
which  water  is  drawn  by  means  of  a  patent 
windmill  pump.  The  best  of  cattle  have 
been  imported,  and  under  expert  supervision 
the  farm  has  been  able  to  meet  the  increas- 
ing demand  for  milk,  cream,  and  butter. 
Poultry,  eggs,  pigeons,  rabbits,  flowers,  and 
vegetables  are  also  supplied.  An  expe- 
rienced florist  superintends  the  horticultural 
department,  and  is  able  to  give  special  attention 
to  orders  for  table  decorations  for  private 
and  public  functions.  The  general  agents 
for  the  farm  are  Messrs.  Evans  &  Co.,  of 
No.  32,  Nanking  Road,  Shanghai. 


DICKESON,   JONES   &   CO. 

This  firm  are  the  agents  for  Nestles  and 
Anglo-Swiss  Condensed  Milk  Company,  the 
great  organisation  whose  headquarters  at 
Vevey,  Switzerland,  are  familiar  to  all  travel- 
lers in  that  delightful  land.  The  operations 
of  the  Company  were  originally  confined 
largely  to  European  countries,  but  with  the 
growth  of  commerce,  and  a  wider  diffusion 
of  knowledge  of  the  virtues  of  the  products 
of  the  enterprise,  it  extended  its  ramifications 
enormously.  Now  "  Nestles  "  is  a  household 
word  in  every  centre  of  civilised  population 
from  London  to  Vancouver,  and  is  by  no 
means  unknown  in  the  remotest  centres  of 
the  interior.  The  guarantee  which  the  name 
offers  of  an  absolutely  pure  milk  is  one  which 
nowhere  has  a  greater  value  than  in  the 
Far  East,  where  the  pollution  of  the  water 
system  and  the  general  lack  of  cleanli- 
ness which  marks  the  Chinese  methods  of 
dealing  with  food  products,  make  the  milk 
of  the  country  a  very  dangerous  article  iTi 
certain  circumstances.  Not  a  few  Chinese 
themselves  prefer  Nestles  milk  to  the  local 
article  for  the  rearing  of  their  children,  and 
it  is  very  extensively  consumed  by  families 
of  European  and  American  nationality.  In 
fact,  no  European  food  product  is  better 
known  or  has  a  wider  vogue. 


EVANS    &    CO.-THE    INSHALLAH    DAIRY    FARM. 
The  Cattlk.  Thk  Farm  Bt  ildixcs. 


Thk  Cowhouse. 


[See  pige  656.] 


CSee  paee  6511) 


DICKESON,    JONES    &    CO. 

Nestle's   Factory. 

mostreux  rlakk  ok  geneva). 

Vevey  (Lake  ok  Geneva). 


THE   ORIENTAL    COMMERCIAL   COMMUNITY. 


THE   SHANGHAI   TOBACCO   TRADE   QUILD. 

The  Shanghai  Tobacco  Trade  Guild,  which 
now  numbers  some  three  hundred  members, 
was  estabUshed  about  ten  years  ago  with 
only  fen  members.  The  principal  movers 
in  its  formation  were  Messrs.  Woo  Thig 
Seng  and  J.  Whey.  Mr.  Whey  is  now 
chairman  of  the  organisation  ;  while  the 
affairs  of  the  Guild  are  managed  by  a  com- 
mittee. The  influence  of  the  Guild  is  wide- 
spread, for  its  members  are  all  leading 
merchants  doing  a  large  business  with  all 
the  principal  towns  in  China. 


THE   LOONO   TAI   TEA   HONG. 

One  of  \he  oldest  and  largest  firms  repre- 
sented in  the  tea-producing  district  around 
Hankow  is  the  Loong  Tai  Tea  Hong,  which 
has  existed  practically  ever  since  Shanghai 
was  opened  to  foreign  trade,  and  has  dealings 
to  the  value  of  over  a  million  taels  annually. 
The  proprietor  is  Mr.  King  Kai  Tong,  who, 
with  his  brothers,  succeeded  to  his  grand- 
father's property.  Mr.  King  has  also  been 
appointed  agent  for  the  Chinese  Tea  Exhibition 
Room  in  the  Commercial  Ba/aar  of  Shanghai, 
where  teas  from  various  parts  of  China,  some 
of  the  more  choice  of  which  are  never  exported 
to  foreign  countries,  may  be  seen.  Mr.  King 
has  visited  most  of  the  tea-producing  districts 
of  the  country,  and  has  devoted  much  study 
to  the  comparative  values  of  the  soil  in  various 
places,  and  to  methods  by  which  the  cultivation 
of  tea  may  be  improved.  This  study  does 
not,  however,  engross  his  whole  attention, 
for  he  is  also  an  earnest  student  of  philosophy. 
A  native  of  Moyuenhsien,  in  Anhwei  Province, 
where  his  father  held  official  rank,  he  came 
to  Shanghai  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and 
spent  several  years  at  an  American  Mission 
School.  He  is  familiar  with  the  writings  of 
Confucius  and  Menfucius,  the  Scriptures,  and 
many  religious  and  philosophical  works  by 
Indian,  Greek.  Roman,  and  modern  European 
wrilers.  He  is  now  engaged  upon  a  com- 
parison of  ancient  and  modern  philosophy, 
and  he  believes  the  day  will  come  when  all 
the  religions  in  the  world  will  be  reconciled. 


HUNQ  CHONQ   &   CO. 

The  Chinese  are  admittedly  clever  craftsmen, 
and  the  silver-ware  which  they  manufaclure 
is  very  popular  with  collectors  of  Eastern 
curios  and  souvenirs,  by  reason  of  its  quaint 
beauty.  Among  the  leading  gold  and  silver 
smiths  in  Shanghai  are  Messrs.  Hung  Chong 
&  Co.,  who  deal  largely,  also,  in  blackwood 
furniture,  embroideries,  silk  piece  goods,  &c. 
Their  premises  at  No.  iiB,  Nanking  Road, 
always  present  a  very  attractive  appearance. 
The  business  was  established  in  1892  by  Mr. 
Fok  Ying  Chew,  who  sold  it  in  1906  to  the 
present  proprietor,  Mr.  Sum  Luen-sing.  The 
large  trade  now  carried  on  necessitates  the 
employment  of  fourteen  assistants  and  forty 
workmen.  Mr.  Sum  Luen-sing  is  the  son  of  Mr. 
Sum  Cheuk  Sing,  and  was  born  in  Macao  in 
1871.  He  studied  English  in  Shanghai,  and  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  joined  the  "I>impu"  line  of 
steamers.  After  remaining  in  this  employment 
for  three  years,  he  obtained  a  post  with  the 
"  Kangyue  "  line.  He  joined  Hung  Chong  & 
Co.,  as  an  assistant,  in  1892.  He  is  married,  and 
has  one  son  and  daughter. 


MESSRS.   PHIROZSHA   B.   PETIT   &   CO. 

This  well-known  Bombay  firm  have  branches 
at  Shanghai  and  Hongkong,  where  they  trade 
extensively  as  merchants  and  commission 
agents,  doing  a  large  business  in  cotton, 
yarn,  opium,  tea,  silk,  cloth,  electrical  appli- 
ances, automobiles,  machinery,  and  general 
stores.  They  hold  numerous  first  -  class 
agencies,  including  those  for  Messrs.  Easton 
&  Anderson,  engineers,  London  ;  the  Union 
Electric  Company,  Ltd.,  I^ondon  ;  the  Sim- 
plex Conduits,  Ltd.,  Birmingham  ;  the 
Anchor  Cable  Company,  Ltd.,  Leigh,  Lan- 
cashire ;  the  Sunbeam  Lamp  Company,  Ltd., 
Gateshea<l-upon-Tyne  ;  the  General  Contracts 
Company,  Ltd.,  I>ondon  ;  Messrs.  Lea,  Son 
&  Co.,  Shrewsbury  ;  the  Sterling  Telephone 
and  Electric  Company,  London  ;  and  the  Com- 
monsense  Manufacturing  Company,  Toronto, 
Canada.  They  are  also  managing  agents 
for  the  Petit  India  Commercial  Intelligence 
Bureau. 


The  Shanghai  branch  was  opened  in  April, 
1906,  by  Mr.  Nusservanjee  Sorabjee,  formerly 
of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  R.  S.  N.  Talati  & 
Co.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Sorabjee.  Mr. 
R.  E.  Reporter  was  appointed  manager.  The 
offices  are  situated  at  No.  7A,  Canton  Hoad. 

The  Hongkong  branch  was  opened  on 
September  5,  1905,  by  Mr.  Sorabjee  Dhum- 
jeebhoy  Sethna,  who  had  been  resident  in  the 
Colony  since  1883,  and  was,  prior  to  taking 
up  his  present  appointment,  managing  the 
firm  of  Messrs.  Cawasjee,  Pallanjee  &  Co. 
The  offices  are  at  No.  6,  Des  Voeux  Road, 
Hongkong. 

The  present  proprietor,  Mr.  Phirozsha  B. 
Petit,  is  the  third  son  of  Mr.  Bomanjee 
Dinsha  Petit.  He  resides  in  Bombay,  where 
the  head  offices  of  the  firm  are  situated,  the 
premises  occupying  Nos.  7-1 1,  Elphinstone 
Circle,  The  Eort. 


THE   MITSU   BISHI   COMPANY. 

With  its  banking,  mining,  shipbuilding,  and 
industrial  interests  this  Company  has  made 
its  influence  felt  in  all  the  large  and  impor- 
tant centres  of  the  East.  Its  headquarters 
are  at  Tokyo,  and  it  has  branches  at  Osaka, 
Kobe,  Moji,  Nagasaki,  Wakamatsu,  Karatsu, 
Nigata,  Shanghai,  Hankow,  and  Hongkong, 
as  well  as  agencies  in  Yokoliama,  Haiida. 
Chinkiang,  Manila,  London,  and  Glasgow. 
The  firm  has  a  capital  of  Yen  15,000,000.  It 
owns  a  number  of  well-known  mines,  pro- 
ducing gold,  silver,  copper,  and  coal  in  large 
quantities ;  and  has  one  of  the  oldest  and 
biggest  dockyards  and  engineering  works  in 
Japan  ;  while  its  banking  department  has 
the  largest  deposits  of  any  bank  in  Tokyo. 
These,  liowever,  constitute  only  a  few  of 
the  hiterests  of  the  Company,  whose  opera- 
tions are  of  a  very  varied  character  and  on  a 
very  extensive  scale. 

For  over  twenty  years  the  Mitsu  Bislii 
Company  was  represented  in  Shanghai  by 
Mr.  H.  Tripp.  In  1906,  however,  a  branch 
was  opened  in  the  Settlement,  and  the  busi- 
ness has  since  been  conducted  under  the 
personal  supervision  of  Mr.  Y.  Taliara,  who 
has  been  in  the  service  of  the  Company  for 
some  thirteen  vears. 


KING    KAI    TONG. 

THK   I'Ktll'HIKroK   AND  STAFF  AT  THK  TkA    Hi>X(:. 

A   COKNKK  OF   THE  SHdWHDOM   AT  'JHK  CoMMFIKCIAl,   HAZAAK. 


KlXG   KA!  Toxi:. 


664     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


SUZUKI    &   CO. 

The  establishment  of  this  business  dates 
back  some  forty  years,  when  the  name  of 
the  firm  was  Kanctalsu.  In  1902  various 
interests  were  an>algan>ated  and  Ihe  present 
partnership  Comp;iny  was  formed.  The 
head  oflice  is  at  Sakaemachi  Street,  Kobe. 
Japan,  and  there  are  branches  in  Osaka. 
Tokyo.  Moji.  and  Shanghai,  and  correspon- 
dents in  London,  Hamburg,  New  York,  and 
other  important  commercial  centres  in 
Europe.  .America.  India,  and  China.  In 
their  imp^irt  and  export  department  the 
firm's  specialities  are  sugar,  flour,  camphor, 
peppennint,  manures,  &c.,  and  in  their 
"  foreign  department "  in  Kobe  and  Shang- 
hai they  also  handle  various  kinds  of 
Japanese  and  Chinese  produce.  The  Com- 
pany foniierly  owned  the  Dairi  Sugar 
Refinery,  near  Moji,  Japan,  but  this  was 
amalgamated  with  the  Japan  Refining 
Company,  Ltd.,  in  .August,  1907,  Suzuki  &  Co. 
retaining  the  agency  for  the  sale  of  sugar 
from  the  refinery  in  Korea,  Western  Japan 
and  China.  They  own  tlie  Kobe  Steel 
Works,  the  Kobe  Camphor  Refinery,  and  the 
Suzuki  Pepperment  Refinery.  The  Shanghai 
branch  of  'the  basin<^s  represents  the  Japan 


Sugar  Refining  Company.  Tokyo,  Osaka,  and 
Dairi;  the  Harrington  Milling  Company,  Port- 
land, Oregon  ;  the  Puget  Sound  Flouring  Mills 
Company,  Portland,  Oregon  ;  and  tlie  Ham- 
mond Milling  Company.  Seattle.  The  senior 
partner  is  Mrs.  Y.  Suzuki,  and  the  two  junior 
partners  are  Messrs.  N.  Kancke  and  F. 
Yanidaga. 


A.   SINQ. 

This  firm  of  stevedores,  ship-chandlers,  &c., 
was  established,  in  1844,  by  the  late  Mr.  C.  A. 
Sing,  who  for  more  than  half  a  century  carried 
on  a  flourishing  business,  and  by  his  honesty 
and  integrity  won  the  confidence  of  the 
trading  community  and  the  esteem  of  a  wide 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  His 
death,  which  occurred  in  1907,  was  widely 
regretted.  The  business,  which  is  now  con- 
ducted by  his  son,  Mr.  C.  W.  A.  Sing,  has 
developed  considerably  since  its  inception. 
The  various  lines  with  which  regular  con- 
tracts are  held,  include  the  Canadian  Pacific 
Railway  Company  ;  Peninsular  and  Oriental 
Steamship  Company  ;  Pacific  Mail  Steamship 


Company  ;  Great  Northern  Steamship  Com- 
pany ;  Occidental  and  Oriental  Steamship 
Company  ;  Toyo  Kisen  Kaisha  ;  Norddeuts- 
cher  Lloyd  ;  Hamburg-Amerika  Linie  ;  Port- 
land and  Asiatic  Steamship  Company  ; 
Northern  Pacific  Line  ;  Boston  Steanisliip 
Company  and  Weir  Steamship  Twines ;  the 
Shire,  Ben,  Glen,  Mogul,  .Apcar,  Indra, 
Barber,  Warrack,  Prince,  Castle,  and  Shell 
Transport  Lines  ;  the  Kastcrii  and  Australian 
Steamship  Company  ;  tlic  Standard  Oil  Com- 
pany Line  ;  the  Royal  Dutcli  Petroleum  Steam 
Navigation  Company  ;  Shangliai-Xew  York 
Line  of  Steamers ;  the  Boston  Tow  Boat 
Company  ;  the  United  States,  China-Japan 
Line  ;  the  American-Asiatic  Steamship  Com- 
pany ;  and  many  others  calling  at  the  port. 
Mr.  C.  W.  A.  Sing  was  born  in  i86l,  and 
joined  his  father  in  business  immediately  after 
completing  his  education  at  the  Slianghai 
Municipal  Public  School.  He  has  lliree  sons 
— Messrs.  Chun  Yew  Yung,  Chun  When  Jun, 
and  Chun  Bing  Wo — who  are  all  receiving 
their  education  in  the  United  Slates.  The 
first-named  has  entered  tlie  Rensselaer  Poly- 
technic Institute,  Troy,  N.Y.,  to  study  civil 
engineering  ;  and  the  other  two  are  in  the 
High  School,  Amherst,  Mass. 


[See  page  662.] 


HUNG    CHONG    &    CO. 


The  Showroou. 


Thi';  I•HK^t]sKS. 


C.  Y.  SIXG. 
C,  W,  A.  Sixn, 


A.    SING. 

C.  V.  Sing. 
The  I.ate  c.  a.  Sing. 


^Hi;x  Fa  (son  of  C.  W.  A.  Sing). 
The  Business  Premises  in  Broadway. 


THE    RAILWAYS    OF   CHINA. 


IHE  Chinese  railway  system,  so 
far  reaching,  so  promising  in 
its  future  potentialities,  is  a 
creation  of  I  he  last  few  years. 
Actually,  as  is  shown  in  the 
historical  section,  the  question 
of  railway  construction  was 
raised  as  far  hack  as  July,  1863,  when  an 
abortive  effort  was  made  lo  obtain  tlie 
right  to  construct  a  line  between  Shanghai 
and  Soochow.  But  it  was  not  until  1876 
that  the  schemes  of  railway  development  in 
China,  which    had   long  been  floating  in  the 


railway  policy  and  appointing  His  Excellency 
Sheng  Hung  Shuen  Director  -  General  of 
Railways.  This  declaration  was  the  signal  for 
a  great  scramble  for  concessions  on  the  part 
of  various  foreign  interests.  In  the  north, 
aided  by  British  capital,  a  line  between 
Peking  and  Tientsin  was  constructed,  to 
develop  ultimately  into  the  great  system  of 
Northern  Imperial  Railways,  which  is  one 
of  the  most  important  links  in  the  trunk  rail- 
way communications  of  the  Empire  with 
Europe.  Further  away  in  Manchuria,  largely 
under    Russian    auspices,   the   way  was   pre- 


.'      V' 


WINTER    ON    THE    CHINESE    RAILWAYS. 


brains  of  European  promoters,  took  definite 
shape  in  the  launching  of  the  Shanghai- 
Woosung  Railway,  and,  as  has  been  seen, 
that  project  came  early  to  grief  owing  to  the 
fanatical  prejudices  of  the  populace  acting  in 
conjunction  with  the  bigoted  opposition  of 
the  official  classes.  In  fact,  another  twenty 
years  were  to  elapse  before  a  real  beginning 
was  to  be  made  with  the  provision  of  a 
system  of  railways  for  China.  The  starting 
point  of  the  modern  movement  is  the  year 
1896.  when  an  Imperial  Chinese  Edict  was 
issued  sanctioning  the  pursuance  of  an  active 


pared  for  the  completion  of  the  historic  lines 
from  the  Manchurian  frontier  to  Dalny  and 
from  Harbin  to  Vladivostock,  enterprises  with 
a  total  mileage  of  1,642.  Another  highly 
important  project  which  was  sanctioned  in 
this  early  period  was  the  Peking- Hankow 
Line,  which  runs  directly  south  from  the 
capital  for  700  miles  until  it  reaches  the 
great  town  in  the  Yangtsze  basin.  The  con- 
•  cession  for  the  construction  of  the  line  was 
obtained  by  a  group  of  Belgian  capitalists. 
To  forward  the  scheme  tlie  Chinese  Govern- 
ment   issued   a   gold   loan    of   ^4,500,000,   of 


which  £'2,500,000  was  offered  to  tlie  public 
in  April,  1899,  and  the  balance  in  March, 
1902.  The  affair  was  too  large  an  under- 
taking for  the  money  market  of  Belgium,  and 
it  was  arranged  that  France  should  take  up 
one-third  of  the  loan  on  certain  conditions. 
Construction  was  commenced  from  Peking 
and  Hankow  simultaneously  in  1898-99,  and 
proceeded  until  the  Boxer  troubles  occurred, 
when  a  considerable  amount  of  damage  was 
done  to  the  completed  permanent  way  and 
to  the  bridges.  When  the  crisis  had  passed 
construction  was  resumed,  and  by  1903  a 
section  of  the  line — 150  miles  in  length — 
was  open  for  traffic.  In  association  with 
this  scheme  the  Russo-Chinese  Bank  in  1898 
obtained  a  concession  for  a  railway  153  miles 
long  from  Chengting,  some  200  miles  south 
of  Peking,  to  Tai  Yuan,  in  Shensi.  An 
edict  was  issued  by  the  Chinese  Govern- 
ment on  October  13,  1902,  sanctioning  the 
raising  of  a  loan  in  Paris  of  40,000,000 
francs,  negotiated  by  Sheng,  the  Director- 
General  of  Chinese  Railways,  with  the 
Russian  Bank,  for  the  construction  of  this 
line  on  terms  similar  to  those  of  the  Franco- 
Belgian  contract.  Also  to  be  identified  with 
the  Peking- Hankow  scheme  was  an  enter- 
prise floated  under  the  auspices  of  the 
American  China  Development  Company  in 
1898  for  building  a  railway  between  Hankow 
and  Canton,  a  distance  of  750  miles.  The 
preliminary  contract  was  signed  on  April  14, 
1898,  and  the  work  of  construction  was 
proceeded  with  with  such  vigour  that  the 
line  was  opened  between  Canton  and  Fatshan 
on  November  4,  1903.  In  September,  1905, 
the  rights  of  the  American  syndicate  which 
promoted  the  scheme  were  re-purchased, 
and  the  line  passed  under  Chinese  control. 

The  exclusively  British  projects  embraced 
lines  from  Shanghai  to  Woosung,  12  miles  ; 
Shanghai  to  Nanking,  180  miles;  Soochow  to 
Hangchow,  100  miles  ;  Hangchow  to  Ningpo, 
93  miles  ;  and  Canton  to  Kowloon,  102  miles. 
Further,  there  was  a  line  from  Tau-ku 
(Honan)  lo  Chung-hua  (Shansi)  promoted 
by  the  Peking  Syndicate.  In  the  German 
sphere  of  influence  in  Shantung  an  impor- 
tant scheme  of  railway  communication  was 
launched  early  in  the  days  of  the  occupation 
of  Kiaochau.  Four  separate  projects  were 
designed  :  first,  a  railway  from  the  Shantung 
border  to  Tientsin  ;  second,  a  line  between 
Kiaochau  and  Tsinan  ;  third,  an  extension  of 
the  second  line  to  Chengting  on  the  Peking- 
Hankow  Railway  ;  and,  fourth,  a  line  from 
Yen-chau  to  Kaifeng  on  the  Peking-Hankow 
Railway.     France,  on  her  part,  did  not  allow 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     667 


herself  to  be  left  out  of  the  race.  Not  only 
was  she  greatly  interested,  as  has  been 
noted,  in  the  Peking-Hankow  Railway, 
but  she  obtained  important  concessions  for 
lines  approximating  a  mileage  of  800  in 
the  provinces  of  Kwangtung,  Tonkin,  and 
Yunnan.  Such  in  broad  outline  is  the  early 
history  of  the  Chinese  railway  system.  Fuller 
details  of  individual  schemes  and  particulars 
of  the  more  recent  phases  of  the  subject 
will  be  found  below. 


THE    RAILWAYS    OF    MANCHURIA. 
By   Reginald   Batk,    F'.R.G.S.,   Newchwang. 

The  railway  systems  of  Manchuria  are  those 
that  comprise  the  South  Manchuria  Railway, 
formerly  Russian,  but  now  Japanese  as  a 
result  of  the  late  war  ;  the  Imperial  Chinese 
Railway  ;  and  the  Chinese  Eastern  Railway, 
ostensibly  a  private  Russian  company  but  in 
reality  an  oflicial  Russian  enterprise. 

The  South  Manchuria  Railway  starts  from 
Dalny,  and,  skirting  the  sea  coast,  traverses 
the  Liao  Valley,  terminating  at  Changchun, 
otherwise  called  Kuanchengtzu.  It  runs 
through  a  level  country  relieved  with  very 
lew  hills,  and  in  the  whole  course  of  its 
length,  a  matter  of  140  miles,  there  are  no 
tunnels.  There  are  several  bridges,  those 
that  span  the  Taitze  and  Hun  Rivers  being 
the  largest.  The  South  Manchuria  Railway, 
realising  the  necessity  for  the  improvement 
of  the  line,  are  working  as  rapidly  as  possible 
to  have  the  gauge  converted  to  the  standard 
size,  an  improvement  which  should  be  com- 
pleted by  September  of  this  year,  and  when 
this  is  done  the  journey  from  the  two  termini 
will  be  of  but  eighteen  hours'  duration. 
There  are  also  branch  lines  from  Dalny  to 
Port  Arthur,  and  from  Ta  Tsia  Chao  to 
Newchwang,  the  most  important  port  in 
Manchuria  at  the  present  time. 

The  Imperial  Chinese  Railway  has  also  a 
connection  with  the  South  Manchuria  Line, 
its  terminus  being  Mukden,  and  it  also 
connects  with  Newchwang  direct  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  Liao  River,  thus  supplying 
Newchwang  with  two  railway  systems.  The 
Chinese  Eastern  Railway  connects  with  the 
Japanese  Railway  at  Changchun,  and 
traverses  Manchuria  to  Harbin,  where  it 
meets  the  great  Trans-Siberian  system.  The 
Imperial  Chinese  Railway  is  seeking  to  e.\tend 
its  line  from  a  point  called  Hsin-min  Fu  to 
Fakumen,  and  thence  to  Tsitsihar,  in  order 
to  have  a  complete  Chinese  connection  with 
the  Siberian  route,  but  Japan  will  not  consent 
under  any  circumstances  to  this  line,  as  it  is 
contrary  to  the  spirit  of  Japan's  convention 
of  1905  with  China  on  the  subject  of  railways 
and  railway  construction  in  Manchuria. 
Were  it  to  be  built  it  would  become  a 
competitor  of  the  existing  South  Manchuria 
Line  in  that  it  would  tap  similar  districts 
and  would  depreciate  the  value  of  the  South 
Manchuria  Railway,  which  is  redeemable  to 
China  after  the  expiration  of  a  term  of  years, 
and  the  Japanese  regard  the  future  price  that 
China  will  have  to  pay  for  redemption  as 
being  a  matter  of  international  importance. 

A  great  deal  of  bitterness  has  been  evoked 
over  Japan's  action  in  this  matter  in  keeping 
China  to  her  obligations,  but  there  is  a  good 
precedent  established  in  the  Canton-Kowloon 
Railway  Agreement  between  British  capital- 
ists and  Chinese,  in  which  the  following 
clause  is  included  : — "  It  is  further  understood 
that  the  Chinese  Government  will  not  build 
another  line  competing  with  this  railway  to 
its  detriment."  Moreover,  although  it  is  not 
generally  known,  Japan  cordially  invited  the 
Chinese  (Jovernment  to  join    hands    with  her 


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668     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


over  the  South  Manchuria  Railway  as  soon 
as  the  agreement  had  been  made  with  China, 
but  the  Chinese  Government  refused  to  have 
anything;  to  do  with  the  scheme,  and  this 
attitude  is  now  construed  by  Japiin  as  beinjj 
indioitive  of  opposition  that  was  intended 
from  the  close  of  the  negotiations. 

The  Antung-Mukden  Riiilway,  being  a  liglit 
railway,  is  comp;»ratively  unimportant  at 
the  present  time,  but  preparations  are 
being  made  to  bring  it  into  running  order 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  the  route  is  being 
thoroughly  re-surveyed  at  the  present  time. 
This  railway,  completed  and  linked  with 
the  Korean  system,  would  have  the  effect 
of  reducing  the  journey  from  Japan  to 
Europe  by  a  day. 

The  South  Manchuria  Railway  may  be 
styled  a  semi-otlicial  line.  Its  loans  are 
guaranteed  by  the  Japanese  Government. 
Government  funds  are  invested  in  it,  and 
military  guards  are  furnished  by  the  Japanese 
G»ivernment  owing  to  the  prevalence  of 
brigands  in  the  country,  which  renders 
travelling  at  times  very  risky.  Liaoyang, 
one  of  the  most  important  intermediate  |X)ints 
on  the  main  line,  is  the  headqujirtcrs  of  a 
division  of  Japanese  troops,  the  advance  post 
of  the  Japanese  Army,  and  at  Mukden  there 
is  also  a  fairly  large  post.  Mukden  is  the 
seat  of  the  Provincial  Government,  and  there 
the  Viceroy  exercises  almost  imperial  sway 
over  all  Manchuria.  This  city,  being  the 
ancient  capital  of  the  Manchus.  is  worth  a 
visit  from  the  tourist  in  Manchuria. 

The  Chinese  Eastern  Railway,  the  claw  of 
the  Russian  bear,  is  all  that  remains  to 
Russia  of  Manchurian  railways.  It  serves 
as  a  link  between  the  Japanese  and  Siberian 
railways,  and.  in  a  measure,  the  Imperial 
Chinese  Railway.  Here,  also,  every  effort  is 
being  made  to  accelerate  the  service  in 
order  still  further  to  reduce  the  time  in 
transit  from  Europe  to  the   Far  East. 

The  Chinese  Railway  starts  from  the  capital, 
Peking,  and  follows  a  coastwise  route  as  far 
as  Kao  Pan  Tze,  where  there  is  a  large 
junction  which  has  two  branches,  the  one 
to  Newchwang.  and  the  other  to  Mukden. 
This  railway  also  has  a  branch  to  the  ice-free 
port  of  Chinwangtao,  and  thus  gives  the 
port  of  Newchwang  an  all-winter  service, 
which  is  of  immense  benefit  during  the 
close  season.  This  railway  is  absolutely  a 
State  line,  and  it  is  worked  by  some  very 
able  Britishers,  the  engineer-in-chief  being 
Mr.  Kinder.  C.M.G.,  and  the  traffic  manager, 
Mr.  J.  Foley.  It  is  excellently  run,  and  is 
paying  handsome  profits. 

Two  other  railways  are  projected,  but  it 
will  be  some  time  before  they  are  con- 
structed, owing  to  lack  of  funds.  They  are 
of  some  importance  and  will  run  from 
Changchun  to  Kirin.  and  from  Kai  Yuen 
to  Kirin,  which  latter  place  is  the  capital  of 
the  province  of  that  name. 

This  constitutes  the  railway  system  of 
Manchuria,  and  there  is  no  likelihood  of  any 
other  lines  being  even  contemplated  for 
many  years  to  come. 

THE    SOUTH     MANCHURIA     RAILWAY. 

The  trunk  line  of  the  South  Manchuria 
Railway  starts  from  Dairen,  and,  threading 
the  Liaotung  Peninsula,  traverses  the  Liao 
Valley,  and  terminates  at  Changchun,  or 
KuanchengUu.  It  runs  through  a  level 
country  relieved  with  very  few  hills.  In  the 
whole  course  of  about  440  miles  it  pierces 
not  a  single  tunnel,  though  it  crosses  several 
bridges,  the  longest  of  which  are  those 
spanning  the  Hun  and  the  Taitze.  The  old 
narrow-gauge    system    has    been   superseded 


by  the  standard  gauge  of  4  feet  8J  inches, 
and  «o-Ib.  steel  rails  have  been  laid  down 
over  the  whole  line.  The  engines  have 
been  supplied  by  the  .American  Locomotive 
Company  and  the  Baldwin  Locomotive  Com- 
pany, and  the  fastest  of  them  can  make  the 
entire  journey  in  about  fifteen  hours.  The 
better-class  passenger  coaches  have  been 
furnished  by  the  Pullman  Car  Company,  and 
are  equipped  with  the  unsurpassed  dining 
and  sleeping  appointments  of  tlie  popular 
American  express.  Parlour  cars  are  shortly 
to  be  connected  with  the  principal  express 
trains,  and  they  will  combine  tlie  comforts 
of  a  superior  drawing  room  witli  the  advan- 
tages of  an  observation  car.  tlius  helping  to 
inake  the  traveller's  journey  through  the 
Manchurian  plain  more  pleasant. 

Dairen,  a  nourishing  seaport  of  72,600 
inhabitants,  forms  the  main  gateway  of 
land  and  seaborne  traflic.  Regular  steamship 
communication  is  separately  maintained  with 
Moji.  Kobe,  and  Osaka,  with  Nagasaki,  via 
Chemulpo,    with     Antung    Hsien,    and     with 


BARON     S.     GOTO, 

M.m.-ijjiiij^    Director. 

Shanghai  and  Hongkong,  via  Chefoo.  An 
electric  Iramcar  system,  now  under  contem- 
plation, involves  initially  the  operation  of  10 
miles  of  line  along  the  principal  streets,  with 
seiTii-convertible  cars  of  the  latest  pattern. 
The  town  is  lighted  with  electricity  and 
has  ample  telephone  facilities,  while  a  new 
power-house  of  5,000  kilowatts  is  in  course 
of  construction,  and  will  supply,  when  com- 
pleted, sufficient  motor  power  for  all  purposes. 
Close  to  the  railway  offices  is  situated  the 
Yamato  Hotel,  the  first  European  establish- 
ment of  its  kind  opened  under  the  direct 
management  of  the  South  Manchuria  Railway 
Company.  It  is  equipped  with  every  con- 
venience, and  is  calc.ilated  to  satisfy  the  most 
exacting  class  of  guest  accustomed  to  the 
luxuries  of  the  present  day.  The  wharves  at 
Dairen  are  conceded  to  possess  the  greatest 
accommodating  capacity  of  any  in  this  part 
of  the  world.  The  Main,  or  West  Qu;iy, 
1,925  feet  long,  is  separated  from  the  East 
Quay,  now  Hearing  completion,  by  a  base  of 
1,225   feet.      A  dozen   vessels,   drawing   from 


iS  feet  to  30  feet,  can  be  moored  at  a  time 
alongside  the  quays.  A  dock  located  at  the 
south  side  of  No.  1  Wharf  can  accommodate 
a  vessel  of  3.000  tons.  Financial  facilities 
are  afforded  by  the  local  branches  of  the 
Yokohama  Specie  Bank,  the  Cheng  Lung 
Bank,  and  the  National  Bank  of  China. 

Port  .Arthur,  familiar  by  name  the  world 
over  by  reason  of  the  historic  siege  in  the 
late  war,  is  reached  by  a  branch  line 
nearly  30  miles  in  length,  running  from  the 
junction  at  Nankwanliiig.  Guides,  easily 
procui;able  and  unusually  competent,  will 
show  the  traveller  over  the  desolate  ruins 
of  the  forts  and  trenches,  and  over  the  battle 
scenes  ;  and  for  a  trilling  cost  shells  and 
other  relics  of  the  siege  are  everywhere  to 
be  obtained.  In  the  military  museum,  among 
a  rich  collection  of  mementoes  of  the  war, 
souvenirs  of  the  memorable  interview  between 
General  Stoessel  and  General  Nogi  are 
displayed.  The  Yamato  Hotel  at  Port  Arthur, 
also  conducted  under  the  management  of 
the  railway  company,  occupies  a  convenient 
site  in  the  centre  of  the  new  town. 

The  station  next  above  the  junction  is 
Chinchow,  near  to  which  is  Nanshan,  where 
was  fought  the  first  pitched  battle  on  the 
peninsula  during  the  Russo-Japanese  War, 
Nanshan  possesses  naturally  a  unique 
strategical  importance,  lying,  as  it  does,  on 
an  elevation  to  the  south-west  of  the  station, 
at  the  neck  of  the  peninsula.  Proceeding 
90  miles  north,  Hsiung-yo  cheng  is  reached, 
and  70  miles  further  on  is  Tangkang.  Both 
have  hot  springs,  alleged  to  possess  con- 
siderable healing  virtue,  and  it  is  not  unlikely 
that  they  will  in  time  become  popular  resorts. 

Yingkcnv,  commonly  but  erroneously  known 
as  Newchwang,  is  reached  by  a  branch  line, 
about  13.^  miles  in  length,  wMiich  deviates  from 
the  trunk  route  at  Tashihchiao,  and  runs  to 
the  little  village  of  Niuchiatun.  Situated  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  Liao,  about  2j  miles  west 
of  Niuchiatun  station,  Yingkow  is  the  focus- 
point  of  a  considerable  export  trade  in  beans, 
bean-cake,  and  bean  oil.  It  has  a  population 
of  about  100.000.  including  some  300  Europeans. 
At  present  tliere  is  a  service  of  carts,  horses, 
and  trolley-cars  between  the  station  and  the 
city  proper,  but  the  railway  will  be  extended 
to  the  city  itself  before  long.  The  Imperial 
Chinese  Railway  system  has  also  a  station 
at  Yingkow,  with  a  free  ferry  service  across 
the  river,  trains  running  daily  to  Tientsin 
and  Peking,  via  Shanhaikwan. 

Liaoyang,  160  miles  north  of  Tashihchiao 
on  the  trunk  line,  is  second  only  to  Mukden 
in  respect  of  prosperity,  and  is  famous  as 
the  battlefield  where  Kuropatkin  effected  a 
masterly  retreat.  It  has  a  population  of  about 
55,000.  From  Suchiatun,  30  miles  farther 
north,  a  branch  line,  34  miles  in  length, 
extends  to  F"usan,  where  are  some  of  the 
richest  coalfields  in  the  world.  The  carbon- 
iferous belt  stretches  east  and  west  from 
Chien-chin-tsai,  through  Yang-pai-pu  to 
Lao-hu-lai,  a  distance  of  nearly  10  miles, 
the  seam  being  over  a  mile  in  width, 
and  in  places  175  feet  in  thickness.  The 
deposit  has  been  "estimated  at  eight  hundred 
millions  of  tons  by  Japanese  experts  who 
made  investigations  alter  the  w^ar.  Intending 
visitors  to  the  colliery  should  alight  at 
Chien-chin-tsai,  where  the  colliery  office  is 
situated. 

Mukden,  the  largest  city  in  all  Manchuria, 
with  a  population  of  about  200,000,  lies  in 
the  centre  of  the  Fengtien  Province,  and  is 
the  market  for  an  extensive  district.  Its 
hinterland  embraces  the  whole  of  South 
Manchuria  and  the  greater  part  of  Central 
Manchuria,  including  the  territory  bounded 
on    the    north-east    by    Chao-yang-chen    and 


SOUTH    MANCHURIA   RAILWAY. 


Yam\to  Hotel,  Port  ARTtitii. 
nxiRKX  Raii.uay  Yard. 


Uaikex  Whahvks. 


670      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Hai-lung-pu.  and  on  the  west  by  Hsin-min  Fu. 
On  the  north  it  penetrates  through  Tiehling, 
Kxiiyu^in,  Mainiachin.  and  Oiangchun  to 
Harbin.  Mukden  is  the  junction  of  the  South 
Manchuria  Railwav  with  the  Mukden-Peking 


from  the  upper  reaches,  which  run  thiinigh 
some  of  the  most  extensive  forests  in  the 
world. 

Running    north    from    Mukden    the    trunk 
line    passes    through   Kungchuling  —  one   of 


SHANGHAI-NANKING    RAILWAY  : 
COOLIES    ASLEEP   ON    THE   RAILS    A    DANGEROUS   RESTING-PLACE. 


Line,  though  travellers  will  do  well  to 
remember  that  on  the  latter  route  no  night 
trains  are  run.  The  Yokohama  Specie  Bank 
and  the  Russo-Chinese  Bank  have  branches 
in  the  citv.   and  though  there   is  not  as   yet 


the  most  important  military  bases  of  the 
Russians  during  the  war  —  to  Changchun 
or  Kuanchengtzu,  the  northern  terniituis, 
and  there  connects  with  the  Chinese 
Eastern     Railway.      There     is,     at     present, 


anv  European  hotel  the  work  of  building  the      no  through  communication,  but  this   will   be 


new  Yamato  Hotel  has  begun,  and  will  be 
completed  in  about  a  year's  time.  This  hotel 
will  occupy  a  splendid  site  near  the  station, 
and  will  be  conducted  on  modern  lines  by 
the  South  Manchuria  Railway  Company.  A 
peculiar  interest  attaches  to  Mukden,  apart 
from  the  associations  of  the  late  war,  by 
reason  of  its  being  the  natal  seat  of  the 
reigning  Ching  dynasty.  A  permit  to  visit 
the  imperial  precincts  and  the  mausoleums 
mav  now  be  obtained  without  much  ado 
through  the  Consulates.  The  palace  of 
Chinlin.  built  in  1642  ;  Wensoko,  with  its 
four  libraries  containing  altogether  6.732 
book-cases  ;  the  Chungcheng  palace.  In  which 
the  ruling  monarchs  transacted  their  regal 
duties  in  olden  times  ;  and  two  treasure 
repositories  are  among  the  objects  of  interest 
in  the  imperial  grounds.  There  are  two 
mausoleums  —  one  at>out  10  miles  to  the 
north-east,  on  the  River  Hun  ;  the  other 
about  five  miles  to  the  north  of  the  city. 
The  latter  is  the  burial  place  of  the  Emperor 
Taisung,  and  contains  a  monument  bearing 
an  epitaph  written  by  the  Emperor  Kang  Chi. 
A  branch  line  runs  from  Mukden  to 
Antung  Hsien,  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Yalu.  on  the  south-eastern  frontier  of  the 
province.  It  is  a  light  railway.  189  miles  in 
length,  and  passes  through  lovely  scenery. 
From  New  VViju,  on  the  opposite  bank  of 
the  river,  the  line  is  continued  through 
Ping>'ang  and  Kaiseng  to  Lungshan,  or 
Seoul,  from  which  point  there  are  branches 
to  Fusan  and  Chemulpo.  Six  miles  t)elow 
Antung  is  Yong-am-pho,  a  port  which  has 
grown  with  the  development  of  the  river- 
steamer  facilities  and  the  timber  trade. 
Timber  is  floated  down   the    Yalu    in    rafts 


established  as  soon  as  the  permanent  station 


The  streets  of  Changchun  are  broad,  and 
alive  with  thrivhig  IralVic,  for  not  only  does 
the  town  control  the  connncrce  of  Central 
Manchuria,  but  it  is,  at  the  same  time,  an 
important  centre  of  Mongolian  trade.  The 
population  is  estimated  at  about  100,000. 
There  are  branches  of  the  Yokohama  Specie 
Bank  and  of  tlic  Kusso-Chinese  Hank,  and 
there  will  shortly  be  two  hotels,  the  Mantetsu 
Club,  already  opened,  and  the  Yamato  Hotel, 
both  under  the  management  of  the  com- 
pany. The  Yamato  Hotel,  now  nearly  com- 
pleted, is  designed  on  a  quaintly  artistic  plan, 
and  will  be  of  considerable  proportions. 

From  tlie  foregoing  brief  sketch  of  the 
route  it  will  be  seen  that  the  South  Man- 
churia Railway  opens  up  a  large  tract  of 
country  rich  in  natural  products,  such  as 
salt,  timber,  coal,  millet,  barley,  wheat,  buck- 
wheat, hemp,  opium,  tobacco,  ginseng,  wild 
silk,  and  cocoons,  furs,  skins,  and  bristles, 
and  gives  access  to  numerous  markets  for 
imports,  such  as  kerosene,  sugar,  flour,  marine 
products,  cotton,  matches,  and  cheap  porce- 
lain and  earthenware,  besides  adding  a  strand 
to  the  network  of  travelling  facilities  by 
which  the  Far  East  is  gradually  being  over- 
spread. 

THE   IMPERIAL   RAILWAYS  OF  NORTH 
CHINA. 

The  system  known  as  the  Imperial  Railways 
of  North  China  has  its  origin  in  the  old  line 
known  as  the  Kaiping  Tramway,  which  was 
laid  down  at  the  Kaiping  Coal  Mines  in  1880 
and  completed  in  1881.  Extensions  were 
sanctioned  jn  1886  87,  and  the  railway  then 
took  the  title  of  the  China  Railway  Company. 
From  1890  to  iQoo  further  extensions  were 
made  under  the  name  of  the  Imperial  Chinese 
Railways.  In  1901  the  present  style  was 
adopted,  and  the  capital  amounted  to 
$49,594,428    (Mexican). 

The  total  length  of  the  line  is  exactly  600 
miles.      The    route    taken  is    from  Tungchow 


SHANGHAI-NANKING    RAILWAY    SOOCHOW    STATION    AND    YARD. 


is  finished  ;  and  when  the  town  is  con- 
nected by  rail  with  Kirin  it  will  occupy  a 
unique  and  distinctly  advantageous  position 
in  Central  Manchuria  as  the  junction  of  the 
Japanese,     Chinese,     and     Russian     systems. 


and  Peking,  viii  Shanhaikwan  to  Mukden. 
A  branch  line  of  60  miles  runs  to  Yingkow, 
the  port  of  Newchwang. 

The     material    for    the     rolling     stock    has 
been     purchased    mostly     from     England,    a 


Interior  of  Dixixg  Car 


SOUTH    MANCHURIA   RAILWAY. 

SlANDARf)    FRKKIHT    LoCOMIHIVK. 

Interior  of  Sleeping  Car. 


Interior  of  First-class  Car. 


672     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


small  piirtion  only  ctimiiif;  from  America. 
The  locomotives  and  cars  arc  hiiilt  in  the 
Company's  own  workshops  at  TontJshan. 
Most  of  the  UKomotivcs  are  of  the  English 
•■  Mogul  ■■  t>T;H:.  with  i6-inch  and  iQ-inch 
cylinders,  but  there  are  also  a  few  American 
engines. 

Altogether  there  are  about  236  passenger 
cars  and  brake  \-ans.  2.683  freight  cars,  and 
117  locomotives  of  all  classes.  On  an  average 
some  15,000  men  are  employed  on  the  line. 

As  a  financial  venture  the  railway  has  been 
an  unqualified  success,  as  may  be  seen  from 
the  following  figures,  showing  the  earnings 
and  working  expenses  for  the  years  l<)03-7 
inclusive  : — 1903,  earnings  $4,658,235.  work- 
ing expenses  .$2,315,584.  ratio  of  working 
expenses  to  earnings,  49  per  cent.  ;  1904, 
$5,946,518.  $2,542,585,  and  42  per  cent. 
respectively  ;  1905,  $12,943,384,  $2,914,102. 
22  per  cent.  ;  i9oi&,  $12,191,189.  $3,429,943, 
28  per  cent.  ;  1907,  $9,944,867,  $3,686,320, 
37  per  cent. 

THE  TIENTSIN-YANGTSZE    RAILWAY. 

The  final  contract  for  this  line  was  signed 
in  the  early  part  of  1908  by  the  Chinese 
Government  and  the  representatives  of  the 
Deutsch-Asiatische  Bank  and  of  the  British 
and  Chinese  Corporation.  The  loan  is  for 
;f5.ooo.ooo.  with  interest  at  5  per  cent.,  and 
is  to  run  for  thirty  years.  Roughly,  two-thirds 
of  the  capital  are  to  be  German,  and  one- 
third  British,  in  proportion  to  the  respective 
lengths  of  the  two  sections.  The  German 
section     will     run     from     Tientsin     through 


Te-chau.  on  the  Grand  Canal,  and  Tsinanfu, 
the  capital  of  Shantung,  to  the  southern 
border  of  Shantiuig.  The  British  section 
will  continue  the  line  tlirough  the  prmince 
of  Kiangsu  to  Pu-kou.  on  the  Yanglsze. 
opposite  Nanking.  By  linking  up  the 
Shanghai-Nanking  and  Tientsin-Peking  Lines 
this  railway  will  connect  the  commercial 
metropolis  and  the  imperial  capital  ;  while 
at  Tsinanfu  it  will  meet  the  existing  Shantung 
railway  to  Kiaixhau  (Tsingtaul  on  the  coast. 
The  construction  and  control  of  the  new  line 
are  vested  entirely  in  the  Cliincse  Government, 
with  European  chief  engineers  to  advise  on 
construction,  and  European  auditors  to  safe- 
guard the  interests  of  the  bondholders. 


THE     SHANGHAI-NANKING      RAILWAY. 

The  Shanghai-Nanking  Railway  was  com- 
pleted on  March  28.  i<;o8.  on  which  date 
the  first  train  covered  the  whole  distance  of 
193J  miles  in  live  hours  thirty-seven  minutes, 
including  all  stops.  Krom  Shangliai  the  line 
runs  tln-ough  part  of  the  liiglily  cultivated 
alluvial  plain  watered  by  the  Yangtsze-Kiang. 
passing  on  the  way  Naziang.  Quinsan,  Soo- 
chow.  Wusich.  Changchow.  and  Tanyang  ; 
then  traverses  rising  country,  crosses  a  water- 
shed, and  descends  through  Fort  Hill  tunnel 
to  Chinkiang.  follows  the  foot  of  the  hills  to 
Lungtan.  and  from  thence  runs  througli  liilly 
country  to  Nanking. 

Negotiations  for  raising  the  necessary  loan 
to  carry  out  the  work  began  early  in  1898. 
and  a  final  agreement  Iwas  signed  at  Shanghai 


in  July.  1904.  between  Sheng  Kung-pao. 
director-general  of  the  Imperial  Chinese  Rail- 
way .Administration,  acting  under  authority 
of  an  imperial  decree,  and  Messrs  Jardine. 
Matheson  &  Co.  and  the  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  Banking  Corporation,  representing, 
as  joint  agents,  the  British  and  Chinese  Cor- 
poration. The  agreement  stipulated  that  the 
amount  of  the  loan  was  not  to  exceed 
;f3. 250,000.  and  contained  clauses  providing 
for  the  payment  of  interest  out  of  capital 
during  construction,  for  the  purchase  of  the 
existing  Shanghai-Woosung  Line  at  the  agreed 
price  of  Tls.  1,000,000,  lor  the  purchase  of 
land  for  a  double  line  of  railway  for  the 
w^hole  distance  at  a  cost  of  ^^250,000,  and  for 
the  economical  construction  and  equipment  of 
the  line  in  accordance  with  the  best  modern 
system.  The  amount  of  the  loan  was  based 
on  preliminary  surveys  and  estimates  pre- 
pared by  the  consultnig  engineers.  Messrs. 
(Sir)  John  Wolfe  Barry,  the  late  Gabriel 
James  Morrison,  and  A.  J,  Barry. 

In  June,  1903,  a  staff  of  engineers,  with 
Mr.  A.  H.  Collinson,  A.M.I.C.E,,  as  engineer- 
in-chief,  was  engaged  in  England.  By  the 
following  summer  the  permanent  surveys 
were  completed,  and  in  the  autumn  of 
11)04  conslructiotial  work  was  begun.  The 
ceremony  of  cutting  the  first  sod  was  per- 
formed by  His  Excellency  Sheng  Kung-pao 
at  Shanghai,  on  April  25,  1905.  The  first 
section,  to  Naziang,  was  opened  to  traftic 
on  November  20th  of  the  same  year,  and 
the  line  was  carried  to  Wusieli  by  the 
following  July,  to  Changchow  by  May,  1907, 
and    to    Chinkiang    by  October    of    the  same 


SHANGHAI-NANKING    RAILWAY. 

The  WorkslKips  :it  Woosimj^  and  Type  oi  Kolliii^  Stock. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     673 


RAILWAY    OFFICIALS    OF    THE    SHANGHAI-NANKING    RAILWAY. 


W.  J.  Grev.  2.    A.  W,  V.  Pope,  late  Tiafiic  Manager  and  now  General  Manager. 

M.  R.  SIXXLAIR.  6.    A.  H.  COLLIXSOX,  late  Engineer-in-Chief  and  General  Manager. 

C.  E.  Anton,  Board  of  Commissioners.  9.    A.  C.  Clear. 

12.    H.  E.  Miudi.eton.  13.    J.  G.  Barklp;y. 


3.      E.   J.   DUXSTAX.  4.      K.   D.   TWEEDIE. 

7.    J.  D,  Smart,  Ciiairman  of  Board  of  Commissioners. 
10.    Ivan  Tuxforu.  11.    V.  Grove. 


year.  Throuj^h  communication  with  Xanlving 
was  established  towards  the  end  of  March, 
1908.  In  determining  the  route  the  religious 
feelings  of  the  Chinese  were  respected  as 
much  as  possible,  and  though  it  was  im- 
possible to  avoid  countless  graves  and  houses, 
care  was  taken  that  no  ancestral  halls, 
tombs,  or  monuments  were  interfered  with. 

The  chief  difficulties  encountered  in  the 
construction  of  the  line  were  due  to  the 
mstability  of  the  subsoil.  In  a  country 
intersected  by  innumerable  navigable  canals 
and  creeks,  an  enormous  amount  of  bridge- 
work  was  necessary.  No  fewer  than  25 
major  and  277  minor  bridges,  and  405  culverts 
had  to  be  constructed,  and,  hardly  without 
exception,  the  foundations  were  bad  and  heavy 
charges  were  incurred  for  coffer-dam,  tim- 
bering, pumping,  and  piling.  The  two  largest 
bridges  are  those  over  the  Hsinyangkong,  at 
the  thirtieth  mile,  and  over  the  Grand  Canal, 
west  of  Quinsan.  The  former,  of  four  through 
girder  spans  of  40  feet,  with  two  20  feet 
arches  on  either  side,  cost  $ii6,45r34  ;  the 
latter,  of  three  through  girder  spans  of  60 
feet,  cost  $67,41974. 

The  earthworks  necessitated  by  the  new 
line  reached  a  total  of  2,657,761  cubic  fongs, 
to  which  must  be  added  100,000  cubic  fongs 
required  at  Woosung  station  yard,  Shanghai 
station,  and  Markham  Road  goods  yard. 

The  only  tunnel  is  that  which  carries  the 
line  through  P'ort  Hill  into  Chinkiang  station. 
It  measures  1 .320  feet  from  face  to  face,  and 
for  nearly  its  entire  length  passes  through  a 


strata  of  shaly -sandstone 'rock,  having  iseveral 
faults  and  streaks  of  graphite  with  pockets  of 
China  clay.  It  is  a  double  line  tunnel  and 
cost  only  $370,000  as  compared  with  $600,000, 
the  amount  of  the  lowest  tender  received 
from  a  European  firm  for  a  single  line 
tunnel    1,500   feet   in   length. 

The    permanent    way    is    laid    with    85-lb. 
Enghsh  steel  rails  upon  jarrah  wood  sleepers, 
and  the  line  is  heavily  ballasted  throughout.  ■ 
The   inclusive   capital   cost   of  the  permanent 
way  worked  out  at  about  $29,16673  per  mile. 

Altogether  there  are  37  stations  between 
Shanghai  and  Nanking.  Twenty-live  are 
passing  stations,  at  which  distant  and  home 
semaphore  signals  have  been  erected  ;  the 
remainder  are  flag  stations.  The  stations 
are  connected  by  telegraph,  under  a  mutual 
agreement  between  the  railway  and  the 
Imperial  Chinese  Telegraph  Administration. 
Three  types  of  station  buildings  have  gener- 
ally been  adopted — the  first,  for  stations  at 
which  the  traffic  is  considerable,  contains  a 
general  hall,  booking  office,  telegraph  room, 
stationmaster's  office,  post  office  or  goods 
agent's  room,  and  two  small  waiting  rooms  ; 
and  the  second  and  third,  for  less  important 
stations,  have  proportionately  less  accommo- 
dation. At  all  the  stations  permanent  brick 
quarters  have  been  provided  for  the  staff. 

At  Shanghai  a  new  passenger  building, 
with  four  floors  for  general  oftices,  is  rapidly 
nearing  completion.  To  the  height  of  the 
first  floor  level  the  building  has  been  faced 
on  three  sides  with  Tsingtao  granite,  and  the 


whole  structure  will  be  of  fire-proof  con,.struc- 
tion,  with  steel  joists  and  concrete  floors. 
The  passenger  platforms  consjgj^Jjf'^ne  island 
platform,  1,450  feet  in  lengthr^tl  a  shorter 
platform  forming  one  side  of  the  bay.  650  feet 
long.  In  front  of  the  building  there  will 
be  an  open  space,  100  feet  wide,  and  it  is 
proposed  to  cover  this  area  and  one  of 
the  platforms  with  an  awning  rfxjrf-  New ' 
"approach  roacjsjj^ive  been  made",  and  the 
Shanghai  electWy  tramway  passes  the  station, 
so  that  everything  possible  has  been  done  to 
provide  easy  access.  The  station  and  goods 
yards  will  be  lit  throughout  by  electricity, 
generated  on  the  premises,  and  it  is  estimated 
that  when  the  whole  of  the  work  is  com- 
pleted 800  i6-c.p.  lamps  and  64  arc  lamps 
will   be   in   use. 

At  Soochow  the  station  building  has  been 
designed  to  accotnmodate  a  very  consider- 
able passenger  traffic,  and  contains,  besides 
a  large  concourse  area  and  the  usual  offices, 
a  dispensary  with  medical  ofticer's  consulting 
room,  a  ladies'  waiting  r<jom,  refreshment 
room,  and  kitchen.  There  are  two  platforms, 
each  850  feet  in  length,  connected  by  a  sub- 
way. A  macadamised  approach  to  the  station 
has  been  provided  at  a  considerable  outlay, 
but  as  the  local  authorities  at  Soocliow  have 
extended  their  Maloo  as  far  as  Railway  Road, 
the  expense  mav  be  regarded  as  having  been 
fully  justified.  Current  for  electric  lighting 
is  generated   on   the   premises. 

There  are  three  tvpes  of  locomotive,  viz., 
6-wheel  coupled  tank  engines,  6-wheeI  coupled 


674     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


WUSIEH    GOODS   DEPOT -SHANGHAI-NANKING   RAILWAY. 


goods  tender  engines,  and  4-\vheel  coupled 
passenger  engines.  All  the  coaching  stock  is 
of  the  4-wheel  bogie  type.  The  carriages 
are  entered  at  the  vestibule  ends,  and  there 
is  through  communication  from  end  to  end 
of  all  the  pa.ssenger  trains.  The  whole  of 
the  new  rolling  stock  is  lit  by  electricity, 
current  being  generated  by  dynamos  attached 


to  the  underframe  of  tlie  coaches  ;  and  tlic 
Westinghouse  brake,  with  improved  triple 
valves,  is  used  throughout.  The  goods 
waggons,  of  various  types,  are  all  con- 
structed of  steel.  The  whole  of  the 
locomotive  carriage  and  waggon  stock  was 
designed  and  passed  for  shipment  by  the 
consulting    engineers. 


To  ensure  the  efficient  running  of  the 
stock,  workshops,  erecting-shops,  and  small 
machine-shops  have  been  established  at 
Woosung,  while  a  locomotive  running  shed, 
with  a  machine-shop  for  small  repairs,  and 
a  large  carriage  cleaning  shed  are  provided 
at  Shanghai.  The  machinery  in  the  work- 
shops is  motor  driven,  the  Company  having 
their   own    power-houses. 

In  carrying  out  the  work  care  has  been 
taken  to  secure  the  standardisation  of  details 
and  working  parts,  in  order  to  facilitiite 
repairs  and  to  obviate  the  necessity  for 
locking  up  capital  in  a  heavy  stock  of  spare 
parts. 

The  average  cost  per  mile,  including  land, 
construction,  and  equipment  for  the  230 
miles  of  single  line,  including  loops  and 
sidings  between  Shanghai  and  Nanking,  was 
Tls.  68,397'07,  or,  with  the  sovereign  averaging 
Tls.  708,  ^\),66i.  The  average  cost,  including 
land  and  rolling  stock,  was  Tls.  5i,6or26,  or 
;t7,2H8  per  mile. 

0 

MR.  ARTHUR  WILLIAM  UQLOW  POPE. 
C.I.E.,  general  manager  of  the  Shanghai- 
Nanking  Railway,  is  an  Anglo-Indian,  and 
before  coming  to  China  was  employed  for 
nearly  thirty  years  on  various  State  railways 
in  India.  He  was  born  in  1858,  during 
the  Mutiny,  and  completed  his  education 
at  Thompson's  Engineering  College.  Rurki, 
North-West  India.  When  twenty  years  of  age 
he  joined  the  State  Railway  Works  Depart- 
ment, serving  in  the  north  and  north-west, 
in  the  Madras  Presidency,  and  on  the  east 
coast,      eventually     rising     to     the     position 


BRIDGES    AND    CULVERTS   ON    THE    SHANGHAI-NANKING:  RAILWAY. 


SCENES    ALONG    THE    SHANGHAI-NANKING    RAILWAY. 


(57(J     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


of  senior  traflic  oltK-er  for  the  whole  of 
the  Indian  State  Kailwav  system.  During 
the  Vicero\-alty  of  Lord  Curzon.  he  was 
granted  a  Coinp;inionship  of  the  Order  of 
the    Indian    Empire    in    recognition    of    his 


Uganda  Kailwav.  where  he  worked  the  Stores 
section,  and  then,  as  the  railway  was  opened 
to  traffic,  he  organised  the  Tral'tic  Audit  and 
Booking  sections  of  the  Accounts  Department. 
A  few  months  after  his  return  to  India  from 


'K 


ry-r. 


.i>-J^'^ 


a  senior  accountant  in  the  Government  service 
and  was  given  leave  of  absence  by  the  Indian 
Government,  when  he  returned  to  China  as 
assistant  accountant  on  the  Shangliai-Nanking 
Kailway.  Since  his  arrival  in  Slianghai.  in 
addition  to  general  work  in  connection  with 
the  construction  of  the  line,  he  has  completely 
organised  and  started  the  revenue  system  of 
accounts  in  use  on  this  railway.  Soon  after 
the  opening  of  the  line  to  Nanking,  the  two 
posts  of  secretary  and  chief  accountant  were 
separated,  and  Mr.  Middlcton  was  appointed 
to  the  latter. 


CONSTEUCTION    WORK    ON    THE    CHINKIANG    TUNNEL- 
SHANGHAI-NANKING    RAILWAY. 


long  services.  As  a  Volunteer  he  attained 
the  rank  of  Lieut.-Colonel  of  the  Indian 
Railway  Volunteer  Rifles,  and  received  the 
officers'  long  service  medal.  He  is  still  on 
the  pensionable  staff  of  the  Indian  Govern- 
ment, and  is  liable  to  be  recalled  by  them 
for  service  at  any  time.  Mr.  Pope  is  a 
thorough  sportsman,  and-  counts  polo,  pig- 
sticking, and  shooting  among  his  chief 
recreations.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Services  Club,  the  Lucknow  Club,  and  most 
of  the  leading  local  clubs.  His  father,  the 
Rev.  G.  W.  Pope,  D.D..  who  died  early  in 
the  current  year,  was  Professor  of  Eastern 
Languages  at  Balliol  College.  Oxford.  He 
was  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  greatest 
Oriental  scholars  of  his  day,  and  not  long 
before  his  death  was  awarded  the  triennial 
jubilee  gold  medal  of  the  Royal  Asiatic 
Societv. 


MR.  H.  MIDDLETON,  the  chief  accountant 
of  the  Shanghai-Nanking  Kailway,  joined 
the  Accounts  branch  of  the  Indian  Public 
Works  Department,  in  March,  1892,  and  has 
served  in  the  Building»aod  Roads,  Irrigation, 
and  Railway  branches  of  the  department. 
He  spent  two  years  in  the  Central  Provinces 
in  the  Buildings  and  Roads  branch,  and 
was  then  posted  to  the  Railway  section  of 
the  office  of  the  Accountant-General  Public 
Works  Department  in  Simla.  Subsequently 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Punjaub  on 
irrigation  works,  and  was  employed  on  the 
construction  of  the  Chenal  Canal  as  divisional 
accountant,  and  also  on  the  Multan  District 
and  Sidhnai  Canals.  He  gained  his  first 
knowledge  of  railway  traffic  audit  on  the 
North  -  Western  Railway  in  the  Punjaub. 
Mr.  Middleton  has  twice  been  lent  by  the 
Indian  Government  to  the  Home  Foreign 
Office  -on  the  first  occasion,  from  November. 
1897,  to  April.  1900,  for  employment  on   the 


British  East  Africa  he  was  attached  for 
fifteen  months  to  the  China  Field  Force  and 
introduced  the  system  of  accounts  now  in  use 
on  the  Imperial  Railways  of  North  China, 
while  the  section  of  the  line  from  Peking  to 
Shanhaikwan  was  in  the  hands  of  the  British 
militarv  authorities.     After  a   furlough    home 


F.    W.    DEES. 

MR.  FRANK  WARE  DEES,  executive 
engineer  of  the  Shanghai-Nanking  Railway, 
was  born  at  Whitehaven,  in  Cumberland,  in 
1877,  and  was  educated  at  St.  Bee's  Grammar 
School  and  at  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge. 
After  serving  an  apprenticeship  at  Arrol's 
Bridge  and  Roof  Works,  Glasgow,  Mr.  Dees 
went  to  Tasmania  as  assistant  engineer  on 
the  Great  Western  Railway,  remaining  there 
from     1900    to     1903.       He    then    obtained   a 


THE    CHINKIANG    TUNNEL-SHANGHAI-NANKING   RAILWAY. 


he  returned  to  India  in  1903  and  was  employed 
partly  on  irrigation  works  in  the  Punjaub  and 
partly  on  the  Government  Audit  staff  of  the 
Bombay.  Baroda.  and  Central  India  Kailway. 
By  March.  1906.  he   had   gained   the  rank  of 


similar  appointment  on  the  Chinese  Central 
Railways,  and  in  i<;o5  joined  the  Shanghai- 
Nanking  Railway,  being  engaged  first  as 
assistant  and  afterwards  as  executive 
engineer. 


PlERClX'G   THE   PEKING   WALL. 


HANKOW    TO    PEKING. 

Peking  Station". 
Railway  Offices  at  Peking. 


Just  Arrived  from  Hankow. 


c  c  c 


678     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


MR.  IVON  TUXFORD,  F.R.Q.S.,  the  head- 
quarters assistant  engineer  of  the  Shanghai- 
Nanking  Kailwav,  is  the  son  of  Dr.  Tuxford, 
the  Medical  Officer  of  Health  for  Boston, 
Lincolnshire.  He  was  bom  in  1878,  educated 
at  the  Boston  Grammar  School,  and.  after 
ser\ing  his  articles  with  the  Great  Northern 
Railway,  became  an  assistant  engineer  to 
the  North  Eastern  Railway  Company  at  York. 
He  has  held  his  present  appointment  for  the 
past  four  years.  For  some  time  previously 
he  was  engaged  as  engineer  in  charge  of 
the  Chinese  Public  Works  Department  at 
Peking. 


book-keeping  department  of  the  Army  Service 
Corps,  and  later  to  the  post  of  Chief  Clerk 
and  Warrant  OfJicer  to  the  Remounts  Depot 
at  Stellenbosch,  which  he  tilled  until  the 
cessation  of  hostilities.  After  the  war  he 
was  engaged  for  a  time  as  expert  uliecker 
in  the  Traffic  Department  of  the  Cape 
Government  Railways,  and  was  tlicn  trans- 
ferred, by  permission,  to  the  War  Claims 
Branch  of  the  Prime  Minister's  Department, 
remaining  there  during  the  premiorships  of 
Sir  Gordon  Sprigg  and  Dr.  Jameson,  and 
rising  to  the  position  of  Examiner  of 
Accounts.     He  has  the  Queen's  South  African 


route.  The  contract  for  its  construction  was 
let  to  a  Belgian  syndicate  in  iSy",  and  the  line 
was  opened  in  Xovcmber,  1905.  The  north- 
ern section  runs  from  Peking  to  Yingchehsien, 
a  distance  of  420  miles  ;  and  the  southern 
section  runs  from  Yingchehsien  to  Hankow, 
a  distance  of  334  miles.  A  bridge  two  miles 
in  lengtli,  crosses  the  Yellow  River.  Fast 
traiiis-ile-liixe  accomplish  the  journey,  once  a 
week  each  way.  in  27  hours  ;  wliile  ordinary 
trains  run  daily,  and  occupy  three  days. 
The  Central  Station  is  at  Changsintien,  13 
miles  from  Peking,  from  which  point  a  branch 
line  runs  to  Fengtai,  where  it   connects  with 


MR.    H.    P.    WINSLOW,     B.A.     (Cantab.), 

deputy  traffic  manager  of  the  Shanghai- 
Nanking  Railway,  was  educated  at  Repton, 
and  at  Caius  College,  Cambridge.  He  came 
out  to  Shanghai  on  the  Shanghai-Nanking 
Railway  in  October,  1903,  was  appointed 
acting  traffic  manager  in  December,  1905, 
and  received  his  present  appointment  in 
February,    1907. 


MR.  WILLIAM  S.  ANDREWS,  acting  chief 
storekeeper  on  the  Shanghai-Nanking  Rail- 
way at  Shanghai,  is  a  native  of  Windsor, 
New  South  Wales,  where  he  was  born  on 
May  29,  1863.  After  attending  the  Govern- 
ment High  School  for  ten  years  he  entered 
on  a  business  career,  and  having  served 
seven  years  with  Messrs.  Cobb  &  Co.,  a 
large  firm  of  mail  and  coasting  steamship 
proprietors,  he  b>egan  to  study  accountancy. 
For  three  years  he  was  with  the  Farmers' 
and  Consumers'  Co-operative  Agency  Com- 
pany. Ltd.,  and  then  carried  on  business  for 
a  while  on  his  own  account  as  an  auditor, 
accountant,  and  commercial  broker.  He  next 
bec-ame  accountant  to  the  P'arm  and  'Dairy 
Produce    Manufacturing    Company,   Ltd.,   one 


W.    S.    ANDKEW8, 
Cbief  Storekeeper,  Shanglul-Nanklng  Railway. 

of  the  largest  c<>-<jperative  concerns  of  its 
kind.  The  Anglo-Boer  war  attracted  him 
and  five  of  his  brothers  to  South  Africa, 
where  he  secured  an  appointment  as  civil 
and  military  checker  to  the  Natal  Govern- 
ment  Railways.      He  was  transferred  to  the 


TYPES    OF    STATION    BUILDINGS    ON    THE    SHANGHAI-NANKING   RAILWAY. 


medal  with  four  clasps.  In  1904  he  returned 
to  Australia,  but  the  prospects  there  were 
poor,  and  in  the  following  year  he  came  to 
China,  where  at  length  he  joined  the 
Shanghai-Nanking  Railway.  He  was  for  a 
time  depot  storekeeper  at  the  Markham 
Road  bulk  stores,  and  in  the  present  year, 
on  the  death  of  Mr.  C.  F.  Moule,  he  received 
the  acting  appointment  which  he  now  fills. 
Mr.  Andrews  is  a  member  of  the  Saltoun 
Masonic  Lodge,  No.  936,  China. 


THE    PEKING-HANKOW    RAILWAY. 

Thk  Peking-Hankow  Railway  forms  an 
important  link  in  the  trunk  system  which 
will  eventually  traverse  the  Chinese  Empire 
from  Canton  in  the  south  to  Mukden  in  the 
north,  and  give  through  rail  communication 
with  Europe  by  means  of  the  Trans-Siberian 


the  Northern  Railway  (Tientsin-Mukden),  the 
distance  from  Peking  to  Mukden  being  521 
miles.  Thus,  when  the  Canton-Hankow  line 
is  completed,  the  whole  system  will  comprise 
about  2.025  miles  of  trunk  line,  namely, 
Canton-Hankow,  750  miles  ;  Hankow-Peking, 
754  miles  ;    and  Peking-Mukden,  521   miles. 

This  line,  which  was  completed  on  De- 
cember 20,  1896,  was  constructed  by  Belgian 
engineers  at  a  cost  of  Fr.  123.000,000.  Some 
700  miles  in  length,  it  connects  the  capital 
of  China  with  the  Yangtsze,  and  traverses  the 
rich  provinces  of  Chihli,  Honan,  and  Hupeh. 
Connected  with  it  there  are  seven  branch 
lines.  The  standard  gauge  of  4  feet  8J  inches 
has  been  adopted,  with  80  lb.  rails.  The  line 
is  equipped  with  100  locomotives  and  2,500 
wagons,  and  important  additions  to  the 
rolling  stock  are  about  to  be  made.  The 
fastest  trains  accomplish  the  distance  between 
the  two  termini  in  thirty-six  hours. 


<        H 


iz!   d 

M        < 


o 
M 


O      u 


680      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETO. 


CHAO  CHOW  AND  SWATOW  RAILWAY 

COMPANY. 

Slowly  but  surely  the  Chinese  are  begimiiiif; 
to  realise  that  if  they  are  to  take  part,  with 
any  degree  of  success,  in  the  commercial 
strife  that  is  being  waged  between  the  nations 
of  the  world,  they  must  become  less  con- 
ser\-alive,  and  throw  open  their  empire  to 
the  trader  and  the  merchant.  The  country 
is  one  possessing  vast  wealth  and  immense 
possibilities,  but  in  order  that  full  advantage 
may  be  taken  of  these,  convenient  and  regular 
systems  of  communication  are  essential. 

The  Chao  Chow  and  Swatow  Railway 
was  the  first  line  registered  at  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  Peking,  under  mercantile 
administration.     It  was  opened  in  November, 


proved  quite  successful,  and  the  railway  is 
being  extended  above  Chao  Chow  to  Yee  Kai, 
on  the  bank  of  the  river  Han,  so  as  to  connect 
with  the  shipping.  After  these  extensions 
have  been  completed  a  great  deal  of  freight 
should  be  carried,  as  Yee  Kai  is  a  distribu- 
ting centre  for  Kai  in  Chow.  Ting  Chow,  &c. 
Another  advantage  will  be  that  when  the 
river  Han  is  shallow,  as  it  is  at  times,  and 
boats  are  unable  to  obtain  access  to  Chao 
Chow,  merchants  will  have  an  alternative 
me:»ns  of  transportation.  The  Company 
experienced  a  little  difticulty  in  purchasing 
lands  for  laying  down  the  track  and  for 
station  sites,  owing  to  the  presence  along  the 
line  of  route  of  a  number  of  graves.  But 
these  difficulties  have  been  surmounted,  and 
the  purchases  are   now   practically  complete. 


CONSTRUCTION    SCENE    ON    THE    KOWLOON-CANTON   RAILWAY. 


1906,  with  great  ceremony.  By  kind  permis- 
sion of  the  captain,  the  band  of  the  German 
cruiser  Ja/<iiar  played  in  the  train  to  and 
from  Chao  Chow.  The  guests  included  the 
Consuls  of  the  various  powers,  the  com- 
missioner, and  staff  ;  His  Excellency  the 
Taoutai  of  Chao  Chow,  the  officers  of  the 
surrounding  districts,  and  the  representatives 
of  the  foreign  hongs  and  the  Press.  The 
Peking  Board  of  Commerce  was  represented 
by  Mr.  Kwong,  engineer-in-chief  of  the 
Canton-Hankow  Line,  and  His  Excellency 
Taoutai  Shun  represented  the  Viceroy  of 
Canton. 

The  line  is  well  constructed,  and  is  of  the 
standard  gauge  of  4  feet  8}  inches.  The 
engines  were  shipped  in  parts  from  America, 
the  coaches  and  trucks  were  built  in  Swatow, 
and  the  axles,  springs,  and  wheels  are  of 
British    manufacture.       The    enterprise     has 


The  idea  is   to   construct  a  line   northwards 
also,  to  join  the  Amoy-Canton  Railway. 

The  capital  of  the  Company  is  83,000,000, 
nine-tenths  of  which  is  held  by  the  directors. 
It  is  essential  that  each  director  should  own  a 
quarter  of  a  million  dollars'  worth  of  shares, 
and,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  two  of  them  are 
interested  in  the  venture  to  tlie  extent  of  a 
million  dollars.  H.E.  Cheong  Yuk  Nam  is 
the  managing  director-general  ;  Mr.  Lim  La 
Sang,  the  manager  director  ;  and  Messrs. 
Wong  Sui  Ping,  Chia  Mong  Chee,  Ng  Li 
Hing,  and  Cheong  Chong  Hong,  members  of 
the  board. 

a 

HIS  EXCELLENCY  CHEONQ  YUK  NAM, 
the  managing  director-general  of  the  Chao 
Chow  and  Swatow  Railway  Company,  holds  a 


distinguished  social  position,  and  is  largely 
interested  in  a  great  variety  of  commercial 
enterprises  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 
Born  at  Kai,  in  Chow  (Kwangtung  Province) 
in  1852,  he  has  succeeded  in  amassing  a  large 
fortune,  although  he  has  always  been  ready 
to  assist  liberally  those  institutions  which  have 
for  their  object,  the  welfare  and  enlightenment 
of  his  fellow  countrymen.  He  himself  estab- 
lished a  school  in  Swatow,  and  is  also  the 
founder  of  a  hospital  in  Deli,  Sumatra.  In 
recognition  of  his  many  services  he  has  been 
made  Vice-President  of  the  First  Honour  of  the 
Third  Order,  Peking  ;  and  has  been  appointed 
a  Chines-e  major  by  the  Dutch,  while  he  holds 
as  a  cherished  possession,  a  medal  conferred 
upon  him  by  the  Queen  of  Holland.  He  owns 
a  large  amount  of  property  in  Deli,  including 
two  large  gardens  of  about  16  square  miles  in 
area  and  several  sago  plantations.  In  Swatow 
and  Kai  in  Chow,  he  also  holds  considerable 
property,  and  is  interested  in  several  monop- 
olies and  commercial  ventures.  Formerly 
he  was  Chinese  Consul  in  Penang.  He  is 
married  and  has  five  sons  and  four  daughters. 
During  his  absences,  Cheong  Poh  Chun,  his 
eldest  son,  transacts  his  business,  in  connection 
with  the  railway  at  Swatow. 


MR.  LIM  LA  SANQ,  the  managing  director 
of  the  Chao  Chow  and  Swatow  Railway 
Company,  was  born  at  Fokien  in  1868,  and 
was  educated  at  Hongkong.  Before  the 
China-Japan  War  he  was  one  of  the  largest 
tea  merchants  in  Formosa,  controlling  as 
much  as  one-third  of  the  whole  trade  from  the 
island.  Now  he  is  largely  interested  in 
banking  and  commercial  enterprises  in  Anioy 
and  Hongkong.  He  has  travelled  a  great 
deal  in  the  East,  is  married,  and  has  two  sons 
and  one  daughter. 


THE    CANTON-SAMSHUl    RAILWAY. 

The  American  China  Development  Com- 
pany obtained  the  important  concession  for 
the  construction  of  the  Canton-Hankow 
Railway  during  the  year  1902.  They  started 
upon  their  great  enterprise  with  characteristic 
energy  ;  native  staffs  were  organised,  and, 
under  the  direction  of  skilled  American 
engineers,  the  work  was  quickly  in  full  swing. 
Attention  was  turned  first  to  the  branch  line 
from  Canton  to  Samshui,  a  part  of  the  rail- 
way with  which  it  was  originally  intended 
to  connect  the  provinces  of  Kwangtung  and 
Kwangsi.  The  distance  between  the  two 
places,  by  river,  is  90  miles,  and  the  journey 
occupies,  by  boat,  something  like  twelve  hours. 
The  railway,  by  cutting  across  beautiful 
stretches  of  paddy  fields,  reduces  the  distance 
to  about  30  miles,  which  are  covered  in  about 
an  hour. 

The  first  section,  extending  from  Canton 
— or  rather  Shek-wai-tong,  the  Canton  ter- 
minus-to  Fatshan,  a  thriving  Chinese  town 
situated  12  miles  from  the  great  southern 
port,  was  opened  in  November,  1903.  The 
facilities  afforded  were  quickly  appreciated  by 
the  Chinese  and,  within  a  few  weeks,  the 
trains  were  carrying  regularly  as  many  as 
four  thousand  passengers  a  day.  In  May, 
1904,  the  remainder  of  the  line  to  Samshui 
was  opened. 

Considering  the  nature  and  extent  of  the 
difficulties  the  work  of  construction  was 
admirably  performed.  The  track  is  well 
ballasted,  and  is  double,  as  far  as  P'atshan  ; 
from  thence  to  Samshui  there  is  a  single 
line.  The  majority  of  the  locomotives  have 
formerly    seen    service    on     the     New    York 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      681 


overhead  railway,  but  increasing  business 
has  now  led  to  the  purchase  of  several  larger 
and  more  powerful  engines  of  the  Baldwin 
type.  The  first  and  second-class  carriages 
are  comfortably  appointed  and,  attached  to 
each  train,  may  be  seen  the  mail  car,  painted 
a  bright  yellow  and  bearing  the  lettering 
"  Chinese  Imperial  Post."  The  goods  traffic 
has  not  yet  received  any  great  attention,  but 
the  number  of  passengers  is  steadily  increas- 
ing. Tlie  line  serves  a  rich  and  populous 
district,  and  some  estimate,  perhaps,  of  the 
intermediate  traffic  may  be  gathered  from  the 
fact  that  there  are  no  fewer  than  19  stations 
within  the  30  miles  distance.  At  present 
many  of  them,  certainly,  are  nothing  but 
dignified  mat-sheds,  but  improvements  are 
continually  being  made,  and  in  course  of 
time  these  structures  will  doubtless  give 
place  to  substantial  brick  buildings.  The 
first  year's  working  produced  no  less  than 
$700,000.  The  railway  being  now  in  the 
hands  of  the  Chinese  —  owing  to  the 
Americans  losing  their  concession — no  foreign- 
ers are  retained   on    the    staff.       In    the   earlv 


Hongkong  Government,  purchased  the  re- 
demption of  the  concession  granted  to  the 
American  China  Development  Company.  The 
history  of  the  enterprise,  in  its  early  stages 
especially,  is  not  an  inspiring  one  from  the 
point  of  view  of  the  enlightened  and  liberal 
reformer.  Long  and  bitter  recriminations 
between  the  various  interested  parties  have 
seriously  hampered  and   delayed  the  work. 

The  Kwangtung  section  starts  at  Wong- 
sha,  the  populous  western  suburb  of  Canton 
situated  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  from  the 
city  proper.  At  the  present  time  some  70 
miles  of  the  line  are  under  construction. 
Twenty  are  open  for  traffic,  and  over  this 
section  passenger  trains  have  been  running 
daily  for  some  months.  By  the  end  of  the 
year  it  is  estimated  that  60  miles  will  be  opened. 
A  single  track  is  being  laid.  The  permanent 
way,  consisting  of  an  i8-feet  embankment 
is  well  made  and,  provided  the  work  of 
construction  is  done  throughout  in  a  like 
manner,  there  is  every  indication  that  the 
line  will  be  comparable  to  any  of  the  northern 
railways.     It  is  of  the  standard  gauge,  4  feet 


CONSTRUCTION    SCENE    ON    THE    KOWLOON-CANTON   RAILWAY. 


days  the  innovation  was  viewed  with  disfavour 
and  active  opposition,  but  since  the  Chinese 
— through  the  instrumentality  of  British 
capital — have  recovered  ownership,  the  line 
has  been  worked  without  let  or  hindrance 
from  the  populace. 

THE    CAXTON-HANKOW    RAILWAY. 

Thk  Canton-Hankow  Kailway,  when  com- 
pleted, will,  by  joining  with  the  Hankow- 
Peking  Railway,  place  the  commercial  capital 
of  the  south  in  direct  touch  with  the  capital 
of  the  empire.  The  total  length  of  the  line 
will  be  upwards  of  700  miles,  250  miles  of 
which  will  be  in  Kwangtung,  300  in  Hunan, 
and  the  balance  in  Hupeh.  Each  province 
proposes  to  build  and  maintain  its  own 
section. 

This  undertaking,  vast  in  its  possibilities 
for  the  future,  is,  together  with  the  Canton- 
Samshui  branch  line,  under  the  control  of  the 
Yuen  Han  Railway  Company,  or  the  Yuet 
Han,  of  Kwangtung,  who  acquired  it  from 
the  Chinese  Government  after  they  had,  by 
means    of    a    loan    of    ;^'2,ooo,ooo    from    the 


8J  inches  ;  heavy  85  lb.  rails  are  used  ;  and 
the  best  .\ustraliaii  hardwood  is  requi- 
sitioned for  the  timber  work.  The  rolling 
stock  in  use  at  present  is  American,  but  it 
is  intended  to  manufacture  it  in  future  at 
Canton  to  avoid  the  great  cost  of  freight. 
In  the  Kwangtung  section  there  are  no 
great  engineering  difficulties.  The  longest 
tunnel  is  about  one  thousand  feet,  and  there 
will  be  three  or  four  others  between  two  and 
three  hundred  feet  long.  No  great  waterways 
have  to  be  crossed  except  the  North  River, 
where  a  bridge  of  moderate  size  will  be 
required.  After  the  first  50  miles  the  line, 
practically  speaking,  follows  the  banks  of 
the  North  River,  and  thus  skirts  the  large 
ranges  of  hills.  The  line  is  being  con- 
structed by  a  staff  of  foreign  engineers  under 
the  direct  control  of  Taoutai  K.  Y.  Kwong, 
who  was  educated  in  America  and  received 
his  training  in  railway  construction  in  North 
China.  The  president  of  the  line,  for  the 
moment,  is  Sir  Chun  Tung  Liang  Cheng, 
who,  while  probably  knowing  nothing 
about  railways,  is  considered  the  best  man 
obtainable  for  the  post,  as  a   strong  person- 


ality is  required  to  keep  the  conflicting 
parties  at  peace.  He  was  formerly  Minister 
for  China  at  Washington,  and,  happening  to  be 
in  ofticial  mourning,  was  elected  to  his  present 
office.  However  suitable  he  may  prove  to 
be  for  the  position,  his  cx;cupation  of  it  is 
bound  to  be  of  short  duration,  for  as  soon 
as  his  official  mourning  is  at  an  end  he  will 
depart  to  Peking  to  resume  his  diplomatic 
labours.  It  remains  to  be  seen  whether  the 
old  troubles  will  then  commence  anew. 

THE    KOWLOON-CANTON   KAILWAY. 

The  importance  of  the  Kowloon  Kailway  lies 
in  the  fact  that  it  will  be  the  terminal  section 
of  the  great  line — some  1,500  miles  long — 
stretching  from  Peking  to  Hongkong  Harbour. 
When  the  Hongkong  Government  decided, 
in  1905,  to  construct  the  line  through  the 
British  territory  their  sole  object,  in  the 
words  of  the  present  Governor,  was  to  see 
that  the  final  outlet  of  the  great  railway  of 
China  should  be  at  Kowloon  and  no  other 
place. 

The  preliminary  survey  was  made  by 
Mr.  Bruce,  but,  after  the  chief  resident 
engineer  had  completed  a  detailed  survey 
in  the  early  part  of  1906,  it  was  decided  to 
make  a  few  alterations  in  the  original  plans 
and  run  the  Hne  from  the  neighbourhood  of 
Taipo,  somewhat  more  inland,  and  tunnel 
through  a  small  hill  near  Taipo  instead  of 
going  round  it.  If  the  average  rate  of 
construction  is  maintained  the  line  should 
be  completed  by  May,  1910,  and  it  is  not 
anticipated  that  the  total  cost  will  exceed 
£?!, 000,000  sterling.  This  sum,  however,  does 
not  include  the  value  of  Crown  lands  assigned 
for  railway  purposes.  The  survey  of  the 
section  of  the  line  from  Canton  to  the  borders 
of  British  territory — for  the  construction  of 
which  section  the  Chinese  authorities  are 
responsible — was  only  completed  at  the 
beginning  of  1908. 

The  British  section  of  the  railway  is  about 
22  miles  in  length.  It  is  being  built  to 
standard  gauge  (4  feet  8J  inchesi  as  a  first-class 
line  capable  of  taking  the  heaviest  rolling 
stock.  The  rails  are  85  lbs.  per  yard,  and 
will  be  laid  on  Australian  hardwood  sleepers, 
2,000  to  the  mile. 

The  masonry  of  all  the  bridges  is  being 
built  for  a  double  line,  and  all  the  cuttings 
in  which  rock  appears  are  also  being  taken 
out  for  a  double  line,  but  the  banks  are 
only  being  made  for  single  line,  unless  there 
is  spare  material  from  the  cuttings.  The 
only  exception  to  this  is  the  Beacon  Hill 
tunnel  through  the  Kowloon  range  of  hills, 
which  is  only  being  constructed  for  a  single 
line. 

The  line  starts  from  the  south-east  corner  of 
the  Kowloon  Peninsula,  from  a  point  generally 
called  Blackhead's  Point.  The  main  terminal 
will  be  here  on  a  large  piece  of  ground 
which  is  being  reclaimed  from  the  sea.  This 
system  was  found  to  be  considerably  cheaper 
than  buying  land. 

From  this  point  the  line  passes  northward 
through  some  low  hills  to  the  north-east 
of  King's  Park  towards  the  east  of  Beacon 
Hill.  On  the  way  it  passses  close  to  Yaumati. 
where  it  is  proposed  to  put  a  station,  and 
through  a   short  tunnel. 

The  line  approaches  Beacon  Hill  at  a 
grade  of  1  in  100,  and  enters  the  big 
tunnel  through  the  Kowloon  Hills.  This 
tunnel  is  the  most  difficult  piece  of  work 
on  the  line,  and  on  its  completion  depends 
the  date  of  opening  the  railway  for  traflic. 
The  tunnel  is  about  7,250  feet  long,  of  which 
about  one-third  has  been  completed  at  present. 
The   materia!   throu"h   which    the    tunnel    is 


682     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


being  driven  is  decomposed  granite  for  the 
tirst  I. coo  feet  at  each  end.  changing  to  very 
hard  granite  in  the  interior. 

After  passing  through  the  tunnel  the  line 
crosses  Shatin  Valley  on  a  high  bridge,  and 
runs  down  the  north  side  towards  the  coast 
at  Ix)k  Cha.  There  is  a  station  at  the  seventh 
mile  lor  Shatin  \illage.  From  this  point 
on  to  Taipo  the  line  skirts  the  coast,  which 
is  rather  precipitous  and  indented  with 
deep  ba>"s.  There  are  three  tunnels  between 
Shatin  and  Taipo  stations,  the  largest  of 
which  is  poo  feet  long.  All  these  are  being 
built  for  double  line. 

From  Taipo  station  at  the  thirteenth 
mile  the  line  runs  inland  past  Fan 
Ling  station,  eighteenth  mile,  till  it  reaches 
the  frontier,  21I  miles,  at  Lofu  Ferry, 
nearly  opposite  the  village  of  Sam  Chun. 
From  this  point  to  Canton  the  distance 
by  rail  will  be  about  90  miles.  Taken 
as    a    whole,    the     line    is    a    very    diflicult 


one  to  make,  and  the  work  entailed  is  heavy 
and  costly.  The  cost,  namely.  ^"1.000,000 
sterling  for  2iJ  miles  of  line,  shows  that 
construction  necessitates  very  large  works, 
of  which  Beacon  Hill  tunnel,  the  reclamation 
for  KowUxin  station  yard,  and  the  five  mile 
section  approaching  Taipo  are  the  chief.  It 
is  hoped  that  the  tunnel  will  be  completed 
by  the  end  of  May.  1910,  by  which  date  the 
rest  of  the  British  section  ought  to  be  ready 
for  opening.  The  Chinese  section,  however, 
has  some  heavy  bridgework,  about  40  miles 
west  of  Canton,  which  may  not  be  con- 
structed bv  that  date. 


THE     BRITISH     AND     CHINESE 
CORPORATION,    LTD. 

This  Corporation,  whose  head  office  is  at 
22,  Abchurch-lane,  London,  E.C.,  was  founded 
in    1898   for   financing  and   undertaking  rail- 


ways and  other  industrial  enterprises  in 
China  ;  and,  in  particular,  for  the  financing 
and  construction  of  certain  railway  con- 
cessions granted  by  the  Imperial  Chinese 
Government  in  that  year.  Of  these,  one 
line,  that  from  Shanghai  to  Nanking,  was 
completed  in  April,  1908  ;  the  Canton- 
Kowloon  Railway  is  under  construction  ; 
and  the  final  loan  agreement  for  the  Shangliai- 
Hangchow-Ningpo  Railway  was  signed  at 
Peking  on  March  6,  1908.  The  loan  author- 
ised by  the  Imperial  Chinese  Government  for 
the  imperial  railways  of  North  China  in 
1898  was  also  issued  by  the  Corporation  ; 
and  a  further  preliminary  contract  was  made 
with  the  Manchurian  authorities  in  November, 
1907,  for  a  loan  to  construct  the  extension 
of  this  system  from  Hsinmintum  to  Fakumen. 
which  extension  is,  however,  at  present 
opposed  by  the  Japanese  Government. 

The  Corporation's   representative   in  China 
is  Mr.  J.  O.  P.  Bland,  who  resides  in  Peking. 


MINES    AND    MINERALS    IN    MANCHURIA. 


By   Reginald   Bate,   F.R.G.S. 


Manchurian  mining  questions  were  very 
much  neglected,  both  by  the  Chinese  them- 
selves and  by  foreigners  until  recent  years  ; 
indeed,  it  was  not  until  the  Russian 
occupation  of  Manchuria  that  the  mineral 
possibilities  were  given  so  much  as  a 
thought.  That  the  country  is  rich  in  minerals 
has  been  proved  beyond  doubt  by  the 
surveyors  and  geologists  who  have  made 
investigations  both  for  the  Russian  and 
Japanese  Governments.  The  Chinese  Govern- 
ment having  recently  awakened  to  the 
possibilities  of  mining,  not  only  in  Manchuria 
but  all  over  the  Chinese  Empire,  have, 
wherever  possible,  discouraged  the  efforts  of 
the  more  enterprising  foreigners,  lest  by 
allowing  them  to  work  they  should  lose  what 
they  consider  to  be  the  country's  natural 
heritage. 

Manchuria  is  prolific  in  minerals,  there 
being  found  in  the  three  provinces,  gold. 
silver,  galena,  antimony,  copper,  coal,  iron, 
asbestos,  &c.,  but  at  the  present  time  the 
only  mines  that  are  actively  engaged  in 
producing  are  those  at  Fushun,  which  were 
taken  over  as  a  legacy  from  the  Russians  by 
the  Japanese  as  a  subsidiary  to  the  South 
Manchurian  Railway.  Tremendous  efforts  are 
being  made  to  increase  the  output  as 
rapidly  as  possible  for  the  purpose  of 
supplying  the  locomotives  entirely  from  these 
mines.  The  other  mines  of  note  are  those 
at  Peh  Shi  Hu,  owned  by  the  Japanese 
but  not  producing  at  the  moment  owing 
to  some  litigation  between  the  Japanese 
and  Chinese  Governments ;  the  Kirin  Coal 
Mines,  owned  by  a  British  company,  and 
waiting  only  for  the  railway  from  Changchun 


to  Kirin  to  be  completed  ;  the  Sa  Sung  Kang 
gold  and  silver  mines,  also  a  British  proposi- 
tion ;  the  Tiding  gold  mines,  entirely  native 
and  at  present  non-producing  ;  and  last  of 
all,  the  mines  of  the  Cathay  Mining  Syndi- 
cate, a  gigantic  Anglo-Japanese  combine, 
which  holds  by  far  the  most  important 
mining  interests  in  all  Manchuria,  if  not  in 
all  China. 

The  history  of  the  Cathay  Mining  Syndicate 
is  very  interesting,  and  it  may  be  said  that  its 
inception,  conception,  and  its  bright  future  is 
entirely  due  to  the  actions  of  a  very  far-seeing 
British  merchant  by  the  name  of  Bush,  who 
having  dwelt  in  Manchuria  for  the  greater  part 
of  his  life,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
native  methods  of  mining  were  so  crude  and 
so  unproductive  that  it  would  be  well  to 
acquire  the  mining  areas  and  develop  them 
properly.  To  this  end  he  bought  out  the 
native  owners,  gradually  obtaining  the  Im- 
perial sanction  in  1902  to  allow  foreign  capital 
to  be  introduced. 

The  Boxer  trouble  and  Russo-Japanese 
war,  however,  prevented  work  from  being 
even  commenced,  as  the  Cathay  mines  were 
in  the  war  zone  and  their  machinery, 
&c.,  was  commandeered.  After  the  Russo- 
Japanese  war  was  over  the  Japanese  made 
overtures  to  Mr.  Bush  and  paid  very  hand- 
somely to  participate  in  the  venture. 

The  amalgamation  took  place  on  April  17, 
1907,  and  the  syndicate  is  now  a  combination 
of  Mr.  H.  A.  Bush  and  the  Japanese 
Government.  Since  the  amalgamation  both 
the  British  and  Japanese  concerned  have 
brought  out  parties  of  engineers  and  sur- 
veyors,    whose     reports     have     more     than 


satisfied  the  promoters  and  partners,  with 
the  result  that  the  mines  may  be  brought 
to  the  notice  of  the  public  in  the  very  near 
future. 

The  districts  in  which  these  mines  are 
situated  are  those  bordering  Korea  on  the 
northern  bank  of  the  Yalu  River,  and  the 
principal  and  most  valuable  mines  are  situated 
in  the  district  of  Mao  Erh  Shan,  which 
was  referred  to  by  Sir  Alex  Hosie  in  his 
well-known  work  on  Manchuria. 

The  difficulty  in  the  way  of  mining  in  China 
is  either  official  interference  or.  failing  that, 
bad  communications,  and  so  long  as  the 
officials  persist  in  extorting  profit  illegitimately 
from  their  compatriots  so  long  will  native 
mining   continue   to   be   an   absurdity. 

Within  a  quite  recent  period  the  Chinese 
Government  promulgated  mining  regulations 
of  such  a  nature  that  it  would  have  been 
impossible  for  any  one,  even  a  native,  to 
work  them,  but  it  is  satisfactory  to  learn 
that  the  diplomatic  body  in  Peking  refused 
to  countenance  them  and  they  have  con- 
sequently been  withdrawn  for  revision. 
It  will,  no  doubt,  be  a  considerable  time 
before  they  are  again  submitted  for  the 
Ministers'  approval,  for  it  will  be  a  difficult 
task  to  draw  up  regulations  to  satisfy 
foreigners  and,  at  the  same  time,  preserve 
the  semblance  of  not  giving  anything  away 
on  the  part  of  China.  There  is  no 
doubt  that,  with  the  new  spirit  of  China  for 
the  Chinese  that  permeates  the  half-educated 
native,  the  lot  of  the  official  who  has  the 
misfortune  to  revise  the  old  and  compile 
the  new  regulations,  will  be  very  un- 
enviable. 


INFORMATION    FOR   TOURISTS. 


HONGKONG. 

approaching  Hongkong  the 
visitor  cannot  fail  to  be  im- 
pressed by  the  grandeur  of 
the  general  surroundings. 
Separated  from  the  mainland 
by  an  irregular  arm  of  the 
sea  from  one  to  five  miles 
wide,  which  constitutes  its  magnificent 
harbour,  Honglcong  is  protected  on  this  side 
by  a  long  range  of  bare  and  rugged  peaks, 
which  present  a  striking  contrast  to  the 
verdure-clad  hills  on  the  island. 

The  city  of  Victoria,  built  on  the  shore  and 
hillside  facing  the  harbour  to  the  north,  is 
remarkable  for  its  imposing  edifices,  many 
of  which  are  equal  to  the  finest  to  be  seen 
in  any  modern  European  city.  These  build- 
ings, consisting  of  offices,  hotels,  clubs,  &c., 
constitute  the  European  commercial  quarter. 
To  the  west  lies  Chinatown,  and  above,  rising 
tier  upon  tier,  are  charmnigly  situated  resi- 
dences to  within  a  few  hundred  feet  of  the 
summit  of  Victoria  Peak,  about  i,8oo  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  locally  known 
as  "The  Peak."  This  district  has,  of  late  years, 
become  the  most  popular  residential  quarter, 
particularly  during  the  summer  months,  when 
the  atmosphere  there  is  some  ten  degrees 
cooler  than  in  the  city.  Situated  on  the 
higher  slopes  and  ridges,  many  of  the  houses 
are  visible  from  below.  A  funicular  railway 
runs  from  near  the  centre  of  the  town  to 
Victoria  Gap,  a  short  distance  from  the  flag- 
staff (signal  station),  which  can  be  easily 
reached  on  foot,  or  in  sedan  chair — the  only 
possible  means  of  conveyance  owing  to  the 
hilliness  of  the  district.  This  is  the  principal 
point  of  interest  for  the  visitor,  as  the  view 
from  the  Peak  on  a  clear  day  is  magnificent. 
The  harbour,  when  seen  at  night-time  from 
this  elevation,  illuminated  by  myriads  of 
lights  from  ships,  junks,  and  sampans,  is  a 
never-to-be-forgotten  sight.  A  few  afternoons 
can  well  be  spent  in  rambling  over  the  Peak 
District,  the  mountain  air  being  most  ex- 
hilarating. 

Another  of  the  principal  points  of  interest 
for  the  visitor  is  the  Wongneichung  Valley 
(commonly  known  as  "Happy  Valley"),  a 
beautiful  spot  enclosed  by  fir-clad  hills,  which 
can  be  reached  from  the  centre  of  the  city  in 
twenty  minutes  by  electric  car  or  rickshaw. 
Here  are  situated  the  recreation  grounds  of 
the  Colony,  including  a  very  fine  racecourse, 


and,  incongruously  enough,  on  the  hillside 
to  the  right,  the  Protestant,  Roman  Catholic, 
Parsee,  and  Mahomedan  cemeteries  —  all 
beautiful  as  regards  their  monuments,  horti- 
culture, and  situation. 

The  prevailing  opinion  among  tourists 
visiting  Hongkong  for  the  first  time  seems 
to  be  that  there  is  Httle  or  nothing  itf  the 
island  worthy  of  their  attention.  This  is  a 
great  mistake,  however ;  and,  although  the 
climate  can  hardly  be  considered  as  conducive 
to  a  lengthy  stay  (except  during  the  six  winter 
months,  when  magnificent  weather  usually 
prevails),  a  week  spent  in  exploring  the  high- 
ways and  by-ways  of  this  beautiful  island 
cannot  fail  to  charm.  It  is  doubtful  if  the 
walk  from  the  Happy  Valley,  along  Bowen 
Koad,  returning  to  the  city  through  the 
Botanical  Gardens,  can  be  excelled  in  any 
other  part  of  the  world. 

No  visitor  should  leave  Hongkong  without 
seeing  Chinatown.  Those  in  quest  of  curios 
will  find  that  everything  that  is  produced  or 
manufactured  in  any  part  of  the  vast  Chinese 
Empire  is  procurable  in  Hongkong.  It  is,  of 
course,  usually  necessary  to  drive  a  hard  bar- 
gain. A  Chinese  theatre  is  well  worth  a  visit, 
although  the  Chinese  idea  of  music  is  scarcely 
in  accord  with  our  own! 

Chief  among  other  points  of  general  interest 
that  may  be  mentioned  are  the  City  Hall,  with 
its  museum,  Government  House,  the  cathedrals, 
the  Tytam  Waterworks,  and  the  Docks.  All 
the  principal  steamers  arriving  in  the  harbour 
are  met  by  hotel  launches,  which  convey 
passengers  and  their  baggage  ashore,  thereby 
reducing  to  a  minimum  the  trouble  and 
expense  of  landing.  The  principal  hotels  are 
the  Hongkong  and  King  Edward,  both 
situated  in  Des  Voeux  Road,  the  Connaught 
and  the  Oriental  in  Queen's  Road,  Kings- 
clere  Private  Hotel  on  Kennedy  Road  (one 
of  the  upper  levels),  the  Peak  Hotel  at 
the  upper  terminus  of  the  funicular  railway, 
and  the  Kowloon  Hotel  on  the  Kowloon 
Peninsula. 

The  Colony  of  Hongkong  now  comprises 
also  the  peninsula  of  Kowloon  on  the  main- 
land, and  about  275  square  miles  of  the 
territory  behind  Kowloon  have  been  leased 
to  Great  Britain  for  ninety-nine  years.  Many 
very  fine  excursions  can  be  had  over  these 
hills,  and  visitors  who  are  fond  of  climbing 
will  thoroughly  enjoy  a  trip  to  the  top  of 
Taimoshan,  a  peak  3,640  feet  high.  This 
can  best  be  done   by  taking  steam  launch  to 


Chin-wan,  from  which  point  the  ascent  and 
descent  can  be  made  in  about  three  and  a 
half  hours.  The  view  from  the  summit, 
embracing,  as  it  does,  a  panoramic  view 
extending  fifty  miles  in  every  direction,  is 
ample  compensation  for  the  exertion  of  the 
climb. 

Hongkong  being  a  free  port,  visitors  are 
free  from  all  troublesome  Customs  formalities. 
The  currency,  however,  is  somewhat  com- 
plicated, and  a  few  words  in  this  connection 
will  not  be  out  of  place.  There  is  no  gold 
standard,  the  monetary  unit  being  the  silver 
dollar.  The  nominal  value  of  this  is  two  shil- 
lings but  enormous  fluctuations  take  place  from 
lime  to  time.  Notes  are  issued  by  the  Hong- 
kong and  Shanghai  Banking  Corporation,  the 
Chartered  Bank  of  India,  Australia,  and 
China,  and  the  National  Bank  of  China, 
which  are  legal  tender  everywhere.  The 
small  silver  coins  minted  in  the  neighbouring 
Chinese  province  of  Kwangtung  are  also 
accepted,  and  are  in  general  circulation  except 
in  the  banks  and  Government  offices.  Visitors 
are  recommended,  on  arrival,  to  pay  a  visit 
to  the  local  office  of  Messrs.  Thomas  Cook  & 
Son  (16,  Des  Voeux  Road  Central),  the  well- 
known  firm  of  tourist  agents,  where  they 
can  obtain  a  supply  of  the  local  currency 
at  current  exchange,  and  receive  advice  as 
to  the  best  way  of  filling  up  the  time  they 
have  at  their  disposal. 

The  majority  of  visitors  will,  of  course, 
include  Canton  and  Macao  in  their  itinerary. 
The  former  is  distant  about  nine  hours  by 
steamboat  from  Hongkong,  and  the  trip  one 
of  the  most  interesting  to  the  visitor  desiring 
to  see  something  of  Chinese  life  in  its 
reality.  The  journey  is  easily  accomplished. 
Three  lines  of  steamers  leave  Hongkong 
every  night  (except  Saturday)  for  Canton, 
returning  nightly  (except  Sunday)  from 
Canton.  The  return  fares  (including  berth, 
but  not  meals)  are  $16  by  the  British  line, 
Sio  by  the  French  line,  and  $8  by  the 
Chinese  line.  The  British  line  maintains,  also, 
a  daily  service  both  ways  (Sundays  excepted). 
If  time  permits,  visitors  are  recommended  to 
take  the  morning  steamer,  as  the  arrival  in 
the  daytime,  when  everything  is  in  full  swing, 
and  the  river  is  crowded  with  craft  of  every 
description,  is  a  unique  experience.  From 
start  to  finish  the  trip  is  full  of  interest. 

All  these  boats  have  excellent  accommoda- 
tion, and  berths  can  be  reserved  and  tickets 
obtained  through  Messrs.  Thomas  Cook  &  Son, 


684     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


who  also  make  all  arrangements  to  have 
passengers  met  on  arri\-al  at  Canton,  and 
conducted  round  the  city  by  a  reliable  guide. 

Chief  among  the  objects  of  interest  in  Canton 
are  : — The  Temple  of  the  Five  Hundred  Genii, 
the  flowery  Pagoda,  the  tive-storey  Pagoda, 
the  Temple  of  Confucius,  the  Water  Clock, 
and  the  various  local  industries.  There  is 
only  one  hotel  at  Canton,  the  Victoria, 
situated  on  Shameen,  the  foreign  settlement. 

In  making  purchases,  visitors  are  recom- 
mended, when  striking  a  bargain,  to  see  that 
they  obtain  the  current  premium  on  their 
Hongkong  notes.  This  varies  from  8  to  lo 
per  cent.,  the  price  l>eing  quoted  in  Chinese 
dollars.  If  purchases  of  any  magnitude  are 
made,  the  merchants  will  usually  pack  and 
forward  the  goods  to  Hongkong  without  any 
extra  charge. 

Visitors  who  have  the  time  should  com- 
bine with  the  Canton  trip  a  run  up  the  West 
River.  This  is  an  ideal  excursion  for  the 
amateur  photographer,  and  can  best  be  made 
by  taking  direct  steamer  from  Hongkong  to 
Wuchow,  returning  as  far  as  Samshui,  and 
proceeding  thence  by  train  to  Canton,  where 
the  British  steamer  to  Hongkong  can  be 
joined.  The  round  trip  occupies  about  six 
days,  and  the  fare  is  $36.  The  railway 
journey  (about  two  hours)  will  give  travellers 
an  excellent  idea  of  Chinese  village  life. 

The  scenery  on  the  West  River  is  magni- 
licent.  A  succession  of  gorges,  high  moun- 
tain ranges  rising  directly  from  the  water's 
edge,  and  fertile  valleys  is  passed  ;  monas- 
teries, pagodas  and  temples  being  visible  here 
and  there  picturesquely  situated  in  almost  in- 
accessible positions.  Xear  Samshui  is  situated 
the  third  largest  Buddhist  monastery  in  China, 
and  it  is  well  worth  a  visit.  Built  about  400 
feet  up  the  side  of  a  cliff,  it  is  approached 
by  means  of  steps  cut  into  the  rock,  and, 
with  beautiful  waterfalls  in  the  background, 
presents  one  of  the  most  interesting  pictures 
on  the  river.  The  water  from  these  falls  is 
supposed  to  possess  many  virtues,  and  is 
shipped  by  the  monks  in  jars  to  all  parts  of 
China. 

Wuchow  is  a  city  of  considerable  anti- 
quity, and.  if  time  permits,  visitors  can  pro- 
fitably spend  one  or  two  days  in  exploring 
the  neighbourhood.  The  town  is  typically 
Chinese,  without  any  of  the  innovations 
which  have  been  introduced  into  Canton. 
There  is  no  hotel  in  Wuchow,  and  visitors 
will,  of  course,  remain  on  the  boat. 

The  West  River  excursion  can  also  be 
made  as  a  side  trip  from  Canton,  the  fare 
tieing  $25  and  the  time  occupied  about  five 
days. 

A  railway  is  now  in  course  of  construction 
between  Kowloon  and  Canton,  and  another 
between  Canton  and  Hankow,  which,  when 
completed,  will  link  Kowloon  with  the 
Trans-Siberian  Railway,  thus  forming  direct 
rail  communication  between  Hongkong  and 
the  principal  cities  of  Europe. 

Between  Hongkong  and  Macao  two 
steamers  run  daily  in  both  directions,  the 
distance  being  only  about  40  miles.  Macao 
is  known  as  the  "Gem  of  the  Orient,"  and 
is  especially  interesting  from  the  fact  of  its 
having  been  the  pioneer  European  settle- 
ment in  the  Far  East.  It  was  founded 
early  in  the  sixteenth  century  by  the  Por- 
tuguese. The  principal  places  of  interest  to 
be  visited  at  Macao  are  the  Camoen's 
Gardens  and  Grotto,  the  Facade  of  San 
Paolo,  the  Public  Gardens,  the  Fantan 
Gambling  Salootis,  and  the  various  local 
industries.  There  are  two  good  hotels,  the 
Macao  and  the  Boa  Vista. 

Travellers  desirous  of  visiting  Manila  can 
make    the    round    trip    from    Hongkong    in 


about  a  week.  Local  steamers  leave  Hong- 
kong and  Manila  every  Tuesday.  Friday,  and 
Saturday,  in  addition  to  which  there  are 
four  companies  running  to  Australia  which 
usually  make  Manila  a  port  of  call. 


KOWLOON    HOTEL. 

The  Praya  East  Hotel  was  purchased  in 
1906  by  Mr.  O.  E.  Owen.  He  had  had  con- 
siderable experience  in  the  management  of 
such  establishments  in  different  parts  of  the 
world,  and  so  large  and  remunerative  a 
business  was  done  that  in  two  months  he 
had  fully  paid  for  the  property.  In  the 
following  year  he  took  the  Kowloon  Hotel 
upon  a  six  years'  lease,  and  here  again  his 
speculation  has  proved  successful.  It  is 
practically  the  only  first  -  class  hotel  of  its 
kind  in  Kowloon,  and  is  situated  in  the 
midst  of  well-kept  grounds  and  gardens. 
There  are  a  number  of  excellent  bedrooms 
commanding  fine  views  of  the  harbour,  and 
the  premises  throughout  are  prettily  fur- 
nished   and    lighted    with    electricity.       The 


MR.    O.    E.    OWEN. 

hotel  is  within  easy  access  of  the  regular 
ferry  service  from  the  Kowloon  wharves  to 
Hongkong.  P'ew  men  have  had  a  more 
varied  career  than  Mr.  Owen.  He  started 
life  with  very  fair  prospects,  but  was  destined 
to  meet  with  many  dil'iiculties.  Thanks  to 
his  perseverance  and  business  ability,  how- 
ever, these  have  been  successfully  encountered. 
A  son  of  Mr.  Elias  Owen,  a  merchant  who 
has  now  retired  and  is  living  at  Julfa,  Persia, 
he  was  born  on  January  15,  1881,  at  Julfa, 
and  was  educated  at  the  Church  Missionary 
Society's  mission  school  there.  He  joined 
the  Church  Missionary  Society's  dispensary 
and  hospital  and,  at  the  end  of  three  years, 
proceeded  to  the  Medical  College  at  Calcutta. 
Financial  difficulties,  however,  prevented  him 
from  completing  his  studies,  and,  after  being 
for  a  short  period  in  Dr.  Handy's  dispensary 
at  Singapore,  he  accepted  a  position  as 
assistant  at  Raffles'  Hotel.  The  climate  of 
the  Straits  Settlements,  however,  did  not 
agree  with  him,  and  he  migrated  to  Hong- 
kong, arriving  in  the  Colony  with  only  five 
dollars  in  his  pocket.  For  a  long  while 
misfortune  seemed  to  dog  his  footsteps,  and 
several  hotels  in  which  he  secured  positions 


failed  on  account  of  the  slackness  of  trade, 
In  spite  of  these  disappointments,  however, 
he  managed  to  save  a  little  money  and,  when 
the  opportunity  came,  he  invested  it  skilfully, 
with  the  result  that  his  future  is  assured. 


li 


SHANGHAI. 

It  is  frequently  alleged  that  there  is  nothing 
to  see  in  Shanj;hai,  but,  although  the  Settle- 
ment cannot  boast  of  much  in  the  way  of 
natural  beauty,  acquaintance  may  be  m<ide 
within  its  boundaries  of  all  the  interesting 
pliases  of  Chinese  life — temples,  cemeteries, 
native  theatres,  shops,  and  industries.  On 
landing  in  the  foreign  settlement  the  visitor 
cannot  fail  to  be  impressed  by  the  many 
evidences  of  prosperity  that  are  afforded  by 
the  imposing  buildings.  Conspicuous  on  the 
Bund  are  the  Customs  House,  in  the  Tudor 
style  of  architecture,  surmounted  by  a  square 
clock  tower  ;  the  Club  Germania  ;  and  the 
massive  premises  of  seveial  of  the  big 
banking  houses.  The  two  leading  hotels  are 
the  Astor  House  and  the  Palace  Hotel,  at 
either  of  which  accommodation  can  be 
obtained  for  from  $7  to  $10  (Mexican)  a  day. 
The  principal  European  stores  are  to  be 
found  at  the  commencement  of  the  Nanking 
Road.  Further  along,  Chinese  sliops,  easily 
distinguished  by  their  unglazed  fronts  and 
hanging  shop-signs,  continue  in  an  almost 
unbroken  succession  until  the  Defence  Creek 
is  reached.  Many  of  these  shops,  although 
of  no  great  external  pietensions,  contain 
within  them  some  of  the  country's  finest 
productions.  Here  it  may  be  mentioned  that 
although  Shanghai  itself  is  not  actually  a 
silk-producing  centre,  it  is  situated  in  one  of 
the  chief  producing  districts  of  China,  and 
some  of  the  finest  silk  may  be  purchased  on 
advantageous  terms  at  the  native  stores. 
The  jewellers'  shops  contain  interesting 
specimens  of  native  workmanship  in  silver 
and  gold,  and  make  a  feature  of  jade  orna- 
ments, which  are  regarded  by  the  Chinese 
as  bringing  luck  to  the  wearer.  By  means 
of  the  electric  tramcars,  carriages,  and 
rickshaws,  which  ply  for  hire  at  very  reason- 
able rates,  the  whole  Settlement  may  easily 
be  explored.  Pidgin  English  is  the  medium 
of  communiciilion  between  the  foreigner  and 
the  native,  and,  although  it  is  not  sufficient 
merely  to  add  the  suffix  "ee"  to  English 
woids,  the  jargon  is  easily  acquired.  Sports 
may  be  seen  in  progress  on  the  splendid 
recreation  grounds  on  the  Bubbling  Well 
Koad,  and  at  Hongkew,  and  music  is 
provided  daily  during  the  summer  months 
by  the  municipal  band  in  the  public  gardens 
on  the  Hund.  A  museum,  under  the 
direction  of  the  local  branch  of  the  Royal 
Asiatic  Society,  is  situated  within  a  minute's 
walk  of  the  British  Post  Office  in  Peking 
Road,  and  a  public  library  and  reading  room 
are  to  be  found  at  the  Town  Hall  in 
Nanking  Road.  The  chief  temple  is  Zen 
Sung  Aye  Temple,  at  the  corner  of  Peking 
and  Kweichow  Roads.  This  is  dedicated  to 
the  Queen  of  Heaven,  to  whom  are  addressed 
the  petitions  of  women  desiring  sons.  The 
Dai  Wong  Miao  Temple  in  Sinza  Road  is 
also  worthy  of  a  visit,  and  on  no  account 
should  one  or  other  of  the  native  cemeteries 
or  mortuaries  in  this  vicinity  be  overlooked. 
The  most  remarkable  is  the  Cantonese 
Cemetery  in  Sinza  Road.  A  broad  drive, 
flanked  by  hundreds  of  tiled  brick  graves, 
leads  to  a  number  of  temples,  council  rooms, 
and  other  buildings.  On  all  sides  may  be 
seen    the    earthenware    urns    in    which    the 


The  liiR. 


THE    ASTOE.  HOUSE    HOTEL. 

The  Dining  Hall. 

A  Corner  of  the  Reading  Room. 


[Sec  page  68ft.] 


The  Entrance. 


686     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


remains  of  the  departed  are  deposited  in 
readiness  for  transt'erencc  to  other  places. 
In  no  people  is  the  desire  to  be  laid  to  rest 
in  their  native  soil  so  strongly  implanted 
as  in  the  Chinese. 

The  walled  native  city,  with  its  narrow 
crowded  streets,  lies  to  the  south  of  the 
Settlement,  beyond  the  French  Concession. 
Its  chief  attractions  are  its  tea  gardens, 
with  their  curious  examples  of  Chinese 
architecture,  its  temples,  its  execution  ground, 
and — perhaps  most  interesting  of  all  to  the 
European — its  •'  Willow-pattern  Tea  House," 
which  is  said  to  have  t>een  the  original  of 
the  design  upon  the  willow-pattern  ware 
so  familiar  at  home.  The  wall  of  the  city 
was  erected  in  the  Middle  Ages  to  keep  out 
Japanese  invaders. 


Settlement,  .iniong  the  most  frequented  being 
the  Chang  Su  Ho  Garden,  on  the  Bubbling 
Well  Roiid.  where  native  theatricals,  cinemato- 
graph entertainments.  Chinese  processions, 
fireworks,  and  other  forms  of  amusement 
are  provided.  There  are  also,  just  outside 
the  boundaries  of  the  Settlement,  two  or 
three  resorts,  at  which  variety  entertain- 
ments are  provided  and  roulette  is  played. 

For  those  who  have  a  little  time  at  their 
disposal,  several  excursions  may  be  taken  to 
places  which  will  give  the  visitor  a  good 
idea  of  life  in  the  interior  of  China.  The 
trips  may  be  made  in  house-boats,  or,  in 
some  instances,  by  rail.  The  Feng-wan- 
shan  Hills,  originally  islands  in  the  Yangtsze 
Delta,  are  situated  about  thirty  miles  from 
Shanghai  and  are  favourite  week-end  resorts. 


part  of  the  distance  the  route  lies  through 
very  beautiful  scenery.  Tientsin  and  Peking 
are  only  three  or  four  days'  journey  from 
Shangliai.  and  the  chief  ports  in  Japan  may 
be  reached  in  from  two  to  five  days  by  any 
of  the  mail  steamships. 


ASTOR   HOUSE. 

AsTOR  Hot'SK  is  the  best-known  hotel  in  the 
north  of  China.  Its  importance  has  grown, 
step  by  step,  with  the  gradual  rise  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  Settlement,  until  now  it 
ranks  with  any  of  the  leading  hotels  in  the 
F"ar   East.      All   the   several  departments  are 


Beyond  the  city  lies  the  Lunghwa  Pagoda, 
which  may  be  reached  by  carriage,  and 
should  certainly  be  seen,  for  pagodas  are 
not  nearly  so  common  in  China  as  is 
popularly  supposed.  Adjoining  the  pagoda 
is  a  large  temple,  dedicated  to  the  King  of 
Heaven,  and  a  monastery  with  three  hundred 
monks. 

In  the  same  neighbourhood  is  the  Siccawei 
Observatory,  which  is  one  of  the  finest 
institutions  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  It  is 
carried  on  by  the  Jesuit  fathers,  who  also 
maintain  educational  and  other  institutions 
in  the  vicinity,  over  which  they  are  always 
happy  to  show  the  visitor.  They  are  now 
engaged  in  erecting  at  Siccawei  a  cathedral 
which  will  probably  be  one  of  the  largest  in 
China. 

There  are  several  Chinese  gardens  in  the 


THE   ASTOK    HOUSE    HOTEL. 
The  Hotel  kroh  the  Public  Gardens, 

Hangchow.  with  its  temple  and  rock  sculp- 
tures ;  Soochow,  with  its  twin  pagodas, 
beamless  temple.  Tiger  Hill  Pagoda,  Yamen 
and  Gardens  ;  Nanking,  a  former  capital  of 
China,  with  its  tomb  of  one  of  the  Ming 
emperors  ;  the  Ta  Hoo,  or  great  lake,  with 
its  charming  scenery  ;  Kwangpoo,  with  its 
temple,  pagoda,  and  gardens  ;  Wusieh,  where 
the  finest  silk  in  the  world  is  produced  ;  and 
Chinkiang,  another  centre  of  the  silk  in- 
dustry, are  all  within  fairly  easy  reach  by 
rail  or  water. 

Further  afield  is  Hankow,  a  place  of  great 
commercial  importance,  and  of  still  greater 
possibilities.  The  port  is  situated  some  600 
miles  up  the  Yangtsze,  the  third  longest 
river  in  the  world,  and  may  be  reached  in 
one  of  the  well-equipped  river  steamboats 
which  ply  to  and  from  Shanghai.     For  some 


under  special  European  supervision,  and 
everything  has  been  done  to  secure  the 
comfort  of  the  guests.  Leading  straight 
from  the  entrance  to  the  main  residential 
portion  of  the  house  is  a  long  glass  arcade. 
Upon  one  side  of  this  are  the  oliices,  where 
the  clerks  and  commissioners  will  attend 
promptly  and  courteously  to  every  want  ; 
upon  the  other  is  a  luxuriously  furnished 
lounge,  and,  adjoining  this,  the  reading, 
smoking,  and  drawing  rooms.  The  dining 
room  has  seating  accommodation  for  five 
hundred  persons.  It  is  lighted  with  hundreds 
of  small  electric  lamps,  whose  rays  are  re- 
flected by  the  large  mirrors  arranged  around 
the  walls,  and  when  dinner  is  in  progress, 
and  the  band  is  playing  in  the  gallery,  the 
scene  is  both  bright  and  animated.  There 
are  some  two  hundred  bedrooms,  each  with 


CENTRAL  STORES,  LTD. -THE  PALACE  HOTEL. 

Thk  Dixixg  Hai.i.. 
M.  J.  N'ATHAN,  Secretary. 
G.  J.  Shekury,  Managing  Director,  The  Extra.nce  Hall. 


The  HoTtL. 
B.  Kay,  M.iTKijjii, 


[See  page  tflS.] 


688       TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


a  bathroom  adjoining,  all  of  which  look  out- 
ward, lacing  either  the  city  or  the  Whangpoo 
River.  Easy  access  is  g;iined  to  the  various 
floors  upon  which  they  are  situated  by  means 
ol  electric  elevators.  The  hotel,  which 
generates  its  own  electricity  and  has  its  own 
refrigerating  plant,  gives  employment  to 
254  persons.  The  most  scrupulous  care 
is  taken  over  every  detail  of  management, 
and  the  house  is  one  that  can  be  thoroughly 
reciNnmended.  Improvements  are  continually 
being  made  as  opportunity  offers.  The 
oldest  portions  of  the  hotel  are  now  being 
rebuilt  on  m<xlern  lines,  and  the  dining  room, 
facing  the  Soochow  Creek,  is  to  be  extended 
along  the  whole  front  of  the  building.  Winter 
gardens  are  being  constructed,  the  writing 
and  smoking  rooms,  and  the  private  bar  and 


floor  there  is  a  lofty  and  spacious  dining 
room,  well  lighted."  finely  panelled,  and 
adorned  with  numerous  paintings.  It  affords 
accommodation  for  three  hundred  guests. 
Adjacent  to  it  are  several  dining  rooms  for 
the  use  of  private  parties,  and  a  banqueting 
hall,  capable  of  seating  two  hundred  guests, 
which  can  also  be  utilised  as  a  hall-room. 
A  fine  lounge  traverses  the  whole  length  of 
the  building.  Above  is  the  roof  garden, 
where  a  quiet  hour  may  be  spent  amidst  fine 
palms  and  foliage  plants.  The  view  from 
here  extends  from  W'oosung,  on  the  coast 
line,  to  the  Quinsan  Hills  far  away  inland  ; 
while,  immediately  below,  are  the  public 
gardens,  where  the  town  band  may  often 
be  heard  discoursing  music.  The  hotel 
contains,    altogether,     120    rooms,     each     of 


HOTEL    DES    COLONIES. 

Thk  Hotel  des  Colonics,  the  principal  hotel 
in  the  Krencli  Concession,  was  the  first  estab- 
lishment of  ils  kind  to  be  built  in  Shanghai. 
It  owes  i(s  existence  to  Monsieur  A,  Michel, 
who  came  out  to  China  sixty  years  ago,  and 
from  this  fact  it  derives  its  Chinese  name 
of  Mi-tsay-lee.  Originally  it  consisted  of 
a  single  building  containing  about  twenty 
rooms ;  now  it  comprises  three  separate 
buildings  on  opposite  sides  ol  the  Rue 
Montauhan  and  Kuc  du  Consulat  wilh 
well-equipped  dining  and  drawing  rooms 
and  a  sufficient  number  of  bedrooms  and 
comfoitable  apartments  to  accommodate  a 
large,  continuous,  and  steadily  growing  stream 
of  visitors. 


THE    NAVAL    CLUB. 


THE    ASTOR    BAR. 


[See  p-dge  686.] 


billiard  room  will  be  enlarged,  and  the  kitchen 
will  be  placed  upon  the  roof.  By  such  enter- 
prise as  this  the  proprietors  keep  everything 
up  to  date,  and  endeavour  to  meet  the  require- 
ments of  an  ever-increasing  number  of  patrons. 


THE  PALACE    HOTEL. 

Stanuixg  at  the  corner  of  the  Bund  and 
Nanking  Koad.  within  a  few  minutes'  walk 
of  the  banks,  post  offices,  and  consulates,  and 
in  the  very  heart  of  the  European  business 
quarter,  the  newly  constructed  Palace  Hotel 
occupies  the  finest  possible  position  in 
Shanghai.  It  is  lighted  throughout  by  elec- 
tric-ity,  and  storey  is  connected  with  storey 
by  means  of  eledric  elevators.    On  the  fifth 


which  has  a  bathroom  attached,  Tlie 
cuisine  is  excellent.  The  chef  enjoys  unique 
advantages,  for  the  hotel  has  its  own  dairy 
farm,  so  that  the  freshness  and  purity  of  the 
milk  used  are  guaranteed,  and  owns  a  large 
kitchen  garden,  in  which  vegetables  for  the 
table  are  grown  under  European  supervision 
—  a  very  important  consideration  in  this  part 
of  the  world.  Everything  is  done  by  the 
management  to  promote  the  comfort  and 
convenience  of  guests,  and  the  high  popu- 
larity of  the  hotel  with  tourists  is  beyond 
question.  All  incoming  steamers  are  met  by 
the  hotel  commissionaire,  who  relieves  pas- 
sengers intending  to  stay  at  the  hotel  of  all 
anxiety  concerning  their  baggage. 


Afler  a  time  the  hotel  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Scisson,  who  luined  it  into  a 
limited  liability  company  some  twenty  years 
ago  in  order  to  obtain  the  capital  necessary 
for  carrjing  out  Ihe  extensions  and  im- 
provtments  that  were  required.  Owing  to 
deprcf-sion  in  business,  however,  the  hotel 
was  sold  to  a  private  company.  In  1898 
there  was  another  change  in  the  ownership, 
and  in  1901  a  syndicate  was  formed  to  fake 
over  the  management.  In  every  department 
the  greatest  care  is  exercised  to  make  the 
hotel  as  comfortable  and  attractive  as  possible. 
The  cuisine,  particularly,  is  excellent,  the 
Motel  des  Colonies  being  the  only  establish- 
ment of  its  kind  in  Shanghai  in  which  the 
kitchen  is  under  the  charge  of  an  experienced 
French  chef, 

Mr.  J.    M.  Tavares   has  been   the  general 


HOTEL    DBS    COLONIES. 


The  Entrance  Hall. 
A  Corner  of  the  Sitting  Room. 


The  Dining  Hall. 
Bedroom. 


690    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


manager  of  the  business  for  several  years, 
and  his  geniality  and  solicitude  for  the  com- 
fort of  his  guests  have  had  no  small  share 
in  maintaining  and  enhancing  the  hotel's 
popularity. 


ST.   GEORGES    HOTEL. 

Ox  the  outskirts  of  Shanghai  there  are  quite 
a  number  of  picturesque  little  hostelries  which 
form  very  pleasant  and  popular  places  of 
resort  in  the  early  evening  after  the  heat 
and  glare  of  the  summer  day  in  town. 
Perhaps  the  most  conveniently  situated,  and 
freely  patronised  by  all  is  the  St.  George's 
Hotel,  which  occupies  altogether  some  twenty- 
live  mow  of  land  at  the  end  of  the  Bubbling 
Well  Road.  Mr.  S.  Hertzl)erg,  the  proprietor, 
has  spared  neither  pains  nor  expense  to 
make  the  hotel  and  its  gardens  as  attractive 
as  possible,  and  there  can  be  no  question 
that  his  efforts  have  met  with  appreciation. 
Every  evening  during  the  summer  a  band 
plays  in  the  grounds,  and,  after  dinner,  there 
is  a  cinematograph  entertainment  interspersed 
with  songs  and  musical  sketches.  Although 
the  establishment  is  more  in  the  nature  of 
a  cafe  or  restaurant  than  a  hotel,  and  caters 
chiefly  for  tea  and  dinner  parties,  it  is  not 
without  accx>mmodation  for  permanent  resi- 
dents. In  conjunction  with  it  Mr.  Hertzberg 
conducts  a  dairy  farm,  and  obtains  his  supplies 
of  fresh  milk  and  butter  from  a  herd  of 
eighteen  Australian  and  Chinese  cows. 


THE    NEW   TRAVELLERS'  HOTEL. 

The  New  Travellers'  Hotel  in  the  Broadway 
was  built  about  five  years  ago,  and  is  calcu- 
lated to  meet  the  requirements  of  those 
who  desire  good  accommodation  but  are 
not  prepared  to  pay  high  tariff  rates.  The 
premises  are  commodious  and  conveniently 
arranged ;  there  is  a  well-furnished  dining- 
Toom,  a  billiard-room,  two  bars,  and  twenty 
bedrooms.  The  attendance  leaves  nothing  to 
be  desired. 

The  proprietor  is  Mr.  D.  Haimovitch,  who 
has  been  resident  in  China  for  some  twenty- 
five  years,  and  has,  consequently,  a  good 
knowledge  of  the  requirements  of  a  hotel  in 
the  East.  Although  he  has  been  in  charge 
of  the  establishment  for  a  few  months  only, 
he  has  already  effected  several  important 
improvements. 


NAVAL    CLUB    HOTEL. 

Managed  by  Mr.  E.  Shanstrom,  an  ex-naval 
man  himself,  the  Naval  Club  Hotel  at  loa  and 
lob,  Boone  Road,  is  naturally  a  favourite  place 
of  resort  for  sailors  and  man-o'-war's  men  of 
all  nationalities,  whenever  their  ships  happen 
to  be  in  port.  The  present  proprietor  took 
over  the  business  in  1901,  and  when  the 
new  building  of  the  Astor  House  Hotel  was 
completed  in  1903  he  leased  the  back  part 
of  the  premises  facing  the  Broadway.  Under 
his  personal  supervision  both  enterprises 
have  proved  very  successful.  Mr.  Shanstrom 
was  born  in  1873,  at  Nevada  City,  Colorado, 
and  before  coming  to  Shanghai  served  for 
eight  years  in  the  American  Navy,  rising 
during    that    period    to    the    rank    of    chief 


yeoman.  He  joined  the  local  Volunteer 
.\rtillery  Company  in  1902,  and  is  now  a 
sergeant.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Land-mark  and  Keystone  R.A.C. 


THE    CHANG   SU   HO    GARDEN. 

The  Chang  Su  Ho  Garden,  with  frontages 
on  the  Bubbling  Well  and  Welhaiwei  Roads, 
comprises  some  seventy  mow  of  land  and 
offers  manifold  attractions.  It  is  laid  out 
with  grottoes  and  artificial  lakes  connected 
with  the  river  by  pipes,  and  is  beautifully 
wooded.  The  trees  and  shrubs  planted  back 
In  the  eighties  for  scenic  effect  have  ijrown 
to  perfection,  and  from  time  to  time  rare 
plants  of  all  descriptions  have  been  added. 
In  a  spacious  concert  hall,  known  as  "The 
Arcadia,"  Chinese  theatricals  and  other  enter- 
tainments are  given  by  some  of  the  best- 
known  native  talent  and  visiting  troupes,  and 
there  are  also  cinematograph  entertainments 
and  shooting  galleries.  From  time  to  time 
special  attractions  are  provided,  such  as  a 
balloon  ascent,  a  good  band,  a  pyrotechnic 
display,  or  a  native  procession.  The  garden, 
which  was  formerly  the  property  of  a  Mr. 
Groome,  was  acquired  by  Mr.  Chang  Su 
Ho  In  1881.  At  that  time  it  comprised 
only  21  mow.  Mr.  Cliang  Su  Ho  gradually 
extended  it  and  laid  it  out  as  It  is  to-day. 
The  property  is  now  leased  by  Mr.  A.  M.  A. 
Evans  for  a  term  of  forty  years,  and  under 
the  foreign  supervision  which  Messrs.  Evans 
&  Co.,  the  agents,  have  Introduced,  tliere 
are  now  few  places  of  the  kind  in  which 
an  afternoon  or  evening  can  be  more 
pleasantly  spent. 


EVANS  &  CO.  THE  CHANG  SU  HO  GARDEN. 


O.v  THE  Terrace. 


The  L.\ke. 


The  Lake. 


The  H.all. 


^^ 


OTHER    TREATY    PORTS    AND 
FOREIGN   SETTLEMENTS. 


HANKOW. 


VNKOW.  which  is  602  nautical 
miles  distant  from  Shanghai, 
is  situated  in  the  province 
of  Hupeh,  within  the  angle 
formed  by  the  junction  of  the 
river  Han  and  the  Yangtsze- 
Kiang.  The  native  city  spreads 
itself  along  both  rivers,  and  the  foreign 
settlements  occupy  the  bank  of  the  Yangts/.e 
below  it.  On  the  right  bank  of  the  river 
Han  is  the  city  of  Hanyang,  and,  nearly 
opposite,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Yanglsze, 
the  Prefeclural  city  of  Wuchang,  the  capital 
of  the  province  and  the  seat  of  the  Govern- 
ment under  the  Hukuang  Viceroy  (at  present 
Chen  Kuei  Lung).  The  population  of  the  three 
cities  is  estimated  at  about  half  a  million. 
Hankow  flourished  for  many  centuries  until  it 
was  devastated  in  the  Taeping  rebellion.  For 
some  time  after  that  it  was  merely  regarded 
as  a  suburb  of  Hanyang,  but  it  has  now 
quite  outstripped  the  older  city  in  wealth 
and  importance.  In  his  work  on  "  The 
Yangtsze,"  Captain  Blakiston  gives  the  follow- 
ing excellent  description  of  a  bird's  eye  view 
of  the  place  and  its  surroundings.  "  Hankow," 
he  says,  "  is  situated  just  where  an  irregular 
range  of  semi-detached  low  hills  crosses  a 
particularly  level  country  on  twth  sides  of 
the  main  river  in  an  east  and  west  direction. 
Stationed  on  Pagoda  Hill,  Hanyang,  a 
spectator  looks  down  on  almost  as  much 
water  as  land,  even  when  the  rivers  are 
low.  At  his  feet  sweeps  the  magnificent 
Yangtsze,  nearly  a  mile  in  width  ;  from  the 
west,  and  skirting  the  northern  edge  of  the 
range  of  hills  already  mentioned,  comes  the 


river  Han,  narrow  and  canal-like,  to  add  its 
quota,  and  serving  as  one  of  the  highways 
of  the  country  ;  and  to  the  north-west  and 
north  is  an  extensive  treeless  flat,  so  little 
elevated  above  the  river  that  tlie  scattered 
hamlets  which  dot  its  surface  are,  without 
exception,  raised  on  mounds — probably  arti- 
ficial works  of  a  now  distant  age.  A  stream 
or  two  traverse  its  farther  part,  and  How 
into  the  main  river.  Carrying  the  eye  to 
the  right  bank  of  the  Yangtsze,  one  sees 
enormous  lakes  and  lagoons  both  to  the 
north-west  and  south-east  sides  of  the  hills 
beyond  the  provincial  city." 

The  climate  of  Hankow,  it  must  be  admitted, 
is  far  from  perfect.  During  four  or  five 
months  it  is  extremely  hot,  the  thermometer 
in  summer-time  occasionally  registering  as 
high  as  105"  Fahrenheit.  Especially  in 
July  and  August  is  the  atmosphere  close 
and  oppressive.  The  months  of  October, 
November,  and  the  early  part  of  December 
are  usually  very  pleasant,  but  the  days  of  sun- 
shine may  be  interrupted  by  cloudy  weather, 
with  cold  piercing  winds  at  nightfall.  In 
tlie  early  months  of  the  year  the  thermometer 
averages  about  44"  Fahrenheit,  but  some- 
times falls  much  lower.  The  cold  is  very 
penetrating  then  by  reason  of  the  dampness 
in  the  air.  Snow  falls  occasionally,  but  it 
generally  melts  away  during  the  day.  Every- 
thing possible  is  being  done  to  safeguard 
the  health  of  the  community,  and  the  sanitary 
conditions  are  improving  year  by  year.  The 
large  dyke  built  two  years  ago  to  prevent 
the  annual  Hooding  of  the  plain  immediately 
behind    the    city,   and   the   gradual   filling  in 


of  low-lying  ground  to  remove  stagnant  water 
have  helped  to  reduce  the  plague  of  mosquitoes 
and  sickness.  Upwards  of  56,000  tons  of 
mud  have  been  brought  by  trolley  into  the 
British  Concession  to  fill  in  vacant  plots  at 
a  cost  of  $11,823.  and  a  far  greater  amount, 
for  which  figures  are  not  available,  has  been 
brought  by  another  trolley  line  and  by 
thousands  of  coolies,  who  take  the  mud  from 
the  river  bank  at  low  water.  In  the  Russian 
Concession  the  ground  has  been  raised 
some  six  feet  by  the  deposition  of  some 
108,000  tons  of  mud,  and  the  work  in  both 
concessions  is  still  proceeding.  The  French 
and  German  Concession  have  likewise  been 
raised  and  bunded,  and  tlie  Japanese  Con- 
cession  is   being  treated  similarly. 

Before  the  opening  of  the  port  to  foreign 
trade,  Hankow  had  a  troubled  history.  The 
three  cities — Hankow,  Hanyang,  and  Wuchang 
— were  taken  and  re-taken  no  fewer  than 
six  times  during  the  Taeping  rebellion,  and 
when  evacuated  by  the  insurgents  in  1855 
they  were  to  a  large  extent  laid  waste. 
Hankow's  record  as  a  foreign  settlement 
dates  from  i86l.  It  was  included  among  the 
Treaty  ports  in  accordance  with  the  terms 
of  Article  X  of  the  Treaty  of  Tientsin  of 
1858,  between  China  and  Great  Britain,  and 
in  1861  Mr.  (afterwards  Sir)  Harry  Parkes 
commenced  negotiations  with  the  Viceroy  of 
Wuchang  for  a  British  Concession.  The 
ground  asked  for  was  about  seventy  -  live 
acres  in  extent,  adjoining  the  native  city, 
and  having  a  river  frontage  of  about  half 
a  mile.  It  was  especially  stipulated  that 
foreigners  should  not  be  confined  to  "  factory 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     fi93 


sites"  as  they  were  in  the  early  days  in 
Canton.  But  it  was  not  until  the  persuasive 
influence  of  the  Navy  had  been  employed 
that  a  lease  of  the  area  required  was  {^ranted 
to  the  British  Government,  in  perpetuity, 
conditional  on  an  animal  payment  of  $13805. 
Until  1895  this  remained  the  only  foreijjn 
concession  in  Hankow.  According  to  the 
original  agreement  the  land  could  be  let 
only  to  British  subjects,  but  this  was  altered 
in  1864  so  that  land  might  be  leased  by 
subjects  of  any  power  having  Treaty  rela- 
tions with  China.  Of  the  74  lots  of  the 
original  concession,  52  are  held  by  British 
subjects,  11^  by  Russians,  3  by  an 
American,  2  by  an  Italian,  and  2  by 
a     Spanish      Mission,     2     by     the     Hankow 


three  quarters  of  a  mile  and  an  area  of 
506,000  square  yards.  It  was  developed  by 
a  syndicate  at  great  cost.  and.  in  1905. 
was  taken  over  by  a  company  of  German 
landowners  and  placed  under  the  adminis- 
tration of  a  municipality.  Further  along 
the  river  and  adjoining  the  German  con- 
cession the  Japanese  were  granted  an  area 
of  147,000  square  yards  a  few  years  ago. 
This  they  have  commenced  to  develop  on 
lines  similar  to  those  followed  by  the  other 
nationalities.  A  bund  some  four  hundred  yards 
in  length  and  a  number  of  streets  are  being 
laid  out,  and  the  area  generally  is  the 
scene  of  much  building  activity.  Beyond 
the  Japanese  Concession  a  Chinese  syndi- 
cate    holds   a    parcel    of    land     on     which    it 


possess  a  main  street,  four  to  live  miles 
long,  which  will  form  an  extremely  pleas- 
ant riverside  promenade.  Lined  with  well- 
grown  trees,  it  has  a  pleasing  appearance 
from  the  water,  and  in  the  summer  season 
it  presents  a  very  animated  spectacle.  Some 
of  the  houses  along  the  water-front  would 
be  a  credit  to  any  city.  Owing  to  the 
ample  accommodation  afforded  by  the  Bund 
the  town  has  no  great  depth.  The  first 
three  streets  running  parallel  to  the  river 
bank  are  broad  and  well  laid  out,  and  con- 
tain most  of  the  important  hongs,  the  rear 
portions  of  the  various  concessions  being 
occupied  mostly  by  Chinese.  Japanese,  and 
smaller  firms.  Another  feature  of  the  Set- 
tlement   which  cannot    fail    to    be    observed 


THE    FOREIGN    SETTLEMENT    AT    HANKOW. 

IX  THK    KrkXCH   COXCKSSKIX. 


X  THK  GERW.\X   CoxCESSIOX. 

Ix  THK  British  Coxcessiox. 


Club,  2j  by  Japanese,  and  i  by  a  German. 
In  1898  the  Concession  was  extended  by  a 
grant  of  a  further  area  of  74  acres, 
and  of  this  45  per  cent,  is  held  by  Britons 
and  their  Municipality.  27  per  cent,  by  the 
Italian  Mission,  loj  per  cent,  by  Germans. 
1 1  per  cent,  by  French,  and  5^  per  cent,  by 
Russians. 

Russia  was  the  next  foreign  Power  to 
obtain  a  concession.  This  adjoins  the  Bri- 
tish, and  has  an  area  of  247.000  square 
yards,  with  a  river  frontage  of  722  yards. 
Then  the  PVench  secured  a  grant  of  137.000 
square  yards  of  land,  with  a  river  frontage 
of  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The  German  Con- 
cession was  obtained  in  1895  by  a  German 
company  called  the  Deutsche  Neiderlas- 
sungs-Gesellschaft.        It     has    a    frontage    of 


is  proposed  to  erect  a  model  Chinese  set- 
tleuient.  Some  work  has  been  done  in 
this  direction.  The  British  Concession,  being 
the  oldest,  was  for  a  long  period  the 
centre  of  foreign  trade,  and  many  of  the 
largest  and  oldest  firms  have  their  premises 
here.  Of  late  years  the  other  concessions 
have  made  great  progress,  and  now  also 
contain  a  number  of  fine  buildings.  The 
British  wharfage  dues,  however,  exceed 
those  of  the  Russian  and  German  Conces- 
sions combined,  and  in  trade  the  British 
are  still   predominant. 

The  visitor  who  is  familiar  with  other 
foreign  settlements  in  China  cannot  fail  to 
be  impressed  with  Hankow.  When  the 
Japanese  have  completed  the  work  upon 
which  they  are   engaged,  the  Settlement  will 


is  its  air  of  commercial  and  industrial 
activity.  Numerous  hulks  used  for  storing 
and  shipping  the  cargo  brought  by  the 
various  steamship  lines  trading  with  Han- 
kow are  ranged  along  the  Bund  wall  :  tall 
chimneys  and  large  factories  rise  above 
the  town  in  almost  every  direction  ;  and 
thousands  of  coolies  carrying  goods  may  be 
seen  in  constant  procession  between  the 
Bund  and  the  godowns.  The  town  pos- 
sesses many  large  mills  :  there  are  sever.il 
Government  factories  on  the  Wuchang  side 
of  the  river ;  and  extensive  iron  and  steel 
works  have  been  established  at  Hanyang. 

The  native  city  presents  no  distinctive 
features,  being  much  like  other  native  cities 
— a  maze  of  narrow  streets  flanked  by  more 
or  less  dilapidated-looking  houses.     Its  wealth 


694     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


aiid  paisperity,  however,  cannot  K-  denied,  and 
the  Icavenint!  spirit  of  progress  is  seen  in 
the  recent  inst;illation  of  a  plant  for  supply- 
ing some  500.000  gallons  of  water  daily,  aiid 
in   the  erection   of   the   necessjirv  machinery 


going  to  all  parts  of  the  Yangtszc,  both  above 
and  below  Hankow.  The  fleet  numbers  not 
less  than  46.  of  which  at  the  moment  18  are 
British.  13  Japanese.  8  Chinese.  5  German, 
and    3    French.      There   is  also  a   large    Hcet 


HANKOW    BUND    IN   WINTER. 


for  lighting  the  streets  with  electricity.  The 
total  population  of  Hankow  approaches  a 
quarter  of  a  million. 

Hankow  has  been  described  as  the 
"  Chicago  of  the  East."  but  that,  of  course, 
is  a  form  of  poetic  licence.  Hankow,  how- 
ever, is  an  extremely  important  place,  from 
a  commercial  and  industrial  point  of  view, 
and  it  will  be  interesting  to  examine  in 
more  detail  the  causes  that  have  led  to  its 
rapid  development,  and  the  scope  and  extent 
of  its  present-day  activities.  The  Peking- 
Hankow  Railway,  connecting  the  interior  of 
China  with  Europe,  has  done  a  great  deal 
towards  fostering  the  multitudinous  business 
interests,  and  further  l>enefit  is  expected 
when  railway  communication  is  established 
with  Canton  and  Hongkong  (Kowloon).  No 
work  in  connection  with  this  project  has  yet 
been  commenced  in  the  province,  but  a  British 
engineer,  Mr.  R.  St.  George  Moore,  M.I.C.E., 
has  been  engaged,  and  a  start  will  soon 
Ix:  made.  Another  ten  years  should  see  the 
line  completed.  Hankow,  it  must  be  re- 
membered, is  distant  only  twenty-nine  hours 
by  rail  from  the  capital  of  the  Empire. 
The  passenger  from  Hankow  may  arrive  in 
Europe  by  the  Trans-Siberian  Railway  in 
twenty  days,  and  already  the  European 
mail  comes  by  this  route.  But  it  is  to 
its  unrivalled  water  communications  that 
the  pfjrt  chiefly  owes  its  prosperity.  In 
addition  to  the  fine  river,  on  the  banks  of 
which  it  stands,  there  are  canals  and  large 
streams  bringing  it  in  touch  with  almost  all 
parts  of  China.  Indeed,  in  the  high-water 
season,  boats  may  go  as  far  as  the 
borders  of  the  Kwangfung  Province,  and 
an  additional  impetus  must  be  given  to 
trade  when  the  problem  of  the  navigation 
of  the  Yangtszc  Rapids  has  been  solved 
and  direct  communication  established  with 
Szechwan,  which  is  said  to  be  the  richest 
province  in  China.  With  this  end  in 
view  there  is  more  than  one  company 
in   the   field  at  the   present  time. 

The  pfirt  is  well  served  with  river  steamers 


of  smaller  vessels  and  laiiiiclics.  Some 
25.000  native  junks,  carrying  probably  a 
million  tons  of  cargo,  are  said  to  clear 
from  Hankow  annually.  From  April  to 
November,  when  the  river  is  at  its  highest 
point,  large  steamers  can  reach  the  port. 
At  times  Peninsular  and  Oriental  and  other 
ocean-going  vessels  come  direct  with  cargo, 
while   the   battleship    Gloiy.    and    one    of    the 


advance  has  been  made  during  the  last  ten 
years  than  throughout  the  whole  of  the 
previous  time.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
tea.  formerly  the  staple  product,  has  fallen 
from  its  high  estate,  the  trade  in  this  par- 
ticular commodity  is  still  large.  Certainly  a 
Heet  of  steamers,  direct  from  London  and 
Odessa,  is  not  now  to  be  seen  anchored  off 
the  Bund  as  in  days  gone  by,  but,  never- 
theless, there  are  many  large  shipments  of 
tea  during  the  season,  and  the  four  large  tea 
factories  in  the  neighbourhood  do  a  thriving 
liusiness.  Especially  was  this  the  case  last 
year,  when,  owing  principally  to  the  higher 
prices  of  Indian  and  Ceylon  teas,  there  was 
an  increased  deniaiul  for  teas  from  Hankow. 
At  the  present  time  there  is  a  great  call  for 
brick  tea,  which  is  made  from  tea  dust,  and 
is  exported  to  Mongolia,  North  Cliina,  and 
Russia.  The  factories  are  working  to  their 
utmost  capacity,  but  the  supply  seems  to  be 
insufficient.  Of  the  brick-tea  factories,  two 
are  situated  in  the  Russian  Concession  and 
two  in  the  British  Concession.  They  are 
equipped  with  modern  machines  and  employ 
tliousands  of  Chinese,  and  the  importance  of 
the  business  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact 
that  some  26,000,000  taels'  worth  of  brick 
and  tablet  tea  have  passed  through  the 
Customs  during  the  last  ten  years.  The  tea 
trade  as  a  whole  is  mainly  in  the  hands  of 
Russian  merchants. 

Next  to  tea,  probably  the  most  important 
trade  is  done  in  hides,  which  are  dried  and 
packed  for  Europe  and  America.  Wood  oil, 
sesamum  seeds,  and  the  oil  made  from  them, 
are  other  important  articles  of  export,  and  a 
considerable  business  is  also  done  in  tobacco, 
musk,  feathers,  albumen,  antimony,  bean-cake, 
beans,  cotton,  fungus,  horns,  iron,  lead,  rape- 
seed,  animal  tallow,  and  Chinese  products  of 
all  descriptions.  The  net  value  of  the  trade 
of  the  port  for  1907  was,  in  round  figures, 
£?  18,700,000.  Of  this  sum,  imports  represented 
nearly  nine  millions  sterling,  and  exports  up- 
wards of  ;fg,8oo,ooo. 


THE    YANGTSZE   RIVER    AT    CHINKIANG. 


largest  cruisers  at  present  on  the  China 
station,  have  navigated  the  river  between 
Shanghai    and    Hankow. 

The   port  has  been  open   to   foreign   trade 
for    nearly    half    a    century,    but    a    greater 


The  river  banks  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town 
are  the  scene  of  much  industrial  activity, 
and  both  on  the  Hankow  and  Wuchang 
sides  there  are  a  number  of  factories 
which,    together    with    the    tank    installations 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     095 


of  the  various  oil  companies  and  the 
railway  company,  give  the  district  a  very 
prosperous  appearance.  The  several  albuinen 
factories,  to  which  indirect  reference  has 
already  been  made,  are  doinfj  fairly  well  in 
spite  of  Chinese  competition  at  Chinkianj;. 
The  process  in  these  factories  is  to  separate 
the  white  from  the  yolk  of  the  egg 
and  by  steain-heat  to  reduce  it  to  a  thin 
gelatine  sheet  for  industrial  purposes.  The 
yolk,  also,  is  made  up  for  use  in  dressing 
leather  and  for  mixing  with  certain  kinds 
of  varnish,  &c.  The  principal  industrial 
enterprise  in  the  vicinity,  however,  is  the 
Hanyang  Iron  and  Steel  Works,  situated 
on   the  Han  River,   and  owned   and   operated 


portion  of  which  was  exported  to  Japan, 
while  some  went  to  the  United  States. 
A  new  furnace  has  just  been  completed 
which  will  add  to  the  output  by  some 
250  tons  a  day,  and  for  the  present  year  the 
output  of  the  furnaces  is  estimated  at  160,000 
tons  of  pig-iron.  The  aim  of  the  management 
is  to  produce  a  class  of  work  capable  of  pass- 
ing all  recognised  standards.  The  coal  and 
coke  required  come  from  the  Ping-hsiang 
mines,  and  the  iron  ore  from  mountains  some 
30  miles  down  the  Yangtsze.  Connected 
with  this  enterprise  is  a  Government  steam 
brick  factory  capable  of  turning  out  60,000 
bricks  a  day.  The  adjacent  arsenal  is  another 
undertaking  owned  by  the   Government.       It 


situated  in  the  German  Concession,  This 
will  have  a  daily  output  of  several  million 
cigarettes.  Several  oil-press  and  bean-cake 
factories,  Chinese  and  Japanese,  are  at  work 
inside  and  outside  the  Concessions. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Hankow  there  are  four 
Hour  mills.  One  of  these  is  carried  on  by  a 
European,  and  makes  fiour  from  wheat  im- 
ported from  home  ;  the  others  are  in  the 
hands  of  Chinese.  Opposite  to  the  British 
Concession  are  Messrs.  Carlowitz's  large  ore- 
retining  works,  at  which  antimony,  lead,  and 
zinc  ore  are  crushed  ;  and  on  the  Wuchang 
side  there  are  Government  glass  mills,  and 
cotton  and  hemp  mills.  The  cotton  and 
hemp    mills,    together    with    a    silk    filature, 


f  iy  9 


s*  '•^ 


1^  . 


f "*•»  f 


^  *^   f^ ^ f  »  f*-    ^ 


THE    RUSSIAN    SETTLEMENT    AT    HANKOW. 


GKOri'  OF  RKSIDKN'I'S  AI'    THK  Oi'KMNC.  Ckrkmoxv. 


KUSSI.AX   MUMCIP.^L   Cot'N'CIL  OKFICKS. 


SOMK  OF  THK   RUSSI.AX   COM>U'NnY. 


by  a  Chinese  company,  headed  by  Sheng 
Kungpao.  They  were  established  by  Viceroy 
Chang  Chih-Tung.  whose  idea  it  was  that 
China  should  make  her  own  railway  materials 
from  Chinese  ore  on  Chinese  territory.  For 
some  time  the  undertakings  proved  anytTiing 
but  a  success,  and  were  eventually  leased 
by  His  Excellency  Sheng.  He  failed  to 
make  them  pay,  but  two  years  ago  the  re- 
construction of  the  works  was  commenced, 
and  modern  machinery  installed,  with  the 
result  that  they  will  soon  be  capable 
of  turning  out  all  kinds  of  iron  and  steel- 
work for  railways,  ships,  and  other  purposes. 
During  1907  the  blast  furnaces  produced 
some     37,000     tons     of     pig-iron,     a     large 


consists  of  a  small-arms  factory,  under  foreign 
nianagement,  and  powder,  chemical,  and 
ammunition  factories.  The  arsenal,  however, 
at  the  present  time  is  in  a  moribund  con- 
dition owing  to  want  of  funds,  and  half  the 
machinery  is  idle.  Rifles  in  small  numbers, 
cartridges,  and  some  quick-firing  ammunition 
form  the  principal  output  at  the  moment,  but 
it  is  said  that  equipment  is  to  be  provided 
shortly  for  the  manufacture  of  heavy  ordnance. 
In  the  Japanese  Concession  there  is  a  Chinese- 
owned  match  factory  capable  of  turning  out 
half  a  million  boxes  of  matches  a  day,  while 
another  notable  industrial  enterprise  which 
has  just  been  placed  in  working  order  is  that 
of   the    British-American   Tobacco    Company, 


were  leased  by  the  Viceroy  in  1902  to  a 
company  of  Chinese  capitalists  for  Tls.  100,000 
a  year  for  twenty  years,  and,  apart  from  the 
hemp  mill,  the  concern  is  doing  a  flourishing 
business.  Satisfactory  progress,  also,  is  being 
made  bv  the  Hupeh  Cotton  Mills  established 
by  the  Government.  A  tannery  on  an  exten- 
sive scale,  and  under  European  supervision, 
has  recently  been  started,  and  there  are 
several  brick  and  tile  factories,  as  well  as 
numerous  minor  industries. 

The  financial  position  of  Hankow  is,  to  say 
the  least,  remarkable.  The  ci;y  is  in  a  large 
measure  the  financial  centre  of  the  interior 
of  Northern  Cliina,  and  in  the  foreign  settle- 
ment are  to  be  found  large  branches  of   six 


(51)6     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


of  the  most  fHiwcrlul  banking  houses  in  the 
Far  East,  namely,  the  Honskoiij;  and  Shang- 
hai K;ink.  the  Chartered  Bank  of  India. 
Austnilia,  and  China,  the  Russo-Chinese  Bank, 
the   Deutch-Asialische   Bank,   the   Banque  dc 


the  many  schemes  wliich  it  lias  rashly 
financed.  Chinese  dollar  bills  form  prac- 
tically the  currency  of  Hankow,  and  European 
merchants  are  compelled  to  accept  tliuui. 
although  they  are  careful  never  to  hold  thcni 


«P 


THE    HANKOW    CLUB. 


rindo-Chine.  and  the  Yokohama  Specie 
Bank.  In  addition  to  these,  there  are  two 
local  Government  hanks,  and  some  fifty 
native  banks,  including  several  of  very  good 
repute,  the  first  among  which  is  the  famous 
Shansi  Banking  Corporation.  The  presence 
of  so  many  well-known  banking  houses 
would  appear  to  be  sufficient  guarantee 
of  the  stability  of  local  currency,  especially 
when  it  is  remembered  that  some  of  the 
foreign  banks  have  local  note  issues.  Re- 
markable methods  of  finance,  however, 
have  been  employed  from  time  to  time  by 
the  holders  of  the  ofifice  of  Viceroy  at 
Wuchang.  Like  all  other  Chinese  officials. 
they  have  for  years  past  been  troubled  with 
a  treasury  that  emptied  itself  too  rapidly, 
and,  owing  to  the  many  millions  which  have 
been  invested  by  the  Government  in  various 
industrial  experiments  in  Hupeh.  none  of 
which  has  ever  paid  in  official  hands, 
the  controller  of  the  finances  has  found 
himself  in  difficulties  which,  apparently,  have 
stimulated  his  inventive  faculties.  He  soon 
discovered  that  two  single  cash  pieces  when 
put  together  and  passed  through  a  machine, 
could  be  made  to  serve  as  ten  cash  token 
money.  The  scheme  worked  well,  and 
induced  the  Viceroy  to  import  from  Europe 
minting  machines  capable  of  dealing  probably 
with  half  the  copper  output  of  the  world. 
They  are  now  to  be  found  stored  at  Wuchang, 
ready  for  any  emergency.  Had  the  Viceroy's 
financial  experiments  extended  no  further 
than  this  they  would  have  been  of  little 
interest  to  Europeans.  But  he  next  found 
that  by  purchasing  a  peculiar  and  inexpensive 
class  of  paper  in  Japan,  and  spending  a  small 
sum  in  printing,  $i  and  i.ooo  cash  notes 
could  be  manufaciured  with  ease.  By  this 
simple  device  the  treasury  at  Wuchang  has 
been    saved   from   depletion,   notwithstanding 


over  night  if  they  can  possibly  avoid  doing 
so.  The  banks  exchange  their  stock  for 
bullion  once  a  week  without  difficulty. 
The     paper-money    issued    represents     some 


papcr-nioncy  the  position  may  become  very 
grave. 

In  prophesying  as  to  the  commercial 
future  of  Hankow  many  thmgs  have  to  be 
considered.  In  addition  to  the  financial 
unsoundness  caused  by  an  excessive  paper 
currency,  whicli  may  he  discredited,  the  city 
suffers  from  the  government  of  ofiicials  who 
are  constantly  being  moved  from  one  post 
to  another,  and  who,  consequently,  are  more 
anxious  to  secure  profits  for  themselves  than 
to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  district  ; 
and  from  the  investment  of  money  in  a  large 
number  of  Government  and  public  enter- 
prises which  appear  very  unlikely  to  yield 
any  return.  To  be  set  off  against  these  dis- 
advantages are  Hankow's  prospective  position 
as  the  railway  centre  of  China  ;  an  unequalled 
system  of  water  communications,  connecting 
with  nine  of  the  provinces  of  the  Empire 
and  tile  outside  world,  by  means  of  the 
Yangts/e,  which  is  navigable  by  large  ocean 
liners  ;  a  sound  private  native  banking  system 
with  agencies  in  the  remotest  parts  of  the 
Empire ;  great  possibilities  as  tlie  tea  mart  of 
Cliiiia.  and  as  a  market  for  wood,  oil,  silk, 
hides,  and  every  product  of  Central  Cliina  ; 
great  mineral  wealth  (immense  quantities  of 
coal  are  found  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  there 
is  a  mountain  which  is  said  to  contain  50  per 
cent,  pure  iron  ore) ;  and  a  large  and  enter- 
prising population  with  an  abundance  of 
cheap  labour. 

Hankow  furnishes  a  striking  example  of 
the  extrav.'igant  concession  method  of  local 
government  that  prevails  in  the  principal 
Treaty  ports.  The  whole  of  the  foreign 
settlements  are  contiguous  to  one  another, 
and  are  together  of  such  dimensions  that 
they  could  be  administered  very  easily  and 
economically  by  one  Municipal  Council,  yet 
each  of  the  five  Powers  represented  main- 
tains its  own  separate  local  administration. 
As  a  consequence,  the  number  of  officials 
employed  is  larger  than  would  be  necessary 
under   a    more    reasonable   and    business-like 


TTPES    OF    HANKO'W    FOREIGN    MUNICIPAL    POLICE. 


$15,000,000.  Most  of  it  circulates  away 
from  Hankow,  and  should  its  stability  be 
impeached,  the  effect  upon  the  trade  of  the 
port  could  not  be  other  than  extremely 
serious.     If  more  care  is  not  taken  in  issuing 


arrangement,  and  $400,000  have  been  invested 
in  municipal  oftices  when  one  building  could 
have  been  erected  at  far  less  cost  to  accom- 
modate a  single  body  having  the  whole 
Settlement    under     its     supervision.       But    to 


KULING    AND    SOME    MAGNIFICENT    SCENERY    IN    ITS    IMMEDIATE    NEIGHBOURHOOD. 


698     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


effect  this  amalgaimition  of  interests  it  would, 
of  course,  be  necessar>"  to  obtain  the  con- 
currence of  all  the  Governments  concerned. 
As  it  is.  a  healthy  competition  is  undoubtedly 
promoted     by     the     present     system.       The 


feet  above  the  level  of  the  surrounding 
country,  on  the  slopes  of  a  mountain  whose 
peak  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year  is 
enveloped  in  a  mantle  of  snow,  and  hither 
during  the  season — from  June  until  September 


great  Yangtsze  flows  placidly  at  the  foot  of 
the  hills  on  its  way  to  the  sea,  and  the 
ruins  of  Chinese  temples  and  monasteries — 
some  of  them  probably  two  thousand  years 
old — dot  the  landscape.     A  modern  Kuropean 


ICHANG. 


A  Mixo  Tomb. 
The  Y.*xgts7.e  River  Gorges. 


The  Pagoi).*. 
The  .Settlehext. 


Councils  work  together  as  far  as  possible, 
and  always  with  the  greatest  harmony.  The 
engineers  and  surveyors  of  the  various 
Councils  receive  only  a  small  retaining  fee, 
and  in  other  ways  expenses  are  kept  as  low 
as  is  possible  under  the  conditions  that 
prevail.  The  police  forces  are  probably 
rather  under  than  over  requirements. 

The  chief  centre  of  social  life  in  Hankow 
is  the  Club,  a  well-equipped  institution  with 
tennis  courts,  a  bowling  alley,  billiard  and 
reading  rooms,  library.  &c.  The  provision 
made  for  out-door  retTeation  includes  a  race- 
course, which  is  situated  some  two  miles 
and  a  half  from  the  city.  For  divine  worship 
there  are  four  churches— one  Roman  Catholic, 
two  Anglican,  and  one  Greek.  The  first  of 
these  is  the  largest.  The  Greek  Church  was 
erected  by  the  Russian  community  and  is  a 
rather  handsome  structure.  The  Settlement 
is  kept  informed  of  local  news  and  of  events 
taking  place  in  the  outside  world  by  means 
of  two  daily  newspapers  -The  Hatikow  Daily 
News  and  jhe  Hankow  Mail. 

A  dozen  miles  from  Kiukiang  and  less 
than  a  day's  journey  by  steamer  from 
Hankow  is  Kuling,  one  of  the  most  unique 
settlements  in  the  whole  of  China.  It  may 
be  described  as  the  Yangtsze  Valley  summer 
resort,  for  it  is  situated  some  three  thousand 


or  October — many  of  the  residents  of  Hankow- 
repair  to  escape  from  the  heat  of  the  plains. 
The   scenery  is   extremely   picturesque.     The 


THE    RAPIDS    OF    THE    YANOTSZE    RIVER 
AT    ICHANG. 


Settlement  has  been  formed  with  numerous 
pretty  bungalows,  good  roads,  a  comfortable 
hotel,  and,  indeed,  every  convenience  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  comfort  of  a  visitor  and 
to  make  his  stay  as  pleasant  as  possible.  At 
a  rough  estimate,  upwards  of  a  million  dollars 
have  been  invested  in  Kuling  by  the  residents 
of  Shanghai  and  Hankow.  The  estate  is 
under  the  direction  of  a  paid  manager  and 
is  reached  in  about  six  hours  by  chair  from 
Kiukiang,  where  a  "  resthouse "  has  been 
established  for  the  convenience  of  travellers. 
In  this  little  republic  each  resident  owes 
allegiance  to  his  own  national  authority,  and 
the  community  pay  rent  annually  to  China, 
but  are  permitted  to  manage  their  own 
municipal  affairs. 

m 

THE    BRITISH    CONSULATE, 

Thk  British  Government  is  represented  at 
Hankow  by  the  Consul-General,  Mr.  Everard 
H.  Kraser,  C.M.G.  Horn  in  1H59,  he  passed 
the  usual  competitive  examination  in  iHKo.  and 
was  appointed  a  Student  Interpreter  in  China 
the  same  year.  After  holding  acting  appoint- 
ments at  various  ports,  including  Ichang,  Che- 
mulpo (Korea),  and  Canton,  he  was  promoted 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.    699 


on  September  27,  1897,  to  be  Her  Majesty's 
Vice-Consul  at  Pagoda  Island,  and  on  May  13, 
1899,  to  be  Consul  at  Chinkiang.  He  was 
Acting  Consul-General  at  Hankow  from  Janu- 
ary,   1900,  and   in    the    following    year    was 


stroh,  and  has  general  charge  of  the  business 
in  China,  whilst  Mr.  E.  Rockstroh  represents 
the  firm  in  Hamburg.  Mr.  Kolkmeyer  has 
been  a  resident  of  Hankow  for  several  years, 
and   is   a   member   of  the   French   Municipal 


THE    FOREIGN    SETTLEMENT    AT    KIUKIANG    IN    WINTER    GARB. 


confirmed  in  the  office  and  created  a  C.M.G. 
He  is  now  tlie  senior  member  of  the  Consular 
body  at  Hankow.  He  sits  as  a  magistrate  to 
try  cases  in  which  British  subjects  are  the 
defendants,  and  has  the  right  of  veto  on  all 
resolutions  passed  at  meetings  of  the  rate- 
payers in  the  British  Concession. 

The  Consulate  staff  consists  of  a  Vice-Consul, 
two  assistants,  and  a  constable.  The  Con- 
sulate Buildings  contain  the  British  Post 
Office,  which  is  a  branch  of  the  Hongkong 
office.  It  is  in  the  charge  of  a  clerk,  whose 
salary  is  paid  by  Hongkong,  and  attached  to 
it  are  a  limited  number  of  Chinese  assistants, 
postmen,  &c. 

# 
THE  RUSSIAN  CONSUL. 
Mr.  a.  N.  Ostkovekkhow,  the  Russian  Con- 
sul at  Hankow,  has  control  of  the  Russian 
interests  in  this  port,  and  in  the  three  neigh- 
bouring provinces.  He  has  been  in  the  Con- 
sular service  in  China  for  a  number  of  years, 
the  last  five  of  which  have  been  spent  in 
Hankow.  He  is  the  principal  magistrate  of 
the  Russian  Concession,  and  once  a  week 
holds  a  Mixed  Court,  at  which  a  Chinese 
official  also  occupies  a  seat  upon  the  Bench. 
The  Consul,  however,  has  no  voice  in  the 
local  government,  nor  has  he  a  seat  on  the 
Municipal  Council.  The  Russian  Concession 
contains  a  Post  Office,  Municipal  Council 
building,  and  the  usual  public  offices,  the 
Consulate,  situated  on  the  Bund,  being  one 
of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  Settlement. 
The  Concession  has  been  built  upon  for  the 
most  part,  and  several  Russian  firms  have 
their  factories  in  the  British  Concession.  The 
number  of  Russian  subjects  in  Hankow  is 
one  hundred,  many  of  whom  reside  in  the 
British  quarter  of  the  town. 


THE    NETHERLANDS    CONSUL. 

Mr.  K.KoLKMEYEH,  Consul  for  the  Netherlands, 
is  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Kolkmeyer  &  Rock- 


Council.  The  Hankow  office  of  his  firm  is 
situated  on  the  French  Bund,  and  there  is 
also  a  branch  in  Shanghai. 

m 

THE    FRENCH   MUNICIPAL    COUNCIL. 

As  in  all  French  Concessions  in  China,  the 
French  Consul  is,  ex  officio,  the  head  of   the 


increase  in  the  importance  of  this  portion 
of  the  Settlement,  and  the  many  interests 
involved  in  its  proper  control,  the  member- 
ship was  enlarged  by  the  admission  of  two 
others — Messrs.  Caissial  and  Kolkmeyer — 
and  now  comprise  four  French  representa- 
tives and  two  foreign.  The  Concession 
adjoins  that  held  by  Russia,  and  has  been 
developed  with  good  tasle  and  admirable 
judgment  of  loail  requirements.  Ten  years 
ago  it  contained  no  more  than  six  houses  ; 
now,  practically  all  the  sites  available  for 
building  purposes  are  occupied,  and  within 
the  boundaries  of  the  Concession  are  a 
number  of  fine  houses,  all  the  Hankow 
hotels — three  in  number — a  flour  mill,  several 
factories,  and  a  French  Club,  besides,  of 
course,  the  French  Consulate,  Post  Office, 
and  other  public  buildings.  The  French 
population  numbers  56,  and  there  are  some 
186  foreigners  of  other  Western  nationalities, 
154  Japanese,  and  1,500  Chinese.  The  Con- 
cession is  lighted  throughout  by  electricily, 
and  during  the  present  year  the  roads  of 
the  Concession  were  completed  so  that  there 
are  now  welUkept  streets  leading  to  all 
parts.  The  Council  maintain  a  staff  of 
Chinese  police  under  a  French  Superintendent, 
and  employ  a  French  engineer  to  direct  the 
Public  Works  and  supervise  the  street  and 
road  mending. 


MR.    RENE    DE    HEES. 

Mr.  Rene  de  Hees,  who  has  been  in 
China  for  some  ten  years,  the  last  two  of 
which  have  been  spent  at  Hankow,  follow- 
ing his  profession  as  a  civil  engineer  and 
architect,  holds  the  appointment  of  engineer 
to  the  French  Municipal  Council.  In  this 
capacity  he  has  directed  the  operations  of 
the  Public  Works  Department  and  has  had 
charge  of  the  laying-out  and  construction  of 
the  streets  in  the  French  Concession. 


A    LANDMARK    AT    KIUKIANG. 


French  Municipal  Council  at  Hankow. 
Formerly  the  Council  consisted  of  only  four 
members — Messrs.  A.  Doire  (Consul),  presi- 
dent, E.  Bouchard,  A.  Brandt,  and  Tondon. 
This     year,    however,    owing     to    the    great 


THE    HANKOW    CLUB. 

The  Hankow  Club  is  one  of  the  most  historic 
institutions  of  its  kind  in  China,  and  for 
many  years  it  was  the   only  meeting  place 


rOO     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONO,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


for  those  who  lived  in  the  upper  ports  of 
the  Yangtszc  and  Hankow.  It  now  ocx:upies 
line  premises,  surrounded  by  trim  lawns,  in 
the  British  Concession.  The  library  contains 
some  tive  thous:iiid  voUnnes  in  English  and 
German,  while  in  the  reading  room  most  of 


Mr.   Pearce.      Adjacent   to  the  Club-house  is 
a  large  hall  used  for  public  gatherings. 


* 


THE   HANKOW  RACE  CLUB. 
Thk     Hankow    Race    Club,    like    manv 


other 


1<)0X  new  premises,  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
Tls.  25.000,  and  furnished  at  a  further  cost 
of  Tls.  10.000,  were  completed  and  occupied, 
and  tlic  members  have  every  reason  to  be 
proud  of  them.  They  are  situated  on  the 
Russian   Concession,  and  include  two  billiard 


HANKOW    RACE    CLUB    PAVILION. 


the  leading  papers  published  in  China  are  to 
be  found,  together  with  many  home  journals 
and  periodicals.  There  are  five  billiard 
tables,  a  bowling  alley,  card  room,  bar,  and 
restaurant  in  the  building,  which  is  equipped 


local  social  institutions,  is  associated  to  some 
extent  with  the  Hankow  Club.  The  race- 
course occupies  a  large  and  valuable  area  of 
land,  the  property  of  the  Kace  Club,  situated 
at   some   distance    outside    the    foreign    settlc- 


MEHBEHB    OF    THE   RUSSIAN    CLUB,    HANKOW. 


with  electric  light  and  fans.  All  nationalities 
are  represented  on  the  membership  roll, 
which  now  numbers  two  hundred,  and  the 
privileges  of  the  Club  are  extended  freely  to 
visitors.  The  members  and  shareholders 
elect  each  year  a  committee  to  undertake 
the  general  direction  of  the  Club,  and  there 
is  a  permanent  sccret;iry  (Mr.  A.  Linton). 
The     president     for     the     current     year     is 


ment.  An  annual  meeting  is  held  and  several 
minor  meetings  are  arranged  from  time  to 
time.  The  ground  enclosed  by  the  course  is 
used  for  purposes  of  general  recreation. 

THE   RUSSIAN   CLUB. 
Thk    Russian    Club,    formed    some    ten    years 
ago,  is  a  very  popular  meeting  place.     During 


rooms,  a  well-stocked  library,  reading,  drawing, 
dining,  and  card  rooms,  a  large  hall  (in  which 
the  productions  of  the  Russian  Amateur 
Dramatic  Club  are  presented),  and  a  bowling 
alley.  The  premises  are  fitted  throughout 
with  electric  light,  fans,  and  everything  that 
can  make  for  the  convenience  and  comfort  of 
the  members  ;  whilst  in  the  grounds  there  is  a 
well  laid  out  tennis  court.  The  Club  numbers 
about  forty  Russian  members,  and  there  are 
also  about  thirty-five  visiting  members,  who 
include  the  leading  non-Russian  residents  of 
Hankow.  The  president  of  the  Club  is  Mr. 
A.  S,  Wershinin,  and  the  permanent  secre- 
tary is  Mr,  W.  T.  Ostapenko,  The  general 
management  is  in  the  hands  of  a  committee 
elected  annually. 

* 

THE  HONGKONG  AND  SHANGHAI  BANK. 

Thk  Hankow  branch  of  the  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  Banking  Corporation  was  not  only 
the  first  bank  established  in  the  Settlement, 
but  was  also  one  of  the  earliest  branches 
opened  by  the  Corporation  in  China.  Of 
perhaps  even  greater  interest  is  the  fact  that 
very  shortly  after  it  began  its  operations  in 
Hankow,  Mr.  (now  Sir)  Thomas  Jackson, 
Hart.,  was  appointed  manager,  and  filled  that 
position  for  some  time,  until  his  conspicuous 
ability  as  a  financier  led  to  his  transfer  to 
larger  fields.  The  bank  owns  and  occupies 
large  premises  on  the  Bund  in  the  British 
Concession.  It  conducts  the  usual  banking 
operations,  and,  acting  as  representative  of 
the  British  and  Chinese  Corporation,  has 
carried  through  many  of  the  most  important 
financial  negotiations  between  Britishers  and 
the  Chinese  Government. 


THE    YOKOHAMA    SPECIE    BANK. 

Thk  Japanese  community  in  Hankow  is  large 
and  rapidly  increasing.  It  is  only  natural, 
therefore,  to  find  a  branch  of  the  Yokohama 
Specie   Bank  occupying  a  prominent  place  in 


aODOWNS    AND    MACHINERY    SHOWROOMS    OP    SIEMSSEN    &    CO.    AT    HANKOW. 


^ 


HANKOW    RACECOURSE. 


702     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


local  Anancial  circles.  The  Hankow  branch 
is  the  only  one  on  the  Yangtsze  outside 
Shanghai.  It  was  opened  during  1907,  and 
its  premises,  situated  in  the  British  Con- 
cession, are  the  hank's  own  property  and  form 


finest  in  the  Settlement.  The  manager  of 
the  branch,  Mr.  A.  J.  Pernotte,  was  formerly 
connected  with  the  bank  at  Shanghai. 


THE    YOKOHAMA    SPECIE    BANK    PREMISES. 


British  Concession,  but  a  new  building,  started 
in  1005,  is  now  ready  for  occupation  on  a 
bund  lot  in  the  German  Concession  which 
has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  bank  since 
the  foundation  of  the  Concession.  It  is  a 
fine  banking  hall,  with  offices  and  accommo- 
dation for  the  manager.  General  banking 
business  is  carried  on  with  all  parts  of  the 
world,  and  the  bank  has  had  a  local  note- 
issue  since  October,  1907. 

The  manager  of  the  branch,  Mr.  Ernest 
Mirow,  who  has  been  in  charge  at  Hankow 
for  some  years,  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Municipal  Council.  When  the  Deutsche 
Hankow  Niederlassungs-Gesellschaft,  a  com- 
pany formed  to  develop  the  German  Con- 
cession and  tlie  Bund,  completed  its  work, 
Mr.  Mirow,  who  was  the  Hankow  manager 
of  the  syndicate,  was  appointed  liquidator. 
Practically  all  the  lots  are  now  sold  and 
are  in  the  hands  of  represent.itives  of  all 
nationalities,  and  more  especially  Germans. 
The  rear  portion  of  the  Concession  was 
mostly  disposed  of  to  Chinese,  who  have 
the  right  to  build  upon  it  Chinese  houses 
which  comply  with  the  local  building 
regulations. 

THE    ASTOE    HOUSE    HOTEL. 

The  oldest  established  and  best  known  hotel 
in  Hankow  is  the  Astor  House  ;  indeed,  for 
many  years  this  was  the  only  hotel  in  the 
Settlement.  Situated  on  the  Bund  in  the 
French  Concession,  it  commands  a  splendid 
view  of  the  Yangtsze  River  and  the  mountains 
beyond,  and  gains  the  full  benefit  of  any 
breeze  that  may  happen  to  blow  — •  an 
advantage  in  summer  time  which  no  resident 
of  Hankow  will  be  disposed  to  dispute. 
The   hotel   contains   some   forty   bedrooms, 


quite  an  ornament  to  the  Bund.  The  bank 
transacts  every  description  of  exchange  busi- 
ness. The  manager,  Mr.  K.  Takenchi,  has 
seen  many  years  in  the  service  of  the  bank, 
including  terms  in  the  London,  and  (as  sub- 
manager)  Shanghai  offices.  He  is  assisted  by 
a  staff  of  six  Japanese  and  numerous  Chinese. 


THE    CHARTERED    BANK. 

Soox  after  a  concession  at  Hankow  was 
granted  to  the  British  a  branch  of  the 
Chartered  Bank  of  India,  Australia,  and  China 
was  opened,  and  in  course  of  time  handsome 
premises  were  acquired  in  the  commercial 
centre.  The  ordinary  business  of  bankers  is 
transacted,  and,  like  others  in  the  Far  East, 
this  branch  has  a  high  standing  and  exercises 
considerable  influence.  It  is  empowered  to 
grant  drafts  on  all  the  principal  cities  in  the 
world  and  on  all  the  leading  trade  centres  in 
the  Far  East.  The  manager,  Mr.  P.  A.  Angler, 
has  had  eighteen  years'  service  with  the  bank 
in  China  and  other  parts  of  the  East. 

THE    BAHQnE   DE    L'IBDO-CHINE. 

This  branch  of  the  P'rench  bank  was 
opened  in  1902.  and  has  come  to  represent 
French  financial  interests  in  Hankow.  The 
usual  banking  operations  are  conducted,  and 
ail  facilities  are  offered  to  merchants  not 
only  in  the  East,  where  the  concern  has 
numerous  other  branches,  but  in  Europe  as 
well.  Credit  is  granted  on  approved  security 
and  on  goods.  The  bank's  premises,  situ- 
ated on  the  French   Bund,  are  amongst  the 


THE    PREMISES    OF    THE    BANQUE    DE    L'INDO-CHINE. 


THE    DEnTSCH-ASIATISCHE    BANK. 

The  Hankow  branch  of  this  influential 
German  banking  house  was  opened  as  an 
agency  in   1898,  in  premises  situated  in  the 


with  airy  verandahs  adjoining,  and  fitted  with 
electric  light  and  fans.  The  public  rooms 
include  a  spacious  dining  room,  a  lastefully 
furnished  drawing  room,  billiard  room.j,  and 
a  large   hall   admirably  suited   for   theatrical 


The  Godovvn. 


JARDINE,    MATHESON    &    CO. 

Thk  Offices. 

Thf.  Timbf;r  Depot. 


[Sec  pnge  709O 


The  Yangtsze  Wharf. 


704    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  other  entcrtaiiimeiils.  The  hotel  is  con- 
nected with  the  telephone,  and  for  a  telegraphic 
address  has  adopted  the  word  "Astor."  In 
short,  the  arrangements  for  the  convenience 
of  the  guests  are  as  complete    as    possible. 


Mr.  Briol,  has  spent  tifteeii  years  in  the  East, 
and  was  formerly  manager  of  the  Hotel  des 
Colonies  at  Shanghai.  The  Terminus  Hotel, 
however,  has  become  inadequate  lo  the  needs 
of    the    Settlement,    and    Mr.   Saint    Hoi    has 


the  end  of  1909.  It  should  be  nienlioned  that 
extensive  cellars  have  been  laid  down  in 
connection  with  the  Terminus  Hotel,  wines 
being  imported  direct  from   Kiirope.   • 


DEUTSCH-ASIATISCHE    BANK    PREMISES. 


INDUSTRIAL. 

TH£  HANYANG  IBON  AND  STEEL  WORKS. 

The  first  sod  of  the  Hanyang  Iron  and  Steel 
Works  was  cut  in  the  sixteenth  year  of 
His  Majesty  Kwangsu,  corresponding  to  the 
Christian  era  of  1890.  The  first  lot  of 
machinery  and  furnaces,  ordered  from  Eng- 
land by  Viceroy  Chang-Chih-tung,  of  Hupeh 
(now  Grand  Secretary),  was  to  have  been 
erected  in  Canton,  for  the  Viceroy  was  then 
presiding  over  the  Liang  Kwang  Provinces, 
but,  upon  being  transferred  to  Wuchang,  he 
directed  the  shipment  of  machinery  to  be 
sent  to  Hupeh  and,  as  the  magnetic  ore  of 
Tayeh  is  among  the  richest  in  the  world, 
containing  60  to  65  per  cent,  of  metallic 
iron,  he  was  certainly  right  in  selecting  this 
province.  Unfortunately,  no  suitable  coal 
for  making  coke  could  be  found  in  the 
whole  of  Hupeh,  and  this  fact  was  respon- 
sible for  the  difliculties  encountered  in  the 
first  stages.  As  to  the  site,  the  late  Viceroy 
has  often  been  blamed  for  choosing  Han- 
yang, instead  of  Tayeh  where  the  ore  is, 
but  he  had  good  reasons  for  making  his 
selection.  It  must  be  remembered  that  it 
is  still  an  unsettled  problem  even  in  Europe 
and  America  at  the  present  day  as  to  which 
is  the  more  suitable  location  for  ironworks — 
the  market  where  there  are  all  the  facilities 
and  advantages  that  a  market  offers,  or  the 
home  of  the  raw  material,  where  there  is 
everything  at  hand  and  cheap. 


Hotel  representatives  with  carriages  meet  the 
passenger  trains  and  incoming  steamers,  and, 
as  often  as  required,  parties  are  organised  with 
competent  guides  engaged  to  visit  the  places 
of  interest  in  the  vicinity.  In  the  season 
enjoyable  trips  can  be  made  to  the  upper 
reaches  of  the  Yangtsze.  and  sportsmen 
coming  to  Hankow  will  find  an  abundance  of 
game,  both  large  and  small,  as  well  as  good 
hunting.  The  arrangements  for  participation 
in  all  these  forms  of  amusement  may  be  made 
at  the  Astor  House,  and  the  advice  of  the 
proprietor,  Mr.  Schroeder,  may  safely  be  relied 
upon,  for  it  is  based  on  long  experience  and 
sound  knowledge  of  local  circumstances. 

WA60KS    UTS    HOTEL    TERMINUS. 

Though  only  established  in  1901  the  Wagons 
Lils  Terminus  Hotel  has  gained  much  popu- 
larity with  tlie  travelling  public  as  well  as 
with  the  residents  of  Hankow.  It  occupies  a 
fine  site  in  the  French  Concession,  close  to 
the  Kund,  with  frontages  to  the  Hues  Dau- 
tremcr  des  Missions  and  Saigon  ;  and  it  lies 
within  easy  distance  of  the  Peking-Hankow 
Railway  Terminus  and  of  the  steamer  landing 
places.  Both  trains  and  steamers  are  met  by 
representatives  from  the  hotel  wiih  carriages 
and  luggage  coolies.  There  are  thirty-two 
bednxjms.  besides  public  and  private  dining 
rooms,  drawing,  sitting,  and  reception  rooms. 
The  proprietor,  Mr.  Saint  Pol,  has  had  a  long 
experience  in  the  management  of  hotels  in 
Europe  and  in  the  East.  A  member  of  the 
French  Cook  S<Kiety  of  Paris  and  of  the 
London  Cook  Society,  he  has  an  expert 
knowledge  of  cuisine  which  ensures  that  his 
patrons  are  well  catered  for.     The  manager. 


THE    ASTOR    HOUSE     HOTEL. 
A.  SciUioKDKK  (Man;ijit-i). 


therefore  made  arrangements  lo  replace  it  by 
a  modern  three-storeyed  building,  with  eighty 
living  rooms,  bathrooms  and  all  the  usual 
appointments  on  a  superb  scale.  The  plans 
have  been  prepared,  and  it  is  expected  that 
the  new  building  will  be  in  readiness  towards 


After  the  arrival  of  the  plant  at  Hanyang 
it  took  fully  three  years  to  instal  it,  and  in 
the  course  of  installation  many  additions 
were  made  to  it,  these  being  obtained  chiefly 
from  Belgium.  When  the  works  were  ready 
for     occupation,     the    dilficulty     of     getting 


THE    CHINA    IMPORT    AND    EXPORT    LUMBER    COMPANY,    LTD. 
Thk  TiMHKK  Yard  at  Haxkow. 
Local  Agi-xts:    Kihrmkister  &  Co. 


[See  page  719.] 


DODWELL    &    CO.'S   (LTD.)    OFFICES    AND    GODOWNS. 


r06     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONOKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


suitable  fuel,  especially  coke,  for  the  blast 
furnaces  was  encountered,  and  although 
many  hundred  thousands  of  taels  were  spent 
in  prospecting  and  in  opening  mines  all 
over  the  province,  the  ventures  all  proved 
failures,  and  coke  had  to  t>e  obtained  from 
Europe  and  afterwards  from  Kaiping. 

In  the  thirty-second  year  of  His  Majesty 
Kwangsu.  an  arrangement  was  made  under 
which  Shong  Kung-pao  took  over  the  works. 


the  Pinghsiang  coal  field  in  the  province  of 
Kiangsi  bordering  on  Hunan.  He  opened  this 
up  at  once  with  the  result  that  the  Pingh- 
siang coal  mine  is  now  one  of  the  most 
up-to-date  coal  mines  of  its  kind  in  the  world. 
But,  able  as  Shong  Kung-pao  undoubtedly 
is,  such  .1  highly  technical  institution  as  an 
ironworks  proved  to  be  a  greater  thing  than 
he  had  bargained  for.  He  struggled  on 
manfully,   though,   until    he   was    advised    to 


WAOONS    LITS    HOTEL    TERMINUS    AND    PLAN    OF 
NEW    PREMISES. 


as  head  of  the  China  Merchants  Steam 
Navigation  Company  and  the  telegraphs. 
He  was  deemed  the  only  man  who  could 
be  entrusted  with  an  enterprise  of  such 
magnitude  and,  moreover,  while  still  a  young 
man  prospecting  mines  with  a  foreign  en- 
gineer in  his  service,  he  had  discovered  the 
Tayeh  ore  mine.  Shong  Kung-pao's  first 
care  was  to  prospect  for  a  rich  coal  mine 
and    he  was  rewarded  by  the  discovery  of 


send  a  representative  abroad  to  make  a 
thorough  study  of  the  industry,  in  order  to 
introduce  improvements  into  the  plant  then 
in  existence  and  rectify  the  mistakes  pre- 
viously made.  Being  a  man  of  perception 
he  saw  the  wisdom  of  this  timely  sugges- 
tion and  sent  the  present  general  manager 
of  the  works,  Mr.  V.  K.  Lee,  a  native  of 
Kiangsu,  on  a  tour  of  inspection  to  all  the 
iron   and   steel  industrial  centres  in  America, 


England,  and  on  tlie  Continent  of  Europe. 
Mr.  Lee  was  assistant  manager  of  the  works 
before  he  went  abroad  about  four  years  ago, 
and  had  taken  great  interest  in  his  work. 
He  took  with  him  all  the  raw  materials  and 
iron  and  steel  made  by  the  old  plant,  and 
was  accompanied  by  two  technical  advisers, 
Mr.  Thomas  Hunt,  M.I.M.E.,  who  erected 
the  steel  works  in  the  Kiaiignan  Arsenal  and 
was  at  one  time  president  of  the  Shanghai 
Society  of  Engineers,  and  Mr.  Gustavus 
Leinung,  M.E.,  the  chief  engineer  of  Pingh- 
siang Colliery.  Together  they  visited  most 
of  the  leading  ironworks  in  the  United 
States  and  Europe,  and  Mr.  Lee  had  his 
raw  materials  and  iron  and  steel  products 
analysed  and  reported  on  by  one  of  the 
foremost  metallurgists  of  England,  Mr.  J.  B. 
Stead,  Bessemer  medallist,  wlio  was  recom- 
mended to  him  by  the  secretary  of  the 
Iron  and  Steel  Institute  in  London.  The 
report  was  most  favourable,  so  it  was 
decided  to  order  a  thoroughly  modern  plant. 
This  has  now  been  erected  on  the  old  site 
and  the  works  are  in  a  position  to  supply 
structural  material  of  every  kind  for  ship- 
building and  architectural  purposes  and 
bridge-work,  besides  rails  and  fastenings. 
All  the  steel  is  made  by  the  open-hearth 
(Siemens-Martin)  process  which  the  works 
are  prepared  to  submit  to  tests  in  accordance 
with  Lloyd's  rules,  the  rules  of  the  British 
Board  of  Trade,  or  any  other  established 
rules.  The  new  plant  consists  of  three 
blast  furnaces  (one  in  course  of  erection), 
which  can  make  about  450  to  500  tons 
of  pig-iron  a  day  ;  three  open-hearth  fur- 
naces of  30  tons  each  ;  one  old  furnace  of 
10  tons  ;  one  metal  mixer  of  130  tons  capacity, 
one  cogging  mill,  one  ream  and  angle  mill, 
one  rail  mill,  one  plate  mill,  one  gas  fire 
soaking  pit  for  re-heating  ingots,  Sc,  capable 
of  rolling,  say,  1,000  tons  of  finished  pro- 
ducts a  day  of  British  standard  sections. 
There  are  also  some  old  mills,  which  are 
doing  good  service  as  auxiliaries  side  by 
side  with  the  new  machinery.  The  makers 
of  the  new  plant  include  Davy  Brothers,  of 
Sheffield  ;  the  Lancashire  Dynamo  and  Motor 
Company  ;  Daniel  Adamson  &  Co.,  and 
Craven  Bjothers,  of  Mancliester  ;  Roberts, 
of  Birmingham  ;  Gebrader  Klein,  of  Giessen  ; 
Diaglersche  Maschinenfabrik,  of  Zweibrucken  ; 
Boeken  &  Kestman,  and  Naniel  &  Lueg,  of 
Dusseldorf  ;  and  Wellman-Seaver-Morgan  & 
Co.,  of  America. 

The  works  possess  ,an  almost  inexhaustible 
supply  of  fuel  and  ore  ;  indeed,  it  is  esti- 
mated that  the  Tayeh  mine  by  open  digging 
only  can  supply  one  million  tons  of  iron 
ore  annually  for  a  hundred  years,  and  the 
Pinghsiang  coal  mine  one  million  tons  of 
good  coking  coal  for  five  hundred  years.  As 
to  facilities  for  transporting  raw  materials, 
Tayeh  has  a  line  of  railway  about  13  miles 
in  length,  and  Pinghsiang  a  line  of  60  miles, 
both  lines  connecting  with  good  waterways, 
over  which  the  materials  are  carried  to  the 
works  by  a  steam  lighter  of  about  1,000 
tons,  besides  powerful  tug-boats  and  steel 
and  other  lighters. 

The  Hanyang  Works,  Pinghsiang  Colliery, 
and  Tayeh  Mine  have  recently  been  formed 
by  imperial  sanction  into  a  joint-stock  com- 
pany. The  ironworks  employ  over  3,000 
men,  including  a  foreign  staff  of  20,  with 
Mr.  E.  Rapport  as  technical  manager.  In 
a  word,  there  is  every  prospect  of  this 
province  becoming  the  Pittsburg,  Middles- 
brough, and  Westphalia  of  China  in  the  not 
far-distant  future.  The  two  old  blast  furnaces 
now  working  turn  out  6,000  tons  of  different 
grades  of  pig-iron  a  month,  whicli  is  princi- 
pally converted  into  steel.     With  the  exception 


ARNHOLD,    KARBERG    &    CO. 


[Six  payc  709.] 


The  Offices. 
The  Godowns. 


The  Hides  .and  Skins  Godowx 


ro8 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


ot  the  rolling  mill,  all  the  machinery  is  driven 
electrically  and  the  works  are  lit  by  elec- 
tricity throughout.  The  electric  generating 
plant  is  supplied  by  the  Lancashire  Dynamo 
and  Motor  Company,  and  Belliss  &  Morcom, 
while  the  motors  for  the  German  part  of 
the  machiner%-  are  from  the  Siemens 
Schuckertwerke.  When  the  works  have  four 
blast  furnaces,  it  is  intended  to  employ  gas 
engines  to  utilise  the  surplus  gas  of  flie 
furnaces,  thereby  reducing  the  first  cost 
considerably  and,  at  the  same  lime,  generat- 
ing electricity  to  supply  the  demand  of 
neighbouring  towns.  Lastly,  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  other  works — the  Yangtsze 
Engineering  Works  partly  capitalised  by 
the  Hanyang  Works  and  partly  by  prominent 
native  merchants,  has  been  established  on 
the  Hankow  side  for  the  construction  of 
bridges,  railway  points  and  crossings,  rail- 
way waggons,  &c.  Buildings  are  now  being 
erected  quickly  on  the  newly  acquired  site 
below  Seven  Miles  Creek.  The  necessary 
machinery  plant  has  arrived,  and  experts 
have  l>een  engaged.  By  the  winter  of  1908, 
the  new  works  are  expected  lo  be  in  full 
activity  and  to  be  one  of  the  largest  con- 
sumers of  the  mother  works'  products. 

In  addition  it  may  be  stated  that  in  a  few 
years,  the  blast  furnaces,  steelworks  and 
rolling  mills  will  be  so  extended  as  lo  pro- 
duce 800  to  900  tons  of  linislieil  products 
per  day.  The  iron  works,  together  with  the 
Tayeh  iron  mine  and  Pinghsiang  colliery, 
employ  altogether  about  20,000  workmen. 
Besides,  there  are  in  Hanyang  one  arsenal 
that  makes  Mauser  rifles  with  cartridges  and 


guns  with  projectiles  ;  and  one  smokeless 
and  crucible  powder  factory  with,  also,  rolling 
mills.  All  the  works  at  Hanyang  extend  from 
the  river  Yangtsze  on  one  side  to  the  Han 
River  on  the  other,  of  a  distance  of  several 
miles. 

w 

HANKOW    WATESWOBKS     AND    ELECTRIC 
LIGHT    COMPANY,    LTD. 

Amonust  the  most  important  undertakings  at 
Hankow  must  certainly  be  classed  those  of  the 
Hankow  Waterworks  and  Electric  Light  Com- 
pany, Ltd.  It  is  a  purely  Chinese  company, 
financed  by  the  leading  Chinese  merchants  of 
Shanghai  and  Hankow,  and  appears  to  have 
every  prospect  of  a  successful  future.  Even 
in  the  foreign  concessions,  at  the  present  time, 
the  residents  have  to  rely  on  unliltered  water 
obtained  from  the  Yangtsze  and  from  wells. 
It  is  only  a  matter  of  months,  however,  before 
Hankow  will  be  provided  with  an  abundant 
supply  of  excellent  water  and  with  a 
thoroughly  equipped  system  of  electric  light. 
At  present,  it  is  true,  the  plans  provide  only 
for  the  native  city,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that 
before  long  the  various  foreign  concessions 
will  be  included  within  the  area  of  the 
Company's  activities. 

The  movement  was  started  by  Viceroy 
Chang  Chih-tung,  and.  after  a  report  on  the 
subject  had  been  made  by  Mr.  R.  Saint  George 
Moore,  M.I.C.E.,  the  capital  was  subscribed 
and  the  work  commenced.  Already  much 
has  been  accomplished,  and   the   work  con- 


nected with  the  installation  of  an  up-to-date 
English  plant,  capable  of  supplying  5,000.000 
gallons  of  filtered  water  a  day  from  the  river 
Han  is  practically  completed.  In  the  installa- 
tion of  electric  light,  also,  equal  progress  has 
been  m.ide. 

One  of  the  moving  spirits  in  the  under- 
taking, which  will  cost  not  less  than  half  a 
million  sterling,  is  the  Expectant  Taoutai  of 
Hupeh,  Whang  Tatfoo,  a  Cantonese  who 
obtained  an  English  education  at  the  Govern- 
ment Central  School  (now  Queen's  College), 
Hongkong.  Afterwards  he  entered  the 
Foochow  Naval  College  as  a  cadet,  and 
graduated  some  years  later  with  the  rank  of 
Taoutai.  He  was  then  attached  to  the  China 
Southern  Squadron,  as  an  engineer,  for  five 
years.  His  next  appointment  was  to  Hankow, 
where  he  is  attached  to  the  Viceroy's  Yamen 
as  Secretary.  Upon  the  formation  of  the 
Water  and  Electric  Company  he  became  its 
technical  director.  He  is  also  president  of 
the  Technical  School  at  Wuchang.  Altogether, 
Mr.  Whang  has  been  in  the  service  of  the 
Chinese  Government  at  Hankow  for  the  last 
fourteen  years.  He  is  a  man  of  considerable 
ability,  and  his  services  have  pioved  of  the 
greatest  value  to  his  country.  The  chief 
director  of  the  Company  is  Mr.  Sung  Wei 
Chin,  a  native  of  Ningpo,  who  is  to-day  one 
of  the  leading  Chinese  business  men  in 
Hankow.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Wah  Shing 
Company,  the  Sitchong  Match  Company  of 
Hankow  and  Shanghai,  and  of  a  large  number 
of  other  local  undertakings. 


[See  pagt  704.] 


THE    HANTANO    IRON    AND    STEKL    WORKS    AND    THIER    CHIEF    OFFICIALS. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  IION(JKON«,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     709 


INTERIOR    OF    THE    POWER-STATION    AT    HANKOW,    ERECTED    BY    THE 
SIEMENS    SCHUCKERTWERKE. 


JAEDINE,  MATHESON  &  CO.,    LTD. 

The  interests  of  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd., 
at  Hankow,  are  entrusted  to  Mr.  J.  J.  Dunne, 
an  Irishman  who  has  been  in  China  for  nearly 
a  quarter  of  a  century.  For  a  good  portion 
of  this  time  he  has  been  in  the  service  of  the 
firm,  and  although  he  has  occupied  his  present 
post  for  two  years  only,  he  has,  for  the  second 
time,  been  elected  chairman  of  the  British 
Municipal  Council,  and  is  also  vice-president 
of  the  Hankow  Rifle  Association.  At  Hankow, 
as  at  the  other  Treaty  ports,  Jardine,  Matheson 
&  Co.,  Ltd.,  were  ainong  the  first  of  the 
British  firms  to  establish  a  branch.  Their 
offices  are  situated  in  the  British  Concession. 
A  history  of  the  house  and  some  account  of 
the  Company's  many  interests  in  different 
parts  of  China  appear  elsewhere  in  tliis 
volume. 


AENHOLD,    KAEBEH6    &    00. 

For  upwards  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  Messrs. 
Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co.,  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  firms  in  the  East,  have  been 
prominently  associated  with  the  commercial 
development  of  Hankow.  In  fonner  years 
their  premises  were  situated  in  the  British 
Concession,  but  when  the  German  Concession 
was  laid  out  they  acquired  one  of  the  mo^t 
valuable  sites  upon  it,  with  an  area  of  not  less 
than  300,000  square  feet,  and  an  extensive 
Bund  frontage,  and  here  they  now  occupy  the 
finest  business  premises  in  Hankow.  They 
are  agents  for  the  Hamburg-Amerika  Linie 
Steamers,  and  for  other  shipping  companies  ; 
they  represent  the  China  Traders',  South 
British  Fire  and  Marine,  Lancashire,  and 
Magdeburg  Fire  Insurance  Companies  ;  they 
carry    on    an    extensive    import    and    export 


business  in  every  kind  of  produce  ;  and  they 
deal  largely  in  machinery,  making  a  speciality 
of  electrical  appliances  of  all  descriptions. 
One  of  their  largest  undertakings  in  this  last- 
named  direction  was  the  supply  of  the  plant 
for  I  he  British-American  Tobacco  Company's 
factory  at  Hankow,  the  plant  being  one  of  the 
most  up-to-date  of  its  kind  in  China.  Among 
their  largest  lines  in  Chinese  products  may  be 
mentioned  sesamum  seeds,  an  article  of 
increasing  commercial  value,  and  hides.  In 
the  handling  of  these  and  other  products  a 
force  of  six  hundred  coolies  is  engaged  during 
the  busy  seasons  of  the  year.  The  manager. 
Mr.  W.  Herensperger,  who  has  had  charge  of 
the  local  branch  of  the  firm  for  the  past  four 
years,  has  under  him  a  large  staff,  which 
includes  twelve  Europeans. 


MELOHERS    &    CO. 

P\)K  upwards  of  thirt\-  years  the  well-known 
firm  of  Messrs.  Melchers  &  Co.  have  been 
established  in  Hankow,  and  they  take  a 
prominent  part  in  the  industrial  and  com- 
mercial life  of  the  Settlement.  Throughout 
North  China  they  are  known  as  general 
merchants  and  exporters,  and  as  agents  for 
the  Xorddeutscher  Lloyd  they  have  extensive 
dealings  with  shippers  of  every  class  of 
cargo.  In  Hankow  they  have  a  large  albu- 
men factory,  situated  on  the  Bund,  and  they 
own  and  operate  the  electric  lighting  installa- 
tion which  supplies  the  whole  of  the  current 
for  street  and  private  use  in  the  German 
Concession.  Both  establishments  are  run 
witli  the  same  steam  plant,  great  economy 
being  thus  effected.  Hides  and  other  Chinese 
products  are  prepared  by  the  firm  for  the 
liome  markets,  the  drying  grounds  and 
godowns  covering  a  large  area.  Messrs. 
Melchers  &  Co.'s  hong,  one  of  the  oldest 
in  the  Settlement,  is  situated  on  the  British 
Concessioji.  The  present  manager  of  the 
firm's  local  interests  is  Mr.  Job.  "Thyen,  who 
has  conducted  the  business  since  his  arrival 
in  1884  and  has  a  partnership  in  the  concern. 
For  years  he  has  served  on  the  German 
Municipal  Council  ;  he  is  president  of  the 
Hankow  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  he 
represents  Norway  in  the  Consular  Service, 
while  as  an  office-bearer  in  the  Hankow 
Club  and  chairman  of   the   Race   Club   he  is 


MELCHERS    &    CO. 
HniKS  AXU  Skixs  Dhvixo  Grouxu. 


E  E   E 


710     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


brought   into   close   contact   with    the   social 
side  of  Hankow  life. 


Marcks  and  E.  Busch,  both  qualified  architects, 
who,  after  obtaining  some  experience  of  the 
East  in  oflices  at  Tsingtau  and  Kiaochau, 
established   themselves   at    Hankow   in    11)04, 


I.    A.  RosK. 

4.      E.    BiNDKK 

6.    D.  M.  Melnikofk. 


HANKOW    BUSINESS     MEN 
2.    J.  Perxotte 

7 


3.     A.   K.    lilRTEXSHAW. 
5.     J.   D.  TAYLOIi. 

A.  Brandt.  8.    Takao  TsrN.Ai)0. 


when  a  great  deal  of  building  activity  was 
being  displayed  in  the  foreign  concessions. 
That  the  firm  were  required  is  demonstrated 
by  the  large  number  of  buildings  in  the 
Settlement  which  they  have  erected.  Not 
only  do  they  prepare  plans,  but  lliey  under- 
take, also,  the  entire  construction  of  buildings 
from  them.  To  enable  them  to  do  this  they 
have  established  on  their  large  property  in 
the  German  Concession  a  well-equipped  saw- 
mill, capable  of  dealing  with  any  class  of 
work.  They  also  have  an  iron-yard,  and  in 
connection  with  this  are  erecting  new  work- 
shops. Among  the  buildings  in  Hankow 
which  the  firm  have  designed  and  erected  in 
recent  years  may  be  mentioned  the  Russian 
Municipal  Buildings,  the  German  Municipal 
Buildings,  and  Olivier  &  Co.'s  fine  premises, 
while  amongst  those  of  which  they  were  the 
builders  are  the  British  American  Tobacco 
Company's  large  factory,  the  German  Hank, 
and  the  Russo-Chinese  Bank.  In  connection 
with  tlie  German  Municipal  Buildings  the 
firm  gained  the  first  prize  in  open  compe- 
tition. At  the  present  time  they  are  preparing 
for  the  construction  of  a  brick  and  tile 
factory. 

# 
THE    HANKOW    BEICK    AND    TILE    WOEKS. 

In  a  locality  where  there  is  so  much  building 
in  progress  it  is  not  surprising  to  find  that 
the  industry  carried  on  at  the  Hankow  Brick 
and  Tile  \Vorks  is  one  of  the  most  thriving. 
In  the  Settlement  itself  the  products  of  the 
works  are  to  be  seen  on  all  sides,  and  in 
addition  to  the  local  demand,  large  orders 
are  received  from  places  as  far  north  as 
Peking.  The  proprietor  of  the  estiiblishment 
is  Mr.  E.  C.  Kechner,  who  also  acts  as  an 
architect  and  civil  engineer,  many  prominent 
buildings  in  the  Settlement  having  been 
erected  by  him.  Mr.  Edgar  Val  Clement 
signs  per  procuration.  The  works  lie  on  the 
banks  of  the  Han  River,  at  a  spot  known  as 
Han  Shia  Den,  a  few  miles  from  Hankow. 
The  plant  includes  all  the  latest  modern 
devices  for  moulded  bricks  and  ornamental 
tiles,  in  addition  to   the   machinery   required 


UE7EE    &    CO. 

The  first  firm  to  move  mto  the  German 
Concession  after  it  was  obtained  from  the 
Chinese  Government  was  Messrs.  Meyer  & 
Co..  who  secured  an  excellent  position  on 
the  Bund  and  there  erected  a  fine  set  of 
offices,  with  extensive  godowns  in  the  re.ir, 
which  they  have  occupied  since  1901.  The 
staple  business  of  this  well-known  German 
house,  whose  headquarters  are  at  Hong- 
kong and  who  have  l>een  established  in 
Hankow  for  the  last  ten  years,  lies  in  the 
export  of  Chinese  produce  of  every  descrip- 
tion. The  Company  have  a  large  ground  for 
drying,  and  godowns  with  modern  machinery 
for  packing,  hides  and  skins  ;  an  up-to-date 
plant  for  cleaning  sesamum  seeds ;  and  a 
well-equipped  establishment  for  preparing 
tallow  for  the  European  markets.  Their 
import  trade,  also,  is  steadily  increasing  in 
volume.  The  manager  of  the  branch,  Mr. 
F.  Muller,  occupies  a  seat  on  the  German 
Municipal    Council. 


LOTHAB    HABCKS    &    BUSCH. 

Messrs.  Lothak  Makcks  &  Busch,  archi- 
tects, contractors,  and  civil  engineers,  occupy 
a  prominent  place  in  the  business  life  of 
Hankow.     The   partners   are    Messrs.   I^)thar 


THE    OFFICES    OF    MEYER    &    CO. 


pimi 


MELCHGRS    &    CO. 


Electric  Light  and  Albim en, Works. 


Packing  Houses. 
The  Offices. 


[See  page  709.] 


712     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  I^IPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


for  the  production  of  enonnous  quantities  of 
material  lor  ordinary  building  a>nstruction. 
The  kilns  usetl  are  of  the  German  pattern, 
stxallcd  Haffniann's  patent,  and  the  plant 
is  cxintiniuilly  beiu};  extended  to  keep  pace 
with  the  jjrowinj;  deniai\ds  made  uix>n  it. 

It  may  be  mentioned  that  Mr.  Clement  is 
editor  of  the  Haiikmc  Dirtctory,  a  useful 
publiuition,  ctimpiled  with  great  care  and 
revised  annuiiUv. 


of  the  kind  in  the  world,  are  entirely  in 
their  hands.  One  of  the  largest  of  these 
factories  is  that  owned  and  operated  bv 
Messrs.  Molchanoff,  Pechatnoff  &  Co.,  a 
tirni  which  has  blanches  at  Koochow, 
Kiukiang,  Shanghai,  Tientsin,  Colombo,  and 
Moscow.  The  founders,  Mr.  X.  M.  Molchanoff 
and  Mr.  A.  S.  A.  Pechatnoff,  were  for  many 
years  in  Hankow,  but  have  now  retired 
from    active    business    and    have    taken    up 


THE    SAW-MILLS    OF    LOTHAR,    MARCKS    &    BUSCH. 


[See  page  710]. 


MOLCHANOFF  PECHATNOFF  &  CO. 

I'NTIL  recent  years  the  tea  industry  was  the 
chief  industry  of  Hankow,  and,  though  it 
has  declined  somewhat  in  relative  importance. 
It  still  occupies  a  very  prominent  place  in 
the  trade  of  this  flourishing  Settlement.  The 
Russian  residents  of  Hankow  have  by  far 
the  chief  interest  in  the  trade,  and  the  brick 
tea   factories,   said    to    be   the    only   factories 


their  residence  in  Russia.  At  present  the 
joint  managers  of  the  firm  are  Messrs.  J.  K. 
Panoff  and  A.  N.  Kassadin,  both  of  whom 
have  been  for  some  years  residents  of 
Hankow,  and  occupy  prominent  positions  in 
its  commercial  life.  Mr,  Panoff  has  erected 
some  of  the  finest  buildings  in  the  Settlement  ; 
and  both  are  members  of  the  Russian 
Municipal  Council.  Mr.  Rassadin  being  the 
chairman. 


The  Hankow  factory  is  a  large  and 
well-equipped  establishment  in  the  British 
Concession,  giving  employment  to  about  two 
thousand  Chinese,  under  European  supervision. 
Hrick  tea  is  made  from  ordinary  tea  and 
tea  dust,  steamed  in  cotton  bags,  and  then 
placed  in  moulds  and  pressed  to  the  hardness 
of  an  ordinary  brick,  It  is  then  wrapped, 
and  packed  ready  for  shipment  in  baskets, 
each  of  which  has  a  capacity  for  ij  picuis. 
Mucli  of  this  brick  tea  finds  its  way  to 
Mongolia.  Tablet  tea,  made  from  the  very 
finest  leaf  and  dust,  is  not  steamed,  and  thus 
its  flavour  is  in  no  way  impaired  ;  it  is 
subjected  to  a  pressure  of  several  tons,  and 
is  then  packed  in  tinfoil,  in  tablets  of  about 
2\  o/.s.  each.  Practically  tlie  whole  of  this 
class  of  tea  goes  to  Russia.  During  the  tea 
season,  which  lasts  from  April  till  August, 
the  tea  is  shipped  by  the  Russian  Volunteer 
Fleet.  The  firm  act  as  general  agents  for 
this  line  of  steamers,  which  sail  direct  for 
Odessa,  the  principal  distributing  centre  of 
the  Russian  tea  trade. 


MESSES.    BLACK  &   CHRISTIE. 

-Ai.THOLHiH  established  only  about  a  year 
ago,  the  engineering  firm  of  Messrs.  Black 
&  Christie  have  already  secured  a  large 
share  of  local  work,  including  work  from 
the  British  authorities  and  important  contracts 
from  some  of  the  largest  factories  in  Hankow 
and  its  neighbourhood.  Mr.  Black  was  for 
eight  years  foreman  engineer  of  the  Inter- 
national Dock  at  Shanghai,  and  Mr.  Christie 
was  for  several  years  employed  in  the 
Pootung  and  Kiangnan  Dockyards.  ITpon 
entering  into  partnership  early  in  1907  they 
acquired  a  piece  of  land  in  the  British 
Concession  at  Hankow,  and  there  erected 
the  first  British  engineering  works  in  the 
Settlement.  Their  shops  are  equipped  with 
complete  modern  plants  for  lathe  work, 
pattern  work,  carpentry,  and  castings  up  to 
five  tons  ;  and  as  everything  is  carried  out 
under  their  own  personal  supervision  they 
are  able  to  guarantee  satisfaction  to  their 
increasing  clicntilc. 


* 


THE  SHANGHAI  MACHINE  COMPANY. 

This  Company,  owned  by  the  well-known 
firm  of  Buchheister  &  Co.,  makes  a  speciality 
of  all  kinds  of  machinery.  The  parent  firm 
has  been  trading  in  China  for  the  last  forty 
years,  and  has  supplied  some  of  the  largest 
machinery  plants  in  the  country.  The  Com- 
pany was  established  to  meet  the  immediate 
wants  of  Chinese  purchasers  and  exhibit  to 
them  the  latest  improvements  in  tools  and 
machinery.  The  Hankow  branch  was  opened 
two  years  ago  on  the  British  Concession  in  a 
fine  new  building  specially  adapted  to  the 
Company's  requirements.  A  large  and  varied 
stock  is  displayed  to  advantage  in  a  spacious 
showroom,  and  both  the  Shanghai  Machine 
Company  and  the  parent  linn  undertake  to 
supply  plant  of  all  descriptions,  and  erect 
it  under  the  direct  supervision  of  their  own 
expert.  They  have  been  responsible  for 
the  equipment  of  many  of  the  Government 
factories  in  the  neighbourhood.  Each  depart- 
ment is  under  competent  European  manage- 
ment, and  the  result  is  that  satisfaction  is 
always  guaranteed  tf)  the  firm's  customers. 


m 


MOLCHANOFF.    PECHATNOFF    &    CO. 

Thk  Tka  Factoky.  ihk  Okkicks  ox  iHE  Bind. 


THE    PREMISES    AND    PACKING    HOUSES    OF    THE    CHINA    AND    JAVA    EXPORT    COMPANY.  [See  page  714] 


714      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE    HEW    EH6IHE    AND    IRON    WOEKS. 

In  a  port  like  Hankow,  with  its  many  factories, 
its  great  buildinj;  activity  and  its  extensive 
senices  of  river  steamers,  a  thoroughly  up-to- 
date  engineering  and  repairing  establishment 


headquarters,  and  the  quality  of  the  floods 
sold  is  guaranteed  by  the  reputation  the 
Company  has  established  at  Shanghai.  A 
full  account  of  the  origin  and  development 
of  this  house  appears  in' the  Shanghai  section 
of  this  volume.  


[See  paije  710] 


HANKOW    BRICK    AND    TILE    "WORKS. 


is  of  paramount  importance.  Recognising 
this.  Mr.  G.  Hiilsemann  founded,  in  1903, 
the  works  now  known  as  the  New  Engine 
and  Iron  Works,  situated  at  the  corner  of 
Fredrich  and  Augusta  Streets  in  the  German 
Concession.  Mr.  Hiilsemann  has  had  a 
varied  experience  in  many  parts  of  the 
world,  and  under  his  personal  supervision 
he  employs  some  two  hundred  Chinese 
workmen.  All  classes  of  engineering  and 
constructional  ironwork,  the  building  of 
houses  and  factories,  and  the  construction  and 
erection  of  machinery  are  undertaken  ;  electric 
and  other  lighting  plants  are  installed:  and 
a  well-equipped  foundry,  in  which  there  is 
a  modern  machine  hammer,  enables  the  firm 
to  undertake  castings  in  various  metals  and 
heavy  wrought-iron  work.  In  connection 
with  the  establishment  Mr.  Hiilsemann  rents 
a  piece  of  land  with  a  bund  frontage,  and  is 
there  in  a  pf)sition  to  carry  out  repairs  to 
steam  launches  and  other  river  vessels. 


# 


WEEKS    b   CO.,   LTD. 

A  BRANCH  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Messrs. 
Weeks  &  Co..  Ltd.,  drapers,  outfitters,  and 
general  furnishers,  of  Nanking  Road,  Shang- 
hai, has  been  opened  in  Hankow,  where 
business  was  formerly  carried  on  through  the 
agency  of  travellers,  who  were  sent  to  the 
principal  ports  of  the  Yangtsze  direct  from 
headquarters.  The  rapid  increase  in  the 
foreign  population  of  the  Settlement,  and  the 
extent  of  the  business  transacted,  led  t<j  the 
establishment  of  a  l(K.-al  branch.  The  present 
stores  in  Faucheong  Road —photographs  of 
which  are  repnxluced  in  this  volume — were 
opened  in  IQ02.  and  the  enterprise  has  been 
fully  justified  by  results.  In  their  arrange- 
ment and  organis:ition  the  stores  are  an 
exact     replica,    on    a    smaller    scale,    of    the 


# 


st:>rted  operations  at  Hankow,  Their  local 
offices  are  in  the  British  Concession,  in  the 
heart  of  the  best  business  quarter,  and  here 
they  carry  on  trade  as  importers,  exporters, 
and  general  merchants,  dealing  extensively 
in  every  class  of  Chinese  product,  wliicii 
they  prepare  for  the  market  and  ship  direct 
to  Kurope.  They  have  large  godowns,  a 
drying  ground  for  hides,  and  an  albumen 
factory  in  the  Concession,  and  act  as  general 
agents  for  the  Siiio-Gernian  Ore  Company, 
Ltd.,  the  British  Dominions  Marine  Insurance 
Company,  Ltd.,  and  the  Sun  I^ife  Assurance 
Company  of  Canada.  The  partners  in  the 
Company  are  Messrs.  M.  Schwarz,  O.  Gaumer 
(Hankow),  and  H.  Thomsen  (Hamburg). 

THE  SCHWEIGEE  IMPORT  AND  EXPORT 
COMPANY,  LTD. 

This  is  a  branch  of  an  Italian  firm  witli 
headquarters  at  Milan  and  premises,  also,  at 
Shanghai.  Manila,  and  Singapore.  Although 
their  connection  with  Hankow  dates  only 
from  H)Ob,  they  occupy  fine  offices  in  the 
Russian  Concession  and  own  several  extensive 
godowns  in  the  foreign  settlement.  They 
carry  on  business  as  general  importers 
and  exporters,  dealing  very  largely  in  all 
classes  of  Chinese  produce,  and  through 
their  agencies  and  branches  are  able  to 
handle  all  Eastern  products  to  great  ad- 
vantage. They  import  largely,  also,  from 
European  houses. 

Mr.  M.  Giuliani,  the  local  manager,  has 
had  some  years'  experience  in  China,  and 
has  been  at  Hankow  since  the  Company 
started  operations  here. 


THE    ENGINEERING    WORKS    OF    BLACK    &    CHRISTIE. 


[SccpMKC  712.] 


SCHWARZ,    GAUMER    &    CO. 

Thk  headquarters  of  Messrs.  Schwar/. 
Gaumer  &  Co.  are  at  Hamburg.  They  have 
a  branch  also  at  Shanghai,  and  two  years  ,ago 


THE    CHINA    AND    JAVA    EXPORT    COMPANY. 

Thk  Hankow  branch  of  this  well-known 
firm,  whose  branches  are  found  throughout 
the    East,    carries   on    business   in   the   export 


NEW    ENGINE    AND    IRON     WORKS. 


THE    SCHWEIGER    IMPORT   AND    EXPORT    COMPANY'S   (LTD.)   PREMISES    AND    GODOWN. 


16    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKON(J,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


of  Chinese  prtxluce  of  all  kinds,  larjje  i^oii- 
signinents  being  shipped  direct  to  Europe 
and  America.  The  firm  make  a  speciality 
of  the  cleaning  and  export  of  hides  and 
skins,  and  have  a  large  godown  and 
packing-house    at    the    liack    of    the    Settle- 


the  tea  industry  of  North  China  generally, 
by  Messrs.  Litvinoff  &  Co.,  one  of  the  pioneer 
European  business  houses.  The  firm  own 
and  operate  one  of  the  large  brick  and  tablet 
tea  factories  for  which  the  port  is  famous, 
their   output    being   some    150,000   baskets   of 


THE    PREMISES    AND    SHOWROOMS    OF    THE    SHANGHAI 
MACHINE    COMPANY, 


[See  page  711.] 


ment  Their  offices  are  located  in  the  busiest 
part  of  the  British  Bund.  The  local  joint 
managers  are  Messrs.  A.  Frank  and  C. 
O.  Krcrickb. 

S.    W.   LITTIHOFF    &    CO. 

A  OREAT  deal  has  been  done  towards  opening 
up  Hankow  to  foreign  trade,  and  developing 


I J  piculs  each  of  brick  tea  per  annum.  Tlic 
most  modern  machinery  is  employed,  and 
the  establishment,  which  provides  work  for 
between  eight  and  nine  hundred  people,  is 
kept  busy  day  and  night.  The  tea  is  pressed 
by  steam  into  bricks,  while  the  tablet  tea 
is  made  up  into  tablets  of  2^  ozs,  very  care- 
fully so  as  to  retain  its  exquisite  flavour.  The 
firm  have  carried  on  business  under  various 
European  names  since  they  were  established 


in  1863.  but  their  hong  name.  "  Shuiig  Fung." 
has  been  retained  throughout,  and  is  known 
all  over  North  China.  Their  Hankow  factorv 
occupies  a  valuable  site  in  the  Kussian 
Concession.  They  have  also  another  large 
factory  at  Kiukiang.  The  bulk  of  the  produce 
is  sent  direct  to  Siberia.  The  present  head 
of  the  firm  is  Mr.  S.  VV.  Litvinoff,  and  the 
Hankow  s'aff  includes  Messrs.  M.  S.  Ovevrin, 
S.  \V.  Unjemin.  \V.  W.  Hochloff,  C'  M. 
Benzeman.  and  several  Russian  assistants. 
Messrs.  Hochloff  and  Benzeman  are  members 
of  the  Kussian   Municipal  Council. 


ME.  D.  M.  MELNIKOFF  is  the  manager  of 
Messrs.  I^itvinoff  &  Co.'s  tea  factory  at 
Kiukiang.  This  is  a  factory  of  considerable 
importance,  having  been  established  about 
tliirty  years  ago.  A  large  number  of  men 
are  employed  under  the  supervision  of  Kussian 
tea  experts,  and  both  brick  and  tablet  tea  are 
produced. 


WESTPHAL,    KING    &    RAMSAY,    LTD. 

Originally  known  by  the  name  of  King, 
Simpson  &  Ramsay,  this  firm  was  floated 
as  a  limited  liability  company,  under  its 
present  title,  at  the  beginning  of  tgo8.  It 
holds  an  important  position  among  the  British 
houses  in  the  Settlement,  and  with  branches 
at  Shanghai,  Foochow,  Colombo,  and  London, 
conducts  a  flourishing  and  steadily  increasing 
business.  Messrs.  Westphal,  King  &  Ramsay, 
Ltd.,  deal  in  all  kinds  of  general  merchandise, 
in  every  class  of  both  European  and  Chinese 
goods,  and,  during  the  season,  engage 
extensively  in  the  tea  trade  at  Hankow.  In 
addition,  they  act  as  shipping  and  commercial 
agents,  representing  in  Hankow,  the  Nippon 
Yusen  Kaisha,  the  Great  Northern  Steamship 
Company,  the  East  Asiatic  Company,  Ltd. ; 
the  Kussian  East  Asiatic  Steamship  Company, 
Ltd.,  the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company,  the 
Occidental  and  Oriental  Steamship  Company, 
the  Toyo  Kisen  Kaisha,  the  Royal  Marine 
and  South  British  Insurance  Companies,  the 
Commercial  Union  Assurance  Company,  the 
Atlas  Assurance  Company,  the  Central  In- 
surance Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  Hankow  Wharf 
and  Godown  Company,  &c.  Mr.  Hugh 
Ramsay  is  the  local  manager. 


ELIE    BOUCHARD. 

Mr.  Elie  Bouchard  has  been  trading  in 
Hankow  under  his  own  name,  as  a  general 
importer,  exporter,  and  merchant,  for  the 
past  twelve  years.  He  has  made  a  spe- 
ciality of  machinery  of  all  descriptions,  and 
latterly  he  has  secured  a  partnership  in  a  coal 
mine,  distant  about  80  miles  (seven  hours' 
journey)  from  Hankow,  on  the  Tan  Say  Wan 
Creek.  Under  his  own  supervision  work  was 
commenced  early  in  iyo8,  and,  with  the 
machinery  since  installed,  the  mine  has  an 
output  of  about  150  tons  a  day.  It  is  said 
that  the  coal  is  some  of  the  best  that  has 
yet  been  found  in  China.  At  present  there 
is  an  excellent  market  locally  for  all  the 
coal  which  is  produced,  but  if  the  output 
can  be  increased,  as  seems  lilvcly,  the  Com- 
pany have  exceptional  facilities  for  trans- 
port. The  mine  is  under  the  direction  of 
a  European  engineer,  and  power  for  the 
machinery  is  generated  in  a  boiler  of  350 
horse-power,  Mr.  Bouchard  takes  an  interest 
in  local  affairs  and  has  served  as  a  member 
of    the  French    Municipal    Council.      He    is 


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718     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


one  trf  the  directors  of  the  Hankow  Race 
Club. 

FEKD.    BOKHEMANM. 

This  firm  of  importers  ;uid  cx|X)rtcrs  have 
been  established  in  Hankow  for  some  years. 
Their  offices  are  situated  in  the  British  Con- 
cession, at  No.  3.  Ewo  Road.  They  have 
offices,  also,  in  Hongkong  and  Shanghai,  and 
are  a  branch  of  the  well-known  firm  of 
Messrs.  Carl  Breiding  &  Sohn,  of  Soltaii.  in 
Hanover  ;  Berlin  and  Solingen,  in  Germany  ; 
Moscow  and  Zaraysk.  in  Russia  ;  Prague,  in 
Austria  :  and  Adelaide  and  Melbourne,  in 
.\ustralia. 

# 
A.    BSAHDT  b  CO. 

Aktek  twelve  years'  experience  in  China, 
Mr.  A.  Brandt  came  to  Hankow  some  eight 
years  ago.  and  started  business  as  a  general 
importer  and  commission  agent.  The  venture 
has  made  great  progress,  and  Messrs.  Brandt 
&  Co.  now  have  offices  and  a  depot  in  the 
French  Concession.  Mr.  Brandt  is  also  the 
sole  manager  of  the  Chin  Lung  Flour  Milling 
Company,  which  owns  a  large  mill  with  a 
capacity  of  thirty  thousand  bags  of  flour  a 
month.  The  mill  was  erected  some  two 
vears  ago  at  a  cost  of  $150,000,  and  is 
equipped  with  the  latest  and  best  machinery 
of  French  manufacture.  Wheat  is  obtained 
from  the  interior  of  China,  and  for  the  high- 
grade  flour  produced  there  is  a  strong  demand 
in  the  local  market.  The  mill  is  under  the 
charge  of  an  expert  European  miller.  As  a 
memt>cr  of  the  French  Municipal  Council 
and  as  Vice-Consul  for  Denmark,  Mr.  Brandt 
takes  the  keenest  interest  in  local  affairs. 


THE    PREMISES    OF    OLIVIER    &    CO. 


[See  pace  714.] 


MESSRS.    WEEKS 


LTD.-HANKOW    ESTABLISHMENT. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      711 


FUHSMEISTEE    &    CO. 

Messrs.  Fuhrmeister  &  Co..  who  have  their 
head  ol'iice  in  Shanghai  and  a  branch  office  in 
Hamburg,  opened  a  brancli  at  Hankow  about 
four  years  ago.  and  have  developed  a  large 
business  connection  as  exporters  of  Chinese 
produce.  The  principal  articles  of  export  are 
liides  and  sesamum  seeds.  In  passing  it  may 
be    mentioned   that    of   sesamum    seeds   about 


ment  of   the   business, 
is  Mr.  R.  Herbertz. 


The   local    manager 


# 


OLIVIER    &    CO. 

One  of  the  oldest  and  most  important  French 
houses  at  Hankow  is  that  of  Messrs.  Olivier 
&  Co.,  which   has   its   headquarters  in  Paris, 


preparing  goods  for  direct  shipment  to  the 
markets  of  Europe  and  America.  At  bristle- 
cleaning  alone  they  employ  some  four 
hundred  Chinese.  Their  imports  consist 
chiefly  of  piece  goods  and  Manchester  goods 
generally. 

The  manager  of  the  branch  is  Mr.  E. 
Binder,  who  is  a  member  of  the  Hankow 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  has  spent  many 
years  in  the  East  in  the  service  of  the 
Company. 


CONSULS    AND    MEMBERS    OF    MUNICIPAL    COUNCILS    OF    VARIOUS 
NATIONALITIES    AT    HANKOW. 


1.  A.  X.  OSTROVERKHOW,  Consul  for  Russia.  Russian 

Municipal  Council. 

2.  T.  K.  P.woFF,  Russian  Municipal  Council. 

3.  W.  W.  Hachlokf,  Russian  Municipal  Council. 

4.  A.  X.  R.\ss.Al)lx,  Russian  Municipal  Council. 

5.  C.  M.  Bkxzk-MAX,  Russian  Municipal  Council. 

6.  E.  MlROW,  German  Municipal  Council. 

7.  H.  SCHLICHTIXG,  German  Municipal  Council. 

8.  J.  Thyex,  German  Municipal  Council. 

9.  F.  Mri.LEK,  German  Municipal  Council. 

10.  J,  Archibald.  British  Municipal  Council. 

11.  J.  R.  Ghkavks,  Hritish  Municipal  Council. 


a  huiKlred  thousand  tons  are  sent  away  from 
the  port  every  year,  chiefly  to  Europe  and 
Africa.  The  firm  are  the  local  agents  for 
the  China  Import  and  Export  Lumber  Com- 
pany, and  for  several  of  the  leading  insurance 
oftices.  At  present  they  occupy  premises  on 
the  British  Concession,  but  plans  for  new 
oftices  and  godowns  on  the  German  Con- 
cession have  been  prepared,  and  the  premises, 
when  completed  in  about  a  year's  time,  will 
afford  ample    scope    for   the   further   develop- 


|.  J.  Dunne,  British  Municipal  Council. 

P.  \V.  O.  LlUDELL,  British  Municipal  Council. 

\V.  E.  Howard,  British  Municipal  Council. 

K.    Takahashi.    Consul    for    Japan,    Japanese 

Municipal  Council, 
S.  Tachibaxa,  Japanese  Municipal  Council, 
H.  NAGAYAsf,  Japanese  Municipal  Council. 
Rexe  de  Hees,  French  Municipal  Council. 
.-\.    DfHRE,    Consul   for    France,    French    Municipal 

Council. 
F.  Koi.KMEVER.  Consul  for  Nethtrlands. 


where  it  has  been  established  for  many  years, 
and  branches  at  Shanghai  and  throughout  the 
Far  East.  The  Company  carry  on  a  general 
import  and  export  trade,  and  deal  extensively 
in  all  descriptions  of  Chinese  products. 
Their  new  offices  at  Hankow  are  situated  in 
the  British  Concession,  and  attached  is  a 
drying  ground  for  hides,  a  bristle  cleaning 
factory,  which  is  probably  the  largest  in  the 
Settlement,  a  seed-cleaning  factory,  and  all 
the   necessary  implements  and  machinery  for 


ALEX.    ROSE    &    CO. 

This  firm,  established  a  few  years  ago  by 
the  principal  partners,  and  Mr.  Kao  Lang 
P'ing,  carry  on  business  as  general  importers, 
land  and  real  estate  brokers,  and  general 
commission  agents  and  merchants.  They 
are  practically  the  only  firm  in  Hankow 
making  a  speciality  of  imports,  and  they 
appear  to  have  a  considerable  field  open  to 
them.  Mr.  A.  Rose,  who  before  setting  up 
in  business  for  himself  had  a  wide  experience 
extending  over  several  \ears  in  various  parts 
of  the  East,  is  a  civil  engineer,  architect,  and 
contractor ;  he  is  also  the  manager  of  the 
Tien  Shun  Syndicate,  which  holds  contracts 
from  the  Hankow  municipal  authorities  for 
filling  in  and  raising  the  land  in  the  different 
concessions. 

THE    MITSUI    BUSSAN    KAISHA. 

This  widely  known  Japanese  coal  firm  has 
for  some  ten  years  past  had  a  depot  at 
Hankow,  with  sub-agencies  on  the  Yangtsze 
at  Changsha  and  Chinkiang.  In  addition 
to  the  ordinary  coal  trade,  a  general  import 
and  export  business  is  carried  on  at  Hankow, 
large  quantities  of  Japanese  cotton  yarn, 
sugar,  minerals,  and  timber  being  shipped 
direct  to  the  port  during  the  high-water 
season  in  the  firm's  own  steamers,  which 
return  with  considerable  quantities  of  Chinese 
produce.  Among  the  important  agencies  held 
by  the  firm  is  that  of  the  Meiji  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  Limited,  one  of  the  leading  in- 
surance concerns  of  its  kind.  The  office  staff 
comprises  twenty  Japanese  and  numerous 
Chinese  assistants,  the  local  manager  being 
Mr.  S.  Yamamoto,  who  has  been  in  the 
service  of  the  firm  for  many  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Japanese  Municipal  Council, 
and  takes  a  keen  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the   Settlement. 

THE   NIPPON    NENKWA    KABHSHIKI    KAISHA. 

The  Nippon  Nenkwa  Kabushiki  Kaisha,  or 
Japan  Cotton  Trading  Company,  whose  head 
offices,  are  at  Osaka,  Japan,  opened  a  branch 
in  the  native  city  of  Hankow  in  1904.  The 
firm  are  general  commission  agents  and 
merchants,  and  act  as  agents  for  the  Japan 
Fire  and  Japan  Marine  Transport  and  Fire 
Insurance  Company.  They  export  raw  cotton, 
manures,  and  all  kinds  of  agricultural  produce, 
and  import  Japanese  cotton  yarn  and  piece 
goods,  coal,  matches,  umbrellas,  clocks,  and 
simdries.  They  control  several  large  factories, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  cotton 
pressing  factory,  opened  in  1905  in  Hinyang, 
and  equipped  with  facilities  for  packing  a 
thousand  piculs  of  raw  cotton  in  twenty-four 
hours  ;  a  cotton  seed  oil  mill  in  the  Japanese 
Concession  at  Hankow  capable  of  crushing 
1,200  piculs  of  cotton  seed  a  day  ;  and  two 
bean    oil    mills— one   of   similar   capacity    to 


'20    TAVENTIETH  CENTURY  IIMPHKSSIONS  OV  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


meet  the  expansion  of  their  local  business, 
the  tirm  has  now  acquired  a  site  in  the 
Japanese  Concession.  where  handsome 
premises  are  beiiig  built.  These  are  ex- 
pected to  be  ready  for  occupation  in  about 
a  year's  time.  The  imports  of  the  branch 
consist  chiefly  of  coal  and  copper  from  the 
firm's  own  mines  in  Japan,  and  of  white  and 
printing;  paper.  The  export  trade  embraces 
iron-ore  from  the  Yanjjtsze  Valley,  and 
general  Chinese  produce.  The  cargoes  are 
carried  in  the  firm's  own  steamers.  Large 
godowns  have  been  erected  in  the  Japanese 
Concession,  and  numbers  of  coolies  are  there 
employed.  Tlie  manager,  Mr.  Miyagawa, 
is  assisted  by  a  numerous  olTice  staff.  The 
assistant  manager,  Mr.  H.  Nagayasii,  is  a 
member  of  the  Japanese  Municipal  Council. 


m 


Si-\-G  Wei  Chin-. 


Taxg  Kkk  shaxo. 

Whasg  Tatfoo. 

Liy  Six  Sexg. 


the  cotton  seed  oil  mill  at  Hankow,  and  the 
other  situated  in  Hanyang.  The  amount 
of  business  traiisiicted  by  the  Hankow  odfice, 
of  which  Mr.  H.  Ohoka  has  charge,  is  not 
less  than  TIs.  5,000,000  annually. 

*^ 

THE    NISSHIN    KISEN    KAISHA. 

This  firm,  which  maintains  steam  communi- 
cation between  all  the  ports  of  the  Yangtsze  and 
Shanghai,  operates  a  joint  service  in  which 
several  of  the  largest  Japanese  steamship 
companies  are  interested.  There  are  eight 
steamers  on  the  run  between  Hankow  and 
Shanghai,  giving  a  daily  service,  and  calling 
at  Chinkiang,  Nanking,  Wuhu,  and  Kiukiang  ; 
and  there  are  three  on  the  Hankow-lchang 
line.  These  steamers  are  large  and  have  all 
modern  appointments.  A  service  of  smaller 
vessels  is  maintained  on  the  Hankow-Siangt:ui. 
Harikow-Changteh.  and  Kiukiang-N'anchang 
runs :  whilst  launches  ply  lietween  various 
less  important  river  stations.  The  firm  act 
as  agents  tor  the  Tokyo  Marine  Insurance 
Company,  and  the  Osaka  Shosen  Kaisha. 
They  have  offices  in  the  British  and  Russian 
Concessions,  and  in  the  Chinese  City,  as  well 
as  large  godowns  on  the  Bund.  The  local 
manager  is  Mr.  Takao  TsuiKxIa,  who  has  a 
seat  on  the  Japanese  Municipal  Council. 


THE   KITSn    BI8HI    COMPAHT,    LTD. 

Oke  of  the  most  influential  Japanese  business 
concerns  in  Hankow  is  the  Mllsu  Bishi  Coin- 


OKURA   Si   CO. 

The  Hankow  branch  of  the  Japanese  house 
of  Okura  &  Co.  was  opened  in  1904 
with  offices  in  the  British  Concession.  The 
headquarters  of  the  firm  are  in  Tokyo,  and 
there  are  branches  at  Shanghai  and  in  most 
of  the  important  commercial  towns  of  the 
East.  The  Company's  business  is  chiefly  that 
of  general  merchants,  and  a  large  trade  is 
done  in  the  export  of  Chinese  products,  and 
the  import  of  Japanese  and  foreign  commodities 
for  the  Chinese  market.  The  tirm  have 
obtained  the  coiitract  from  the  Government 
of  Japan  for  plaiming  and  building  the 
Japanese  Concession  in  Hankow,  and  the 
work  is  making  good  progress  under  the 
supervision  of  the  Japanese  engineers 
employed  by  the  Company.  The  manager 
of  the  branch,  Mr.  S.  Tachibana,  has  spent 
several  years  in  China,  and  possesses  an 
excellent  knowledge  of  the  conditions  of 
the  market  and  of  trade  generally.  He  is 
pany,  Ltd.,  which  some  seven  years  ago  a  member  of  the  Japanese  Municipal  Council, 
opened  offices  in  the  French  Concession,     To      and  of  the  Race  and  other  local  clubs. 


WoxG  Hai  Kax 


ONE    OF    THE    FACTORIES    OF    THE    JAPAN    COTTON 
TRADING    COMPANY,    LTD. 


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722     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE    PHASMACIE    CEHTRALE. 

The  Phannacic  Centralc.  ix>nductcd  by 
Messrs.  Bernard  and  Nonhouval,  has  been 
established  in  Hankow  for  some  nine  years, 
and  occupies  fine  premises  m  the  Hue  de 
Hanoi,  in  the  French  Concession.  The 
usual  business  of  a  modem  clicmist's 
establishment  is  carried  on,  prescriptions 
are  carefully  dispensed,  and  a  \-aried  stock 
of  chemicals,  drugs,  perfumes,  toilet  articles, 
soaps,  sundries,  &c.,  imported  direct  from 
leading;  European  houses,  is  always  kept  on 
hand.  There  is  also  a  wine  and  spirit 
department,  and,  for  the  benefit  of  the  tourist, 
photographic  materials  and  an  attractive 
selection  of  picture  postcards  are  offered  for 
sale. 


EUROPEAN     PERSONAL. 

MR.    H.    SCHLICHTING. 

Mr.  H.  ScHi.iCHTixi;.  president  of  the 
German  Municipal  Council  at  Hankow,  is 
recognised  as  being  in  large  measure 
responsible  for  the  present  satisfactory 
condition  of  the  German  Concession.  He 
has  spent  nearly  thirty  years  in  China,  and 
for  more  than  half  this  time  has  been  a 
resident  of  Hankow,  carrying  on  business 
as  a  broker,  commission  agent,  and  general 
importer.  Some  of  the  largest  land  transac- 
tions in  Hankow  have  been  made  through 
his  agency.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters 
of  the  German-Chinese  School,  and  has 
displayed  the  greatest  activity  in  every 
department  of  the  public  life  of  the  Settlement. 
On  all  matters  relating  to  the  German 
Concession  he  is  a  recognised  authority. 


HR.  A.    R.    BURTENSHAW. 

Mr.  a.  R.  lii:KTKN'SH.\w,  than  whom 
few  men  are  better  known  in  local  business 
circles,  has  spent  upwards  of  a  quarter  of  a 
century  in  China,  and  about  half  that  time  in 
Hankow.  His  object  in  coming  to  China 
was  to  study  the  language,  and  he  now 
speaks  and  wriles  tlu'ee  dialects  fluently.  He 
has  also  studied  civil  and  practical  engineer- 
ing, and  holds  the  highest  certificates  in 
both.  In  the  past  he  has  rendered  great 
service  to  the  Chinese  authorities.  For  some 
years  he  was  adviser  to  the  Governor  of 
Hangchow,  and  installed  the  machinery  at 
the  local  mint.  At  Wuchang  he  advised  as 
to  the  better  and  more  economical  working 
of  the  Government  cotton,  cash,  and  silver 
mills,  and  revised  and  re-erected  .some  of 
the  machinery.  At  Hankow  his  advice  has 
been    sought    in     behalf    of    many    Chinese 


The  GoDoWNJi, 


CARLOWITZ    &    CO. 

Oke  Kekivery  Works, 


I'HK  OKFlCtS. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     723 


industries  rcquiriiif;  technical  assistance,  and, 
being  generally  reticent,  broad-minded,  and 
active  in  his  work,  he  is  well  liked  by  the 
Chinese  generally.  He  is  now  manager  of 
the  Hankow  branch  of  the  Vacuum  Oil  Com- 
pany, and  is  largely  interested  in  various 
other  industries,  including  that  carried  on 
by  the  Yuen  Fong  Oil  Mills,  which  have 
probably  the  most  up-to-date  plant  for  the 
expression  of  oean  ,oil  in  North  China.  In 
short,  Mr.  Burtenshaw  deserves  the  thanks 
of    English    firms   and    manufacturers   for   all 


that  he  has  done  towards  introducing  the 
best  class  of  British  machinery  into  Hankow 
and  the  Yangtsze  Valley  generally. 

ORIENTAL    PERSONAL. 

MR.    TANG    KEE    SHANG. 
Mk.    Tanc    Kkk    Shaxg    may,    in    a    sense, 
be  regarded  as  the  father  of  Chinese  business 
men  in   the   foreign   concessions  at  Hankow, 


[See  page  704]        THE    HANYANG    IRON    AND    STEEL    WORKS,    HANKOW. 


A  Cantonese,  he  joined  the  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  Bank  as  compradore  when  the 
Hankow  branch  was  opened,  some  forty-four 
years  ago  by  Mr.  (now  Sir)  Thomas  Jackson, 
who  was  the  bank's  first  manager  in  Hankow. 
Mr.  Tang  Kee  Shang's  honest  business 
methods  have  won  the  respect  alike  of  Euro- 
pean and  Chinese  merchants  ;  and  he  is  held 
in  high  esteem  by  the  Corporation,  who 
recognise  that  he  has  contributed  not  a 
little  towards  the  success  of  the  branch.  He 
is  a  director  of  the  Government  cotton  mills 
at  Wuchang,  and  a  member  of  the  local 
Chamber  of  Commerce.  Mr.  Tang  Kee  Shang 
lives  with  his  family  in  a  fine  house  in  the 
Russian  Concession. 

# 

MS.    UV   SIN   SENG. 

Mr.  Liu  Sin  Seng,  one  of  the  wealthiest 
and  best  known  Chinese  business  men  in 
Hankow,  his  native  place,  has  for  some  six 
years  held  the  position  of  compradore  to  the 
local  branch  of  the  Banque  de  I'lndo-Chine. 
He  is,  also,  interested  in  many  business 
undertakings  in  the  Settlement,  including 
that  of  filling  in  a  great  portion  of  the  foreign 
concessions.  In  this  w^ork  he  employs  four- 
teen road  locomotives  and  hundreds  of  coolies, 
bringing  thousands  of  tons  of  earth  into  the 
concessions  every  month  to  raise  the  low- 
lying  ground.  He  owns  a  bean-cake  oil  mill, 
equipped  with  the  latest  machinery,  and  he 
is  a  director  of  the  Wuchang,  Hankow,  and 
Hanyang  Telephone  Company.  He  holds  the 
rank  of  a  Taoutai  of  the  First  Order,  and  is 
vice-president  of  the  Chinese  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce. He  is  given  to  charitable  works  of  a 
practical  nature,  and,  among  other  institutions, 
has  established  a  college  of  music  for  Chinese. 
Mr.  Liu  Sin  Seng  lives  with  his  family  in  a 
charming  residence  in  the  British  Con- 
cession. 


TIENTSIN. 


IlENTSIN  is  second  in  impor- 
tance only  to  Shanghai  among 
the  Treaty  ports  of  China. 
Situated  some  30  miles  up  the 
Pei-ho  River,  it  was  probably  a 
sea-coast  %illa};e  two  thousand 
years  ago.  The  alteration  in 
its  geographical  position  has  been  brought 
about,  m  the  course  of  many  centuries,  by 
the  unwearying  activity  of  natural  forces,  but 
the  metamorphosis  in  its  commercial  prospects 
has  been  effected  in  comparatively  few  years. 
Till  the  end  of  the  Ming  dynasty.  1644  A.u., 
Tientsin  was  only  a  second-rate  military 
station.  At  the  opening  of  the  eighteenth 
century  a  rapid  transformation  had  taken 
place,  and  it  was  then,  as  now,  a  great  dis- 
tributing centre.  During  recent  years  its 
progress  has  been  more  remarkable  than 
that  of  any  city  within  the  confines  of  the 
Empire.  Lying  at  the  junction  of  the  Grand 
Canal  with  the  Pei-ho,  Tientsin  is  distant 
some  80  miles  from  Peking.  The  country  is 
Hat  and  uninteresting,  and  practically  the 
whole  of  the  city  is  built  on  raised  land.  The 
many  waterways  with  which  it  is  surrounded 
are.  for  the  most  part,  of  a  dirty  yellow 
appearance,  and  certainly  do  not  add  to  the 
attractiveness  of  the  district,  but  their  im- 
portance as  a  means  of  communication,  and 
the  influence  they  have  had  on  the  trade  of 
the  port,  cannot  t>e  over-estimated. 

The  climate  is  one  of  extremes.  The 
thermometer  ranges  from  zero  in  the  winter, 
when  all  the  rivers  in  North  China  are  frozen 
to  a  depth  of  a  foot  or  more,  and  the  port 
is  closed  for  a  period  of  three  or  four  months, 
to  105  and  1 10  degrees  in  June  and  July.  A 
short  rainy  sea.son  extending  from  the  middle 
of  July  to  the  end  of  August  reduces  the 
excessive  heat,  but,  unfortunately,  brings  with 
it  the  necessity  for  mosquito-nets  ;  and  dust- 
storms  rage  frequently  in  the  spring  and 
autumn.  The  long  bright  winter  days,  how- 
ever, add  a  zest  to  life,  and  quickly  cause  the 
disadvantages  of  the  summer  and  rainy 
seasons  to  be  forgotten. 

The  native  population  of  Tientsin  —  or 
Heaven's  Ford,  according  to  the  English 
translation — is  reputed  to  tie  1,000,000,  but 
there  are  no  reliable  statistics  upf)n  which 
an  estimate  can  be  based,  for  the  census  taken 
by  the  police  in  1904  was  entirely  unsatisfactory. 


The  natives  formerly  earned  the  unenviable 
distinction  of  being  the  most  violent,  as  well 
as  the  most  hostile  to  the  foreigner,  of  any 
in  the  Empire.  "  Ten  oily-mouthed  Pekingese 
cannot  get  ahead  of  one  tonguey  Tientsinese," 
is  a  well-known  Chinese  comment  upon  the 
character  of  the  inhabitants  of  a  city  which 
has  been  the  scene  of  one  massacre  and  two 
military  campaigns  in  the  last  half  century. 
Happily  there  has  been  a  marked  improve- 
ment in  recent  years,  the  continuity  of  policy 


his  chief  place  of  residence  and  the  centre 
of  his  experiments  in  military  and  naval 
education,  with  the  result  that  it  came  to 
be  regarded  as  the  focus  of  the  new  learning 
and  of  national  reform.  His  Excellency's 
successor,  Yuan  Shih  Khan,  won  the  uni- 
versal respect  of  the  foreign  community  by 
his  liberal  policy  and  humane  government, 
as  well  as  by  his  conslant  endeavours  to 
create  a  better  understanding  between  the 
nationalities. 


GORDON    HALL,    TIENTSIN. 


adopted  by  a  succession  of  strong,  able  rulers 
and  the  steady  work  of  the  missions  having 
borne  good  fruit.  During  His  Excellency  I-i 
Hung  Chang's  long  rule,  the  trade  and  impor- 
tance of  the  city  developed  considerabh',  and 
the  rowdyism  of  the  inhabitants  was  repressed 
by  the  vigour  of  the  Government,  until  the 
Boxer  eruption  in  the  last  years  of  Li  Hung 
Chang's    life.     The    Viceroy    made    Tientsin 


The  original  city  is  small,  being  only  a 
mile  long  and  three-quarters  of  a  mile  wide, 
but  its  suburbs  are  many  and  populous. 
Formerly  it  was  surroiuuled  by  a  high  brick 
wall,  but  this  was  entirely  demolished  and 
replaced  by  line  open  boulevards  in  lyoi  by 
order  of  tlie  Foreign  Military  Provisional 
Government.  The  foreign  residents,  whose 
advent   has   made   Tientsin    what   it   is,   used 


THE    BRITISH    AND    GERMAN    BUND. 

WlXTER   ox  THE   PKIHO    RIVKR. 


'2G     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Ui  live  in  three  concessions — British.  French, 
and  German— situated  south-east  of  the  city 
alonj!  the  banks  of  the  Pei-ho,  and  coveriii}; 
an  area  of  less  than  500  acres.     The  Japanese 


STATUE    OF    KOLAND.    TIENTSIN. 

took  up  a  concession  in  accordance  with  the 
terms  of  the  Treaty  of  Shimonoseki,  and.  in 
IQOI.  Russia,  Belgium,  Italy,  and  Austria- 
Hungarv  all  appropriated  large  areas  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  Pei-ho,  while  the  existing 
Settlements  extended  their  boundaries  very 
considerablv,  so  that,  as  Dr.  A.  H.  Smith  says  : 
•■  All  the  Powers,  except  China,  are  non- 
accommodated  with  commodious  waterfronts." 
Throughout  the  whole  of  these  concessions 
building  operations  are  being  carried  on, 
and  numberless  improvements  are  being 
effected.  The  streets  are  broad,  well  laid- 
out,  and  well  lighted,  and  an  electric  tramway, 
which  has  some  eight  miles  of  line,  furnishes 
a  rapid  means  of  communication  to  all  parts. 
The  sanitation  is  continually  being  improved, 
and   a  plentiful    supplv    of    water,   which   is 


quite  safe  and  wholesome  to  drink,  is  obtained 
from  one  or  other  of  tlie  two  waterworks 
companies — the  Tientsin  Waterworks  Com- 
pany. Ltd..  and  the  Tientsin  Native  City 
Waterworks  Company.  Ltd.  There  are  a 
number  of  good  hotels,  five  clubs  (the  Tientsin 
Club,  the  German  Concordia  Club,  and  the 
French  Cerclc  d'Kscrime.  the  Waverley  Club, 
and  the  Japanese  Club),  two  excellent  libraries, 
one  of  which,  belonging  to  the  British  Munici- 
pality and  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  con- 
tains 8,000  volumes  ;  three  parochial  churches, 
Roman  Catholic.  Anglican,  and  Union,  with 
many  mission  churches,  and  probably  the 
best  racecourse  in  China.  At  least  live  of 
the  Powers  maintain  post  offices,  and  the 
British.  French,  and  Austrian  Concessions 
contain  market  places.  The  British  Munici- 
pality has  a  handsome  Town  Hall,  which  was 
completed  in  1889.  and  is  called  tlie  Gordon 
Hall  alter  General  Gordon.  Around  the  main 
audience  chamber  are  memorial  tablets  to 
the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  different  nations 
who  died  during  the  seige  of  1900.  Adjoining 
is  a  well  kept  public  garden,  opened  in  Jubilee 
year  and  styled  Victoria  Park;  and  a  recreation 
ground.  10  acres  in  extent,  is  being  laid 
out.  In  the  British  Concession,  also,  are  to 
be  found  the  electric  light  works,  waterworks, 
most  of  the  large  foreign  stores,  the  principal 
newspaper    offices,     the     British,    American, 


Tientsin  can  be  reached  from  Europe  and 
from  Peking  by  rail,  and  from  Shanghai  by 
ship,  either  direct  or  by  way  of  Cliinwang- 
tao.  It  stands  at  the  terminus  of  tlie  Grand 
Canal,  and,  as  the  navigability  of  the  Pei-ho 
ceases  at  Tientsin,  it  became  the  great 
emporium  for  the  tribute  rice  \early  sent 
up  to  the  capital.  Tlie  trade  of  tlie  port  was 
imperilled  by  the  silting  up  of  the  Pei-ho. 
but  a  river  improvement  scheme  was  under- 
taken in  1898,  and  the  Peace  Protocol  of 
1901  contains  clauses  for  the  constitution  of 
a  Board  of  Conservancy,  and  engineering 
experts  are  engaged  in  grappling  with  the 
problem  of  maintaining  a  navigable  channel 
through  the  Taku  Bar.  a  considerable  obstruc- 
tion off  file  mouth  of  the  river  caused  by 
gradual  deposits  of  sand.  Trade,  however, 
does  not  now  entirely  depend  on  this 
route,  fully  50  per  cent,  of  that  with  the 
interior  being  done  by  means  of  the  railway. 
The  opening  of  a  coal  mine  at  Toiigshan, 
60  miles  north-east  of  Tientsin,  in  the  seven- 
ties was  the  precursor  of  a  railway,  which 
has  since  been  extended  to  Shanhaikwan  for 
military  purposes,  and  from  thence  round  the 
Gulf  of  Liau  Tung  to  Kinchow.  In  1900 
it  was  carried  to  Newchwang.  and  afterwards 
to  Hsin-niin  Fu.  The  line  between  Tientsin 
and  Peking  was  opened  in  1897.  and,  on 
account   of  the  enormous  traffic  between  the 


THE    RACECOURSE,    TIENTSIN. 


THE    FIRE    ALARM    BELL,    TIENTSIN. 


Belgian,  and  Japanese  Consulates,  and  almost 
all  the  banks.  The  majority  of  the  missions, 
originally  in  Chinese  territory,  are  now,  by 
the  extension  of  the  foreign  concession 
boundaries,  in  the  French  Concession,  which 
also  contains  a  theatre  or  music  hall  named 
the  "Arcade"  ;  while,  in  the  Japanese  Con- 
cession, the  growth  of  which  has  been  more 
rapid  than  any  of  the  others,  are  to  be  seen 
an  interesting  and  artistic  monument  to  the 
Japanese  who  fell  in  the  siege  of  1900,  and 
a  memorial  erected  on  the  spot  where 
Colonel  Liscum  was  killed  during  the  advance 
on  the  city  in  the  same  year.  According  to 
the  latest  figures,  the  population  of  the 
Settlements,  exclusive  of  the  military,  is 
nearly  four  thousand,  more  than  one  half 
of  whom  are  Japanese.  Roughly,  there  are 
just  over  a  thousand  British  and  Germans. 
The  Government  is  conducted  on  lines 
similar  to  those  adopted  in  other  foreign 
■lettlements  in  China.  Most  of  the  concessions 
are  controlled  by  their  own  Municipal  Council, 
whose  administrative  duties  are  in  many 
respects  the  same  as  they  would  be  in  the 
small  townships  of  the  various  countries 
represented. 


two    cities,    was    doubled     in    the    following 
year. 

Essentially  a  centre  for  distribution,  Tient- 
sin, nevertheless,  possesses  certain  industries 
of  considerable  importance.  Distilling  is  the 
chief  of  these,  and  the  spirit,  or  "wine"  as 
it  is  called,  made  from  maize  is  exported 
in  large  qiumtities  to  the  South.  Coarse, 
unrefined  salt  is  made  by  the  evaporation 
of  sea  water,  and  this  trade,  which  is  a 
Government  monopoly,  provides  the  largest 
and  most  permanent  portion  of  the  local 
revenue.  In  general  trade  there  have  been 
remarkable  advances,  and  the  prospects  for 
the  future  are  of  the  brightest,  for  Tientsin 
is  practically  the  only  sea  outlet  for  the 
provinces  of  Chihii,  Shansi,  Sliensi,  Kansu, 
and  part  of  Honan,  which  have  a  combined 
population  not  far  short  of  100,000.000.  The 
exports  include  coal  (the  output  of  the  Kaipiiig 
collieries  is  about  700,000  tons  a  year),  wool, 
bristles,  straw-braid,  goat-skins,  furs,  wine, 
&c.  The  imports  are  of  a  miscellaneous 
character  and  comprise  arms,  tea  (for  the 
desert  and  Siberia),  mineral  oil,  matches, 
cotton  piece  goods,  &c.  In  1906  tlie  total 
net     value     of     the     trade,     less    re-exports, 


7 


In  thk  Compound. 


JARDINE,    MATHESON    &    CO. 

Thk  Oki'icks. 
The  E,\pokt  Depaktmkxt  Prkhises. 


The  Godows. 


'iS     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OP  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


was  Tls.  1 1 2.864.555.  as  compiired  with 
TIs.  96,565.672  for  "  ig05  and  Tls.  68.c>54.6<>4 
for  1904.  In  ic)07  the  net  foreign  imports 
were  worth  Tls.  61.208.744  :  '"  1<10(). 
TU.  64422439 ;     in      H)05.     Tls.  59.649.982  ; 


residents.  During  the  campaign  of  1858  61 
the  importance  of  its  strategic  position  as  the 
key  to  the  capital,  and  its  suitability  as  a 
military  base  were  fully  recognised  by  the 
Allies,  and  it  was  here  that  Lord  Elgin  signed 


^^ 


some  one  thousand  seven  hundred  men, 
which  had  been  prevented  from  following 
Admiral  Seymour  in  his  gallant  attempt  to 
rescue  the  Legations  by  the  fact  that  the 
railway  was  cut.  The  most  brilliant  individual 
achievement,  and  the  one  which  resulted 
in  the  relief  of  the  city  was  that  of  Mr,  James 
Watts,     jun.  All      communications     with 

Tientsin  had  been  destroyed,  and  when 
ammunition  was  running  low  and  the 
defenders  were  talking  of  surrender,  he 
volunteered  to  lead  a  troop  of  Cossacks 
through  the  enemy's  lines  with  despatches 
to  the  foreign  admirals  at  Taku.  He  success- 
fully accomplished  his  dangerous  mission 
on  June  19,  1900,  and  relief  was  immediately 
sent  to  the  besieged.  His  name  in  connection 
with  this  act  of  heroism  will  ever  be 
remembered  gratefully  in  Tientsin.  In 
recognition  of  his  signal  services  the  British 
Government,  after  some  delay,  conferred 
upon  Mr.  Watts  a  Companionship  of  the 
Order  of  St.  Micliael  and  St.  George,  and, 
in  the  meantime,  the  German  Emperor 
signified  his  intention  of  conferring  a 
decoration  on  the  gallant  Englishman— a 
spontaneous  mark  of  appreciation,  which 
Mr.  Watts  values  highly.  During  the  siege 
whole  tracts  of  the  city  and  suburbs  were 
destroyed,  and  when,  after  encountering 
much  strenuous  opposition  and  loss  of  life, 
the  relieving  column  took  possession  of  the 
place  it  was  given  up  to  loot  for  one  day, 
and  then  military  government  was  established. 
The  city  continued  to  be  occupied  by  the 
Allied  Troops  for  two  years.  All  the  walls, 
forts,  arsenals,  and  cantonments  were  razed 
to  the  ground  by  order  of  this  provisional 
government,  in  which  each  Power  was 
represented  by  one  military  oflicer,  and 
under  which  the  various  public  departments 
were  administered,  and  many  urban  improve- 
ments were  effected.  The  government  of 
the  city  was  restored  to  the  Viceroy  on 
August  15,  1902. 


A    TYPICAL    WINTER    SCENE    AT    TIENTSIN. 


in  1904,  Tls.  36,178.819 ;  and  in  1903, 
Tls.  37463.829.  The  native  imports  repre- 
sented Tls.  26,616,808  in  1906;  Tls.  22,185,331 
in  1905;  and  Tls.  36.178,019  in  1904.  The 
export  trade,  not  including  re-e.\ports,  was 
valued  at  Tls.  17,253,215  in  1907.  and  showed 
a  decrease  of  four  and  a  half  millions 
when     compared     with      Tls.  21.825,308      in 

1906,  when,  however,  an  advance  of  seven 
millions  was  recorded  on  the  previous  year's 
return  of  Tls.  14.7.39.359.  In  1904  the  ex- 
ports represented  Tls.  14,895.379,  and  in  1903 
Tls.  11,319,289.  Forty  years  ago  the  net 
foreign  imports  amounted  to  Tls.  13,500,000 
and  the  exports  to  one  and  a  quarter  million 
taeis.  In  1905  the  trade  of  the  port  was 
described  as  beating  all  records  "  in  value  of 
trade,  tonnage,  and  revenue."  the  last-named 
having  increased  by  50  per  cent.,  but  even 
this  record  was  handsomely  beaten  in  1906. 
The  number  of  foreign  vessels  entering  the 
port  in  1867  was  only  262.  In  1906  the 
steamships  entered  and  cleared  represented 
2,391,986  tons,  and  the  sailing  vessels  19,528 
tons.  The  customs  revenue  in  1867  was 
Tls.411.297;   in    1906,  Tls. 3400,000 ;  and  in 

1907.  Tls.  3.215494- 

But  the  modern  history  of  Tientsin  has 
not  been  so  tranquil  as  this  record  of 
commercial  development  would  suggest. 
The  city  has  been  the  centrt;  of  much  hostile 
feeling  between  the  Chinese  and  the  foreign 


the  treaty  which,  instead  of  bringing  the 
war  to  a  conclusion  as  was  intended,  proved 
unfortunately,  the  cause  of  its  prolongation. 
It  is,  however,  the  part  the  city  played  in 
the  Bo.xer  riots  of  1900  which  brought  it 
so  prominently  to  the  notice  of  the  outside 
world.  Regarded  as  the  seat  of  reform  and 
the  centre  of  foreign  influence,  it  incurred, 
in  a  specially  marked  degree,  the  animosity 
of  the  rebels.  They  entered  the  city  at  the 
beginning  of  June,  and  hostilities  commenced 
with  the  destruction  of  the  mission  houses. 
All  who  had  had  dealings  with  Europeans 
were  regarded  as  enemies  to  the  cause,  and 
had  to  flee  to  the  Settlements  to  escape  certain 
death.  On  the  night  of  June  15th,  the  Boxers 
attacked  the  Settlements  and  the  railway 
stiition  in  great  force.  The  siege  lasted  for 
twenty-seven  days,  and  the  onslaughts  of 
the  attacking  force  were  so  fierce  and 
determined  that  they  were  only  repulsed 
with  great  difficulty.  It  is  appalling  to  think 
what  the  fate  of  the  Europeans  would  have 
been  had  the  insurgents  proved  successful. 
The  women  and  children  sought  refuge  in 
the  large  cellars  of  Gordon  Hall,  but, 
fortunately,  although  a  considerable  number 
of  buildings  in  the  French  Concession,  and 
a  few  in  the  British  Settlements  were 
destroyed,  no  lives  were  lost.  The  successful 
defence  was  in  a  large  measure  due  to  the 
presence  in  the  town  of   a  Russian  force  of 


IN    MEMORIAM. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      729 


MUNICIPAL    ADMINISTRATION. 

There  are  in  Tientsin  eight  foreign  con- 
cessions, three  of  vvhich^the  British,  French, 
and  German — existed  prior  to  iqoo.  Tlie 
Boxer  troubles    resulted    in    the    extension    of 


Tls,  1,700,  and  educational  grant,  Tls.  3,000), 
Tls.  10,116;  loans  (interest  and  repayment), 
Tls.  20.234  I  public  works  extraordinary 
(including  bund  and  wharves,  Tls.  9,800), 
Tls.  15,500  :  and  British  Post  Office,  Tls. 
3,950;    leaving    a     surplus    of    Tls.  3,325-37. 


GERMAN   MUNICIPAL    COUNCIL    OFFICES,    TIENTSIN. 


these  concessions,  and  in  tlie  formation  of 
the  Belgian,  Russian,  Italian,  Japanese,  and 
Austro-Hungarian   Concessions. 

The  British  Municipal  Council  was  estab- 
lished as  far  back  as  1862,  and  consisted  of 
three  members.  Another  member  was  added 
in  1868,  and  at  the  present  day  tliere  are 
five  members,  including  the  chairman  and 
hon.  treasurer.  The  councillors  are  elected 
at  a  general  meeting  of  land  renters  held 
during  the  first  quarter  of  each  year,  and 
their  functions  are  performed  through  the 
Finance,  Fire  Brigade,  Volunteer  Corps, 
Market,  Sanitary,  Land,  Watch,  and  Works 
Committees.  In  1898  a  Junior  Council,  called 
the  British  Municipal  Extension  Council,  was 
called  into  existence,  as  its  name  implies,  by 
reason  of  the  extension  of  the  British 
Concession.  It  consists  of  nine  members, 
several  of  whom  are  also  members  of  the 
Senior  Council,  and  much  the  same  duties 
devolve  upon  its  committees.  A  scheme  for 
the  amalgamation  of  the  Concessions  is  still 
under  the  consideration  of  a  special  com- 
mittee of  representatives  of  both  Councils, 
but  in  the  meantime  the  business  and 
accounts  of  the  two  bodies  are  kept  prac- 
tically distinct.  The  efder  body  derives  its 
ordinary  revenue  from  shipping  (mooring 
fees  and  Bund  rents,  together  yielding 
Tls.  35,300),  land-tax  (of  i  of  one  per  cent., 
yielding  Tls.  4,375),  rental  assessment  (of 
3  per  cent.,  yielding  Tls.  6,000),  feu  rents 
(yielding  Tls.  3,300),  and  general  charges 
(licences,  interest,  &c.,  amounting  to  Tls. 
27,665),  the  total  estimate  for  1908  reaching 
Tls.  98,255-37,  as  compared  with  Tls. 
82,4o8'l5  actually  received  from  these 
sources  in  1907.  The  estimated  expenditure 
during  1908  amounts  to  Tls.  98,225-37,  and 
falls  under  the  following  headings  :  General 
staff,  Tls.  9,200  ;  police,  Tls.  13,000  ;  medical, 
Tls.  600  ;  public  works  (including  ligliting, 
Tls.  «,ooo,  water  Tls.  1,300,  &c.),  Tls.  22,330  ; 
miscellaneous     (including     Volunteer      Corps, 


During  1907,  in  addilion  to  the  ordinary 
expenditure,  amounting  to  Tls.  60,187-88 
large  sums  were  spent  upon  improvements 
to   municipal   land,   and   were  met  by  moneys 


Tls.431, 571-75  —  and  include  land,  Tls. 
265,483  ;  buildings,  Tls.  103,94283  ;  invest- 
ments, Tls.  62,338-18  ;  and  cash  deposits, 
Tls.  130,726-39. " 

The  revenue  of  the  British  Municipal 
Extension  Council  is  derived  from  a  tax  on 
the  value  of  land  fixed  at  fV  of  one  per 
cent.,  and  producing  Tls.  17,550  ;  a  rental 
assessment  of  9  per  cent.,  yielding  Tls. 
25,400  ;  licences,  and  sundries,  the  total 
estimate  for  1908  being  Tls.  58,514-45 — 
slightly  more  than  the  estimated  expenditure. 

For  many  yeais  the  Senior  British  Council 
was  the  only  municipal  body  in  existence  in 
Tientsin,  and  it  became  the  medium  through 
which  many  public  works  were  from  time 
to  time  initiated.  In  particular,  mention 
may  be  made  of  the  work  of  improvement 
which  has  been  carried  out  in  regard  to  the 
Hartto,  the  river  which  connects  Tientsin 
with  the  sea.  In  the  late  nineties  this 
stream  had  deteriorated  to  such  an  extent 
that  there  no  longer  existed  a  navigable 
channel  whereby  Tientsin  could  be  reached 
by  coasting  steamers  or  even  large  junks, 
many  reaches  having  become  badly  silted 
up.  In  these  circumstances,  the  future  of 
the  port  was  saved  by  the  British  Municipal 
Council  coming  forward  in  1897  to  propose 
the  raising  of  a  loan  of  Tls.  150,000,  under 
municipal  guarantee,  for  river  improvement. 
Thus  was  the  foundation  laid  of  the  valuable 
conseivancy  work  which  has  been  carried 
out  of  late  years  by  the  Hartto  Conservancy 
Commission,  a  body  established  by  the 
Protocol  of  September  7,  1901,  which  has 
effected  three  big  cuttings,  framing  works, 
and  other  improvements.  Latterly  the 
amelioration  of  the  Taku  Bar  has  engaged 
public  attention,  and  in  1905  and  1906  the 
British  Municipal  Council  were  again  to  the 
fore  with  a  disinterested  scheme  of  financial 
co-operation.      The   increasing  prosperity   of 


mr:i/m 


\h 


fr^  r> 


T 


RUSSIAN    MUNICIPAL    COUNCIL    OFFICES    AT    TIENTSIN. 


withdrawn  from  fixed  deposit  account.  The 
Council  has  loan  Habililies  amounting  to 
Tls.  89,800,  and  other  liabilities  amounting 
to  Tls.  41,118-55.  The  assets  are  valued  at 
Tls.  562,490-30 — an    excess  over   liabilities    of 


the  port,  however,  promises  to  render  such 
assistance  unnecessary,  the  revenue  from 
River  dues  on  cargo  in  recent  years  having 
approximated  to  and  even  exceeded  the 
handsome    figure    of    Tls.  100,000,    although 


730     T\AT:NTIETH  century  impressions  or  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  whole  extent  of  the  tax  at  present  only 
amounts  to  3  per  cent,  on  Customs  duties, 
that  is  to  say.   1^  per  mitre,  mi  fitloreni. 

The    Conseil     d'Administration    Municipale 
de    la    Concession    Fran^aise    presided    over 


representative  in  Tientsin,  Mr.  K.  Howard 
Ford.  Tlie  liuildinfj  consists  of  a  larfje 
entrance  hall,  bar,  billiard,  reading,  card,  and 
board  rooms  and  library.  The  billiard  room 
contains  five  tables  and  the  board  room  am 


The  entrance  fee  for  resident  members  is  $60, 
and  the  subscription  $8  a  month. 

THE    CLUB    CONCORDIA. 

Thk  Club  Concordia  at  Tientsin  is  an  inter- 
national club  in  all  respects,  except  that 
the  members  of  the  committee  must  speak 
German.  It  was  established  with  about  forty 
members  in  1895,  and  now  has  a  member- 
ship of  about  160.  The  first  president  was 
Mr.  G.  Baur.  The  original  premises  in 
Victoria  Road,  opposite  the  Gordon  Hall, 
were  vacated  in  July,  1907,  when  the  new 
Club-house,  occupying  an  advantageous  site 
on  the  German  Concession,  was  opened  by 
Mr.  O.  Kleemaii,  the  president.  There  are 
spacious  dining,  billiard,  and  card  rooms,  a 
bar,  library,  and  bowling  alley,  as  well  as  a 
theatre  capable  of  holding  300  persons. 
Adjacent  to  the  building  there  are  five  tennis 
courts.  The  Club  is  lighted  throughout  with 
electricity,  and  every  precaution  is  taken 
against  fire  by  the  provision  of  modern 
extinguishing  appliances.  The  hon.  treas- 
urers of  the  Club  are  Messrs.  T.  M.  Karl 
and  O.  E.  Meyer ;  the  secretary  is  Mr. 
Siebert ;  the  librarian,  Mr.  E.  Klocke  ;  and 
the  manager,  Mr.  M.  Horn  ;  while  Mr. 
Kriediichs  has  charge  of  all  matters  con- 
nected with  sport. 


THE    TIENTSIN    CLUB. 


by  the  French  Consul,  Mr.  Paul  Claudel, 
consists  of  nine  members,  with  a  permanent 
secretary. 

The  German  Municipal  Council  was  formed 
in  1906,  and  administers  an  area  of  1,176 
mow,  acquired  in  1898.  The  amount  to  be 
collected  and  disbursed  during  1908  was 
estimated  at  TIs.  25,000.  The  chairman  is 
Mr.  J.  Faust,  and  there  are  four  other 
councillors.    The  secretary  is  Mr.  O.  Tenner. 

The  Russian  Municipal  Council  controls 
an  area  of  5,971  mow— the  largest  foreign 
concession  in  Tientsin.  The  chairman  for 
1908  is  Count  Je/.ierski,  who  succeeded 
Mr.  M.  D.  Batouieff,  and  the  secretary  is 
Mr.  F.  Kleye.  The  members  are  elected 
annually,  and  their  proceedings  are  con- 
ducted in  English,  which  has  been  adopted 
as  the  official  language.  The  offices  of  the 
Council,  designed  by  Messrs.  Loup  &  Lee, 
were  opened  in  October,  1907,  and  form  a 
handsome  addition  to  the  architectural  fea- 
tures of  the  Settlement. 

Of  the  other  concessions  the  Austro- 
Hungarian  and  Japanese  are  making  the 
most  rapid  strides.  In  the  former,  which 
has  an  area  of  1,000  mow,  it  is  expected 
that  a  Municipal  Council  will  shortly  be 
established. 

THE   TIENTSIN    CLUB. 

The  foundation  of  the  new  Club-house  was 
laid  in  1903,  and  the  building  was  ready  for 
occupation  in  September,  1905.  The  site. 
containing  about  nine  and  a  half  mow  of  land, 
is  one  of  the  best  in  the  British  Settlement. 
The  building  and  land  cost  about  TIs.  245,000, 
and  the  money  was  raised  by  the  sale  of  the 
site  occupied  by  the  old  club,  and  by  the 
issue  of  debentures  for  TIs.  200,000  bearing 
interest  at  7  per  cent.  The  building  was 
designed  by  Messrs.  Algar  &  Beesley,  of 
Shanghai,  but  the  work  was  taken  over  from 
them    and    carried    to    completion    by    their 


be  used  for  concerts  and  dances.  A  bowling 
alley  is  attached.  The  premises  have  been 
furnished  elaborately  at  a  cost  of  TIs.  25,000, 


THE    FRENCH    CLUB. 

The  Cercle  d'Escrime  de  Tientsin,  estab- 
lished in  1903,  now  occupy  premises  on  the 
Quai  de  France,  but  a  new  and  handsome 
building  in  the  Rue  de  France  will  probably 


INTERIOR    OF    THE    POWER  STATION    AT    TIENTSIN, 
THE    SIEMENS    SCHUCKERTWERKE. 


ERECTED    BY 


and  are  lighted  by  electricity  throughout,  and 
hot  and  cold  water  and  steam-heating  plants 
are  installed.  The  membership  on  April  i, 
1908,  was  :  -  Resident  members,  229  ;  non- 
resident members,  20;   absent  members,  179. 


be  erected  this  year.  In  addition  to  the  usual 
features,  the  Club-house  will  then  contain 
bachelors'  quarters,  a  mess  room,  and  a 
large  hall  for  fencing,  boxing,  and  gym- 
nastics,   as     well    as     billiard     and     reading 


THE    OIL    STORES    AND    GODOWNS    OF    MELOHERS    &    CO.    AT    TIENTSIN. 


[See  page  742.] 


r^' 


iiii»ij«riiiiii 


THE  . PREMISES    OF    THE    HONGKONG    AND    SHANGHAI    BANKING    CORPORATION    AT    TIENTSIN.      [See  page  732J 


732     TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  Offices. 


SIEMSSEN    &    CO. 


IX  THE   SKIX   GODcnVX. 


rooms.  Adjoining  it  there  will  be  tennis 
courts.  The  Club  already  have  their  own 
open-air  bathing  place  on  the  Extra-French 
Concession.  When  first  formed,  under  the 
presidency  of  Mr.  E.  Binder,  the  Club  had  a 
membership  of  l8,  which  has  since  increased 
to  attout  120,  and  includes  representatives  of 
other  nationalities.  The  committee  consists 
of  Messrs.  J.  O.  Neill  (president),  A.  Gallusser 
(secretary),  M.  Battegay  (treasurer),  A.  Bilger, 
and  Sandrie  de  Jouy. 


COMMERCIAL. 

THE  H0H6K0HG  AND  SHANGHAI  BANK. 

The  Tientsin  branch  of  the  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  Bank  was  established  in  1881,  and 
now  occupies  handsome  premises,  built  on 
ground  owned  by  the  bank,  on  the  British 
Bund.  It  is  interesting  to  recall  that  when 
these  premises  were  opened  the  late  Li  Hung 
Chang,  then  Viceroy  of  China,  was  present  at 
the  inaugural  banquet,  and  referring  to  the 
general  status  of  the  bank  in  China,  and  more 
particularly  to  that  of  the  Tientsin  branch, 
His  Excellency  said, "Ever  since  it  has  been 
established  at  this  port  the  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  Bank  has  justified  my  expectation 
that  it  would  facilitate  the  financial  business 
of  my  Government  and  promote  trade,  and 
the  agents  representing  the  Bank  have 
uniformly  inspired  me  with  confidence." 

The    manager  of  the  branch,   Mr.    D.    H. 
Mackintosh,    was     born     at     Daunt     House, 


f«|Inverness,  in  i860,  and  was  educated  at 
™Trinity  College,  Glenalmond.  He  joined  the 
Caledonian  Bank  at  Inverness  in  1877,  but 
three  years  later  entered  the  service  of  the 
Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank.  Coming  to 
the  Far  East,  he  was  stationed  successively 
in  Singapore,  Hongkong,  Hankow,  Kobe, 
Saigon,  and  Amoy.  His  present  appointment 
dates  from  1895.  Mr.  Mackintosh  acted  as 
the  bank's  representative  in  making  the 
initial  advances  of  money  and  carrying  on 
the  preliminary  negotiations  with  the  Director- 
General  of  the  Imperial  Railways  which  led 
to  the  first  British  loan  to  the  Chinese 
Imperial  Government  against  Railways,  that 
of  ;^2,.soo,ooo,  of  1899,  the  contract  for  wliich 
was  signed  in  October,  1898,  in  Peking  by 
the  bank's  representative  there,  Mr.  E.  G. 
Hillier,  C.M.G.,  and  His  Excellency  Hu  Yun 
Mei,  who  had  been  transferred  to  Peking  as 
Governor  of  the  Capital. 


THE    EUSSO-CHINESE    BANK. 

The  Tientsin  branch  of  the  Russo-Chinese 
Bank  was  established  in  1896,  and,  while 
carrying  on  the  usual  banking  business, 
afforded  special  facilities  for  Russian  ex- 
change. The  present  manager,  Count 
Jezierski,  a  member  of  a  very  old  Polish 
family,  took  charge  at  the  end  of  1907.  Born 
in  Poland  in  1876,  Count  Jezierski  was 
educated  in  Russia,  Belgium,  and  England. 
He  entered  the  head  office  of  the  Russo- 
Chinese  Bank  in  St.  Petersburg  in   1902,  and. 


after  a  short  transfer  to  the  London  oflice 
went  to  Shanghai  as  sub-manager  until  he 
was  appointed  to  Tientsin.  He  is  co- 
manager  of  the  whole  of  the  Russo-Chinese 
Bank's  branches  in  China  and  Japan. 


YOKOHAMA    SPECIE    BANK. 

The  Tientsin  branch  of  this  large  banking 
Corporation  was  established  in  1899,  and  an 
important  share  of  the  business  of  the 
neighbourhood  is  transacted  through  its 
agency.  A  sub-oftice  has  been  opened  in 
the  native  city.  An  account  of  the  resources 
and  a  general  description  of  the  activities 
of  the  bank  in  various  parts  of  the  world 
will  be  found  in  other  sections  of  this  volume. 

THE    DEUTSCH-ASIATISCHE    BANK. 

The  Tientsin  branch  of  the  Deutsch-Asiatische 
Bank  was  established  in  i88g.  at  llie  same  time 
that  the  head  office  in  Shanghai  was  opened. 
At  present,  the  bank's  business  is  carried  on 
in  temporary  preinises,  but  a  handsome  build- 
ing is  in  course  of  construction  in  Victoria 
Road,  and  will  be  ready  for  occupation  before 
the  end  of  igo8.  The  usual  banking  business 
is  undertaken  at  the  branch. 

The  1'  cal  mana).;er  is  Mr.  E.  Schulze.  Horn 
at  Kolberg  in  1864,  and  educated  in  Berlin,  he 
began  commercial  life  as  an  employe  in  a 
manufacturing  business,  and  eventually  joined 


THE    ASTOR    HOUSE    HOTEL. 


[See  page  734.] 


734      TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


[See  pace  732.] 


THE    RtrSSO-CHINESE    BANK    PREMISES. 


the  Government  Fervice  in  German  New 
Guinea.  Three  years  later,  in  1889,  he  re- 
turned to  Berlin,  and  entered  the  service  of 
the  Direction  dtr  Disconto-Gesellschaft.  He 
remained  in  Berlin  about  eight  years,  and  was 
then  sent  by  the  Deutsch-Asiatische  Bank  to 
the  East,  where  he  has  managed  successively 


various  branches  in  the  Straits  Settlements 
and  China.  He  is  now  for  the  third  time 
manager  of  the  Tientsin  branch,  having  re- 
sumed the  duties  in  March,  1908.  At  one  time 
he  was  manager  of  the  German  Concession  at 
Tientsin,  and  was  afterwards  instrumental  in 
forming  the  first  German  Municipal   Council 


THE    PREMISES    OF    THE    YOKOHAMA    SPECIE    BANK,    TIENTSIN. 


in  the  Settlement.  For  his  signal  services  to 
the  Concession,  he  was  decorated  with  the 
Order  of  the  Prussian  Crown  in  1906. 

« 

THE    ASTOE    HOUSE    HOTEL. 

Visitors  to  Tientsin  will  be  most  favourably 
impressed  by  the  Astor  House  Hotel,  both 
by  reason  of  its  ideal  situation  facing  the 
Victoria  Park,  and  its  comfortable  and 
luxurious  aiipointments. 

In  the  early  eighties  the  site  upon  which 
it  stands  was  occupied  by  what  was  then 
known  as  a  "  mud-house "  on  the  Bund. 
This  unpretentious  structure  was  enlarged 
and  renovated  in  1883  by  Mr.  G.  Hitter,  who 
took  out  a  licence  for  the  premises  ;  and  for 
some  ten  years  this  constituted  practically 
tlie  only  hotel  in  the  Settlement.  On 
June  13,  1894,  the  foundation  stone  of  the 
present  building  was  laid,  and  in  May  of 
the  following  year  the  Astor  House  Hotel 
was  ready  for  occupation.  In  1895  the 
concern  was  floated  as  a  joint  stock  com- 
pany, with  Mr.  Hitter,  the  former  proprietor, 
as  manager. 

The  hotel  has  seventy  bedrooms,  and  a 
spacious  dining  room  with  accommodation 
for  over  three  iumdred  people,  whilst  there 
are  the  usual  reception,  drawing,  reading 
and  billiard  rooms,  and  bar.  Power  for 
lighting  the  building  and  for  driving  the 
electric  fans  is  generated  by  means  of  a 
private  installation  ;  and  a  steam  heating 
apparatus  is  employed  to  regulate  the  tem- 
perature in  the  winter  months.  The  cuisine 
is  excellent,  the  hotel  having  its  own  cold 
storage    appliances    and    its    own    farm    for 


THE    IMPERIAL    HOTEL. 

(W.  A.  Davis,  Uencnil  Manager.) 


[See  pafie  736.] 


736      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


dairy  produce  ;  and  the  wine  list  is  carefully 
selecte<i.  Indeed,  (or  years  the  hotel  has 
catered  for  all  the  principal  balls,  such  as 
those  held  on  St.  George's.  St.  Andrew's, 
and  St.  Patrick's  Days.  The  visitor's  list 
contains  many  well-known  names,  including 
those  of  Prince  Adalbert  of  Prussia,  Prince 
and  Princess  Rupprecht  of  Bavaria,  Prince 
Leopold  of  Prussia,  S..\.R.  Principe  Ferdi- 
nando  d'Udine  Casa  Savoia,  the  Viceroy 
Yuan  Shi  Kai,  Miss  Roosevelt  and  party, 
and  Baron  Komura. 

The  present  manager  is  Mr.  O.  Kreier, 
who  was  t)orn  in  Sa.xe-Weimar  in  1872. 
He  was  for  three  years  in  Jena  a.  d.  Saale, 
and  then  proceeded  to  London,  where,  in 
1889,  he  joined  the  Royal  Keyser's  Hotel. 
Thence  he  went  to  the  Bolton  Mansions 
Hotel,  and  afterwards  to  the  Hotel  de  Paris 


Allied  Fleets.  Mr.  Kreier  also  rendered  signal 
service  to  the  late  Li  Hung  Chang,  in 
recognition  of  which  he  received  from  the 
Chinese  Government,  through  Prince  Chung, 
the  Double  Dragon  medal  and  diploma.  He 
was  appointed  manager  of  the  Aslor  House 
Hotel  in  April,  1908,  having  held  succes- 
sively since  1900  the  positions  of  assistant 
and  acting  manager. 


lUPEBIAL  HOTEL  COMPANY,  LTD. 

The  Imperial  Hotel  Company,  Ltd.,  a  British 
Company  formed  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
ducting hotels  in  Tientsin  and  other  parts 
of  North  China,  was  registered  in  Hongkong 


HOTEL  DE  LA  PAIX  AND  GARDENS. 


at  Monte  Carlo.  In  1893  he  became  assistant 
secretary  at  the  Hotel  d'ltalia,  Venice,  and, 
later,  office  secretary  at  the  Palast  Hotel, 
Berlin.  In  1894  he  was  appointed  courier  to 
His  Excellency  the  Viceroy  of  Pechili,  who 
was  then  in  St.  Petersburg.  He  accompanied 
the  Viceroy  first  to  Berlin  and  then  on  a 
year's  tour  of  the  world.  On  arrival  at 
Tientsin  in  i8g6,  Mr.  Kreier  spent  two  years 
studying  the  Chinese  language,  and  then 
opened  the  Shanhaikwan  Hotel  for  the 
Imperial  Railways  of  China.  During  the 
Boxer  troubles  he  was  instrumental  In  safe- 
guarding the  lives  of  sixteen  ladies  and 
children,  who  were  obliged  to  flee  from 
Tangshan  ;  he  escorted  them  to  Peitaiho  and 
saw  them  safely  on  board  the  British  store 
ship  Humber,  which  arrived  at  Taku  Bar  at 
the  time  the  Taku   Forts  capitulated  to  the 


In  1903,  and  has  already  opened  several 
establishments. 

The  Imperial  Hotel  at  Tientsin  Is  tho- 
roughly up  to  date,  possessing  all  modern 
appliances  for  the  convenience  and  com- 
fort of  guests.  There  are  forty  well-fur- 
nished bedrooms,  as  well  as  private  and 
public  dining  rooms,  a  reading  room,  and 
ladles'  drawing  room  ;  and  the  hotel  Is  fitted 
with  steam  heating  apparatus,  a  hot  and 
cold  water  service  and  electric  light  and 
fans.  The  cuisine  leaves  nothing  to  be 
desired,  and  the  result  is  that  a  large  number 
of  business  men  make  use  of  the  hotel, 
especially  as  the  railway  station,  the  banks, 
business  houses,  and  steamship  offices  are 
within  easy  reach  of  it. 

The  secretary  and  general  manager  of  the 
Company    is    Mr.    W.    A.    Davis,    who    has 


spent  twenty  years  In  travelling  throughout 
Europe,  .\ustralasla,  and  the  ^'ar  East,  and 
has  thus  gained  valuable  experience.  He  is 
also  the  local  agent  for  the  Collvers  Tours 
Company,  of  Boston,  U.S.A.,  so  that  visitors 
may  rely  on  sound  advice  as  to  the  various 
routes  open  to  them  in  any  part  of  the 
world. 

Other  hotels  established  by  the  Company 
are  the  Station  Hotel  at  Tongku,  the  Pcitailio 
Hotel,  the  Railway  Hotel,  Slianhaikwaii,  and 
the  YIngkow  Hotel  ;  whilst  a  sixth  is  shortly 
to  be  opened  in  Mukden.  Shanhaikwan  and 
Peltallio  are  the  well-known  summer  resorts, 
and  the  hotel  at  the  latter  place  stands  right 
on  the  sea-beach,  so  that  visitors  who 
wish  to  bathe  may  go  straight  from  their 
rooms  Into  the  water. 

The  Company  is  also  responsible  for  the 
catering  of  the  Imperial  Railways  of  North 
China,  and  manages  the  dining  cars  on  the 
principal  trains  running  between  Peking  and 
Mukden. 


THE    HOTEL    DE    LA    PAIX. 

Visitors  to  Tientsin  will  find  that  excellent 
accommodation  at  moderate  charges  Is  to  be 
secured  in  the  Rue  du  Consulat,  at  the  Hotel 
de  la  Paix  (Chinese  name,  Ta-Lai),  which  has 
been  eslablished  since  1900.  There  are 
forty  well-furnished  bedrooms,  each  provided 
with  electric  light  and  fans,  and  with  bath- 
room attached.  The  dining  room  is  re- 
cognised as  one  of  the  finest  in  Tientsin. 
It  is  fitted  with  electric  light  and  fans  and 
is  capable  of  seating  eighty  people. 

The  cuisine  is  excellent  and  is  under  the 
control  of  an  experienced  French  chef.  A 
military  orchestra  performs  once  a  week  in 
summer,  during  dinner,  in  the  private  garden 
of  the  hotel,  and  the  grounds  are  electrically 
illuminated  on  this  occasion.  The  daily 
rates  are  from  $4  upwards.  The  proprietor 
is  Mr.  A.  Launay,  and  the  manager  Mr.  J. 
E.  Ravetta.  French,  English,  and  German 
are  spoken. 

THE    CHINESE    ENGINEESING    AND    MINING 
COMPANY,    LTD. 

A  I'UHLICATION  dealing  with  foreign  industries 
in  China  would  be  far  from  complete  did  it 
not  touch  on  that  important  British  enterprise 
managed  by  Major  W.  S.  Nathan,  R.E.,  and 
known  as  the  Chinese  Engineering  and 
Mining  Company,  Ltd.,  with  head  offices  at 
Tientsin. 

Coal  mining  on  an  extensive  scale,  in 
the  Chihli  Province,  forms  the  chief  Industry 
in  which  the  Company  are  engaged,  and  to 
British  "builders  of  Empire"  there  are,  per- 
haps, no  more  agreeable  sights  in  China  than 
the  collieries  at  Tongshan  and  Linsi  working 
with  all  the  activity  and  usefulness  of  old- 
established  European  mines.  The  manufac- 
ture of  coke  is  a  lucrative  adjunct  to  the 
mining  of  coal  ;  while  the  output  from  the 
Company's  fire-brick  factory  is  such,  both  in 
regard  to  quantity  and  quality,  as  to  secure 
to  the  Company  practically  all  the  refractory 
brick  business  north  of  the  Yangt.sze  River. 

The  Company  are  in  the  fortunate  position 
of  being  to  a  large  extent  independent  of 
general  carriers  for  the  distribution  of  their 
yearly  output  of  one  and  a  half  million  tons 
of  coal,  coke,  and  fire-bricks.  They  have  their 
own  seaport  at  Chinwangtao,  where  no  less 
than  $2,500,000  have  been  spent  in  the  con- 
struction of  a  pier  and  breakwater.  They 
own,  also,  a  branch  railway  connecting  Chin- 
wangtao with  the  railway  systems   of   North 


WILHELM    KLEESCHULTE. 

Ikon  Concrete  Godowx  in  Colrse  of  Coxstki-ctiox. 
The  jAxorei  X  Steaji  Hkick  Works.  The  Offices. 

W.  Kleeschl'1.te's  Residence. 


[See  paye  740.] 


738    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


China,  a  canal  joining  up  all  the  local  water- 
ways, the  •'  Ping "  Line  of  steamers,  and 
wharves  and  storage  gixlowns  in  the  principal 
ports  on  the  China  Sea.  A  private  telegraph 
line  connects  the  offices  in  Tientsin  and  Chin- 
wangtao  and  the  collieries  and  the  Tongku 
district,  and  facilitjites  the  administration  of 
the  huge  t-onccrn.  Indeed,  in  the  c-asc  of 
Chinwangtao,  this  line  affords  the  only 
means  of  telegraphic  communication  avail- 
able to  the  public. 


The  section  which  they  opened  now  forms 
part  of  the  Imperial  Railways. 

As  may  be  gathered  from  the  following 
details  of  the  various  departments,  the  Com- 
pany's plant  and  appointments  generally  are 
of  the  most  modern  type. 

The  coal  mines  at  Tongshan  and  Linsi  are 
situated  in  the  Kaiping  district  of  the  Chihli 
Province,  about  60  miles  from  the  ports  of 
Tongku  and  Chinwangtao,  with  which  they 
are   connected   by    the    Chinese   Government 


THE    TIENTSIN    OFFICES    OF    THE    CHINESE    ENGINEERINQ    AND    MINING 
[S«  page  736]  COMPANY,    LTD. 


It  will  thus  be  seen  that  in  its  completeness 
the  concern  is  almost  unique.  The  labour  for 
which  it  finds  employment,  and  the  impetus 
it  has  given  to  native  industries,  has  furnished 
a  most  powerful  argument  for  the  introduction 
of  foreign  capital  into  the  Chinese  Empire. 
Again,  the  short  section  of  railway  which 
was  opened  in  the  early  eighties  to  connect 
the  mines  with  the  canal,  proved  effective 
in  removing  the  Chinese  prejudice  against 
the  Western  iron  road,  so  that  the  Company 
may  be  said  to  have  given  birth  to  the  now- 
extensive    railway    systems   of    North    China. 


railway  system.  In  addition  to  the  usual 
steam  haulage,  having  a  maximum  capacity 
of  about  eight  thousand  tons  per  day.  these 
collieries  employ,  in  pumping  and  lighting, 
an  electrical  installation  which  cost  consider- 
ably over  a  million  dollars,  and  is  reputed 
to  be  the  largest  electrical  plant  in  the  East. 
The  output  of  the  collieries  is  at  the  rate  of 
one  and  a  half  million  tons  of  coal  per  annum. 
The  best  coal  won  is  very  similar  to  the  best 
Cardiff  lump,  and  is  much  in  demand  among 
the  foreign  navies  as  a  first-rate  steam  raiser. 
It  is  also  used  in   admixture   with   dust  coal 


by  the  Chinese  arsenals,  and  gives  excellent 
results  in  the  manufacture  of  steel.  The 
second  quality  may  be  likened  to  the  best 
Japanese,  Australian,  or  Scotch  coals  ;  it  is  a 
good  steam  coal,  and  is  much  used  on  the 
North  China  railways,  and  by  most  of  the 
large  coasting  lines  in  the  China  seas.  A 
third  quality  is  principally  in  demand  as  a 
household  coal,  but  is  also  very  popular  as 
a  steam  raiser  in  mills  and  factories,  and, 
when  mixed  with  dust  coal,  for  shipping  pur- 
poses. In  the  development  of  native  in- 
dustries, such  as  brick-burning,  the  expression 
of  bean  oil,  and  distilling,  the  use  of  coal  dust 
plays  a  very  important  part.  It  is  also  re- 
placing grasses,  hemp  sticks,  millet  stalks, 
and  other  native  fuel  for  domestic  purposes, 
for  the  Company  are  demonstrating  to  a 
large  section  of  the  population,  notably  in 
Tientsin,  that  by  a  small  alteration  in  their 
stoves  they  can  burn  coal  with  great  economy. 
The  collieries  give  direct  employment  to  ten 
thousand  Chinese,  while  another  ten  thousand 
families  are  engaged  in  supplying  grains, 
fodder,  oils,  baskets,  and  all  manner  of 
native  produce  consumed  in  the  works. 
Seven  locomotives  are  engaged  in  moving 
stores,  coal,  &c.,  in  and  about  the  mining 
properties. 

The  manufacture  of  coke  is  one  of  the 
least  progressive  of  the  Company's  industries, 
but  the  product  is  easily  disposed  of  to  the 
local  mints,  arsenals,  and  dockyards.  At 
present  only  native  open  kilns  are  employed  ; 
but  the  business  is  capable  of  considerable 
expansion,  and  the  erection  of  a  modern 
type  of  plant  will  give  the  necessary  impetus, 
ensuring  a  better  quality  of  coke  and  at  the 
same  time  reducing  the  cost  of  manufacture 
by  the  saving  of  the  by-products  now 
wasted. 

The  country  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coal 
mines  is  unusually  rich  in  tire-clays,  and 
some  of  the  seams  lying  on  the  Company's 
property  contain  material  of  the  finest  quality. 
This  clay  is  manufactured  into  bricks  by  a 
modern  plant  driven  by  electricity,  at  the 
rate  of  from  1,750,000  to  2,000,000  pieces  per 
mensem,  or,  roughly,  20,000,000  per  annum. 
These  bricks  are  highly  finished,  and  the 
degree  of  heat  resistance  without  deformation 
is  certified  at  not  less  than  2,930°  Fahrenheit,  a 
degree  of  refractoriness  which  European 
manufacturers  will  rarely  guarantee.  The 
numerous  Chinese  Government  mints  and 
arsenals,  the  Hanyang  Iron  Works  at  Hankow, 
the  Chinese  railway  systems,  and  the  several 
Government  dockyards,  not  to  mention  many 
progressive  native  industries  utilising  Western 
power,  all  draw  their  supplies  of  fire- 
bricks from  the  Company,  to  much  mutual 
advantage. 

Anticipating  that  a  more  thorough  system 
of  drainage  will  become  necessary  in  the 
Treaty  ports,  if  not  in  purely  Chinese  local- 
ities, the  Company  have  erected  a  modern 
pipe-making  machine  for  the  manufacture  of 
stoneware  drain-pipes.  They  are  also  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  glazed  brick  and  floor- 
ing and  roofing  tiles,  conveniences  which  the 
heavy  steamer  freights  have  hitherto  placed 
beyond  the  reach  of  both  native  and  European 
residents. 

The  "Ping"  Line  of  steamers  belonging  to 
the  Company  may  be  seen  Hying  the  appro- 
priate "  black  diamond  "  house  flag  in  any  of 
the  China  ports  between  Xewchwang  and 
Canton.  Outward  bound  they  usually  carry 
the  Company's  coal  and  other  products,  and 
they  bring  back  piece  goods  and  general  cargo 
principally  from  Shanghai.  The  Company 
have  wharves  and  godowns  at  Tientsin, 
Chinwangtao,  Tongku,  Shanghai,  and  Canton; 
and  godowns  and  property   for  the  storage  of 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     739 


cargoes  at  Newchvvang  and  Chefoo.  The 
shortest  sea  route  between  Tientsin  and 
Shanghai  is  viii  Chinwangtao  ;  the  journey, 
being  free  from  tlie  delay  and  uncertainty  of 
the    Taku    route,    occupies   only   about    sixty 


loss,  is  ensured.  There  are  seven  berths — five 
at  the  breakwater,  and  one  on  each  side  of  the 
pier — and  the  railway  trucks  are  so  arranged 
that  loading  and  discharging  can  be  proceeded 
with  independently  at  each  berth.     The  main 


2. 

3- 

G.  E.  Five. 

L.   BIELFELD. 
J.   FAUST. 

6. 
7- 

4- 

5- 

H.   IXJHLEIX. 
G.   GOERTZ. 

10. 

BUSINESS    MEN 

OF 

TIENTSIN. 

M.   D.   liATOflEKF. 

II. 

K.  Schi-lze. 

0.   KI.EEMAXX. 

12. 

CorxT  Jp:zierski. 

Hugo  Kloeckxer. 

13- 

J.  O.  Nem.l, 

Karl  F.  Melchkks. 

■4- 

O.  E.  Meyer. 

W.  A.  Argext. 

IB- 

Fritz  So.mmer. 

16.  A,  Walte. 

17.  A.   E.  SCHULDT. 

18.  Y.  YASL'KAWA, 

19.  J.   MACDOXALD, 


berths  have  21  feet  of  water  at  low  water  ordin- 
ary spring  tides,  but  steamers  drawing  23  feet 
6  inches  have  been  known  to  discharge  with 
perfect  safety,  the  bottom  being  soft  mud, 
and  there  is  really  nothing  to  prevent  vessels 
with  a  draft  of  25  feet  from  discharging, 
provided  they  are  prepared  to  take  the  mud 
at  low  water.  The  Company  have  at  present 
three  steam  cranes  available  for  weights  up 
to  five  tons  each,  and  generally  speaking,  it 
may  be  said  that  the  loading  and  discharging 
facilities  are  excellent.  On  one  occasion 
73,000  bags  of  fiour  were  taken  out  of  one 
steamer  in  27  consecutive  hours,  whilst  on 
another  4,000  tons  of  coal  were  loaded  on  to 
one  steamer  in  31  consecutive  hours.  These 
facilities,  resulting  from  the  Company's 
liberal  expenditure  of  capital,  have  caused 
Chinwangtao  to  become  a  formidable  rival 
for  the  trade  hitherto  shipped  viii  Taku  to 
Tientsin.  The  port  is  accessible  throughout 
the  year,  for,  though  in  hard  winters  there 
is  occasionally  a  good  deal  of  floating  ice  in 
the  Gulf,  there  is  no  case  on  record  of  a 
steamer  having  been  prevented  by  ice  from 
making  the  port.  It  is,  in  fact,  practically 
the  only  port  in  the  Gulfs  of  Pechili  and 
Liau  Tung  accessible  during  the  winter, 
which,  on  an  average,  extends  from  December 
loth  to  March  loth.  Good,  sheltered  anchor- 
age also  is  to  be  found  in  the  Roads.  The 
Company's  branch  line  runs  from  the  pier  to 
Tongho,  four  miles  distant,  on  the  main  trunk 
line  from  New-chwang  to  Peking.  The 
Company  own  the  land  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  port,  and  that  portion  of  the  property 
known  as  the  Bluff,  and  comprising  the  best 
residential  and  building  sites,  has  now  been 
laid  out  as  a  township,  in  which  plots  may 
be  bought  or  leased  on  moderate  terms.  As 
a  seaside  health  resort  Chinwangtao  is 
almost  without  rival  in  China.  It  is  easily 
accessible,  has  a  dry  and  bracing  climate, 
offers  safe  bathing  from  a  sandy  beach,  and 
is  situated  amidst  magnificent  scenery;  while 
a  hotel  under  European  management  affords 
the  visitor  every  comfort.  The  great  increase 
of  trade  year  by  year  has  induced  the 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs  to  erect  a  fine 
Customs  house  at  Chinwangtao,  with  a  deputy 
commissioner  in  charge,  and  to  open  a  Ha 
Kwan  Bank  for  the  convenience  of  local 
consignees.  Chinwangtao  was  selected  on 
account  of  its  natural  geographical  advantages 
as  one  of  the  ports  of  embarkation  for  coolies 


hours.  The  steamers  leave  for  Shanghai  on 
the  arrival  of  the  mail  from  Peking  and 
Tientsin,  and  incoming  steamers  are  timed 
to  connect  with  the  morning  mail  train.  All 
the  "Ping"  steamers  are  fitted  with  first 
class  accommodation  for  passengers,  the  new 
steamer,  the  Kaipitig,  being  one  of  the 
most  comfortable  vessels  in  these  waters. 
The  Chargeurs  Reunis  Steamship  Company 
have  now  established  a  permanent  service  of 
steamers  from  Europe  to  Chinwangtao,  so 
that  cargo  may  be  booked  through  to 
Tientsin  without  trans-shipment  at  Shanghai 
as  hitherto. 

Chinwangtao.  which  owes  its  existence  as 
a  seaport  to  the  Chinese  Engineering  and 
Mining  Company,  Ltd.,  is  situated  on  the 
western  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Liao  Tung,  and  is 
distant  about  10  miles  WSW.  of  Shanhai- 
kwan.  It  is  thus  the  natural  distributing  centre 
for  the  north-west  part  of  the  great  province  of 
Chihli.  The  breakwater  and  pier  which  form 
the  harbour  are  so  constructed  that  vessels 
may  be  alongside  at  any  state  of  the  tide 
and  in  all  weathers,  and  discharge  a  load 
direct  on  to  and  from  railway  cars,  so  that  a 
minimum   of   handling,  and,   consequently,   of 


!?j??Ri»««,*^'. 


BBUNNER,    MOND    &    CO.,    LTD. 
The  Godowx  at  Tiextsix. 


740     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


cmigratiiif;  to  South  Africa,  and  durinj*  11)04 
an  extensive  depot  was  established  lor  the 
acoommodation  of  live  or  six  thous:iiid  men. 


■^ 


THE    NATIVE   CITT   WATEEWOEKS.   LTD. 

The  Native  City  Waterworks  Company,  Ltd.. 
of  which  Messrs.  Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co., 
Ltd..  are  the  agents  and  general  managers. 
was  formed  in  1902.  and  commenced  to  supply 
water  in  April  of  the  foll(5wing  year.  The 
shareholders  are  both  Chinese  and  foreigners, 
and  the  board  of  directors  include  Messrs. 
J.  Boyce-Kup,  A.  Walte.  Sun  Chung  Ying, 
Chen  Chi-i.  Jui  Yu-Kun,  and  Ma  Yu-Ching. 


member  of  the  Institute  of  Civil  Engineers, 
Denmark. 

THE    UOLKESEI    OBEBHOF.    LTD. 

Ix  a  country  in  wliich  there  are  no  laws  en- 
forced for  preventing  the  spread  of  cattle 
diseases,  and  practically  none  governing  sani- 
tary arrangements,  it  is  obviously  very  difficult 
to  obtain  a  pure  milk  supply.  Several  dairy 
farms  have  been  started  in  Tientsin,  but  owing 
to  the  prevalence  of  rinderpest  tliey  have 
not  proved  successful.  The  Molkerei  Oberhof, 
Ltd.,  however,  is  an  exception  to  the  rule. 
This  enterprise  has  been  prosperous  from  a 
financial  point  of  view\  and  its  butter,  cheese. 


THE    JANGSTUN    STEAM    BRICK   WORKS. 

Dl'RiXG  the  summer  lime,  wlien  the  manu- 
facture of  bricks  is  in  full  progress,  some 
600  native  workmen  find  employment  in  this 
large  industrial  enterprise,  owned  by  Mr.  \V. 
Ivleescliulte.  The  works  are  planned  on  tlie 
most  modern  scientific  system,  and  cover  a 
large  area.  Among  the  many  buildings,  the 
Hoffman  brick  oven  is,  perhaps,  the  first  to 
attract  the  attention  of  a  visitor.  It  is  a 
huge  pile  of  red  bricks  several  feet  thick, 
and  consists  of  two  parallel  ovens,  170  feet 
long,  in  the  shape  of  concave  vaults.  Six- 
teen doors  give  access  to  as  niaii\-  compart- 
ments, and  each  compartment  is  separated 
from    the  next  by  an  iron  partition   which   is 


[See  page  742.] 


E.    MARZOLI'S    BRICK    FACTORY. 


Water  is  taken  from  the  Grand  Canal, 
outside  the  native  city,  and  is  carefully  treated 
in  filter-beds  of  sand.  It  is  distributed  through 
25  miles  of  mains  of  various  sizes  to  the 
native  city  and  to  the  Japanese,  Austrian, 
Russian,  and  Italian  Concessions.  More  than 
three  hundred  houses  are  connected  with  the 
service,  and  there  are  one  hundred  and  fifty 
public  hydrants  for  fire  purposes  and  for 
street  supply.  The  water  is  sold  at  70  cents 
per  i.ooo  gallons,  with  special  rates  to  large 
consumers,  and  the  annual  consumption 
amounts  to  some  200,000,000  gallons.  The 
waterworks  occupy  about  15  mow  of  land. 

The  manager  and  chief  engineer  is  Mr.  J. 
Holmberg,  a  native  of  Denmark,  who,  after 
qualifying  as  a  constructing  and  civil  engineer, 
received  a  first-class  certificate  in  1902.  He 
came  to  Tientsin  in  the  following  year  to 
take  up  his  present  duties.    He  is  an  associated 


and  cream  will  compare  favourably  with  the 
best  home  produce.  The  dairy  is  situated 
about  two  miles  from  the  centre  of  the 
Tientsin  Settlements  in  the  direction  of  the 
racecourse,  and  the  cattle  have  the  advantage 
of  grazing  upon  the  plain  during  the  summer 
months.  The  buildings  are  modern  and  are 
replete  with  every  convenience  for  the  con- 
duct of  a  dairy  farm,  and  the  extreme  cleanli- 
ness of  the  establishment  is  such  as  to  inspire 
complete  confidence  in  it.  The  dairy  is 
under  experienced  Kuropean  management, 
and,  periodically,  a  veterinary  surgeon  inspects 
all  the  cattle,  which  are  selected  from  Cali- 
fornian  and  Australian  herds,  and  brought 
to  China  at  considerable  expense.  Mr. 
Wilhelm  Kleeschulte  is  the  principal  share- 
holder in  the  enterprise,  and  exercises  a 
personal  supervision  over  the  conduct  of  the 
business. 


dropped  from  overhead.  Each  compartment 
is  capable  of  holding  25,000  bricks,  so  that 
the  total  capacity  of  the  oven  is  400,000. 
Eroiri  the  centre  a  large  chimney  rises  to  a 
lieight  of  165  feet.  At  one  extremity  a 
furnace  is  started.  The  heat  from  this 
ignites  coal  which  has  been  dropped  through 
overhead  ducts  into  the  first  compartment 
filled  with  bricks  :  the  heat  of  the  first  com- 
partment ignites  coal  in  the  second  one ; 
and  so  forth.  This  automatic  process  of 
ignition  may  be  continued  indefinitely — as 
long  as  the  lifetime  of  the  oven,  if  necessary. 
The  output  capacity  of  the  Hoffman  oven  is 
about  10,000,000  bricks  a  year.  The  equip- 
ment of  the  works  includes,  also,  a  pressing- 
machine,  a  steam-driven  mud-mixer,  drying 
sheds,  carpenters'  and  blacksmiths'  shops, 
and  six  large  double  mud  kilns  with  a  total 
yearly    output    capacity    of    8,000,000    bricks. 


A.    H.    JAQUES    &    CO. 


[Sec  page  742.] 


The  Stores. 
The  Firxiture  Factory. 


VlCTOKI.l    BLILDIXGS. 

Employes  ok  the  Fi'RNrrrRE  Factory. 


'42     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


£.    MASZOU. 

The  business  now  carried  on  by  Mr.  E. 
MarxoH  was  established  by  his  brother,  Mr. 
L.  Marzoli  in  1901.      At  first  Mr.  L.  Marzoli 


copying.  The  firm  has,  therefore,  enj;a!;ed 
an  expert  European  designer,  under  whose 
supervision  all  work  is  tarried  out.  The 
excellence  of  the  furniture  is  attested  by  the 
fact  that  the  workmen  are  almost  continually 


TIHBER    YARD    OF    THE    CHINA    IMPORT    AND    EXPORT    LUMBER 
COMPANY    (LTD. I    AT    TIENTSIN. 


confined  his  attention  to  the  conduct  of  a 
large  trade  in  anthracite  coal  and  lime,  but 
in  1904  he  opened  a  calcareous  brick  factory 
at  Huangtsun,  and  since  that  time  the  enter- 
prise has  been  extended  in  various  directions. 
Cement  works  and  granite  quarries  have  been 
acquired,  and  Carrara  marble  and  Venetian 
mosaic  tiles  are  imported  in  considerable 
quantities.  At  the  brick  works  some  5,000,000 
bricks  are  produced  each  year,  and  the 
granite  from  the  quarries  has  been  used  in 
many  of  the  principal  buildings  in  Tientsin 
and  Peking.  Mr.  L.  Marzoli  died  at  Peking 
in  1907,  and  the  business  is  now  entirely  in 
the  hands  of  Mr.  E.  Marzoli,  who  is  a 
native  of  Varese,  Italy. 

A.   H.    JAQUES    &    CO. 

The  firm  of  Messrs.  A.  H.  Jaques  &  Co., 
though  established  only  as  recently  as  1901, 
has  quickly  taken  its  place  among  the 
leading  houses  in  Tientsin,  and  may  be  re- 
garded as  the  local  "  Whiteley's."  While 
supplying  articles  of  every  description,  they 
make  a  speciality  of  furniture  from  their  own 
factory. 

The  firm  believes  in  the  old-fashioned 
method  of  making  furniture  by  hand,  whereby 
quality,  durability,  and  finish  are  alike  secured. 
Their  workmen  are  recruited  from  Ningpo- 
Chekiang,  where  most  of  the  cabinet-makers 
in  China  are  to  be  found,  and  though  men 
employed  on  piece-work  are  sometimes 
diflicuit  to  manage,  the  firm  of  "  Kung  Yih  " 
— to  give  the  Chinese  name — have  such  an 
enviable  reputation  for  fair  dealing  that  they 
have  yet  to  record  their  first  hitch  or  strike. 
In  the  manufacture  of  furniture  of  modern 
design  Chinese  workmen  may  lack  originality, 
but    they    stand    unequalled    in     the    art    of 


employed  on  the  numerous  orders  with  which 
the  firm  is  entrusted,  both  by  Europeans 
and  Chinese.  One  of  these  orders  was  for 
a  tapestried  drawing-room  suite  for  the 
imperial  summer  residence  at  Peking.  Others 
have  been  received  from  many  of  the  leading 
hotels,   clubs,  banks,   and    official    residences 


in  North  China.  The  Chinese  name  of  A.  H. 
Jaques  &  Co.,  "  Kung  Yih,"  is  as  much  a 
household  word  in  North  China  as  is  the 
name  of  Maple  in  England. 

Messrs.  Jaques  &  Co.  are  agents  for  the 
handsome  block  known  as  the  Victoria 
Buildings,  which  is  among  the  finest  of  the 
kind  in  North  China.  The  block  contains 
about  one  hundred  rooms,  iitted  with  every 
convenience,  including  electric  lighting  and 
steam-heating,  and  suitable  either  for  business 
or  residential  purposes. 

Mr.  A.  H.  Jaques,  who  founded  the  busi- 
ness, is  managing  director  and  proprietor  of 
the  firm. 


MELCHEES    &    CO. 

Thkre  are  few  places  of  any  commercial 
importance  in  the  Far  East  where  branches 
of  the  well-known  firm  of  Messrs.  Melchers 
&  Co.  are  not  to  be  found.  The  Tientsin 
branch,  with  offices  in  the  Taku  Road,  was 
opened  by  Mr.  Haupt  in  1897,  and  has  gained 
a  strong  position  amongst  local  commercial 
liouses.  Apart  from  their  own  export  and 
import  business,  the  firm  represent  in  Tientsin 
the  following,  among  other,  companies  : — The 
Norddeutscher  Lloyd  ;  the  East  Asiatic  Com- 
pany, Ltd.,  Copenhagen  ;  the  Ocean  Accident 
and  Guarantee  Corporation,  Ltd.  ;  the  Globus 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  Ltd.,  of  Hamburg  ; 
the  Salamander  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
Ltd.,  of  Amsterdam  ;  the  Swedisli  East  Asiatic 
Company,  Ltd.,  of  Gothenberg ;  the  Nord- 
stern  Life  Insurance  Company,  Ltd.,  of 
Berlin  ;  and  the  Maatschappij  Tot  Mijn 
Boschen  Landbouwexploitatie  in  Lang  Kat, 
Ltd.  (supplying  a  well-known  brand  of  kero- 
sene). The  Company  are  also  general 
managers  for  the  Equitable  Life  Assurance 
Company  of  the  United  States. 

The  Tientsin  branch  is  under  the  direction 
of  Mr.  Karl  F.  Melchers,  who  assumed  the 
duties  in  IQ02.  Born  in  1877  at  Bremen, 
where  he  was  educated,  he  joined  the  firm 
at  their  head  office,  in  Bremen,  in   1893.     In 


THE    TIENTSIN    PREMISES    OF    VON    DtfRING,    WIBEL    &.    CO. 


The  Machixkry  Showroom 
The  Godovvns. 


AENHOLD,    KARBERG    &    CO. 

The  Offices. 


The  Machine  Department. 


[See  page  744.] 


744     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


1896  he  came  out  to  Shanghai,  where,  except 
for  an  interruption  of  live  months  at  Chin- 
kiang  in  igoo.  he  remained  until  1902,  when 
he  was  transferred  to  Tientsin.  Mr.  Melchers 
is  the  chairman  of  the  Deutsche  Vereini- 
gung  (German  Association),  and  is  also  on 
the  committee  of  the  Tientsin  General  Chamber 
of  Commerce. 

# 
AENHOLD,    KASBEE6    k    CO. 

The  name  of  Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co.,  as 
importers  and  exporters,  shipping  agents, 
and  contractors  to  the  Chinese  Government, 
is  knowni  all  over  the  Far  East.  The  tirm 
have  large  business  interests  in  many  parts 
of  the  Chinese  Empire,  references  to  which 
are  made  in  other  sections  of  this  volume. 
The  branch  at  Tientsin  was  opened  by  Mr. 
M.  Niclassen  in  1897.  The  oftices,  which  are 
the  freehold  property  of  the  Company,  are 
situated  at  the  corner  of  Taku  Road  and 
Bristow  Road.  The  showrooms  for  mjichinery 
and    electric    plant  are    in    the    Rue    de    St. 


A    COMPETITIVE    DESIGN    BY    CHARREY    &    CONVERSY, 
ARCHITECTS,    TIENTSIN. 


^mk 


Louis,  French  Concession,  and  there  are 
extensive  lumber  yards  both  at  Tientsin  and 
Tongku.     The  agencies  held  by  the  Company 


■1 


in  Tientsin  include  those  for  the  Lancashire 
Insurance  Company  ;  the  London  Assurance 
Company  ;  the  South  British  Fire  and 
Marine  Insurance  Company  ;  the  State  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  American 
and  Oriental  Line  of  steamers  ;  and  the 
International  Banking  Corporation.  For  the 
Tientsin  Native  City  Waterworks  Company, 
Ltd.,  and  the  Peking  Electric  Company, 
Ltd.,  Messrs.  Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co.  act 
as  general  managers.  Mr.  W.  Pape,  the 
manager,  is  assisted  by  Mr.  K.  Schnabel  and 
a  large  staff  of  European  assistants,  includ- 
ing three  engineers.  Mr.  Pape  was  born 
at  Oldenburg,  Germany,  in  1870.  He  came 
to  China  in  1893,  and  for  three  years  was 
in  the  employment  of  Messrs.  Carlowit/,  & 
Co.  at  Canton  and  Tientsin.  He  joined 
Messrs.  Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co.,  in  1896, 
and  was  appointed  to  his  present  post  in 
1901. 

CHABEET   &    CONVEESY. 

Since  they  established  themselves  in  Tientsin 
in  1902  this  firm  of  architects  and  surveyors 
have  made  plans  and  undertaken  the  erection 
of  over  forty  of  the  principal  buildings  in 
the  French  Concession.  Among  the  largest 
of  these  are  the  premises  occupied  bv  Messrs. 
L.  Tallieu  &  Co.,  Sennet  Freres,  "C.  Wall, 
and  UUman  &  Co.  ;  whilst  at  present  they 
are  building  the  Banque  de  I'lndo-Chine,  the 
new  Procure  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers,  and 
numerous  properties  for  the  Mission  des 
Lazaristes  in  the  German  Concession.  The 
tirm  are  architects  also  for  the  Societe 
Franco-Beige  de  Tientsin.  Their  oBices 
occupy  a  prominent  corner  site  abutting  on 
the  Kue  de  I'Amiraute  and  the  Rue  du 
Chemin  de  Fer.  Mons.  H.  Charrey  was  born 
in  1878  at  Annemasse.  He  was  educated  at 
the  College  de  Thonon,  and  afterwards  went 
through  a  course  of  study  at  the  School  of 
Art  in  Geneva,  receiving  his  diploma  for 
drawing  and  surveying  in  1897.  Mons.  M. 
Conversy,  the  other  partner,  was  also  born 
in  Annemasse,  Haute  Savoie,  F"rance,  and, 
after  attending  the  College  de  Thonon  and 
the  School  of  Art  at  Geneva,  completed  his 
studies  as  an  architect  and  surveyor  in  Paris. 
The  .staff  includes  Mr.  Charles  Chevallay,  a 
Swiss,  who  is  in  charge  of  the  plan  draw- 
ing ;  Mr.  J.  T.  Ferrer,  the  accountant ;  and 
numerous  Chinese. 


NEW    OFFICES    OF    CARLOWITZ    Sc    CO. 


DIEDEEICHSEN,    JEBSEN    &    CO. 

An  extensive  export,  import,  and  general 
shipping  business  is  carried  on  by  this  well- 
known    firm,    who    have    branches    at    Kiel, 


Thk  Bristle  Department. 

The  Fur  Dkpartwext. 


BILGER    &    QALLUSSEH. 
The  Offices. 


The  G0D0WN& 


[See  page  747.] 


(i   G   G   2 


'46      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,   ETO. 


Hamburg.  Hongkong.  Canton.  Shanghai. 
Tsingtau,  \nadivostock.  Hoihow,  Chefoo,  and 
Tientsin.  The  Tientsin  branch,  which  was 
estabhshed  by  Mr.  Hugo  Kloeckner,  the 
present  manager,  in  May.  1907,  exports 
Chinese  products  such  as  skins,  furs, 
feathers,  jute,  cotton,  and  wool,  and  im- 
ports piece  goods,  hardware,  engines,  and 
machinery.  It  holds  the  agency  lor  the 
Jebsen  Line  of  Steamships,  the  Volunteer 
Fleet  of  St.  Petersburg,  and  the  Hansa 
Composition.  The  firm's  offices  are  in  the 
Taku  Koad. 

Mr.  Kloeckner  is  a  native  of  Hamburg, 
and  was  educated  at  Hainburg  and  Jena. 
He  came  to  China  in  June.  1901.  in  the 
emplo>Tnent    of   the    China   Import   and   Ex- 


Comptoir  en  Chine,  the  Yuen  Ching  Lumber 
Yards  and  others. 

Tlie  manager  of  the  branch  is  Mr.  H. 
Lcihlein.  who  was  born  near  Berlin,  in  1867. 
After  receiving  his  education  at  college,  he 
was  apprenticed  to  a  firm  of  wholesale 
druggists,  and  in  1891  he  came  to  Shanghai 
for  Messrs.  Carlowit/  &  Co.  In  1895  he 
entered  the  Shanghai  otil'ice  of  Messrs. 
Buchheister  &  Co.,  and  remained  there 
until  the  end  of  1905.  when  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  position.  He  is  a  director  of 
the  Tientsin  Iron  Works  and  Hsinchi  Boden 
and  Bau  Verwaltung.  He  has  a  seat  on  the 
German  Municipal  Council  at  Tientsin,  and 
on  the  committee  of  the  German  Chamber 
of  Commerce. 


He  came  to  Shanghai  in  i8()4,  and  for 
three  years  was  in  tlic  employment  of  Messrs. 
Schellhass  &  Co.,  the  firm  now  known  as 
Schuldt  &  Co.  Then,  after  a  short  visit  to 
Europe,  he  joined  Overbeck  &  Co.  in  Tientsin. 
He  is  the  chairman  of  the  German  Municipal 
Council,  a  member  of  the  French  Council, 
and  a  director  of  the  "  Tageblatt  of  North 
China,"  and  of  the  Tientsin  Wool  Cleaning 
Factorv,  Ltd. 

J.    TEOST    &    CO. 

When,  in  consequence  of  the  Boxer  riots,  a 
large  Parisian  firm  of  general  merchants, 
whom  Mr.  J.  Trost  had  represented  in 
Tientsin  since  181)8,  withdrew  their  agency  in 


Thk  Offices. 


FAUST    &    CO. 


J.  Fai:st's  Phivatk  RKsn>KXCF,. 


port  Banking  Company,  and  remained  with 
them  until  1904,  when  he  joined  Messrs. 
Diederichsen,  Jebsen  &  Co.,  at  Tsingtau. 
Three  years  later  he  was  sent  to  Tientsin 
to  open  the  new  branch. 


BUCHHEISTER   &    CO. 

The  Tientsin  branch  of  the  firm  of  Messrs. 
Buchheister  &  Co..  was  established  in 
April,  1889,  by  the  late  Mr.  J.  J.  Buchheister 
and  his  nephew,  Mr.  O.  Buchheister,  who 
is  now  in  charge  of  the  Hamburg  office. 
The  firm  are  general  merchants,  and  in 
Tientsin  hold  agencies  for  Sir  W.  G. 
Armstrong.  Whitworth  &  Co..  Ltd..  Newcastle- 
on-Tyne  ;  Messrs.  Schuchardt  &  Schiitle,  the 


FAUST    &    CO. 

The  Company  now  carrying  on  a  large 
import  and  export  trade  under  the  style  of 
Messrs.  P'aust  &  Co..  is  an  offshoot  of  the 
firm  of  Overbeck  &  Co..  for  whom  Mr.  J. 
Faust  opened  a  branch  in  Tientsin  in  1898. 
On  the  death  of  Mr.  Overbeck  in  1899. 
Mr.  F'aust  took  over  the  business,  changed 
its  name,  and  in  1904  admitted  Mr.  P. 
Schmidt  into  partnership.  The  offices  are 
situated  in  the  Kue  de  I'Amiraute  and  are 
the  firm's  freehold  property.  In  the  import 
and  export  department  furs,  skins,  bristles, 
wool,  &c.,  are  exchanged  for  piece  goods 
and  sundries.  The  Company  also  holds  the 
agency  for  the  Western  Assurance  Company. 
Toronto. 

Mr.  J.  F'aust  was  born  in   1870.  at  Hanover. 


1900,  Mr.  Trost  decided  to  continue  the 
business  on  his  own  account,  importing 
piece  goods  and  sundries,  and  exporting  Chi- 
nese produce.  In  1905  he  took  a  partner, 
but  the  partnership  was  dissolved  in  the 
following  year,  and,  though  the  name  of  J. 
Trost  &  Co.  has  been  retained,  Mr.  Trost  is 
now  the  sole  proprietor.  The  oftices  are 
situated  at  No.  5,  Rue  de  I'Amiraute,  on 
property  belonging  to  the  firm,  and  the  staff 
includes  Messrs.  A.  Busch,  who  signs  per 
pro.,  O.  Gross,  H.  G.  Washbrook.  O.  Lut/.er. 
and  H.  K.  Peters,  besides  two  compradores 
and  several  Chinese. 

Mr.  Trost,  who  was  born  in  1868,  was 
educated  at  Frankfurt-on-the-Maine,  his  native 
place.  During  his  residence  in  Tientsin  he 
has  identified  himself  closely  with  local 
sport.      He  f)wns  several   race  ponies,  and  is 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     747 


a  steward  of  the  Tientsin  Race  Club.  In 
addition  to  his  other  business  interests  he  is 
a  director  of  the  Hsiao  Liu  Chuang  Land 
Company,  Ltd. 


dextrine.  The  present  head  of  the  firm  is 
Mr.  Fr.  Hesse.  The  manager  of  the  Tientsin 
branch,  Mr.  G.  Goertz,  was  born  in  1873  at 
Rliincland,  Germany,  where  he  received  his 
education.      He   comes   of   an   old    family  of 


THE    PREMISES    AND    GODOWNS    OF    J.    TROST    &    CO. 


KOCH    &    CO. 

The  Tientsin  branch  of  Messrs.  Koch  &  Co. 
— who  were  established  at  Groningen,  Hol- 
land, in  the  early  eighties,  and  have  a 
branch  at  Hamburg  and  agencies  in  London. 
New  York,  and  elsewhere — was  opened  in 
1902,  and  has  developed  a  considerable 
import  and  export  trade,  in  piece  goods  and 
Chinese  products  of  all  kinds.  The  firm 
has  large  factories  in  Holland  for  the  pro- 
duction   of    potato    Hour,   sugar,    syrup,    and 


textile  merchants,  and  on  leaving  school  he 
adopted  a  business  career  and  travelled 
extensively  in  Europe  for  many  years.  He 
came  to  Tientsin  in  1902  to  open  up  a 
branch  for  Messrs.  Koch  &  Co.,  and  has 
since  acquired  an  interest  in  the  firm.  The 
local  offices  are  situated  in  the  Rue  de 
I'Amiraute  on  a  site  that  is  the  property  of 
the  firm. 


THE    NOEDCHINESISCHE    HANDELS- 
6ESELLSCHAFT. 

Messrs.  Bottchek,  Schmitt  &  Co.,  proprie- 
tors of  the  Nordchinesische  Handelsgesell- 
schaft,  established  themselves  in  Tientsin  in 
1906  as  general  merchants,  importers,  and 
exporters,  dealing  in  piece  goods,  sundries, 
and  Chinese  products.  Their  offices  are 
situated  at  the  corner  of  the  Rue  de  France 
and  the  Rue  Dillon.  Both  partners  have  had 
considerable  experience  in  the  Far  East.  Mr. 
Bottcher  was  formerly  in  the  Chinese  Army, 
while  Mr.  Schmitt  came  out  to  Tientsin  in 
1896  as  manager  of  Mr.  E.  Lees'  stores. 


A.    WALTE    &    CO. 

This  firm  was  established  by  Messrs.  J.  Droste 
and  A.  Walte,  in  1895,  as  Droste  &  Walte. 
Four  years  later  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved, and  Mr.  A.  Walte  took  over  the 
business  under  the  style  of  A.  Walte  &  Co. 
In  1901  he  took  into  partnership  Mr.  O. 
Kleeman,  who  left  the  firm  in  1907,  and  in 
January,  1908,  Mr.  S.  Clausen  and  C.  de  Voss 
became  part-proprietors  with  Mr.  A.  Walte. 
A.  Walte  &  Co.  import  piece  goods,  machinery, 
and  all  kinds  of  sundries ;  and  export 
wool,  skins,  furs,  bristles,  &c.  The  firm  also 
acts  as  agents  for  the  Mannheimer  Insurance 
Company,  the  Atlas  Assurance  Company,  Ltd., 
and  for  the  celebrated  champagne  of  G.  H. 
Mumm  &  Co.,  Reims. 


'^ 


BILGER    &    GALLUSSEE. 

The  import  of  piece  goods  and  the  export 
of  furs,  skins,  and  bristles,  constitute  the  chief 
business  of  this  firm.  The  partners,  Mr.  A. 
Bilger  and  Mr.  A.  Gallusser,  are  both  men 
of  wide  experience,  the  former  having  been 
for  many  years  in  the  piece-goods  trade, 
while  Mr.  Gallusser  comes  of  a  family  which 
has  long  been  engaged  in  the  fur  trade  in 
Romanshorn,  Switzerland,  and  has  himself 
been  employed  as  a  fur  specialist  by  a  well- 
known  Parisian  house.  Mr.  Bilger  came  to 
Tientsin  in  1902,  and  Mr.  Gallusser  in  the 
following  year,  and  in  1905  they  founded  the 
firm  which  bears  their  name.  Their  offices 
and  godowns  occupy  an  advantageous  site  at 
the  corner  of  the  Rue  de  Paris  and  the  Rue 
de  I'Amiraute.  The  staff  includes  Mr.  A. 
Brushweiler  and  Miss  King,  a  Chinese  com- 
pradore,  and  numerous  Chinese  clerks  and 
godown  men.  Messrs.  Bilger  &  Gallusser 
are  agents  for  the  Federal  Marine  Insurance 
Company,  Ltd.,  Zurich  ;  the  Rotterdam  Lloyd 
Steamship  Company  ;  and  Messrs.  Oberteuffer, 
Miiller  &  Co.,  Paris. 


H.  M.  SCHULTZ    &   00. 

By  amalgamation  with  the  firm  of  Messrs. 
A.  Cordes  &  Co.  in  1898,  Messrs.  Schultz 
&  Co.  can  trace  a  connection  with  the  trade 
of  Tientsin  as  far  back  as  the  early  sixties. 
They  have  two  Chinese  names,  for  in  their 
import  and  export  department  the  old  Chinese 
hong  name  Hsin-Yuan  (A.  Cordes  &  Co.)  is 
still  retained,  while  in  their  business  trans- 
actions with  the  Chinese  Government  the 
Chinese  name  Di-a-ze  (Schultz  &  Co.)  is 
generally  adopted.  For  many  years  the 
Company  have  been  coimected  with  the 
leading  business  houses  in  Manchester.  They 
import  piece  goods  in  large  quantities,  sundries. 


748    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  colours  from  the  well-known  firm  of 
Leopold  Cassella  &  Co..  Frankfurt  am.,  while 
they  export  all  kinds  of  Chinese  produce. 
They  are  contractors  to  the  German  troops 
stationed  in  Xorth  China,  and,  besides  holding 
numerous  other  agencies,  are  the  sole  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Germania  Brewery,  Tsingtau, 
in  the  pro\-ince  of  Chihli. 

Mr.  C.  Engelbrccht  is  the  manager  of  the 
Tientsin  branch.  He  was  born  at  Bremen 
in  1876,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  joined 
Messrs.  C.  Melchers  &  Co.,  by  whom  he 
was  sent  to  China  in  i8g6.  For  over  seven 
years  he  was  employed  at  the  branch  offices 
of  this  firm  in  Hankow,  Swatow,  and 
Shanghai.  Ill-health  then  necessitated  his 
return  to  Europe.  He  returned  to  China  in 
January,  1906,  hanng  received  his  present 
appointment  a  few  months  previously. 


The  staff  includes  Messrs.  T.  H.  P.  Stciiihorst, 
M.  Brandt,  and  K.  Brutung,  and  several 
Chinese.  The  head  offices  of  the  firm  are 
in  Hamburg,  and  branches  have  been  estab- 
lished also  in  Shanghai,  Hongkong,  and 
Gin  ton. 


WILHELM    KLEESOHULTE. 

Mk.  Wilhklm  Klkkschui.te  established 
his  import,  export,  and  general  merchant's 
business  in  April,  1906.  Straw  -  braids, 
bristles,  wool,  and  skins  are  the  principal 
exports,  while  piece  goods  and  sundries  figure 
prominently  among  the  imports.  Mr.  Klee- 
schulte  is  agent  for  Le  ^'oncier  de  France 
et  Colonies,  Paris ;  Vereinigte  Graetzer 
Bierbrauereinen  ;       Keinart     Pere      et     Fils, 


and  Kiel  University.  For  three  and  a  half 
years  he  was  with  a  banking  company  in 
Westphalia.  In  1897  lie  came  out  to  Tsingtau, 
serving  in  the  Third  Tubataraon,  and  took 
part  in  the  occupation  of  Tsingtau  (Kiaochau). 
In  1898  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Dciitsch- 
Asiatische  Bank  in  Shanghai,  and  was  sub- 
sequently transferred  to  Tsingtau.  He  left 
the  bank  in  iix>2  and  was  appointed  manager 
for  Messrs.  H.  M.  Schultz  &  Co.  in  Tientsin. 
Four  years  later  he  started  business  on  his 
own  account.  Mr.  Kleeschulte  holds  the 
rank  of  Lieutenant  in  the  German  Army 
Reserve.  Racing  is  one  of  the  chief  recrea- 
tions of  his  leisure. 


m 


[See  page  747-] 


The  Premises  and  Goixjwxs  at  Tientsin. 


KOCH    &    CO. 


OXK  OK    FK.    HKSSK's   KACTOKIKS  NEAR   GKONINIJEX,   HOLLAND. 


SCHULDT  k  CO. 

For  twelve  years  the  firm  now  known  as 
Messrs.  Schuldt  &  Co.  have  carried  on  business 
at  Tientsin  as  general  import  and  export 
agents.  The  original  name  of  the  firm  was 
Harling.  Buschman,  and  Menzell.  This  was 
changed  to  the  East  Asiatic  Trading  Company 
in  1899,  and  the  present  style  was  adopted 
in  1907.  The  partners  are  Messrs.  A.  E. 
Schuldt.  E.  Harling,  and  E.  Moral.  They 
import  principally  piece  goods,  sugar,  and 
indigo,  and  export  skins,  bristles,  and  other 
Chinese  products.  The  firm  are  also  the 
local  agents  for  the  Yorkshire  Insurance 
Company,  Ltd.,  and  the  General  Marine 
Insurance  Company,  Ltd.,  of  Dresden.  The 
Tientsin  offices  are  situated  in  the  Taku  Road. 


Reims  ;  Internationaler  Lloyd  Insurance 
Company  ;  Ostertagwerke  A.G.  (Vereinigte 
Geldschrankfabriken,  Stuttgart)  ;  J.  A.  John, 
Ltd.,  Ilversgehofen  (chimney  cowls,  wash- 
ing machines,  &c.) ;  Bismarkheutte  A.G.  ; 
Bismarkheutte  O.S.  ;  Gesellschaft  fiir  Streck- 
enbeleuchtung  M.C.H.  ;  Altong  (storm  flare 
light,  "  Xordlicht ")  ;  Deutsche  Maschinen- 
Vertriebs  -  Gesellschaft ;  Berlin  Aktiengesell- 
schaft ;  A.  Lehnick  Vetsclian.  A  branch  of  the 
business  has  also  been  opened  at  Tsingtau. 
Mr.  Kleeschulte  is  one  of  the  chief  share- 
holders in  the  Molkerei  Oberhof,  Ltd.,  and 
owns  extensive  brickworks  at  Jangstun,  but 
these  industrial  enterprises  are  dealt  with 
separately.  His  native  town  is  Hovestadt. 
Westphalia.  He  was  born  in  1876  and 
educated  at  Weil  and  Paderborn  Gymnasium, 


TEL6E  &  SCHEOETER. 

EsTAliUSHKO  in  1888,  the  firm  of  Telge  & 
Schroeter,  general  importers  and  railway  and 
Government  contractors,  are  among  the 
pioneers  in  their  own  line  of  business  in 
Tientsin.  They  are  agents  for  the  well- 
known  firms  of  F.  Schichau,  shipbuilder,  of 
Elbing  and  Danzig,  and  Vickers,  Sons  & 
Maxim,  Ltd.,  of  London.  Through  them, 
F.  Schichau  supplied  the  four  torpedo-boat 
destroyers  purchased  in  1897  by  the  Chinese 
Government.  These  boats,  which  at  that 
time  were  the  fastest  in  the  world,  had  an 
interesting  history.  They  were  captured  by 
the  Allied  Forces  at  the  taking  of  the  Taku 
Forts  in  1900,  and  were  apportioned  to  the 
British,  French,  German,  and  Russian  Navies. 


^ 


THE    PREMISES    OF    TELGE    &    SCHROETER. 


THE    HOTUNG    BADGESELLSOHAFT'S    PROPERTY    IN    THE    AUSTRIAN    CONCESSION. 


750     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


The  Russian  boat  was  the  messenger  that 
brought  to  Chefoo  the  news  of  the  fall  of 
Port  Arthur,  having  been  selected  for  this 
duty  by  reason  of  her  speed.  Messrs.  Telge 
&  Sctirocter.  who  have  several  representa- 
tives travelling  in  the  interior,  are  at  present 
building  a  bridge  across  the  Yellow  River 
at   Lanchoufu,   in  Kansu.  and  constructing  a 


Mr.  Fritz  Somnier,  the  managing  partner, 
joined  the  tirm  in  i8i>o.  and  was  admitted  a 
partner  in  1901.  He  is  a  native  of  Bremen, 
where  he  was  born  on  January  6.  iS*68.  He 
is  Vice-Consul  for  Norway,  to  which  post  he 
was  appointed  on  February  18,  ii;o7. 


[See  page  747.] 


THE    OFFICES    AND    GODOWNS    OF    H.    M.    SCHULTZ    &    CO. 


railway  from  Tsi  Tsi  Bar  to  Nan  Xan  Chi 
in  Manchuria.  They  are  also  part  owners 
and  general  managers  of  the  Ching  Hsing 
Coal  Mine,  which  supplies  the  Peking-Kalgan 
Kailway,  the  Peking-Hankow  Railway,  and 
the  Government  mints  and  arsenals,  as'well 
as  the  residents  of  Tientsin  and  district. 
The  offices  of  the  firm  are  in  the  Taku  Road. 


TIENTSIN    WOOL    CLEANING    FACTORY,    LTD. 

To  prepare  the  large  quantities  of  wool  that 
come  from  Kokonor  and  Kansu  before  for- 
warding them  to  their  ultimate  destination, 
several  wcxjl  cleaning  and  press  packing  firms 
have  been  established  in  Tientsin.  One  of 
the   most   important  of  these  is  the  Tientsin 


Wool  Cleaning  Factory.  Ltd..  which  was 
opened  in  11)04,  and  registered  as  Tientsin 
Woll  Reinigungsfactorei,  G.  ni.  b.  H.  at  the 
German  Consulate.  Beside  wool  cleaning, 
the  proprietors  undertake  the  hydraulic  press 
packing  of  every  kind  of  goods  intended  for 
export,  and  the  storing  of  imports  on  behalf 
of  banks.  &c.  As  they  do  not  engage  in 
either  the  import  or  export  trade  themselves, 
they  claim  to  be  the  only  public  press  packers 
in  the  Settlement.  Their  headquarters  are 
in  Canton  Road,  in  the  British  extra  Con- 
cession, and  here  Mr.  E.  Luer.  the  manager, 
supervises  the  conduct  of  the  business. 


MACKENZIE    &   CO.,    LTD. 

The  firm  of  Mackenzie  &  Co..  Ltd.,  hydraulic 
press-packers,  commission  agents,  exporters, 
and  importers,  established  themselves  in 
Shanghai  between  thirty  and  forty  years 
ago,  and  extended  their  business  to  Tientsin 
in  1888.  Their  offices  and  godowns  stand 
on  the  firm's  own  property  at  42.  Taku  Road, 
where  an  extensive  modern  plant  has  been 
liiid  down  for  cleaning  and  packing  wool, 
cotton,  skins,  furs,  jute,  and  other  produce. 
The  local  manager  is  Mr.  W.  A.  Argent.  The 
managing  director  of  the  Company  is  Mr. 
Arthur  Hide,  who  lives  in  Shanghai. 


* 


MITSUI    BUSSAN    KAISHA. 

Details  of  the  formation  and  development 
of  the  Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha  will  be  found 
in  the  Hongkong  section  of  this  volume. 
The  Tientsin  branch  was  established  in  1885, 
and  the  first  manager,  Mr.  Sasaki,  was 
appointed  Consul  for  Japan.  The  district 
sub-offices,  such  as  Peking  and  Kalgan.  are 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Tientsin  branch, 
whose  business  has  grown  to  such  an  extent 
that  eighteen  assistants  are  employed.  The 
present  manager,  Mr.  Y.  Yasukawa,  was  born 
at  Kyoto  in  1870.  and  received  his  education 
at  Osaka  Commercial  College.  He  joined 
the  Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha  at  Osaka,  and 
within  two  years  was  transferred  to  Tokyo. 
In  1894  h*-'  opened  a  branch  at  Bombay,  and 
remained  in  charge  of  it  for  six  years. 
Then  for  eighteen  months  and  three  years 
respectively  he  carried  out  the  duties  of 
sub-manager  for  the  Company  in  New  York 
and  Kobe.  He  was  appointed  to  Tientsin 
in  1904. 

-'^^■ 

TH.    CULTT    &    CO. 

The  French  troops  stationed  in  Peking  and 
Tientsin  furnish  the  chief  part  of  the  business 
transacted     by     Messrs.    Th.     Culty     &    Co. 


THE    PREMISES    OF    TH.    CtTLTY    &    CO., 
TIENTSIN. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       751 


This  tirm  was  founded  in  190 1  by  Messrs. 
Th.  Culty  and  P.  Douville,  of  Yokohama, 
but,  tlie  partnership  having  been  dissolved 
in  July,  1907,  Mr.  Culty  is  now  the  sole 
proprietor.  The  business  carried  on  is  that 
of  wine,  spirit,  and  provision  merchants,  and 
many  of  the  leading  French  houses  are 
represented  by  the  firm,  whose  stores,  situated 


of  this  Company,  which  is  registered  in 
Austria.  A  number  of  the  houses  in  the 
principal  thoroughfare  —  Baron  Czikann 
Street — were  erected  through  its  agency, 
and  preparations  have  been  made  for  rapid 
development  in  the  future.  The  Company 
owns  about  59  mow  of  land  in  the  Austro- 
Hungarian  Concession  and  the  electric  tram- 


THE    PREMISES    OF    THE    MITSUI    BUSSAN    KAISHA. 


in  the  Rue  de  F"rance,  are  well  stocked  with 
commodities  of  uniform  excellence. 


H0TUN6     BAUGESELLSCHAFT. 

Althol'gh  established  as  recently  as  1906,  there 
are   already  many   evidences   of   the    activily 


way  runs  through  portions  of  the  property 
on  which  it  is  proposed  to  build  almost 
immediately.  The  directors  Iiave,  appar- 
ently made  their  investments  with  shrewd 
judgment,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  Company 
seems  assured.  The  fully  paid-up  capital  of 
the  enterprise  is  Tls.  200,000  in  2,000  shares 
of    Tls.   100  each,  and   in   1907  a  dividend  of 


8  per  cent,  was  paid.  Debentures  to  the 
value  of  Tls.  100,000  are  now  being  issued. 
The  board  of  directors  consists  of  Messrs. 
Hugo  Accurti,  Emil  S.  Fischer,  Chen  Chu 
Chi,  and  Yuen  Tsu  Chen  ;  while  Messrs. 
Gino  Accurti  and  S.  F.  Wen  act  as  general 
managers. 

BIELFELD  k.  SUN. 

The  firm  of  Messrs.  Bielfeld  &  Sun,  mer- 
chants and  contractors  to  the  Chinese 
Government  for  machinery,  arms,  ammuni- 
tion and  men-of-war,  was  established  in  1901, 
the  partners  being  Mr.  L.  Bielfeld  and  Mr. 
C.  Y.  Sun.  At  present  Mr.  Bielfeld  has  as 
his  partner  Mr.  S.  C.  Cheng.  The  firm, 
whose  offices  are  situated  in  Rue  Dillon,  are 
agents  for  Messrs.  Schneider  &  Co.  ;  le 
Creusot,  Paris  ;  the  Chantiers  et  Ateliers  de 
Gironde  ;  the  Ateliers  et  Chantiers  de  la 
Loire  ;  Messrs.  Whitehead  &  Co.,  Flume  ;  the 
Ganz'sche  Elektrizitiits  Aktiengesellschaft, 
Budapest ;  and  the  Rekyl  Riffel  Syndicate, 
Copenhagen.  The  staff  includes  the  follow- 
ing engineers  r  Messrs.  E.  Hunke,  who  signs 
per  pro.,  F.  Xegre,  and  K.  Bielfeld,  assistants  ; 
O.  Silbernagel  and  K.  Krieg  ;  A.  Lietzellman, 
representing  Messrs.  Schnieder  &  Co..  and 
Baron  Hascthausen  Techn,  representative  of 
the  Rekyl  Riffel  Syndicate.  Mr.  L.  Bielfeld, 
who  was  born  at  Chefoo,  was  educated  at 
Eutin,  North  Germany,  and  returned  to 
China  in  1890  to  take  up  employment  with 
Messrs.  H.  Mandl  &  Co.,  at  Tientsin.  He 
remained  with  that  firm  for  ten  years,  and 
then  started  business  with  Mr.  Sun  on  his 
own  account. 

PERSONAL. 

COL.    J.    W.    N.    MUNTHE. 
COLONKL  JOHAN  WlLHKLM  NoRMANN  MUNTHE, 

A.D.C.  to  the  Viceroy  of  Chihli,  was  born  at 
Bergen,  Norway,  on  July  27,  1864,  and  was 
educated  at  the  Aars'  and  Voss'  High  School, 
Christiania,  and  at  the  Royal  Cavalry,  Chris- 
tiania.  He  came  to  China  in  1887,  and  in 
September  of  that  year  joined  the  Imperial 
Maritime  Customs  service,  being  stationed 
successively  at  Shanghai,  Chefoo,  and  Ningpo. 
He  volunteered  for  service  in  the  Chino- 
Japanese  War,  and  in  1894  was  detached  from 
the  Customs  service  for  military  work.  During 
the  next  six  years  he  re-organised  the  Cavalry 
of  the  North,  under  His  Excellency  Yuan- 
Shih-K'ai,  as  Colonel  and  Instructor-inChief. 
As  His  Excellency  Yuan  was  appointed 
Governor  of  the  province  of  Shantung, 
Colonel  Munthe  remained  in  Tientsin  pre- 
paratory to  going  home  on  leave,  and  was  in 
Tientsin  attached  to  the  Russian  General  Staff 
as  special  intelligence  officer  during  the  Boxer 
trouble.  He  took  part  in  all  the  engagemenis 
in  and  around  Tientsin,  the  march  to  Peking, 
and  the  storming  of  the  Capital.  He  was 
decorated  by  the  Tsar  of  Russia  with  the 
Russian  Military  Order  (St.  George)  "  for 
repeated  acts  of  gallantry  during  the  late 
disturbances  in  China"  ;  and  also  received  the 
Russian  War  Medal,  1900-1.  During  1901-2, 
he  was  on  leave,  and,  on  his  return,  he  was 
appointed  Colonel  by  imperial  decree,  and 
Aide-de-Camp  to  His  E.xcellency  Yuan-Shih- 
K'ai,  who  had  meanwhile  been  appointed 
Viceroy  of  Chihli.  Colonel  Munihe  was 
decorated  bv  the  French  Government,  as  a 
Chevalier  de  la  Legion  d'Honneur,  in  1905  ;  by 
the  Chinese  Govenunent  with  the  Order  of 
the  Double  Dragon,  Third  Division,  First  Class 
(Knight  Commander,  First  Class',  in  1907  ;  and 


752    TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


COLONEL    MUNTHE. 
A.D.C.  to  His  Excellency  the  Viceroy  of  Chihli. 


by  the  Norwegian  Government  as  a  Knight  of 
the  First  Class  of  the  Order  ol  St.  Olav,  in  the 
same  year. 


# 


UK.    J.    0.    HEILL. 

Mr.  J.  O.  Neill,  Vice-President  of  the  French 
Municipal  Council,  and  president  du  Cercle 
D'Escrime  de  Tientsin,  was  formerly  in  the 
French   Navy.     When   he  came  to  China  in 

1898  he  held  the  rank  of  Sub-Lieutenant  ;   in 

1899  he  was  promoted  Lieutenant,  and  in  iqo6 
he  retired  on  completion  of  the  required  period 
of  service.  He  then  commenced  to  deal  in 
real  estate,  and.  being  the  owner  of  con- 
siderable property  in  Tientsin,  he  founded,  in 
the  following  year,  a  company  styled  the 
Societe  Franco-Beige  de  Tientsin,  of  which  he 
is  now  the  managing  director. 


m 


MS.   0.   KLEEMANN. 

Mr.  O.  Kleemann,  President  of  the  Club 
Concordia  and  of  the  German  Association, 
was  born  on  March  6,  1872,  at  Bad-Oeyn- 
hauseii,  Westphalia,  and  received  his  education 
at  Herford  Gymnasium,  Germany.  His  first 
business  experience  was  obtained  at  Bremen, 
but  when  his  term  of  army  training  in  the 
Pioneer  Battalion  at  Minden  was  completed 
he  came  to  China  and  entered  the  service  of 
Messrs.  Droste  &  Walte  at  Tientsin.  Subse- 
quently, when  Mr.  Walte  dissolved  partnership 
with  Mr.  Droste,  Mr.  Kleeinan  became  a  part 
proprietor  in  the  undertaking  and  business 
was  carried  on  for  eight  years  under  the  style 
of  A.  Walte  &  Co.  Mr.  Kleeman,  however, 
severed  his  connection  with  the  firm  in 
January,  1908.  During  his  twelve  years' 
residence  in  Tientsin  he  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs  and  has  filled  several 
positions  of  prominence  in  social  and  com- 
mercial circles. 


US.    6.   E.    FIVE. 

Mr.  G.  E.  Five,  who  is  in  charge  of  the 
Native  Customs  sub-office  at  the  Tientsin 
Settlement  Railway  Station,  first  came  to 
Tientsin  in  1899.  He  was  present  during  the 
Boxer  troubles  in  1900  and  in  the  following 
year  was  appointed  to  the  In-door  Staff  of  the 
imperial  Chinese  Maritime  Customs  service 
in  Shanghai.  Before  being  transferred  to  his 
present  post  he  was  employed  successively  at 
Lungchow,  in  the  Kwangsi  Province,  and  at 
Chinkiang,  in  the  Yangtsze  Valley. 

UB.    U.    D.    BATOniEFF. 

Mr.  M.  D.  Batouieff  is  a  large  property 
owner  in  Tientsin,  an  agriculturist,  and  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Russian  Municipal 
Council.  He  holds  several  decorations — the 
Legion  d'Honneur,  the  Order  of  Stanislaus, 
Second  and  Third  Class,  and  the  Order  of 
St.  Anna.  Born  in  Kazan  in  1852,  he  was 
educated  at  the  Commercial  College  there. 
In  1878  he  went  to  Kalgan,  and  fourteen 
years  later  moved  to  Tientsin,  where  he 
established  himself  as  a  tea  merchant.  He 
extended  his  business  as  time  went  on,  and 
now  carries  on  an  extensive  import  and 
export  trade,  and  a  forwarding  agency  for 
goods  proceeding  to  and  through  Mongolia, 
one  of  his  chief  lines  being  wool. 


UB.    0.    E.    UE7EB. 

Mr.  O.  E.  Meyer,  manager  of  the  firm  of 
Messrs.  von  Duering,  Wibel  &  Co.,  Tientsin, 
was  boin  on  May  21,  1878,  at  Langenhagen, 
Holstein,  Germany.  After  receiving  his 
education  at  Eutin  Gymnasium,  Germany, 
he  entered  the  service  of  Messrs.  Hesse, 
Newman  &  Co.,  in  Hamburg  in  1897.  In 
February,  1901,  he  came  out  to  Hongkong 
for  the  firm  of  Siemssen  &  Co.,  in  whose 
employment  he  remained  until  May,  1904, 
when  he  went  home  on  leave.  In  January, 
1906,  he  returned  to  the  East,  having  been 
appointed  manager  of  the  Tientsin  branch 
of  Messrs.  von  Duering,  Wibel  &  Co.,  and 
ill  November  of  the  following  year  he  was 
empowered  by  that  firm  to  sign  per  pro. 
Mr.  Meyer  is  a  keen  sportsman,  and  delights 
in  big-game  shooting. 


UB.    J.    UACDONALD. 

Mr.  J.  Macdonalu,  than  whom  few  men 
are  better  known  in  Tientsin,  has  had  a 
most  interesting  career  both  as  soldier  and 
civilian.  He  was  born  in  1843  in  County 
Down,  and  was  educated  at  the  British 
Barracks  School  and  College,  Hongkong.  At 
an  early  age  he  was  attached  to  the  59th 
Foot,  and  was  with  that  regiment  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  occupation  of  Canton 
by  the  Allied  Forces  in  1857.  In  i860  he 
was  appointed  senior  officer  to  the  liitlcru, 
and  was  present  at  the  taking  of  the  Taku 
Forts  by  Admiral  Hope,  at  the  engagements 
of  Chang  Wha  Wan  and  Tung  Chow,  and 
at  the  taking  of  Peking.  Upon  retiring  from 
the  Service  in  1862  he  joined  the  Chinese 
Army,  and  was  with  General  Ward  until  the 
latler's  death.  General  Gordon  held  a  high 
opinion  of  Mr.  Macdonald,  and  appointed 
him  A.D.C.  to  his  body-guard.  Leaving  the 
Chinese  Army  in  1869  Mr.  Macdonald  joined 
the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  and  four 
years  later  commenced  business  on  his  own 


account  as  auctioneer  and  merchant.  He 
has  now  built  up  a  prosperous  business,  and, 
together  with  his  sons,  is  interested  in  the 
firm  of  Messrs.  J.  Macdonald  &  Co.,  carriage 
builders,  live  cattle  contractors,  timber  and 
wool  merchants,  general  and  commission 
agents. 

m 

UB.   SDN    CHUNG   TING. 

Mr.  Sun  Chung  Ying,  a  son  of  the  late 
Mr.  Sun  Huan  Son,  traces  his  descent  in 
a  direct  line  from  the  imperial  family  of 
Sun,  which  flourished  during  the  dynasty 
of  the  Hans,  the  reigning  house  in  China 
about  two  thousand  years  ago.  His  grand- 
father, Mr.  Sun  Shou  Jen,  was  one  of  the 
richest  men  in  Nanking.  Born  in  1863,  at 
Ju  Kow,  Kiangsu  Province,  Mr.  Sun  Chung 
Ying  was  educated  at  Tientsin  Torpedo  and 
Naval  School,  and  entered  the  service  of 
Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  as  an 
interpreter  in  1886.  Two  years  or  so  later 
he    was    appointed    compradore     to     Messrs. 


C.   Y.   SUN. 

H.  Mandl  &  Co.,  Chinese  Government 
contractors,  and  eventually  became  a  share- 
holder in  the  business.  In  1900  he  was 
commissioned  by  tlie  French  Government  to 
dispose  of  the  salt  they  captuted  in  Tientsin, 
Later,  he  joined  Mr.  L.  Bielfeld  in  founding 
the  firm  of  Bielfeld  &  Sun,  contractors  to 
the  Chinese  Government.  The  partnership 
was  dissolved  in  February,  1908,  and  Mr. 
Sun  Chung  Ying  was  appointed  advisor  on 
Chinese  affairs  to  the  Kusso-Chinese  Bank 
at  Tientsin.  Mr.  Sun  is  well  known  for  liis 
practical  philanthropy.  He  started  a  famine 
fund  in  Chihli  some  fifteen  years  ago,  and 
was  one  of  the  originators  of  a  large  home 
where  the  children  of  Chinese  parents  are 
bought  and  cared  for.  The  need  for  this 
arose  out  of  the  custom  common  in  China 
of  parents  selling  their  children  in  order  to 
maintain  themselves,  and  the  establishment 
of  the  home  has  done  a  great  deal  towards 
ensuring  that  tliese  children  do  not  fall  into 
bad  hands.  If  desirous  of  doing  so  parents 
may  regain  possession  of  their  children 
when  they  become  better  off  ;  but  if  a  child 
remains  unclaimed  after  a  certain  lime  steps 
are  taken  to  see  it  properly  started  in  life. 
During  the  cholera  epidemic  in  1901  Mr. 
Sun  was  instrumental  in  raising  funds  for  the 
erection  of  ten  cholera  hospitals  with  fifty 
beds  each,  and  thereby  in  saving  the  lives 
of  many  of  his  fellow  countrymen.  Mr.  Sun 
is  advisor  to  the  Board  of  Commerce,  acting 
chairman   of   the   Tientsin   City   Waterworks, 


FINE    RESIDENCES    THE    PEOPERTY    OF    M.    D.    BATOUIBFF. 


754     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


director  of  the  Tientsin  Hotung  Land  Com- 
pany, and  was  formerly  a  director  of  ttie 
Soychi  Cotton  Mills.  Shanghai.  He  owns  a 
magnificent  house  and  garden,  built  at  a 
cost  of  over  half  a  million  dollars,  and 
furnished  with  specially  imported  European 
furniture.  It  contains  a  valuable  collection 
of  old  porcelain  of  which  he  is  a  con- 
noisseur. He  is  married,  and  has  four  sons 
and  two  daughters.  His  eldest  son.  Mr.  Sun 
Kwan  Chau.  who  is  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  IS  studying  in  Switzerland  under  the 
guardianship  of  Major-General  M.  Rischter, 
and  Sun  Kwan  Ji,  a  lad  of  eight,  is  under 
the  guardianship  of  Mr.  E.  Kretzschmar,  a 
merchant,  formerly  torpedo  tutor  to  Prince 
Henry  of  Prussia. 

'*• 

ME.  WU   JIH    PAH. 

Mr.  \Vr  Jim  Pah,  also  known  as  Mr.  Wu 
Mow  Ting,  a  son  of  the  late  Mr.  Wu  Tsun 
Loh,  merchant,  of  Soochow,  was  born  in 
1850  in  the  province  in  which  Li  Hung 
Chang,  was  twrn.  On  leaving  school  Mr.  Wu 
entered  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank 
at  Shanghai  as  assistant  compradore,  and 
seventeen  years  later  was  transferred  as 
compradore  to  Tientsin.  In  1894  he  was 
appointed  by  Li  Hung  Chang,  then  Viceroy 
of  the  province,  managing  director  of  the 
North  China  Imperial  Railways.  He  held 
this  appointment  for  three  years,  and  the 
capable  manner  in  which  he  discharged  the 
duties  was  testified  to  by  the  euloglum  which 
he  received  from  the  engineers  and  foreign 
staff  of  the  railway  at  the  close  of  his 
administration.  In  a  handsome  illuminated 
address  his  just  dealing  and   his  endeavours 


to  stamp  out  corruption  were  extolled,  and 
the  assurance  was  given  him  that  his  example 
would    have    far-reaching     influence     in    the 


WU   JIM    PAH. 


country.  He  resigned  his  compiadoreship 
in  1905,  after  thirty-nine  years'  service  with 
the  bank,  having  been  promoted  by  the 
Chinese  Government  to  the  First  Rank  of  the 
Third  Degree  of  Metropolitan  Officials  at  the 
Court  of  Peking.  On  the  recommendation 
of  the  Viceroy  he  was  appointed  to  open  up 
a  tannery  and  certain  Government  mills  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Tientsin,  and  of  these 
he  still  remains  in  charge.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  Tientsin  Electric  Light  Company,  of 
the  Hsin  Chi  Boden  and  Baugesellschaft,  and 
of  the  Chinese  Investment  Company,  and  is  a 
shareholder    in    many    British   companies   in 


Hongkong,    Shanghai,   and    Tientsin.     He   is 
married  and  has  four  sons. 


ME.    KWOH    OHU    CHING. 

Mr.  Kwoh  Chu  Ching,  compradore  to  the 
Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank  at  Tientsin, 
was  a  son  of  the  late  Mr.  Kwoh  Ya  Tang, 
and  was  born  in  the  Settlement  in  1868. 
After  receiving  a  good  education  he  was 
engaged  as  manager  of  various  Chinese 
native  banks  in  Tientsin,  until  he  received 
his  present  appointment  in  1907.  Mr.  Kwoh 
owns  considerable  property  and  is  a  member 
of  the  committee  of  the  Native  Banking  Guild. 
He  is  much  respected  among  tlie  Chinese, 
for  he  has  done  a  great  deal  to  help  his 
fellow  countrymen,  and  was  among  the  most 
liberal  donors  to  the  famine  relief  funds. 


KWOH    CHU    CHINO. 


^^ 


PEKING. 


jEKING,  or  rather  a  city  which 
once  stood  on  the  site  of  that 
whicli  is  now  the  southern 
portion  of  Peking,  w:is  in 
ancient  days  the  capital  of 
the  kingdom  of  Yan,  but 
during  the  supremacy  of  the 
Chins,  about  222  H.c.  the  seat  of  Government 
was  removed  elsewhere.  About  936  a.d. 
Peking  was  taken  from  the  Chins  by  the 
Khaitans,  who  made  it  their  southern  capital. 
Later,  the  fourth  sovereign  of  the  Kin  dynasty, 
which  had  overthrown  the  Khaitans,  established 
his  Coiirt  here.  In  the  time  of  the  Mongols, 
about  1267  A.D.,  the  city  was  removed  about 
a  mile  to  the  north  of  its  original  site,  the  new 
city  becoming  known  as  the  Northern  or 
Tartar  City,  and  the  old  as  the  Southern  or 
Chinese  City.  The  early  Ming  emperors 
held  their  Courts  at  Nanking,  but  in  1421  the 
third  emperor  of  that  dynasty  reverted  to 
Peking,   which  has   remained  the    capita!    of 


China  ever  since  that  date,  though  its  Chinese 
name,  Shun-tien,  really  signifies  only  "  the 
Northern  Capital." 

Few  capitals  are  less  favourably  situated, 
geographically  and  politically,  than  Peking. 
It  has  practically  no  direct  foreign  trade,  and 
has  no  possibilities  either  as  a  manufacturing 
or  as  a  commercial  centre.  It  lies  in  a  sandy 
plain  about  13  iniles  to  the  south-east  of  the 
Pei-ho.  and  about  no  miles  west-north-west 
of  the  mouth  of  that  river.  A  canal  connects 
the  city  with  the  Pei-ho.  The  population  is 
estimated  at  about  1,300,000—900,000  in  the 
Northern,  and  400,000  in  the  Southern  City. 
The  small  foreign  population  consists  almost 
solely  of  diplomatic  representatives  of  the 
various  Powers  having  treaties  with  China,  of 
Customs  officials,  missionaries,  and  school 
teachers. 

The  Northern  or  Tartar  City  is  commonly 
known  among  the  Chinese  as  Nei-cheng, 
which  means  "  within  the  wall."     It  consists 


IMPERIAL    THRONE,    FORBIDDEN    CITT,    PEKING, 


of  three  separate  walled  enclosures,  one  within 
the  other.  The  innermost  is  called  Kin-ching, 
or  the  "  Prohibited  City,"  and  contains  the 
palaces  and  pleasure  grounds  of  the  Emperor 
and  the  Empress  Dowager.  These  sacred  pre- 
cincts were  visited  by  foreigners  for  the  first 
time  in  history  in  1900,  after  the  relief  of  the 
Legations  and  the  flight  of  the  imperial  family 
at  the  close  of  the  Boxer  rising.  Outside  this 
enclosure  is  Hwang-ching,  the  Imperial  City, 
2  square  miles  in  extent,  and  surrounded  by 
a  wall  covered  with  yellow  tiles,  known  as  the 
Imperial  Wall.  It  is  not  so  sacred  as  the 
inner  enclosure,  but  it  can  only  be  entered  by 
authorised  persons.  It  contains  Government 
Offices  and  the  residences  of  the  official  classes. 
The  outer  portions  of  the  city  contains 
dwelling-houses  and  shops.  Round  the  whole 
of  the  Tartar  City  run  walls  averaging  50  ft. 
in  height  and  40  ft.  in  width.  They  are  built 
of  earth  and  concrete,  faced  with  brick,  and 
are  buttressed  at  intervals  of  60  yards,  while 
the  parapets  are  loopholed  and  crenelated. 
These  walls  are  pierced  by  several  gateways, 
each  surmounted  by  a  pagoda,  while  in  the 
south  wall  is  the  Water  Gate,  through  which 
the  waters  of  the  Grand  Canal  flow  into  the 
city.  The  Southern  or  Chinese  City  known 
as  Wai-cheng,  which  signifies  "  without  the 
wall,"  is  the  business  quarter  of  Peking,  and 
contains  the  foreign  Legations,  the  Llaina, 
Confucian,  and  other  temples,  and  numerous 
shops.  It  is  oblong  in  shape,  and  is  sur- 
rounded by  walls  about  30  ft.  in  height  and 
from  25  ft.  in  thickness  at  the  base  to  15  ft.  at 
the  summit.  The  streets  are  narrow,  con- 
gested, and,  for  the  most  part,  in  spite  of  much 
that  has  been  done  to  improve  them,  in- 
describably dirty.  The  year  1899  saw  the 
first  attempt  made  to  level  and  macadamise 
Legation  Street,  and  that  thoroughfare  is  now 
the  centre  of  the  section  of  the  city  known  as 
the  Legation  quarter — practically  a  European 
settlement,  half  a  square  mile  in  extent. 
Here  rigorous  reformatory  measures  have 
been  resorted  to,  and  a  degree  of  salubrity 
— years  ago  deemed  impossible — is  gradually 
being  attained.  In  this  fortified  settlement,  or 
its  immediate  neighbourhood,  are  the  Hotel 
du  Nord,  the  Hotel  de  Peking,  and  the  Wagon 
Lits  Hotel  ;  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Bank,  the  Kusso-Chinese  Bank,  the  Deutsch- 


756      TWENTIETH  CENTITRY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONUKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Summer  Palace. 


THE  SUMMER  PALACE,  PEKING. 

Camki,  Hack  Bkidcik,  .Sr.M.MKK  Palace. 

SCEXERY  NEAR  SC.MMER    PALACE. 


Asiatsche  Bank,  and  the  Yokohama  Specie 
Bank  ;  several  large  foreign  stores,  at  which 
foreign  goods  may  be  purchased  ;  a  Soldiers' 
Y.M.C.A.  ;  the  St.  Michael's  and  John  L. 
Hopkins'  Memorial  (Methodist  Episcopal) 
Hospitals  ;  a  Catholic  Church  for  the  Legation 
Guards  ;  the  Methodist  Mission  Church,  with 
accommodation  for  about  1,500  people  ;  the 
Girls'  School  and  Peking  University,  each 
with  atmut  200  students,  in  connection  with 
the  Methodist  Mission  ;  the  Lockhart  Medical 
College,  established  by  the  London  Mission  for 
the  encouragement  of  medical  study  in  North 
China  ;  the  American  Board  Mission  Church 
and  School  ;  and  the  Mission  for  the  Blind. 
Near  the  Lockhart  Medical  College  a  monu- 
ment has  been  erected  to  Baron  von  Ketteler, 
a  German  minister,  whose  murder  at  the 
hands  of  imperial  soldiers,  precipitated  the 
crisis  of  1900.  In  the  north  of  the  city 
stand  the  Presbyterian  Mission,  with  its 
hospitals  for  male  and  female  patients  ;  and 
als<j  the  Northern  Cathedral  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Mission.  The  interesting  Southern 
Cathedral  of  the  last-named  mission,  which 
had  existed  for  upwards  of  two  centuiies,  was 
ruthlessly  destroyed  by  the  Boxers,  as  was 
also  the  Eastern  Church.  The  mission  of  the 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
foreign  parts  is  in  the  western  portion  of  the 
Chinese  City. 

Electricity  for  lighting  purposes  is  supplied 
by  a  private  company,  and  since  1884  Peking 
has  been  in  direct  telegraphic  communication 
with  the  outside  world  by  means  of  the 
overland  line,  viii  Tungchow  to  Tientsin  and 


Taku.  This  line  was  destroyed  during  the 
Boxer  troubles,  but  its  place  was  taken  for 
a  lime  by  a  private  line.  Eventually  it  was 
relaid  and  handed  over  to  the  Imperial 
Chinese     Telegraph      Administration.        The 


private  line  thus  became  the  first  inter-town 
telephone  line  in  China,  and  was  afterwards 
sold  to  the  Chinese  Government.  A  per- 
manent agency  has  been  established  in  the 
city  by  Keuter.     Railway  coninnniication  has 


WEST    CORNER    OF    PEKING    WALL. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     757 


been  established  with  Hankow  in  the  south, 
and,  via  the  Northern  (Tienlsin)  Railway, 
with  Mulcden  and  the  Trans-Siberian  Hne 
in  the  north.  The  line  to  Hankow  is  being 
extended  to  Canton  and  Kowloon  (Hong- 
kong). 


fathers  and  some  3,000  native  Christians, 
who  had  taken  refuge  in  tlie  northern  Roman 
Catholic  Cathedral  and  there  maintained  a 
successful  resistance  with  the  aid  of  50 
F"rench  and  Italian  marines.  Owing  to  lack 
of  ammunition   the  fathers   were    obhged    to 


the  following  year ;  and  the  Allied  P'orces, 
entering  the  Forbidden  City,  were  given 
modified  opportunities  for  looting  the  treasures 
stored  in  tlie  imperial  palaces.  The  cleansing 
of  Peking  by  the  foreign  Powers  has  made 
the  city  far  more  habitable,  besides  throwing 
open  to  the  student  of  "  things  Chinese " 
many  places  of  unique  historic  and  artistic 
interest. 


THE    BRITISH    LEGATION,    PEKING. 


The  allusions  already  made  (o  the  Boxers 
may  be  supplemented  biy  a  short  sketch  of 
the  rising  in  so  far  as  it  actually  affected 
the  capital.  Trouble  began  on  June  13, 
1900,  when  the  I-ho-Chuan,  or  Boxers, 
inaugurated  their  campaign  of  murder  and 
destruction.  Foreigners,  and  Chinese  sus- 
pected of  being  in  any  way  connected  with 
foreigners,  were  persecuted,  and  practically 
all  foreign  buildings  not  actually  within  the 
Legation  cordon  were  destroyed.  Suspicions 
of  the  complicity  of  the  Chinese  Government 
in  the  rising,  created  by  the  terms  in  which 
imperial  edicts  dealt  with  the  reactionary 
party,  were  confirmed  by  the  murder  of 
Baron  von  Ketteler,  the  German  minister, 
who  was  shot  by  imperial  soldiery  while 
on  his  way  to  the  Yamen  to  interview  the 
Chinese  ministers.  On  June  20th  both 
Imperialists  and  Boxers  opened  fire  on  the 
Legations.  There  were  altogetlier  nearly 
1,000  foreigners  inside  the  lines,  including 
about  500  Marine  Guards,  who,  with  two  or 
three  machine  guns,  had  been  sent  up  to 
the  city  just  before  the  outbreak  of  hostilities 
in  consequence  of  the  threatening  aspect  of 
affairs.  The  British  Legation  was  at  once 
the  main  shelter  of  the  besieged  and  the 
goal  of  the  attacking  hordes.  Fortunatelv, 
all  attempts  to  set  fiie  to  it  were  frustrated, 
though  the  Austrian  and  Italian  Legations, 
the  Customs  premises,  Hanlin  College  with 
its  valuable  library,  and  numerous  other 
buildings,  were  destroyed  by  the  incendiaries. 
The  siege  lasted  until  August  14th,  when  a 
column  of  the  Allied  Forces,  20,000  strong — 
which  had  left  Tientsin  at  the  beginning  of 
the  month,  and  had  defeated  the  rebels,  in  two 
pitched  battles,  at  Pei-t'sang  and  Yang-tsun — 
arrived  at  Peking  and  found  little  difficulty  in 
accomplishing  the  relief  of  their  beleaguered 
fellow  countrymen.  Sorely  tried  as  were 
the  foreigners  in  the  Legations,  however, 
their  dangers  and  privations  were  not  nearly 
so  great   as   those  endured    by   the    Catholic 


manufacture  their  own  gunpowder  and 
bullets,  while  towards  the  close  of  the  siege 
the  supply  of  food  fell  so  low  that  the  daily 
allowance  of  rice  was  reduced  first  to  four 
and  later  to  two  ounces.  The  relief  of  this 
little  stronghold,  in  which  the  rate  of 
mortality  among  the   children   and  the  aged 


THE    BRITISH    MINISTER. 

Sir  John  Newell  Jordan,  K.C.M.G.,  who 
has  been  in  charge  of  British  interests  in 
China  since  1906,  was  born  on  Septem- 
ber 5,  1852,  in  Balloo,  County  Down,  and  was 
educated  first  at  the  Belfast  Academical  Insti- 
tution and  afterwards  at  Queen's  College, 
Belfast,  where  he  graduated  with  first-class 
lionours.  He  was  appointed  a  Student  Inter- 
preter in  China  in  1876,  and  his  whole  life 
since  has  been  spent  in  the  consular  service, 
either  within  the  boundaries  of  China  itself 
or  in  the  neighbouring  country  of  Korea. 
He  was  appQinted  Assistant  Chinese  Secre- 
tary to  Her  Britannic  Majesty's  Legation  in 
Peking  in  1889,  and  was  promoted  Secretary 
in  1891.  After  remaining  in  this  position 
for  five  years  he  was  transferred  to  Korea, 
where  he  served  his  king  and  country  in  a 
variety  of  capacities  until  called  upon  to 
undertake  the  duties  of  his  present  high 
office.  He  was  Consul-General  in  Korea  for 
two  years  ;  Charge  d'affaires  from  1898  to 
1901  ;  Minister  resident  at  the  Court  of 
Seoul  from  1901  to  1906,  in  which  year  the 
Japanese  Protectorate  was  proclaimed.  In 
recognition  of  his  distinguished  services  he 
was  made  a  Companion  of  the  Order  of 
St.  Michael  and  St.  George  in  1897,  and 
advanced  to  a  knighthood  in  1904.  He  was 
the  recipient  of  the  Jubilee  medal  in  1897, 
and  of  the  Coronation  medal  in  1902.  His 
publications  include  translations  of  the  Peking 


A    PEKING    PROCESSION. 


was  terribly  high,  was  effected  by  French 
and  Japanese  troops  on  the  day  following 
the  reUef  of  the  Legations.  The  Imperial 
Family  fled  from  Peking  with  the  Court  to 
Shansi  Province,  by  way  of  the  northern 
'passes,  and  did  not   return   until   October  of 


Gazette,  and  his  favourite  recreation  is  riding. 
In  1885  he  married  Annie  Howe,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Cromie,  Clough,  County  Down,  by 
whom  he  has  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 
His  address  is  His  Britannic  Majesty's 
Embassy,  Peking. 


7oS     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE    GREAT    WALL    OF    CHINA,     NEAR     PEKING. 


HALL,     Ot      UijAs»i(J»,     i-ll,Kli\G. 


THE    JAPANESE    MINISTER. 

ViscorxT  Tadasc  Havashi,  G.C.V.O.,  the 
head  of  the  Japanese  Legation  at  Peking,  has, 
perhaps,  a  higher  reputalion  in  European 
diplomatic  circles  than  any  Japanese  states- 
man living.  He  was  educated  in  England, 
and  represented  his  Emperor  at  the  Court 
of  St.  James's  from  1900  to  1905.  He  has 
been  decorated  with  the  insignia  of  many 
foreign  orders,  learned  societies  have  vied 
with  each  other  to  do  him  honour,  and  the 
Universities  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge  have 
shown  their  highest  mark  of  esteem  by  con- 
ferring upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws,  honoris  causa.  Viscount  Hayashi  was 
born  at  Sakura,  Shimosa,  on  February  22, 
1850,  and  the  many  important  posts  which 
he  has  held  include  those  of  Secretary  to 
the  Japanese  Embassy  to  the  Courts  of 
Europe  from  1872  to  1873  ;  Governor  of 
Kobe,  1889  90  ;  Vice-Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs,  1891-95  ;  Envoy  Extraordinary  and 
Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  China,  1895  96  ; 
and  Envoy  Extraordinary  and  Minister 
Plenipotentiary  to  Russia,  1897-99.  After 
returning  from  England  in  1905  he  was  for 
some  time  Minister  of  State  for  Foreign 
Affairs  before  taking  up  his  present  duties 
in  the  capital  of  China.  He  was  created  a 
Baron  in  1886  and  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Viscount  six  years  later.  His  publications  in 
English  include  "  For  his  People,"  1903,  and 
several  translations  of  English  works  on 
political  economy  and  on  politics  into 
Japanese.  He  is  a  member  of  many  English 
clubs,  including  the  St.  James's,  United 
Services,  Batchelors',  Marlborough,  Travel- 
lers, Camera,  &c.  He  married,  in  1875, 
Misao.  daughter  of  Gaino. 


DB.    MORRISON. 

Dr.  George  Ernest  Morrison,  the  famous 
correspondent  to  the  Times,  has,  probably,  a 
more  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  interior 


of  China  than  any  man  living.  Peking  is  his 
postal  address,  but  there  is  only  a  modicum 
of  truth  in  the  statement  that  it  is  his  home. 
Travel  forms  his  sole  recreation,  and  he  has, 
at     various    times,    accomplished     the     most 


THE    PREMISES    OF    TATTERSALLS, 
Cfucli  Kiiilctcrs  to  the  Imperial  Cotu'l  of  China. 


THE  PREMISES  OF  THE  HONGKONG  AND  SHANGHAI  BANKING 
CORPORATION,  PEKING. 


E.  G.   HiLLIEK, 

Manager, 


THE    DEUTSCH-ASIATISCHE    BANK,    PEKING. 
H.  CORDES,  Mana)<er. 


rOO     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


arduous  and,  what  would  appear  to  the 
ordinary  man,  ahnost  impossitJIe  journeys. 
It  is  tliis  nomadic  existence,  in  conjunction 
with  liis  powers  of  observation  and  dis- 
crimination, which  has  given  him  so  unique 
a  position.  His  place  among  newspaper 
correspondents  is  far  higher  than  that  which 
would  ordinarily  be  accorded  even  to  the 
accredited  representative  of  and  regular  con- 
tributor to  the  greatest  journal  in  the  world. 
He  is  recognised  as  an  authority  on  Chinese 
public  affairs,  and  his  writings  upon  any  phase 
of  life  within  the  Empire  are  regarded  as 
authoritative  and  considered  worthy  of  careful 
attention  by  all  serious  politicians.  Dr. 
Morrison's  most  noteworthy  characteristic  is 
his  remarkable  and  statesmanlike  insight  into 
coming  events.     It  was  one  of  Dr.  Morrison's 


Morrison  is  an  Australian.  Born  on  February 
4,  1862,  at  Geelong,  Victoria,  he  was  educated 
at  Melbourne  and  Edinburgh  Universities,  at 
which  latter  institution  he  graduated  in  1887. 
Between  1882  and  1883  he  crossed  his  own 
country  on  foot  from  the  Gulf  of  Carpentaria 
to  Melbourne.  In  the  autumn  of  1883, 
whilst  travelling  in  New  Guinea,  he  was 
speared  by  the  natives,  and  the  spear-head 
was  not  removed  from  his  body  until  his 
;irrival  in  Edinburgh  some  eight  or  nine 
months  later.  He  crossed  from  Shanghai  to 
Rangoon  by  land  in  1894,  and  his  varied 
experiences  and  impressions  of  the  journey 
are  recorded  in  a  most  interesting  volume 
entitled,  "An  Australian  in  China  —  being 
the  narrative  of  a  Quiet  Journey  across  China 
to   Burmah."      In  1896  he  accepted  a  special 


E.  G.  Hillier,  C.M.G.,  the  present  agent.  In 
the  Hongkong  seclion  of  the  present  volume 
a  full  account  is  given  of  the  establishment 
and  growth  of  the  parent  bank,  one  of  the 
leading  financial  organis.itions  of  the  world, 
so  that  it  need  only  be  said  here  that  the 
Peking  branch,  occupying  specially  built 
premises  situated  in  Legation  Street,  carries 
on  ordinary  banking  business  similar  to  that 
of  the  other  branches.  The  present  building 
was  opened  in  1902,  and  forms  a  handsome 
addition  to  the  important  thoroughfare  on 
which  it  stands. 

MR.  EDWARD  GUY  HILLIER,  C.M.O..  a  son 

of  the  late  Cliarles  Batten  Hillier,  His  Britannic 
Majesty's  Consul  to  Siam,  was  born  on 
March    11,    1857.        Educated    at    Blundell's 


THE    RUSSO-CHINESE    BANK    PREMISES    AT    PEKING. 


telegrams  that  wrung  from  Lord  Curzon  in 
Parliament  an  unwilling  acknowledgment  of 
the  journalist's  "  intelligent  anticipation  of 
events  before  they  occur."  In  one  of  the 
issues  of  the  Times  early  in  1900  may  be 
seen  a  letter  from  its  Peking  correspondent 
stating  in  plain  terms :  "  Within  twelve 
months  there  will  be  war  between  Japan  and 
Russia."  Nothing  in  the  way  of  political 
prophecy  could  be  much  more  definite  than 
this.  As  events  proved,  the  prophecy  was 
in  error.  The  Boxer  outbreak  in  North  China 
intervened  in  June,  1900,  and  the  collision  of 
Japan  and  Russia  did  not  take  place  till  four 
years  later.  The  forecast,  however,  stands 
as  one  of  the  most  remarkable  in  history, 
especially  as  the  very  possibility  of  war  was 
emphatically  denied  by  those  interested  up 
to   within   a  fortnight  of   its  outbreak.      Dr. 


commission  from  the  Times  to  travel  from 
Bangkok,  in  Siam,  to  Yunnan  City  and  round 
Tonkin,  and  in  the  following  year  he  crossed 
Manchuria  from  Stretensk,  in  Siberia,  to  Vladi- 
vostock.  In  1905  he  represented  the  Times 
at  the  Conference  between  the  Japanese  and 
Russian  Peace  Commissioners  at  Portsmouth, 
where  his  special  knowledge  and  thorough 
grasp  of  all  the  details  of  the  problems  at 
issue  gave  his  articles  a  permanent  value. 
Mr.  Morrison  is  a  Doctor  of  Medicine  and 
a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society. 

HONGKONG    AND    SHANGHAI    BANKING 
COEPOEATION. 

The  Peking  branch  of  the  Hongkong  & 
Shanghai  Bank  was  opened,  in  1885,  by  Mr. 


School,  Tiverton,  and  at  Trinity  College, 
Cambridge,  Mr.  Hillier  entered  the 
service  of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai 
Banking  Corporation  in  1883.  He  was 
appointed  agent  of  the  Peking  branch  in 
1891,  and  has  held  that  position  ever  since. 
He  was  the  negotiator  of  the  Chinese 
Imperial  Government  Loans,  issued  in  London 
and  Berlin  between  the  years  1895  and  1905. 
In  1902  he  acted  as  British  delegate  on  Ihe 
Commission  of  Bankers  for  the  Chinese 
indemnity,  and  in  recognition  of  his  services 
he  was,  in  June,  1904,  created  a  Companion 
of  tlie  Order  of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George. 
Mr.  Hillier  has  lost  his  sight,  failure  of  vision 
in  1896  having  resulted  in  total  blindness. 
He  was  married  in  1894.  He  resides  at 
Peking,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Societies'   Club,   London. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ET(J.      761 


EUSSO-CHINESE  BANK. 

A  HKANX'H  of  the  Russo-Chinese  Bank  was 
opened  at  Peking  some  two  years  ago  by 
the  present  Russian  Minister,  D.  D.  Pokotiloff. 
The  premises,  which  are  situated  in  Legation 


Street,  are  the  Bank's  own  property,  and 
here  all  forms  of  business  usual  to  large 
Banking  Corporations  are  transacted.  The 
headquarters  of  the  Bank  are  in  St.  Peters- 
burg. There  is  a  London  ofiice  in  Thread- 
needle  Street,  and   nearly  fifty  branches  have 


been  opened  in  different  pai  ts  of  the  world. 
The  capital  amounts  to  15,000,000  roubles, 
and  there  is  a  reserve  fund  of  9,240,000 
roubles. 

Mr.  E.  Wilhfahrt,  who  has  been  in  the 
service  of  the  Bank  for  the  past  eleven 
years,  has  charge  of  its  interests  at  Peking. 


# 


DEUTSCH-ASIATISCHE    BANK. 

A  BRANCH  of  this  Bank  was  established  in 
Peking  by  Mr.  Heinrich  Cordes  in  1905. 
The  new  premises  in  Legation  Street  were 
opened  in  1907,  and  are  the  Bank's  own 
property.  The  present  managers  are  Mr. 
Conrad  H.  Cordes  (manager),  and  Mr.  Alfred 
J.  Eggeling  (agent). 

Mr.  Heinrich  Cordes  was  born  in 
Liibbecke,  Westphalia,  in  1866,  and  was 
educated  at  the  High  School  of  Bielefeld 
and  at  the  University  of  Berlin,  where  he 
graduated  in  modern  languages  and  law  in 
1892,  and  passed  with  honours  in  Chinese. 
Entering  the  foreign  service  in  1892,  he 
was  attached  to  the  German  Legation  at 
Peking,  where  he  attained  the  position  of 
Second  Interpreter  in  i8g6.  During  the 
following  four  years  he  was  attached  to 
various  Consulates  in  Southern  China.  In 
igoo  he  took  part  in  the  negotiations  between 
the  Chinese  Government  and  the  Diplomatic 
Corps  preceding  the  outbreak  of  the  Boxer 
troubles,  and  was  accompanying  the  German 
Minister,  Freiherr  von  Ketteler,  when  the 
latter  was  murdered  on  the  way  to  the 
Tsung  li  Yamen.  Mr.  Cordes  was  himself 
seriously  wounded.  Recovering  from  his 
injuries,  he  returned  to  Germany  in  1901, 
and  it  was  then  that  von  Hausemann,  the 
great  financier  and  head  of  the  renowned 
banking  institution.  Direction  der  Disconto 
Gesellschaft,  Berlin,  engaged  his  services  for 
the  Deutsch-Asiatische  Bank,  and  as  repre- 
sentative in  China  of  the  "Syndicate  for  Asiatic 
Affairs."  Under  his  management  the  branch 
has  negotiated  several  important  loans  for 
tlie  Imperial  Chinese  Government. 


THE    PREMISES    OF    P.    KIERULFF    &    CO.,    PEKING. 


m 


p.    KIERULFF    &  CO. 

Established  in  1874,  this  firm  carry  on 
business  as  general  storekeepers,  silversmiths, 
jewellers,  saddlers,  drapers,  outfitters,  wine 
and  provision  merchants,  and  tourists'  pro- 
viders. A  speciality  is  the  manufacture  of 
the  Peking  enamels,  so  greatly  admired. 
Insurance  is  also  effected,  the  firm  being 
agents  for  the  Hamburg  Eire,  Magdeburg 
Fire,  Mannhenn  Life,  Netherlands  Life,  and 
Equitable  Life  Insurance  Companies.  The 
capital  of  the  firm  is  entirely  German.  The 
proprietor  is  Mr.  J.  Kruger,  and  the  manager 
is  Mr.  H.  Westphal. 


M    H    H    2 


HENRY  A.  BUSH. 

H.  A.  BUSH'S  RESIDENCE  AT  NEWCHWANG. 

CHARLES  G.  BUSH.  HERBERT  F.  BUSH. 


A    •'  PAITZU  "    ON    THE    FKOZEN    RIVER    LIAO    AT    NEWCHWANG. 


NEWCHWANG. 


By  Reg.  Bate,  F.R.G.S. 


(HIS,  the  most  northern  of  the 
Treaty  ports,  officially  named 
Yingkow,  but  erroneously 
called  Newchwang  by  Euro- 
peans, was  officially  opened 
to  Western  trade  in  the  year 
1861.  The  first  foreign  ship 
to  enter  the  river  was  British,  and  arrived  in 
1859,  and  the  first  merchant  to  establish 
himself  at  the  port  was  an  Englishman  named 
Henry  E.  Bush,  the  founder  of  the  present- 
day  tirm  of  Bush  Bros. 

In  pre-treaty  days  it  would  seem  that  no 
European  traveller  visited  this  port,  the 
nearest  approach  being  that  of  Gutzlaff,  who 
got  as  far  as  Chin  Chow  Fu  in  his  enter- 
prising voyage  of  discovery  "  along  the  coast 
of  China  to  Mautchou  Tartary,"  in  1831,  an* 
he  gives  some  account  of  the  junk  trade 
between  this  port  and  the  southern  ports. 

The  port  had  practically  no  trade  prior  to 
1840.  At  that  date  it  took  the  place  of  Tien 
Chuang  Tai,  still  a  considerable  mart,  twenty 
miles  or  so  higher  up  the  river,  which  had 
supplanted  Newchwang  proper  some  time  in 
the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth  century.  These 
changes  were  caused  by  the  shallowing  of 
the  river,  which  has  shifted  its  course  con- 
siderably in  recent  times.  For  example,  in 
1865  Tien  Chuang  Tai  was  forty  miles  distant 
by  river  from  this  port,  whereas  to-day  it  is 
but  twenty  miles  away. 

For  the  first  thirty  years  after  the  port  was 
opened  no  conspicuous  events  occurred,  but 
a  very  fair  foreign  trade  sprang  up  at  once, 
the  foreign  merchants'  interest  being  chiefly 
confined  to  the  carrying  of  the  merchandise 
inwards  and  outwards  in  foreign  bottoms. 
The  year  1890  was  marked  by  a  very  sub- 
stantial growth  of  trade,  and  the  ten  years 
between   1892  and  1901  were  remarkable  for 


a  series  of  mercantile  developments  perhaps 
unparalleled  in  the  history  of  the  China  trade. 
From  a  commercial  standpoint,  Newchwang 
has  become  one  of  the  most  important  of 
the  Treaty  ports.  The  total  net  value  of  its 
trade  in  1906  was  Tls.  44,482,001,  as  com- 
pared with  Tls.  61,752,905  in  1905,  and 
Tls.41, 517,878  in  1904.  The  decline  in  1906 
may  be  attributed  in  part  to  lack  of  facilities 
on  the  railways,  which  were  under  military 
control ;  to  obstacles  to  free  access  to  the 
interior ;  and  to  over-trading  whilst  the  Russo- 
Japanese  war  was  in  progress. 

The  mud  village  of  the  sixties  has  thus 
grown  into  a  rich  and  populous  town  with 
many  shops,  houses,  and  temples.  The 
tall  chimneys  of  the  bean-cake  factories  and 
the  numerous  foreign  residences  on  the  river 
bank  fronting  the  anchorage  give  the  place  a 
busy  modern  appearance.  This  rapid  com- 
mercial progress  has  been  brought  about  by 
economic  and  political  causes,  and  is  due 
largely  to  the  Government  encouraging  im- 
migration from  Shantung.  The  political  factors 
in  the  case  are  the  wars  between  China  and 
Japan,  the  Boxer  outbreak,  and  the  Russo- 
Japanese  campaign,  all  of  which  brought 
Newchwang  to  the  ken  of  the  Western  world; 
the  subsequent  railway  developments ;  and 
the  high  wages  offered  by  those  who  opened 
up  the  country.  The  population  is  estimated 
at  60,000.  To  this  total  in  1906  foreigners 
contributed  7,699,  the  Japanese  alone  account- 
ing for  7,408. 

In  the  province  (Fengtien)  nearly  every 
variety  of  ore  has  been  found,  but  very 
little  is  worked  on  modern  lines  or  with 
machinery.  All  Manchuria  and  Mongolia 
draw  their  supplies  of  salt  from  this  neigh- 
bourhood. The  salt  is  obtained  in  enormous 
quantities    by    sun   evaporation    of    sea-water 


along  the  coast  of  this  province,  especially  to 
the  south  and  west  of  the  port,  and  is  a 
Government  monopoly. 

The  soil  is  especially  suitable  for  the  pro- 
duction of  till  millet,  spiked  millet,  maize, 
wheat,  and  barley.  The  animal  products  are 
pigs'  bristles,  bees-wax,  young  deer  horns 
(supposed  to  be  possessed  of  wonderful 
medicinal  properties),  and  a  great  variety  of 
furs. 

The  principal  imports  are  British,  American, 
and  Japanese  piece  goods,  Indian  and  Japan- 
ese cotton-yarn,  metals,  gunny  and  hemp 
bags,  coal,  American  and  Australian  flour, 
Japanese  matches,  seaweed,  sugar,  and 
tobacco,  for  all  of  which  there  is  a  fair 
market,  although  at  the  present  time  trade 
is  suffering  from  the  depression  directly 
resulting  from  the  Russo-Japanese  War. 

The  principal  exports  are  beans,  bean-oil, 
and  bean-cake,  which  may  be  said  to  represent 
90  per  cent,  of  the  export  trade  ;  castor  oil, 
sesamum  seed,  wild  silk,  and  skins  and  furs. 
A  fair  trade  is  also  done  in  the  export  of  native 
medicines  and  dried  prawns  and  shrimps, 
which  are  esteemed  by  the  natives  as  great 
delicacies.  The  carrying  trade  is  almost 
entirely  in  the  hands  of  British  and  Japanese 
ships,  China  doing  very  little  except  through 
the  China  Merchants  Steam  Navigation  Com- 
pany. Business  is  carried  on  by  British. 
German,  American,  and  Japanese  firms.  The 
largest  trade  at  the  present  time  is  in  the 
hands  of  the  Japanese,  who  have  their  own 
Settlement,  with  special  extra-territorial  privi- 
leges that  other  powers  do  not  possess. 

Great  Britain,  France,  America,  Germany, 
Japan,  Norway,  Sweden,  and  Russia  have 
each  a  consular  representative  at  the  port. 

The  climate  is  excellent  ;  for  though  the 
cold  in  winter  is  somewhat  severe,  it  being 


764     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


no  uncommon  thing  for  the  thermometer  to 
(all  to  15  or  20  degrees,  the  air  is  dry  and 
bracing,  thus  enabling  the  cold  to  be  borne 
easily.  The  barometer  averages  30  inches 
during  the  winter  months.     Strong  southerly 


Established  in  1861,  the  firm  can  claim  to 
be  the  pioneers  of  British  trade  in  Manchuria. 
The  founder,  Henry  E.  Bush,  who  was  the 
tirst  agent  in  Yokohama  for  the  I'eninsiilar  and 
Oriental  Steam  Navigation  Company,  has  now 


A    STREET    SCENE    IN    THE    JAPANESE    CONCESSION,    NEWCHWANQ. 


breezes,  accompanied  by  dust,'are  the  charac- 
teristics of  the  spring,  which  is  the  most 
unpleasant  part  of  the  year.  The  summer  is 
not  hot,  and  there  is  an  absence  of  humidity. 
The  average  maximum  readings  for  June, 
Julv,  and  August  are  789°,  836°,  and  82- 1°. 
The  average  rainfall  is  22  inches,  two-thirds 
of  which  occur  between  June  and  September. 

Xewchwang's  future  is  open  to  vast  possi- 
bilities. The  ice-bound  state  of  the  river  for 
four  months  of  the  year,  and  its  treacherous 
t>ed  constitute  grave  dangers  to  the  port's 
welfare,  which  are  accentuated  by  the 
opening  of  Chinwangtao  and  Dalny  to  inter- 
national trade.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
port  is  verv  fortunately  situated  in  regard  to 
railwavs,  for  it  is  served  by  the  Imperial 
Railways  of  North  China  and  by  the  South 
Manchuria  Railway,  the  former  on  the  right 
and  the  latter  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Yalu 
River.  The  South  Manchuria  Railway  Com- 
pany have  decided  to  extend  their  line  into 
the  business  portion  of  the  port  with  the 
result  that  in  a  short  time  the  facilities  for 
dealing  with  cargo  destined  for  the  interior 
will  be  very  greatly  increased.  Both  the 
above-mentioned  railway  systems  are  in 
direct  communication  with  Mukden,  the 
Japanese  line  proceeding  northwards  from 
Mukden  to  Chang  Chun  or  Kuan  Chen  Tze, 
where  it  meets  the  Russian  railway  system, 
thus  making  a  connection  by  rail  between 
this  port  and  Calais. 

Such  is  Newchwang  of  to-day,  the  premier 
gateway  to  the  three  great  Manchurian 
provinces. 


BUSH    BBOTHEBS. 

To  those  who  reside  in  North  China,  the  firm 
of  Bush   Bros.,  is  almost  a  household  name. 


retired  to  live  in  comfort  at  Blackhcath,  and 
the  task  of  conducting  a  gigantic  business 
has  been  thrown  on  the  shoulders  of  his 
eldest  son,  Mr.  Harry  A.  Bush. 


such,  for  example,  as  those  for  the  Pacific 
Mail,  Peninsular  and  Oriental  Steam  Navi- 
gation Company  ;  International  Sleeping  Car 
Comp.iny  ;  HoM!.;kimg  and  Slianghai  Bank, 
and  Ransomes,  Sims,  6t  Jeft'eiies  (Ipswich), 
the  firm  are  the  managers  of  the  Yuen 
Lai  Bean  Mill  (and  their  interest  in  bean 
mills  claims  much  of  their  time),  and  are 
one  of  tlie  largest,  if  not  the  largest,  im- 
porters of  piece  goods  to  Manchuria. 
During  the  recent  war  they  undertook  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  transport  of 
the  Japanese  Army. 

It  is  to  the  keen  foresight  of  Mr.  Harry 
A.  Bush  and  his  assistants  that  Britain's 
foothold  in  Manchurian  mining  matters  is 
due.  The  Cathay  Mines,  though  still  in  their 
infancy,  promise  to  be  one  of  the  finest  and 
most  prosperous  workings  in  existence. 

Mr.  Harry  A.  Hush  was  born  at  Shanghai 
in  1865,  and  was  educated  at  Bognor  College 
and  at  Cheltenham.  In  i860  he  entered  his 
father's  firm  in  Newchwang,  and  in  1883  was 
taken  into  partnership.  He  was  awarded 
gold  medals  by  Field  Marshal  Oyama  and 
Baron  Kodoma  for  services  rendered  to  Japan 
during  tlie  Russo-Japanese  War.  He  is  fond 
of  sport,  especially  racing  and  skating,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Thatched  House  Club, 
London. 


BANDINEL   &  CO. 

An  extensive  business  as  import  and  export 
merchants  and  shipping  agents  is  carried  on 
by  this  firm,  which  was  established  in  1881, 
hy  Mr.  William  Bandinel.  Among  the  agencies 
held  by  the  firm  are  those  of  the  Nippon 
Yusen  Kaisha,  the  Norddeutscher  Lloyd,  the 
Hamburg-Amerika  Linie,  and  other  steamship 
companies,     besides     several     of    the     more 


NEWCHWANG    BUND    IN    WINTER. 


Even  at  the  present  day,  when  many  large 
British  companies  are  operating  up  and  down 
the  China  coast,  this  business,  carried  on 
entirely  by  one  man,  more  than  retains  its 
place.      Besides    holding    valuable     agencies, 


prominent  insurance  companies.  Mr.  F.  W. 
Farmer,  who  took  over  the  business  in  1907, 
has  resided  in  Newchwang  practically  all 
his  life,  and  is  Consul  for  the  Netherlands, 
and  Vice-Consul  for  Norway. 


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LOOKING    NORTH-WEST    FROM    CHEFOO. 


CHEFOO. 


SiVEN  if  it  should  never  be  known 
as  a  great  centre  for  trade, 
Chefoo,  under  an  enterprising 
administration,  might  quickly 
become  one  of  the  most 
popular  summer  resorts  in  the 
F"ar  East.  It  has  a  climate 
which  is  not  surpassed  in  any  other  part  of 
China,  for,  while  the  winter,  extending  from 
December  to  March,  is  severe,  and  rain  and 
heat  form  a  rather  unpleasant  combination 
in  July  and  August,  the  spring  months  are 
delightful,  and  the  autumn,  with  its  succession 
of  warm  days,  tempered  with  cool  breezes, 
provides  almost  ideal  holiday  conditions.  In 
the  season,  tourist  tickets,  at  a  reduced  cost 
for  the  return  passage,  are  issued  from 
Shanghai,  which  is  but  two  days'  journey 
away,  by  the  Indo-China  Steam  Navigation 
Company,  the  China  Merchants  Steam  Navi- 
gation Company,  the  China  Navigation 
Company,  and  the  Russian  East  .Asiatic 
Steamship  Company,  while  regular  steamship 
communication  between  the  two  places  is 
maintained,  also,  by  the  Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha 
and  the  Osaka  Shosen  Kaisha.  The  town 
possesses  two  excellent  hotels,  and  a  number 
of  good  boarding-houses,  which  are  always 
tilled  with  visitors  during  the  season.  There 
are  several  well-conducted  schools  to  which 
children  are  sent  from  all  parts  of  the  East, 
as  much  in  the  interest  of  their  health  as  of 
their  education.  Social  intercourse  is  pro- 
moted by  means  of  a  comfortable  Club,  and 
races  are  held  towards  the  end  of  September. 
But,  in  spite  of  many  advantages,  which 
might  easily  be  turned  to  better  account,  the 
development  of  Chefoo,  it  is  generally  agreed, 
is  being  retarded  owing  to  the  absence  of 
any  clearly  defined  progressive  policy  on  the 
part  of  the  authorities. 

The  port  was  opened  to  foreign  trade 
in  1863.  Altogether,  some  four  hundred 
foreigners  have  their  names  registered  at 
the  various  Consulates,  but  more  than  half 
of  these  are  missionaries  who  live  inland. 
There  is  no  formally  recognised  settlement, 
or  concession,  but  simply  a  foreign  quarter 
which  is  controlled  and  maintained  by  a 
General     Purposes     committee,     deriving     its 


revenue  from  voluntary  contributions.  Besides 
an  assessment  on  property-holders  there  is 
a  poll-tax  of  $ro  per  annum,  which  all  male 
residents  are  supposed  to  pay,  but  as  there 
IS  no  recognised  authority  to  enforce  collection 
the  funds  at  the  disposal  of  the  committee 
are  often  not  so  large  as  they  should  be. 
For  a  number  of  years  many  of  the  residents 
have  cherished  a  hope  that  a  settlement, 
under  a  properly  constituted  authority,  and 
with  well-defined  regulations,  would  be 
established  in  Chefoo  as  in  several  of  the 
other  Treaty  ports,  but  as  this  hope  has 
been  so  long  deferred,  efforts  are  bemg  made 
to  form  a  local  board,  composed  jointly  of 
Chinese  and  foreigners,  to  take  over 
administrative  work,  and  draw  up  rules  and 
regulations  for  the  efficient  control  of  local 
affairs,  a  good  water  supply,  for  example,  is 
urgently  needed,  and  if  the  funds  were 
forthcoming  it  would  be  a  task  of  no  great 
difficulty  to  build  a  reservoir  among  the  hills 
at  the  back  of  the  town,  from  which  water 
could  be  supplied  under  its  own  pressure. 
The  rain  in  July  and  August  would  alone  be 
sufficient,  it  is  believed,  to  keep  the  stock 
replenished,  and  additional  water  might 
possibly  be  obtained  by  sinking  artesian  wells. 

Chefoo,  which  in  1900  was  connected  by 
telegraph  cables  with  Tientsin,  Port  Arthur, 
Weihaiwei,  Tsingtau,  and  Shanghai,  is  in  the 
line  of  communication  between  the  ports  of 
India,  South  China,  Japan,  Korea,  and 
Manchuria,  and  is  a  regular  port  of  call  for 
many  tramp  steamers,  thirty  or  forty  vessels 
sometimes  entering  and  clearing  in  one  day. 
But  the  necessity  for  proper  harbour  works, 
including  a  protecting  breakwater  and  quay, 
is  recognised  by  the  whole  mercantile 
community,  for  strong  northerly  gales  are 
experienced  in  the  late  autumn,  and  the 
roadstead  furnishes  but  an  uncomfortable 
anchorage.  It  is  generally  taken  for  granted 
that  after  a  vessel  arrives  in  port  the  safety 
of  inward  cargo  is  assured,  but,  owing  to  the 
exposed  condition  of  the  harbour  at  Chefoo, 
it  is  at  this  point  where  the  greatest  danger 
arises.  In  1906  nearly  two  months  were  lost 
to  trade  through  stress  of  weather. 

But  while  Chefoo's  importance  as  a  trading 


centre  has,  up  to  the  present,  been  incon- 
siderable there  are  undoubted  possibilities  of 
development.  The  port  supplies  Vladivostock 
and  Siberia  with  upwards  of  one  hundred 
thousand  coolies  annually,  and  this  traffic 
alone  furnishes  business  for  a  considerable 
number  of  steamers. 

The  local  silk  industry  is  a  very  important 
one.  A  high  percentage  of  the  cocoons 
which  come  to  China  from  Korea  and 
Manchuria  are  used  here,  and  foreign  silk 
and  hand-made  silk  laces  are  manufactured 
in  large  quantities.  Chefoo  is  also  the  centre 
of  a  large  fruit  growing  district,  and  the 
vine  is  now  being  cultivated  with  the  object 
of  producing  wine  on  a  fairly  extensive  scale. 
A  railway,  which  has  been  projected  from 
Fuchan  -  Shein  to  Wei-Shien,  a  distance  of 
about  170  miles,  should  give  a  great  impetus 
to  trade.  A  company,  formed  by  some 
prominent  Chinese  merchants,  has  been 
registered  under  the  Board  of  Posts  and 
Communications,  and  half  the  required  capital 
of  Tls.  8,000,000  has  already  been  raised. 
It  is  expected  that  the  work  of  construction 
will  be  commenced  next  spring. 

The  value  of  the  trade  of  Chefoo  for  1907 
was  Tls.  28,646.513,  as  compared  with 
Tls.  34,740,267,  in  1906,  and  Tls.  39,131,384  in 

1905.  The  net  foreign  imports  declined  from 
Tls.  17,156,771    in    1905,    to   Tls.  14,799.778   in 

1906,  and  to  Tls.  10,630,697  in  1907  ;  and  the 
net  native  imports  from  Tls.  10,022,488  in  1905, 
to  Tls.  7,977,090  in  1906,  and  to  Tls.  7,296,744 
in  1907.  Exports,  while  increasing  from 
Tls.  11,952,125  in  1905,  to  Tls.  11,963,399  in 
1906,  fell  to  Tls.  10,719,072  in  1907.  Chefoo's 
contribution  to  the  Customs  revenue  during 
1907  was  Tls.  633,243,  against  Tls.  818,322  in 
1906,  and  Tls.  871,607  in  1905.  Bean-cake  is 
the  chief  item  of  export,  the  net  quantity  sent 
away  during  1907  amounting  to  1,000,431 
piculs,  against  1,144,814  piculs  in  1906,  and 
1,233,180  piculs  in  1905.  Other  leading 
articles  of  export  are  silk,  straw-braid,  ground- 
nuts and  vermicelli.  Chefoo  has  in  Kiaochau, 
the  other  port  for  the  Shantung  Province,  a 
keen  rival,  and  unless  the  promised  railway 
communication  is  soon  forthcoming,  Chefoo 
is  likely  to  be  relegated  to  the  second  place. 


768      TWENTIETH  CENTTTRY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


THE    BRITISH    CONSUL. 

Mr.  Herbert  F.  Brauv.  British  Consul  at 
Chefoo.  was  born  in  Dublin  in  1854,  and  was 
educated  in  Weimar.  Germany,  at  Dr.  Stack- 
poole's  School.  Kingstown,  and  at  the  College 


THE    RUSSIAN    CONSUL. 

Mr.  Christofer  Kkisty,  Russian  Consul  at 
Chefoo,  was  born  in  1872  in  South  Russia, 
and  was  educated  at  Ismail  and  at  St.  Peters- 
burg I'niversity,  where  he  took  degrees  and 


CHEFOO    FE.OM    THE    CLUB. 


Chaptal,  Paris.  After  passing  a  competitive 
Examination  for  a  Student-lnterpretership,  he 
was  attached  to  the  Peking  Consulate,  and 
has  since  held  consular  appointments  at 
numerous  stations  in  China.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  acquiring  the  site  of  the  Kenling 
Settlement,  at  Ichang,  where  he  established  a 
local  post-office  and  brought  out  an  issue  of 
stamps.  Mr.  Brady  is  married,  and  has  one 
son,  who  is  being  educated  at  Charterhouse. 


a  First  in  Science  and  Oriental  Languages. 
In  1897  he  entered  the  Foreign  Office  at 
St.  Petersburg,  and  a  year  later  was 
despatched  to  Peking.  He  was  transferred 
to  Newchwang  in  1900,  and  remained  there 
through    the   Boxer  troubles  until   1903.      He 


Second  Degree.  He  has,  also,  the  Order  of 
Houkhara  and  the  Order  of  the  Double 
Dragon. 


THE    NORWEGIAN    CONSUL. 

Dr.  Otto  K.  R.  Gtn.owsEX,  in  addition  to 
being  Surgeon  to  the  Chefoo  General  Hospital 
and  Medical  Officer  to  the  Imperial  Maritime 
Customs,  holds  the  office  of  Consul  for  Nor- 
way and  for  Sweden.  He  was  born  in  1867 
in  Norway,  and  was  educated  at  Cliristiania 
University,  Liverpool,  and  Paris,  taking 
degrees  in  each  place.  He  came  out  to 
Chefoo  in  1896.  Dr.  Gulowsen  holds  many 
decorations  from  different  governments. 


THE    BELGIAN    CONSUL. 

Mr.  Oscar  H.  Anz,  head  of  the  firm  of  Anz 
&  Co.,  was  appointed  Belgian  Consul  in  1903. 
Born  at  Hamburg  in  1877,  he  was  educated 
at  Dusseldorf  and  Bergedorf,  and  came  to 
Chefoo  in  1893, 


COMMISSIONER    OF    CUSTOMS. 

Mr.  Francis  Skipwith  I'nwin,  Commissioner 
of  Customs  at  Chefoo,  was  born  in  1849  at 
Tunbridge  Wells,  Kent,  and  received  his 
education  at  Lancing,  Tonbridge,  and  privately 
on  the  Continent.  Since  1868,  when  he  came 
out  to  Foochow,  he  has  held  various  posts  in 
almost  all  the  ports  and  river  stations  in 
China. 


CHEFOO-THE  CLUB  ON  THE  LEFT. 


OH.    P.    KBI8TT, 
Vice-Consul  for  Ruiwla,  Chefoo. 


then  went  home  on  leave,  but  when  the 
Russo-Japanese  war  broke  out  he  had  to 
return  hurriedly  to  Port  Arthur,  and  during 
the  hostilities  he  was  engaged  in  various 
districts.  In  recognition  of  his  services  he 
received  the   Russian  Order  of  St.   Stanislas. 


MR.    LI    TSOI    CHEE. 

Mr.  Li  Tsoi  Chee,  who  holds  the  rank  of 
Taoutai,  and  is  Secretary  to  the  Customs 
Taoutai,  of  Chefoo,  was  born  in  the  province 
of  Kwangtung  in   i860,  and  was  educated  at 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     769 


the  Government  Central  School,  now  Queen's      structure  contains  two  billiard-rooms,  a  card- 


College,  Hongkong.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
he  came  to  Chefoo  and  joined  the  China 
Merchants  Steam  Navigation  Company  as 
chief  assistant,  having,  in  that  capacity,  charge 
of     the     office.       Soon    afterwards    he     was 


room,  a  bar,  a  reading-room,  and  a  library, 
which  for  so  small  a  Club  is  well  stocked. 
There  are  some  fifty  members,  and  they 
represent  between  them  eight  or  nine 
different  nationalities.     The  existing  premises 


CHEFOO-THE    BEACH. 


appointed  agent  of  the  Chinese  Engineering 
and  Mining  Company,  Ltd.,  at  Chefoo.  In 
1900  he  was  re-transferred  to  the  Steam 
Navigation  Company  as  manager  of  the 
establishment,  and  he  holds  this  position  at 
the  present  time.  Mr.  Li  has  been  twice 
decorated — first,  with  the  Russian  Order  of 
St.  Ann  ;  and  secondly,  with  the  Japanese 
Order  of  the  Rising  Sun,   Fourth   Class. 


are,  of  course,  very  old,  and  there  has  been 
considerable  talk  of  rebuilding  them  at  an 
early  date  ;  but  so  far  nothing  definite  has 
been  decided  on.  Mr.  C.  L.  L.  Williams  is 
the  hon.  secretary,  and  Mr.  A.  Graeber,  the 
hon.  treasurer. 


H.   SIETAS   &   CO. 


Lighter  Company,  and  are  interested  in  the 
Chefoo  Water-boat  Company.  They  also 
own  one  of  the  largest  steam  Tussah  silk 
filatures  in  the  neighbourhood.  For  years 
there  has  been  a  branch  of  the  business  at 
Weihaiwei,  and  in  1906  two  new  branches 
were  opened  at  Tsingtau  and  Dalny,  so 
that  the  firm  is  now  entrenched  at  all  the 
commercial  strategic  points  in  North  China. 


CURTIS  BBOS. 

Mr.  F.  J.  Curtis  is  the  proprietor  of  this 
firm  of  manufacturers'  agents  and  general 
and  commission  merchants,  established  in 
1901.  The  firm  are  local  agents  for  Lloyds, 
the  China  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  the 
Commercial  Union  Assurance  Company,  and 
the  British  Dominions  Insurance  Company, 
and,  in  addition  to  a  general  import  and 
export  business,  they  conduct  salvage  opera- 
tions. 


F.    J.    CURTIS. 


LI    TSOI    CHEE. 


THE    CHEFOO    CLUB. 

As  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  Chefoo 
Club  had  its  origin  in  the  sixties,  when  Mr. 
W.  A.  Cornabe,  who  then  owned  the  premises 
in  which  the  Club  is  housed,  transferred  the 
property  to  a  number  of   shareholders.     The 


The  oldest  firm  in  Chefoo  is  that  of  Messrs. 
H.  Sietas  &  Co.,  which  was  established  in 
1861.  The  Company  are  general  importers 
and  exporters  ;  owners  of  the  Chefoo  Print- 
ing Press ;  and  joint  owners  with  Messrs. 
Cornabe,  Eckford  &  Co.  of  the  Chefoo 
Water-boat  Company.  They  have  branches 
also  at  Tsingtau  and  Vladivostock. 


^ 


COENABE,    ECKFOED    &    CO. 

Thk  founders  of  this  firm  were  Messrs. 
James  Wilson  and  W.  A.  Cornabe,  both  of 
whom  were  in  business  in  Amoy.  Early  in 
1864  they  established  themselves  as  general 
merchants  in  Chefoo  under  the  style  of 
Messrs.  Wilson,  Cornabe  &  Co.  At  first  the 
business  consisted  of  buying  produce  and 
shipping  it  to  southern  ports,  but  later  on 
the  firm  became  shipowners  and  shipping 
agents.  Later  still,  after  Mr.  Eckford  had 
been  admitted  to  partnership,  the  exportation 
of  straw-braid  was  undertaken  very  success- 
fully. In  1887  Mr.  Cornabe  returned  to 
England,  and  in  1902  Mr.  Eckford  was 
obliged  to  leave  China  on  account  of  ill- 
health.  The  business  now  consists  of  the 
export  of  straw-braid,  silk,  silk  piece  goods, 
and  other  local  products,  and  the  import  of 
coal,  flour,  indigo,  yarn,  &c.  The  firm  hold 
numerous  first-class  shipping  and  insurance 
agencies  ;    they  are  proprietors  of  the  Hokee 


Mr.  F.  J.  Curtis  was  born  in  Yokohama 
in  1869,  and  was  educated  at  Southampton. 
After  spending  fifteen  years  in  the  mercan- 
tile marine,  for  which  he  holds  a  master's 
certificate,  he  came  in  1898,  to  Chefoo,  in 
the  affairs  of  which  Settlement  he  now 
takes  a  considerable  interest.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  General  Purposes  Committee,  in 
which  body  the  general  control  of  the 
Foreign  Quarter  is  vested  at  the  time  of 
writing,  although  it  is  expected  that  during 
the  present  year  a  municipal  body  will  be 
formed  to  administer  local  affairs. 


L.  H.  SMITH  &  CO. 

The  firm  of  Messrs.  L.  H.  Smith  &  Co.,  mer- 
chants and  commission  agents,  was  established 
in  1895.  The  business  is  now  carried  on  by 
Mrs.  L.  H.  Smith,  widow  of  the  founder,  for 
whom  Mr.  D.  Cappelen  acts  as  manager 
and  signs  per  pro.  Among  the  numerous 
agencies  held  by  the  firm  are  those  of  the 
Russo-Chinese,  and  other  banking  concerns, 
the  Russian  Volunteer  Fleet,  Messrs.  Cald- 
beck,  Macgregor  &  Co.,  wine  and  spirit 
merchants,  and  various  important  and  well- 
known  fire  and  life  insurance  companies  of 
England  and  the  Continent. 

Mr.  Cappelen  was  born  in  1876,  at  Tons- 
berg,  Norway,  and  was  educated  at  Chris- 
tiania.     He   came  to    the  Far    East    in   1897. 


770      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


and  was  employed  as  an  accountant  by  the 
China  and  Japan  Trading  Company  at  their 
Kobe  branch.  In  1901  he  crossed  over  to 
Chefoo,  and  eventually  succeeded  to  the 
management   of   Messrs.  L.  H.  Smith  &    Co. 


0HAH6  TU  ft  00. 

The  future  of  Messrs.  Chang  Yti  S  Co. — 
known  also  as  the  Pioneer  Wine  Company — 
wine  growers,  distillers,  and  merchants,  will 
he  watched  with  great  interest,  for  the  firm 
are  engaged  in  an  enterprise  which  is  the 
only  one  of  its  kind  east  of  Suez.  Est;ib- 
lished  as  a  private  company  in  1895,  and 
financed  by  Chinese  capil:il,  the  firm  have 
planted  about  two  hundred  acres  with  vines  in 
the  Chefoo  district,  and  have  established  nur- 
series for  fostering  the  specially  imported 
plants  and  cuttings  in  the  early  stages  of  their 
growth.  The  most  improved  methods  of 
cultis'ation  are  adopted,  and  so  far  with  most 


encouraging  results.  For  the  pressing  of  the 
wine  extensive  premises  have  been  built  under 
the  supervision  of  Mr.  Chang  Ching  King, 
manager  of  the  Company,  and  Baron  M. 
von  Babo,  their  w^ne  expert.  The  latest 
machinery  has  been  installed,  and.  though  the 
wine  is  not  yet  on  the  market,  there  is 
every  reason  to  hope  that  it  will  soon  attain 
a  large  measure  of  popularity  in  Chefoo  and 
the  Far  East.  The  cellarage  has  a  storage 
capacity  of  about  twenty  thousand  hectolitres 
of  wine,  the  largest  cask  being  capable  of 
holding  160  hectolitres.  Both  red  and  white 
wines  in  casks  and  bottles  will  be  supplied, 
and  the  quality  promises  to  be  excellent. 

The  founder  and  proprietor  of  the  firm, 
Mr.  Chang  Chin  Hsiin,  alias  Thio  Tiauw  Slat, 
was  born  in  Canton  in  1841,  and  educated 
in  China.  He  lived  for  forty  years  in  the 
East  Indies,  and  owns  extensive  property  in 
Java,  the  Straits  Settlements,  and  Sumatra. 
He  has  lately  been  appointed  a  director  of 
the  Agricultural  and  Industrial  Mining  and 
Railway  Company  of  Canton. 


Baron  M.  von  Babo,  the  Pioneer  Wine 
Company's  expert,  also  holds  the  appointment 
of  Vice-Consul  for  Austria-Hungary.  He  was 
born  in  Klosterneuburg,  near  Vienna,  in  1862, 
and  was  educated  in  Vienna.  On  coming  of 
age  he  went  to  England  for  four  and  a  half 
years,  returning  to  Austria  in  1888.  In  1896 
he  came  to  Chefoo  as  wine  expert  to  the 
Pioneer  Wine  Company,  upon  the  recom- 
mendation of  tlie  Austrian  Government.  He 
superintended  the  erection  of  the  stores  and 
plant,  and  to  him  is  due,  in  great  measure, 
the  present  promising  position  of  the  Com- 
pany. Baron  Babo,  who  is  a  Knight  of 
the  Order  of  Franz  Joseph,  is  a  thorough 
sportsman,  and  has  won  great  popularity  in 
the  district. 

The  manager  of  the  Company,  Mr.  Chang 
Ching  King,  was  born  in  Canton  in  1873  and 
educated  at  St.  Xavier's  Institution,  Penang. 
He  came  to  Chefoo  when  twenty-three  years 
of  age,  and  joined  the  Pioneer  Wine  Com- 
pany, of  wliicli  his  uncle  is  the  proprietor. 
Mr.  Chang  has  the  Prefectural  title. 


CHANG    YU    &    CO.— THE    PIONEER    WINE    COMPANY    OF    CHINA. 
CHAXG  CHISd   Hsi'x,   KoiiiukT  ;iml  I'niprietor. 


•I'FIK   VlM-.YARDS   IX    CHKFOO    I)1STK1C-|' 

Karox  M.  vox  Babo,  Expert. 


Thk  Prkmisks  AXI)  Cki.i.aks. 


CHAXr.  Chixg  Kixii,  Man.iger. 

A   COKXKR   IX  THK  CELLARS. 


NINGPO. 


of 


IN'GPO.  one  of  the  five  ports 
opened  in  1842,  has  been 
known  to  foreigners  since 
1522.  when  a  number  of 
Portufluese  traders  settled 
there.  The  Chinese,  how- 
ever, resented  the  lawlessness 
the  intruders,  and  in  1542  practically 
exterminated  them,  driving  away  the  sur- 
vivors and  destroying  their  habitations.  In 
the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century 
the  East  India  Company  established  a  (ac- 
ton.- at  Chusan,  40  miles  distant,  and  made 
an  attempt  to  trade  with  Ningpo,  but  this 
proved  unsuccessful  and  the  project  was 
abandoned.  It  was  not  until  October  13, 
1841,  that  the  port  was  again  occupied  by 
foreigners,  the  British  in  that  year  stationing 
a  garrison  at  Ningpo.  The  Chinese  made 
an  attempt  to  retake  the  city  in  the  follow- 
ing March,  but  were  repulsed  with  heavy 
loss  by  the  British  artillery,  and  the  garrison 
remamed  in  occupation  until  shortly  before 
the  proclamalion  of  Peace  and  the  declara- 
tion of  Ningpo  as  an  open  port. 

Ningpo  lies  in  a  large  alluvial  plain,  on 
the  river  Yung,  in  the  province  of  Chekiang, 
its  geographical  position  being  29°  55'  N.  lat., 
and   121°  22'  E.  long. 

The  town  is  enclosed  by  a  brick  wall 
5  miles  in  circumference,  25  feet  in  height,  and 


varying  in  width  from  15  feet  at  the  sum- 
mit to  22  feet  at  the  base.  This  wall  is 
pierced  by  si.\  gates,  and  on  the  landward 
side  a  moat  runs  beside  it  for  a  distance  of 
three  miles.  The  streets,  the  principal  one 
of  which  runs  east  and  west,  are  narrow 
and  tortuous.  Several  are  spanned  by  me- 
morial arches  of  typical  Chinese  design. 
The  library  for  which  Ningpo  has  been 
celebrated  is  said  to  have  been  in  point  of 
numbers  the  fourth  largest  collection  of 
Chinese  works  in  the  Empire. 

There  are  two  cotlon  mills  in  Xingpo-the 
first  established  in  June,  1896,  and  the  other 
more  recently.  The  Company  owning  the 
latter  mill  have  installed  an  electric  lighting 
plant,  and  a  scheme  for  lighting  the  city  by 
electricity  is  under  consideration.  A  flour 
mill  has  been  started  ;  and,  as  a  competitor 
in  the  fishing  industry,  so  largely  carried  on 
at  Ningpo,  a  steam  trawler  has  recently 
been  introduced.  Ningpo  exported  fish  and 
fishery  products  to  the  value  of  Tls.  663,567 
during   1906. 

Exports  of  tea  have  declined  owing  to  the 
diversion  of  the  Foochow  tea  trade  through 
Hangchow,  the  value  of  green  tea  shipped 
through  Ningpo  during  1906,  being  only 
Tls.  2,010,110,  as  compared  with  Tls.  2,165,127 
in  1905  ;  Tls.  3,408,574,  in  1904,  and 
Tls.   3,841,335    in     1903.         White    alum     is 


largely  exported,  92,352  piculs,  together  of 
the  value  of  Tls.  120,058  coming  from  the 
district  out  of  a  total  for  all  Customs  dis- 
tricts of  101,839  piculs.  Rush,  wood- 
shaving,  and  chip-hat  making,  give  employ- 
ment to  thousands  of  Chinese,  no  fewer  than 
five  and  a  half  million  hats  being  exported  in 
1906.  Fans,  feathers,  mats  and  matting, 
medicines,  musk,  paper,  rhubarb,  samshu, 
cotton  seed,  silk  piece  goods  and  skins  and 
furs  are  also  articles  of  export.  Sugar  is  now 
the  principal  import,  the  total  quantity  re- 
ceived in  1906  being  278.973  piculs  of  brown, 
and  117,611  piculs  of  refined.  The  net  value 
of  the  trade  of  the  port  was  Tls.  18,917,355 
in  1906,  Tls.  19,163,630  in  1905,  and 
Tls.  12,297,412  in  1904. 

The  population  is  estimated  at  255,000. 
The  Foreign  Settlement  lies  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  and  contains  an  office  of  the 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs,  and  of  the 
Imperial  Chinese  Telegraph  Administration, 
two  Consulates, — British  and  Austro-Hunga- 
rian, — an  Anglican  church,  a  Church  Mis- 
sionary Society  college,  several  Protestant 
missions,  a  Roman  Catholic  college,  the 
headquarters  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Mission 
of  Chekiang,  Chinese  and  French  post-offices, 
and  branches  of  several  well-known  European 
firms. 


y^^ 


HIS    EXCELLENCY    THE    COMMISSIONER,    STAFF,    AND    HEADMEN    OF    THE    TERRITORY    OF    WEIHAIWEI. 


WEIHAIWEI. 


KIHAIWEI  was  probably  first 
brought  to  ttie  notice  of  the 
British  naval  and  military 
authorities  at  the  time  of  the 
Anglo- F'rench  Expedition  of 
i860.  The  possibility  of 
making  use  of  Weihaiwei  was 
then  considered,  and  in  his  "  Narrative  of  the 
War  with  China  in  i860,"  General  Wolseley 
gives  an  interesting  account  of  his  visit  to  the 
place  with  a  view  to  testing  its  resources. 
First  impressions  are  proverbially  deceptive, 
and  those  of  the  gallant  General  are  no 
exception  to  the  rule.  He  wrote :  "The 
harbour  is  a  bad  one,  being  open  both  to  the 
north-east  and  south-east  winds,  so  that  the 
nautical  portion  of  the  expedition  did  not  look 
upon  it  with  very  loving  eyes.  .  .  .  Towards 
noon  all  returned,  having  failed  to  discover 
any  running  water,  and  even  wells  were 
found  to  be  scarce.  .  .  .  What  strikes 
one  as  so  strange  in  a  country  essentially 
agricultural  is  the  small  number  of  birds  to 
be  seen  ;  even  the  universally-met-with 
sparrow  is,  comparatively  speaking,  seldom 
found  here,  and  if  swallows  are  necessary 
to  '  make  a  summer '  one  might  almost  doubt 
the  existence  of  such  a  season  in  these. regions. 
Unlike  the  towns  in  the  south,  there  were  but 
very  few  pigs  or  dogs.  .  .  .  The  great 
scarcity  of  water  appeared  to  check  even 
animal  fecundity."  "The  Island  of  Lung- 
meau-Loweah  (sic),  which  shelters  the  harbour 
on  the  east  side,"  also  seems  to  have  been 
waterless.  How  very  inaccurate  these  state- 
ments were  and  how  unwise  it  is  to  make 
dogmatic  assertions  of  this  nature,  based  on  a 
few  hours'  cursory  and  perfunctory  survey,  is 
amply  shown  in  the  subsequent  history  of 
Weihaiwei.  Admiral  Freemantle,  who  was 
Commander-in-Chief  on  the  China  Station  for 
three  years,  writing  to  The  Times,  in  February, 
1902,    stated :     "  Personally,    I    have    always 


thought  Weihaiwei  well  suited  to  our  wants. 
It  is  admirably  situated,  the  harbour  is  good 
and  capable  of  improvement.  .  .  .  For  our 
purpose  Weihaiwei  is  a  far  more  valuable 
possession  than  Kiao-chou  or  Port  Arthur.  .  .  . 
We  are  about  to  develop  Weihaiwei  as  a 
commercial  port,  under  an  energetic  colonial 
administrator,  and  I  venture  to  prophesy  that 
a  few  years  hence  our  interests  there  will 
have  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  it 
will  be  necessary  to  take  some  defensive 
measures." 

Weihaiwei,  like  Port  Arthur,  formed  one  of 
the  "  twin  gates "  of  the  Pechili  Gulf,  and 
both  places  were  strongly  fortified  by  the 
Chinese  Government  with  the  aid  of  foreign 
military  experts.  When  the  Chino-Japanese 
War  of  1895  broke  out  Japanese  strategists  at 
once  recognised  the  necessity  of  reducing 
both  fortresses  as  preliminary  steps  to  the 
invasion  of  the  metropolitan  province.  In 
fact  it  was  the  surrender  of  Admiral  Ting  at 
Weihaiwei,  following  on  the  fall  of  Port 
Arthur,  that  convinced  the  Chinese  of  the 
futility  of  further  resistance.  In  this  short 
war  the  one  redeeming  feature  in  the  sorry 
exhibition  of  Chinese  impotence  was  the 
heroic,  if  hopeless,  defence  of  Liu-kung-tao 
and  the  harbour  by  the  naval  forces  of  China. 
The  garrisons  of  various  forts  on  the  mainland 
in  most  instances  deserted  en  masse.  Had  the 
army  offered  anything  like  the  resistance 
shown  by  the  sister  service,  a  very  different 
complexion  might  have  been  put  upon  the 
war.  The  army  of  Japan  numbered  nearly 
twenty-five  thousand  troops  and  there  is  no 
evidence  to  show  that  either  the  invaders  or 
the  besieged  garrison  had  any  difficulty  in 
obtaining  water  of  excellent  quality. 

Weihaiwei  remained  in  the  possession  of 
the  Japanese  for  more  than  two  years.  On 
payment  of  the  final  instalment  of  the  war 
indemnity    it    was    surrendered    in    1898    to 


the  Chinese  Government,  who  promptly 
transferred  it  to  Great  Britain,  ''  for  so  long 
a  period  as  Port  Arthur  remains  in  the 
occupation  of  Russia,"and  "in  order  to  provide 
Great  Britain  with  a  suitable  naval  harbour 
in  North  China,  and  for  the  better  protection 
of  British  commerce  in  the  neighbouring 
seas." 

It  was  at  lirst  intended  that  under  the 
British  flag  Weihaiwei  should  out-rival  Port 
Arthur  and  Tsingtau  as  a  naval  base  and 
fortress  harbour.  Royal  Engineers  planned 
batteries  on  Liu-kung-tao,  one  or  two  of  which 
were  practically  finished.  The  foundations 
of  a  naval  hospital  were  laid,  and  the  building 
materials  were  collected.  The  1st  Chinese 
Regiment  was  also  established  to  garrison 
the  Colony.  Unfortunately,  however,  for 
Weihaiwei  the  enormous  cost  of  the  Boer 
war  compelled  economy  in  other  directions, 
and  a  complete  change  took  place  in  the  British 
official  attitude  towards  our  newest  Eastern 
possession.  This  change  was  announced  in 
the  following  passage  from  the  Colonial  Office 
List,  1902  : — "  It  is  not  the  present  intention 
of  His  Majesty's  Government  to  re-fortify  the 
station,  but  to  retain  it  as  a  flying  naval 
base,  and  as  a  depot  and  drill-ground  and 
sanatorium  for  the  China  Squadron  in  North 
China." 

The  Chinese  Regiment  was  established  in 
the  early  days  of  British  tenure  (1899).  At 
that  time  Russia,  Germany,  and  England  laid 
claim,  respectively,  to  Manchuria,  Shantung, 
and  the  Yangtsze  Valley,  as  "spheres  of 
influence,"  and  it  seemed  very  probable  that 
a  partition  of  the  dominions  of  the  "  sick 
man  "  of  the  Far  East  would  eventually  take 
place.  Our  War  Office,  with  commendable 
foresight,  intended  the  Chinese  Regiment  to 
be,  not  merely  the  garrison  of  Weihaiwei  but 
also  the  nucleus  of  the  body  of  military  police 
which   would  be   needed   if,    and   when,  we 


774    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


took  over  the  government  of  our  "  splieie  ol 
influence."  The  unexjiected  dc'noiicnuiit of  the 
Russo-Japanese  War,  while  giving  a  new,  if 
temporary,  lease  of  life  to  the  "sick  man." 
also  negatived  the  prognostications  of  the 
European  chancelleries,  and  with  the  decision 
not  to  fortify  Weihaiwei  the  ruisoii  d'itre  of 
the  regiment  also  went,  and  its  brief,  but  not 
inglorious  career  closed  in  1906.  The  Chinese 
Regiment  contributed  two  companies  towards 
the  international  force  which,  during  the 
Boxer  outbreak,  marched  to  the  relief  of  the 
Legations  at  Peking.  Their  knowledge  of 
local  conditions  enabled  the  officers  and  men 
of  this  small  contingent  to  render  invaluable 
aid  to  the  British  force  in  collecting  transport, 
&c..  and  it  may  safely  be  stated  that  of 
all  the  different  sections  composing  that 
heterogenous  army  none  was  so  well  supplied 
with  interpreters  and  means  of  transport  as 
the  British  force.  That  these  two  companies 
of  the  regiment  also  did  their  share  of  the 
harder  and  more  serious  business  of  war  is 
silently  attested  by  the  small  monument  that 
now  stands  at  the  main  entrance  to  the 
barracks  of  the  defunct  regiment  and  bears 
the  following  inscription  : — "  Erected  by  the 
Officers  of  the  ist  Chinese  Regiment  in 
memory  of  the  Officers,  N.C.O.'s  and  Men 
of  the  regiment  who  were  killed  when  serving 
with  the  British  Contingent,  China  Field 
Force,  between  June  and  November.  Capt. 
A.  J.  Hill,  Capt.  L.  A.  E.  Ollivant,  21  N.C.O.'s 
and  men.". 

In  particular,  their  gallantry  in  the  attack 
by  the  Allied  Forces  on  Tientsin  city  seems 
to  have  received  well-merited  praise,  and  led 
to  the  adoption  by  the  regiment  of  a  Chinese 
city  gate  as  its  badge. 

On  sentimental  grounds  the  disbandment 
of  the  regiment  and  the  discontinuance  of 
the  interesting  and,  to  a  certain  extent, 
successful,  experiment  of  turning  the  China- 
man into  an  efficient  soldier  under  British 
officers  are  regrettable,  but  for  other  and 
more  weighty  reasons  it  will  generally  be 
agreed  that  it  was  justifiable.  Latterly,  if  not 
from  the  beginning,  the  cost  to  the  British 
taxpayer  of  this  military  experiment  was  out 
of  proportion  to  its  usefulness. 


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The  Territory  of  Weihaiwei  consists  of  the 
"  Island  of  Liu-kung,  all  the  islands  in  the 
Bay  of  Weihaiwei,  and  a  belt  of  land,  ten 
English  miles  wide,  along  the  entire  coast- 
line of  the  Bay  of  Weihaiwei."  In  addition 
to  this,  "  the  region  east  of  the  meridian 
121°  4'  E.  of  Greenwich,"  is  a  neutral  zone, 
in  which  Great  Britain  has  certain  rights. 
and  which  none  but  British  or  Chinese  Iroops 
may  occupy  or  traverse.  The  area  of  the 
territory  "leased"  to  Great  Britain  is  rather 


The  Government  has  already  done  a  great 
deal  towards  remedying  this  defect,  and  many 
trees  have  been  imported  and  planted,  es- 
pecially along  the  road-sides.  A  great  deal 
more  could  be  done — and  probably  would  be 
done — in  tliis  direction  if  the  British  tenure 
of  Weihaiwei  were  more  assured. 

By  far  the  greater  part  of  the  rainfall  occurs 
in  July  and  August — tlie  "  rainy  season."  The 
average  rainfall  for  tlie  five  years  ending  De- 
cember, 1906,  is  325  inches  per  annum,  and 


IN    AND    ABOUT    WEIHAIWEI. 


J.    H.     STEWART     LOCKHART,     C.M.G., 
F.R.G.S.,    H.R.A.S. 

Commissioner,  Weihaiwei. 


THK  Weihaiwei  School. 
Maix  Gate,  Native  City. 

less  than  300  square  miles,  say,  twice  the 
size  of  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

The  district  is  very  hilly,  and  the  hills  are 
to  a  considerable  height  terraced  out  by  the 
patient  and  diligent  local  husbandman,  who 
succeeds  admirably  with  his  primitive  methods 
in  making  the  most  of  hill-sides  which  the 
European  farmer  would  consider  scarcely  fit 
for  cultivation.  In  rotation  he  grows  wheat, 
barley,  mlllett,  the  giant  "kaoliang,"  the  sweet 
potato,  and  ground  nuts.  The  climate  also 
permits  of  the  production  of  the  usual  fruits 
and  vegetables  which  tlie  Englishman  Is 
accustomed  to  find  on  his  table. 

During  the  "  rainy  season "  (July  and 
August)  most  of  the  valleys  and  gullies  of 
any  size  are  furnished  with  "running  water," 
and  at  all  times  of  the  year  any  one  who 
takes  the  trouble  to  dig  a  well  a  few  feet 
deep  on  low-lying  ground,  or  in  a  valley,  will 
find  an  ample  supply  of  good  water. 

Unforlunately,  the  Chinaman  of  the  north 
has  apparently  little  love  of  scenery  and  no 
knowledge  of  forestry.  To  provide  fuel  for 
heating  the  family  brick-bed  in  winter,  he 
turns  his  whole  family  out  to  rake  up  even 
the  grass  by  its  roots.  At  the  approach  of 
cold  weather,  he  cuts  down,  ruthlessly  and 
indiscriminately,  all  available  trees  and  shrubs. 
For  a  superstitious  reason,  apparently,  he  will 
allow  trees  to  grow  in  the  village  graveyard, 
and  he  has  sufficient  taste  to  tolerate  them  In 
the  village  itself.  Weihaiwei,  therefore,  shares 
with  the  rest  of  the  province,  a  bleak  and 
barren  aspect,  especially  in  winter,  and,  as 
Sir  Frank  Swettenham  has  put  it,  a  visitor's 
first  impression  Is  that  he  has  come  to  a 
"colder  Aden." 


Pout  Edward  ox  the  Mainland. 
.Street  Scene  ix  the  Native  City. 

the  number  of  days  on  which  snow  or  rain 
fell  during  these  years  averaged  82.  Even 
In  the  warmest  weather  the  thermometer 
seldom  records  90°  Fahrenheit  In  the  shade. 
In  winter,  when  the  "  north  blow  "  is  at  Its 
height,  severe  cold  Is  usually  experienced. 
But  these  cold  spells  are  separated  by  Inter- 
vals— sometimes  of  weeks  in  duration — of 
exhilaratlngly  bright  sunshine  and  calm.  In 
fact,  the  climate  of  Weihaiwei  is  essentially 
that  of  a  "  white  man's  country,"  and,  In  some 
respects,  is  distinctly  superior  to  that  of  Eng- 
land. It  Is  mainly  througli  its  high  reputation 
for  salubrity  that  Wellialwei  Is  becoming 
increasingly  popular  with  the  British  com- 
munities In  the  Far  East  as  a  seaside  resort 
in  the  hot  weather.  P"or  this  reason,  too,  it 
is  popular  with  the  Navy.  A  certain  type 
of  naval  man  may  feel  Inclined  to  grumble 
In  moments  of  depression  at  the  absence  of 
facilities  tor  Indulging  In  the  festivities  which 
he  enjoys  at  many  other  ports  In  the  East, 
but  even  he  generally  admits  that,  from  the 
point  of  view  of  healthfulness,  Weihaiwei  in 
summer  Is  not  to  be  equalled.  And  It  is  no 
doubt  due  In  part  to  the  excellent  facilities  for 
gun  practice  and  general  training  for  war 
that  exist  at  Weihaiwei  that  the  China 
Squadron  look  the  lead  In  the  gunnery 
competitions  of  the  British  Navy  In  1907, 
and  the  flagship,  H.M.S.  King  Allred,  broke 
all  previous  records  In  target  practice  with 
her  big  guns. 

Summer  visitors  to  Weihaiwei  find  excellent 
accommodation  at  King's  Hotel,  Port  Edward, 
under  the  management  of  Mr.  J.  W.  Loureiro ; 
at  Messrs.  D.  Clark  &  Co.'s  hotel  on  Llu-kung- 
tao  ;  or  at  the  hotel  opened  by  the  same  firm, 


D.    CLARK    &    CO, 


The  Stores. 
The  Aerated  Water  Factory. 


[See  page  777.J 


The  Hotel  ox  the  Mainxaxd. 
The  Hakerv, 


76     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


in  1907.  at  Port  Edward,  in  the  premises  that 
formerly  ser\'ed  as  the  Chinese  Regiment's 
Otficers'  Quarters  and  Regimental  Mess.  At 
Narcissus  Bay  and  at  Half  Moon  Bay  are 
to  be  found  neat  little  bungalows,  partly 
furnished,  about  a  dozen  in  number,  which 


ground  nuts  to  Hongkong  and  Canton.  A 
certain  amount  of  salt  and  rice — imported  from 
other  parts  of  the  coast — is  spasmodically  re- 
exported to  Vladivostock.  The  presence  of  the 
China  Squadron  for  a  few  months  each  year 
naturally  creates  a  certain  amount  of  business. 


WEIHAIWEI    HARBOUR    FROM    LIU-KUNG-TAO,    AND    THE    SHIPS    OF 
THE    BRITISH    CHINA    SQUADRON. 


have  been  erected  by  the  Weihaiwei  Land 
and  Building  Company,  Ltd.,  and  which  are 
specially  suited  to  the  convenience  of  those 
who  prefer  family  life  or  more  privacy  than 
is  possible  in  a  hotel.  The  sulphur  baths  at 
Narcissus  Bay,  excellently  furnished  and 
under  Japanese  management,  would  un- 
doubtedly be  more  largely  patronised  if  they 
were  more  widely  known,  for  the  hot  springs 
have  been  proved  to  be  of  high  medicinal 
value. 

Apart  from  recreations  in  and  on  the  water, 
the  visitor  may,  for  a  small  monthly  subscrip- 
tion, indulge  in  the  "ancient  and  royal  game  " 
on  the  links  of  the  Weihaiwei  Golf  Club  at 
Liu-kung-tao,  or  on  those  of  the  Port  Edward 
Golf  Club.  The  public  highways  and  the 
newly  constructed  Government  roads  afford 
the  cyclist  and  pedestrian  the  opportunity  of 
making  pleasant  excursions  in  various  direc- 
tions. Excellent  snipe  shooting  may  be  had 
in  August  on  the  marshy  districts  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  lagoons,  a  few  miles 
from  Port  Edward.  Large  numbers  of 
birds  are  to  be  seen.  Apart  from  those 
that  are  always  here,  wild  duck,  geese, 
snipe,  curlew,  and  quail  pay  toll  on 
their  bi  -  annual  migrations  to  the  local 
sportsman.  The  pheasant  and  partridge,  also, 
were  to  be  met  with  on  the  hill-side  at  one 
time,  but  the  industrious  Chinaman,  who 
found  a  ready  and  profilable  market  for  game 
in  the  early  days  of  British  occupation,  has 
practically  exterminated  them.  Stringent 
regulations,  enforced  by  substantial  fines,  now 
require  a  "  close  season,"  and  it  is  hoped  that 
the  pheasant  and  the  partridge  will  return. 


The    trade    of    Weihaiwei    is    a    negligible 
quantity,  and  consists  mainly  of  the  export  of 


The  principal  commercial  firms  are  on  the 
Island,  and  are  few  in  number.  A  ferry 
launch  runs  several  times  a  day  between 
Liu-kung-tao  and  Port  Edward  under  a  subsidy 


cable    connection    between    Weihaiwei    and 
Chefoo. 

The  administration  of  the  Territory  of  Wei- 
haiwei remained  in  the  hands  of  naval  and 
military  authorities  till  Jainiary,  1901,  when 
the  Colonial  Office  took  control  wilh  General 
Sir  Arthur  Dorward.  K.C.B.,  D.S.O.,  the 
officer  commanding  the  troops,  as  Acting- 
Commissioner.  In  the  following  year  a 
direct  representative  of  the  Colonial  Office, 
the  Hon.  J.  H.  Stewart  Lockhart,  C.M.G., 
formerly  Colonial  Secretary  at  Hongkong, 
was  appointed  Commissioner,  and  he  still 
administrates  the  Territory.  Mr.  Lockhart's 
previous  experience  in  Hongkong  specially 
qualified  him  for  the  pioneer  work  of  estab- 
lishing settled  administration  in  the  new 
dependency.  Revenue  under  the  previous 
regime  was  low,  necessitating  a  correspond- 
ingly large  grant-in-aid  from  imperial  funds. 
In  the  year  1902-3  the  contribution  reached 
its"  high-water"  mark — ^12,000.  The  revenue 
raised  locally  in  the  previous  year  amounted 
only  to  $22,220  (Mexican).  Under  Mr. 
Lockhait's  administration  it  has  become 
possible  to  reduce  considerably  the  demand 
upon  the  British  taxpayer.  The  Russo- 
Japanese  War  brought  a  large,  if  temporary, 
increase  of  trade  to  Weihaiwei.  Cattle, 
mules,  and  provisions  were  in  great  demand 
for  both  the  combatants  at  the  seat  of  war. 
The  revenue  for  1905-6  beiiehted  accord- 
ingly, and  there  was  a  corresponding 
decrease  in  the  grant-in-aid,  which  that  year 
amounted  only  to  ^^3,000.  The  disbandment 
of  the  Chinese  Regiment  effected  a  very  sub- 
stantial reduction  in  the  expenditure  of  the 
War  Office,  but  a  small  force  of  military 
police — partly  mounted — became  a  necessary 
substitute.  The  Colonial  Office  contribution 
has,  therefore  been  raised  again  to  ^10,000, 
but  the  net  saving  is  still  very  considerable. 

The  local  Government  Staff  consists  of 
His  Honour  (he  Commissioner,  who  resides 
at    Government    House,    Port    Edward,     the 


WEIHAIWEI    ISLAND. 


from  the  Government,  which  also  subsidises 
the  China  Navigation  Company,  Ltd.,  at  the 
rate  of  about  ;f  1,000  per  annum  for  carrying 
mails  to  and  from  Shanghai,  and  the  Eastern 
Extension  Telegraph  Company,  Ltd.  at  the 
rate  of  £4,000  per^  annum  for  maintaining  the 


administrative  capital  of  the  territory  ;  Mr. 
R.  Walks.  Secretary  to  the  Government  and 
Magistrate  at  Port  Edward  ;  Mr.  R.  F. 
Johnson,  who  lives  in  the  interior  of  the 
territory,  and  administrates  justice  as 
District  1  Magistrate   in   the  remoter  districts  ; 


TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONOKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.       777 


and  Mr.  E.  Carpmael,  a  cadet  of  the  Colonial 
service.  Dr.  H.  Hickin  is  medical  officer  for 
the  island,  and  Dr.  W.  Muat  for  the  main- 
land. The  Rev.  A.  E.  Burne,  of  the  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  who 
lives  at  Port  Edward,  is  the  resident 
Chaplain,  and  conducts  the  usual  services  at 
St.  John's  Church.  The  staff  also  includes 
three  inspectors  of  police,  and  a  financial 
secretary,  wlio  has  charge  of  the  Government 
accounts. 

The  annual  report  for  1906  states  :  "  The 
headman  system  has  been  reorganised.  The 
Territory  lias  been  divided  into  26  districts, 
each  district  containing  an  average  of  12 
villages.  To  each  district  a  district  lieadman 
has  been  appointed  who  receives  a  small 
salary  from  the  Government,  and  who  is  able 
to  help  the  magistrates  and  district  officer 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duties  by  acting, 
when  necessary,  as  an  intermediary  between 
them  and  the  village  headman,  and  by 
keeping  them  informed  generally  regarding 
the  affairs  of  the  Territory."  This  system 
saves  labour  and  is  inexpensive — a  matter  of 
the  first  importance  in  the  case  of  a  Colony 
that  is  not  yet  self-supporting.  It  remains 
to  be  seen  whether  it  will  be  a  success.  It 
may  be  objected  that  the  Chinaman  in  an 
official  position  is  not  infrequently  dishonest, 
and  that  the  villager  engaged  in  a  lawsuit 
will  probably  find  it  necessary  to  give  way 
to  "  squeeze  pidgin "  —  a  well-established 
custom  in  the  Chinese  official  world — before 
he  can  get  justice  done,  or  secure  his  end. 

That  the  rendition  of  Weihaiwei  to  China 
will  shortly  take  place,  is  a  rumour  that 
periodically  goes  the  round  of  the  news- 
papers. As  often  as  not  it  may  be  traced 
to  Chinese  sources,  the  wish  being  father  to 
the  thought.  Almost  as  often  the  rumour 
receives  formal  and  official  contradiction. 
Still,  the  wording  of  the  Convention  granting 
the  lease  of  the  territory  to  Great  Britain, 
"  for  so  long  a  period  as  Port  Arthur 
remains  in  the  occupation  of  Russia,"  is,  as 
events  have  turned  out,  most  unfortunate. 
Insecurity  of  tenure  has  created  a  slate  of 
stagnation.  As  an  instance  of  official 
cynicism  and  indifference  on  the  part  of  a 
central  government  towards  a  distant  pos- 
session, it  would  not  be  easy  to  quote  one 
that  equals  the  reply  of  Lord  Elgin,  Secretary 
of  Slate  for  the  Colonies,  to  a  recent  petition 
from  the  dependency.  The  petitioners — many 
of  whom,  relying  on  official  assurances,  have 
invested  capital  in  land  and  houses — asked 
if  there  was  to  be  any  compensation  to 
property  holders  in  the  event  of  the  rumoured 
rendition  taking  place.  His  lordship  replied 
that  His  Majesty's  Government  did  not  feel 
called  upon  to  discuss  hypothetical  questions, 
and  in  any  case,  there  would  be  no  compensa- 
tion !  This  announcement  has  put  an  effectual 
check  upon  development.  Given  security  of 
tenure,  Weihaiwei,  with  its  splendid  climate, 
its  fine  harbour — considered  by  many  to  be 
the  best  on  the  China  coast  north  of  Hong- 
kong— its  favourable  situation  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Pechili  Gulf  in  the  direct  line  of 
steamers  passing  north  and  south,  would 
rapidly  develop  under  the  British  flag  and 
become  a  "  second  Hongkong." 


LIU-KUNG-TAO. 

The  island  of  Liu-kung,  the  naval  station 
of  Weihaiwei,  is  about  2j  miles  long,  and 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  greatest  breadth. 
It  has  a  backbone  of  low  hills,  the  highest 


being  Centurion  Hill  (five  hundred  feet),  from 
the  summit  of  which  approaching  ships 
are  signalled  and  the  weather  forecasts  from 
Siccawei  Observatory  are  indicated. 

Situated  almost  east  and  west,  with  its 
western  extremity  less  than  a  mile  from  the 
mainland,  the  island  serves  to  form  a 
splendid  natural  harbour  capable  of  anchor- 
ing a  large  fleet,  and  it  has  been  of  incal- 
culable value  to  the  British  China  Squadron. 
It  was  used  during  the  Boxer  rising  of  igoo 
as  a  supply  and  liospital  base  for  both  the 
naval  and  military   forces. 

The  small  dockyard  is  capable  of  replenish- 
ing depleted  stocks  of  coal,  water,  provisions, 
and  stores  for  His  Majesty's  ships,  as 
well  as  of  executing  fairly  large  repairs 
to  machinery.  Connected  with  the  yard 
there  is  a  distillery  and  an  iron  pier  six 
hundred  feet  long. 

The  Squadron  usually  arrives  in  May,  and 
remains  in  the  vicinity  until  October. 
During  this  period  full  advantage  is  taken 
of  the  excellent  facilities  for  naval  exercises. 
The  time  is  passed  pleasantly  and  profitably 
In  big  gun  firing,  torpedo  running,  and 
tactics  afloat  ;  in  landing  parties,  field  gun 
practice,  firing  at  the  two  rifle  ranges  ;  and 
In  indulgence  in  the  customary  British 
sports. 

The  Island  is  policed  by  a  European 
inspector  and  14  Chinese  constables,  fur- 
nished by  the  Colonial  Government.  The 
Island  Guard  consists  of  36  Marines  under 
a  Lieutenant,  in  addition  to  which  all  the 
Naval  ratings  and  Admiralty  employes  are 
supplied  with  arms,  making  a  total  of  about 
eighty  rifles  for  emergencies.  Including 
the  guard  and  a  few  Naval  men,  the  British 
population  does  not  exceed  120.  Of  natives 
there  are  about  1,200,  and  they  find  employ- 
ment in  the  dockyard,  shops,  and  hongs  ; 
and  in  cultivating  the  terraced  hill-sides. 

His  Honour  the  Commissioner  and  Naval 
Executive  Officer  of  the  Island  exercise  a 
dual  control  on  behalf  of  the  Colonial 
Government  and  the  Admiralty  respectively. 

Apart  from  the  residences  of  ollicials,  and 
small  naval  and  marine  barracks,  which 
were  formerly  old  Chinese  houses,  the  only 
buildings  of  importance  are  the  United 
Service  Club  for  oflicers,  the  Naval  Warrant 
Officers'  Club,  and  the  large  group  of 
buildings  at  one  time  the  Chinese  Naval 
Reception  Yamen,  and  now  serving  as  the 
Royal  Naval  Canteen.  The  Queen's  Hall, 
included  in  this  last  group,  is  capable  of 
seating  five  hundred  persons,  and  is  used  as 
a  church,  theatre,  gymnasium,  boxing-saloon, 
and  ball-room.  A  special  building,  however, 
is  being  erected  for  divine  worship.  The 
naval  hospital  has  accommodation  for  forty 
patients. 

The  street  names  are  neither  very  appro- 
priate nor  euphonious.  For  instance,  Fleet 
Street  divides  two  coal  yards,  and  Bond 
Street  is  flanked  by  dead  walls.  Other 
names  include  Shoe  Lane,  Drain  Street, 
Thick  Street,  Short  Street,  Weak  Street, 
Blank  Lane,  &c. 

There  are  on  the  island  two  football  and 
two  cricket  grounds,  as  well  as  racquet 
courts,  innumerable  tennis  courts,  and  a  fine 
golf  course.  The  mile  stretch  of  sandy 
beach  on  the  south  side  affords  fine  bathing, 
and  if  the  Home  Government  would  arrange 
for  the  retention  of  a  little  colony,  develop- 
ment would  rapidly  follow  and  Weihaiwei 
would  stand  almost  unrivalled  in  the  East  as 
a  summer  resort. 

F.  J.  W. 


WEIHAIWEI    SCHOOL. 

This  school  was  founded  in  1901  and  pro- 
vides a  sound  education  on  English  boarding- 
school  lines  for  the  sons  of  those  who  make 
their  homes  in  the  Far  East.  Hitherto  it 
has  been  the  practice  of  those  parents  who 
desire  to  give  their  sons  a  valuable  educa- 
tion to  aaiid  them  to  England — often  at  a 
very  tender  age — and  thus  to  deprive  them 
of  parental  oversight  and  home  influences 
at  tliat  stage  in  life  when,  perhaps,  they  are 
most  needed.  Boys  can  now  receive  at 
Weihaiwei  School  at  least  a  preparatory 
education,  and  the  hardship  and  the  evils  of 
long  separation  from  home  and  parents  may 
be  materially  lessened,  if  not  altogether 
obviated.  The  standard  of  education  aimed 
at  is  that  of  the  average  grammar  school  in 
England,  and  the  educational  results,  as 
tested  by  public  examinations,  have  been 
highly  satisfactory.  The  health  record  of 
the  school  is  particularly  good,  and  the 
scholars  have  been  peculiarly  immune  from 
the  infectious  sickness  so  common  in  English 
schools.  This  is  due  in  part,  no  doubt,  to 
the  excellent  climatic  and  sanitary  conditions 
that  prevail  at  Weihaiwei. 

The  new  school  house  was  ready  for 
occupation  in  1904,  and  provides  accommo- 
dation for  40  boarders.  At  present  it  con- 
tains 36  pupils.  The  premises  occupy  an 
excellent  situation  on  the  northern  shore  of 
the  harbour,  and  are  effectually  sheltered  in 
winter  from  the  northerly  gales  by  a  range 
of  hills  immediately  behind  the  school.  In 
addition  to  the  usual  school  games,  boating 
and  sea-bathing  are  popular  recreations. 
There  is  also  a  cadet  corps  of  16  members 
in   connection   with  the  school. 

The  staff  consists  of  Mr.  Herbert  L.  Beer, 
L.C.P.,  the  headmaster,  and  Mr.  Osven 
Lloyd  Jones  ;  and  of  Mrs.  H.  L.  Beer  and 
Mrs.  E.  Hamblln  (matron)  In  the  domestic 
department. 


S.    CLARK    &    00. 

Messrs.  D.  Clark  &  Co.  first  established 
themselves  on  Weihaiwei  Island  in  1898, 
and  have  since  made  considerable  develop- 
ments in  their  business  along  widely  divergent 
lines.  They  have  now  a  large  general  mer- 
cantile business,  and  are  naval  and  military 
contractors.  They  have  held  the  naval  con- 
tract for  nine  years,  undertaking  practically 
the  whole  of  the  supply  of  the  British  Fleet, 
when  stationed  at  Weihaiwei  for  the  summer. 
The  firm  are  proprietors  of  two  hotels — one 
on  the  Island,  with  accommodation  for  30 
guests,  and  the  other  on  the  mainland  ;  tliey 
have  established  two  post  offices — one  on  the 
Island  and  the  other  on  the  mainland  ;  they 
carry  on  an  aerated  water  factory,  with  a 
capacity  for  1,500  dozen  bottles  a  day  ; 
and  they  have  a  steam  bakery,  with  a 
capacity  of  1,000  lbs.  of  bread  an  hour.  Even 
this  formidable  list  does  not  exhaust  their 
activities,  for  they  are  coal  merchants  and 
shipowners,  and  supply  from  their  own 
gardens  large  quantities  of  fruit,  both  for 
local  consumption  and  for  export.  Their  head 
offices  are  situated  on  the  Island,  and  they 
have  extensive  stores  and  godowns  on  the 
Island  and  on  the  mainland. 

Mr.  D.  Clark,  the  founder  of  the  business 
is  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  residents 
of  Weihaiwei.  He  combines  with  a  keen 
business  instinct  a  large  measure  of  practical 
philanthropy,  for  he  was  instrumental  in 
establishing  the  free  school,  supported  by  the 
firm,  for  the  instruction  of  Chinese  boys  in  the 
English  language. 


NANKING. 


AXKING  borrows  its  interest 
to-day  from  ttie  glories  of 
the  past  and  the  promise  of 
the  future.  Except  as  the 
centre  of  Government  for  the 
two  river  provinces  of  Kiangsu 
and  Anhwei,  the  former  of 
which  contains  Shanghai,  the  city  is  of  little 
importance.  It  is  disregarded  by  the  merchant, 
and.  owing  to  the  vandalism  of  the  Taeping 
rebels,  has  lost  much  of  its  charm  for  the 
antiquarian.  Signs  are  not  wanting,  however, 
that  the  old  and  battered  capital  of  the  Mings 
is  waking  from  its  long  sleep  into  vigorous 
life  once  again.  As  the  terminal  point  of 
three  railway  lines,  one  of  which  is  now  in 
full  running  order,  it  seems  destined  to  become 
a  centre  of  considerable  commercial  activity 
in  the  near  future. 

Situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Yangtsze, 
Nanking  is  about  45  miles  above  Chinkiang, 
and  205  from  Shanghai.  A  walled  city  existed 
here  some  five  or  six  centuries  before  the 
commencement  of  the  Christian  era,  and,  as 
its  name — "Southern  Capital" — suggests,  it 
was  for  a  long  period  the  seat  of  the  Imperial 
Government.  As  Peking  is  now  the  capital, 
this  name  is,  of  course,  never  used  in  official 
documents,  Kiang  Ning  Fu,  or  Kin  Ling — 
"the  golden  mound" — being  substituted  for 
it.  From  the  river  little  can  be  seen  of  the 
city.  The  long  grey  walls  which  encircle  it 
vary  in  height  from  40  to  90  feet,  and  in 
thickness  from  20  to  40  feet,  and  measure 
some  21  miles  in  circumference.  They  enclose, 
however,  a  great  deal  of  barren  and  un- 
cultivated land,  the  inhabited  portion  of  the 
city,  with  its  population  of  about  350,000, 
lying  to  the  south  and  west.  The  terminus 
of  the  Shanghai-Nanking  Railway  is  outside 
this  wall,  at  Hsiakuan,  a  few  minutes'  walk 
from  the  most  northerly  gate,  while  the  most 
southerly  gate  is  ten  miles  distant.  To  the 
south  of  the  city,  just  outside  the  wall,  rise  the 
many  tall  chimneys  of  the  Powder  Works 
and  Arsenal,  while  within  the  wall  near  the 
west  water  gate  is  a  mint  with  a  plant 
capable  of  producing  2,000.000  copper  coins 
a  day.  During  recent  years  many  wide  and 
good  roads  have  been  constructed  by  order 
of  the  Viceroy,  so  that,  in  this  respect, 
Nanking  is  far  ahead  of  most  Chinese  cities. 


His  Excellency  Tuan  Fang  is  one  of  the  most 
progressive  statesmen  in  China.  He  qualified 
for  official  life  by  passing  the  usual  examina- 
tions, and,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-eight 
received  the  rank  of  Substantial  Taoutai.  His 
promotion  was  rapid.  In  igoo  lie  was  Governor 
of  Shensi  Province.  Here  his  name  is  held 
in  the  highest  respect  because  of  his  humane 
treatment  of  the  foreigners  during  the  Boxer 
riots.  He  had  sufficient  strength  of  character 
to   ignore   the   decree  containing  their  death 


HIS   EXCELLENCT   TUAN    FANG, 
Viceroy   of   the   Liangkiang   Provinces,    Xanlilng. 

sentence,  and  gathering  them  together  to 
the  number  of  about  80,  he  sent  them  out  of 
the  province  under  a  strong  escort.  He 
became  Governor  of  Soochow  and,  later,  of 
Hunan,  and  was  subsequently  appointed  one 
of  the  Imperial  High  Commissioners  to  travel 
abroad  and  study  the  methods  of  Constitutional 
Government  in  European  countries.  On  his 
return  he  was  made  Viceroy  of  Foochow,  but 


before  he  had  time  to  proceed  to  his  destina- 
tion the  viceroyalty  of  Nanking  fell  vacant, 
and  he  was  requested  to  till  the  position. 
Under  his  guidance  and  direction  there  has 
been  considerable  progress,  and  it  may  be 
taken  as  a  sign  of  the  times,  and  as  an 
indication  of  the  business  which  the  railway 
is  expected  to  bring,  that  of  recent  years 
considerable  changes  have  been  effected  in 
the  appearance  of  the  city.  The  new  Govern- 
ment Buildings  are  all  constructed  in  accord- 
ance with  Western  ideas,  and  so,  too,  are 
an  increasing  number  of  shops.  Carriages 
and  rickshaws  have  been  introduced,  and, 
though  there  are  no  foreign  mercliants  at 
the  Port — the  few  Europeans  residing  in  the 
district  being  missionaries,  Customs  and 
railway  officials  —  British,  American,  and 
German  Consulates  were  opened  in  1900. 
The  Viceroy  is  naturally  surrounded  by  a 
large  retinue  of  officials  and  soldiers,  and  the 
9th  Division  of  the  foreign-drilled  Army  is 
stationed  in  the  city.  Amongst  numerous 
educational  establishments  is  a  naval  college 
established  in  1890,  with  two  British  officers 
as  instructors,  and  a  University  founded  in 
1888  by  the  Central  China  Mission  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Altogether 
there  are  some  200  missionaries  in  and  around 
Nanking  engaged  in  educational  and  medical 
work. 

As  has  been  stated,  Nanking  suffered  severely 
in  the  Taeping  rebellion.  It  was  captured 
by  the  rebels  in  1853,  and,  after  a  prolonged 
siege,  was  retaken  by  the  Imperial  Forces 
in  1864.  The  intervening  period  was  one 
of  almost  wanton  destruction.  Not  only  did 
the  trade  of  the  city  receive  a  shock  from 
which  it  has  never  recovered,  but  practically 
all  the  outstanding  features  of  interest  in  the 
neighbourhood  were  destroyed.  The  beautiful 
Porcelain  Pagoda,  one  of  the  most  artistic 
structures  in  the  whole  of  China  and  counted 
one  of  the  seven  wonders  of  the  world,  was 
razed  to  the  ground.  Only  traces  of  the 
foundations  mark  the  spot  where  it  stood 
outside  the  south  gate,  and  the  bricks  used  in 
its  construction  arc  scattered  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  Empire,  being 
highly  prized  as  relics  by  the  Chinese.  Several 
of  the  ornamental  parts  of  the  structure  are 
built  in  the  terraces  just  within  the  entrance 


OFFICIAL    LIFE    AT    NANKING. 


The  VIC^;ROY  axd  the  Boys  axd  Girls  np  the  School 

FOUNDED  BY   HIM  AT   XaNKIXG. 

The  Viceroy,  Officials,  and  Guests  on  the  Occasion 
OF  the  Emperor's  Birthday. 


The  Viceroy  En'tertainixg  Official  Friends 
AT  the  Yamen. 


Taoutai  Uk  Cheng  and  Foreign  Office  Staff. 


rSO      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  E  TC. 


to  the  Arsenal,  while  the  large  bronze  top 
of  the  pagodii  has  been  inverted  to  serve 
as  the  l)asiii  of  a  fountain  in  front  of  this 
building.  The  chief  attraction  of  Nanking 
now  is  the  tomb  of  Hung  Wo,  founder  of 
the  Ming  dynasty.     This  is  al>out   lo  miles 


city  boundaries.  The  monoliths,  which  were 
erected  in  front  of  the  tomb  by  Yung-ho  when 
he  removed  the  capital  to  Peking,  till  the 
spectator  with  wonder  as  to  how  they  were 
placed  in  position.  Some  two  or  three  miles 
beyond   the    Ming    tomb    is    a    spirit    valley 


THE  MING  TOMBS  AT  NANKING. 


distant  from  the  station,  and  lies  outside  the 
east  gate  of  the  city.  A  carriage  road  runs 
to  within  two  miles  of  the  spot,  and  is  being 
continued  for  the  remainder  of  the  distance 
over  hilly  country  from  which  may  be  obtained 
a  fine  panoramic  view  of  the  surrounding 
district  and  a  general  idea  of  the  extent  of  the 


where  lie  the  remains  of  the  famous  Buddhist 
priest  who  was  a  Prime  Minister  of  the 
Liang  dynasty.  On  the  way  to  the  Ming 
tomb  are  the  old  Imperial  and  Forbidden 
Cities,  in  which  only  one  building  remains 
standing.  This  is  constructed  with  timbers, 
and  the  roof  is  supported  by  arches.    It  was 


called  the  Leang  Kung,  or  Cold  Palace,  and 
is  now  used  as  a  store-house  for  powder  and 
ammunition.  VVitliiii  the  Forbidden  City, 
and  enclosed  in  a  pavilion  that  stands  just 
across  the  Five  Dragon  Bridges,  is  a  carefully 
preserved  stone  bearing  the  bloodstains  of 
a  faithful  minister  of  the  Ming  dynasty  who 
allowed  his  tongue  to  be  torn  out  rather  than 
betray  his  Emperor.  The  Drum  Tower,  a 
building  dating  back  to  the  Ming  dynasty, 
is  situated  about  five  miles  from  the  station 
on  the  return  journey  from  the  Ming  tomb 
by  the  main  carriage  road,  while  but  a  short 
distance  away  to  the  left  is  a  pavilion 
containing  one  of  the  great  bells  of  the 
world.  Cast  during  the  reign  of  Hung  Wo, 
it  is  made  of  bronze,  stands  some  14  feet 
high,  and  is  about  7  feet  in  diameter 
at  the  bottom.  About  two  miles  away,  on 
the  road  which  runs  to  the  right,  is  a  Confucian 
temple,  which  is  reputed  to  be  one  of  the 
best  in  the  Empire.  Another  feature  of 
Nanking  is  the  great  City  park.  It  is  still 
undeveloped  except  for  a  fine  carriage  drive 
round  it,  but  it  is  said  that  the  Viceroy  intends 
to  proceed  with  its  improvement  very 
shortly. 

But  few  words  are  needed  to  deal 
adequately  with  the  trade  of  Nanking  at  the 
present  day,  for,  with  the  exception  of  the 
shipping  interest,  it  is  a  negligible  quantity. 
In  1906  its  net  value  was  Tls.  9,668,934 ;  in 
1905,  Tls.  10,573,545  ;  in  1904,  Tls.  8,826,048; 
and  in  1903,  Tls.  7,352,525.  The  silk  piece- 
goods  trade,  which  is  carried  on  in  the 
most  primitive  fashion,  forms  the  chief  item 
of  commerce.  But  there  are  brighter  prospects 
for  the  future,  and  the  predictions  made  by 
the  Commissioner  of  Customs  in  his  report 
for  1900  seem  likely  to  be  realised.  He  said  : 
"  A  new  and  brilliant  era  should  dawn  upon 
the  port  of  Nanking  on  account  of  its  excellent 
position  as  a  terminus  for  the  railways  which 
will  bring  down  the  immense  mineral  wealth 
and  other  wealth  of  the  provinces  of  Anhwei, 
Honan,  and  Shansi.  The  distance  from 
either  Honan  or  Shansi  is  about  the  same 
to  Nanking  as  to  Hankow,  and  the  engineering 


iWPlJi'WiMl'i- 


TAOUTAI    WAN    BINQ    CHUNG, 

Vice-Dircttor  of  the  FDreign  Office  of  tlie  Lian)<kianj< 
Provinces,  Nanking. 

difticulties  of  a  railway  down  to  the  river 
opposite  Nanking  are  no  greater  than  those 
of  a  line  to  Hankow.     The  great  advantage. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      781 


then,  which  should  secure  to  Nanking  its 
position  as  the  outlet  for  these  rich  provinces 
is  the  fact  of  its  being  so  much  nearer 
the  sea  than  Hankow,  and  accessible  to 
the  deepest  draught  ocean  vessels  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year.  It  is,  therefore,  only 
natural  that  a  line  should  have  been  projected 
from  tlie  mineral  fields  of  Shansi  to  the  village 
of  Pukow  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  to 
Nanking,  as  mentioned  in  the  1899  Trade 
Report.  Yet  another  line,  from  the  mineral 
district  of  Hsin-Yan,  in  Honan,  through 
Anhwei,  with  its  terminus  at  Pukow,  is 
also  in  contemplation.  These  two  lines,  if 
built,  should  revolutionise  the  commercial 
conditions  at  Nanking,  while  the  line  from 
Shanghai  to  Nanking  should  also  give  an 
impetus  to  commercial  life."  Trains  are 
running  regularly  now  from  Shanghai  to 
Nanking,  and  the  line  is  to  be  carried  through 
the  city  to  the  water-side.  A  line  connecting 
Nanking  with  Tientsin  is  also  about  to  be 
constructed. 


THE  BRITISH  CONSUL. 

Mr.  Harold  Frederick  King,  the  British 
Consul  at  Nanking,  is  a  brother  of  Mr. 
G.  W.  King,  the  Registrar  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  Shanghai.  Born  on  December  30, 
1871,  at  Brighton,  Sussex,  he  was  educated 
at  Brighton  Grammar  School  and  appointed 
a  Student  Interpreter  in  China  on  August  24, 
1891.  After  devoting  two  years  to  the  study 
of  the  Chinese  language  in  Peking,  he 
served  for  some  time,  during  the  China- 
Japan  War,  under  Sir  Walter  Hillier,  the 
Consul-General,  at  Seoul,  Korea.  He  was 
appointed  Acting-Consul  at  Wuhu  in  1894. 
He  became  a  second-class  assistant  three 
years  later,  and  a  first-class  assistant  in  1900. 


ing  Registrar  and  Chief  Clerk  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  Shanghai,  Assistant  in  the  Consular 
Shipping  Office,  Shanghai,  Acting  Assistant 
Judge  at  Shanghai,  and  Acting  Vice-Consul  at 
Tientsin.  On  May  5,  1904,  he  was  confirmed 
in  this  last  appointment.  In  1906  he  became 
Consul  at  Wuchow,  and  in  May,  1908,  was 
transferred  to  Nanking.  Mr.  King  was  called 
to  the  Bar  at  tlie  Middle  Temple  in  1905. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Grosvenor  Club, 
London. 


GENERAL  SHO. 

General  C.  A.  Sho  is  the  Chief  of  the 
General  Staff  of  Liangkiang.  He  has  travelled 
in  America  and  on  the  Continent  with  His 
Excellency  Tuan  Fang,  the  Viceroy  of  Liang- 
kiang, to  investigate  the  political  systems  of 
different  countries. 


accountants'  office  of  the  Great  Central  Rail- 
way.    He  is  a  member  of  (he  Shanghai  Club. 


HAROLD   F.   KING, 

His  Britannic  Majesty's  Consul  at  Nantving. 

The  various  positions  he  has  filled  since  that 
time  include  those  of  Acting  Vice-Consul  at 
Shanghai,  Acting-Consul  at  Hangchow,  Act- 


GENERAL  C.  A,  SHO,  NANKING. 


* 


MR.  E.  HALL. 

Mr.  Ernest  Hall,  chief  accountant  of  the 
Southern  section  of  the  Tientsin-Pukow  Rail- 
way Line,  received  that  appointment  in 
August,  1908,  after  having  spent  five  years  in 
the  employment  of  the  Shanghai-Nanking 
Railway  CoiTipany  as  assistant  accountant, 
Mr.  Hall  is  a  son  of  Mr.  Charles  Shaw  Hall, 
and  was  born  on  February  22,  1883,  at 
Roinily,  in  Cheshire.  He  was  educated  at 
the  Technical  Schools,  Stockport,  and  before 
coming  to  the  East  was  for  four  years  in  the 


E.   HALL. 

Tientsni-Pukow  Railway,  S<uitli. 

MR.  T.  K.  TSIAN6. 

Mk.  T.  K.  TsiANG,  also  known  as  Tsiang 
Tsang  Kway,  compradore  to  the  Shanghai- 
Nanking  Railway,  is  a  son  of  the  late  Mr. 
Tsiang  Kwang,  a  former  well-known  mer- 
chant of  Shanghai.  Having  received  his 
education  at  St.  John's  College,  he  spent  a 
year  in  a  solicitor's  office,  and  then  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  his  present  appointinent. 
Mr.  Tsiang,  who  is  twenty-seven  years  of  age, 
is  married,  and  has  one  son  and  two  daughters. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Chinese  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association. 

# 
A.   DIESING   &   CO.'S    HOTEL. 

This  hotel  was  opened  in  1904  in  anticipa- 
tion of  the  need  for  a  foreign  hotel  that 
would  follow  upon  the  completion  of  the 
Shanghai-Nanking  Railway.  It  is  situated  on 
the  Maloo,  five  ininutes'  ride  from  the 
harbour  and  railway  station,  and  close  to  the 
city  wall.  It  contains  altogether  eight  bed- 
rooms, public  and  private  dining  rooms,  and 
a  billiard  room,  but,  as  the  present  accom- 
modation is  insufficient,  the  proprietor  has 
leased  the  house  adjoining,  and  has  under 
consideration  a  scheme  for  the  erection  of  a 
new  three-storey  building.  The  proprietor, 
Mr.  A.  Diesing,  is  a  native  of  Prussia.  He 
caiTie  to  the  Far  East  in  1891,  and  was 
engaged  for  two  years  trading  along  the 
coasts  of  China,  Korea,  and  Japan.  For  the 
next  five  years  Mr.  Diesing  was  employed 
by  a  firm  of  exporters  dealing  in  Japanese 
curios,  straw-braids,  silk,  and  raw  produce. 
He  then  became  assistant  manager  of  the 
Nagasaki  Hotel,  and  in  1904,  after  spending 
sotne  time  in  Shanghai,  he  came  to  Nanking 
and  started  business  under  the  style  of 
Messrs.  A.  Diesing  &  Co. 


CANTON. 


By   H.   a.   Cartwright. 


AXTON,  the  cradle  and  still 
the  ctiief  seat  of  British  trade 
in  China,  is  a  city  of  absorb- 
II j;  interest  whether  it  be 
regarded  historically  or  com- 
mercially, for  its  origin  is 
obscured  in  the  mists  of 
antiquity  and  its  exports  and  imports  ex- 
ceed in  \'alue  those  of  any  other  port  in 
the  empire,  with  the  exception  of  Shangliai. 
According  to  Chinese  chronologists,  the 
city  was  founded  before  the  commencement 
of  the  Christian  era.  However  this  may  be, 
the  term  Kwong  Chow,  by  which  the 
surrounding  district  is  still  known,  is  met 
with  three  centuries  after  Christ.  Canton 
first  acquired  its  celebrity  as  a  mart  for 
foreign  trade  in  the  eighth  and  ninth 
centuries,  and  in  the  tenth  century  Arab 
navigators  were  making  regular  voyages 
between  this  port  and  the  western  ports 
of  Asia.  The  Portuguese  were  the  first 
Europeans  to  find  their  way  thither,  arriving 
in  1516.  They  were  followed  about  one 
hundred  years  later  by  the  Dutch,  who,  in 
turn,  were  succeeded  by  the  Britisti. 

It  was  in  July,  1655,  that  Captain  Weddell, 
commander  of  the  London,  having  first 
bombarded  the  Bogue  forts  that  commanded 
the  entrance  to  the  Canton  River,  was  granted 
by  the  Viceroy  full  participation  in  the  Canton 
trade.  For  some  years  after  this  the  agents 
of  the  East  India  Company  conducted  opera- 
tions with  the  city  from  the  Portuguese 
colony  of  Macao.  In  1684  they  established 
their  famous  factory  at  Canton,  and  laid  the 
foundations  of  a  very  profitable  trade,  which, 
in  spile  of  many  irritating  restrictions  and 
exactions,  was  continued  for  a  century  and 
a  half.  The  Company's  charter  expired  in 
1834,  and  with  it  their  monopoly  ceased. 
Five  years  later,  Great  Britain,  irritated 
beyond  endurance  by  a  long  succession  of 
annoyances  and  insults,  was  driven  to 
declare  war  against  China,  and  Canton  was 
menaced  with  capture  in  1841.  Then 
was  concluded  the  Treaty  of  Chuenpi,  under 
which  Hongkong  was  ceded  to  the  British, 
and  Canton  was  opened  freely  to  trade. 
The  dispute  between  the  Chinese  and 
foreigners,  however,  did  not  cease  until 
i857i  when  Canton  was  taken  by  the  British 
and   the    French.      The    city   was   occupied 


by  tlie  Allied  Forces  for  about  four  years, 
and  since  the  withdrawal  of  the  garrison 
foreigners  of  all  nationalities  have  been  free 
to  come  and  go  without  let  or  hindrance. 

Upon  returning  to  Canton  after  the  capture 
of  the  city,  the  foreign  merchants  found 
that  the  factory  and  other  buildings  which 
they  had  occupied  along  the  side  of  the 
river   were    in    ruins.       Temporary   recourse 


in  width,  was  thus  formed.  An  irregular 
oval  in  shape,  it  measures  2,850  feet  in 
length,  and  950  feet  in  breadth  at  its  widest 
part.  Towards  the  cost  of  making  this  settle- 
ment— 325,000  Mexican  dollars — the  British 
Government  contributed  four-fifths,  and  the 
French  Government  one-fifth.  The  British 
Concession  consists  of  45  acres,  and  the 
French  Concession  of  11  acres. 


r  JM 

aiif  ■•(■•III 


Hiiiiiiii  I    biiHiii  r  r 


r    ■    Miiiiii  1  Aiiiiiii 


I 


EAST    HALL,    CANTON    CHRISTIAN    COLLEGE. 


was  therefore  had  to  the  warehouses  on  the 
opposite  bank  of  the  river.  Eventually  it 
was  decided  to  convert  an  extensive  mud 
flat  known  as  the  Shameen  into  a  permanent 
settlement  for  the  British  by  filling  it  in 
and  enclosing  it  with  a  massive  granite 
embankment.  An  artificial  island,  separated 
from  the  mainland  by  a  canal  of    100  feet 


Such,  briefly,  is  the  record  of  Canton's 
past  relations  with  the  outside  world.  The 
old  exclusiveness  of  the  Chinese  has  gradu- 
ally given  way  to  a  more  enlightened  policy, 
and  with  the  opening  of  other  ports  in  the 
empire  to  foreign  trade  the  relative  impor- 
tance of  Canton  has  diminished.  The  gross 
value  of  the  trade  of  the  port  coming  under 


I.  Canal  in  Caxton. 

J,  Canal  between  Canton  and  Shameen. 


CANTON. 

2.    A  SiREET  i\  Canton. 

5.    THE  M.Rf.  Society  Hospital. 


4.    The  Medical  College. 


r84     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


the  cognis;ince  of  the  foreign  customs  in 
1906  was  ^"15,905,539.  Compared  with  the 
previous  year,  the  net  trade  showed  an  in- 
crease of  nearly  TIs.  2,000,000,  while  in 
sterling,  owing  to  the  high  rates  of  exchange 
(3  3^),  it  exceeded  that  lor  1903,  which  was 
an  abnormally  good  year.  The  exports, 
which  consist  of  silk,  tea,  matting,  cassia, 
bristles,  lire-crackers,  canes  and  preserves, 
were  valued  at  ;f7,38o,998,  and  of  litis  sum 
no  less  than  £6,4/4,820  was  represented  by 
commodities  shipped  to  Hongkong.  The 
ultimate  destination  of  those  commodities, 
however,  cannot  be  ascertained,  as  no  through 
bills  of  lading  are  given  by  the  river  steamers 
beyond  Hongkong,  and  at  that  port  there  is 
no  Customs  house.  One-half  the  total  ex- 
ports consisted  of  silk.     The  trade  in  China 


one-fourth  of  the  total  value  of  the  foreign 
imports.  It  is  interesting  to  observe  that 
during  the  last  seven  years  the  quantity  of 
opium  imported  has  increased  from  0,914 
to  11,145  piculs.  It  is  estimated  that  the 
average  annual  import  of  foreign  opium  into 
the  province  of  Kwangtung  is  12,000  chests, 
and  that  an  equal  quantity  of  the  native- 
grown  article  is  received — a  fact  whicli  is 
not  without  signiticance  in  view  of  tlie  anti- 
opium  crusade.  It  is  gratifying  to  find  that 
fully  90  per  cent,  of  the  piece-goods  trade 
consists  of  British  manufactures,  and  that 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  cotton-yarn  imported 
comes  from  India.  British  cigarettes  of 
high  grade  also  appear  to  be  growing  in 
favour.  But  while  a  new  trade  in  flour  is 
being  opened  by  the   recently  started  Hong- 


alities.  The  total  tonnage  entered  and  cleared 
during  1906  was  4,924,031  tons,  of  which  no 
less  than  3,583,538  tons  were  British.  Chinese 
junks  lie  huddled  so  closely  together  and  in 
such  numbers  as  to  create  the  impression  of 
a  floating  township  ;  indeed,  it  is  computed 
that  more  than  50,000  men,  women  and 
children  know  no  home  otiier  tlian  these 
little  craft.  The  total  population  of  Canton 
is  placed  at  nearly  3,000,000  people  by 
the  Customs  authorities,  and  tliis  estimate  is 
probably  not  far  wrong,  although  a  native 
official  report  in  1895  placed  the  number  at 
about  one-fifth  of  this  figure.  Including  the 
suburbs,  Canton  has  a  circuit  of  nearly  10 
miles.  The  city  proper  has  a  circumference 
of  about  six  miles,  and  a  breadth  of  about 
two  miles.      It  is  enclosed  by  massive  walls 


SHAMEEN. 


tea,  which  in  days  gone  by  was  of  such 
magnitude,  has  of  late  years  suffered  severely 
from  Ceylon,  Indian  and  other  competition, 
and  has  now  shrunk  to  insignificance.  The 
export  of  this  commodity,  which  in  1891 
amounted  to  11,750,000  lbs.,  declined  in 
1906  to  3,000,000  lbs.  The  consignments  to 
the  United  Kingdom  during  this  period  fell 
from  9,000,000  lbs.  to  850,000  lbs. 

The  total  value  of  Canton's  imports  during 
the  twelve  months  under  review  was 
;f8.524,54l,  and  was  distributed  almost 
equally  between  other  parts  of  China  and 
the  rest  of  the  world.  To  the  foreign  por- 
tion the  United  Kingdom  contributed  no  less 
than  ;f3,993,94i.  The  imports  consist  chiefly 
of  opium,  cotton  and  woollen  goods,  metals, 
oils,  white  sugar,  and  flour.  Amongst  these, 
opium    takes   the  first  place,  accounting  for 


kong  mill,  the  sugar  refineries  in  the  colony 
are  suffering  from  the  competition  of  white 
sugar  chemically  prepared  in  Java.  In  con- 
sidering these  figures  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  they  relate  only  to  the  cargoes 
carried  in  foreign  ships,  and  that  m  addition, 
large  quantities  of  both  tea  and  silk  are 
conveyed  in  junks  to  Hongkong  for  trans- 
shipment. 

It  is  undoubtedly  to  its  splendid  facilities 
for  navigation  that  Canton  owes  its  prosperity. 
The  capital  of  the  province  of  Kwangtung, 
it  stretches  for  four  or  five  miles  along  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  Pearl  Kiver,  which  is 
here  somewhat  broader  than  the  Thames  at 
London  Bridge  and  navigable  for  ocean- 
going vessels  of  considerable  draught.  The 
river  at  this  point  is  densely  crowded  with 
shipping  of  all  descriptions  and  of  all  nation- 


of  some  20  feet  in  thickness  and  from  25 
to  40  feet  in  height.  In  these  walls  there 
are  twelve  gates,  which  are  closed  at  night. 
A  partition  wall  running  east  and  west 
divides  the  city  into  two  unequal  parts — the 
northern  and  larger  division  being  called  the 
old,  and  the  southern  the  new  city.  This 
wall  has  four  gates. 

Although  regarded  as  a  model  Chinese  city, 
Canton  fails  to  impress  the  Western  eye  very 
favourably.  It  consists  of  a  labyrinth  of 
some  600  evil-smelling,  dimly  lighted,  stone- 
flagged  streets,  packed  with  a  seething  mass 
of  humanity,  and  so  narrow  that  in  the 
widest  of  them  four  men  would  find  it 
difficult  to  walk  abreast.  In  many  parts, 
indeed,  it  is  only  just  possible  for  two  Sedan 
chairs  to  pass  one  another.  This  narrowness 
and    the    motley    array    of    shop-signs    that 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  E'J'C.       785 


hang  in  tiers  overhead  serve  to  exclude 
those 

"Blazing  suns  that  dart  a  downward  ray 
And  fiercely  shed  intolerable  day," 

and  at  the  same  time  to  prevent  the  intrusion 
of  fresh  air.  The  shops,  separated  from  one 
another  by  thick  walls  of  solid  brick,  never 
rise  beyond  two  storeys,  and  many  of  them 
obtain  light  during  the  day  by  means  of 
apertures  in  the  roof. 

Unglazed,  they  lie  open  to  the  street, 
exposing  a  heterogeneous  display  of  com- 
modities   and    a    blaze    ot    Oriental    colour 


goods,  and  a  hundred  and  one  things.  The 
method  of  lacquering  is  kept  so  close  a 
secret  by  those  engaged  in  the  trade  that 
the  craftsmen  of  one  town  are  unable  to 
employ  the  colours  used  by  those  of  another. 
Exceptional  interest  attaches  to  the  feather  work 
by  reason  of  its  beauty  and  its  scarceness. 
There  are,  in  fact,  only  two  shops  at  which 
it  can  be  seen.  Minute  particles  of  brightly 
hued  birds'  plumage  are  mounted  on  pins, 
brooches,  and  other  articles  of  jewellery 
producing  an  effect  like  that  of  the  brightest 
enamel.     So  trying  is  this  work  to  the  eyes 


WELL-KNOWN    MEN    IN    CANTON. 


7.    R.  E.  Chambers,  B.A. 


6.    Dr.  Davenport.  2.    Hkkhert  Bext 

(Chairman  of  Municipal  Council). 
3.     Dk.  WALTHER   RoSSLER  I.      R.   W.   MAXSFIELD  4.     J.   D.  DA  COSTA   DE  MORAES 

(German  Consul).        (His  Britannic  Majesty's  Consul).  (Portuguese  Consul). 

5.    A.  V.  Hogg.  8.    L.  Marstox. 


calculated  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  most 
casual  passer-by.  In  not  a  !ew  instances  the 
representatives  of  one  particular  trade  or 
craft  are  found  clustered  together,  but 
butchers'  shops,  stocked  with  a  variety  of 
dubious  delicacies,  from  which  even  the  rat 
is  not  excluded,  appear  to  be  scattered  with 
a  generous  hand  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  city.  F'or  the  benefit  of  the 
tourist  there  are  innumerable  curio  shops 
containing  jewellery,  jade,  China  ware, 
lacquer  ware,  feather  work,  brass  work, 
carved    ivory,    and    stone,     blackwood,    silk 


of    the    operators    that   after    some    years    it 
produces  total  blindness. 

To  the  archaeologist  Canton  is  a  city  of 
irresistible  charm,  for  it  contains  more  than 
one  hundred  pagodas,  temples,  halls,  and 
other  religious  edifices.  Near  the  west 
gate  of  the  old  city  stand  two  pagodas — one, 
rising  to  a  height  of  160  feet,  was  erected 
by  Arabian  voyagers  a  thousand  years  ago  ; 
the  other,  an  octagonal  pagoda  of  nine 
storeys.  170  feet  high,  was  built  thirteen 
hundred  years  ago.  There  is  also  a  large 
five-storeyed   pagoda  in  the  extreme  north  of 


the  city  that  was  first  constructed  in  a.d.  1368, 
as  a  "  palladium "  against  the  evil  influences 
which  are  supposed  to  flow  from  that 
quarter.  From  the  top  storey  extensive  and 
picturesque  views  may  be  obtained  of  the 
surrounding  country,  including  the  White 
Cloud  Mountains.  Detachments  of  soldiers 
were  quartered  here  during  the  occupation 
of  Canton  by  the  British  and  French 
troops.  On  the  city  wall,  which  runs  close 
by,  are  still  to  be  seen  the  British  guns, 
now  spiked  and  covered  with  rust,  which 
were  mounted  in  position  after  the  capture 
of  the  city.  A  striking  contrast  to  these  old 
outstanding  features  of  the  cily  is  furnished 
by  the  Roman  Catholic  Cathedral  of  the 
French  Mission.  This  outward  and  visible 
sign  of  a  war  which  is  being  waged  with 
much  earnestness  throughout  China  at  the 
present  day  is  built  entirely  of  dressed  granite 
and  has  two  lofty  towers  surmounted  by 
spires.  The  catholicity  of  spirit  of  the 
Chinese  in  religious  matters  is  evidenced  in 
the  Temple  of  Five  Hundred  Genii,  which 
contains  five  hundred  large  gilded  images  of 
saints  of  various  nationalities  and  including 
John  the  Baptist  and  Marco  Polo.  The 
followers  of  Buddha  have  erected  many 
temples.  Chief  amongst  these  are  the  Honam 
Teinple,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
containing  images  of  Buddha  and  his  eighteen 
apostles ;  the  Teinple  of  Longevity  with  a 
colossal  figure  of  Buddha  in  a  recumbent 
position  ;  and  the  Tartar  City  Temple,  with 
three  etfigies  of  Buddha,  each  some  twenty 
feet  in  height.  In  the  teinple  of  the  Five 
Genii  are  to  be  seen  an  image  of  the  supreme 
deity  of  the  Taoist  faith,  five  stones  repre- 
senting five  supernatural  rams,  from  which 
Canton  derived  its  soubriquet  of  the  "  City  of 
Rams,"  a  rock  in  the  shape  of  a  gigantic  foot 
which  is  declared  by  the  priests  to  be  an 
impress  left  by  Buddha,  and  an  enormous  bell 
which  was  struck  by  a  cannon  ball  from  one 
of  the  British  ships  in  the  bombardinent  of 
1857.  Tradition  says  that  when  the  bell  was 
cast  and  placed  in  its  present  position  some 
two  hundred  years  ago  a  prophecy  was 
uttered  foretelling  calamity  to  Canton  whenever 
it  should  give  forth  sound.  The  Temple  of 
Horrors  is  apparently  designed  to  strike 
terror  into  the  heart  of  the  evildoer,  for  it 
contains  representations  in  statuary  of  the 
tortures  supposed  to  be  employed  in  the 
various  compartments  of  hell.  For  the  peace 
of  mind  of  any  one  who  is  not  content  to  wait 
until  his  enemy  meets  with  a  due  reward  in 
one  or  other  of  these  compartments  hereafter, 
there  are  temples  in  which  untold  calamities 
may  be  called  down  upon  the  head  of  the 
living  merely  by  writing  his  name  on  a 
scrap  of  paper  and  suspending  this  in  a  speci- 
fied position,  much  in  the  same  way  that 
bodies  were  wasted  away  in  mediaeval 
England  with  the  aid  of  waxen  figures.  For 
the  convenience  of  those  who  seek  to  gain  the 
blessing  of  the  departed  there  is  a  City  of  the 
Dead  in  which  bodies  may  be  deposited  until 
such  time  as  the  soothsayer  shall  discover  a 
"lucky"  spot  for  their  interment.  In  the  case 
of  wealthy  families  it  sometimes  happens  that 
the  site  is  not  selected  for  years.  In  the 
meantime  prayers  for  the  repose  of  the  dead 
are  recited  by  the  priests — in  some  cases  for 
forty  consecutive  days.  The  family  pride  of 
the  Chinese  is  shown  in  numerous  ancestral 
temples,  one  of  the  finest  of  which  is  that 
belonging  to  the  Chan  family.  As  a  specimen 
of  Chinese  architecture  the  Chin  Chew  Club 
is  worthy  of  inspection.  The  old  water  clock, 
which  was  damaged  in  the  last  British  attack 
on  Canton,  is  an  interesting  relic  of  the  past. 
It  consists  of  three  cylindrical  vessels  ranged 
one  above  another.     The  time  is  indicated  on 


786    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


a  brass  rod.  which  rises  out  of  the  lowest  of 
these  as  the  vessel  fills  with  water  received 
in  a  uniform  trickle  from  those  above  it.  The 
old  Examination  Hall,  in  which  the  students' 
quarters  resembled  so  many  sentry  boxes,  has 
now  been  demolished,  and  in  its  stead  a 
large  technical  college  is  being  erected  to 
accommodate  seven  hundred  boys.  The 
many  public  halls  t»elonging  to  guilds  in 
Canton    prove    that     trade     unions    are    not 


merely  the  product  of  modern  civilisation  ; 
indeed,  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  principle 
of  combination,  specialis;ition,  and  boycott  is 
anywhere  carried  to  greater  perfection  than 
in  China.  The  Execution  Ground,  which 
most  visitors  to  Canton  include  in  their  tour 
of  inspection,  is  merely  a  potter's  yard  in 
which,  when  capital  sentences  are  not  being 
carried  out,  the  gmiiin  of  the  neighbourhood 
are  wont  to  disport  themselves.     The  bodies 


of  the  victims  are  often  left  lying  on  the 
ground  exposed  to  the  gaze  of  the  morbidly 
curious  for  some  hours  before  they  are 
removed.  For  a  small  consideration,  the 
executioner,  a  sinister  looking  gentleman, 
will  produce  his  trade  implements  and  a  few 
skulls  which  he  keeps  in  stock  for  the 
editication   of    the   visitor. 

After     the     heat    and     squalor    of    Canton 
proper,    it    is    a   refreshing  change    to    cross 


Chiness  Temple. 


CANTON. 


The  Flower  Pagoda. 

The  Temple  of  Five  Hu.sdred  Ge.mi. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     787 


over  one  of  the  two  bridges  that  give  access 
to  the  Shameen  with  its  wide,  trimly  kept 
walks,  shaded  with  well -grown  trees,  its 
modern  European  residences,  its  riverside 
promenade,  and  its  tastefully  laid  out  pleasure 
garden.  All  foreign  business  relations  with 
the  city  of  Canton  are  conducted  from  this 
settlement.  The  local  Government  of  the 
Brilish  area,  comprising  four-fifths  of  the 
island,  is  vested  in  the  Shameen  Municipal 
Council.  The  members  of  this  body  are 
elected  annually  by  the  ratepayers,  but  as 
the  total  population  of  the  Shameen,  exclu- 
sive of  the  Chinese,  does  not  exceed  from 
180  to  200,  there  are  comparatively  few 
residents  entitled  to  exercise  the  franchise. 
The  Chinese,  except  those  in  the  service  of 
the  various  "  hongs,"  are  not  allowed  to  live 
on  the  island,  nor  are  they  permitted  to 
become  house  or  property  owners  there. 
The  members  of  the  Municipal  Council  never 
exceed  five  in  number,  and,  at  the  present, 
there  are  only  four — Mr.  H.  Bent,  of  Messrs. 
T.  E.  Griffith  &  Co.,   who  is  the   president  ; 


in  some  $2,000,  while  some  $4,000  are 
derived  from  wharfage  dues.  The  only 
Chinese  product  of  any  consequence,  which 
figures  in  the  last  item,  is  raw  silk,  of  which 
between  40,000  and  45,o:)0  bales  are  shipped 
direct  from  the  Shameen,  representing  a 
yearly  trade,  in  round  figures,  of  some  thirty 
million  dollais.  This  is  the  largest  industry 
with  which  the  Europeans  have  any  con- 
nection, as  other  products  are  exported  direct 
from  the  native  city.  A  slight  revenue  is 
also  obtained  from  various  licences,  of 
which  those  for  native  boats  are  the  most 
important.  The  total  income,  from  all 
sources,  may  be  considered,  roughly,  as 
$20,000  per  annum  ;  in  1906,  which  is  the 
latest  period  for  which  exact  figures  can  be 
obtained,  $2i,364'46  were  collected,  and 
Si9,ooo'46  expended.  The  police  force,  the 
upkeep  of  which  constitutes  the  largest 
item  in  the  expenses,  consists  of  a  European 
superintendent,  three  Chinese  sergeants,  and 
22  Chinese  constables,  or  ''  lukongs  "  as  they 
are  called.      The  police  station  and  barracks 


STATION    ON    THE    CANTON    TO    FATSHAN    RAILWAY. 


have  just  been  erected  by  the  Council  at  a 
cost  of  $10,000. 

The  means  of  communication  with  Canton 
have  increased  rapidly  of  late  years,  and 
are  still  being  added  to.  Three  lines  of 
steamers,  conveying  both  passengers  and 
cargo,  ply  daily  between  Hongkong  and 
Canton,  a  distance  of  about  95  miles  ;  a 
daily  service  is  maintained  between  Macao 
and  Canton  ;  and  there  is  regular  connection 
with  Wuchow  and  West  River  ports,  and 
with  Shanghai,  Newchwang,  and  Kwangchu 
Wan.  A  railway  between  Kowloon  and 
Canton  is  now  under  construction  ;  another 
line  to  Hankow  is  partly  opened  for  traffic, 
and,  when  completed,  will  give  access  to 
Peking  ;  while  a  third  line  runs  from  Canton 
to  Samshui,  bringing  the  West  River  ports 
within  twenty-four  hours'  distance  of  the 
city.  Surveys  have  been  made  for  a  Chinese- 
owned  line  from  Canton  to  Whampoa  and 
thence  to  Amoy,  but  so  far  only  one-fifth  of 
the  capital  of  forty  million  dollars  has  been 
subscribed.  A  concession  for  a  line  between 
Macao  and  Canton  was  granted  to  a  Siiio- 
Porluguese  syndicate  in  November,  1904. 
An  overland  line  of  telegraph  was  laid 
between  Canton  and  Kowloon  in  1883,  and 
another  overland  line  was  completed  from 
Canton  to  Lungchau-fu,  on  the  Kwangsi 
and  Tonkin  frontier,  in  the  following  year. 
This  proved  of  great  service  to  the  Chinese 
Army  during  the  F'ranco-Chinese  War,  and 
since  that  time  many  branch  lines  have 
been  opened.  Owing  to  the  success  of  the 
telegraph  line  constructed  from  Peking  to 
Shanghai  in  1886,  the  Chinese  Government 
decided  to  extend  the  line  south  to  Canton. 
The  work  of  extension,  entrusted  to  Danish 
engineers,  occupied  more  than  twelve  months, 
for  the  route  chosen  lay  through  the  moun- 
tainous provinces  of  Chekiang,  P'okien, 
and  Kwangtung,  and  took  in  all  the  Treaty 
ports. 

The  telephone  was  introduced  into  Canton 
in  1905.  At  first  it  was  managed  by 
Japanese  engineers,  and  Japanese  instru- 
ments and  materials  were  largely  used. 
During  the  last  two  years,  however,  the 
Chinese  have  assumed  control.  At  present 
there  are  over  one  thousand  subscribers  each 
paying  a  rate  of  $5  per  month.  Trunk  lines 
extend  to  all  the  principal  parts  of  the  city 
and  across  the  river  to  the  Honam  side, 
where  there  is  a  branch  exchange.  The 
outlook  for  the  future  is  very  promising, 
for  within  a  few  years  the  Chinese  authori- 
ties expect  to  make  extensions  to  all  the 
neighbouring  business  centres. 


Mr.  T.  E.  Griffith,  also  of  Messrs.  T.  E. 
Griffith  &  Co.  ;  Mr.  A.  V.  Hogg,  of  Messrs. 
Reiss  &  Co.  ;  and  Dr.  Davenport  ;  with 
Mr.  H.  W.  Hine  as  Secretary. 

The  Council  carries  out  all  the  functions 
attaching  usually  to  local  municipal  govern- 
ment. It  has  charge  of  the  streets,  roads, 
lighting,  sanitation,  police  force,  and  fire 
brigade,  and  is  empowered  to  levy  rates  for 
their  maintenance.  Under  its  direction  and 
control  the  Shameen  has  obtained,  and 
deserves,  the  reputation  of  being  one  of 
the  best  kept  and  most  picturesque  con- 
cessions in  China. 

The  whole  of  the  land  on  the  British 
Concession  has  been  leased  from  the  Govern- 
ment for  99  years,  and  all  but  five  plots  of 
ground  have  been  built  upon.  The  Council's 
principal  revenue  comes  from  a  house  tax 
of  5  per  cent,  on  an  annual  assessment, 
which  yields  roughly  about  $ro,ooo  per 
annum.  In  addition,  there  is  an  annual  tax 
of  $25  on  each  plot  of  land,  and  this  brings 


are  on  the  Shameen,  and  here  the  whole  of 
the  stafi^  is  housed.  The  fire  brigade  is 
composed  of  volunteers. 

The  health  of  the  concession  is  good  and 
has  greatly  improved  during  the  last  three 
years  as  a  result  of  the  completion,  at  a  cost 
of  $22,000,  of  a  system  of  open  drainage. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  the 
community  has  benefited  enormously  by  the 
adoption  of  this  scheme,  for  last  year  there 
was  a  total  absence  of  communicable 
diseases  amongst  the  European  residents.  A 
large  open  space  on  the  river  frontage  is 
used  for  recreation  purposes,  and  here  a 
number  of  tennis  courts  are  rented  by  the 
Canton  Tennis  Club  for  a  nominal  sum  from 
His  Britannic  Majesty's  Board  of  Works, 
Shanghai.  The  remainder  of  this  space  is 
occupied  by  a  public  garden  and  a  football 
ground,  both  under  the  control  of  the  Council. 
Rowing  is  a  favourite  form  of  exercise  among 
the  residents,  and  new  premises,  for  the 
accommodation  of   boats  and    "  hong "   gigs. 


THE   BRITISH   CONSULATE. 

The  British  Government  is  represented  in 
Canton  bv  the  British  Consul-General.  Mr.  R. 
W.  Mansfield,  C.M.G.  Besides  his  local 
functions  he  acts  as  the  intermediary  between 
the  Government  of  Hongkong  and  the  Chi- 
nese authorities,  and,  except  for  those  muni- 
cipal matters  relating  particularly  to  the 
British  Concession  of  Sliameen  which,  by  a  set 
of  land  regulations,  have  been  put  under  the 
control  of  the  Municipal  Council,  he  is  solely 
responsible  for  upholding  the  interests  of  the 
British  community.  Since  the  occupation 
of  Canton  by  the  Allied  Forces,  in  i860,  the 
British  Govermtient  has  had  a  yamen  in  the 
native  city,  forming  a  part  of  the  then  Tartar 
general's  j'amen,  but,  owing  to  the  great 
inconvenience  of  transacting  business  tfiere, 
the  Consul  resides  on  the  Shameen.  The 
Consulate  is  an  imposing  building,  and  has 
a    staff    consisting     of    a     Vice-Consul,    two 


r88      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IIMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


European  Assistants,  and  a  number  of  Chi- 
nese writers.  No  regular  permanent  {Jiwrd  is 
maintained,  but  there  are  always  three  small 
British  gunboats  in  the  West  River.  Since 
the  riots  in  iSHjt,  when  the  island  was 
attacked  and  a  great  deal  of  property 
destroyed  by  the  mob,  a  guard,  furnished 
by  the  Chinese  Government,  has  been  in 
charge  of  the  bridges  leading  from  the 
Shameen  to  the  Chinese  citv. 

Mr.  Robert  William  Mansfield,  C.M.G.,  was 
bom  on  September  l6,  1850.  and  is  the  son 
of  the  Rev.  J.  Mansfield,  Rector  of  Bland- 
ford  St.  Mar>"s,  Dorsetshire,  and  Emily  Le 
Poer  Trench.  Educated  at  Cheltenham  Col- 
lege, he  entered  the  Consular  service  in 
China  in  1870  and  has  acted  as  Consul  at 
Shanghai,  Canton,  Foochow.  Swatow,  Wuhu, 
and  Chinkiang.  He  was  appointed  Consul 
at  Chungking,  in  1891,  but  did  not  take  up 
the  duties  of  the  office  and,  while  acting  for 
a  period  as  Consul  at  Foochow,  he  went  to 
Kutien,  in  1895,  to  institute  an  inquiry  into 
the  massacre  of  eleven  missionaries.  Later 
he  acted  as  Consul-General  at  Shanghai  and 
in  1899  was  appointed  Consul  at  Amoy. 
The  last  two  years  he  has  silent  at  Canton. 
He  married,  in  1878,  Marie  Therese,  daughter 
of  Comte  Cahouet  de  Marolles,  and  has 
issue. 


THE    FRENCH    CONSULATE. 

The  French  community  at  Canton  number 
about  forty.  Their  business  consists  largely, 
almost  entirely,  of  the  exportation  of  raw 
silk.  and.  in  this  connection,  it  is  worthy  of 
note  that  practically  all  the  silk  from  Canton, 
whether  held  by  British  or  French  mer- 
chants, is  sent  to  France.  There  is  a  large 
college  in  the  city  where  the  French  and 
Chinese  languages  are  taught  and  where 
educational  work  of  considerable  value  is 
carried  on.  The  French  hospital,  built  at  a 
cost  of  $200,000  and  subsidised  by  the 
Government  of  Indo- China,  is  the  only 
hospital  in  Canton  which  is  not  connected 
with  any  missionary  enterprise.  Last  year 
over  twenty  thousand  patients  received 
medical  treatment  and  attention  at  this  insti- 
tution, which  is  fully  equipped  with  the  most 
modern  surgical  appliances,  and  contains 
a  department  for  bacteriological  work,  an 
X-rays  department,  and  an  excellent  little 
operating  theatre.  The  splendid  laboratory 
was  the  gift  of  Max  Lebaudy,  the  Indo-China 
sugar  millionaire.  Attached  to  the  hospital, 
also,  is  a  medical  college.  Upon  the  Shameen 
there  is  a  French  post  office,  a  French  bank, 
and  other  public  offices.  The  whole  of  the 
interests  connected  with  these  phases  of 
Colonial  enterprise  are  represented  by  the 
French  Consul,  who  is,  ex  officio,  chairman  of 
the  Municipal  Council  governing  the  French 
Concession.  At  the  present  time  M.  Verou- 
dart  is  acting  in  this  capacity,  but  his 
appointment  as  Consul  is  not  a  permanent 
one,  and  he  is  leaving  Canton  shortly. 

m 

THE  GERMAN  CONSULATE. 

Dr.  Walthkr  R'ossler,  the  Consul  for 
Germany  in  Canton,  has  the  supervision  of 
German  interests  in  the  provinces  of 
Yunnan,  Kweichow,  and  portions  of  Kwangsi 
and  Kwangtung.  There  are  fourteen  large 
German  commercial  houses  with  branches 
in  Canton,  and  the  number  of  Germans  resi- 
dent on  the  Shameen  and  in  the  neighbouring 
districts  is  about  103  ;  there  are  also  some 
thirty  Swiss  registered  at  the  Consulate,  over 


whom,  of  course,  Dr.  Rossler  exercises  full 
jurisdiction.  The  offices  of  the  Consulate 
form  a  splendid  pile  of  buildings  on  the 
Shameen.  They  were  completed  in  August, 
1906,  at  a  cost  of  $185,000. 


« 


THE    PORTUGUESE   CONSULATE. 

The  Portuguese  Consulate  was  established  in 
Canton,  in  1870,  and  has  jurisdiction  over 
one  of  the  largest  foreign  communities  in 
the  Settlement,  for  the  Portuguese  residents 
of  Canton  number  about  seventy-five,  and,  in 
addition,  there  are  about  two  hundred  Chinese, 
born  in  Maaio,  claiming  its  protection.  Mr. 
J.  D.  da  Costa  de  Moraes,  the  Consul-General 
for  Portugal  in  South  China,  is  the  doyen 
of  the  Consular  Corps  at  Canton.  Born  in 
Lisbon,  he  has  been  in  the  Consular  service 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  having  served 
previously  at  Barcelona,  Gibraltar,  Paris,  and 
in  Cadiz  (Spain).  He  received  his  present 
appointment  some  six  years  ago. 


* 


ABNHOLD,  KAEBEBG  b  CO. 

Amongst  the  merchants  who  have  contributed 
largely  to  the  development  of  China's  com- 
merce a  prominent  position  is  taken  by 
Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co.  This  firm  was 
established  in  1866  by  Mr.  Jacob  Arnhold, 
a  German  gentleman  whose  photograph  we 
reproduce  on  another  page,  and  Mr.  Peter 
Karberg,  a  Danish  merchant.  It  started  on 
a  small  scale  in  Honam,  opposite  to  the 
city  of  Canton,  where  all  the  foreign  offices 
used  to  be,  and  later  on  removed  to  Shameen, 
when  this  Settlement  was  founded  by  the 
British  and  French.  By  perseverance,  acumen, 
and  integrity  it  rapidly  increased  its  business 
and  extended  its  sphere.  A  branch  was 
soon  opened  in  Hongkong,  and  on  January  i, 
1881,  an  office  was  established  in  Shanghai. 
New  branches,  with  a  European  staff,  have 
since  been  opened  in  Tientsin,  Hankow,  Tsing- 
tau,Wuhu,  Kiukiang,  Newchwang,  Chungking, 
and  Mukden,  whilst  offices  with  only  Chinese 
in  charge  are  kept  in  quite  a  number  of 
towns,  including  Peking,  Tsinanfu,  Kirin,  &c. 
Besides  these,  the  firm  has  numerous  Chinese 
agencies  ;  indeed,  its  name  can  be  found  all 
over  the  Empire.  With  the  ever-growing 
business  in  China  it  became  necessary  for 
Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co.  to  replace  their 
principal  home  buying  agents  by  offices  of 
their  own.  The  first  of  these  was  opened 
in  London,  and  was  followed  later  on  by 
two  more  in  New  York  and  Berlin,  all  of 
which  have  developed  very  fast,  so  that  a 
large  staff  has  to  be  employed  in  each  of 
them.  Besides  these  branches,  the  firm  still 
employs  a  number  of  buying  agents  in 
different  parts  of  the  world,  and  has  a  still 
larger  number  of  agents  for  the  sale  of  China 
products. 

The  firm  occupies  the  most  conspicuous 
commercial  building  in  Shameen.  This  has 
only  just  been  finished  and  takes  the  place 
of  the  firm's  old  hong,  which  was  erected 
in  1872.  The  building  is  most  imposing,  and 
is  visible  for  some  miles  when  Canton  is 
approached  by  the  back  reach.  The  front, 
up  to  the  first  floor,  is  constructed  of  granite, 
the  outer  walls  of  bricks  laid  in  cement,  and 
everything  else  of  re-inforced  concrete.  The 
ground  floor  is  occupied  by  a  machinery  ex- 
hibition room,  covering  an  area  of  about 
2,500  square  feet,  and  a  godown  of  about 
8,000   square    feet.      The   first   floor   contains 


the  general  offices,  and  the  second  and  third 
floors  the  living  apartments  of  the  managers 
and  the  principal  assistants.  The  roof  is 
utilised  for  kitchens  and  servants'  quarters 
and,  further,  for  a  roof  garden,  which  in  the 
hot  summer  months  will  add  greatly  to  the 
comforts  of  life.  An  electric  lift  with  all 
the  latest  improvements  —  the  only  one  in 
existence  in  Canton — runs  from  the  ground 
floor  to  the  roof.  Electricity  is  used  for 
lighting  throughout,  but  a  small  gas  plant, 
which  has  been  installed  in  the  premises  for 
heating  and  cooking,  can  also  be  used  for 
lighting  in  case  of  emergencies.  The  house 
has  cold  and  hot  water  service  right  through, 
and  is  replete  with  the  most  modern  Euro- 
pean and  American  appliances  in  the  way  of 
sanitary  and  electric  fittings,  dumb  waiters, 
septic  tanks,  water  pumping,  water  filtration, 
telephones,  &c.  A  pleasing  feature  is  the 
high-class  artistic  wrought- iron  work  im- 
ported from  Germany,  which  is  used  for 
the  grilles  and  doorways  on  the  ground  floor 
and  for  all  the  verandah  balustrading.  Tlie 
available  space  has  been  utilised  in  the  most 
economical  manner,  and  the  building  as  a 
whole  can  well  be  styled  a  model  of  its 
kind.  It  was  designed  and  constructed  by 
Messrs.  Purnell  &  Paget,  architects,  of  Canton, 
who  are  responsible  for  quite  a  number  of 
fine  buildings  in  Shameen  and  Canton,  and 
it  was  erected  by  Mr.  Lam  Woo,  a  Chinese 
contractor,  of  Hongkong.  Valuable  assistance 
and  suggestions  were  given  by  Messrs. 
Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co.'s  own  engineering 
office.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  this  is  the 
first  important  building  in  South  China  of 
any  considerable  size  in  which  re-inforced 
concrete  construction  has  been  so  universally 
used.  The  Kahn  system  of  re-inforcing  is 
the  type  used  throughout  for  floors,  beams, 
girders,  columns,  partition  walls,  &c.,  and  it 
has  given  entire  satisfaction. 

The  Teutonic  thoroughness  which  has 
characterised  the  firm  from  the  beginning  is 
still  one  of  its  features,  and  it  is,  therefore, 
not  surprising  to  find  that  each  of  the  more 
important  articles  in  which  it  deals  is  handled 
by  an  expert.  There  are  in  the  Canton 
office  three  silk  inspectors,  a  matting  expert, 
specialists  for  the  various  export  and 
import  articles,  mechanical  and  electrical 
engineers,  &c. 

The  firm  deals  in  nearly  every  article, 
imported  or  exported,  that  is  handled  in 
Canton,  and  in  many  its  name  heads  the 
list  as  to  quantity.  The  firm  also  transacts 
shipping,  fire  and  life  insurance,  and  banking 
business,   &c. 

Besides  being  merchants,  Messrs.  Arnhold, 
Karberg  &  Co.  are  also  engineers  and  con- 
tractors, and  with  their  qualified  engineers 
they  are  in  a  position  to  deal  with  any 
scheme  that  comes  to  their  notice.  They  are 
well  placed  for  this  kind  of  business  as  they 
have  the  strong  financial  backing  which  is 
so  often  necessary  to  enable  the  Chinese  to 
carry  out  their  engineering  schemes.  Though 
a  German  firm,  Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co. 
ought  to  be  called  Cosmopolitan,  British  and 
American  manufacturers  figuring  just  as  often 
as  German  on  their  list  of  agencies.  This 
list  contains  the  best  names  in  their  respective 
lines  that  either  country  can  produce.  The 
firm  supplies  machinery,  &c.,  to  the  Chinese 
Government  and  the  various  railways,  and  has 
on  its  books,  also,  numerous  private  customers. 
In  order  to  demonstrate  to  the  Chinese  the 
advantages  of  the  employment  of  machinery, 
the  firm  as  we  have  stated  has  recently  opened 
on  the  ground  door  of  its  new  building  a 
well-appointed,  lofty  machinery  showroom,  and 
no  doubt  much  benefit  will  be  derived  from 
this  advertisement,  which  is  somewhat  novel 


ARNHOLD,    KARBERG    &    00. 
Old  Offices  pullkd  down  in  1906.  new  Office,  Bus  Bing. 


790     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


to  the  Chinese  in   the  south,  and  which  will 
prove  interesting  also  to  Euro(iean  callers. 

Mr.  Jacob  Amhold,  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  lirni.  died  in  i<)03.  but  Mr.  Karberg  is 
still   alive  and  resides   in    Copenhagen.      He 


it  being  necessary  for  the  steamers  sometimes 
lo  remain  at  Canton  for  upwards  of  a  week, 
they  are  now  generally  ready  to  continue 
their  journey  a  few  hours  after  arrival.  The 
godowns    and   wharves   are  under  one   roof, 


i:8l 


k:!jj:«  itnmti  tn««. 


il 


BUTTERFIELD    &    SWIRE'S    OFFICES,    CANTON. 


left  the  firm  late  in  the  seventies.  The  firm 
is  now  composed  of  Mr.  Phil.  Amhold,  a 
brother  of  the  original  founder,  who  lives  in 
London  ;  Mr.  Ernst  Goetz,  in  Hongkong ; 
Mr.  Rud.  I-emke  and  Mr.  Harry  Arnhold,  in 
Shanghai,  the  latter  a  son  of  the  founder  ; 
Mr.  Max  Xiclassen,  in  Berlin  ;  and  Mr.  A.  E. 
Dowler,  in  New  York. 

*: 

BUTTESFIELD  li   SWIRE. 

It  is  but  natural  to  find  Messrs.  Butterfield 
&  Swire— undoubtedly  one  of  the  leading 
houses  in  the  P"ar  Ea^t— holding  a  very 
prominent  place  in  Can'on,  the  great  irade 
cenlie  of  Southern  China.  They  control 
wiiat  is  probably  the  must  important  business 
of  any  Britsh  firm  having  an  office  on  the 
Shameen,  and  their  steamers  do  a  great  deal 
of  the  Ciirrying  trade  lo  Canton,  and  keep 
the  British  flag  well  in  evidence  there.  The 
branch  was  esiablished  in  1897,  and  holds 
the  agency  for  the  China  Navigation  Com- 
pany, Ltd.,  ihe  Ocean  Sleamship  Company, 
Ltd.,  the  China  Mutual  Sieam  Navigation 
Company,  Ltd.,  the  Taikoo  Su^ar  Refining 
Company,  Ltd.,  the  Union  Insurance  Society 
of  Canton,  and  several  imporiant  fire  insurance 
companies.  In  order  to  accommodate  their 
numerous  ocean-going  steamers  that  call  at 
the  port,  the  firm,  during  the  last  few  years, 
have  acquired  a  splendid  site,  with  a  deep- 
water  frontage  of  some  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  feet,  at  Pak  Hin  Hok,  on  the  back 
reach  of  the  river,  a  little  below  the  city. 
Here  they  have  constructed  three  steel 
wharves,  and  six  splendid  godowns — three 
of  iron,  and  three  of  brick,  with  an  immense 
amount  of  storage  capacity.  With  these 
facilities  the  firm  are  able  to  deal  very 
expeditiously    with    cargo,    and,    instead    of 


are  excellently  venlilalcd,  and,  as  nearly  as 
possible,  fireproof.  They  are  a  great  boon  to 
shippers,   and   the   Chinese   are    not    slow   to 


tension.  The  manager  at  Canton  is  Mr. 
James  Mclsaac,  who  has  a  considerable 
European  and  Chinese  staff  under  his  control. 
In  addition  to  tlieir  shipping  and  godown 
business  tlic  firm  do  a  large  trade  in  sugar 
manufactured  at  their  refinery  in  Hongkong, 
and  also  specialise  in  fire  insurance,  which 
is  transacted  by  them  not  only  in  Canton 
itself,  but  also  in  the  up-co:nitry  towns 
throughout  the  two  Kwang  Provinces. 

m 

THE   BANQUE   DE   L'INDO-CHINE. 

This  important  F'rench  bank,  which,  for  a 
number  of  years,  has  had  a  branch  at  Hong- 
kong, opened  a  new  agency  in  Canton  in 
1902.  It  was  the  first  bank  established  on 
the  Concession,  and  is  still  the  only  one 
there  owning  the  ground  on  wliich  it  stands. 
It  transacts  ordinary  hanking  business,  and 
represents  the  linancial  interests  of  the 
French  community  and  tlic  French  Govern- 
ment generally.  Mr.  G.  Garnier  is  the 
manager,  and  Mr.  H.  Mazot  the  assistant 
manager. 

# 

SHEWAN,   TOMES   &   CO. 

This  firm,  which  took  over  the  old-estab- 
lished business  of  Russell  &  Co.,  has  had  a 
branch  at  Canton  for  a  considerable  number 
of  years.  Besides  dealing  extensively  in  silk 
and  other  Chinese  products,  this  branch 
carries  on  local  agencies  and  general  shipping 
business  for  the  head  ot'lice  in  Hongkong. 
One  of  their  most  important  agencies  is  that 
of  tlie  China  Light  and  Power  Company, 
which  has  a  large  power-station  situated  a 
little  below  the  city,  from  which  current  is 
obtained  for  lighting  all  the  Government 
yamens    and    offices,  a    great    many   private 


BUTTERFIELD    &    SWIRE'S    GODOWNS,    CANTON. 


realise  the  advantages  which  the  firm  offer. 
These  premises,  however,  cover  but  a  portion 
of  Ihe  area  held  by  the  Company,  and  there 
is,    consequently,    room    for    subsequent    ex- 


houses,    and    some    of    the 
streets.     In   Canton   tlie  firm 
field,  and,  with  characteristic 
made   every   arrangement  to 


most    important 

has  a  very  wide 

enterprise,   has 

cope   with    the 


THE    CHINA    LIGHT    AND    POWER    COMPANY. 


[See  page  792.] 


792     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


gresU  demands  that  are  likely  to  be  made 
upon  it  in  the  future.  Messrs  Shewan,  Tomes 
&  Co.  also  operate  the  ferry  boats  running 
between  Canton  and  the  railway  stations  at 
Wongsha  and  Shekwci-tong.     The  branch  is 


managed  by  Mr.  \V.  K.  Robertson,  who  has 
control  of  a  large  staff  of  Europeans  and 
Chinese. 


[See  page  79a) 


BANQUE    DE    L'INDO-CHINE. 


THE   CHINA   LIGHT   AND   POWER   COMPANY. 

Before  doing  business  with  Eastern  peoples 
it  has  often  been  necessary  to  educate  them 
to  appreciate  the  uses  of  that  which  the 
vendors  sought  to  supply.  The  Chinese,  for 
example,  did  not  receive  tlie  electric  light 
at  all  favourably  at  first,  and  the  China  Light 
and  Power  Company  had  much  difliculty  to 
contend  with  on  that  account  when,  in 
1901,  they  acquired  Ihu  original  Canton 
Electric  Supply  undertaking.  Another  adverse 
circumstance  was  tlie  fact  that  the  plant 
was  far  from  satisfactory.  During  the  last 
six  years,  however,  the  local  prejudice  has 
been  overcome,  and  a  more  modern  plant 
has  been  installed.  As  a  result,  the  output  of 
electricity  has  grown  rapidly,  and  now  amounts 
to  2,250,000  units  per  annum.  The  number 
of  10  candle-power  lights  in  use  has  increased 
from  2,000  in  1903  to  the  equivalent  of 
20,000.  The  plant  consists  of  four  steam 
alternator  sets  of  125  kilowatts  each,  and 
one  of  30  kilowatts — the  engines  by  Belliss, 
and  the  alternators  by  Johnson  Phillips  ; 
a  Diesel  engine  alternator  set  of  140  kilo- 
watts, with  engine  by  Sulzer,  and  alternator 
by  A.  E.  G.  ;  and  two  sets  of  similar  power 
with  engines  by  Willans  &  Robinson,  and 
alternators  by  Dick,  Kerr  &  Co.  Steam 
is  generated  in  four  Babcock  &  Wilcox 
boilers  of  the  water-tube  type.  The  current 
is  distributed  at  high  pressure,  and  reduced 
to  100  volts  at  consumers'  houses.  A  high 
tension  armoured  submarine  cable  feeds  the 
island  of  Honam,  facing  the  Canton  side. 
In  1903  the  Company  extended  the  scope 
of  their  operations  by  establisliing  a  branch 
at    Kowloon.      The    plant,   mostly  American, 


[See  page  790.J 


SHEWAN    TOMES    &    CO.'S    OFFICES. 


BUILDINGS   IN    CANTON. 

(I'L-KXELI.    &  Paget,  Architects.) 


[See  page  794.] 


Hart   Terrace,  Ijiperial  Maritime  Customs. 
Stake  Quarters,  Imperial  Maritime  Customs. 


Kesidexce  ok  T.  E,  Grikkith. 

The  Godow.ns  of  the  Hamburg-Amerika  I.i.sie. 


794     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


is  soon  to  be  added  to,  and  the  annual  output, 
at  present  about  300,000  units,  will  be  very 
considerably  auiimented.  The  Company 
undertakes  contract  work,  and  amongst  the 
installations  for  which  it  has  been  responsible. 


their  staff  of  Europeans  and  Chinese  art- 
trained  and  experienced  in  their  respective 
lines.  At  the  present  time  they  are  acting 
on  behalf  of  the  European  contractors  who 
are  erecting  the  Canton  Cement  Works  and 


PREMISES    OF    MESSRS.    CARLOWITZ    &    CO. 


is  that  at  the  Hongkong  Hotel.  The  general 
managers  of  the  Company  are  Messrs.  Shewan 
Tomes  &  Co.  Mr.  L.  Marston,  the  manager, 
has  under  him  a  large  stiff,  including  live 
men  engaged  in  Europe  through  the  firm's 
London  office. 

PUSHELL   b  PAGET. 

This  well-known  firm  of  architects  and 
engineers  is  composed  of  Mr.  Arthur  VV. 
Pumell,  of  Geelong,  Australia ;  and  Mr. 
Charles  S.  Paget,  of  Bethlehem,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Both  are  young  men  of  special 
training  in  their  particular  work,  and  since 
they  have  been  in  practice  in  Canton  they 
have  had  numerous  important  undertakings 
entrusted  to  them  of  a  varied  character,  all 
of  which  have  been  successfully  accomplished 
to  the  satisfaction  of  their  clients.  Among 
them  are  the  godowiis,  wharves,  and  land 
reclamation  for  the  Hamburg-Amerika  Linie 
in  Canton ;  indoor,  outdoor,  and  export  ex- 
amination shed,  for  the  Imperial  Marilime 
Customs  ;  Imperial  Chinese  Post  Office  ;  new 
hong,  for  Messrs.  Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co. 
(this  building  is  the  most  notable  of  its  kind 
in  South  China,  and  one  of  the  few  reinforced 
concrete  structures  in  the  East)  ;  the  new 
International  Banking  Corporation's  building; 
East  H.ill  ;  Canton  Christian  College  ;  Hos- 
pital buildings  ("  Ho>pital  Paul  Dormier ")  ; 
Messrs.  Deacon  &  Co.'s  new  premises  ;  Can- 
ton Club,  theatre,  and  extensions  ;  and  a 
group  of  residences  and  schools  for  the 
Southern  Baptist  Convention,  London  Mission, 
and  others.  Messrs.  Purnell  &  Paget  have 
also  been  retained  in  important  arbitration 
cases,  and  consulted  on  proposed  work  for 
the  Chinese  Government,  as  well  as  for  work 
in  Manila,  Shanghai,  and  Hongkong.  Their 
practice  is  general,  covering  architectural  and 
engineering  work  of  a  varied  character,  and 


brick  plant  for  the  Chinese  Government.  Mr. 
Charles  Souders  Paget  was  born  in  1874  at 
Bridgeton,  New  Jersey,  U.S.A.  He  comes  of 
an  old  Quaker  stock,  who  were   among   the 


Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  educated 
as  an  arcliitcctuial  and  structural  engineer 
under  the  well-known  consulting  engineer, 
Mansfield  Merrimon,  at  Lehigh  University. 
He  received  liis  early  training  as  an  engineer 
with  Grant  Wilklns  in  the  laying  out  and 
construction  of  the  Atlanta  Exposition.  In 
the  war  with  Spain  he  was  attached  to  the 
Corps  of  Engineers,  United  States  Army, 
under  Colonel  J.  G.  D.  Knight,  who  is  now 
in  charge  of  the  defences  ot  New  York 
Harbour.  In  the  Philippine  campaign  he 
was  detailed  on  special  reconnaissance  work  in 
Southern  Luzon,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  topographical  survey  of  Corrigidor  Island, 
preliminary  to  the  fortification  of  that  island 
for  the  defence  of  the  city  of  Manila.  Subse- 
quently he  was  engaged  in  mining  claim 
survey  in  Central  Luzon.  He  came  to  China 
in  1902  with  the  late  Captain  W.  R.  Kich, 
and  engaged  in  the  preliminary  survey  of 
the  Samshui  branch  and  the  main  line 
(Hankow  South)  of  the  Yuet  Han  Railway. 
Ill  1904  he  commenced  private  practice  in 
Canton.  Mr.  Arthur  William  Purnell  was 
born  in  1879  at  Geelong,  Victoria,  Australia, 
After  attending  MacManus'  Preparatory  School 
he  continued  his  studies  at  F"linders  School, 
Geelong  College,  Gordon  College  (honour 
class),  and  Geelong  School  of  Arts.  He  passed 
the  Government  examinations  in  architecture, 
perspective  drawing,  and  building  construction 
in  1896,  and  holds  the  Government  diplomas 
for  these  subjects.  ."Vfter  studying  under 
C.  A.  Heyward  (Government  architect)  he 
passed  the  Geelong  and  Melbourne  exami- 
nations with  honours,  and  obtained  certificates 
for  theory  and  practice  in  advanced  trade 
classes  from  the  Victorian  Educaiion  Depart- 
ment. A  son  of  the  senior  paitner  in  the 
old-established  firm  of  Messrs.  Purnell  &  Sons, 
architects,  &c.,  of  Geelong,  he  w;is  trained 
by  this  firm,  and  some  very  important 
huildings  and  works  were   carried   out  to  his 


QUAN    KAI'S    OFFICES. 


oldest  settlers  of  Cumberland  County.  His 
father  was  a  Philadelphia  manufacturer  of 
cotton  and  linen  goods.  From  the  age  of 
eight  Mr.  Paget  lived  and  received  his  early 
education  in  the  famous  iron  and  steel  centre — 


plans  and  instructions,  and  under  his  super- 
vision. He  was  successful  at  the  Paris 
Exposition,  and  at  Collingwood  and  Ballarat 
Arts  and  Crafts  Exhibition.  Subsequently  he 
went  on  a  tour  of  inspection  for  the  firm  to 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      795 


Africa,  Europe,  America,  Honolulu,  and  New 
Zealand.  He  came  to  Hongkong  in  1902, 
and  joined  the  staff  of  the  late  Mr.  W.  Danby, 
architect  and  engineer.  In  the  following 
year  he  proceeded  to  Canton  to  take  charge 
of  Mr.  W.  Danby's  Shamecn  oflice,  and  in 
1904  commenced  practice  on  his  own  account. 

DEAOON   &   CO. 

Onk  of  the  historic  hongs  at  Canton  is  that 
of  Messrs.  Deacon  &  Co.,  which  for  over 
half  a  century  has  taken  an  important  part  in 
the  trade  of  the  city.  The  business  was 
founded  by  Mr.  James  B.  Deacon  in  the 
great    tea    days,   and    for    many   years,    with 


perty,  on  the  British  Concession,  Shameen, 
and  Mr.  E.  A.  Stanton,  one  of  the  partners, 
personally  conducts  the  business  with  a  staff 
of  European  and  Chinese  assistants. 


SIEUSSEN   &   CO. 

This  firm,  which,  as  will  be  seen  from  a 
sketcli  appe.aring  in  the  Hongkong  section, 
was  established  at  Canton  some  fifty-two 
vears  ago,  is  one  of  the  most  important  of 
the  large  houses  carrying  on  business  on 
the  Shameen.  The  headquarters  of  the 
Company  were  removed  to  the  British  Colony 
some  time  ago,  but,  nevertheless,  the  branch 
at  Canton  still  carries  on   an  extensive  trade 


British  Concession,  Shameen,  under  the 
charge  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Hill.  They  have  already 
carried  out  several  local  contracts,  including 
a  boat-house  for  the  Canton  Municipal 
Council,  built  on  reinforced  steel  piers.  They 
have  received  the  contract  also  for  the  whole 
of  the  steelwork  in  connection  with  the 
large  new  premises  that  are  being  erected 
for  the  Imperial  Customs,  and  a  very  large 
contract,  from  the  Chinese  Government,  for 
the  South  China  Cement  Works  now  being 
built  outside  the  city.  The  building  will 
cover  an  area  of  some  400  square  feet,  and 
some  parts  will  be  four  storeys  high.  The 
firm  are  constructing  the  principal  foundations 
for  the  chimney  stack,  the  silo,  and  the  kilns. 
In  the  case  of  the  kilns  the  foundations  are 
145   feet   long,   and   28    feet    wide,   and   will 


headquarters  in  Canton  and  a  branch  at 
Macao,  traded  very  largely  and  almost  ex- 
clusively in  that  product.  At  the  present 
time,  the  tea  business  having  dwindled  into 
coinparative  insignificance,  the  tirm  acts  as 
merchants,  commission,  shipping,  and  insur- 
ance agents,  representing,  among  others,  the 
Peninsular  and  Oriental  Company,  the  Union 
Assurance  Society,  Ltd.,  the  Hongkong  and 
Shanghai  Banking  Corporation,  and  the 
Hongkong,  Canton,  and  Macao  Steamboat 
Cotnpany,  Ltd.,  who  operate  a  regular  service 
of  fast  river  boats  carrying  His  Majesty's 
mails  to  and  from  Hongkong.  Messrs. 
Deacon  &  Co.  deal  largely,  also,  in  waste 
and  raw  silk,  matting,  and  other  Chinese 
products  for  export,  and  in  paper,  glass. 
ribbons,  &c.,  which  they  import.  The  firm 
occupy  a  fine   new   building,  their  own  pro- 


SIEMSSEN    &    CO.'S    OFFICES. 

with  the  native  city  and  the  countries  of 
Europe.  Raw  silk  and  almost  every  kind 
of  Chinese  produce  are  exported,  while  goods 
are  imported  froiti  Europe,  America,  and 
Australia.  The  firm  also  acts  as  agents,  in 
Canton,  for  the  Hamburg-Amerika  line  of 
steamers  (which  have  large  and  splendidly 
constructed  new  godowns  on  the  back  reach 
of  the  river  below  Canton),  and  represents  a 
number  of  insurance  and  shipping  companies. 
Mr.  K.  Leissing  is  the  manager  of  the  branch. 

m 

HOWAETH    ERSKINE. 

This  well-known  firm  of  engineers  and 
contractors,  of  Singapore,  have,  within  the 
last  two  years,  opened  a  branch  office  on  the 


have  to  support  a  dead  weight  load  of 
10,000  tons.  The  silo  foundations  are  105  feet 
by  45  feet  with  a  depth  of  6  feet  of  concrete. 
The  total  weight  of  the  building  will  be 
900  tons,  and  the  firm  have  undertaken  to 
complete  the  construction  within  six  months. 
The  firm  undertake  all  kinds  of  engineering 
work,  and,  being  well  and  favourably  known 
to  the  Chinese  community,  are  .securing  a 
full  share  of  local  contracts. 

# 

BEITISH-AMEEICAN   TOBACCO   COMPANY. 

This  well-known  firm  have  for  many  years 
been  at  the  head  of  the  tobacco  trade  in 
Canton  and  South  China.  Their  different 
brands    of    cigarettes    are    sold    in    immense 


796     TWENTIETH  CENTUEY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


quantities  all  over  the  provinces  of  South 
China,  and  the  walls  of  Canton  City  and  the 
delta  towns  are  literally  covered  with  the 
brightly  coloured  advertisement  posters  used 
by  the  Company.  Both  the  cheap  and  high- 
grade  brands  of  cigarettes  are  in  great 
favour  with  the  Chinese,  and  their  well- 
known  "Three  Castles"  are  to  be  obtained 
in  every  part  of  the  Empire.  The  Company 
are  also  agents  for,  and  do  a  large  business 
in  the  high-class  cigarettes  "  Bouton  Rouge  " 
and  "  Felucca,"  manufactured  by  Maspero 
Freres,  Limited.  Cairo,  Egypt.  The  head 
otHce  for  the  South  China  territory  is  at 
No,  18,  Bank  Buildings,  Hongkong,  and  there 
are  branch  offices  in  Canton  and  all  the 
important  coast  ports, 

OHIHA    BAPTIST   PUBLICATION   SOOIETT. 

This  organisation  at  Canton  publishes  for  all 
.■Vmeric^an  Baptist  Missionaries  in  the  Chinese 
Empire,  and  it  also  prints  for  the  general 
missionary  body  in  the  two  Kwang  Pro- 
vinces, it  was  organised  in  February,  1899, 
and  during  eight  years  its  presses  have 
issued  over  3.000,000  volumes.  Over  750,000 
volumes  were  sent  out  during  1907.  The 
Society  now  has  120  different  titles  on  its 
catalogue,  and  a  number  of  new  books  are 
being  put  through  the  press.  A  Chinese 
monthly  magazine  of  si.xty  pages  is  issued, 
which  circulates  throughout  the  Empire,  and 
also  in  other  countries  whither  the  Chinese 
have  gone.  The  Society  prints  "  New  East," 
a  quarterly  magazine  in  English,  which  is 
the  organ  of  Baptist  missionaries  in  China. 
Steps  are  being  taken  to  erect  a  new  and 
more  commodious  publishing  house  on  a 
large  site  which  the  Society  has  recently 
purchased.  The  Society  has  large  plans  for 
the  future,  which  should  make  it  one  of  the 
leading  mission  presses  of  the  world.  As  it 
is  backed  by  the  entire  Baptist  denomination 
of  the  United  States,  one  of  the  wealthiest 
and  most  numerous  in  the  world,  it  should 
not  lack  for  funds.  The  Rev.  R.  E.  Chambers, 
B.A.,  the  secretarj'  and  treasurer,  has  charge 


also  of  the  American  library  at  Canton, 
which  was  established  and  is  maintained  by 
money  received  as  an  indemnity,  from  the 
Chinese  Government,  for  damage  done  to 
American  property  durhig  the  riots  some 
tifty  years  ago.  Mr.  R.  T.  Cowles  is  in 
charge  of  the  printing  works. 


CHUN  LAI  TO. 

CHINA    MEECHANTS    STEAM    NAVIGATION 
COMPANY. 

Mr.  Chun  Lai  To,  who  has  represented  the 
China  Merchants  Steam  Navigation  Company 
at  Canton  for  some  years  past,  is  a  native  of 
Canton,  and  received  an  excellent  English 
education  at  Hongkong.  His  father,  Chun 
yue  Ting,  was  formerly  a  merchant  of 
Chefoo.  The  China  Merchants  Steam  Navi- 
gation Company  is  the  only  purely  Chinese 
company  having  ocean-going  steamers  calling 
at  the  port.  Their  oftices  are  in  Shak  Kei 
Street,  in  the  native  city,  immediately  facing 
the    British     Concession,    and    the    steamers 


have  berths  on  the  opposite  side  of  tlie 
Shameen,  only  a  few  yards  away  from  the 
shore.  In  addition  to  its  splendid  fleet  of 
steamers,  mentioned  elsewhere,  which  main- 
tains regular  sailings  to  Sliaiighai,  the  firm 
operates  tlie  Kiang  Ttitig  between  Canton 
and  Macao.  This  is  a  night  boat  well  fitted 
to  accommodate  both  European  and  Chinese 
passengers. 


MR.    MIU    NAI    YOBK. 

Mk.  Miu  Nai  York,  the  compradore  to  the 
Standard  Oil  Company  of  New  York  at  their 
Shameen  oflice,  is  a  native  of  Canton  who, 
having  spent  some  eleven  years  in  America, 
returned  to  China  and  went  into  busmess  at 
Shanghai.  Two  and  a  half  years  ago  he 
joined  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  and  now 
controls  the  wliole  of  tlieir  important  and 
extensive  Chinese  business  in  Canton. 


MIU    NAI    YORK. 


o 
o 

I 

a 

> 

■< 

» 

S5 


MACAO. 


By  Pedro  NOLASCO  da  SILVA,  Cavalleiro  da  Ordem  de  Nosso  Senhor  Jesus  Christo. 


LTHOUGH  Macao  is  not  one 
of  the  Treaty  ports,  its  inclu- 
sion in  this  work  is  justified 
by  the  fact  that  it  is  a  Euro- 
pean Colony  in  which  the 
principle  of  free  trade  pre- 
vails. For  many  years  the 
only  European  Settlement  in  China,  it  served 
as  an  asylum  for  the  British  on  more  than 
one    occasion    when    they    were    forced    to 


Macao  was  not  the  tiist  settlement  made  in 
China  by  that  adventurous  race.  In  151 1 
the  Portuguese  took  Malacca,  at  that  time  a 
commercial  emporium  of  the  first  importance, 
and  five  years  later  Kafael  Perestrello  set 
sail  from  this  port  for  China.  His  was  the 
first  vessel  to  appear  in  Chinese  waters 
flyinj;  a  foreign  flag.  'I"he  voyage  proved 
profitable  beyond  his  expectations,  and,  as  a 
result,  four  Portuguese  ships  and  four  Malay 


ST.    PAULS'    RUINS-MACAO. 


flee  from  Canton  in  the  stormy  days  of  the 
past,  and  it  is  freely  resorted  to  now  by 
residents  of  Hongkong  in  search  of  health 
and  pleasure. 

Macao  is  situated  on  a  small  rocky  pen- 
insula in  the  estuary  of  the  Canton  River 
opposite  Hongkong,  from  which  it  is  40 
miles  distant.  Connected  with  it  by  a  sandy 
isthmus  is  the  island  of  Heungshan.  Though 
founded  by  the  Portuguese  as  early  as  1557, 


vessels  were  fitted  out  in  the  following  year 
under  the  command  of  P'ernao  Peres  dc 
Andrade.  and,  entering  the  Gulf  of  China, 
anchored  off  Sancian  or  Shang-chuan.  In 
this  island,  which  came  to  be  known  as  St. 
John's  Island,  a  flourishing  trade  was  carried 
on  with  the  Chinese.  It  was  here  that  the 
great  missionary,  St.  Francis  Xavier,  breathed 
his  last  in  1552. 

The    spirit    of    adventure    which   animated 


the  Portuguese  in  those  days  brought  many 
of  them  to  China,  and  they  founded  a  factory 
in  Liampo,  near  Ningpo-fu,  in  the  province 
of  Chekiang.  This  settlement  did  a  flourish- 
ing trade  with  Japan  and  grew  extremely 
rich,  but  it  was  completely  destroyed  by  the 
Chinese  in  1545.  Another  settlement  estab- 
lished by  the  Portuguese  at  Cliuen-chao-fu, 
or  Chin-chew,  in  Fokien,  shared  a  similar 
fate  in  1549. 

In  1537  the  Portuguese  had  in  the  South 
of  China,  near  Canton,  three  trading  settle- 
ments —  one  in  Shang-chuan  (St.  John's 
Island),  another  at  I,ani-pa-cao  (an  island 
near  Macao),  and  a  third  in  Macao.  The 
first  two  settlements  were  abandoned,  and 
the  foreign  trade  of  China  was  concentrated 
in  Macao  in  1557. 

It  has  not  been  fully  ascertained  how  the 
Portuguese  traders  came  to  fix  their  abode 
in  Macao.  Chinese  chronologists  say  that 
they  were  granted  permission  to  land  and 
raise  a  few  huts  there  for  temporary  shelter 
and  for  drying  goods  which  had  been 
damaged  on  board  their  ships.  These  huts 
gave  place  to  more  substantial  buildings,  and 
from  this  modest  beginning  grew  the  Colony 
of  Macao.  Other  historians  say  that  at  th.it 
time  the  Chinese  waters  were  infested  by 
pirates,  who  had  their  headquarters  in  a 
rocky  corner  of  the  island  of  Heungshan. 
The  Portuguese  rid  Heungshan  and  the 
surrounding  waterways  of  these  freebooters, 
and  were  allowed  to  settle  on  the  island. 
At  the  site  chosen  by  them  there  was  an  idol 
known  as  Ama,  and  the  place  was  named 
Ama-gau,  or  harbour  of  Ama.  The  Portu- 
guese wrote  Aniacao,  which  name  was 
aftei  wards  shortened  to  Macao.  On  the  spot 
where  that  idol  was  worshipped  now  stands 
the  Pagoda  of  Barra.  But  whatever  may 
have  been  the  origin  of  the  Settlement  it  is 
a  fact  that  the  Portuguese;  occupied  Macao 
from  1557,  governed  themselves  and  adminis- 
tered justice  according  to  Portuguese  laws, 
collected  taxes,  built  fortresses,  churches,  and 
hospit.ils,  enjoyed  complete  personal  liberty, 
prospered  in  commerce,  and  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  that  foreign  trade  which  is  now  so 
important  a  factor  in   the   welfare  of  China. 


Another  View  of  Macao. 
3t.  Se  Cathedral. 


MACAO. 


Sax  Domi.ngos  Church. 
Sax  Francisco  Gardens. 


800    TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Macao  enjoyed  the  monopoly  of  trade  be- 
tween the  Chinese  and  foreigners  for  seventy 
or  eighty  years.  When  Hongkong  was  ceded 
to  England,  and  was  declared  a  free  port, 
the  Portuguese  Government,  by  a  decree 
dated  1K45.  declared  Macao  also  a  free  port. 
Ferreira  do  .\niaral.  Governor  of  Mac-ao 
and    father    of    the  present    Prime    Minister 


Nicolao  Vicente  de  Mesquita,  with  a  field 
gun  and  thirty-six  men.  however,  silenced 
the  fort,  dispersed  the  Chinese  soldiery,  and 
delivered  Macao  from  invasion.  These  events 
were  followed  by  the  withdrawal  of  the 
Chinese  Mandarin  who  up  to  that  time  had 
resided  in  Macao,  and  thus  the  last  sem- 
blance of  Chinese  authority  disappeared  from 


HIS   LORDSHIP    THE    BISHOP    OP    MACAO. 


of  Portugal,  was  treacherously  murdered  by 
Chinese  on  August  22,  1849.  On  the  follow- 
ing day  crowds  of  Chinese  soldiers  made 
their  appearance  on  the  mountains  beyond 
the  barrier  and  also  in  the  Chinese  fort  of 
Passaleao,  or  Pai-san-liang,  threatening  to 
invade  the  town.  A  company  of  Portuguese 
soldiers  was  sent  to  dislodge  them,  and  the 
fort    iminediately    opened    fire.      Lieutenant 


the  Colony.  The  sovereignty  of  Portugal 
over  Macao  was  formally  recognised  by  a 
Protocol  dated  Lisbon,  March  26,  1887,  and 
confirmed  afterwards  by  a  Treaty  signed  at 
Peking  on  December  i,  1887.  The  limits  of 
Portuguese  jurisdiction,  however,  were  not 
fixed  in  this  Treaty,  the  delimitation  being 
left  for  a  future  convention.  The  arch  with 
the     guard-house     for     Portuguese     soldiers 


which  spans  the  isthmus  connecting  Macao 
with  the  Heungshan  district,  is  generally 
regarded  as  marking  the  boundary  of  the 
Portuguese  territory.  This  arch  took  the 
place  of  a  wall,  known  by  the  name  of 
the  Barrier  of  Porta  da  Cerco,  which  was 
built  by  the  Chinese  in  1573  and  razed  to 
the  ground  in   1849. 

The  town  of  Macao  is  built  on  hilly  ground. 
There  are  two  principal  ranges  of  hills,  one 
running  from  .south  to  north  and  the  other 
from  east  to  west.  The  level  ground  is 
covered  with  many  houses  of  European 
architecture,  and  a  great  number  of  Chinese 
shops  for  tradesmen  and  mechanics,  called 
the  B;iz;iar.  On  the  lofty  mount  to  the 
eastward  is  a  fort,  enclosing  the  hermitage 
of  Nossa  Senhora  da  Quia,  and  above  it 
stands  the  oldest  lighthouse  on  the  coast  of 
China.  This  lighthouse  was  built  in  1864, 
and  its  light  can  be  seen  from  a  distance 
of  20  miles.  On  another  mount,  to  the 
westward,  stands  the  hermitage  of  Nossa 
Senhora  da  Penha.  Entering  a  wide,  semi- 
circular bay,  facing  the  east,  one  sees  on  the 
right  the  fort  of  St,  Francisco,  and  on  the 
left  the  old  fort  of  Bomparto,  now  trans- 
formed into  a  residence.  Around  this  bay 
runs  a  broad,  airy,  and  spacious  street  called 
Praya  Grande,  flanked  by  many  pretty 
houses,  among  which  is  the  residence  of  the 
Governor.  To  the  east  of  the  town  there 
is  a  suburban  quarter,  formerly  named 
"  Campo "  or  field,  where  lately  some 
regular  roads  have  been  opened  and  many 
new  houses  built.  A  spacious  recreation 
ground  and  an  avenue  planted  with  eight 
rows  of  trees,  named  Avenida  Vasco  da 
Gama,  make  this  the  most  pleasant  and 
picturesque  part  of  the  town.  In  this  avenue 
are  two  monuments.  One  commemorates 
the  defeat  of  the  Dutch,  who  landed  eight 
hundred  men  on  the  Cacilhas  beach  on  June 
24,  1622  ;  the  other  was  erected  on  the  fourth 
centenary  of  the  discovery  of  the  maritime 
route  to  India  by  Vasco  da  Gama. 

To  the  north,  in  the  parish  of  St.  Antonio, 
are  the  Camoens  Gardens  and  the  grotto, 
where,  tradition  says,  the  great  epic  poet 
Camoens  passed  many  hours  of  meditation 
and  wrote  a  great  part  of  his  poem.  A 
short  distance  away  can  be  seen  the  beautiful 
granite  facade  of  the  Jesuit  Church  of  St. 
Paul,  built  in  1574,  and  destroyed  by  fire  on 
January  26,  1835.  In  the  middle  of  ten 
pillars  of  the  Ionic  order  are  three  doors 
leading  to  the  Temple  ;  above  them  are 
ranged  ten  pillars  of  the  Corinthian  order, 
which  form  five  niches.  In  the  middle  one, 
above  the  principal  door,  is  a  female  figure 
trampling  on  the  globe,  and  underneath  is 
the  inscription  :  "  Mater  Dei."  On  each  side 
of  the  Queen  of  Heaven  are  four  statues  of 
Jesuit  Saints.  In  the  superior  division  are 
representations  of  St.  Paul,  and  a  dove  the 
emblem  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  This  edifice  was 
erected  in  1602. 

According  to  the  last  census  (1896]  the 
number  of  houses  inhabited  in  Macao  was 
7,190.  Since  then  a  good  many  others  have 
been  erected.  The  public  and  private 
buildings  are  gaily  painted.  The  principal 
streets  are  lighted  with  electricity,  the  others 
with  petroleum. 

Owing  to  its  being  open  to  south-west 
breezes,  Macao  has  lately  become  a  retreat  for 
invalids  and  business  men  from  Hongkong 
and  other  adjacent  ports.  It  contains  three 
comfortable  hotels  —  the  Boa  Vista,  the 
Macao,  and  the  Oriental.  Two  steamers 
run  daily  between  Macao  and  Hongkong,  and 
two  between  Macao  and  Canton.  They  enter 
the  inner  harbour,  and  moor  alongside 
spacious    wharves    to    land    passengers    and 


MACAO. 


Government  House. 
Tribunal  da  Justice. 


yuKEX's  Cdllkge  (Hongkong). 
POKIA  DA  Cerco. 


802     TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


cargo.  Macao  is  also  ct>nnected  with  Hong- 
kong by  telegraph. 

There  are  two  clubs  in  Macao — -the  Club 
de  Macao  for  civilians,  and  the  Gremto  Milit»r 
for  the  military — both  of  which  have  a  goodly 
membership.  Attached  to  the  tirst-named  is 
a  theatre. 

The  islands  of  Taipa  and  Colowane  arc 
dependencies  of  Macao,  and  are  both  garrisoned 
by  Portuguese  soldiers.  On  the  island  of 
Taipa  there  is  a  fortress,  where  resides  the 
military  commander  of  the  two  islands.  The 
inhabitants  are  all  fishermen.  The  garrison 
is  i-omposed  of  an  infantry  company  of  too 
men,  and  of  a  battery  of  artillery  of  eighty 
men.  All  the  officers  and  soldiers  are  Euro- 
peans. The  Colony  also  has  a  force  of  military 
police,  composed  of  two  companies  of  i6o 
men  each.  One  company  is  of  European 
soldiers,  and  the  other  of  Sepoys  and  Chinese. 
There  are,  besides,  thirty  mounted  police,  and 
a  force  of  105  water  police  under  the  control 
of  the   Harbour  Master. 


Department,  and  a  Harbour  Master's  Depart- 
ment. There  are  two  hospitals— one  n)ilitary 
and  the  other  civil  — both  of  whicli  arc  under 
the  direction  of  the  Health  Department. 

The  most  important  public  work  in  progress 
at  the  present  time  is  the  reclamation  of  the 
foreshore  on  the  west.  When  this  project  is 
completed  there  will  be  a  spacious  road 
round  the  west  side  of  the  town,  from  the 
Praya  Grande  to  the  imier  harbour.  A 
scheme  for  improving  the  harbour,  also,  is 
under  consideration,  but  so  far  only  a  small 
section  of  the  marginal  road  of  the  inner 
harbour  has  been  extended.  Great  attention 
has  lately  been  paid  to  the  question  of 
sew'erage.  New  sewers  have  been  con- 
structed, and  the  old  ones  repaired  and 
enlarged. 

The  first  municipal  body  of  Macao  was 
elected  by  the  merchants  in  1583,  and  was 
known  as  the  Senate  of  Macao.  It  ruled 
Macao  in  the  beginning,  and  recognised  no 
controlling  power  or  supremacy.     When  thei  e 


THE    MUNICIPAL    HALL    (LEAL    SEN  ADO). 


GOVKRNMF.NT. 

Macao  Is  administered  by  a  Governor 
appointed  by  Portugal,  generally  for  a  term 
of  three  years,  from  amongst  military  and 
naval  officers.  As  in  all  Portuguese  posses- 
sions, there  is  no  legislative  power,  the  laws 
for  the  Colony  being  made  in  Portugal. 
Even  the  budgets  proposed  by  the  Colony 
are  discussed  and  must  be  sanctioned  by 
the  Home  Parliament,  centralisation  being 
apparently  the  keynote  of  Portuguese  adminis- 
tration. The  Governor,  who  is  also 
commander-in-chief  of  the  troops  of  the 
garrison.  Is  assisted  by  a  consultative  council, 
formed  of  the  heads  of  departments. 

The  finances  of  the  colony  are  controlled 
by  an  Inspector  of  Exchequer  and  his  staff. 
The  judicial  department  is  composed  of  a 
chief  justice,  an  attorney-general,  two  clerks, 
and  three  bailiffs.  There  is  a  Court  of 
Appeal  in  India  for  all  the  Eastern  colonies 
of  the  Portuguese.  There  are  also  In  Macao 
a  Public  Works  Department,  a  Chinese  Trans- 
lation   Department,    a    Post-office,     a    Health 


was  any  important  affair  to  be  decided,  a 
council  was  convened  of  all  the  important 
men  of  the  place.  The  Governor,  who  bore 
the  title  of  ■'  Capitao  da  terra  "  (land  captain) 
was  only  chief  of  the  military.  He  was  entitled 
to  a  vote  In  the  Senate.  This  system,  with 
some  important  alterations,  lasted  for  more 
than  200  years.  Now  the  Loyal  Senate  (Leal 
Senado)  of  Macao  has  only  municipal  attri- 
butes. Its  revenue  amounts  to  about  $[  10,000 
a  year.  The  budget  and  accounts  of  the 
Municipality  are  submitted  for  the  .ipproval 
of  the  Conselho  de  Provincia,  composed  of 
the  Governor,  Colonial  Secretary,  Attorney- 
General,  and  two  citizens.  The  election  of 
the  municipal  body  takes  place  every  two 
years. 

Revenue.  . 

The  following  figures  are  extracted  from 
the  budget  of  Macao  for  the  financial  year 
of  1907-8  :  —  Total  revenue  :  754,914,000 
reis,  or  1,397,988  Mexican  dollars  at  the 
exchange  rate  of  540  reis  per  dollar  ;  total 
expenditure,    523,777,192    reis,     or    $969,957  ; 


surplus:  231,136,808  reis,  or  $428,031.  From 
the  sin-plus,  $60,000  are  taken  yearly  to  make 
good  the  deficit  of  Timor.  The  remaining 
surplus  is  disposed  of  as  the  Minister  of 
Marine  and  Colonies  may  direct. 

The  Fantan  gambling  monopoly  in  Macao, 
Taipa.  and  Colowane  yields  yearly  the  sum 
of  246,456,000  reis,  equivalent  to  $456,400, 
and  represents  -{^  per  cent,  of  the  whole 
revenue.  The  lotteries  Pac-a-pio,  San-pio, 
and  Chini-pu-pio  yield  annually  the  sum  of 
1 11)  ,880,000  reis,  or  $J22,ooo  repre>enting 
16  per  cent,  of  the  whole  revenue.  Opium 
yields  annually  the  sum  of  180,360,000  reis, 
equivalent  to  $334,000,  and  represents  23  per 
cent,  of  the  wliole  revenue.  The  balance 
of  revenue  is  derived  cliieHy  from  taxes  on 
dwelling-houses,  shops,  and  Industrial  estab- 
lishments, from  stiunp  duties  (50  per  cent,  of 
the  revenue  from  Santa  Caza  lottery  is 
received  by  the  Government  as  stamp  duty), 
and  from  taxes  on  transmission  of  property, 
on  swine  slaughtered  for  consumption  in 
Macao,  and  on  Imported  fish. 

Shipping,  Exports  and  Imports. 

During  1906,  1,782  merchant  ships  with  a 
tonnage  of  819,340,  and  4,283  Chinese  junks, 
with  a  cargo  capacity  of  4,282.910  piculs 
entered  the  port.  The  number  of  merchant 
ships  that  cleared  was  1,780,  with  a  tonnage 
of  816,265  >  while  the  number  of  junks  was 
4,317,  with  a  cargo  capacity  of  3,965,604 
piculs. 

There  were  443.144  passengers  conveyed  to 
the  port  and  534,828  taken  away  from   it. 

The  total  value  of  goods  Imported  and 
exported  by  steamers  and  junks  in  1906 
amounted  in  round  figures  to  $26,846,825'8o. 
The  chief  imports  were  woods,  bricks, 
medicines,  rice,  oil,  coal,  petroleum,  tobacco, 
dried  and  other  fruits,  tea,  fowls,  firewood, 
fish,  swine,  silk,  eggs,  paper,  cloth,  Chinese 
wine,  sugar,  yarn,  earthenware,  cotton,  flour, 
opium,  salt,  and  mats  for  sails  and  bags. 

The  principal  exports  were  Portland 
cement,  fire-crackers,  mat-bags,  sugar,  wood, 
rice,  Chinese  oil,  cloth,  yarn,  molasses,  fish, 
opium,  Chinese  tobacco,  tea,  aniseed  oil,  eggs, 
silk,  piece  goods,  cotton  goods,  betel  nut, 
flour,  matches,  &c. 

The  quantity  of  opium  boiled  for  local 
consumption  was  26,363  balls,  value  $843,616  ; 
while  the  opium  boiled  for  exportation 
amounted  to  73,620  balls,  worth  $2,355,840. 
To  Chinese  ports,  55,145  balls  of  opium  were 
exported  of  the  value   of  $1,765,040. 

The  most  important  industrial  establishment 
is  the  Green  Island  Cement  Works.  Other 
local  industries  include  cigarette  making,  the 
preparation  of  Chinese  tobacco,  opium-boiling, 
joss-stick  making,  fruit-preserving,  the  making 
of  fire-crackers,  tea-making,  silk  filature,  dyeing, 
silver  and  gold  work,  Chinese  shoe-making, 
docking  and  junk-building,  rope  and  sail- 
making,  and  fish  salting. 

Population. 

The  last  census,  which  was  taken  in  1896, 
showed  that  Macao  had  the  following 
population :  Portuguese  of  both  sexes,  3,806  ; 
Chinese,  61,766  and  foreigners  161  ;  total, 
65,733.  The  dependencies  Taipa  and  Colo- 
wane contained  92  Portuguese  and  12,802 
Chinese  ;  total,  12,894. 

On  the  same  occasion  a  census  was  taken 
also  of  the  Portuguese  who  had  emigrated 
froin  Macao  to  the  Far  Eastern  ports,  and 
showed  that  there  were  in  Hongkong  1,309, 
Canton  68,  Foochow  13,  Shanghai  738, 
Singapore  71,  Sourabaya  3,  Yokohama  88, 
Nagasaki  10,  and  Bangkok  71  ;  giving  a  total 
of  2,371. 


..:i».i:?a»i.iia,5.i«HSM*itf>i-»  *  .^'1  i■w;■<ia^rt^*».4;J•^^^ 


I.    Phaya  Grande. 

3.     AVEXIDA   VASCO   da  GAMA. 

5.    Glia  Lighthouse. 


MACAO. 


2.    AxoTHEK  View. 
4.    CEN'TRAI.  Avexida. 
6.    Camokxs'  Grotto. 


804     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Since  1896  the  Portuguese  population  in 
Macao  has  decreased,  whilst  the  Chinese 
population  has  increased.  The  Portuguese 
in  the  Far  Eastern  ports  must  have  increased, 
but  without  a  regular  census  no  reliable  data 
are  available. 

Education. 

The  most  important  educational  establish- 
ment in  Macao  is  the  Dioces;in  Seminary  of 
St.  Joseph,  which  d;>tes  back  to  the  middle 
of  the  eighteenth  century.  The  teachers  are 
of  the  eminent  religious  order  of  Jesuits. 
The  curriculum  of  this  institution  embraces 
primary  instruction,  secondary  instruction,  and 
a  theological  course.     The  chief  aim   of  the 


boys  has  167  students.  That  for  girls  has 
49  students.  These  schools  are  supported  by 
the  municipality.  There  is  a  college  for 
female  education,  embracing  primary  and 
sccond;iry  instruction,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Franciscan  Sisters  of  Charity,  all  European. 
It  is  known  as  the  Collegio  de  Santa  Roza 
de  Lima,  and  it  is  established  in  tlie  old 
monastery  of  Santa  Clara.  Amongst  the 
sisters,  there  are  two  English  ladies  and 
one  French,  who  teach  their  native  languages. 
This  college  had,  in  1906,  92  pupils.  The 
institution  is  supported  by  its  own  funds, 
given  as  a  donation  by  the  Portuguese 
Government  out  of  the  funds  of  the  old 
monastery  of   Santa   Clara,  and  of  a   former 


He  is  assisted  by  a  chapter  of  twelve  canons 
and  two  chaplains.  There  are  three  parish 
churches,  each  with  one  vicar — the  Cathedral, 
the  Church  of  San  Louren(;o,  and  the  Church 
of  Sto.  Antonio.  The  Church  of  St.  Lazaro 
is  considered  the  parish  cliurch  of  the  Chinese 
Catholics,  whose  number  is  growing  every 
day.  There  are  four  other  churches — 
St.  Joseph's,  attached  to  the  seminary,  the 
San  Domingos  and  St.  Agostinho's  Churches 
attached  to  old  convents  of  the  Dominican 
and  Agostinian  Friars,  now  demolished  ;  and 
St.  Clara,  transformed  as  already  mentioned 
into  a  college  for  girls. 

The     protestant     missionaries     have     some 
preaching    houses    for    churches.      There    is 


SANTA    CASA    DA    MISERICOBDIA. 


seminary  is  to  train  clergy  and  missionaries 
for  work  in  the  diocese,  but  its  schoolrooms 
are  open  to  all  classes  of  students.  According 
to  the  statistics  published  in  the  oflicial 
returns  of  April  10,  1907,  the  seminary  was 
attended  in  1906  by  352  students,  of  whom 
187  were  boarders,  and  183  day  scholars. 
This  institution  is  supported  chiefly  from 
the  funds  of  the  missions  under  the  patronage 
of  the  King  of  Portugal,  and  partly  by  the 
Government. 

The  other  important  school  for  secondary 
instruction  is  the  national  Lyceum  of  Macao. 
It  has  only  20  students,  but  is  supported  by 
the  Government  and  the  municipality.  The 
Central    School    of    primary    instruction    for 


college  for  women.  There  is  an  English 
school  conducted  by  a  graduate  of  Dublin 
University.  It  has  40  students,  and  is 
supported  by  a  private  association.  There 
is  also  a  school  to  teach  Portuguese  to 
Chinese  boys,  with  31  students,  supported  by 
the  municipality. 

Religion. 

The  Bishop  of  Macao  exercises  ecclesiastical 
jurisdiction  not  only  over  the  peninsula  of 
Macao  and  its  dependencies,  but  also  over 
the  islands  of  Heungshan,  and  Hainan  in 
China,  over  the  Portuguese  possession  of 
Timor  in  Oceania,  and  over  the  Portuguese 
Catholic  Mission  of  Singapore  and   Malacca. 


a  protestant  cliapel  for  Europeans,  next  door 
to  Camoens  Gardens,  but  no  regular  service 
is  held  in  it.  There  are  three  large  Buddhistic 
temples,  besides  many  shrines. 

The  "  Holy  House  of  Mercy  "  (Santa  Casa 
da  Misericordia)  is  the  most  important 
institution  of  charity  in  Macao.  It  was 
Donna  Leonora,  consort  of  King  John  II 
of  Portugal,  who  founded  in  Lisbon,  in  1498, 
a  brotherhood  of  mercy,  known  by  the 
appellation  of  Confraria  de  Nossa  Senhora 
da  Misericordia.  That  brotherhood  was 
extended  to  all  the  Portuguese  colonial 
possessions.  In  Macao,  the  Holy  House  of 
Mercy  was  founded  in  1569,  by  Don  Belchior 
Carneiro,    Bishop   of    Macao,    who    assumed 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      805 


its  first  providorsliip.  From  thence  to  the 
present  tune  this  institution  has  continued 
its  meritorious  work  without  interruption. 
According  to  the  last  account  pubhshed,  on 
May  27,  1907,  the  capital  of  the  brotherhood, 
invested  in  properties,  in  loans,  and  in 
shares  of  different  companies  of  Hongkong, 
amounted  to  $612,038.  The  works  of  charity 
supported  by  this  institution  include  a  civil 
hospital  for  men  and  women,  an  asylum 
for  invalids  of  both  sexes,  a  house  for  lunatics, 
an  asylumn  for  orphan  boys,  the  education 
of  thirty  orphan  girls  in  the  Italian  Sisters 
of  Charity's  House  of  Beneficence,  the 
provision  of  meals  to  poor  people  at  a  very 
low  price,  the  supply  of  breakfast,  titfin, 
and  shoes  to  poor  students,  medicines  to  poor 
patients,  and  meals  lo  the  destitute  ;  the 
burial  of  the  dead,  &c.  The  institution  is 
administered  by  a  board  of  five  members,  three 
oi  whom  are  nominated  by  the  Government 
from  among  the  Brotherhood,  the  other  two 
being  elected  at  a  general  meeting.  The 
chief  source  of  revenue  is  a  lottery,  which 
is  conducted  under  the  direct  supervision  of 
the  authorities. 


THE    LAPPA    CUSTOMS. 

A  Skiicli  of  tlicir  Oiij^in  and  Development. 
By  A.    H.   WILZER,  Commissioner  of  Customs. 

The  trade  of  the  Portuguese  Colony  at  Macao 
is  to  a  large  extent  reflected  in  the  statistics 
of  the  Lappa  Customs.  The  following  lines 
are,  therefore,  mainly  extracts  from  various 
Customs  Reports,  among  which,  those  written 
by  Mr.  Alfred  E.  Hippisley,  Commissioner  of 
Customs  at  Lappa  from  1889  to  1894,  have 
been  extensively  quoted. 

The  Commissioner  of  Lappa  and  district 
has  under  his  control  a  number  of  stations 
for  revenue  and  preventive  purposes.  Of 
these  stations,  which  encircle  Macao,  the  two 
principal  ones  are  Malowchow  Island,  to  the 
west  of  the  entrance  of  Macao  Harbour,  and 
Ch'ienshan,  termed  Casa  Branca  by  the 
Portuguese,  at  the  head  of  the  same  harbour. 
These  two  principal  stations  in  the  Heung- 
shan  district,  that  of  Macao,  together  with 
the  four  in  the  Sanon  district,  and  that  of 
Hongkong,  constituted  the  six  maritime 
stations  which  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago 
formed  the  subject  of  such  frequent  com- 
plaint on  the  part  of  the  Hongkong  and 
Macao  Governments  on  the  ground  that  the 
procedure  followed  at  them  was  of  so 
harassing  a  character  as  to  threaten  the 
life  of  the  junk  trade  of  those  ports. 

Tlie  causes  which  led  to  the  establishment 
of  these  stations  were  the  enormous  quantities 
of  opium  that  were  smuggled  from  Hong- 
kong and  Macao  into  China.  Fleets  of  junks, 
engaged  in  this  illicit  trade  were  accustomed 
to  rendezvous  in  both  places,  from  which,  if 
circumstances  favoured  them,  they  would  slip 
away  quietly  with  their  cargo  ;  but,  if  they 
could  not  do  tliat,  being  well  manned  and 
heavily  armed,  they  were  not  only  able,  but 
ready,  to  match  themselves  against  any 
prevenlative  force  that  could  be  sent  to 
intercept  them.  It  was  estimated  that  duty 
was  paid  only  on  about  one-tenth  of  the 
opium  recieved  from  Hongkong  by  the  towns 
along  the  North  and  West  Rivers  ;  and  it  was 
known  that  over  10,000  chests  were  carried 
atmually  to  Macao,  almost  all  of  which  was 
subsequently  smuggled  thence  into  the  various 
ports  on  the  west  coast.  As  the  efforts  to 
suppress  this  contraband  trade  had  proved 
unsuccessful,  it  was  decided  to  put  it  on  a 
legalised  basis  by  establishing  collectorates 
in    Chinese    waters    at    the    gates    of    Hong- 


kong and  Macao,  at  which  gunboats  would 
be  stationed  to  enforce  payment  of  Likin  on 
the  opium  passing. 

The  agreement  between  Great  Britain  and 
China  signed  at  Chefoo  on  September  13, 
1876,  contained  among  its  clauses  the  follow- 
ing:— "Section  III.:  Trade. — 7.  The  Governor 
of  Hongkong  having  long  complained  of  the 
interference  of  the  Canton  Customs  revenue 
cruisers  with  the  junk  trade  of  that  Colony, 
the  Chinese  Government  agrees  to  the 
appointment  of  a  commission,  to  consist  of 
a  British  Consul,  an  officer  of  the  Honkong 
Government,  and  a  Chinese  official  of  equal 
rank,  in  order  to  the  establishment  of  some 
system  that  shall  enable  the  Chinese  Govern- 
ment to  protect  its  revenue  without  prejudice 
to  the  interests  of  the  Colony  ;"  and  "8.  On 
opium  Sir  Thomas  Wade  will  move  his 
Government  to  sanction  an  arrangement 
different  from  that  affecting  other  imports. 
British  merchants,  when  opium  is  brought 
into  port,  will  be  obliged  to  have  it  taken 
cognizance  of  by  the  Customs,  and  deposited 
in  bond,  either  in  a  warehouse  or  a  receiving 
hulk,  until  such  time  as  there  is  a  sale  for  it. 
The  importer  will  then  pay  the  Tariff  Duty 
on  it,  and  the  purchaser  the  Likin,  in  order 
to  the  prevention  of  the  evasion  of  the  Duty. 
The  amount  of  the  Likin  to  be  collected 
will  be  decided  by  the  different  provincial 
governments  according  to  the  circumstances 
of  each." 

Later,  the  Governments  of  Great  Britain 
and  China,  considering  (among  other  things) 
that  the  terms  of  clause  3,  above  quoted, 
"  are  not  sufficiently  explicit  to  serve  as  an 
efficient  regulation  for  the  traffic  in  opium, 
and  recognizing  the  desirability  of  placing 
restrictions  on  the  consumption  of  opium, 
have  agreed  to  the  present  Additional 
Article,"  which  was  signed  in  London  on 
July  18,  1885  :— 

"2.  In  lieu  of  the  arrangement  respecting 
opium  in  Clause  3  of  Section  III.  of  the 
Chefoo  Agreement,  it  is  agreed  that  foreign 
opium,  when  imported  into  China,  shall 
be  taken  cognizance  of  by  the  Imperial 
Maritime  Customs,  and  shall  be  deposited 
in  bond,  either  in  warehouses  or  receiving 
hulks  which  have  been  approved  of  by  the 
Customs,  and  that  it  shall  not  be  removed 
thence  until  there  shall  have  been  paid  to  the 
Customs  the  Tariff  Duty  of  30  Taels  per 
chest  of  100  catties,  and  also  a  sum  not 
exceeding  80  Taels  per  like  chest  as  Likin. 

"  3.  It  is  agreed  that  the  aforesaid  Import 
and  Likin  Duties  having  been  paid,  the 
owner  shall  be  allowed  to  have  the  opium 
re-packed  in  bond  under  the  supervision  oi 
the  Customs,  and  put  into  packages  of  such 
assorted  sizes  as  he  may  select  from  such 
sizes  as  shall  have  been  agreed  upon  by  the 
Customs  authorities  and  British  Consul  at  the 
port  of  entry. 

"  The  Customs  shall  then,  if  required, 
issue  gratuitously  to  the  owner  a  Transit 
Certificate  for  each  such  package,  or  one 
for  any  number  of  packages,  at  the  option 
of  the  owner. 

"  Such  certificate  shall  free  the  opium  to 
which  it  applies  from  the  imposition  of  any 
fuither  tax  or  duty  whilst  in  transport  in 
the  interior,  provided  that  the  package  has 
not  been  opened,  and  that  the  Customs  seals, 
marks,  and  numbers  on  the  packages  have 
not  been  effaced  or  tampered  with,"  &c. 

The  assent  of  the  P'oreign  Powers,  other 
than  British,  interested  in  the  trade  of  China 
having  been  obtained  to  the  terms  of  'this 
additional  Article,  a  Commission  was  nomi- 
nated in  accordance  with  the  terms  of 
Clause  7  of  Section  III.  of  the  Chefoo  Con- 
vention,   consisting    of     Mr.     James     Russel, 


Puisne  Judge  of  Hongkong,  Sir  Robert 
Hart,  K.C.M.G.,  Inspector-General  of  Customs, 
and  Shao,  Taoutai  of  Shanghai,  Joint  Com- 
missioners for  China  ;  and  Mr.  Byron 
Brennan,  His  Britannic  Majesty's  Consul  at 
Tientsin.  On  September  11,  1886,  an  agree- 
ment was  signed,  which  stipulated  among 
other  things,  that  an  office  under  the  foreign 
inspectorate  should  be  established  on  Chinese 
territory  in  Kowloon  for  the  sale  of  Chinese 
opium  duly  certificates,  and  that  the  inspec- 
torate should  be  responsible  for  the  entire 
control  of  that  office.  Later,  a  Convention 
on  similar  lines  was  arranged  with  the 
Portuguese  authorities  with  respect  to 
Macao,  the  office  of  the  foreign  inspector- 
ate to  be  located  on  Lappa.  In  fulfilment 
of  this  Agreement  the  Lappa  Customs  was 
opened  on  April  2,  1887,  for  the  collection 
of  Tariff  Import  Duty  (Hk.  TIs.  30I  and 
Convention  Likin  (Hk.  TIs.  80  per  picul)  on 
opium,  and  of  Provincial  Likin  and  Ching-fei 
Tax  on  general  cargo  at  the  rates  fixed  by 
the  provincial  tariffs  received  from  the 
Governor-General  of  the  Liang  Kwang.  It 
was  not,  however,  till  July  1st  of  the  same 
year  that  the  collection  of  native  duties  on 
general  cargo  at  the  rates  fi.xed  by  the 
native  Custom-house  tariff  received  from 
the  Hoppo,  or  Superintendent  of  Customs, 
at  Canton  commenced.  It  is  gratifying  to  add 
that  the  regime  thus  introduced  has  worked 
smoothly,  and  has  given  satisfaction  both  to 
Chinese  merchants  and  to  the  neighbouring 
Portuguese  Colony  of  Macao.  Junk  masters 
are  pleased  that  the  duties  are  fixed  in 
amount  and  collected  according  to  a  known 
tariff  and  are  no  longer  supplemented  by 
levies  of  uncertain  amount  for  paper,  ink, 
pens,  &c.,  as  was  previously  customary. 

Macao  has  spoken  for  itself.  Owing  to  the 
decline  in  the  trade  of  Macao,  which  had 
made  itself  manifest  from  1884  onwards,  a 
Commission,  consisting  of  two  municipal 
councillors,  the  Government  senior  interpreter, 
and  two  prominent  Chinese  merchants  was 
appointed  by  His  Excellency  the  Governor  to 
consider  the  causes  of  this  decline,  and  to 
suggest  the  means  best  calculated  to  arrest 
them.  In  this  report,  which  was  the  result  of 
investigations  extending  over  seven  months, 
and  was  published  in  the  Boletin  da  Proviiicia, 
of  November  12,  1889,  the  Commission  refers 
in  the  following  words  to  the  results  of  the 
Convention  with  China  and  of  the  Lappa 
Customs  regime  : — 

"The  causes  which  have  led  to  the  improve- 
ment already  called  attention  to  in  the  trade 
of  Macao  during  the  year  1888  are  : — 

"  I.  The  confidence  given  to  Chinese  mer- 
chants by  the  conclusion  of  the  Chino- 
Portuguese  Treaty,  which  defined  the  political 
status  of  this  Colony,  and  with  that  confidence 
drew  hither  the  capital  needed  to  increase 
trade. 

"2.  The  liberal  manner  in  which  the 
foreign  inspectorate  of  Chinese  Customs  has 
treated  the  Chinese  merchants  of  Macao,  by 
abolishing  taxes  on  their  trade  and  granting 
them  concessions — a  treatment  which  has 
given  a  large  impetus  to  trade. 

"  It  is  not  only  the  testimony  of  Chinese 
merchants  of  this  city,  but  it  is  also  the 
practical  experience  of  the  members  of  the 
Commission  in  local  business,  that  in  these 
two  points  alone  is  to  be  found  the  explanation 
of  the  commercial  improvement  which  took 
place  in  i888." 

The  regulations  under  which  the  native 
mercantile  marine  of  this  province  plies  were 
revised  and  codified  during  the  viceroyalty  of 
His  E.xcellency  Jui  Lin  (1865-74),  and  it  is 
very  seldom  that  papers  issued  prior  to  that 
date  are  now  seen,  partly  because  junks  do 


806     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.. 


not  last  many  \-ears.  and  partly  because  the 
papers  ought  to  be  renewed  regularly. 

in  addition  to  the  papers  issued  by  the 
territorial  authorities,  trading  vessels  are 
required  to  take  out  an  "arms  certificate" 
from  the  Cusloms.  This  certificate,  which 
pennits  the  c-arriage  o(  arms  (or  self-pro- 
tection alone,  can  be  called  for  at  any  time 
and  the  entries  in  it  and  the  arms  carried 
comparrd  ;  any  excess  discovered  is  liable  to 
omfiscaiion.  but  ammunition  used  may  be 
made  good,  with  the  sanction  of  the 
authoriiics,  after  the  reasons  for  its  use  have 
l>cen  reported.  To  require  junks  to  take  out 
this  ce  tificate  and  to  comply  with  its  terms 
is  a  measure  of  considerable  import.ince  to  the 
geneial  interests.  Permis>i<in  to  import  arms 
is  granted  by  authorities,  when  ihe  apclication 
is  made  by  responsible  persons.  Without 
such  orticial  sanction  impoit  is  forbidden  to 
foreigners  under  the  Treaties,  and  to  Chinese 
under  special  and  severe  regulations.  Unless, 
theiefore,  strict  control  is  kept  over  junks  in 
this  respect,  they  would  be  able  to  sell  their 
armament  inland  and  to  replenish  it  on  their 
return  to  Mac-ao,  « itii  the  result  that  the  evil- 
disposed  would  be  able  to  supply  themselves 
freely  with  arms  of  precision.  Inquiries 
instituted  proved  that  this  was  on  frequent 
occasions  being  done.  Arms  also  continue  to 
be  smuggled  in  large  quantities  into  the 
interior  by  passengers  or  gangs  of  coolies, 
specially  engaged  for  this  purpose,  who  pack 
among  their  luggage  rifles  and  revolvers  which 
have  been  previously  taken  to  pieces  to  facili- 
tate hiding.  It  is  impossible  to  search  all 
passengers  and  coolies,  and  the  handsome 
profits  gained  prompt  them  to  run  many  risks. 
That  the  Government  is  rendered  far  more 
difficult  by  this  cause  than  it  otherwise  would 
be,  no  one  can  doubt.  In  a  memorial  to  the 
Throne,  dated  Decemlxir  3,  1889,  His  Excel- 
lency Chang  Chih-tung,  the  then  Governor- 
General  of  Liang  Kwang,  drew  a  graphic 
picture  of  the  difiiculties  of  coping  with 
brigandage  in  this  province.  His  Excellency 
wrote  : — 

"  In  the  Kwangtung  province  piracy  has 
always  been  rife,  but  especially  on  the  sea- 
board ;  and  the  difticulties  of  combating  it 
have  always  been  seriously  increased  by  the 
changes  that  have  taken  place  during  the  past 
few  years  on  the  coast,  as  the  memorialist  has 
had  the  honour  to  lay  l>efore  His  Majesty  in 
detail  on  several  occasions.  The  chief  cause 
of  difficulty  is  the  fact  that  Hongkong  and 
Macao  have  become  refuges  for  the  pirates 
and  their  bases  of  operation.  In  each  place 
they  have  their  chiefs,  and  in  each  they  form 
themselves  into  organised  bands,  each  with 
its  special  designation,  and  from  each  they 
send  forth  parties  to  levy  blackmail.  The  rich 
merchant  living  in  a  populous  hamlet  or  a 
town,  the  poor  potter  in  the  open  country, 
and  the  agriculturist  farming  the  land — each 
is  victimised  in  turn.  From  this  blackmail 
very  large  sums  are  realised,  and  form  a  fund 
for  the  brit>ery  of  the  foreign  police,  for  the 
purchase  of  arms,  for  the  issue  of  com- 
passionate allowances  to  the  wounded  and 
the  families  of  the  killed,  the  balance  only 
tx:ing  distributed  among  the  members.  The 
ramifications  of  these  gangs  are  deep  and 
stable,  and  their  fraternity  very  numerous  ; 
and  in  every  respect  they  differ  altogether 
from  pirates  and  desperadoes  elsewhere. 
These  only  organise  together  when  they 
contemplate  a  coup,  and  distribute  there  and 
then  among  their  members  any  loot  they  may 
secure  ;  while,  in  Ihe  case  of  the  Hongkong 
and  Macao  pirates,  if  they  wish  to  hire  vessels, 
the  Chinese  authorities  have  no  power  to 
intervene  ;  if  they  wish  to  purchase  arms,  the 
Chinese  authorities  have  no  power  to  prevent 


them  ;  if  they  propose  to  act  in  concert,  the 
Chinese  auihorities  have  no  power  to  intercept 
them ;  while,  favoured  as  they  are  by  the 
extent  of  the  open  sea  and  the  ramifications  of 
the  inland  waterways,  they  are  able,  whenever 
a  piratic-al  attack  is  organised,  to  join  their 
forces  and  mass  their  vessels  into  fleets.  The 
sufferings  caused  by  these  gangs  to  the  law- 
abiding  are  heart-rending,  for  on  shore  they 
do  not  hesitate  to  kill  the  proprietor  they  are 
robbing,  if  he  defends  his  own,  or  to  fire  the 
place,  or  to  carry  off  his  children  ;  and  on  the 
water  they  do  not  hesitate  to  kill  or  drown 
everyone  on  the  boat  they  attack.  Before 
forces  can  be  concentrated  to  follow  and 
capture  them,  they  have  already  made  good 
their  escape  to  Hongkong  and  Macao,  and  to 
capture  them  in  detail  or  to  attack  them  in 
force  is  then  alike  inipossilile.  In  a  word, 
relying  on  the  secui  ity  Hongkong  and  Macao 
afford  them,  the  behaviour  of  these  men 
differs  in  nothing  from  open  rebellion  against 
the  Throne,"  &c. 

"  How  bold  and  daring  these  pirates  often 
are  is  illustrated  by  the  capture  of  one  of 
the  Salt  Commissioner's  launches.  While 
the  launch  was  at  anchor  at  a  certain  place 
two  informers  went  on  board  and  offered 
to  point  out  some  junks  carrying  a  contra- 
band cargo  of  opium,  salt,  and  kerosene. 
The  captain's  eagerness  to  make  a  seizure 
caused  him  to  fall  into  the  trap.  The  launch 
started  in  pursuit  of  the  supposed  smuggling 
vessels  and,  near  Motomoon,  caught  up  with 
a  junk  which  was  pointed  out  by  the 
informers  as  one  of  the  smugglers.  As  soon 
as  the  launch  went  alongside  to  board,  a 
dozen  or  more  well-armed  pirates  suddenly 
appeared  from  the  hold  of  the  junk,  jumped 
on  to  the  launch,  wounded  the  captain,  shot 
the  engineer,  and  drove  the  rest  of  the  crew 
into  the  cabin,  where  they  tied  them  up. 
They  then  took  charge  for  their  own 
purposes,  and  after  pirating  three  trading 
junks,  they  steamed  to  the  Bogue,  where  a 
small  boat  was  in  waiting,  transferred  their 
loot,  and  made  off.  A  part  of  this  gang 
was  afterwards  captured  and  promptly 
beheaded." 

Temporary  prohibitions  to  export  arms  and 
ammunition  have  on  several  occasions  been 
made  by  the  Governors  of  both  Hongkong 
and  Macao,  and  such  prohibitions  would  tend 
to  the  peace  and  well-being  not  only  of  the 
mainland  but  of  the  two  colonies  as  well,  but, 
unless  they  are  made  permanent  the  disorderly 
in  China  will  continue  to  provide  themselves 
with  the  means  of  oppressing  the  law-abiding, 
of  robbing  the  wealthy,  and  of  resisting  the 
lawful  authorities.  Towards  the  close  of  1892 
Companhia  Metropolitana  de  Kio  Janeiro,  for 
the  promotion  of  Chinese  emigration  to 
Brazil,  opened  an  agency  in  Hongkong,  but 
the  legislative  enactments  there  being  un- 
favourable to  such  an  enterprise,  the  locus 
operandi  was  removed  to  Macao,  and  the 
German  s.s.  Tetartos  was  chartered  to  convey 
the  emigrants  to  their  destination.  The 
steamer  was  arrested  in  Hongkong  in  July, 
1893,  on  a  charge  of  infringing  the  Chinese 
Emigration  Ordinance  of  1889,  but  was 
acquitted  by  the  jury  and  released.  In 
September  she  came  to  Macao  and  left  on 
October  17th  for  Rio  with  474  "emigrants." 
She  was  reported  to  have  reached  her 
destination,  but  the  actual  date  of  arrival 
was  variously  stated.  The  Chinese  authorities 
protested  against  this  emigration  and  the 
objections  to  it  were  many  and  serious.  A 
Treaty  was  negotiated,  it  is  true,  between 
China  and  Brazil  in  1881,  but  no  provision 
was  made  in  it  for  emigration,  and  its 
inadequacy  and  the  necessity  for  a  supple- 
mentary special  convention,  in  order  to  secure 


the  labour  desired,  had  been  recognised  by 
Brazil,  by  the  despatch  to  China,  for  this 
purpose,  of  a  special  Envoy,  who  was  then 
en  route.  Brazil  had  no  repi  esentative  in 
China,  and  China  had  no  accredited  agent  in 
Brazil  to  watch  the  emigrants'  interests. 
The  Brazil  country  was  in  the  throes  of 
revolt,  and  the  fact  that  the  Company  refused 
to  await  the  Envoy  and  the  conclusion  by 
him  of  the  negotiations  its  own  Government 
acknowledt;ed  to  be  necessary,  naturally 
raised  suspicion  of  its  bona  fides,  especially 
as  the  terms  offered  to  the  emigrants 
contained  a  most  objectionable  clause, 
transferring  the  emigrant  and  his  contract 
to  thiid  parlies.  The  Macao  auihorities 
virtually  maintamed  that,  as  long  as  the 
emigration  was  conducted  in  conformity  with 
Portuguese  law  China  had  no  grounds  of 
remonstrance.  As  a  mattf  r  of  fact,  Portuguese 
law  provides  only  for  free  emigration,  i.e. 
emigration  under  which  each  emigrant  pays 
for  his  own  passage — an  impossibility  when 
the  passage  is  as  costly  as  it  is  to  Brazil. 
But  waiving  this  point  and  admitting  that 
emigration  to  Brazil  under  suitable  conditions 
might  be  desiratile,  China  would,  in  the 
circumstances  detailed  above,  and  seeing  that 
the  emigrants  were  not  residents  of  Macao, 
but  subjects  of  China,  have  failed  in  one 
of  the  primary  duties  of  a  self-respecting 
Government  to  its  subjects  had  she  remained 
silent.  Her  protest  was  ignored,  but  no 
second  steamer  has  been  despatched. 

In  1895  the  plague  made  its  appearance, 
and  raged  with  great  violence  till  towards 
the  end  of  the  following  July.  It  was  first 
observed  in  the  least  sanitary  and  most 
densely  populated  Chinese  quarters,  whence 
the  germs  spread  all  over  the  place,  chiefly 
through  infected  rats.  The  rats  invaded  some 
of  the  best  situated  and  thoroughly  disinfected 
foreign  houses  on  the  hills,  where,  in  their 
hasty  flight  for  safety,  they  had  sought  refuge, 
and  were  found  dying  or  dead  in  the 
woodwork  of  the  ceilings  and  in  the  roofs. 
In  several  cases  observed,  though  disinfectants 
had  not  been  spared  and  every  care  was 
taken,  the  Chinese  servants  removing  these 
dead  rats  were  attacked  by  the  plague  almost 
immediately,  and  succumbed.  The  appearance 
of  the  plague  created  a  panic  among  the  native 
population,  which  nothing  could  stop.  During 
this  period  of  nearly  four  months'  duration, 
trade  was  greatly  interfered  with,  and  for  a 
while  was  almost  at  a  standstill.  No  sooner, 
however,  had  the  epidemic  abated,  than  the 
people  came  flocking  back,  and  in  a  very  short 
time  all  signs  of  the  dire  calamity  had  been 
effaced,  and  the  place  and  the  trade  had 
resumed  their  normal  aspect.  Since  then 
plague  has  been  more  or  less  endemic,  and 
cases  occur,  in  greater  or  smaller  numbers, 
almost  every  year  during  the  spring,  with  the 
beginning  of  the  rainy  season. 

The  volume  of  trade  passing  the  Lappa 
Stations,  though,  of  course,  largely  affected 
by  the  conditions,  climatic  and  financial,  of 
the  neighbouring  districts  on  the  mainland, 
is  practically  measured  by  the  degree  of 
prosperity  enjoyed  by  Macao  as  a  commercial 
centre  ;  and  the  future  prospects  of  that 
trade  depend  in  the  main  upon  whether  the 
influences  affecting  Macao  tend  towards  the 
expansion  or  restriction  of  its  commerce. 
There  is  probably  no  doubt  that  their 
tendency,  at  present  at  least,  is  towards  the 
latter.  The  greater  wealth  and  constantly 
increasing  connnercial  importance  of  Hong- 
kong cannot  fail  to  make  this  port  each  year 
a  more  serious  rival  of  Macao  and  to  with- 
draw trade  from  Lappa  to  Kowloon.  In 
the  past,  several  causes  have  tended  to 
obscure    the    effect   of  this   competition  and, 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     «07 


to   a  certain   extent,  to  neutralise  it  ;  but  as 
they  pass  awav  its   serious   character   gradu- 
ally  forces   itself   into   view.      As    Hongkong 
advanced   year  by  year  into  importance,  the 
effect  on  Macao  of  the  rivalry  of  that  rising 
port  was  veiled  by  the  lucrative  coolie  traffic 
carried   on   from   Macao  ;  by   the  contraband 
trade  in   opium,    which,    though    shared    by 
Hongkong,   continued,   as   it   had   before   the 
cession    of    that    island,    to   make   Macao   its 
centre  ;    by   tlie    fact    that,   owing    chiefly   to 
the    Hoppo's    procedure,   Macao  became   the 
headquarter  s    of    the   west   coast   trade ;   and 
by   the    enormous  profits  derived  by   Macao 
from    the    establishment   of   the    lotteries   on 
the     result     of     the     Chinese     literary     and 
military  examinations    known    as   the   "Wei- 
sing."      These    sources    of    gain    have    been 
swept  away  one  after   the   other.      In   1875, 
after  an  existence  of  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
during  which    time    enormous    fortunes   had 
been     amassed     from     the    500,000    Chinese 
estimated    to    have    been    sent    from    Macao 
beyond  the  seas,  the  coolie  traffic  was  finally 
extinguished.     In   1876  the  opening  of  Kiung- 
chow,  followed,  a  year  later,  by  the  opening 
of    Pakhoi,   as   Treaty  ports,   dealt  a   serious 
blow     to     the    virtual     monopoly    previously 
enjoyed   by   Macao  of  the  west  coast  traffic, 
and,  by  substituting  the  safe  and  rapid  steamer 
for  the  slow  and   unwieldy  junk,  transferred 
a  considerable  portion  of  that  trade  to  Hong- 
kong.     In     1885    Macao's    monopoly    of    the 
Weising   lottery  came   to   an    end.     Though 
fully  sensible  of  the  serious  harm,  moral  and 
financial,  worked  by  this   form   of  gambling 
to    the    people   of   this  province,   China   had 
through     long     years     steadfastly     set     her 
face,     as     one     of     the     principles     of     her 
government,    against    any    compromise   with 
legalised  gambling,   whether  as   a  source  of 
revenue  or  not,  and  had  summarily  cashiered 
the   Governor-General    Yiiig    Han    when,    in 
1874,  he  sanctioned  the  establishment  of  this 
lottery    at    Canton.      Experience    during    the 
following    ten    years   showed   beyond  doubt, 
however,   that   so   long   as   the   headquarters 
of  the  lottery  continued  in  Macao  (that  is  in 
the    province    itself),   prohibitions,   no   matter 
how     strict,     and    a    preventive    service,    no 
matter    how    numerous,    were   insufficient   to 
prevent  the  surreptitious  introduction  of  tickets 
in   great  numbers,  and  that  to  allow   things 
to  continue  as  they  then  were  meant  simply 
the   constant  drain   of   money  from    Kvvang- 
tung     into     Macao.       In    1885,    therefore,    a 
reluctant  consent  was  given  10  the  establish- 
ment of  the  lottery  in  China,  with  the  result 
that   the   sum   the   monopolist  in  Macao  was 
willing  to   pay  the   Portusiuese    treasury   for 
his  privileges  at   once   fell   from    $353,000   to 
$36,000  a  year.      In    1887  a  heavy  blow   was 
dealt  to  smuggling  bv  the  Convention  between 
China  and  Portugal  which  led  to  the   estab- 
lishment  of    this  office  ;    and   how   large  an 
interest  the  smuggling  of  opium  from  Macao, 
was  may  be  gathered  from  tlie  fact  that  the 
Harbour  Master,  in  his  report  upon  the  trade 
of  that  port  for  the  year  1882  (published  in  the 
Boletin   da   Proviiicia   of   December  5,   1884), 
estimated  the   value   of  the  crude  opium  re- 
shipped  to   China  at  $3,597,029,  consisting  of 
declared     shipments     valued     at     $1,633,952 
(presumably    by    junk,    but   of   which   "much, 
certainly,    was    smuggled),    and    secret   ship- 
ments    valued     at     $1,963,077     (representing, 
presumably,    what    was    smuggled    in    small 
boats  and   by  armed  gangs   overland).     This 
Convention   tended   undoubtedly  to  the  well- 
being  of  the  community,  by  eliminating  from 
it    a    most    unruly  and   turbulent   class   who 
had    derived    a    livelihood    by   systematically 
breaking  the   laws   of   China.     On  the  other 
hand,   the   closing  of  many  sources  of  large 


profit  which  resulted  from  the  occurrences 
above-mentioned,  coupled  with  the  gradual 
extinction  of  the  tea  trade  before  the 
competition  of  Indian  and  Ceylon  leaf,  has 
diminished  the  wealth  of  Macao,  and  conse- 
quently its  purchasing  powers.  Several 
other  causes,  such  as  increasing  taxes,  tend  to 
the  same  result.  At  present  the  capital  of 
Macao  cannot  bear  comparison  with  that  of 
Hongkong  ;  and,  as  the  natural  tendency  of 
trade  is  to  gravitate  to  the  most  important 
centre,  it  will  inevitably  abandon  Macao  for 
Hongkong,  unless  the  smaller  cost  of  living 
gives  the  former  an  appreciable  advantage 
over  the  latter.  Macao  has  decidedly  enjoyed 
this  advantage  in  the  past,  but  is  now  rapidly 
losing  it,  as,  to  meet  the  ever-increasing 
demand  from  Portugal,  caused  by  her  financial 
position,  new  imposts  are  being  constantly 
introduced.  The  acquisition  of  Tonkin  by 
France  has  deprived  Macao  of  the  trade 
which  formerly  existed  with  that  country, 
and  it  is  now  centred  in  Hongkong,  steamers 
having  taken  the  place  of  junks. 

A  cause,  however,  which  probably  con- 
tributes more  than  any  of  those  already 
enumerated  to  the  decadence  of  Macao  as  a 
centre  of  commerce  is  the  rapid  silting  of 
the  approaches  to  the  port,  due  to  the  large 
amount  of  detritus  carried  down  by  the 
waters  of  the  Pearl  and  West  Rivers,  between 
the  mouths  of  which  Macao  is  situated. 
Repeated  appeals  have  been  made  to  the 
Home  Govermnent  by  the  Macao  authorities 
for  permission  to  employ  the  funds  in  hand 
for  dredging  purposes,  but,  so  far,  without 
success.  The  evil,  however,  is  rapidly  in- 
creasing, and  must  be  dealt  with  in  the  near 
future,  if  Macao  is  to  remain  a  port  at  all. 
Chinese  merchants  aver  that,  owing  to  the 
annually  decreasing  depth  of  water  in  the 
outer  anchorage,  the  trade  formerly  enjoyed 
by  Macao  with  the  Chao  Chow  Prefecture  has 
been  diverted  to  Hongkong.  Finally,  native 
traders  maintain  that  the  absence  of  banks 
which  would  advance  on  a  junk's  cargo  as 
soon  as  it  reached  port  militate  strongly 
againgst  Macao's  trade.  As  soon  as  a  junk 
arrives  at  Kongmoon  banks  are  ready  to 
make  advances  against  the  cargo,  which 
enable  the  consignees  to  expedite  the 
vessel's  discharge  and  to  purchase  return 
cargo  at  once,  with  the  result  that  a  larger 
number  of  voyages  can  be  made  in  the  year 
and  capital  turned  over  more  frequently.  In 
consequence,  a  larger  portion  of  the  west 
coast  trade  tends  each  year  to  leave  Macao 
in  favour  of  Kongmoon. 

Macao's  future  prospect  is,  therefore,  not  a 
bright  one.  First  and  foremost,  if  Macao  is 
to  remain  a  port  of  any  itnportauce  whatever, 
it  is  necessary  that  Portugal  should  permit 
the  Colony  to  undertake  the  dredging  of 
the  approaches  to  the  port.  The  next  most 
important  step  would  appear  to  be  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  bonded  warehouse,  in  which 
goods  could  be  placed  on  arrival  under  the 
charge  of  responsible  persons,  so  that  the 
banks  might  be  induced  to  make  on  them 
advances  necessary  to  expedite  the  movement 
of  shipping.  As  a  third  step,  less  taxation 
and  fewer  monopolies  would  tend  to  give  a 
healthy  impetus  to  trade.  These  monopolies, 
such  as  those  on  kerosene,  on  samshu  dis- 
tilled from  rice,  on  salt,  &c.,  are  managed  by 
Chinese  who  pay  fixed  sums  for  the  privilege 
and  make  large  profits  for  themselves.  They 
certainly  increase  the  cost  of  living  in  Macao 
and  keep  down  competition — the  soul  of  trade; 
but  they  bring  in  necessary  revenue,  and  as 
a  good  portion  of  it  is  spent  on  making 
improvements,  such  as  sanitation,  new  roads, 
&c.,  the  system  has  its  advantages. 

It   has   been   argued    that  the   construction 


of  a  railway  from  Fatshan  to  Macao  would 
do  much  to  restore  the  ancient  glory  of 
Macao,  and,  with  this  object  in  view,  a  con- 
cession was  obtained  in  1902  from  the  Chinese 
for  the  construction  of  a  line  connecting 
these  two  places.  A  convention  was  accord- 
ingly drawn  up  at  Shanghai  in  November, 
1904,  providing  that  the  shares  in  the  con- 
cession were  to  be  held  half  by  Chinese 
and  half  by  Portuguese  subjects.  Such  a 
railway,  if  it  were  not  too  heavily  handi- 
capped at  the  outset  by  the  large  outlay  of 
capital  required  to  provide  the  bridges  to 
cross  the  net-work  of  creeks  and  rivers  in 
the  delta  should  be  successful,  and  would 
certainly  prove  of  great  advantage  to  the 
traders  and  travelhng  public  in  the  many 
large  towns  of  the  district  that  it  would 
traverse.  It  is  not  so  clear  where  the  benefit 
to  Macao  would  couie  in.  Until  the  approaches 
to  its  ports  are  in  a  condition  to  permit  at 
least  coasting  vessels  to  enter  and  lie  at 
anchor  afloat  and  in  safety,  the  Colony  must 
be  content  to  remain,  so  far  as  trade  is  con- 
cerned, a  mere  warehouse,  subsidiary  to 
Hongkong,  and  it  cannot  hope,  under  present 
conditions,  to  attract  capital  or  to  resume  its 
ancient  position  as  an  emporium  having  its 
own  import  and  export  traffic  directly  with 
the  rest  of  the  world. 

The  principal  foreign  imports  from  Macao 
into  China  are  :  Opium,  cotton  goods,  woollen 
goods,  metals,  raw  Indian  cotton,  Japanese 
matches,  kerosene  oil,  and  rice. 

The  principal  exports  from  China  into 
Macao  are  :  Egg-i,  palm-le  if  fans,  mats,  pigs, 
poultry,  silk  piece  goods,  sugar,  tobacco  leaf, 
and  timber. 

The  total  tonnage — entries  and  clearances 
— of  junks  passing  the  Lappa  Stations  has 
averaged  annually  during  the  last  decade 
870,000  tons  ;  and  the  value  of  this  trade 
Hk.  Tls.  16,000,000.  The  revenue  collected  on 
behalf  of  the  Chinese  Government  during  the 
same  period  amounted  to  about  Hk.  Tls.  400,000 
a  year. 


DR.    A.    P.    LELLO. 

Dr.  Alfredo  Pinto  Lello,  Colonial  Secre- 
tary to  the  Government  of  Macao,  was  born 
in  1864  at  Pontes,  in  the  district  of  Villa 
Real,  Portugal.  From  1890  to  1892  he  was 
Colonial  Secretary  of  the  province  of  Mozam- 
bique, and  Acting-Governor  of  the  District  of 
Lorenzo  Marques.  He  was  transferred  to 
Macao  in  1893. 


COUNT   DE   SENNA   FEENANDES. 

Count  de  Sen.n'.\  Ferxandes,  the  Consul  for 
Siam,  in  Macao,  is  a  native  of  the  Portuguese 
Settlement.  Born  in  1867  he  received  an 
excellent  education  at  St.  George's  College, 
Weybridge,  Surrey,  and,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
returned  to  the  place  of  his  birth  with  the 
most  pleasant  memories  of  his  stay  in  Eng- 
land, and  well  equipped  for  the  responsibilities 
of  later  life.  Besides  having  the  supervision 
of  certain  commercial  interests,  he  became 
the  intermediary  between  the  Chinese  and 
Portuguese  Governments.  In  recognition  of 
his  public  services  he  has  been  made  a 
Commander  of  the  Legion  de  Conception, 
and  decorated  with  the  Order  of  the  Crown 
of  Siam. 


ME.    A.    P.    DE    MIEANDA    GUEDES. 

Mr.  a.  p.  de  Miranda  Guedes,  Director  of 
Public  Works  and  Superintendent  of  the  Fire 


808     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Brigade,  was  born  at  Poiares,  near  Regoa, 
in  tlie  district  of  Villa  Heal.  Portugal,  in 
1875.  He  obtained  honours  at  the  University 
of  Coimbra  and  at  the  Aimy  School  in 
Lisbon.  As  a  civil  and  mining  engineer 
he  served  in  several  Portuguese  colonies, 
including  West  Africa,  and  has  been  Chief 
of  the  Railway  section  of  St.  Thome,  Chief 
of  the  Survey  of  the  Railway  of  Malange, 
and  Director  of  Land  Surveys  in  Angola. 
He  received  his  present  appointinent  in  1906. 


HS.   P.   N.   DA  SILTA. 

Mr.  Pkdro  Noi..\sco  ua  Silva  has  taken 
part  in  a  number  of  progressive  educational 
movements,  and  has  been  responsible  for 
initiating  several  important  municipal  im- 
provements. He  was  born  at  Macao,  on 
May  6,  1842.  During  his  academic  course 
at  the  Seminary  of  St.  Joseph  he  won  the 
first  prize  in  Philosophy,  and,  on  the  com- 
pletion of  his  studies,  was  appointed  Student 
Interpreter  in  the  Government  Chinese 
Translation  Department,  of  which,  subse- 
quently, he  rose  to  be  the  head.  When, 
later,  the  department  became  an  independent 
government  office  he  was  responsible  for 
its  total  re-organisation.  In  1887  Mr. 
Xolasco  da  Silva  was  appointed  Secretary 
Interpreter  to  the  Portuguese  Minister 
Plenipotentiary  to  Peking,  Conde  de  Souza 
Roza,  at  present  Ambassador  in  Paris,  whose 
special  mission  to  the  Chinese  capital 
resulted  in  the  Portuguese-Chinese  Treaty 
of  Decemt)er  1st  of  that  year,  in  which  China, 
for  the  first  time,  recognised  the  sovereignty 
of  Portugal  over  Macao.  Always  interested 
in  educational  matters  Mr.  Nolasco  da  Silva 
has  been  a  teacher  of  Chinese  in  the  Semin- 
ary of  St.  Joseph,  and  in  the  Commercial 
Institute.  He  has  translated  and  compiled 
several  school-h)ooks,  among  which  is  the 
"  Manual  da  Lingua  Sinica  para  uso  dos  Joveus 
Macaenses."  He  founded  the  "  Associacao 
Promotora  da  Instruccao  dos  Macaenses"  (thL- 
association  for  the  promotion  of  the  education 
of  Macaenses),  which  now  maintains  the 
English  Commercial  School  conducted  by  Mr. 
R.  A.  Coates,  a  graduate  of  Dublin  University, 
and  he  organised  the  two  central  schools  of 
primary  instruction  for  boys  and  girls  re- 
spectively. It  was  due  also,  to  his  initiative, 
tnat  that  splendid  charitable  institution,  the 
Santa  Casa  da  Misericordia,  was  revived, 
and,  by  his  organisation  of  the  great  "  Santa 
Casa "  lottery,  placed  on  a  sound  financial 
basis.  For  several  years  he  was  the  pro- 
vedor,  or  president,  of  this  far-reaching 
philanthropic  enterprise,  and  his  term  of 
office  was  marked  by  the  erection  of  the 
Orphans'  Asylum,  the  introduction  of  the 
service  for  the  relief  of  the  poor,  and  the 
framing  of  the  present  regulations.  Mr. 
Nolasco  da  Silva's  participation  in  municipal 
affairs  has  t>een  no  less  noteworthy.  During 
his  occupancy  of  the  positions  of  vice- 
president  and  president  of  the  Municipal 
Council  or  the  "  Leal  Senado  "  as  it  is  termed 
locally,  a  numt>er  of  important  reforms  were 
carried  out.  The  new  market  and  some  fine 
commodious  buildings  were  erected  on  the 
site  of  the  old  Sao  Domingo  market  and  in 
the  I^argo  do  Senado,  where,  formerly,  only 
insanitary  little  houses  existed.  In  other 
parts  of  the  town  several  resumptions  of 
insanitary  property  were  also  carried  out, 
and  the  lighting  of  the  public  streets  by 
electricity  was  due  almost  solely  to  his 
efforts.  For  a  time  Mr.  Nolasco  da  Silva 
was  editor  of  the  Echo  do  Povo,  a  Portuguese 
weekly  paper   published  in    Hongkong,   and 


he  was  also  the  principal  contributor  to  the 
weekly  papers,  0  Macaeiisf  and  the  Echo 
Miicacnse,  published  at  Macao.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Conselho  Inspector  da  In- 
struccao Publica,  and  has  been  several  times 


PEDRO    NOLASCO    DA    SILVA. 

a  member  of  the  Conselho  de  Provincia. 
About  twenty-five  years  ago,  in  recognition 
of  his  many  services,  he  was  created  by  the 
Portuguese  Government  Cavalleiro  da  ordem 
de  Nosso  Senhor  Jesus  Christo. 


m 


HE.   F.   X.    PEREISA. 

Mr.  Francisco  Xavier  Pereira  has  the 
distinction  of  being  the  youngest  president 
of  the  Leal  Senado  ever  appointed.  He  was 
elected  to  the  position  in  1907,  and  his  term 
of  office  will  not  expire  until  1909.  Born  at 
Macao  in  1883,  he  was  educated  at  the 
Macao  Lyceum  and  at  Coimbra  University. 
After  being  admitted  as  a  barrister,  he  re- 
turned to  Macao,  in  1905,  to  practise  law. 


HR.  A.  J.  BASTO. 

Mr.  a.  J.  Basto,  who  has  been  elected  many 
times  as  president  of  the  Leal  Senado,  has 
practised  as  a  lawyer  in  Macao  for  tliirty- 
eight  years.  Born  hi  Macao  in  1848,  he 
travelled  a  great  deal  during  his  younger 
days,  visiting  Shanghai  many  times,  India, 
Portugal,  France,  Spain,  Italy,  England,  and 
different  parts  of  Africa.  He  is  a  Commander 
of  the  Portuguese  Order  of  Christ,  the  Order 
of  the  Pope,  the  Rising  Sun  of  Japan,  the 
Crown  of  Siam,  and  the  Redemption  of  the 
Republic  of  Liberia  ;  a  Chevalier  of  tlie  Legion 
d'Honneur,  and  a  Knight  of  various  other 
orders.  Mr.  Basto  is  also  a  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Geographical  Society  of  England,  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society 
of  Lisbon,  and  of  other  scientific  societies 
of  Europe,  and  was  the  secretary  of  a 
Diplomatic  Mission  from  Portugal  to  Japan 
and  Bangkok. 


DE.   L.  F.   MAEQUES. 

Dr.  Lourenvo  Pereira  Marques,  son  of 
the  late  Commander  Lourenvo  Marques,  was 
born  in  Macao,  in  the  famous  garden  of 
Cainoens,  which  belonged  to  his  family. 
Educated  at  the  Royal  College  of  St.  Jose, 
Macao,  and  at  Lisbon  and  Dublin,  he  is  a 
Fellow   of   the    Royal  Academv  of    Medicine 


FRANCISCO    XAVIER    PEREIRA, 

President  of  tlie  Lc;il  Senado. 


LOURENCO  PEREIRA  MARQUES,  M.D. 

in  Ireland,  a  member  of  the  Royal  College 
of  Physicians  of  Ireland,  and  a  Fellow  of 
the  Royal  Geographical  Society  of  Lisbon. 
He  is  the  author  of  essays  on  various 
subjects,  and  has  written  several  articles 
descriptive  of  his  travels.  He  is  a  Com- 
mander of  the  Portuguese  Military  Order  of 
Christ,  and  a  Knight  of  the  Ancient  and 
Most  Noble  Order  of  the  Tower  and  Sword, 
the  latter  decoration  being  awarded  him  in 
recognition  of  assistance  rendered  during  the 
plague  epidemics.  Dr.  Marques  frequently 
gives  poor  patients  the  benefit  of  his  medical 
experience  without  payment.  He  has  a  large 
circle  of  friends,  and  is  a  highly  esteemed 
member  of  the  local  communitv. 


HS.   Ii.   A.   L.   EEMEDIOS. 

Mr.  Luiz  Au(!L'sto  Lopes  Remedios,  the 
Postmaster-General  of  Macao,  was  born  in 
the  Colony  in  1874,  and  was  educated  at 
Macao  and  Singapore.  At  tlie  age  of  nine- 
teen he  joined  the  China   Trades'   Insurance 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      809 


Company,  but  returned  to  Macao  in  1900, 
and  received  his  present  appointment  two 
years  later. 


greets  the  traveller  as  his  vessel  rounds  the 
western  curve  prior  to  entering  the  inner 
harbour.  Kemodelled  up  to  date,  its  furnish- 
ings and  fittings  are  unexcelled  in  the  Colony, 


the  comfort  and  conveniences  to  be  obtained 
in  it. 


® 


MR.    A.    H.    WILZEB. 

Mr.  a.  H.  Wilzek.  the  Commissioner  of 
Customs  for  the  Lappa  district,  which  encircles 
Macao,  was  born  at  Hamburg  in  1866  and 
educated  there.  He  came  to  China  in  1887 
for  the  Customs  service,  and  was  stationed, 
first  at  Swatow,  and  afterwards  at  Peking  and 
Canton.  In  1899,  following  immediately  upon 
his  return  from  a  holiday  trip  to  Europe,  he 
was  appointed  to  Sliasi  on  the  Yangtsze,  and, 
one  year  later,  to  Peking.  On  his  way  north, 
he  was  delayed  at  Tientsin  by  the  Boxer 
troubles,  and,  returning  to  Shanghai,  held  an 
appointment  there  until  1901.  He  was  then 
retransferred  to  the  capital,  where  he  remained 
till  the  end  of   1904. 


ME.    M.    DA    SILVA    MENDES. 

Mr.  M.  da  Silva  Mendks,  who  has  been 
practising  as  a  lawyer  and  advocate  in 
Macao  since  1902,  was  born  in  1870  at 
Santo  Thyrso.  He  had  a  very  successful 
career  at  Coimbra  University,  and  now,  in 
addition  to  his  professional  duties,  he  is 
Professor  of  German  at  the  Institute  of 
Macao.  He  devotes  a  considerable  portion 
of  his  spare  time  to  literary  work,  and  his 
publications  include  "  O  Socialismo  Libertario 
on  Anarchismo,"  and  "  Guilherme  Tell." 


THE   BOA   VISTA. 

0.\  an  artistic  slope  with  a  picturesque  back- 
ground and  charming  surroundings,  stands 
the  Hoa  Vista  Hotel,  a  stately  building  which 


'  ■^'T'^^'^-'-xfi'^''f-S'j"i'  '■i'-'-:trssii^if,t 


.^ilts*-. 


;^>%.  •, 


THE    BOA    VISTA    HOTEL. 


and  everything  is  being  done  to  meet  the 
demands  of  modern  fastidiousness.  The 
hotel  is  the  property  of  the  Santa  Casa  da 
Misericordia,  and  is  under  European  manage- 
ment. The  strictest  supervision  as  to  food, 
cleanliness,  and  hygiene  is  exercised,  and 
visitors  all  speak  in  enthusiastic  terms  of  the 
general  conduct  of  the  establishment  and  of 


THE   MACAO   HOTEL. 

This  hotel  is  owned  by  Mr.  William  F"armer, 
the  proprietor  of  the  Victoria  Hotel,  Canton. 
It  enjoys  an  excellent  situation  and  is  in  high 
favour  with  visitors  from  Hongkong,  many 
of  whom  frequently  spend  a  week-end  or  a 
short  holiday  in  Macao. 


tST:3»^>'^-^.' 


CHINA    IMPORT    AND    EXPORT    LUMBER    COMPANY'S    YARD,    TSINGTAU. 


TSINGTAU. 


[SINGTAU  is  the  capital  of  the 
German  Protectorate  of  that 
name.  It  lies  at  the  entrance 
of  Kiaochau  Bay,  which  runs 
about  twenty  miles  inland 
from  a  point  two  miles  north- 
west of  Cape  Evelyn.  It  is 
ail  important  trade  outlet  for  the  province  of 
Shantung,  and  as  such  has  come  to  be  a 
formidable  rival  of  Chefoo.  The  murder  of 
two  German  missionaries  in  November,  1897, 
led  to  the  occupation  of  Tsingtau  by  a 
German  squadron,  and  the  territory  now 
embraced  by  the  Protectorate  was  leased  to 
the  German  Government  for  a  term  of  ninety- 
nine  years ;  while  a  /one  of  interest,  extend- 
ing for  50  kilometres  round  the  district  was 
agreed  upon,  within  which  China  may  not 
undertake  anything  without  the  consent  of 
Germany.  In  September,  1898,  Tsingtau  was 
declared  a  free  port,  but  by  a  convention, 
which  came  into  force  in  1906,  the  Chinese 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs  were  empowered 
to  collect  duties  here  as  at  other  ports,  but 
with  the  stipulation  that  20  per  cent,  of  the 
receipts  should  be  paid  to  the  German 
Government  From  1898  to  1905  the  trade 
of  Tsingtau  increased  from  Tls.  2.000.000  to 
Tls.  22.322,680.  The  total  value  of  the  trade 
for  1906  amounted  to  Tls.  30,572,381,  an 
increase  of  33  per  cent,  over  that  of  the 
previous  year.  The  year  1907  showed  a 
considerable  falling  off,  the  net  trade  amount- 
mg  only  to  Tls.  28,637,889 ;  but  in  this  Tsingtau 
only  shared  with  other  ports  in  a  general 
depression.  The  principal  item  of  export  is 
straw-braid,  Tsingtau  having  become  the 
chief  market  in  North  China  for  that  product. 
Other  industries  now  carried  on  include  silk- 


reeling,  brewing,  soap-making,  tanning,  and 
coal  mining.  Many  grains,  including  wheat, 
barley,  millet,  and  maize  are  grown  in  small 
quantities  in  the  fertile  alluvial  plains  of  the 


Protectorate,  and  fruit-grafting  is  undertaken 
with  great  success.     An  extensive  scheme  of 
afforestation  is  in  progress  upon  the  hills. 
The  administration  of  Tsingtau  consists    of 


SIEMSSEN    &    CO.'S    OFFICES    AND    GODOWN,    TSINGTAU. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      811 


SIEMENS    SCHUCKERTWERKE.— THE  Native  City  Power-statiox. 


'"-^^■:»,"f?'«!^?^gP!5^P«P«»5W»-  • 


SIEMSSEN    &    CO.'S    TIMBER    YARD,    TSINGTAU. 


a  Council  composed  of  the  heads  of  the 
several  administrative  departments,  under  the 
personal  supervision  of  the  Governor,  and 
three  civil  members — the  first  nominated  by 
the  Governor,  the  second  chosen  from  among 
the  members  of  non-Chinese  firms,  and  the 
third  representing  tax-payers  paying  at  least 
$50  ground-tax,  without  distinction  of  nation- 
ality. Special  committees  are  appointed  to 
deal  with  questions  concerning  public-house 
licences,  land-tax,  church  and  school  matters, 
and  poor  relief.  The  land  question  has 
received  special  attention,  the  object  of  the 
administration  being  to  give  security  of  tenure 
to  settlers,  and  to  oppose  mere  land  specu- 
lation. The  revenue  of  the  colony  for  1907 
was  about  1,542,700  marks,  and  the  treasury 
contribution  was  about  11,600,000  marks. 
The  revenue  for  1908  was  estimated  at  1,725,800 
marks,  and  the  treasury  contribution  was  fixed 
at  10,601,600  marks. 

Tsingtau  offers  excellent  facilities  for  the 
handling  of  cargo.  A  large  harbour,  enclosed 
by  breakwaters,  was  begun  in  1899,  and 
the  first  pier  was  opened  to  the  public  on 
March  6,  1904.  Dredging  was  carried  out 
on  an  extensive  scale,  and  accommodation  is 
now  available  for  the  largest  ships.  The 
wharves  and  piers  are  in  direct  connection 
with  the  railway,  so  that  vessels  lying  along- 
side may  discharge  or  receive  their  cargo 
with  a  minimum  of  handling.  A  large  dry 
dock,  capable  of  receiving  the  largest  class 
of  vessels  trading  in  Eastern  waters,  was 
opened  in  October,  i<;o5. 

The  construction  of  the  Shantung  Railway 
was   begun   in   October,   1899,  Prince   Henry 


812      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


of  Prussia  perfonning  the  ceremony  of  cuttiiij; 
the  first  sod.  The  section  from  Tsingtau  to 
Tsinanfu  was  opened  on  June  i,  1904.  The 
Company  to  which  the  railway  concession 
was  granted  was  also  given  the  right  of 
mining  in  Shantung  Province,  with  the  result 
that    the    rich   coal    lieUls   in  the   neighbour- 


hood of  Tsingtau  are  being  rapidly  developed. 
There  seems  little  doubt  that  Tsingtau  with 
its  temperate  climate  will  soon  become  one 
of  the  most  popular  holiday  resorts  in  China. 
It  is  only  thirty-six  hours'  journey  fnim  Shang- 
hiii.  and  its  attractions  include  charming 
scenery,  excellent  bathing,  and  a  g(x>d  band. 


A  racecourse  with  polo  ground  has  been 
constructed,  and  other  facilities  for  sport  have 
been  provided.  Substantial  residences  are 
being  built  on  all  sides,  and  the  town,  which 
possesses  a  good  water  supply,  and  is 
partly  lit  by  electricity,  is  making  rapid 
progress. 


AMOY. 


By  Cecil  A.  V.  BOWRA,  Commissioner  of  Customs. 


|M0Y,  the  more  souttierly  of  the 
two  ports  in  the  province  of 
Fokien,  lies  in  lat.  N.  24°  27', 
long.  E.G.  118"  5'.  Fokien, 
the  area  of  which  is  about 
46,000  square  miles,  with  an 
estimated  population  of  some 
twenty-five  millions,  is  almost  wholly  moun- 
tainous. In  the  southern  portion  which 
constitutes  the  Ainoy  hinterland,  range  super- 
venes upon  range,  with  here  and  there  patches 
of  fertile  valley  ;  the  rivers  are  shallow,  and 
impeded  by  rapids  ;  the  valleys  are  difficult 
of  access,  and  produce  but  a  bare  livelihood 
for  the  inhabitants,  who,  reported  to  be  the 
rudest  and  least  cultivated  of  all  the  peoples 
in  China,  are  largely  constrained  to  better 
their  condition  by  emigration.  The  sea-coast 
of  rugged  granite  rocks  is  fringed  with  islands 
and  deeply  indented  with  numerous  bays, 
bights,  and  inlets.  At  the  head  of  these  inlets 
are  to  be  found  the  principal  cities  and  the 
mouths  of  the  chief  rivers. 

The  island  of  Amoy  lies  in  a  large  shallow 
bay,  the  extremities  of  which  are  Huithau 
Point  on  the  north-east,  and  Tinhai  Point  on 
the  south-west.  The  island  of  Quemoy  and  a 
chain  of  islets  form  a  breakwater  across  the 
mouth  of  the  bay,  and  serve  as  an  effective 
protection  against  the  heavy  seas  of  the 
Formosa  Channel.  The  Dodd  Island  and 
Chapel  Island  lights  mark  the  approach  of 
the  port,  and  at  the  southern  entrance  to  the 
harbour  stand  the  Taitan  and  Tsingseu 
Lighthouses. 

The  advantages  of  the  situation  of  Amoy 
as  a  shipping  centre  are  manifest.  It  has  a 
good  deep-water  harbour,  easy  of  access  at 
all  states  of  the  tide ;  it  has  well-lighted 
approaches,  and  fair  docking  facilities  ;  it  is 
the  natural  mainland  port  for  the  trade  with 
Formosa  and  the  Philippines,  and  it  lies  con- 
veniently situ.itcd  between  the  great  ports  of 
Hongkong  and  Shanghai. 

The  city  of  Amoy  is  placed  on  the  south- 
western corner  of  the  island,  and  is  politically 
in  the  district  of  T'ung-an  and  the  prefecture 
of  Ch'iianchovv-fu  (Chinchew).  It  consists  of 
an  inner  citadel  of  small  extent,  surrounded  by 


a  decrepit  wall  standing  in  the  midst  of 
thickly  populated  suburbs,  which  stretch  along 
the  sea-shore  to  the  south-west  as  far  as  the 
forts  and  the  parade-ground  (and  foreigners' 
racecourse),  which  lie  near  the  village  of 
fi-mng-kang.     The  entire  circuit  of  the  city 


divides  it  from  Kulangsu — the  small  island 
on  which  foreigners  reside,  and,  since  1903, 
an  international  settlement  under  the  gover- 
nance of  a  Municipal  Council.  This  strait, 
though  narrow  for  vessels  of  great  length, 
gives     safe    and    commodious    anchorage    to 


>%'rmm 


THE    TALMAGE    MEMORIAL. 


and  suburbs  is  about  eight  miles.  The 
population  is  usually  put  down  at  114,000,  and 
that  of  the  rest  of  the  island  at  about  100,000 
more. 

The   town   fronts   the  narrow  strait,  seven 
to     eight    hundred     yards    in    width,    which 


ordinary  coasting  steamers  and  constitutes 
the  inner  harbour.  Large  ocean-going  ships 
and  men-of-war  are  usually  berthed  either  at 
the  north  or  south  end  of  Kulangsu,  in  either 
of  which  places  they  can  find  good  anchorage. 
On  the  Amoy  side  lies  the  British  Concession, 


814     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


marked  by  its  bund,  backed  by  the  row 
of  foreign  hongs.  This  is  the  principal 
business  quarter  of  the  town,  where  the 
foreign  trade  is  carried  on,  and  near  which 
are  located  the  establishments  of  the  leading 
Chinese  merchants.  The  bulk  of  the  foreign 
residents  cross  the  harbour  daily  from  their 
homes  in  Kulangsu  to  their  offices  in  Amoy. 
Kulangsu  is  almost  entirely  a  residential 
quarter ;  the  only  offices  to  be  found  there, 
besides  a  foreign  store  or  two,  are  the  various 
Consulates  with  their  post  offices,  the  Muni- 
cipal Council  office,  and  the  foreign  telegraph 
and  telephone  companies'  agencies. 

Amoy  Island  is  about  35  miles  in 
circumference  and  10  miles  in  width.  It 
would  be  somewhat  circular  in  shape  but 
for  the  large  indentation  on  the  western 
side,  known  to  foreigners  as  the  Dock  Creek, 
which  almost  cuts  the  island  in  two.  A  range 
of  granite  hills,  covered  with  large  boulders 
poised  in  fantastic  positions,  extends  along 
the  southern  and  western  sides.  At  intervals 
the  hills  fall  back  from  the  sea,  leaving  a 
small  area  of  level  land  which  is  laid  out  in 
fields  and  dotted  with  villages.  The  north 
and  east  portions  of  the  island  are  a  flat 
plain,  highly  cultivated  and  thickly  populated, 
the  chief  productions  being  sweet  potatoes, 
rice,  wheat,  ground-nuts,  and  garden  vege- 
tables. A  remarkable  feature  of  Amoy  is  the 
^•ast  number  of  graves  it  contains.  The  hill- 
sides nearest  the  city  are  in  some  cases 
almost  faced  with  solid  masonry,  so  closely 
placed  together  are  the  "  chunam  "-covered 
tombs,  while  all  over  the  island  graves  stud 
every  mound  and  hill,  making  one  gigantic 
cemetery  of  it.  The  hills  behind  the  town 
are  dotted  here  and  there  with  temples,  often 
placed  in  extremely  picturesque  situations. 
These  form  favourite  places  of  resort,  not 
only  for  natives,  but  also  for  foreigners  on 
pleasure  bent,  who  frequently  use  them  for 
picnics.  The  appearance  of  the  harbour  as  it 
is  approached  from  the  sea  is  one  of  consider- 
able beauty.  The  rugged  islands,  the  rocky 
hills,  the  blue  water,  and  the  pretty  island  of 
Kulangsu  with  its  buildings  coloured  as  in  a 
southern  European  town,  combine  to  make 
an  attractive  picture. 

Amoy  is  the  port  of  foreign  trade  for  South 
Fokien,  a  region  which,  though  politically 
and  administratively  united  with  the  northern 
half  of  the  province  of  Fokien,  is  geographi- 
cally and  ethnologically  distinct.  Shut  off 
from  the  other  portion  of  the  province  and 
the  rest  of  China  by  high  mountain  ranges, 
the  inhabitants  of  what  might  be  called  the 
Amoy  district  have  always  preserved  their 
distinctive  peculiarities.  Isolated  from  the 
interior  of  their  country,  their  trend  for 
many  centuries  has  l)een  seawards  towards 
Formosa,  the  Philippine  Islands,  and  the 
countries  of  the  Malay  Archipelago.  It  is 
not  easy  to  define  exactly  in  what  the  Amoy 
district  consists.  It  is  supposed  that  some 
ten  millions  speak  the  language  of  Amoy 
and  its  subordinate  dialects.  But  the  interior 
of  the  province  is  not  well  known,  or,  at 
least,  has  been  but  little  written  about.  The 
whole  region  is  mountainous  and  inaccessible, 
and  the  clan  system,  which  still  prevails  in 
its  full  strength  with  its  perpetual  conflicts, 
has  prevented  the  cohesion  of  the  people. 
The  precise  limits  within  which  each  dialect 
is  spoken  are  not  known,  and  possibly  on 
the  southern  and  western  borders  we  may 
pass  into  populations  which  have  as  little 
in  common  with  the  men  of  Amoy  as  the 
latter  have  with  the  people  of  Foochow. 
But,  roughly  speaking,  we  may  take  the  six 
southern  prefectures  or  departments  of  Fokien 
as  forming  the  district  served  by  Amoy, 
and    as    containing    populations    which    are 


sufficiently  nearly  related  in  race,  custonis, 
and  speech  to  be  considered  as  one  people. 
These  departments  are  Hsinghua-fu  (locally 
Henghoa),  Ch'iianchow-fu  (Chiiichew),  and 
Changchow-fu  (Chiangchiu)  on  the  sealioard  ; 
and  Yungch'un-chow  (Engchhun)  Lungycn- 
chow  (Lengnal,  and  Tingchow-fu  (Thengchiii) 
inland.  Of  these  Amoy  is  principally  con- 
cerned with  the  prefectures  nearest  to  the 
port — Choanchiu,  in  which  Amoy  is  situated, 
and  Chiangchiu  ;  or,  to  give  them  the  names 
by  which  they  are  more  commonly  called, 
after  their  capital  cities,  Chinchew  and 
Changchow.  These  two  divisions  contain 
together  some  8,000  to  10,000  square  miles 
of  territory,  and  a  population  which  is  quite 
unknown,  but  may  be  guessed  to  be  some- 
where between  two  and  three  millions. 
The  city  of  Changchow  is  distant  some 
35  miles  to  the  westward  of  Amoy,  and  the 
Lung-Kiang,  the  river  on  which  it  stands, 
pours  into  an  inlet  at  the  head  of  the  bay  in 
which  the  island  is  located.  A  short  distance 
to  the  north  there  is  another  inlet  leading  to 
Anhai,  which  is  the  landing  place  for  the 
journey  to  Chinchew,  which  lies  some  40 
miles     beyond,     or     60    miles     from    Amoy. 


REV.    J.    MACGOWAN, 
The  Oldest  European  Resident  in  Amoy. 

Amoy  is  the  port  for  these  large  cities  ;  it 
furnishes  them  with  their  foreign  supplies, 
and  ships  away  their  productions. 

The  chief  Chinese  official  in  Amoy  is  the 
Taoutai  or  Intendent  of  Circuit.  His  juris- 
diction comprises  the  three  prefectures  of 
Hsinghua,  Ch'iian-chow,  and  Yungch'un,  and 
he  resides  in  Amoy.  The  only  other  civil 
official  of  standing  is  the  "  hai-fang-t'ing  "  or 
maritime  sub-prefect,  who  is  the  magistrate 
of  the  island.  The  "  t'i-t'u,"  or  provincial  com- 
mander-in-chief of  Fokien,  has  his  station 
on  Amoy,  He  is  supposed  to  combine  mili- 
tary and  naval  functions,  and  is  posted  here 
presumably  on  account  of  the  former  military 
importance  of  the  port  with  reference  to 
Formosa,  but  his  duties  nowadays  are  inostly 
connected  with  the  suppression  of  revolu- 
tionaries and  clan-fighters. 

Kulangsu  is  under  the  control  of  a  Municipal 
Council,  consisting  of  six  foreign  and  one 
Chinese  member,  the  former  elected  by  the 
foreign  ratepayers,  the  latter  nominated  by 
the  Taoutai.  The  constitution  of  the  Council 
and  the  government  of  the  island  are  based 
upon  the  "  Land  regulations  for  the  settle- 
ment of  Kulangsu,  Amoy,"  approved  by 
the   Foreign   Ministers  and  accepted  by  the 


Chinese  Government  in  1902.  The  island 
became  an  international  settlement  under  the 
control  of  the  Council  on  May  i,  1903.  There 
is  a  Mixed  Court  Magistrate,  appointed  by 
the  Chinese  authorities,  who  deals  with 
charges  brought  by  the  Council  or  others 
against  Chinese  on  the  island,  while  foreign 
offenders  are  dealt  with  by  their  own  Consuls. 
Tlie  Council  employs  a  foreign  superintendent 
of  police,  who  is  also  secretary  to  tlic  Council, 
and  a  small  force  of  Sikh  police.  Under  this 
management  the  island  has  made  progress 
in  many  ways,  and  has  become  the  place  of 
residence,  in  addition  to  the  foreigners,  of  a 
number  of  wealthy  Chinese,  who  have  bought 
or  built  foreign  houses  there. 

Like  Kulangsu,  the  British  Concession  on 
Amoy  has  its  Municipal  Council,  consisting 
of  five  members  elected  from  the  lot  holders, 
who  hold  their  land  from  the  British  Govern- 
ment, which  rents  the  whole  Concession 
from  the  Chinese  Government.  There  is  a 
British  inspector  of  police  and  a  small  force 
of  Chinese  constables. 

The  climate  of  Amoy  is,  for  its  latitude,  a 
mild  and  agreeable  one.  It  was  remarked 
in  1871  by  Dr.  (now  Sir)  Patrick  Manson,  then 
medical  ollicer  in  Amoy:-  "For  Europeans, 
as  they  are  now  housed,  the  climate  cannot 
be  considered  unhealthy.  Their  places  of 
business  and  a  few  of  their  residences  are 
situated  along  the  foreshore  of  the  town — 
rather  a  hot  locality — but  for  the  most  part 
they  have  their  private  houses  on  Kulangsu. 
.  .  .  .  In  the  summer  they  have  the  full 
benefit  of  the  strong  sea-breezes  blowing 
during   the   greater   part   of  the   day,  and   of 

the  land  winds  at  night Did  the 

residents  display  as  much  wisdom  in  the 
furnishing  of  their  tables  as  they  have  in  the 
building  of  their  houses,  they  might  live  as 
comfortably  here — as  far  as  health  is  con- 
cerned— for  eight  or  ten  years,  as  they  could 
in  Europe."  Since  these  words  were  written, 
the  value  of  hygiene  and  clean  living  has 
come  to  be  more  realised  in  China,  as  else- 
where ;  and  were  Sir  Patrick  to  revisit  Amoy 
lie  would  probably  not  find  much  cause  for 
animadversion.  The  year  divides  about 
equally  into  a  hot  and  cool  season  ;  the 
summer  is  the  time  of  the  south-west  mon- 
soon and  is  tropical  ;  during  the  winter,  or 
north-east  monsoon,  the  weather  is  often 
mild  and  warm,  but  liable  to  suddenly  change 
to  sharp  cold.  The  thermometer  ranges 
between  40°  and  96°  Fahrenheit,  but  these 
extremes  are  seldom  reached  ;  an  ordinary 
summer  day  in  an  airily  situated  house  on 
Kulangsu  being  perhaps  from  82°  87°,  and  a 
winter  day  from  57°-62°  F"ahrenheit.  The 
comparative  salubrity  of  the  climate  is  no  doubt 
largely  due  to  its  dryness,  which  is  remarkable 
for  the  latitude.  The  annual  rainfall  is  only 
some  40  inches,  against  46  inches  in  Foo- 
chow and  80-90  inches  in  Hongkong.  The 
foreigners  who  have  lived  long  in  the  port 
look  healthy,  and  have  none  of  the  worn 
appearance  common  to  European  dwellers 
in  tropical  countries.  The  most  marked 
effects  of  the  climate  are  nervous  and 
mental  ;  mental  lassitude,  loss  of  memory, 
&c.,  probably  effect  more  or  less  all  but 
the  very  young.  These  symptoms  are  also 
to  be  observed  among  the  natives,  and  are 
no  doubt  the  result  of  the  prolonged  heat 
and  rarefied  unbracing  air  ;  perhaps  they 
account  to  some  extent  for  the  craving  for 
narcotics  such  as  opium  and  morphia, 
which  is  such  a  marked  characteristic  of  the 
Chinese  of  this  region.  Kulangsu,  though 
found  terribly  unhealthy  when  occupied 
by  the  British  garrison  in  1842,  except  for 
occasional  cases  of  malaria  in  the  valleys,  is  a 
healthy  enough  place  of  residence  nowadays. 


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816     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


especially  since  if  has  been  kept  clean  by  the 
Municipal  Council,  and  (to  quote  Sir  Patrick 
Manson  again)  "a  little  languor  by  the  end 
of  summer,  becoming  more  pronounced  as  a 
rule  the  longer  one  stays  here,  is  perhaps 
the  only  climatic  disease  a  sensible  man  need 
suffer  from."  But  Amoy  City  is  a  hotbed 
of  every  form  of  disease,  among  which  plague 
and  choleia  are  prominent.  The  causes  are 
the  filthy  state  of  the  town,  and  the  fact  that 
the  civilisation  of  the  people  has  not  advanced 
to  the  point  at  which  the  advantages  of 
hygiene  is  realised. 

HISTORY. 
The  name  Amoy  is  derived  from  the 
Chinese  name  of  the  island  as  pronounced 
in  the  Changchow  dialect,  but  by  the  local 
Chinese  it  is  called  E-mng.  The  "  mandarin  " 
pronunciation  of  the  name  is  Hsia-men.  The 
modern  name  seems  to  have  been  given 
during  the  Ming  period,  but  to  have 
come  into  regular  use  only  since  the 
subjugation    of    the     island    by    the    present 


hending  the  estuary  of  the  Changchow  River, 
we  have  the  seat  of  a  very  ancient  trade 
with  foreign  countries.  "  Amoy  must  be  taken 
as  the  successor  and  representative  of  the 
mediaeval  port  of  Zaitun,  concerning  which 
Yule  gives  this  note  :  —  '  Zayton,  Zaitun, 
Zeithun,  Caylon,  the  great  port  of  Chinese 
trade  with  the  West  in  the  Middle  Ages, 
that  from  which  Polo  sailed  on  his  memor- 
able voyage,  that  at  which  Ibn  Batuta  landed, 
and  from  which  Marignolli  sailed  for  India, 
is  mentioned  by  nearly  all  the  authors  who 
speak  of  China  up  to  the  fourteenth  century 
inclusive.  A  veil  falls  between  China  and 
Europe  on  the  expulsion  of  the  Mongols,  and 
when  it  rises  in  the  sixteenth  century,  Zaytun 
has  disappeared.' "' 

Zaitun  had  indeed  disappeared  ;  and  so 
completely,  that  a  controversy  has  raged 
over  the  identification  of  the  site.  Into  the 
details  of  this  it  is  needless  to  enter,  for  the 
weight  of  evidence — to  the  mind  of  the 
present  writer  at  least — sustains  the  plea 
advocated    stoutly    by  the   late    Mr.    George 


THE   ANOLO-CHINESE    COLLEGE. 


dynasty.  Chia-ho-listi  (locally,  Kaho-su),  which 
means  "  the  island  of  good  crops,"  was  the 
name  by  which  the  island  uas  first  known 
to  history.  The  fanciful  nature  of  this  appel- 
lation (like  that  of  Kulangsu,  the  Chinese 
characters  denoting  which  mean  "  drum- 
wave  island ")  leads  one  to  surmise  that  it 
is  only  the  Chinese  adaptation  of  the  name 
of  the  island  in  some  lost  pre-Chinese  langu- 
age. During  the  Ming  period  Amoy  was 
called  by  the  military  title  of  Chung-tso-so, 
the  "  middle  left  place."  Koxinga  gave  a 
name  of  his  own  devising,  Ssu-ming-chou, 
or  the  "  island  mindful  of  the  Ming."  Amoy 
is  also  known  in  the  literary  language  as 
Lu-chiang  or  Lu-hsii,  the  "egret  river"  or 
'■  egret  island,"  so  called  from  the  number 
of  egrets  or  paddy-birds  which  frequent  it. 

So  far  as  the  present  city  of  Amoy  is  con- 
cerned, its  rise  to  commercial  importance  is 
of  comparatively  recent  date,  and  may  be 
said  to  be  coincident  with  the  establishment 
of  the  modem  foreign  trade.  But,  taking 
Amoy  Harbour  in  its  larger  sense  as  compre- 


Phillips  for  many  years  :  that  the  modern 
district  city  of  Haiteng — situated  at  the  en- 
trance to  the  Changchow  River,  formerly 
called  Geh  Kong  and  the  port  to  the  city  of 
Changchow  until  supplanted  by  Amoy — 
occupies  the  site  of  the  port  of  the  famous 
medieval  town.t  "  After  the  expulsion  of 
the  Mongols  from  China,  foreign  commerce 
still  flourished  at  this  Fuhkien  port,  and  it 
was  at  its  zenith  about  the  middle  of  the 
fifteenth     century,    which    it    maintained    till 


*  •'  Catliay  and  the  Way  Thither."    Vol.  I.  p,  108. 

t  There  is  no  doubt  that  Marco  Polo's  Zaitun  was  to 
all  intents  one  of  the  places  immediately  north  or  south 
of  Amoy,  and  it  almost  certainly  included,  in  a  trader's 
sense,  both  Changchow  and  Chinchew.  These  are  still 
the  great  emigration  and  trade  ports  for  the  Southern 
Ocean  and  both  of  them  lie  near  the  European  "open 
port "  in  Amoy  Hay,  Learned  men  have  long  disputed 
what  "Zaitun"  specifically  means,  but  I  think  it  almost 
certainly  stands  for  the  coast  town  of  Haiteng.  which, 
though  not  made  an  "official  "  city  until  1564,  nuist  have 
long  borne  that  name.  — "China;  Her  History,  Dip- 
lomacy, and  Commerce."     E.  H.  Parker  p.  71. 


1566,    when,     owing    to    Japanese     raids,    it 
gradually  declined."* 

In  the  day's  of  Zaitun's  greatness  Amoy 
was  only  one  of  Marco  Polo's  "  Isles  of  the 
ocean."  It  was  sparsely  populated,  and  the 
prey  of  the  native  pirate  and  the  Japanese 
sea-rover.  Its  birth  as  a  place  of  commercial 
importance  may  be  said  to  be  coincident  with 
the  arrival  of  the  foreign  vessels  early  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  the  establishment  of 
the  Dutch  tr>iding  posts  in  Formosa,  and  the 
consolidation  of  the  Koxinga  power.  In  the 
throes  with  which  the  mainland  was  con- 
vulsed during  the  expiring  years  of  the  Ming, 
foreign  trade  naturally  found  that  it  could 
best  be  carried  on  in  the  port  governed  by 
the  strong  hands  of  the  Koxinga  family  ;  the 
Zaitun,  or  Hai-ting  trade,  which  had  long 
been  waning,  shifted  here  ;  the  easy  approach 
and  the  natural  advantages  of  the  harbour 
soon  won  appreciation,  and  here  the  trade 
has  remained. 

Foreign  trade  under  the  new  conditions 
was  ushered  in  by  the  Portuguese,  who  put 
in  an  appearance  here  not  long  after  their 
tirst  arrival  in  Canton  in  1516.  The  Ch;mg- 
chow  and  Ch'iianchow-fu  merchants  seem  to 
have  been  eager  to  trade,  and  intercourse 
was  carried  on  at  the  island  of  Go-sii,  outside 
Tsingseu,  at  the  entrance  to  Amoy  Harbour. 
Hut  the  ollicial  mind  w,is  strongly  set  against 
it,  and  in  1547  it  is  recorded  th,it  some  ninety 
Chinese  merchants  were  beheaded  for  the 
offence  of  trading  with  foreigners.  Com- 
merce, however,  no  doubt  went  on  clandes- 
tinely. 

After  the  Portuguese  came  the  Spaniards, 
who  in  1575  sent  a  mission  from  Manila  to 
Foochow  with  a  view  of  obtaining  per- 
mission to  trade  from  the  Viceroy.  In  this 
they  were  unsuccessful,  but  a  steady  trade 
was  established  by  junk  between  Amoy  and 
Manila.  "  This  important  trade  employed 
thirty  to  forty  Chinese  junks  running  con- 
stantly between  Amoy  and  Manila.  Silk, 
porcelain,  and  other  products  weie  carried, 
amounting  to  a  million  and  a  half  dollars  in 
gold  annually.  At  that  period  there  were  more 
than  fourteen  thousand  Spanish  in  Mexico  who 
were  dependent  upon  the  raw  silk  of  China 
to  weave  the  celebrated  fabrics  so  much  in 
vogue  at  that  time.  The  Spanish  vessels 
carried  this  merchandise  from  Manila  to 
Mexico.  So  extensive  was  the  intercourse 
with  China  that  twenty  thousand  Chinese 
had  located  in  Manila."t  The  Spaniards  on 
their  journey  to  Foochow  anchored  at  Amoy, 
which  they  called  Tan-su-so,  the  local  pro- 
nunciation of  Chung-tso-so,  the  name  of  the 
island  during  the  Ming  dynasty.  "This 
Tan-su-so  is  a  gallant  and  freshe  towne,  of 
forre  thousand  householders,  and  hath  con- 
tinually a  thousand  souldiers  in  garrison 
and  compassed  about  with  a  great  and  strong 
wall  ;  and  the  gates  fortified  with  plates  of 
yron  ;  the  foundations  of  all  the  houses  are 
of  lime  and  stone,  and  the  walls  of  lime  and 
yearth  and  .some  of  brick  ;  their  houses 
within  very  fairely  wrought,  with  great  courts, 
their  streetes  faire  and  brode  all  paved."| 

The  law  at  this  time  against  a  Chinese 
leaving  his  country,  and  against  the  admission 
of  foreigners  into  China,  was  very  strict,  and 
when  the  Dutch  first  arrived  in  these  waters, 
in  1604,  they  found  great  difliculties  to  con- 
tend with.  So  hostile  were  the  Chinese 
measures  that  the  Dutch  admiral,  Wybrand 
van  Warwyk,  was  compelled  to  leave  the 
Pescadores.     The  Dutch  attention  was  turned 


•  Phillips'  "  Two  Medixval  Fuhkien  Trading  Ports,"  p.  5. 
t  Davidson  :  "  Island  of   Formosa,"  p.  12,  Note. 
J  "  Mendoza,"  Vol.  11.  p.  41. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     817 


towards  Japan,  where  permission  to  trade 
was  obtained  in  1611,  and  no  further  serious 
attempt  was  made  on  China  until  1622.  In 
that  year  a  squadron  of  fourteen  ships 
arrived  from  Batavia,  and  took  possession 
of  the  Pescadores,  whence  expeditions  were 
sent  over  to  Amoy  to  try  to  compel  tlie 
Chinese  to  trade.  The  result  was  that  open 
hostilities  were  carried  on  for  two  years, 
the  Chinese  resorting  to  every  device  to  get 
rid  of  the  unwelcome  strangers.  They  were 
finally  so  far  successful  that  the  Dutch  retired 
to  Formosa  in  1624,  where  they  built  forts 
and  established  themselves.  From  that  time 
intercourse,  though  technically  forbidden,  was 
carried  on  chiefly  at  Little  Quemoy  and 
Go-su,  the  merchants  of  the  neighbourhood 
taking  them  cargoes  of  silk  and  sugar,  much 
of  which  found  its  way  to  Japan  and  Batavia. 
The  Dutch  trade  with  Amoy  was,  of  course, 
broken  by  their  expulsion  from  Formosa  by 
Koxinga  in  1662.  "  The  Dutch  not  only 
traded  with  the  Chinese  and  Japanese  in 
Formosa,  but  also  sent  their  own  ships  to 
China  and  Japan  to  deal  directly.  Peter  Nuits, 
the  Dutch  Governor,  in  his  report  on  trade, 
stated  that  silver  was  sent  by  junks  from 
Taiwan  to  the  mainland  city  of  Amoy  ;  some- 
times to  be  remitted  to  their  agents  who 
resided  there,  sometimes  to  be  given  to  the 
merchants  who  were  to  provide  merchandise 
for  the  markets  of  Japan,  India,  and  Europe. 
This  could  only  be  done  with  the  connivance 
of  the  Governor  of  Foochow,  and  was  very 
advantageous,  for  goods  could  thus  be 
obtained  so  as  to  allow  a  greater  profit  than 
those  delivered  at  Taiwan  by  the  Chinese 
compradores.  Also,  when  the  time  arrived 
for  the  departure  from  Taiwan  of  the  Dutch 
ships  for  Japan  or  Batavia,  if  their  cargoes 
were  not  complete,  they  were  sent  across  to 
China  by  stealth,  where  they  were  filled  up 
with  goods  which  were  brought  on  board 
in  great  quantities  and  at  a  cheaper  rate  than 
they  could  be  bought  at  Taiwan,  the  differ- 
ence in  the  price  of  silk  alone  being  some 
eight  or  ten  taels  per  picul.  If  time  allowed, 
these  vessels  returned  to  Taiwan  ;  otherwise, 
they  were  sent  direct  to  their  destinations. 
The  principal  exports  were  raw  silk  and  sugar 
to  Japan,  the  amount  of  the  latter  being  as 
much  as  80,000  piculs  in  one  year  ;  silk  piece 
goods,  porcelain,  and  gold  to  Batavia  ;  while 
paper,  spices,  amber,  tin,  lead,  and  cotton 
were  imported  to  Formosa ;  and,  with  the 
addition  of  P'ormosan  products,  such  as  rice, 
sugar,  rattans,  deer-skins,  deer-horns,  and 
drugs,  were  exported  to  China."* 

"  The  Koxinga  power  dates  from  1626, 
when  Cheng  Chih-lung,  the  founder  of  this 
remarkable  family  invaded  and  took  Amoy. 
It  was  held  by  him,  his  still  more  famous 
son,  Cheng  Ch'eng-kung,  ''  Koxinga,"  and  his 
grandsons,  until  1680,  when  it  fell  finally 
into  the  hands  of  the  Manchu  Govern- 
ment." f 

It  was  during  the  period  of  the  Koxinga 
domination  that  English  vessels  first  appeared 
in  Formosa  and  at  Amoy.  The  ejection  of 
the  Dutch  from  Formosa  by  Koxinga  gave 
an  opportunity  to  the  East  India  Company  to 
open  up  trade  with  the  "  King  of  Tywan."  On 
June  23,  1670,  the  Bantam  Pink,  accompanied 
by  the  sloop  Pearl,  which  had  sailed  up 
from  Bantam,  anchored  off  Anping,  in  South 
Formosa.  "We  were  the  first  foreij^n  ship 
or  junk  that  has  been  here  since  the  Chinese 
Tywanners  took  it  from  the  Dutch."  An 
agreement  was  drawn  up  for  the  establish- 
ment   of    a    factory,  by    which    the    English 

•  Davidson  :  "  Island  of  Formosa."  pp.  14,  15. 

t  Native  Customs  Quinquennial  Reports,  i(jo2-6, 
pp.  85  seq. 


obtained  fairly  favourable  terms.  But  the 
famous  freebooter  had  not  much  idea  of 
traffic  beyond  helping  himself  to  such  articles 
as  took  his  fancy,  and  imposing  such  exac- 
tions as  he  thought  fit.  The  trade  in  For- 
mosa did  not  (lourish,  but  in  the  factory  at 
Amoy,  which  appears  to  have  been  estab- 
lished about  the  same  time,  better  results 
were  obtained.  "  The  trade  in  Amoy  was 
more  successful  than  at  Zealandia,  and  a 
small  vessel  was  sent  there  in  1677,  which 
brought  back  a  favourable  report.  In  1678 
the  investments  for  these  two  places  were 
$30,000  in  bullion  and  $20,000  in  goods  ;  the 
returns  were  chiefly  in  silk  goods,  tutenague, 
rhubarb,  &c.  ;  the  trade  was  continued  for 
several  years,  apparently  with  considerable 
profit,  though  the  Manchus  continually  in- 
creased the  restrictions  under  which  it 
laboured.       In    1681    the    Company    ordered 


undisturbed  in  some  cases  for  two  centuries. 
But  with  the  growth  of  population  in  Ku- 
langsu,  in  recent  years,  it  was  desirable  to 
remove  them  to  the  foreign  cemetery.  A 
subscription  was  raised  among  the  foreign 
residents,  and  the  inscriptions  on  the  stones 
were  restored.  The  site  of  the  English 
factory  is  not  known,  not  even  to  tradition. 
"  Slightly  to  the  northward  of  the  Amoy 
Dock  is  the  wall  of  the  old  Dutch  fac- 
tory. Another  evidence  of  the  former  con- 
nection of  the  Dutch  with  Amoy  is  afforded 
by  the  triumphal  arches,  with  figures  of 
Dutchmen  sculptured  on  them  in  relief, 
standing  a  short  distance  beyond  the  site 
of  the  former  British  Consulate  (now  the 
Taoutai's  yamen).  No  very  clear  history  is 
attached  to  them,  but  it  is  presumed  they 
were  erected  about  1664,  when  the  Dutch 
were  permitted  by  special  edict  to  trade  with 


OLD    SPANISH    SILVER    COINS,    DUG    UP    IN    AMOY    BY    H.    F.    RANKIN. 

(Showing  Reverse  Side.) 

Thirty-tliree  in  all,  found  in  an  urn  in  Amoy  City  at  a  depth  of  30  feet  below  the  surface.  Weight  equal 
to  that  of  the  present  Mexican  dollar.  Stamped  with  Castilean  Coat  "of  Arms  at  beginning  of  the  seventeenth 
century.    {Vide  "Spanish  Coins  "  in  larger  "History  of  Spain.') 


their  factories  at  Amoy  and  Formosa  to  be 
withdrawn,  and  one  to  be  established  at 
Canton  or  P'uchau,  but  in  1685  the  trade  was 

renewed    at   Amoy In    1701    the 

investment   for  Amoy  was   £t,!\400,  and    for 

Canton  ;f40,8oo In  1734  only  one 

English  ship  came  to  Canton,  and  one  was 
sent  to  Amoy,  but  the  extortions  there  were 
greater  than  at  the  other  port,  whereupon 
the  latter  vessel  withdrew.  .  .  .  The 
Hardwicke  was  sent  to  Amoy  in  1744  and 
obliged  to  return  without  a  cargo."  *  Local 
records  of  this  old  trade  appear  to  be  non- 
existent. The  only  vestige  left  is  the  tomb- 
stones on  Kulangsu.  which  tell  of  the  foreign 
sailors  who  were  buried  on  the  island. 
These  graves  occupied  a  corner  on  the 
north-east  side  of  the  island,  where  they  lay 


"  Williams :    "  Middle   Kingdom,"   1883    Ed.,   pp.    445 
seq. 


Chang-chow-fu."  *  In  1730  the  Chinese 
Government  centred  all  the  foreign  trade  at 
Canton  and  only  permitted  Spanish  ships  to 
trade  at  Amoy.  But  trade,  no  doubt,  went 
on  intermittingly  and  clandestinely,  and  at 
the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  re- 
ceived an  impetus  from  the  sudden  growth 
of  the  opium  traftic.  Matters  were  not  put 
on  a  regular  basis,  however,  until  the  whole 
question  of  foreign  trade  in  China  came  to  a 
head  in  the  so-called  Opium  War  of  1841,  in 
which  Amoy  soon  figured  as  a  scene  of 
hostilities. 

In  1840  an  English  man-o'-war  was  sent 
here  to  try  to  place  a  letter  from  Lord 
Palmerston  to  the  Chinese  Emperor,  Tao 
Kuang,  in  the  hands  of  the  Fokien  authorities 
for  transmission  to  Peking.  But  the  Chinese 
refused  to  receive  the  letter,  and  fired  on  the 


'»  Treaty  Ports  of  China  and  Japan,  p.  257. 


818     T^'EXTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


officer  and  boat's  crew  sent  under  the  wtiite 
tJag  to  establish  communication  with  the  local 
oflicials.  In  retaliation  the  HIoikIc,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Bourchier,  bom- 
barded the  town.  But  the  object  of  the 
mission  was  not  accomplished,  and  the  only 
result  of  the  incident  was  to  imbue  the 
Chinese  with  the  idea  that  Anioy  was  a  place 
likely  to  be  attacked,  and  to  aiuse  them 
greatly  to  strengthen  the  defences.  When  the 
British  squ:»dron  arrived  in  August,  1841,  to 
take  possession  of  the  ix>rt,  it  was  found  that 
a  surprising  change  had  taken  place  in  the 
fortifications,  upon  which  the  guns  of  the 
ships  made  little  impression,  and  the  town 
had  to  be  taken  by  escalade.  The  story  of  the 
occupation  of  Ainoy  and  Kulangsu  by  Admiral 
Sir  William  Parker  and  General  Sir  Hugh 
Gough,  accompanied  by  Sir  Henry  Pottinger, 
Her  Majesty's  Plenipotentiary,  may  be  quoted 
from  the  contemporary  accounts  published  in 
the  ■•  Chinese  Repository "  (vol.  x.,  pp.  524, 
621)  :— 

"  The  following  was  the  order  of  sailing  : 
Bentinck,  sur\e\-ing  vessel ;  Qiiccii ;  Wellcsley  ; 
Sesostris ;  Phlegfthoii  :  Blenheim  ;  Wnicsis  ; 
Columbine  ;  Million  ;  Modcste  ;  seven  trans- 
ports bearing  a  detachment  of  the  4(;th  and 
the  whole  of  the  i8th  Regiment  ;  six  pro- 
\ision  transports  ;  eight  transpvirts  bearing  a 
detachment  of  the  26th,  the  55th  entire,  with 
engineers  and  artillery  ;  Dntid,  wing  ship  ; 
Blonde,  wing  ship  ;  Fylades  ;  Ciiiizer  ;  Alj^cr- 
ine. 

"  24th. — At  noon,  a  little  to  the  westward 
of  Breaker  Point,  the  ships  making  good 
progress. 

••25th. — At  noon  about  seventy  miles  from 
Chapel  Island,  and  the  order  of  sailing  pretty 
well  preserved  by  the  whole  squadron. 
During  the  afternoon  the  wind  increased 
considerably  from  the  south-eastward ;  at 
dark,  with  a  strong  breeze,  the  ships  ran 
into  Amoy.  The  whole  squadron,  however, 
was  not  anchored  till  rather  a  late  hour,  in  a 
fine  moonlight  evening.  In  taking  up  her 
anchorage,  the  Columbine  ran  foul  of  the 
Wellesley.  not  without  some  serious  damage, 
Mr.  William  Maitland  having  been  struck  with 
great  xiolence,  and  others  narrowly  escaping. 
Some  guns  were  fired  from  Quemoy,  as  the 
squadron  passed.  .  .  ,  .  .  Omitting  to 
attempt  to  give,  for  the  present,  any  des- 
cription of  the  city  of  Amoy,  we  will  detail 
here  such  facts  as  have  come  to  our  know- 
ledge respecting  its  defences  and  their  fall, 
as  alxjve  noticed. 

"  On  the  south  side  of  the  island,  upon 
which  the  city  stands,  and  south  from  it,  was 
a  heavy  battery,  about  1,100  yards  long,  and 
its  wall  about  14  feet  at  the  base,  mounting 
90  guns ;  over  against  this,  in  a  south- 
westerly direction,  on  Red  Point,  was  another 
battery  of  42  guns  ;  nearly  between  these, 
but  further  westward,  on  the  island  of 
Koolangsu.  were  several  other  batteries. 

•'  Early  in  the  morning,  which  was  hot  and 
calm,  the  admiral,  general,  and  plenipotentiary 
(the  staff  of  each  accompanying  theinl  em- 
barked on  board  the  Phlcgctlion  to  reconnoitre. 
They  proceeded  within  range  of  the  long 
line  of  guns  to  the  right  on  Amoy,  and  of  the 
works  to  the  left  on  Red  Point,  taking  such 
positions  in  their  course  as  to  enable  them  to 
observe  the  defences  on  either  hand,  as  well 
as  those  on  Ko<jlangsu.  where  the  men  were 
seen  engaged  adding  to  their  sand  batteries. 

"A  Chinese  merchant  was  sent  off  in  the 
course  of  the  morning  with  a  flag  of  truce  to 
the  squadron,  to  ask  what  might  be  its  object. 
A  demand  of  surrender  was  returned  by  his 
hands.  A  junk  with  a  white  flag,  found  after- 
wards to  be  owned  by  Siamese,  came  in  while 
the  vessels  were  advancing  to  engage,  and 


stood  on  for  some  time  after  the  action  had 
commenced,  seemingly  in  perfect  confidence 
of  being  let  alone. 

"  .At  1  o'clock  the  Queen  and  Sesostris  stood 
in  for  the  east  end  of  the  long  battery,  and 
the  Blonde  with  tlie  Druid  and  Mo<hste  for 
Ko<ilangsu.  The  Sesostris  tirst  tired.  It  was 
returned.  The  Queeti  then  conunenced.  The 
batteries  on  all  sides  soon  opened.  The 
Bcnliiick  gave  the  soundings  for  the  Wellesley 
and  Blenheim,  in  front  of  the  long  battery, 
distant  400  yards.  The  Chinese  did  endure 
the  fire  right  manfully,  standing  to  their 
guns  until  they  were  shot  down  by  musketry 
in  their  rear.  The  batteries  were  never 
completely  silenced  by  the  ships'  guns,  and 
it  is  believed  they  never  would  have  been. 
It  was  not  till  the  troops  landed  that  the 
majority  of  the  men  fled.  Some  were 
bayoneted  where  thev  stood  at  their  guns  ; 
and  two  or  three  chief  oflicers  destroyed 
themselves — one,  strange  to  say,  by  walking 
coolly  into  the  water.  The  troops  landed  at 
several  points,  and  drove  all  before  them. 
The  batteries  on  Red  Point  were  almost 
entirely  disregarded.  By  six  o'clock  the 
Moiteste  and  some  of  the  other  vessels  were 
at  anchor  in  the  inner  harbour.  The  troops, 
having  passed  through  tiie  southern  suburbs, 
mounted  the  heights  between  them  and  the 
chief  town,  where  they  bivouacked  for  the 
night,  and  entered  the  citadel  ne.xt  morning. 
Thus  fell  the  boasted  strength  of  Amoy. 

"  The  wall  of  the  long  battery  was  found 
to  be  a  masterly  piece  of  work.  When 
looked  at  from  the  sea,  it  had  appeared  as 
a  town  wall,  with  sand  batteries  in  front  ; 
but  instead  of  this,  it  was  a  strong  and  thick 
wall  of  good  height,  with  only  small,  low 
gun-ports,  and  a  defence  between  one  gun- 
port  and  another  of  a  thick  earth  battery  of 
equal  height  with  the  wall  ;  over  each  gun- 
port,  too,  mud  was  laid,  so  as  to  prevent  the 
striking  off  of  splinters  from  the  stone. 

"  About  one  hundred  sizeable  junks  were 
found  in  the  inner  harbour,  wliich  is  spacious, 
well-protected,  and  having  good  anchorage. 

"  The  27th,  Friday,  was  occupied  by  Sir 
Hugh  Gough  in  possessing  himself  of  the 
citadel  and  town.  Late  in  tlie  day,  the 
plenipotentiary  and  admiral  landed,  and 
visited  the  town. 

"  Yen  Pihtow,  the  governor  of  Fuhkeen 
and  Chekeang,  having  been  for  some  little 
time  past  residing  at  Amoy,  must  have  been 
spectator  of  the  light  ;  but  no  certain  infor- 
mation could  be  obtained,  regarding  either 
him  or  of  Admiral  Tow  Chinpew,  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  naval  forces  of  the  province. 
The  admiral,  it  was  said,  had  gone  out  for 
a  cruise.  Yen  and  Tow  are  both  natives  of 
Canton. 

"In  course  of  this  day,  the  body  of  the 
officer  who  had  walked  into  the  water  was 
found  lying  on  the  beach.  If  he  was  actually 
the  person  he  was  stated  to  be — the  tsung- 
ping — he  was  the  chief  in  command  at  the 
time,  having  left  his  usual  station  at  Quemoy 
to  take  the  place  of  the  absent  admiral. 

"  On  the  28th,  early  in  the  morning,  the 
plenipotentiary  and  admiral  landed,  and  went 
up  to  Sir  Hugh's  quarter  in  the  city.  Sir 
Henry  visited  several  of  the  large  buildings 
in  the  citadel,  and  in  the  course  of  the  day 
removed  with  his  suite  on  board  the  Blenheim. 

"  Here  we  must  close  these  details  for  the 
present,  only  remarking  that  the  Druid  42, 
Pyhidcs  18,  and  the  Al^erinc  10,  witli  three 
transports  and  400  men  (being  one  wing  of 
the  18th  and  the  entire  detachment,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  or  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men  of  the  26th  Cameronians)  were  to 
remain  on  Koolangsu,  Amoy  being  evacuated, 
and     the    squadron     under     orders     for    the 


northward,  destined  it  was  supposed,  for 
Ningpo,  Chinhae,  and  Chusan."  ....  "  The 
capture  of  Amoy  was  chiefly  a  naval  operation, 
and  the  little  that  was  left  for  the  troops 
to  do  was  done  by  tlie  iStli  Royal  Irish. 
Scarcely  had  the  fleet  on  the  26th  August 
taken  up  their  position  opposite  the  batteries 
of  Amoy,  when  a  boat  bearing  a  white  flag 
w.is  seen  to  approach  the  Wellesley.  An 
ofticer  of  low  rank  was  the  bearer  of  the 
paper,  demanding  to  know  what  our  ships 
wanted,  and  directing  us  '  to  make  sail  for 
the  outer  waters  ere  tlie  celestial  wrath  should 
be  kindled  against  us,  and  the  guns  from 
the  batteries  annihilate  us  ! '  The  line  of 
works  certainly  presented  a  most  formidable 
appearance,  and  the  batteries  were  admirably 
constructed.  Manned  by  Europeans  no  force 
could  have  stood  before  them.  For  four 
hours  did  the  ships  pepper  at  them  without 
a  moment's  cessation.  The  Wellesley  and 
Blenheim  each  hred  upwards  of  12,000  rounds, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  frigates,  steamers,  and 
small  craft.  Yet  tlie  works  were  as  perfect 
when  tliey  left  off  as  when  they  began,  the 
utmost  penetration  of  the  shot  being  16  inches. 
The  cannonade  was  certainly  a  splendid 
sight.  The  stream  of  fire  and  smoke  from 
the  sides  of  the  liners  was  terrific.  It  never 
for  a  moment  appeared  to  slack.  From 
twenty  to  thirty  people  was  all  that  were 
killed  by  this  enormous  expenditure  of  powder 
and  shot. 

"  It  was  nearly  3  p.m.  before  the  i8th 
landed,  accompanied  by  Sir  Hugh  Gough 
and  staff.  They  landed  close  to  a  high  wall 
which  flanked  the  main  line  of  batteries, 
covered  by  the  Queen  and  Phlegethon 
steamers.  The  flank  companies  soon  got 
over  the  wall,  driving  the  enemy  before  them. 
They  opened  a  gate  through  which  the  rest 
of  our  men  entered,  and  advancing  along 
the  battery  quickly  cleared  it,  killing  more 
men  in  ten  minutes  than  the  men-of-war  did 
during  the  whole  day  ;  three  of  our  fellows 
were  knocked  over,  besides  others  injured. 
One  officer  cut  his  throat  in  the  long  battery, 
another  walked  into  the  sea  and  drowned 
himself  in  the  coolest  manner  possible.  The 
enemy  fled  on  all  sides  so  soon  as  our  troops 
landed.  We  bivouacked  as  best  we  could 
during  the  night,  and  next  morning  took 
possession  of  the  city  without  hindrance. 
Much  treasure  had  been  carried  away,  the 
mob  leaving  only  the  boxes  which  contained 
it.  Immense  quantities  of  military  stores 
were  found  in  the  arsenals,  and  the  foundries 
were  in  active  operation.  One  two-decker, 
modelled  from  ours,  and  carrying  thirty  guns, 
was  ready  for  sea,  and  others  were  on  the 
stocks.  But  few  war-junks  were  stationed 
here,  the  Chinese  admiral  being  at  this  time 
absent  with  his  fleet.  During  the  engagement 
the  Phlegethon  steamer  was  nearly  severely 
handled.  She  came  suddenly  opposite  and 
close  to  a  masked  battery,  the  guns  from 
which,  having  the  exact  range,  opened  upon 
her.  Fortunately  for  the  steamer,  the  water 
was  sufficiently  deep  to  come  close  into  the 
land.  Captain  McCleverty  immediately  landed 
his  men,  advanced  directly  on  the  battery, 
and  took  possession  of  it,  killing  a  great 
portion  of  the  garrison.  This  was  a  very 
spirited  affair,  and  attracted  universal 
admiration.  ...  A  garrison  of  detachments 
from  the  i8th  and  26tli  Regiments,  and  the 
Madras  Artillery  was  left  at  Amoy,  with 
H.M.  ships  Druid,  Pyladcs  and  Algcrinc." 

As  Kulangsu  completely  commands  the  city 
of  Amoy,  it  was  determined  to  leave  a  small 
force  on  that  island,  which  was  capable  of 
easy  defence,  and  not  to  occupy  the  town 
itself.  The  people  in  and  around  Amoy 
showed   very   little    fear    or    distrust    of    the 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF 


HONGKONG, 


SHANGHAI,  ETC.     819 


troops,  and  found,  indeed,  that  they  were 
rather  protectors  than  oppressors.  The 
pirates  of  the  neiglibourliood,  who  had 
always  been  a  great  scourge,  were  liept  in 
check,  Changchow  remained  tranquil,  and 
the  trade  with  Formosa  was  kept  up. 

Under  the  treaty  signed  at  Nanking  on 
August  29,  1842,  Araoy  became  one  of  the 
five  new  Treaty  ports,  and  it  was  stipulated 
that  the  island  of  Kulangsu  (as  well  as  Chusan) 
should  continue  to  be  held  by  Her  Majesty's 
forces  until  the  money  payments  and  the 
arrangements  for  opening  the  ports  to  British 
merchants  were  completed.  The  question  as 
to  which  ports  should  be  opened  under  the 
Treaty  had  given  occasion  for  anxious  con- 
sideration to  the  British  Plenipotentiary  ;  for, 
outside  of  Canton,  the  knowledge  of  the 
Chinese  coast  and  the  potentialities  of  the 
trade-marts  was  most  important.  Amoy,  how- 
ever, like  Ningpo,  was  chosen  as  having  been 
a  former  seat  of  European  trade. 

A  Spanish  Catholic  mission  f  had  been 
estiiblished  in  Amoy  from  the  early  days  of 
the  Spanish  trade,  but  the  first  Protestant 
missionaries  arrived  soon  after  the  British 
taking  of  the  port  and  installed  themselves 
on  Kulangsu.  The  Rev.  W.  J.  Boone,  M.D., 
and  his  wife  came  in  1S42,  accompanied  by 
Dr.  David  Abeel.  In  1844  arrived  the  Revs. 
E.  Doty  and  W.  J.  Pohlman,  and  in  the  same 
year  the  London  Mission  was  opened  by  the 
Revs.  A.  and  J.  Stronach,  who  had  previously 
worked  among  the  Chinese  in  Penang  and 
Singapore,  and  were  thus  conversant  with 
the  Amoy  language.  These  were  the  pioneers 
of  the  iine  work  which  has  since  been  ex- 
tended to  the  whole  of  the  province.  Several 
foreign  firms  opened  here  in  the  early  forties  ; 
of  these,  Messrs.  Tait  &  Co.,  opened  by  Mr. 
James  Tait  in  1845,  and  Messrs.  Boyd  &  Co. 
and  Messrs.  Pasedag  &  Co.,  opened  at  about 
the  same  time,  still  survive  in  the  port,  though 
the  headquarters  of  the  two  former  houses 
are  now  transferred  to  Formosa.  The  chief 
difficulties  at  the  opening  were  found  to  be 
the  poverty  of  the  population  and  the  unpro- 
ductive nature  of  the  hinterland.  These  were 
evils  which  have  always  militated  against 
Amoy,  and  it  is  only  the  importance  which 
it  gained  later  on  as  the  harbour  and 
entrepot  for  F'ormosan  teas  which  put  it 
for  a  time  among  the  larger  ports.  Another 
difficulty  at  the  start  was  the  opium  ships 
stationed  at  Chinchew  and  Chimmo  which 
acted  as  competitors  with  the  newly  opened 
port,  but  these  were  withdrawn  later  on  and 
the  opium  hulks  were  moored  off  Amoy 
Island  itself.  The  British  Consul  appears  to 
have  lived  at  first  on  Kulangsu  with  the 
garrison  and  afterwards  in  what  is  now  the 
Taoutai's  yamen  on  Amoy  ;  but,  as  Michie's 
"  Englishman  in  China  "  gives  a  picture  of  the 
first  British  Consulate  on  Kulangsu,  built  by 
Mr.  Alcock  in  1844,  we  may  presume  that 
the  Consul  from  that  time  on  lived  more  or 
less  continuously  on  Kulangsu,  and  that  such 
premises  as  were  occupied  on  Amoy  were 
used  for  office  purposes.  The  first  negotia- 
tions for  a  British  concession  on  Amoy  took 
place  in  1844,  when  a  site  on  the  sea-shore 
at  E-mng-kang,  near  what  is  now  the  Customs 
stables,  was  agreed  upon.  But  the  spot  was 
inconvenient  and  does  not  seem  to  have  ever 
been  used,  and  in  1851  the  present  site  was 
finally  settled  upon. 

Kulangsu  was  evacuated  by  the  British 
garrison   in   March,   1845,   after  the  payment 


t  The  first  Catholic  missionaries  came  in  1589  from 
Manila,  but  tliey  were  not  permitted  to  remain.  Another 
more  successful  attempt  was  made  in  1631,  from  which 
year  dates  the  establishment  of  the  Spanish  mission  of 
the  Order  of  Saint  Duminic,  which  has  survived  tlirouj*h 
various  vicissitudes  and  persecutions  to  the  present  day. 


of  the  fifth  instalment  of  the  indemnity.  The 
British  Consul  who  arranged  the  evacuation 
was  Mr.  (afterwards  Sir)  Ktitlierford  Alcock, 
and  his  interpreter  was  Harry  Parkes,  then 
a  boy  of  sixteen.  These  two  gentlemen,  both 
bearing  names  famous  in  British  annals  in 
China,  rose  successively  to  be  British  repre- 
sentiitives  in  Peking.  Mr.  Alcock  was  only 
officiating  for  a  few  months  for  Captain  Henry 
Gribble,  who  held  the  substantive  post  and 
was  the  first  British  Consul  in  Amoy ;  Mr. 
George  G.  Sullivan  was  his  Vice-Consul,  Lieu- 
tenant Wade,  98th  Regiment  (afterwards  Sir 
Thomas  Wade,  Britisli  Minister  at  Pelting) 
his  Interpreter,  and  Mr.  Charles  Alexander 
Winchester  his  Consular  Surgeon. 

The  early  days  of  the  Treaty  port  seem  to 
have  gone  on  qnietly  enough  till  the  time  of 
the  general  upheaval  in  China  caused  by  the 
Taeping  rebellion.  The  first  signs  of  unrest 
on  the  coast  were  exhibited  at  Amoy,  where 
on  May  18,  1853,  a  body  of  insurgents  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Dagger — a  branch  of  the 
Triad  Society,  and  led  by  Huang  Wei,  Huang 
Teu-mei,  and  one  Magay  (so  foreigners  called 
him,  his  Chinese  name  seems  to  have  been 
Ma-kin)  seized  the  town,  the  official  resistance 
being  of  the  weakest  description.  Magay 
called  himself  an  admiral,  but  his  experience 
of  warfare,  naval  or  otherwise,  seems  to  have 
been  derived  from  serving  the  British  garrison 
at  Kulangsu  with  spirits,  and  from  a  brief 
cruise  with  a  renegade  Neapolitan  in  a 
lorcha.  The  rebels  held  the  town  until 
November,  when  the  imperialist  forces 
regained  possession.  The  insurgents  fled 
away  to  sea,  and  many  succeeded  in  escaping 
to  the  Straits  and  P'ormosa.  Magay  fled  with 
the  rest,  but  was  accidentally  shot  off  Macao. 
Foreigners  did  not  suffer  during  this  dis- 
turbance. They  were  few  in  number,  and 
Kulangsu  under  the  protection  of  British 
gunboats  afforded  a  safe  refuge.  The 
recovery  of  the  city  was  marked  by  terrible 
cruelty  on  the  part  of  the  imperialist  forces, 
who  seemed  bent  on  making  a  wholesale 
butchery  of  the  population.  So  horrible 
were  the  scenes  of  slaughter  that  the  foreign 
residents  and  a  party  landed  from  the  liciincs 
and  Bittern  intervened  to  stop  the  beheading 
that  went  on  in  front  of  the  foreign  hongs. 

The  end  of  the  fifties  was  marked  by 
the  Taeping  rebellion  raging  in  Mid-China 
and  the  second  Anglo-Chinese  War  carrying 
on  its  eventful  course  in  the  north.  But  the 
first  reflection  in  Amoy  of  these  stirrhig 
events  was  the  establishment  of  the  foreign 
Customs  in  1862.  The  opening  w-as  carried 
out  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Hart,  as  he 
then  was,  now  Sir  Robert  Hart,  Inspector- 
General  of  the  Chinese  Maritime  Customs, 
who  visited  the  port  early  in  that  year.  The 
first  Commissioner  of  Customs  was  Mr. 
W.  W.  Ward,  who  remained  until  December, 
1862,  when  he  transferred  charge  to  Mr. 
George  Hughes,  who  remained  in  control  of 
the   Ainoy   Custotns   off  and  on  until  March, 

On  October  14,  1864,  the  port  was  astounded 
to  hear  that  the  Taeping  rebels  had  captured 
the  city  of  Changchow.  The  rebellion  was 
supposed  to  have  been  simmering  out  safely 
away  in  the  north,  and  the  very  existence  of 
rebels  in  the  vicinity  was  imsuspected.  A 
small  party  had,  it  appeared,  come  overland 
after  the  fall  of  Nanking.  There  was  terrible 
consternation  in  Amoy,  where  the  Chinese 
had  no  means  of  resistance,  and  many  natives 
fled  the  town.  The  foreigners  and  their 
property  were  protected  by  the  surveying 
vessels  Sicnllow  and  Dove,  and  by  volunteers 
among  the  residents  themselves.  Two  more 
gunboats,  the  Janus  and  Flamcr,  were 
promptly     sent     up     from     Hongkong,     and 


assistance  also  came  from  Foochow  in  the 
shape  of  H.M.S.  Bustard,  under  Lieutenant 
Tucker,  four  foreign  officers,  one  hundred 
men,  and  two  guns  of  the  Foochow  Franco- 
Chinese  force  under  Colonel  de  Mercy. 
Owing  to  the  fear  that  they  would  have  to 
pay  for  the  maintenance  of  this  small  force, 
the  local  officials  showed  the  strongest 
hostility  to  it,  and  it  was  obliged  to  return 
to  Foochow  without  having  been  allowed  to 
accomplish  anything.  Some  sixty  foreigners 
of  doubtful  character  arrived  on  the  scene 
from  Shanghai,  Ningpo,  and  Foochow  with 
a  view  to  joining  the  rebels.  Some  of  these 
were  stopped  by  their  consuls,  but  some  got 
through  to  the  rebel  lines.  Raw  levies  were 
raised  locally  by  the  Chinese  authorities,  but 
no  delermined  efforts  were  made  to  oust  the 
Taepings,  and  had  it  not  been  that  the 
movement  was  in  its  expiring  throes,  it 
would  have  overcome  easily  the  slender 
opposition  in  this  district.  As  it  was, 
however,  the  rebels  remained  entrenched  in 
Changchow  until  April  16,  1865,  when  they 
left,  unable  to  resist  the  disciplined  force  of 
eight  thousand  men  brought  down  from  the 
north. 

On  May  13,  1865,  there  arrived  at  Amoy 
an  American  schooner  naired  the  General 
She  mum,  and  among  her  pas-engers  was 
one  Burgevine,  the  same  who  was  formerly 
in  command  of  the  disciplined  Chinese  force  at 
Shanghai,  and  afterwards  a  leader  of  the  rebels 
at  Soochow.  Burgevine  had  been  deported 
from  China  thirteen  months  before  by  the 
United  States  Consul-General  at  Shanghai. 
An  effort  was  made  to  arrest  him  here,  but  he 
succeeded  in  getting  out  of  the  port  and  was 
only  seized  by  the  Chinese  authorities  on 
May  14th  as  he  was  on  his  way  to  join  the 
rebels  at  Changchow.  He  was  handed  over 
to  the  Chinese  general,  Kuo  Sung-ling,  and 
was  subsequently  sent  down  to  the  Taoutai  at 
Amoy.  His  fate  is  somewhat  mysterious.  A 
mob  of  rowdies,  led  by  one  of  Burgevine's 
compatriots,  went  to  the  liai-faiifl-tiiig's  yamen, 
where  he  was  supposed  to  be  confined,  and 
broke  it  open,  only  to  find  that  he  had  already 
been  sent  away.  The  Chinese  afterwards 
reported  that  he  had  been  accidentally 
drowned  by  the  capsizing  of  a  boat  while  on 
his  way  to  Foochow,  an  explanation  which 
was,  apparently,  accepted  by  the  American 
Government.  There  is  no  certain  record  here 
of  where  the  capsizing  took  place,  but  there 
is  a  tradition  that  it  was  in  the  strait  between 
the  north  of  Amoy  and  the  mainland. 

On  March  13,  1865,  the  British  Consul  (Mr. 
W.  H.  Pedder)  accompanied  by  Mr.  Johnston, 
of  Messrs.  Tait  &  Co.,  Mr.  Douglas,  a  mis- 
sionary, and  Gerard,  a  storekeeper  in  Amoy, 
left  in  the  gunboat  Flanier  to  visit  the  rebels 
at  Changchow.  They  were  hospitably  enter- 
tained by  the  rebel  leaders,  and  found  five 
or  six  foreigners  serving  in  prominent 
positions  among  them,  under  the  immediate 
control  of  one  Rhody,  late  a  colonel  and 
adjutant-general  in  Colonel  Gordon's  force. 
The  party  brought  back  with  them  as  a 
guest,  and  returned  afterwards  safely  to 
Changchow,  one  of  the  leading  rebel  chief- 
tains. This  worthy  was  treated  with  high 
distinction,  and  entertained  on  H.M.S.  Pelorns, 
on  which  vessel  a  visitor  recognised  in  the 
distinguished  guest  his  former  chair  coolie  in 
Hongkong. 

With  the  close  of  the  Taeping  rebellion 
Amoy  entered  on  a  peaceful  phase,  and  its 
history  becomes  the  story  of  the  development 
of  its  foreign  trade. 

Trade. 

The  principal  article  imported  by  foreign 
merchants  in   the   early   days  of   the   Treaty 


820     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


port  was  opium,  and  the  chief  article  of 
export  was  Amoy  tea.  It  is  a  curious  fact  — 
pathetic  almost,  considering  that  Amoy  is 
the  first  of  the  old  Chinese  tea-ports  entirely 
to  lose  the  trade — that  the  word  tea  should 
be  derived  from  the  word  te*  in  the  Amoy 
dialect,  .ind  not  from  the  ordinary  name  for 
tea  in  most  of  the  lanj^iges  of  China,  which 
is  ch'a.  The  reason  no  doubt  is  that  tea  was 
first  introduced  into  Europe  by  the  Dutch. 
who  got  if  from  this  region.  The  trade  in 
these  staples,  with  the  ownership  or  agency 
of  the  vessels  which  carried  them  and  other 
commodities,  such  ;is  rice,  in  which  a  large 
coasting  trade  was  done,  furnished  a  lucrative 
business  for  the  merchants  of  the  time. 
These  were  the  days  of  the  opium  clippers, 
smartly  found  craft,  which.  carr>ing  a 
valuable  cargo  paying  a  high  freight,  and 
being  also  the  mail  l>oats  of  those  days. 
could  afford  a  style  and  equipment  not  seen 
later  on  the  coast.  These  vessels,  schooners 
at  first,  and  later  on  fast  steamers,  lasted 
into  the  sixties,  until  the  time,  in  fact,  when 
the  opening  of  the  Sue/.  Canal  and  the 
establishment  of  the  telegraph  cable  revolu- 
tionised the  China  trade. 

It  was  not  long  also  before  emigration 
became  an  important  element  in  the  carrying 
trade.  Emigration  from  this  district  to  the 
countries  of  the  Malay  Archipelago  has  existed 
from  time  immemorial.  The  unprotluctive 
nature  of  the  soil  has  never  been  able  to 
provide  more  than  a  slender  list  of  exports,  and 
the  heavy  excess  of  imports  has  been  balanced 
by  the  output  of  human  labour  and  the 
savings  which  those  labourers  have  remitted 
to  their  native  place.  The  establishment  of 
steam  communication  with  the  Straits  gave 
an  impetus  to  the  movement  which  has 
since  bieen  steadily  maintained.  The  inter- 
course with  the  Malay  countries  has  its 
reflection  in  the  villages  near  Amoy,  where 
faces  of  Malay  type  are  seen,  and  Malay 
may  be  heard  spoken. 

Statistics  of  trade  exist  only  from  the  time 
of  the  establishment  of  the  Foreign  Customs 
in  1862,  from  which  time  on  full  information 
is  available  from  the  Customs  returns  and  the 
Consular  and  Customs  trade  reports.  Space 
only  permits  a  brief  sketch  of  the  subject 
here.  The  number  of  foreign  firms  engaged 
in  trade  was  always  small,  the  large  estab- 
lishments probably  never  exceeding  half-a- 
dozen  in  number.  In  1865,  according  to  the 
directory  of  that  year,  there  were  three 
regular  Consuls  —  those  representing  Great 
Britain,  Spain,  and  United  States — the  other 
Powers  having  merchants  Consuls  only. 
There  were  two  docks  (the  Amoy  Dock 
Company  and  the  Bellamy  Dock),  a  marine 
surveyor,  eleven  "  merchant "  firms,  three 
medical  practitioners,  three  pilots,  two  firms 
of  ship-chandlers,  and  two  watchmakers, 
which,  with  the  missionaries  and  the  Foreign 
Customs  staff,  made  up  the  foreign  community. 
In  1862,  394  vessels  of  129,677  tons  entered 
at  the  Customs,  the  vast  bulk  of  these  being 
sailing-ships.  By  1871  the  figures  had  risen 
to  566  vessels  of  215,651  tons.  The  British 
flag  greatly  predominated,  and  it  was  fol- 
lowed next  by  the  vessels  of  the  North 
German  States.  Imports  in  1862  were 
valued  at  Hk.  Tls.  3,394,816,  and  exports  at 
Hk.Tls.  1,498,860,  the  haikwan  tael  being 
equivalent  at  that  time  to  6s.  8d.  By  1871 
the  figures  had  become  Hk.  Tls.  5,730,078 
and  Hk.  Tls.  3,085,889  respectively.  "  The 
principal   imports  were  opium,  cotton  yarn, 

*  Pronounced  tay,  as  fonnerly  in  English,  and  now  in 
French  and  German. 

"  Here,  thou,  great  Anna  !  whom  thrice  realms  ribey, 
l>oftt  sometimes  counsel  take — and  sometimes  tea." 

—Port,— Rape  0/  the  Lock. 


cotton  piece  goods,  metals,  rice,  beans,  and 
bean  cake  (from  the  northern  ports),  and  ex- 
ports were  chiefly  tea,  sugar,  chinaware, 
earthenware,  paper,  bricks,  tiles,  tobacco,  and 
vermicelli. 

The  modern  history  of  foreign  trade  in 
.Amoy  divides  itself  into  three  pericxis-  tlic 
period  of  the  Amoy  tea,  the  period  of  the 
Formosa  tea,  and  the  period  through  which 
the  port  is  now,  unfortunately,  passing,  when 
the  tea  trade  is  extinct  and  nothing  has  risen 
to  take  its  place.  In  the  early  days,  the 
export  of  Amoy  tea  was  quite  considerable. 
Between  1858  and  1864  the  exportations 
varied  annually  from  four  to  seven  million 
pounds.  In  1874  75,  7.645,386  lbs.  of  Amoy 
Oolong  were  shipped  to  the  United  States. 
But  the  trade  did  not  last  long.  From 
1875  the  figures  steadily  fell  away ;  the 
quality  of  the  leaf  deteriorated  so  seriously 
and  llie  tea  was  so  adulterated  and  so  badly 
prepared  that,  finally,  the  American  Consul 
advised  his  government  to  forbid  the  im- 
portation. In  l8(J9  the  last  shipment  - 
31.705  lbs.  was  made.  The  failure  in  quality, 
Ihe  general  inferiority  of  the  leaf  as  com- 
pared with  the  products  of  Formosa  and 
Japan,  and  unduly  heavy  taxation,  are  the 
causes  of  the  ruin  of  this  once  fine  industry. 

The  failure  of  Amoy  tea,  however,  did  not 
hit  the  foreign  merchants  very  hard,  for, 
as  It  began  to  decline  so  the  market  for 
Formosa  tea  began  to  grow.  The  Amoy 
firms  had  branches  In  Formosa  with  a 
representative  or  two,  but  the  tea  was 
bought,  warehoused  and  shipped  here.  This 
was  due  partly  to  the  foreign  and  Chinese 
merchants  having  their  chief  establishments 
and  godowns  here,  but  mainly  to  the 
excellence  of  the  harbour  and  the  lack  of 
a  suitable  haven  in  Formosa.  This  trade 
brought  great  prosperity  to  Amoy.  The  big 
Pacific  liners  and  many  large  steamers  going 
to  Europe  and  America  viii  the  Suez  Canal 
put  in  to  load  up  with  tea,  and  several  small 
steamers  were  kept  running  between  Tamsui 
and  Amoy  during  the  season  for  the  tea 
alone.  The  great  staple  brought  other 
business  in  its  train.  In  1873  the  Hongkong 
and  Shanghai  Bank  opened  a  branch  here, 
and,  as  sugar  at  the  time  was  also  an 
important  article  of  export,  Amoy  may  be 
considered  to  have  reached  the  zenith  of 
its  fortunes  in  the  eighties  and  nineties. 
In  1880  it  was  reported  that  there  were 
24  foreign  firms,  of  which  17  were  engaged 
in  business  as  general  merchants,  4  being 
agents  for  banks  as  well.  Many  of  these, 
of  course,  were  British-Chinese  firms  doing 
business  with  the  Straits.  There  were  183 
native  wholesale  houses,  and  6  native  banks. 
The  value  of  the  goods  handled  by  the 
foreign  and  native  firms  was  roughly  esti- 
mated at  from  $20,000,000  to  $25,000,000  a 
year. 

But  the  Formosa  tea,  like  its  predecessor, 
was  to  have  only  a  brief  reign.  The  Japanese 
occupation  of  Formosa  quickly  brought  about  a 
change  in  the  trade.  Matters  continued  much 
as  they  were  for  some  years  after  1895  ;  but  the 
improvements  made  by  the  Japanese  Govern- 
ment— the  reconstruction  of  the  railway  from 
Taipeh  to  Kelung,  and,  above  all,  the  improve- 
ment to  Kelung  harbour — have  concentrated 
the  trade  entirely  in  P'ormosa  and  dealt  what 
is,  apparently,  a  death-blow  to  Amoy.  The 
years  1905-6  witnessed  heavy  diminutions 
in  the  shipments  of  Formosa  tea  from  Amoy  ; 
in  1907  hardly  any  went  at  all,  and  there  was 
almost  a  complete  absence  of  big  ships  from 
the  harbour. 

As  tea  went,  so  did  sugar.  Here,  also,  old 
methcxls  had  to  give  place  to  modern  ones. 
The  l(x;al  sugar  was   killed   by   the   superior 


article  prepared  and  grown  under  modern 
scientific  methods  In  Java,  and  there  Is  now  a 
large  Importation  of  Java  sugar  Into  Amoy. 

At  present,  therefore,  unless  the  unforeseen 
happens,  It  would  seem  that  the  career  of 
Amoy  as  a  tea-port  Is  ended.  The  trade  as  It 
now  stands  has  some  eleven  millioM  taels 
worth  of  foreign  Imports  (of  which  foreign 
opium  accounts  for  nearly  two  million  taels), 
and  about  three  and  a  half  million  taels  worth 
of  native  Imports  ;  while  exports  amount  In 
value  to  nearly  three  million  taels.  WItli  the 
exception  of  opium,  In  which  a  couple  of 
Parsee  tirms  are  still  Interested  ;  oil,  case  and 
bulk,  which  Is  imported  by  the  two  tank 
Installations,  the  Standard  Oil  and  the  Asiatic 
Petroleum  Company  ;  some  American  Hour, 
and  a  small  amount  of  piece  goods  and  other 
sundries,  the  imports  are  entirely  in  native 
hands,  as,  of  course,  are  the  native  imports 
and  the  entire  exports.  Shipping  is  still  in 
foreign  hands,  and  owing  mainly  to  the 
tonnage  required  for  the  emigration  and 
passenger  traftic  still  constitutes  an  Important 
Interest.  The  total  tonnage  employed  by  the 
port  in  1907  amounted  to  over  two  million 
tons.  But  so  far  as  the  British  ship-owner 
is  concerned,  his  interests  have  been  heavily 
cut  into  of  recent  years  by  Japanese  com- 
petition. In  1907,  23  per  cent,  of  the  ton- 
nage was  under  the  Japanese  Hag,  and 
55  per  cent,  under  the  British  ;  a  great 
change  from  the  time,  not  many  years  back, 
when  Great  Britain  had  80  per  cent,  of  the 
tonnage  and  Japan  was  not  represented  In 
these  waters  at  all.  During  the  last  ten  years 
a  small  Heet  of  launches  under  the  Inland 
Navigation  Rules  has  come  Into  being.  These 
small  craft  ply  between  the  port  and  neigh- 
bouring towns,  among  them  Changchow  and 
Chlnchew,  and  do  a  large  passenger-carrying 
trade.  Many  of  them  carry  a  foreign  flag, 
but  they  are  almost  entirely  owned  and 
managed  by  Chinese,  who  somehow  or  other 
have  managed  to  acquire  a  foreign  status. 

The  Amoy  of  to-day  is  thus  the  shadow  of 
its  former  self.  The  loss  of  the  tea  trade  has 
sensibly  reduced  the  foreign  community,  and 
with  the  tea  have  gone  the  attendant  in- 
dustries. To  regain  its  position  as  an  im- 
portant centre  of  foreign  trade  the  port  must 
find  some  productions  wherewith  to  pay  for 
its  Importations  and  replace  those  articles  of 
export  which  have  disappeared.  Hope  for 
the  future  lies  in  a  railway  which  is  now 
being  built,  entirely  with  Chinese  capital  and 
by  a  Chinese  engineer,  from  Sungseu,  on  the 
mainland  to  the  west  of  Amoy,  to  Changchow. 
This  short  line,  avowedly  experimental.  Is  of 
interest  as  the  precursor  of  a  proposed  large 
railway  scheme,  which,  it  is  hoped,  will 
ultimately  embrace  the  whole  of  Foklen. 
If  any  progress  is  made  in  railway  con- 
struction the  way  is  opened  for  the 
exploitation  of  the  mineral  resources  of  the 
province,  which  are  believed  to  be  con- 
siderable. Already  a  beginning  has  been 
made  in  this  direction  by  a  Chinese  syndicate 
of  capitalists  in  theAn-ch'l  district,  on  ground 
which  is  said  to  contain  coal  and  Iron,  besides 
lead,  lime,  and  stone.  Other  possible  lines  of 
development  are  the  application  of  foreign 
machinery  to  the  brick  and  tile  industry  of 
Changchow,  which  thus  handled  might  rise 
to  considerable  proportions.  A  large  In- 
dustry in  salted  fish  might  also  be  established 
in  the  port,  the  materials  being  all  at  hand  ; 
and  there  seems  no  reason  why,  if  under- 
taken in  a  scientific  maimer  with  the  requisite 
capital  and  knowledge,  tea  and  sugar  planta- 
tions should  not  be  re-introduced  into  South 
Fokien.  The  difficulty  in  these  matters  Is  to 
secure  the  necessary  capital  and  co-operation. 
The  Chinese   have   little   money  of  their  own 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     821 


and  are  as  reluctant  to  admit  forei>;n  capital, 
as  they  are  unable  to  handle  large  co-operative 
concerns  themselves.  The  gradual  enlighten- 
ment and  education  of  the  people  will,  we 
must  hope,  remove  these  drawbacks.  In  the 
end  there  seems  no  reason  why  Amoy  should 
not  rise  from  its  ashes  to  higher  things  ;  but 
in  the  light  of  to-day  it  would  seem  that 
before  such  a  consummation  is  reached,  a 
generation  or  two  must  yet  pass  away. 

m 

ME.  P.  E.  OBEIEN-BUTLEE. 

Mr.  PiKRCE  Essex  O'Brien-Buti.kr,  who 
has  been  British  Consul  at  Amoy  since  May, 
1906,  was  born  on  November  15,  1858,  at 
Twickenham,  and  was  educated  in  Leipzig, 
in  Germany.  He  entered  the  Consular  service 
in  1880,  and  since  1895  has  acted  as  Consul 
successively        at       Chinkiang.       Kiungchow, 


1890  he  resigned  his  appointment,  and  for 
two  years  engaged  in  business  in  the  Colony 
as  a  stock  and  share  broker.  Rejoining  the 
bank's  service  in  1902,  he  came  to  Amoy, 
at  which  port  and  Koochow  he  has  been 
since  that  time.  Mr.  Wallace  is  an  enthusiastic 
sportsman,  and  in  his  younger  days  was  a 
well-known  figure  on  the  football  and  hockey 
fields.  He  won  the  tennis  championship  of 
Hongkong  in  1901.  and  even  now  devotes 
as  much  of  his  spare  lime  to  that  game  as 
to  his  flowers.  The  garden  adjoining  his 
private  residence  is  one  of  the  sights  of  Amoy, 
and  is  recognised  as  being  one  of  the  finest 
in  China. 


ME.  C.  A.  V.  BOWEA. 

Mr.  C.  a.  V.  BowKA,  Commissioner  of 
Customs,  Amoy,  is  the  eldest  son  of  the 
late  Mr.  E.  C.  Howra,  Commissioner  of  Customs 


He  also  holds  the  Chinese  Third  Civil  Rank 
and  the  Order  of  the  Double  Dragon. 


BRANCH  OF  THE  HONGKONG  AND  SHANGHAI  BANK  AT  AMOY. 
(.Actint;  .\i,'eiit,  W.  H,  Wallace.) 


Foochow,  and  Chefoo.  Mr.  O'Brien-Butler 
has  also  studied  law,  and  was  called  to  the 
Bar  by  the  Inner  Temple,  in  June,  1895. 


ME.  W.  H.  WALLACE. 

Mr.  Wallace  has  taken  the  greatest 
interest  in  public  affairs  during  his  residence 
in  Amoy,  and  now  holds  the  position  of 
chairman  of  the  Municipal  Council.  Born 
in  London  in  1861,  he  was  educated  at 
Dedham  Grammar  School,  Essex,  and  at  the 
early  age  of  seventeeti  accompanied  an  orchid- 
hunting  expedition  to  South  America.  On  his 
return  he  devoted  some  time  to  the  study  of 
botany,  and  one  of  his  chief  hobbies  novv  is 
the  cultivation  of  flowers.  In  1882  Mr. 
Wallace  entered  the  service  of  the  Hongkong 
and  Shanghai  Bank  in  London,  and  two  years 
later  was  sent   to    the  Hongkong   ol'lice.      In 


at  Ningpo  and  Canton.  He  was  born  at 
Ningpo,  in  1869,  and  was  educated  at  St. 
Paul's  School,  London,  returning  to  China 
in  1886  upon  appointment  to  the  Customs 
service.  He  was  a  Student  Interpreter  at 
Peking,  and  has  been  stationed  at  various 
ports  during  his  career.  He  became  Acting 
Commissioner  in  Newchwang  in  1899,  and 
while  in  office  there  defended  the  Customs 
and  commanded  the  Newchwang  Volunteers 
during  the  Boxer  troubles  of  1900.  Four 
years  later  he  was  promoted  full  Commissioner 
after  having  been  in  charge  of  the  Customs 
for  three  years  during  the  Russian  occupation 
of  the  port.  In  1905  he  was  appointed  to 
Amoy.  Mr.  Bowra  is  ^  barrister-at-law  of  the 
Inner  Temple,  and  has  written  several  articles 
on  Chinese  subjects  besides  contributing 
officially  to  the  various  Customs  publications. 
He  is  fond  of  riding  and  tennis.  Among  his 
decorations  are  the  British  China  Medal,  1900, 
and  the   French  Colonial  Order  of  Cambodge. 


C.    A.    V.    BOWRA. 

Commissioner  of  Customs,  Amov. 


MB.  C.  B.  MITCHELL. 

Mr.  C.  Berkeley  Mitchell,  Capt.-Superin- 
tendent  of  the  Kulangsu  Police  and  Secretary 
to  the  Kulangsu  Municipal  Council,  has  had 
an  active  and  distinguished  career.  Born  on 
P'ebruary  12,  1864,  he  was  educated  at  St. 
Olave's  Grammar  School,  Southwark,  London, 
S.E.  He  served  with  the  Second  Battalion 
Royal  West  Kent  Regiment  in  Egypt,  South 
Africa,  Ceylon,  and  Hongkong,  and  had  a 
full  share  of  fighting.  He  was  mentioned 
in  Lord  Kitchener's  despatches,  and  among 
his  decorations  are  the  Queen's  South  Africa 
medal  with  three  clasps,  and  the  King's 
South  Africa  medal  with  two  clasps.  After 
twenty-two  years'  service  he  retired  from 
the  Army,  having  then  also  won  the  long 
service  and  good  conduct  medals. 

ME.  H.  McDOUGALL. 

Mr.  H.  McDougall,  M.B.,  CM.,  of  Ku- 
langsu, Amoy,  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1858, 
and  was  educated  at  Glasgow  High  School 
and  University.  After  qualifying,  he  worked 
for  some  time  at  the  Great  Western  In- 
firmary. In  1882  he  came  to  Amoy  as 
assistant  to  Dr.  (now  Sir)  Patrick  Manson 
and  Dr.  Ringer,  and  has  been  practising  in 
the  town  ever  since. 

%^ 

ME.  A.  F.  GAEDINEE. 

Mr.  a.  F.  Gardiner,  of  Amoyv  was  born  in 
Ireland  in  1865  and  was  educated  at  the 
International  College,  Isleworth.  For  some 
time  he  was  connected  with  a  prominent 
London  tea  house  in  Mincing  Lane  and 
Fenchurch  Street.  In  1889  he  came  to 
China    for    t!ie    firm    of    Bovd    &    Co.,  whom 


8l>2     twentieth  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


he  represented  in  Taipei  (Formosa)  from 
1891  to  1901.  Just  after  the  arrival  of  the 
Japanese  in  the  island  he  was  made  British 
Pro-Consul  there,  a  post  which  he  held  lor 
some  little  time.  He  returned  to  Amoy  on 
behalf  of  Messrs.  Boyd  &  Co.  in  1901.  Mr. 
Gardiner  was  an  enthusiastic  oarsman  in 
his  younger  days,  and  has  represented  the 
Twickenham  Rowing  Club  at  Henley. 


CAPTAIN  H.  BATHUSST. 

Captain  H.  B.^thurst,  who  now  combines 
the  duties  of  a  surveyor  and  pilot,  and  is 
also  a  representative  of   the  Merchant  Guild 


nations  of  the  Far  East,  his  name  was 
brought  into  great  prominence.  Although 
the  Chinese  had  ceded  Formosa  to  J;ipan, 
the  Chinese  governor  and  general  of  Formosa 
refused  to  hand  the  island  over  to  the  enemy, 
and  a  great  battle  was  fought.  The  Japanese 
were  victorious,  but  they  lost  some  thousands 
of  men.  and  the  Chinese  General  Lai  Yung  Fu 
managed  to  escape  with  some  1,400  to  the 
Thtiles.  Captain  Bathuist  narrates,  in  glowing 
terms,  how  the  morning  after  leaving  .Anping 
the  Japanese  cruiser  )'(i(:j'ir);;(i  overtook  liim, 
and  insisted  upon  thoroughly  searching  his 
ship.  Protests  and  repeated  references  to 
the  British  flag,  however,  enabled  him  to 
complete  the  remaining  16  miles  to  Amoy 
without    further    interference,    although    two 


the  Foochow,  Amoy,  and  Swatow  districts, 
has  spent  by  far  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
abroad.  Born  at  Bury  .St.  lidnnnicls  in  1876, 
he  received  his  early  education  at  East- 
bourne, Sussex,  but  at  the  age  of  eleven  he 
went  to  Canada.  He  subsequently  entered 
the  service  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company, 
and  remained  in  the  Dominion  altogether  for 
fourteen  years.  In  1901  he  joined  the  In- 
surance Company  at  Shanghai.  Of  the 
stability  and  soundness  of  the  enterprise  with 
which  he  is  now  connected  there  can  be  no 
question.  So  much  Chinese  capital  is  in- 
vested in  the  Company  that  quite  recently 
the  Shanghai  Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce 
solicited,  and  were  granted,  an  examination 
of   the   books.      After   a  careful   survev   thev 


THE    KULANGSU    MUNICIPAL    POLICE,    AMOY. 
(C.  Berkeley  Mitchell,  Superintendent,  in  centre.i 


of  Liverpool,  at  Kulangsu,  Amoy,  has  had  an 
interesting  career.  Born  in  Rochester  in 
1859,  he  was  educated  at  the  Mathematical 
School  in  that  city.  At  first  ambition  led 
him  to  choose  journalism  as  a  profession, 
and  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  Uocliestcr  and 
Chatham  Journal,  but,  soon  becoming  desirous 
of  a  more  adventurous  career,  he  went  to 
sea.  His  first  experience  of  a  sailor's  life 
was  obtained  in  sailing  ships,  but  later  he 
secured  various  posts  on  steamers.  He  was 
in  command  of  a  steamer  trading  in  the 
China  Seas  during  the  Franco-Chinese  War 
of  1886,  and,  when  in  command  of  the 
British  ss.  Thales,  he  saw  a  good  deal  of 
the  grim  side  of  the  Chino-Japanese  War. 
Indeed,  in  connection  with  one  stirring 
incident    in    this  struggle    between    the  two 


Japanese  officers  were  left  on  board  to  pick 
out  the  men  they  wanted.  On  reaching 
Amoy  the  Chinese  general  and  some  of  the 
refugees  made  good  their  escape  over  the 
side  of  the  ship.  In  after  years  General 
Lai  Yung  Fu,  while  still  in  seclusion  and 
retirement,  wrote  in  pathetic  terms  expressing 
his  sense  of  indebtedness  to  Captain  Bathurst. 
It  is  worthy  of  record,  too,  that  the  Marquis 
of  Salisbury,  with  promptitude,  secured  the 
dismissal  of  the  Japanese  officers  responsible 
for  the  delay  of  the  Briiish  ship. 


ME.  C.  J.  FAEEOW. 

Mr.    C.  J.   Farkow,   manager   of   the   China 
Mutual    Life    Insurance    Company,    Ltd.,    for 


expressed  themselves  fully  satisfied  with  the 
accounts,  and  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that 
the  Company  was  well  able  to  carry  through 
any  contracts  into  which  it  might  enter. 


HE.  LIM  NEE  KAS. 

Mr.  Lim  Nee  Kak,  holds  a  very  prominent 
place  in  the  .social  and  commercial  life  of 
Amoy.  He  has  gained  many  distinctions 
from  the  Government,  and  is  now  accounted 
one  of  the  richest  men  in  China.  Born  in 
Pangkio,  Taipei,  Formosa,  in  1874,  he  was 
educated  privately,  and  at  an  early  age 
assisted  liis  latlicr,  Mr.  Lim  See  Fu,  who 
was   Chinese   minister  in   the   island,   in    the 


The  Dry  Dock. 


THE    NEW    AMOY    DOCK    COMPANY,    LTD. 

Machine  Shop. 
Carpenters'  Shop. 


[See  page  826.] 


Boiler  Shed. 


824      TWENTltlTH  CENTURY  I31P1U':SSI0NS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


management  •  of  his  rice  estates  and  ^old 
niines.  and  in  .prospectinj;  expeditions  into  the 
interior.  Alter  the  Japanese  War  the  family 
came  to  Amoy.  and  here  Lim  Nee  Kar 
assisted  his  father  to  establish  four  banks, 
as  well  as  one  each  in  Honjjkonji,  Tientsin, 
and  Shanghai.  The  death  of  Mr.  Lim  See 
Fu  tiK>k  place  in  n)o^.  after  which  his  son 
l<M>k  charge  of  all  the  businesses.  Success 
followed  success.  He  has  visited  the  Throne 
at  Peking,  and  was  granted  a  title  equal  in 
rank  to  that  of  an  anibass;idor,  and  carrying 
with  it  the  privilege  of  petitioning  the  Throne 
in  person.  Amongst  the  many  positions  he 
has  held  as  a  prominent  man  of  business 
may  be  mentioned  the  chairmanship  of  the 
Chinese  Chamber  of  Commerce,  to  which  he 
has  tvcen   elected    three   times.      In    1906   he 


THE   HOPE   AND   WILHELUINA    HOSPITALS. 

.\s  early  as  1842  medical  mission  work  was 
begun  in  Amoy,  and  to-day  the  outward  and 
visible  signs  of  its  activity  are  to  be  seen  in 
the  two  useful  and  commodious  institutions 
which  stand  on  the  island  of  Kulangsu.  The 
Ho|-ie  Hospital  was  opened  in  1898,  the 
money  for  its  ereclion  having  been  collected 
amongst  Hollanders  in  the  United  States 
through  the  instrumentality  of  Dr.  Otte.  Up 
to  the  end  of  ii)o6,  85,758  in  and  out-patients 
were  treated,  ^.865  oper.itions  were  performed, 
and  21  medical  students  received  instruc- 
tion at  the  institution.  The  Wilhelmina 
Hospital  for  women  was  built,  and  continues 
to  be  supported,  by  friends  of  the  work  in 
the  Netherlands,  and  has  been  of  inestimable 


the  Anglo-Chinese  College  was  taken  over  in 

1900  by  Dr.  A.  H.  F.  Barbour,  of  Edinburgli, 
on  behalf  of  the  Knglisli  Presbyterian  Church 
and  London  Mission,  as  a  new  departure  in 
their  work  among  the  Chinese  at  Amoy. 
The  present  principal  entered  upon  his  duties 
in  1900,  and  had,  at  the  comniencement, 
titty  students  under  his  charge.  The  scliool 
buildings  were   purchased  by  Dr.  Barbour  in 

1901  (or  §15,000,  and  the  adjoining  boarding- 
house  was  erected  with  money  collected  by 
teachers,  parents,  and  students,  at  a  cost  of 
§5,000.  Each  of  the  nine  class-rooms  will 
accommodate  upwards  of  forty  students, 
and  the  lecture-hall  will  seat  350  persons 
quite  comfortably.  The  special  class-rooms 
for  chemistry  and  physics  have  been  splen- 
didly   equipped    through    the    kind     help    of 


THE    KESIDENCE    OF    LIM    NEE    KAR. 


was  asked  by  the  Government  to  establish 
the  Sin  Vong  Corporation  Bank,  and,  at  the 
present  time,  he  is  a  director  of  the  Fokien 
Railway  Company :  superintendent  of  the 
Amoy  Telephone  Company ;  chairman  of 
the  Shanghai  Hwatong  Marine  and  Hre 
Insurance  Company ;  and  auditor  of  the 
Taiwan  Bank  in  Amoy.  At  the  time  of 
writing  he  is  using  every  effort  to  secure  the 
construction  ol  some  efficient  waterworks  on 
the  island.  He  is  a  great  believer  in  the 
advantages  of  a  European  education,  and 
his  sons,  who  are  now  studying  under  a 
European  governess,  show  every  promise  of 
developing  intellectual  faculties  similar  to 
those  which  have  -characterised  their  father 
and  grandfather. 


benefit  to  the  district  since  it  was  opened 
in  March,  1899.  Dr.  J.  A.  Otte.  M.A.,  M.D., 
who  has  charge  of  the  hospitals,  was  born 
in  F"lushing,  Holland,  in  1861.  and  when 
five  years  of  age  went  to  America,  where  he 
was  educated  at  Hope  College  and  at  the 
University  of  Michigan.  He  caine  out  to 
China  at  the  beginning  of  1888,  and  was  for 
seven  years  at  Sio-Khe,  a  place  60  miles  in 
the  interior,  where  he  built  the  Neerbosch 
Hospital.  He  speaks  Chinese  fluently.  At 
the  Hope  and  Wilhelmina  Hospitals  he  has  a 
European  nurse,  and  a  Chinese  assistant. 


ANGLO-CHINESE  COLLEGE. 

Started  in   1898  as  a   Christian   educational 
establishment  for  residential  and  day  students, 


Dr.  Barbour  and  other  friends,  and  here 
the  accommodation  is  sufiicient  to  enable 
thirty  scholars  to  receive  instruction  at  one 
time.  The  school  is  divided  into  two  depart- 
ments— junior  and  senior.  The  junior  section 
is  equivalent  to  the  elementary  school  in 
Great  Britain,  while  the  senior  is  equal  to 
the  home  collegiate  standard,  having,  accord- 
ing to  the  bent  of  the  students,  a  commercial 
or  a  science  course.  The  commercial  course 
comprises  letter-writing,  book-keeping,  short- 
hand, and  typewriting ;  while  the  science 
course  embraces  zoology,  chemistry,  physics, 
geology,  astronomy,  and  mathematics.  Music 
and  drill — military  and  physical — .ire  taught, 
and  sports  are  encour;iged. 

The  teaching  staff  numbers  sixteen,  and 
comprises  two  trained  English  masters,  one 
voluntary  English  master,  six  Chinese  teachers 


AMOY   ENGINEEBING    COMPANY,    LTD.,    KULANGSU,  lAMOY.  [See  paije  827] 

GEXK'AL   VlKW  ()[■•   WoHKS. 

The  Bo.i.kr  Sfieu.  The  Turning  Shop. 

The  Fn-rixc  shop,  Mr.  J.  D.  Edw.\rds,  Managing  Director  and  Superintendent, 

and  his  Conipradores. 


II    .M    M    2 


826     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


of  English,  and  seven  Chinese  teachers  of 
Chinese.  The  students  come  (roin  P'ormosa, 
Manila.  Swatow.  Singapore,  Rangoon.  Foo- 
chow,  and  neighbouring  towns  in  the  Fokien 
Pro\ince.   and  are  usuallv  the   sons  of   Man- 


building,  erected  in  1902,  affords  accommodH- 
tion  for  six  hundred  day  pupils,  and  two 
hundred  boarders.  The  situation  is  high 
and  healthful,  and  easily  accessible  from 
both  the  city  and  the  harbour.      The   rooms 


THE    HOPE   AND   WILHELMINA    HOSPITALS,    AMOY. 


darins,  merchants,  and  literati.  The  expenses 
of  a  resident  student  are  roughly  $100  per 
annum,  and  last  year  216  were  enrolled. 

The  immediate  aim  of  the  school  is  to 
give  a  liberal  English  and  Chinese  education, 
while  its  ultimate  object  is  to  teach  the 
students  to  think  and  study  for  themselves, 
to  inspire  them  with  a  keen  sense  of  right 
and  wrong,  and  to  develop  their  spiritual 
instincts  along  broad  Christian  lines.  In 
these  directions  much  success  has  already 
been  achieved,  and  Mr.  Kankin  and  Mr. 
H.  J.  P.  Anderson.  M.A..  the  vice-principal, 
may  be  relied  upon  to  see  that  there  is 
no  falling  away  from  the  high  standard 
reached. 

Mr.  Hugh  Fraser  Rankin,  F.S.A.  (Scotland), 
F.E.I.S.,  was  born  in  1868  at  Garthlick,  In- 
verness-shire. Scotland,  and  was  educated  at 
Moray  House  College  and  at  Edinburgh 
University,  where  he  was  medallist  in  science 
and  honoursman  in  education  and  engineer- 
ing. He  went  to  Singapore  as  principal  of 
the  Eastern  School  in  1896,  and  four  years 
later  took  up  his  present  post  at  Amoy. 


TUHG  WEH  IHSTITUTB. 

The  Tung  Wen  Institute  was  founded  in 
1898  by  Mr.  A.  Burlingame  Johnson,  the 
American  Consul  at  Amoy,  and  six  wealthy 
Chinese  merchants.  The  object  of  the 
school  is  to  provide  the  Chinese  with  an 
opportunity  of  acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  English  language,  a  sound  business 
education,  and  elementary  instruction  in 
the  sciences.  Religious  teaching  of  all  kinds 
is  prohibited,  and  a  respectful  toleration  of 
the  various   beliefs    is    insisted    upon.      The 


are  large,  cool,  and  well  lighted.  Three 
regular  courses  of  study  are  offered — the 
grammar  course,  requiring  from  four  to  six 
years    to     complete  ;    the    advanced     course, 


open  to  those  who  have  completed  the 
jirammar  course,  and  requiring  from  two  to 
three  years  to  complete  ;  and  the  Chinese 
course,  equivalent  to  that  required  for 
middle  schools  by  the  Chinese  educational 
Board,  to  be  taken  independently  of,  or 
conjointly  with,  the  English  courses.  Mr. 
Charles  J.  Weed,  the  superintendent,  has 
obtained  considerable  academic  distinction. 
He  was  born  in  1870,  in  Wisconsin,  and 
was  educated  at  public  schools  in  Iowa  and 
Oregon,  at  McMinndille  College,  and  at 
Portland  and  Willamettae  Universities.  After 
successfully  taking  the  graduates  course, 
he  came  to  China  in  1900,  to  take  up  his 
present  appointment. 


THE  NEW  AMOY  DOCK  COMPANY,  LTD. 

The  prosperity  of  a  seaport  depends  in  no 
small  degree  upon  the  efficiency  and  capacity 
of  its  dock  accommodation,  and  in  this 
respect  Amoy  is  exceedingly  fortunate.  The 
dock  owned  by  the  New  Amoy  Dock  Com- 
pany has  been  in  existence  since  1858,  but 
the  Company,  as  at  present  constituted,  was 
Hoated  in  1892,  being  registered  in  the 
British  Colony  of  Hongkong  with  a  sub- 
scribed capital  of  $67,500.  Messrs.  Robert 
Hunter  Bruce  and  William  Snell  Orr,  who 
have  now  retired,  were  the  two  leading 
spirits  in  the  formation  of  the  Company  and 
were  the  first  directors.  Since  that  time 
nearly  Sioo.ooo  have  been  invested  in  new 
machinery  and  upon  improvements  to  the 
property,  so  that  now  orders  can  be  executed 
with  much  greater  despatch  than  was  possible 
formerly.  The  Company  carry  on  the  busi 
ness  of  marine,  mechanical,  and  electrical 
engineers,  shipbuilders,  boiler-makers,  and  iron 
and  brass  founders.  They  possess  a  well- 
constructed  granite  dry  dock,  capable  of 
taking  vessels  up  to  310  feet  between  per- 
pendiculars ;    machine   shop,    foundry,    boiler 


^^^ 


THE    ANQLO-OHINESE    COLLEGE,    AMOT. 
(H.  F.  Rankin,  Superintendent.) 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      827 


shed,  smithy,  and  carpenters'  shed,  equipped 
with  modern  machines  ;  and  a  20-toM  crane 
on  the  sea-wall  for  the  handling;  of  heavy 
substances.  Among  the  machines  in  constant 
use  are  a  plate-rolling  machine,  capable  of 
rolling  plates  up  to  iSJ  feet ;  a  punching 
and  shearing  machine,  which  can  take  ij  inch 
plates  ;  and  some  up-to-date  lathes,  upon  one 
of  which  the  largest  tail-shaft  can  easily  be 
manipulated.  In  the  foundry  it  is  possible 
to  make  castings  up  to  five  tons,  so  that, 
with  its  present  permanent  stalT  of  two 
hundred  competent  artisans,  the  Company 
can  undertake  practically  any  repairs  which 
shipping  may  demand.  In  case  of  emergency 
extra  hands  are  easily  procurable. 

The  present  board  of  directors  comprises 
Messrs.  Tait  &  Co.,  the  general  managers, 
Messrs.  Fred  B.  Marshall,  Wm.  Wilson,  A.  F. 
Gardiner,  and  Wm.  Kruse,  members  of  the 
consulting  committee.  The  Company  has 
been  fairly  succe.ssful,  from  a  financial  point 
of  view,  from  the  start,  and  its  future  pros- 
perity seems  to  be  assured.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  the  establishment  is  a  credit  to 
the  small  port  of  Amoy,  and  a  boon  to  the 
shipping.  All  the  work  undertaken  is  super- 
intended by  the  able  and  energetic  manager, 
Mr.  Robert  W.  Black,  an  engineer  possessing 
a  wide  and  varied  experience. 


holding  1,750,000  gallons.  The  chief  trade 
is  done  in  American  kerosene  oil,  paraffin 
wax,  mineral  oils,  and  naphtha  from  America. 


MESSES  TAIT  &  CO. 

The  firm  of  Messrs.  Tait  &  Co.,  which 
carries  on  a  general  import  and  export 
business  in  many  parts  of  the  Kast,  was 
established  in  Amoy  in  1845  by  Mr.  James 
Tait.  The  founder  of  the  house  died  some 
time  back,  but  others  have  been  taken  into 
partnership  and  the  business  has  developed 
gradually  year  by  year  until  now  its  ramifica- 
tions extend  from  China  and  Formosa  to 
Japan,  branches  having  been  established  in 
North  and  South  P'oimosa,  Yokohama,  and 
Kobe.  The  firm  acts  as  agent  for  the  Char- 
tered Bank  of  India,  Australia,  and  China, 
the  Peninsular  and  Oriental  Company,  and 
the  North   British  and   Mercantile    Insurance 


they  have,  of  course,  a  branch  at  Amoy, 
which  has  sub-agencies  in  the  inland  towns 
of  Chwan  Chew  and  Cheang  Chew,  where 
every  effort  is  made  to  give  policy-holders 
any  assistance  they  may  require.  The 
Company  are  making  arrangements  now  to 
provide  accommodation  for  their  Chinese 
clients  who  may  be  travelling  through  the 
port,  and  they  will  shortly  start  a  policy- 
holders' school  in  Amoy,  to  which  all  who 
are  insured  in  the  Company  may  send  their 
children  to  learn  English.  The  general 
agent  is  Mr.  Fred  Heyte,  who  was  born 
in  Antwerp  in  i86q  and  came  to  China  in 
1904,  joining  the  Company  two  years  later. 
The  collecting  agents  in  Amoy  are  Messrs. 
Douglas  Lapraik  &  Co. 

THE  FOKIEN  DEUG  COMPANY,  LTD. 

The  Fokien  Drug  Company,  Ltd..  of  Ku- 
langsu,  Amoy,  is  an  amalgamation  of  several 


THE  AMOY  ENGINEERING  COMPANY,  LTD. 

Chinese  capital  controlled  and  worked  by 
a  thoroughly  well-trained  and  experienced 
Britisher  is  the  combination  that  has  placed 
the  Amoy  Engineering  Company,  Ltd.,  of 
Kulangsu,  Amoy,  in  such  a  prominent  position. 
The  undertaking  was  registered  in  Hong- 
kong, in  1893,  as  a  limited  liability  company, 
with  a  capital  of  $30,000.  The  Company 
build  and  repair  launches,  repair  steamers 
in  harbour,  and  do  general  engineering 
work  in  all  its  branches,  with  the  exception 
of  making  castings  over  10  cwts.  in  weight. 
Their  slip  for  building  launches,  tugs,  &c., 
is  upwards  of  no  feet  in  length,  and  their 
patent  slipway  extends  from  the  works  to 
a  distance  of  290  feet,  most  of  which  is 
untler  water.  They  have,  also,  a  double- 
power  capstan,  and  sheers  capable  of  raising 
anything  up  to  ten  tons.  The  turning  and 
punching  machines  are  of  the  best,  and  in 
first-class  condition.  The  firm's  boast  that 
it  is  capable  of  fulfilling  almost  any  obligation 
it  may  be  called  upon  to  undertake  is, 
therefore,  not  without  justification. 

The  managing  director  and  superintendent 
of  the  works  is  Mr.  J.  D.  Edwards,  an 
Irishman,  who  was  born  and  educated  at 
Greenock.  He  was  apprenticed  to  marine 
engineering  with  the  firm  of  Steele  &  Co., 
in  that  town,  and  on  the  completion  of  his 
articles  went  to  sea.  In  1882  he  joined  the 
well-known  Eastern  firm  of  Douglas  Lapraik 
&  Co.,  but  resigned  his  position  in  1902,  in 
order  to  establish  the  Amoy  Engineering 
Company.  Mr.  Edwards  is  a  well-known 
figure  on  the  China  coast  ;  he  took  an  active 
part  in  quelling  the  Boxer  disturbances  and 
gained  a  medal  for  his  services. 


THE    STANDARD    OIL    COMPANY    OF 
NEW    YORK. 

A  LARGE  and  important  business,  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  L.  I.  Thomas,  the  manager, 
and  Mr.  Morley,  the  assistant  manager,  is 
carried  on  at  the  local  branch  established  by 
this  Company.      Their   tanks   are   capable  of 


TUNG    WEN    INSTITUTE,    AMOY. 
(Chas.  J.  Weed,  Superintendent.) 


Company.  The  special  feature  about  this 
firm  is  that  all  its  members  speak  the  local 
dialect,  and  thus  are  able  to  conduct  their 
business  direct  with  the  natives,  without  the 
aid  of  compradores.  The  present  proprietors 
are  Messrs.  F".  B.  Marshall,  W.  Wilson,  and 
K.  N.  Ohly.  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  member  of 
the  Kulangsu  Municipal  Council  and  is  on 
the  committees  of  several  governing  bodies. 


THE  SHANGHAI  LIFE   INSURANCE   COMPANY, 
LTD. 

Insurance  business  has  extended  rapidly  in 
nuinerous  directions  during  recent  years,  but 
few  companies  have  so  wide  a  sphere  of 
activity  as  the  Shanghai  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany, Ltd.,  who,  in  their  desire  to  offer  every 
possible  advantage  to  their  policy-holders, 
appear  sometimes  to  encroach  almost  upon 
the  domain  of  philanthropy.  As  their  name 
implies,  their  head  office  is  at  Shanghai,  but 


wholesale  druggists.  The  combine  -  was 
formed  in  March,  1906,  and  was  registered 
at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Peking,  with 
a  capital  of  $56,000.  The  Company  are 
wholesale  import  and  export  druggists, 
general  store-keepers,  dealers  in  piece  goods, 
wines  and  spirits,  photographic  chemicals, 
stationery,  fancy  and  toilet  goods,  &c.  They 
are  also  commission  agents,  and  export  a 
considerable  quantity  of  articles  manufac- 
tured locally.  The  directorate  is  an  influential 
one,  and  the  committee  includes  Messrs.  Yap 
Cheng  Ho,  S.  P.  Yin,  Lim  Leong  Eng,  Tan 
Thian  Un,  Lim  Chong  Siu,  Ng  Sit  Teiig, 
and  Wong  Teng  Sing.  The  managing 
director  is  Mr.  Lim  Ui  Sian  :  the  secretary, 
Mr.  Cheong  Eng  Soon,  M.D.,  Chinese  dip- 
loma ;  the  treasurer.  Mr.  Liau  Yat  Boat ; 
the  dispensers  are  Messrs.  Ng  Gi  Hu  and 
Sih  Kun  Eng ;  and  the  chief  clerk  is  Mr. 
I^iau  Chiau  Hi. 


828     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


TH£    CEBTSAL    DISPEHSAR7. 

Mk.  C.  Whitkiklu.  of  the  Central  Disptnsiiry, 
Kulangsu,  Amoy,  was  born  in  Ainoy  in  1864. 
While  quite  young,  however,  he  went  to  the 
Straits  Settlements,  and  was  educated  at  the 
RafHe's  Institute,  Singapore,  returning  to 
China  at  the  age  of  twelve.     In  a  few  years 


he  joined  the  China  Hospital,  .\iiH)y,  under 
Sir  Patrick  Manson.  Afterwards  lie  was  con- 
nected with  the  Seaman's  Hospital,  Kulangsu. 
Amoy.  and,  at  the  same  time,  took  charge  of 
the  dispensary  of  Dakin  Bros.  Here  he  re- 
mained for  twelve  years,  and  received  a 
testimonial  of  efliciency.  Through  unforeseen 
circumstances,     the     branch     was     suddenly 


THE    NEW   AMOY    HOTEL. 
(Proprietor,  F.  H.  LCCASSEX.) 


placed  in  his  charge.  He  gained  further 
experience  during  two  years'  superintendence 
of  the  Tong  Chong  Dispensary,  now  the 
Fokien  Drug  Company,  Ltd.,  and  then,  in 
1898.  opened  the  Central  Dispensary,  which 
is  also  a  general  store,  where  wines,  spirits, 
tobacco,  and  fancy  goods  are  sold. 

PASEDAG    &    CO. 

This  general  import  and  export  business 
was  established  in  Amoy,  in  about  1850,  by 
Mr.  C.  K.  Pasedag.  Since  that  time  its  opera- 
tions have  been  extended  in  a  number  of 
directions,  and  the  present  partners,  Messrs. 
A.  Piehl  and  B.  Hempel,  carry  on  a  large 
coal  trade,  and  are  agents  for  the  Asiatic 
Petroleum  Company,  and  the  Norddeutscher 
Lloyd,  the  Hamburg-Amerika,  the  Nippon 
Yusen  Kaisha,  and  the  British  India  Shipping 
Companies. 

# 

THE    NEW    AMOY    HOTEL. 

One  of  the  best  little  establishments  of  its 
kind  to  be  found  on  the  coast  of  China  is 
the  New  Amoy  Hotel,  Kulangsu.  The  rooms 
are  spacious  and  comfortably  furnished.  A 
visitor  can  enjoy  a  game  of  billiards  and 
rely  upon  his  comfort  being  attended  to  in 
every  possible  way.  Mr.  F.  H.  Lucassen, 
the  proprietor,  was  born  in  Emden,  Germany. 
At  the  age  of  twelve  he  went  to  sea  and 
served  in  British  and  American  vessels 
trading  in  Chinese  waters.  He  went  through 
liis  training  in  the  German  Navy  from  1876 
to  1878.  and  then,  returning  to  China,  took 
his  chief  officer's  certificate  in  Hongkong. 
Afterwards  he  traded  up  and  down  the  coast 
until,  in  1884,  he  entered  the  Imperial 
Maritime  Customs  service.  He  resigned  in 
1891  in  order  to  join  the  Shell  Transport  and 
Trading  Company,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  nine  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
opened  the  New  Amoy  Hotel. 


SWATOW. 


WATOW,  or  Shaii-tau,  one  of 
the  ports  thrown  open  in 
i860  by  the  Treaty  of  Tient- 
sin, lies  at  the  main  mouth 
of  the  River  Han,  which  is 
here  about  a  mile  wide,  and 
forms  the  entrepot  and  har- 
bourage for  a  rich  and  flourishing  hinterland, 
of  which  the  ancient  capital  is  Cha'o-chow-fu. 
In  its  setting  of  rush-covered,  sandy  dunes, 
vallevs  laden  with  orange  trees,  crags  in 
wild  disorder,  and  distant,  venerable  moun- 
tains, Swatow  is  rightly  named  "the  beautiful," 
and  its  climate,  removed  from  either  extreme 
of  heat  or  cold,  is  healthful  and  invigorating. 
The  trade  of  the  port  was  originally  carried 
on  bv  sailing  vessels,  which  had  to  pay  a 
hundred  dollars  per  mast  each  time  of  entry 
— a  profitable  source  of  revenue  when  it  is 
remembered  that  in  the  early  days  the 
harbour  often  gave  shelter  to  as  many 
as  fifty  sailing  ships.  The  first  steamers 
to  touch  at  Swatow  were  those  of  the 
Douglas  and  Peninsular  and  Oriental  Com- 
panies, which  scheduled  three  sailings  a 
week  from  Hongkong  for  Swatow,  Amoy,  and 
Foochow.  In  course  of  time  the  Peninsular 
and  Oriental  boats  were  withdrawn  from  the 
run,  but  for  upwards  of  fifty  years  the 
Douglas  Company  have  maintained  a  regular 
service,  though  latterly  they  have  had  to  face 
strenuous  opposition  from  the  Japanese. 

The  former  prosperity  of  Swatow  depended 
largely  on  the  sugar  industry.  Fleets  of 
native  junks  and  numbers  of  foreign  steamers 
came  into  port  from  Newchwang  laden  with 
bean  cakes  as  manure  for  the  cane  planta- 
tions, which  extended  for  hundreds  of  miles 
around,  and  everybody  and  everything  lived 
more  or  less  directly  by  and  on  sugar.  Now, 
however,  Javanese,  Hongkong,  and  heavily 
subsidised  Japanese  sugars  have  practically 
driven  the  local  product  from  the  market  ;  the 
industry  is  dead,  and  all  the  factories  are 
closed.  The  tea  industry  has  also  dwindled 
to  insignificance,  and  an  attempt  to  intro- 
duce flour-milling  was  speedily  frustrated  by 
competition  from  Hongkong.  But,  neverthe- 
less, the  trade  outlook  is  hopeful.  There  is 
a  steady  appreciation  of  land  values,  which 
may  be  taken  as  an  indication  that  Swatow 
is  slowly  realising  its  destiny  as  a  great 
emporium,  with  ever-extending  railway  com- 


munication, and  a  growing  ste.uner  service 
along  the  great  trade  routes  of  Eastern 
commerce.  The  decline  of  the  former  staples 
has  already  in  some  measure  been  balanced 
by  an  enormous  development  along  other 
lines  of  industry,  thanks  to  the  wealth  brought, 
or  remitted,  to  the  country  by  Chinese  coolies, 
who  have  emigrated  to  the  Malay  Peninsula 
and  elsewhere,  and  found  prosperity.  The 
extent  of  the  coolie  emigration  from  Swatow 
may  be  gauged  from  the  latest  available 
figures  for  one  vear,  which  are  as  follows  : — 
To  Hongkong,  12,876  ;  lo  the  Straits  Settle- 
ments, 52,678  ;  to  Sumatra,  8,971  ;  to  Bangkok, 
46,246  ;  and  to  Saigon,  5,786.  The  coolies 
are  sent  as  "  assigned  servants  "  to  the  agents 
of  large  Chinese  sugar,  rice,  rubber,  indigo, 
tobacco,  fruit,  and  other  planters  in  the 
respective  countries  ;  and  there  can  be  little 
do;ibt  that  this  traffic,  in  spite  of  its  repulsive 
local  sobriquet,  "  the  small  pig  trade,"  is  not 
without  advantage  to  a  district  where,  owing 
to  over-population,  infanticide  is  of  common 
occurrence. 

The  manufacture  of  pewter-ware,  earthen- 
ware, coarse  paper,  and  drawn-lace  fabrics 
has  received  considerable  impetus,  while,  in 
addition  to  limited  quantities  of  sugar  and 
tea,  fans,  grass-cloth,  indigo,  oranges,  jute, 
bamboo-ware,  oil,  tobacco,  eggs,  tinfoil,  ver- 
micelli, macaroni,  &c.,  are  exported.  Imports, 
via  Shanghai  and  Hongkong,  consist  princi- 
cipally  of  cotton  and  woollen  textures, 
American  fiour,  wheat,  cotton  yarn,  kerosene 
oil,  metals,  opium,  ramie  fibre,  rice,  beans, 
bean  cake,  matches,  &c.  The  net  value  of  the 
trade  of  the  port  coming  under  the  cogni- 
sance of  the  foreign  Customs  in  1906  was 
Tls.43, 159,013,  as  compared  with  Tls. 47,948,050 
in  1905,  and  Tls.  49,280,786  in  1904.  Quite  a 
feature  of  the  commercial  activity  of  Swdtow 
is  the  extraordinary  enterprise  of  the  Japanese, 
who  since  the  war  have  overrun  the  country 
and  have  made  their  way  into  almost  every 
department  of  trade. 

The  population  of  Swatow,  estimated  at 
about  35,000,  contains  an  increasing  per- 
centage of  Europeans  and  Japanese,  and 
quite  a  city  of  detached  villa  residences,  each 
with  its  trim  garden,  is  springing  up,  and 
finding  its  way  through  the  older  parts  of 
the  town — a  marvellous  change  since  the 
days,  less  than  half  a  century  ago,  when  the 


foreigner  was  strictly  forbidden  entrance  to 
Swatow,  and  had  to  remain  for  safety  on 
Masu,  or  Double  Island,  lying  just  inside  the 
river  mouth  about  four  miles  below  the  port. 
On  the  shore  opposite  Swatow,  at  the  foot 
of  a  range  of  rugged  heights,  lies  the  settle- 
ment of  Kak  Chieh,  where  the  British  Consul 
and  a  few  other  Europeans  reside,  but  with 
this  exception  all  the  foreign  houses  and 
representatives  conduct  their  business  in  the 
town  itself.  Various  schemes  of  reclamation 
have  been  undertaken,  and  in  this  way  about 
2ii  acres  have  been  added  to  Ihe  available 
building  land.  It  is  interesting,  and,  indeed, 
curious,  to  remark  ihat  in  Swatow  and  the 
surrounding  district  no  bricks  are  used  in  the 
construction  of  the  houses,  the  substitute  being 
a  form  of  concrete  into  the  composition  of 
which  a  peculiar  local  clay,  in  admixture  with 
oyster- shell  lime  and  water,  enters  largely. 
This  material  hardens  into  a  solid  wall,  and 
appears  to  last  quite  as  well  as  the  bricks  so 
generally  used  in  other  parts  of  China. 

The  local  government  of  Swatow  and  the 
surrounding  district  is  vested  in  the  Taoutai, 
a  high  Chinese  official,  who  resides  in  the 
Yamen,  or  Court-house,  at  Cha'o-chow-fu. 
The  present  holder  of  the  oftice,  recently 
arrived  in  the  district,  is  a  man  of  action, 
and  under  his  supervision  the  local  police, 
who  were  formerly  under  mercantile  admin- 
istration, have  been  brought  to  some  state  of 
efficiency,  and  much  better  order  prevails  in 
the  towns  than  formerly.  Assisting  the  Taoutai 
are  the  Chief  of  Police  ;  the  Tung  Hi  magis- 
trate, who  settles  the  disputes  among  natives, 
and  metes  out  punishment  in  Swatow  ;  and 
the  Chow  Yang  magistrate,  who  deals 
similarly  with  Kak  Chieh,  and  the  district  on 
the  southern  shore. 

There  is  a  fairly  large  staff  of  Customs 
officers  attached  to  Swatow,  and  they  are 
usually  fully  employed,  as  the  number  of  vessels 
entering  and  clearing  the  port  is  increasing 
year  by  year.  For  many  years  the  Customs 
Department  had  to  perform  their  functions 
and  live  on  Double  Island,  and  it  was 
only  after  exterminating  a  couple  of  hundreds 
of  desperadoes,  rowdies,  and  fanatics,  that 
they  succeeded  in  occupying  the  present 
site  on  the  mainland.  New  Customs  offices 
are  now  being  built  on  a  portion  of  the 
reclaimed    land.     The    yearly   duty    collected 


830     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


by  the  Imperial  Customs  at  Swatow  amounts 
approximately  to  TIs.  1,500.000. 

There  are  three  piist  otTices— the  German, 
the  Imperial  Japanese,  and  the  Imperial 
Chinese  ;  the  latter,  which  is  under  European 
super^sion,  is  the  best  manajjed.  New 
post  oftices  are  being  constructed,  and.  near 
them,  examination  halls  and  quarters. 


Petroleum  Company,  Limited  (which  absorbed 
the  Shell  Transport  and  Royal  Dutch  Com- 
panies, established  in  Swatow  for  many  years). 
and  the  Standard  Oil  Company.  Both  are 
doinj;  a  thrivinji  business.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  sujiar  refinery  erected  at  Kak  Chieh, 
by  Messrs.  Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  Ltd.. 
was    closed,    partly   on    account    of    the    dis- 


TEMPLE    OF    KWANGIN. 


There  are  no  public  works  at  present, 
though  a  waterworks  scheme  has  been  pro- 
jected. An  electric  lighting  plant  was  at  one 
time  installed  by  private  enterprise,  but, 
owing  to  dispute  amongst  the  directors  upon 
the  subject  of  finance,  the  plant  was  closed 
down  after  working  only  four  months. 

Among  the  largest  commercial  undertakings 
are   those  of   the    Royal   Dutch   and   Asiatic 


favour  into  which  Swatow  sugar  fell,  and 
partly  owing  to  the  heavy  taxes  imposed  by 
the  Government.  It  remains  to  this  day 
known  as  the  "  white  elephant "  of  Swatow, 

The  religious  and  educational  institutions 
of  the  district  are  doing  useful  work.  A 
branch  of  the  English  Presbyterian  Mission 
was  established  in  Amoy  in  1847,  and  it  was 
extended  to  Swatow  in  1857,  and  to  Formosa 


in  1870.  There  is  now  a  centre  iti  Chao- 
chow-fu.  The  Mission  has  a  theological 
college  at  Swatow,  a  high  school  for  boys, 
with  room  for  forty  scholars,  and  a  high 
school  for  girls,  with  accommodation  for 
about  sixty.  Dr.  Lyall  has  charge  of  a 
general  hospital,  and  Dr.  Beatli  of  a  women's 
hospital  ;  and  there  is  also  a  book  shop  in 
connection  with  the  Mission.  The  clement 
of  commercialism  so  often  deplored  in  relation 
to  mission  work  is  entirely  absent,  as  the 
Mission  is  self-supporting. 

There  is  also  an  Anglo-Chinese  college, 
named  the  "  To  Chiang,"  after  the  river.  It 
was  built  entirely  with  Chinese  capital,  sub- 
scribed by  merchiuits  in  Swatow,  half  of  the 
sum  of  ?40,ooii  being  given  by  Mr.  Chen  Yu 
Ting.  It  was  conunenced  in  1905  and  com- 
pleted in  the  following  year,  affording  accom- 
modation for  one  hundred  scholars.  It  is 
under  the  control  of  the  English  Presby- 
terian Mission. 

There  is  also  a  branch  of  the  Mission 
Catholique,  under  the  Rev.  Fr.  Douspis  ; 
while  on  the  Kak  Chieh  side  the  American 
Baptist  Union  has  an  establishment. 

There  are  no  temples  in  Swatow  of  any 
age  or  interest,  except,  perliaps,  the  large 
temple,  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  on 
Double  Island, 

Austria-Hungary,  Belgium,  France,  Ger- 
many, Great  Britain,  Italy,  Japan,  the  Nether- 
lands, Norway,  and  the  United  States  have 
Consular  representation  in  Swatow. 

There  are  two  clubs,  each  piovided  with  a 
billiard  room  and  library.  The  Swatow  Club 
has  two  tennis  courts,  while  that  at  Kialat, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  has  a  fine 
bowling  alley.  The  use  of  these  clubs  by 
members'  wives  on  certain  afternoons  for 
their  "  at  homes  "  adds  much  to  their  value 
in  the  social  life  of  the  communitv. 


CHAO-CHOW-FU. 

Chao-chow-fu,  the  provincial  capital  and 
seat  of  local  government,  is  easily  reached 
from  Swatow,  the  journey  of  24J  miles  being 
covered  in  an  hour  and  a  half.  The  railway 
was  constructed  by  Japanese  contractors  for 
a  syndicate  of  Singapore  Chinese,  with  a 
capital  of  $2,000,000.  Work  was  begun  in 
1904,  and  the  line  was  opened  for  traftic  on 
November  25,  1906,  though  as  yet  no  freight 
is  carried.  The  engines  and  rails  are  of 
American  make,  but  the  carriages,  like  the 
working  staff,  came  from  Japan.  The  line 
lies  through  charming  scenery  —  orange 
groves,  rice-fields,  and  tobacco  plantations, 
interspersed  with  bananas,  persimmons,  and 
other  vegetation,  succeeding  each  other  in 
pleasing  panorama, 

Chao-chow-fu,  which  is  6J  li  in  length  and 
3  li  in  breadth,  and  is  surrounded  by  high 
moss-grown  walls,  pierced  at  intervals  for 
cannon,  has  a  population  estimated  at  about 
120,000  inhabitants. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church,  a  majestic 
pile,  completed  in  1905,  rears  its  lofty  spire 
near  the  railway  stiition,  and  is  one  of  the 
first  objects  to  arrest  attention.  It  bears  solid 
witness  to  the  perseverance  of  the  sturdy 
priests,  who,  after  years  of  unremitting  toil 
and  endless  trouble,  succeeded  in  erecting  it 
upon  the  site  of  what  was  once  a  stagnant 
pool  of  water. 

The  narrow  streets  of  the  poorer  part  of 
the  town  teem  with  life,  human  and  animal. 
They  give  place  to  more  spacious  quarters, 
where  attractive- looking  shops  display  a 
wealth  of  foreign  goods  of  all  descriptions, 
and  beyond  are  walled  lanes  leading  to 
charming  residences. 


■;*-, 

mmm 

H 

H 

f  *-  *  ii « 5i, 

iflfptp 

> 

'  'i?l1ll4*^i 

l>  *)  «  «  f  4iftA     ' 

■ 

HAN    SAN    INSCRIPTIONS. 


[See  page  832.] 


832     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONUKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


There  are  many  sights  of  interest.  A 
swinging  bridge  of  boats  across  a  branch  of 
the  River  Han  leads  to  the  famous  Han  San, 
a  mountain  looming  green  and  high,  with 
bamboo  groves  and  clusters  of  ferns  on  its 
sides.  Here  is  situated  the  ancient  temple  of 
Han  Kung  Tze.  dedicated  to  the  manes  of 
Han  Boon  Kung.  a  sage  and  philosopher, 
who  nourished  under  the  Tung  dynasty. 
There  are  some  classic  inscriptions  on  the 
massive  granite  slabs,  and  with  great  difficulty 
impressions  of  them  have  been  obtained  for 
inclusion  in  this  work.  The  temple  is  now 
a  Government  school  :  the  idols  have  been 
removed,  and  in  the  stately  halls  sit  young 
lads  imbibing  from  foreign  teachers  the 
wisdom  of  the  West. 

The  great  Buddhist  temple  of  Kwanvin, 
the  goddess  of  heaven,  is  situated  in  the 
heart  of  the  city,  its  gate  guarded  by  four 
huge  monsters,  hideous  of  mien,  and  gro- 
tesquely carved.  Worshippers  chew  paper, 
and  throw  the  pellets  at  the  bodies  of  these 
monsters,  fully  believing  that  luck  will  follow 
if  the  pellets  stick.  The  image  of  the 
goddess,  of  cunning  workmanship,  is  secluded 
by  embroidered  hangings  and  gilded  screens, 
and  high  up  in  the  mystic  rafters  hangs  an 
enormous  bell  of  full  and  silvery  tone.  A 
kitchen,  erected  four  hundred  years  ago, 
contains  seven  huge  iron  pots  and  cauldrons, 
wherein  former  generations  of  monks  boiled 
their  rice  and  water. 

The  mountain  Kam  San  may  be  reached 
in  chairs,  and  from  the  summit,  approached 
by  steps,  an  enchanting  view  unfolds  itself. 
What  is  now  a  Government  high  school,  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  mountain,  was  at 
one  time  occupied  by  General  Fong,  who, 
though  himself  a  sybarite  of  the  first  order, 
maintained  such  perfect  discipline  in  the 
district  by  cutting  off  the  heads  of  thousands 
of  malefactors  that  his  name  has  become  a  by- 
word for  justice  and  cruelty.  The  mountain 
is  strongly  fortified  ;  nests  of  modern  guns 
being  concealed  under  evergreens  and  waving 
banana  trees. 

The  Sai  Fu  temple  is  renowned  for  the 
deep  cuttings  in  the  solid  rocks,  containing, 
in  addition  to  the  usual  moral  maxims  of 
Confucius,  a  number  of  pieces  of  poetry  made 
and  cut  by  amateur  poets,  inspired  by  the 
genii  of  the  mountain  and  the  compelling 
beauty  of  the  surroundings. 

A  short  distance  to  the  north  of  the  citv 
are  located  the  widely  known  hot  and  cold 
mineral  springs  of  Jao  Ping,  accessible  in  a 
few  hours  either  by  chair  or  boat.  The 
journey  from  Cha'o-chow-fu  occupies  seven 
or  eight  hours,  and  the  traveller  is  well 
repaid  by  the  beauty  of  the  scenery  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  springs.  The  waters 
are  charged  with  sulphur,  soda  and  other 
minerals  and  with  natural  carbonic  gas,  and 
have  valuable  therapeutic  properties.  The 
town  of  Jao  Ping  itself  is  without  much 
interest,  its  inhabitants,  for  the  most  part, 
l)eing  engaged  in  agriculture. 


HIS   EXOELLEHCT   WOO    SHU. 

His  Excellency  Woo  Shji,  the  Taoutai  of 
Chao  Chow,  was  born  in  the  Yunnan  Pro- 
vince of  China  in  i860.  Educated  at  Peking, 
he  secured  the  highest  degree  of  the  Chinese 
Imperial  Academy  (Han  Lin  Yuen  Phien 
Shui).  He  was  appointed  Censor  of  Peking 
and  Judge  of  the  South  Gate,  and  was  after- 
wards promoted  to  be  Censor  for  informations 
and  Memoralist  of  the  provinces  of  Kiang- 
nan.  Shantung,  Kweichow,  and  Chihii.  Then 
he  became   Chief    Examiner's    Assistant  and 


Censor  of  the  Punishment  Department  of 
Peking  (Chi  Su  Chong),  and  in  May,  igo6, 
was  appointed  by  imperial  decree  to  be  the 
Real  Incumbent  of  the  Hui,  Chao.  and  Chia 
Prefectures  and  Districts,  and  Taoutai  of 
Swatow.  Arriving  in  Canton  in  November 
he  presented  himself  to  the  Viceroy  Cliou 
and  was  asked  to  act  temporarily  as  Taoutai 


the  duties  of  the  post  to  whicli  he  liad  been 
originally  appointed  by  imperial  decree.  He 
is  now  the  highest  Chinese  authority  in  the 
prefectures  and  districts  under  his  control. 
Owing  to  his  careful  supervision,  the  police 
force  in  Chao  Chow  and  Swatow.  wliich  was 
formerly  under  mercantile  administration,  has 
been  brcnight  to  a  lii.Uli  standard  of  cO'iciency 


HAN    SAN    AND    VICINITY. 


at  Kau,  Lui,  and  Yang  Prefectures.  While 
still  in  this  office  he  was  invited  to  serve 
temporarily  as  Taoutai  of  the  Chung  Yai 
Prefectures,  but,  owing  to  urgent  affairs  in 
the  ICiu,  Lui,  and  Yang  districts,  he  could 
not  take  up  this  appointment  and,  being  re- 
called to  Canton,  he  was  Acting  Provincial 
Treasurer  and  Financial  Commissioner  for 
three   months,  after   which   he   entered   upon 


His  Excellency  has  recently  issued  a  procla- 
mation to  the  newly  organised  police  force 
of  Swatow  to  level  the  roads  and  reconstruct 
a  bridge  for  the  convenience  f)f  the  carriages 
plying  from  the  CIkuj  Shan  railway  station  to 
the  town  of  Swatow.  He  is  also  organising 
a  Clearing  Thoroughfares  Department,  and  is 
engaged  upon  several  other  important  and 
necessary  reforms.      He  is  a  straightforward, 


^^rSBI^»cnriK7> 


CHAO    CHOW    AND    SWATOW   RAILWAY    COMPANY,    LTD.,    SWATOW. 


I.    The  Opexing  Ckrejkixy. 
5-    H.E.  Cheong  Yuk  Nam  (Managing  Director-General;. 


2.  On'e  ok  the  Company's  Trains. 

3.  SWATOW  Station. 

4.  Engine  Sheds. 


834     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


A.  Harris,  of  the  Madras  Civil  Sc-rvict;, 
the  grandson  of  the  lirst  Lord  Harris.  Horn 
in  l86^.  he  was  educated  privately,  and  at 
Trinity  College,  Oxford,  where  he  won  the 
Davis'  Chinese  Scholarship.  Entering  the 
Imperial  Maritime  Customs  in  1883,  he  was 
for  four  years  secretary  and  interpreter  to 
Admiral  Lang,  K.N..  the  organiser  of  the 
Peiyang  Navv.  He  has  lieen  acting  as  a 
Commissioner  of  Customs  since  1900,  and 
opened  the  new  Treaty  port  of  Changsha, 
the  home  of  conservatism,  in  Hunan,  in  1904. 
In  recognition  of  his  services,  Mr.  Harris 
has  received  the  Order  of  the  Doulile  Dragon, 
and  the  Civil  Rank  of  the  Third  Class  from 
the  Imperial  Chinese  Government. 


A     H.    HAKKIS, 

Commissioner  of  Customs,  Swatow. 

ME.    G.    T.    MURRAY. 

Mk.  Geo.  T.  Murray  is  a  man  who,  em- 
barking on  a  business  career,  has,  in  later 
life,    devoted   considerable    time    to   literature, 


HIS   EXCELLENCY   WOO    SHU, 
T,ioutai  at  Chao  Chow. 


clear-minded  Chinese  official  possessing  the 
administrative  ability  and  practical  knowledge 
requisite  for  carrying  his  schemes  into  effect. 

m 

UK.   P.   F.    HADSSEE. 

Mk.  Piekre  Fredk.  Haisskk,  who  has  been 
British  Consul  at  Swatow,  since  October,  1906, 
was  born  in  1856.  He  matriculated  at  London 
University,  and  was  appointed  a  Student 
Interpreter  in  China  in  1878.  He  has  held 
positions  in  the  Consular  service  in  a  number 
of  places  in  the  Chinese  Empire,  including 
Taiwan,  Amoy,  Kiukiang,  Pagoda  Island, 
Ningpo,  and  Wuchow.  Mr.  Hausser,  who 
is  an  excellent  linguist,  was  employed  on 
special  service  with  the  Burma-China  Frontier 
Commission  from  1897  to  1899. 

MR.   A.   H.    HABBIS. 
Mr.    a.    H.     Harris    who     has     been    the 
Commissioner   of   Customs  at   Swatow.  since 
April,    1907,   is   the   son    of    the   late   George 


P.   F.    HAUSSER, 
British  Consul  at  Swatow. 


GEORGE    T.    MURRAY. 

and,  having  travelled  extensively,  has  won  a 
high  reputation  on  account  iof  the  attractive 
and  interesting  manner -in  which  he  has 
placed    the   impressions  of    his  journeys    on 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.      835 


record.  He  was  born  in  Florida  in  1862, 
and,  after  beinj;  educated  in  private  schools, 
commenced  business  in  San  Francisco  as  a 
merchant.  With  a  pocket-full  of  introductions 
he  came  to  China  and  joined  the  Customs 
service.  He  has  been  stationed  in  Foochow, 
Chefoo,  Chinkiang,  Hankow,  and  Shanghai, 
remaining  in  the  last-named  place  for  nine- 
teen years.  It  is  his  lioast  that  his  footprint 
has  marked  every  continent  of  the  world, 
and  the  experiences  he  has  met  with  during 
the  course  of  his  wanderings  have  been 
related  in  many  articles  in  papers  and 
magazines  in  all  parts.  As  "  Tat "  of  the 
China  Morning  Post  he  is  well  known,  and 
he  was  a  constant  contributor  to  the  East  of 
Asia  quarterly  magazine  during  its  existence. 
He  is  the  author  of  "The  Land  of  the  Tatami," 
which  is  regarded  by  recognised  authorities 
as  one  of  the  best  guides  to  Japan,  to  the 
people  of  which  country  Mr.  Murray  is  most 
partial.  At  the  present  time  Mr.  Murray 
writes  largely  for  Social  Shangliai,  the 
popular  monthly.  Mr.  Murray  occupies  much 
of  his  leisure  with  fishing  and  shooting. 


MR.  HENRY  LAYiNO,  L.R.C.P.  (London), 
M.R.C.S.  (England),  has  a  large  and  re- 
munerative practice  in  Swatow  in  partner- 
ship with  Dr.  C.  H.  D.  Morland  and  Dr.  F.  L. 
Mansel,  and  is  one  of  the  best  known 
surgeons  in  the  district.  Born  in  Norfolk  in 
i860,  he  was  educated  at  Christ's  Hospital 
(Blue  Coat  School),  London,  and  afterwards 
studied  medicine  at  the  Westminster  Hospital. 
In    1888    he    came    to    China   to   relieve  Dr. 


B.  S.  Ringer  (since,  retired)  in  Amoy,  and  in 
1889  purchased  the  practice  of  the  late  Dr. 
John  Pollock  at  Swatow  and  took  over  that 
gentleman's  various  appointments.  In  1900 
he  was  joined  in  partnership  by  Dr.  C.  H.  D. 
Morland  and  in  1904  by  Dr.  E.  L.  Mansel. 
The  firm  has  charge  of  the  Seamen's  Hospital 
and  possesses  to  an  exceptional  degree  the 
confidence  of  a  large  section  of  the  native 
population. 


DR.  E.  L.  MANSEL  was  born  in  Hertford- 
shire in  1 868,  and  was  educated  at  Haileybury 
and  at  Aberdeen  University.  He  studied  also 
at  the  London  Hospital,  taking  his  degree 
as  Doctor  of  Medicine  in  1896.  He  has  seen 
service  with  the  Field  Force  in  South  Africa  ; 
is  an  enthusiastic  sportsman  and  very  fond 
of  shooting. 


CAPTAIN    HY.    FHEWIH. 

Captain  Hy.  Fkkwix  is  the  oldest  foreign 
resident  in  Swatow,  and  a  pioneer  of  trade 
in  this  district.     His  career  has  been   varied 


m 


DR.  C.  H.  D.  MORLAND,  F.R.C.S.  (England), 
1897,  was  educated  at  Royesse's  School, 
Abingdon,  and  studied  medicine  at  St. 
George's  Hospital,  London,  Durham  Univer- 
sity, and  King's  College.  He  became  M.R.C.S. 
and  L.R.C.P.  in  1888,  and  obtained  the 
degrees  of  Bachelor  of  Medicine  and  Bachelor 
of  Surgery  at  Durham  with  second-class 
honours  in  i8go,  and  became  a  Fellow  of 
the  Roval  College  of  Surgeons  (England)  in 
1897. 


CAPTAIN    HENRY    FREWIN. 

and  interesting.  Born  in  London,  in  1830, 
he  went  to  sea  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and 
for  many  years  was  trading  in  the  Indian  and 
Chinese    seas.      As    gunner    of     the     frigate 


VIEW    OF    CHAO-OHOW-FU. 


836      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG 


SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Sfsoslrio.  he  saw  a  good  deal  of  fighting  in 
the  Burmese  War,  of  1852  53.  and  was 
awarded  the  silver  medal.  Now  he  carries 
on  the  business  of  a  nvirine  surveyor,  living 
a  quiet  and  retired  life.  He  is  a  vegetarian, 
and  to  this  fact,  coupled  with  his  simple 
habits,  he  attributes  his  longevity.  He  is 
married,  and  has  one  son  and  one  daughter. 

MR.   S.   J.   DEEKES. 

Mr.  S.  J.  Deekes,  the  agent  in  Swatow-  for 
the  China  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company, 
is  a  traveller  of  wide  experience,  and  an 
enthusiastic  sportsman.  Born  in  Warwick- 
shire in  1876,  he  has,  during  the  thirty-two 
years  of  his  life,  visited  many  countries,  and 
followed  a  variety  of  occupations.  He 
conducted  a  private  trading  enterprise  in 
I'ganda  for  some  time  ;  he  served  throughout 
the  war  in  South  Africa  ;  and  he  knows 
Australia  thoroughly.  While  in  South  Africa 
he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Wanderers  C.C.,  but  in  whatever  country 
he  may  happen  to  be,  his  ability  to  score 
runs  on  the  cricket  field  never  seems  to 
desert  him. 

HE.   LIU    PAHG    K£T. 

Mr.  Lim  Pang  Ket  holds  the  responsible 
position  of  compradore  to  Messrs.  Butterfield 
&  Swire,  in  Swatow.  He  was  born  at  Chow 
Yang,  in  1861,  and,  after  receiving  a 
thoroughly  sound  education,  went  to  Canton 
and  Shanghai,  and  opened  businesses  in  both 
places.  He  had  some  little  experience,  also, 
of  trade  in  Singapore,  and  is  interested  now 
in  several  commercial  ventures,  in  various 
districts.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Taikoo  Tsng 
Bank,  and  manager  of  the  Yen  F"ung  Bank. 
In  his  position  as  compradore  he  is  greatly 
assisted  by  Mr.  Ah  Pow  Lee,  who  joined 
Messrs.  Butterfield  &  Swire,  in  1883,  at 
Shanghai,  was  transferred  to  Hankow,  and 
later  to  Swatow,  where  he  has  been  Mr.  Lim 
Pang  Ket's  right-hand  man  since  1902. 


MESSES.    BEADLET    &    CO, 

The  firm  of  Bradley  &  Co.  was  established 
in  Swatow,  in  i860.  Since  that  time  branches 
have  been  opened  at  Hongkong  and  Shanghai. 
Swatow,  however,  has  always  remained  the 
headquarters  of  the  Company,  and  from  here 
the  general  policy  of  the  business  is  directed. 
Bradley  &  Co.  are  imjiorters  of  and  dealers 
in  general  merchandise,  managers  and  pro- 
prietors of  the  Swatow  Ice  Factory  ;  managing 
owners  of  the  Shan  Steamship  Company, 
which,  however,  is  now  reduced  to  only  two 
steamers  ;  while  amongst  their  chief  agencies 
are  those  of  the  Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank- 
ing Cfirporation,  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental 
and  other  steamship  lines,  including  the 
Japanese  :  and  Lloyd's  and  various  other 
prominent  insurance  offices.  Their  corre- 
sponding London  house  is  Richardson's,  of 
Billiter  Square  Buildings.  The  original 
partners  in  the  firm  were  Messrs.  C.  W. 
Bradley  and  T.  W.  Richardson.  Mr.  C.  W. 
Bradley  retired  in  i868  and  has  since  died, 
and  the  present  proprietors,  iK'side  Mr.  T. 
W.  Richardson,  are  Messrs.  A.  MacGowan 
(Swatow),  A.  F"orbes  (Hongkong),  and  George 
A.  Richardson  (Shanghai). 

Mr.  Thos.  Wm.  Richardson  was  born  at 
Edinburgh,  in  1834,  and  was  educated  at  the 
Sc(.>ttish    N'aval    and    Military   Academy,   and 


at  Edinburgh  I'niversity,  He  arrived  in 
Hongkong  in  1855.  went  to  Canton  in  the 
same  year,  and  in  1856,  proceeded  to  Takao 
(South  Formosa).  He  joined  Messrs.  Tait 
it  Co.,  of  .\moy,  in  1857,  but  three  years  later 
commenced  business  at  Swatow,  in  conjunction 
with  Mr,  C.  W.  Bradley,  under  the  style  of 
Bradley  &  Co.  He  is  .nilso  liead  of  the  tirni 
of  Richardson's,  in  Billiter  Square  Buildings, 
but,  though  he  has  a  house  in  London,  he 
prefers  the  climate  of  Swatow,  and  has  his 
residence  there  for  the  present. 

Mr.  A.  Macgowan  was  born  in  Aniov,  in 
1868.  He  was  educated  at  Blackheath, 
London,  but  returned  to  China  in  1884,  and, 
joining  Messrs.  Tait  &  Co.,  represented  them 
in  South  Formosa  for  three  years.  In  1897 
he  became  connected  with  Messrs.  Bradlev 
&  Co..  at  Hongkong,  and  a  year  later  came  to 
Swatow.  He  is  secretarv  of  the  Swatow 
Club. 


MESSES.    GALLON    &    CO. 

The  business  of  Messrs.  Gallon  &  Co.  has 
been  very  much  restricted  in  certain  par- 
ticulars owing  to  various  regulations  passed 
by  the  Chinese  authorities,  as  to  the  value 
or  necessity  of  which  there  is  a  considerable 
difference  of  opinion.  But,  in  spite  of  these 
obstacles,  the  volume  of  the  firm's  trade  has 
increased  rapidly,  and  as  merchants  and 
commission  agents  they  now  hold  a  recog- 
nised place  in  the  commercial  life  of  the 
town.  They  commenced  operations  at 
Swatow  in  October,  1905,  and  supplied  tlie 
machinery,     &c.,     for    the    Swatow    Electric 


Iwight  Company.  This  enterprise  is  capable 
of  great  expansion,  but,  at  present,  the  Com- 
pany is  entirely  managed  by  Chinese,  and 
the  introduction  of  improvements  is  slow. 
Messrs.  Gallon  &  Co.  also  inaugurated  the 
cattle  trade  between  Swatow  and  Manila. 
They  made  several  shipments,  and  there 
were  bright  prospects  of  largely  increased 
orders  when  the  Chinese  authorities  pro- 
hibited any  further  exportations.  The 
regulation,  which  was  supposed  to  be  of  a 
temporary  nature,  came  into  force  on  May  13, 
1906,  and,  at  the  time  of  writing,  in  spite  of 
repeated  endeavours  to  get  it  repealed,  it 
still  remains  law.  As  the  reason  for  this 
the  authorities  say  that  the  exportation  ot 
cattle  left  an  insuflicient  number  i'or  ;igri- 
cultural  purposes.  But,  as  bullocks  only  were 
shipped  and  all  agricultural  work  is  done  by 
the  female  and  water  buffaloes,  it  appears 
probable  that  if  the  restrictions  were  removed 
no  inconvenience  would  be  experienced, 
whilst  a  good  source  of  revenue  would  be 
obtained  by  the  Customs  and  a  considerable 
amount  of  money  would  be  brought  into  the 
port.  Gallon  &  C<j.  are  agents  for  the  Sun 
Life  Assurance  Company  of  Canada,  and  the 
Vacuum  Oil  Company.  They  are  also 
endeavouring  to  secure  the  contract  for  the 
erection  of  machinery  in  a  big  waterworks 
scheme,  recently  floated. 

Mr.  William  Gallon  was  born  in  June, 
1878,  at  Wallsend-on-Tyne,  Norflunnberland. 
He  entered  the  British  Navy  when  he  was 
sixteen  and  a  half  years  of  age,  and  came  to 
China  first  in  H.M.S.  Dhlo.  He  purchased 
his  discharge  at  Hongkong  in  August,  1901, 
and  started  business  in  Swatow  four." years 
later. 


WELL-KNOWN    CHINESE    AT    THE    COAST-PORTS. 
Chokv  Chkx  Poxii  (Koochow).  2,  I.im  Ni;k  Kah  (Anioy).  3.  I.im  I. a  Saxo  (Swatow). 


4.   H.  TIKXSIXKIK)  (Koochow). 


5.  H.  Manxchow  (FoochowJ. 


I.IM    I'AXG    KKT  (Swatow). 


FOOCHOW. 


fe'-'-^.^-^flOOCHOW,  or  Fuh-chau-fu,  the 
nS\  /:ct^t«  fl  capital  of  the  province  of 
Fokien  and  seat  of  the  Vice- 
roy, stands  on  the  nortliern 
bank  of  the  River  Min,  about 
34  miles  from  its  source,  and 
nine  miles  from  Pagoda  Island, 
the  nearest  anchorage  for  foreign  coasting 
steamers. 

The  trade  of  the  port,  according  to  the 
latest  available  returns,  reached  the  net  value 
of  Tls.  16,693,583  in  1906  ;  as  compared  with 
Tls.  17,447,135  in  1905,  Tls.  17,226,968  in 
1904  and  Tls.  16,738,718  in  1903.  The 
Customs  revenue  has  fallen  in  less  than 
two  decades  from  about  Tls.  2,000,000  to 
Tls.  912,892  in  1906. 

The  chief  article  of  export  in  former  days 
was  tea,  and  a  great  stimulus  was  given  to 
the  trade  by  the  opening  of  Foochow  under 
the  Treaty  of  Nanking  in  1842,  as  prior  to 
that  date  the  choice  Bohea,  for  which  the 
neighbourhood  was  famous,  had  to  be  trans- 
ported by  the  difticnlt  overland  route  to 
Canton  for  shipment.  The  output  steadily 
increased  until,  in  1880,  it  reached  a  total  of 
737,000  piculs  ;  but  from  that  time  the  stress 
of  competition  with  the  Indian  and  Ceylon 
teas  began  to  be  felt,  and  the  industry 
gradually  declined.  In  1906  the  quantity 
exported  had  fallen  to  233,990  piculs,  or, 
excluding  black,  brick,  and  stalks,  to  only 
116,177  piculs.  F"or  the  finest  flowery  Pekoes, 
Lapsings,  Souchongs,  and  Sen  Moros,  which 
maintain  their  old-fashioned  good  qualities, 
there  is  still  a  fair  demand,  but  the  supply 
is  limited.  The  kinds  which  have  suffered 
most  are  the  medium  grades  of  Panyongs,  as, 
at  a  price  of,  say,  7d.  to  iid.  per  pound  the 
consuiner  prefers  the  strong  and  pungent 
British-grown  teas.  Prices  have  ruled  so 
low  of  late  years  on  all  the  consuming 
markets  that  tea  from  Foochow  can  hardly 
be  shipped  to  cover  cost,  bearing  as  it  does 
heavy  incidental  expenses  and  dues  from  the 
tea  gardens  lo  the  port,  then  a  heavy  export 
duty,  from  whicli  Indian  and  Ceylon  teas  are 
practically  free,  and  finally  being  subject  to 
higher  freight  charges  than  teas  shipped  from 
ports  nearer  home.  All  these  factors  have 
combined  to  make  the  trade  unprofitable  to 
native  and  foreign  merchanls  alike,  with  the 
result  that  thousanrls  of  acres  have  gone  out 
of  cultivation. 


With  the  decline  of  tea  has  come  a  rise 
in  the  camphor  industry.  Some  Japanese 
settlers  in  the  interior  discovered  camphor 
forests,  and  erected  stills,  and  the  natives, 
seeing  that  the  trees  might  be  made  a  source 
of  profit,  turned  their  attention  to  camphor 
refining.  At  first  only  the  camphor  made 
direct  from  the  wood  was  dealt  with,  but  as 
time  went  on  it  was  discovered  that  the 
camphor  oil,  the  residue  from  the  camphor 
crystals,  which  hitherto  had  been  sent  to 
Foochow  for  sale,  could  be  utilised  for  re- 
fining purposes.  As  a  result  there  are  now 
in  Foochow  a  number  of  small  distilleries  at 
which  this  oil  is  refined,  and  an  excellent 
quality  of  pure  white  camphor  is  produced. 
The  export  of  this  commodity  has  risen  from 
1,144  piculs  in  1903  to  1,210  in  1904,  4,037  in 
1905,  and  11,370  in  1906.  There  is,  however, 
a  strong  feeling  locally  that  the  industry  is 
not  destined  to  last  long. 

There  are  at  Foochow  a  match  factory,  a 
tea  factory,  and  one  or  two  saw-mills,  but, 
with  the  exception  of  one  of  the  saw-mills, 
all  are  now  closed  owing  to  the  heavy  dues 
and  to  the  general  stagnation  of  trade. 

Amongst  the  native  population  the  manu- 
facture of  lacquer-ware  still  fiourishes,  chiefly 
because  the  finest  work  of  Foochow  cannot 
be  produced  in  any  other  town,  the  secrets 
of  the  lacquer  being  in  the  hands  of  a  few 
Chinese  families,  who  carefully  guard  it. 
Another  minor  industry  is  that  Of  carving 
soap-stone  ornaments.  The  people  excel  in 
the  cutting  of  miniature  temples,  pagodas, 
cannon,  &c.,  from  this  substance,  and  also  in 
the  making  of  artificial  flowers  and  birds. 

A  large  amount  of  timber,  chiefly  fir- 
poles,  is  cut  in  the  interior  of  the  province, 
and  rafted  down  the  River  Min  to  Foochow, 
ready  for  shipment  to  northern  ports.  Much 
of  it  is  transported  in  junks,  but  in  the  early 
spring  about  a  dozen  steamers  call  for  full 
cargoes  for  Tientsin. 

The  city,  which  has  a  circumference  of 
about  six  miles,  is  enclosed  by  a  wall  about 
30  feet  high  and  12  feet  thick.  It  embraces 
three  small  hills,  whose  well-wooded  slopes 
add  much  to  the  beauty  of  the  city.  The 
population  is  estimated  at  about  750,000. 
The  European  Settlement  is  situated  on  the 
island  of  Nantai,  which  is  formed  by  a 
divergence  and  reuniting  of  the  river,  and 
has    a    length     of    about    15    miles.       Com- 


munication with  the  city  is  maintained  by 
what  is  known  as  the  Long  Bridge,  or  the 
Bridge  of  the  Ten  Thousand  Ages.  The 
scenery  in  the  vicinity  is  striking  in  its 
resemblance  to  that  of  some  parts  of  Europe, 
the  river  running  through  towering  cliffs 
rising  sheer  from  the  water's  edge.  Several 
temples  of  interest  are  to  be  seen,  among 
them  the  Min  Monastery,  the  Moon  Temple, 
and  the  Kushan  Monastery,  all  of  which  are 
beautiful  examples  of  Chinese  architecture. 
Foochow  possesses  a  mild  and  delightful 
climate  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year, 
and  even  in  the  summer,  when  the  heat  is 
rather  trying,  the  mountain  of  Kuliang 
affords  a  pleasant  and  cool  retreat,  to  which 
foreign  residents  may  go  to  recuperate. 
At  Sharp  Peak,  also,  there  is  a  bathing 
resort — a  great  boon  in  the  hot  weather. 
Near  the  east  gate  of  the  city  are  several 
hot  springs,  believed  to  be  efficacious  in 
combating  various  skin   diseases. 

The  European  community  do  not  lack 
recreation  and  means  of  social  intercourse. 
There  is  a  racecourse,  in  the  centre  of 
which  tennis,  football,  hockey,  and  cricket 
can  be  played  under  the  most"  pleasant  con- 
ditions ;  there  is  a  good  club,  and  a  Masonic 
lodge  has  been  established.  A  small  daily 
paper,  the  Foochow  Echo,  is  published  in  the 
town. 

The  Viceroy  is  the  supreme  authority  ; 
under  him  is  the  Taoutai,  and,  in  command 
of  the  military  forces,  are  two  prominent 
generals.  Other  officials  are  the  Provincial 
Treasurer,  the  Provincial  Judge,  the  Grain 
Taoulai,  and  the  Board  of  F'oreign  Trade 
Taoutais.  Most  of  the  leading  foreign  Powers 
are  represented  by  consuls  or  their  deputies. 
Money  for  local  circulation  is  coined  at  the 
Viceroy's  mint,  the  output  of  which  is  limited 
by  the  Imperial  Government. 

The  Provincial  Fort  at  Foochow  has  a 
small-arms  and  cartridge  factory,  where  a 
large  quantity  of  rifles  and  ammunition  are 
produced.  Near  the  Pagoda  anchorage  is 
the  Mamoi  Ar.senal,  capable  of  building  and 
fitting  out  cruisers  of  from  two  to  three 
thousand  tons,  but  the  work  has  been  some- 
what in  abeyance  recently,  as  the  authorities 
have  sent  away  the  staff  of  French  engineers 
who  formerly  carried  on  all  the  working 
management.  The  dry  dock  is  about  300 
feet    in    length.      The  Kimpai  Pass,  near  the 


838      TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETO. 


entrance  lo  the  Min  River,  is  strongly  forti- 
fied with  modern  heavy  guns. 

Foochow  has  still  some  attractions  to  offer 
to  the  sportsman,  for  game  abounds  in  the 
neighbourhood,  and  a  little  further  in  (he 
interior  tiger  and  panther  are  common. 

XK.    6.    M.    H.    FLAYFAIE. 

Mr.  George  Maci)os.\li)  Home  Pr..*VF.\iR, 
the  British  Consul  at  Foochow,  has  been  in 
the  Consular  service  of  China  for  nearly  forty 
ye;urs.  Born  in  1850.  he  graduated  at  Dublin 
University,  and,  being  successful  in  the  usual 
competitive  examination,  was  appointed  a 
Student  Interpreter  in  187^.  He  remained  in 
Peking  for  some  time  acting  as  Assistant 
Chinese  Secretary.  He  carried  out  the  duties 
of  Consul  at  Taiwan  in  1877,  and  at  Pakhoi 
from  1881  to  1883.  In  1886  he  was  promoted 
first-class  assistant,  and  since  that  time  has 
been  attached,  in  various  administrative 
capacities,  to  a  large  number  of  places  in 
different  parts  of  the  Chinese  Empire,  in- 
cluding Tainan,  Tamsui,  Shanghai,  Ningpo, 
and  Swatow.  He  was  appointed  Consul  at 
Foochow  in  1899,  and  acted  as  Consul-General 
at  Hankow  from  1903  to  1904,  after  which  lie 
returned  to  his  post  at  Foochow. 


* 


DE.    S.    L.    6RACE7. 

Dr.  Samiel  L.  Gracey,  who,  except  for  an 
interval  of  three  years  during  the  Cleveland 
administration,  has  been  Consul  for  the  United 
States  of  America  at  Foochow  since  1890, 
comes  from  an  English  stock,  his  ancestors 
having  gone  to  America  with  William  Penn. 
Born  on  September  6,  1835,  at  Philadelphia, 
he  was  educated  at  public  schools  of  that  city 
and  at  Boston  University.  He  is  a  Doctor 
of  Divinity,  and  was  for  a  number  of  years 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  Boston,  Chelsea,  Cambridge,  Lynn,  Salem, 
and  other  cities  in  Massachusetts.  For  three 
years  he  served  as  chaplain  in  the  6th  Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry  during  the  Civil  War.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature 
for  two  terms.  The  whole  of  his  Consular 
service  has  been  spent  at  Foochow,  and 
for  assistance  rendered  during  the  Boxer 
troubles  he  was  decorated  with  the  Order 
of  the  Double  Dragon.  Dr.  Gracey  has  been 
twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Leonora 
Thompson  and  his  second  wife  Corda  Perkins 
Pratt,  of  Massachusetts,  who  is  a  direct 
descendant  of  the  Mayflower  pilgrims  on 
both  her  father  and  mother's  side.  Dr. 
Gracey  has,  with  one  exception,  served 
longer  than  any  other  American  Consul  in 
China  or  the  Far  East.  He  commands  the 
highest  respect  of  his  nationals.  His  son, 
Wilbur  T.  Gracey,  is  the  United  States 
Consul  at  Tsingtau. 

m 

DR.   T.   SENNIE. 

Dr.  T,  Re\nie,  who  has  a  large  private 
practice  in  Foochow,  was  born  in  West 
Aberdeenshire  in  1850.  He  graduated  at 
Aberdeen  University  and  took  his  M.B.  and 
CM.  Degrees  in  1872,  becoming  M.D.  three 
years  later.  Before  coming  to  Foochow  he 
was  stationed  in  Formosa  for  six  years.  He 
is  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Institute  of  Public 
Health  ;  Member  of  the  British  Medical 
Association ;  Medical  Officer  to  the  British 
Consulate  and  the  Imperial  Maritime  Customs  ; 


and  Hon.   Medical    Officer    to  the   Foochow 
Native  Hospital. 


ME.   H.    BAKEB. 

Mr.  H.  Baker,  who  was  born  in  Wiltshire 
in  1854,  and  educated  privately  in  Germany, 
came  to  Foochow  in  1875  to  join  Messrs. 
Newman  &  Co.,  and,  in  1881,  transferred 
his  services  to  the  local  branch  of  Messrs, 
Butterfield  &  Swire.  He  was  associated  with 
Foochow  during  the  old  tea  days,  and  has 
been  engaged  for  six  years  in  Shanghai  and 
Hankow  as  a  tea-taster.  He  is  fond  of 
shooting  and  riding,  and  often  enters  ponies 
in  the  Foochow  races. 


ME.    C.    F.    ST.    C.    STOCKWELL. 

Mr.  Stockwell  is  a  member  of  a  family 
which  has  been  resident  in  China  practically 
ever  since  the  establishment  of  Hongkong  as 
a  British  Colony.  His  maternal  grandfather, 
Captain  S.  Clifton,  was  present  at  the  bom- 
bardment of  Canton  in  1840,  and  accompanied 
the  70th  Foot  Regiment  to  Hongkong  in  1849. 
He  was  the  first  Captain-Superintendent  of 
Police  in  Shanghai,  and  his  wife  has  the 
reputation  of  being  the  oldest  European  lady 
residing  in  the  country.  For  a  term  of  fifty- 
nine  years,  between  1845  and  1904,  she 
divided  her  time  almost  equally  between 
Hongkong  and  Shanghai.  Mr.  Stockwell's 
father  is  the  son  of  Dr.  James  Stockwell, 
Medical  Officer  to  the  Government  Civil 
Hospital,  Hongkong.  Mr.  Stockwell  himself 
is  the  representative  for  the  British-American 
Tobacco  Company,  Ltd.,  in  Foochow.  His 
has  been  an  active  career.  He  holds  a 
commission  in  the  King's  Colonial  Imperial 
Yeomanry  and,  attached  as  interpreter  to 
the  Russian  Army,  went  through  the  Boxer 
trouble  of  1900.  He  holds  two  certificates, 
sliowing  that  he  has  passed  the  School  of 
Musketry  and  the  Cavalry  School.  A  good 
linguist,  he  has  travelled  in  every  continent. 


ME.    J.    C.    OSWALD. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Oswald,  the  chief  partner  in  the 
firms  of  Bathgate  &  Co.  and  Fairhurst  &  Co., 
was  born  at  Croydon  in  1857,'  and  was 
educated  at  Heidelberg.  He  has  been 
engaged  in  the  tea  trade  all  his  life,  for  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  joined  a  firm  of 
importers  in  London,  and,  after  remaining 
with  them  for  thirteen  years,  came  to 
Foochow,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
in  superintending  the  export  of  tea.  Mr. 
Oswald  is  an  enthusiastic  sportsman.  In  his 
younger  days  he  established  a  high  reputation 
as  a  cyclist,  and  was  awarded  in  1882  a  gold 
medal  for  a  hundred  miles  record.  Now 
riding  and  shooting  constitute  the  chief 
recreations  of  his  leisure. 


MB.    M.   J.   ISAACS. 

Mr.  Morris  J.  Isaacs,  the  agent  in  Foochow 
and  Formosa  for  the  Sun  Life  Assurance,  of 
Canada,  has  had  a  training  and  experience 
which  fit  him  admirably  for  the  post.  The 
manager  of  the  head  office  in  Montreal, 
Canada,  and  the  general  manager  for  Eastern 
Asia,  Dr.  R.  H.  Macaulay,  often  refers  to  his 
success  in  establishing  a  connection  since  he 


took  over  the  work  in  December,  1906.  Horn 
in  Bombay  in  1880,  he  came  to  China  when 
quite  young,  and  was  educated  at  Queen's 
College,  Hongkong.  From  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  has  been  connected  with  insurance  work. 
A  clever  linguist,  he  speaks  the  Cantonese 
dialect,  Hindustani,  Arabic,  and  several  other 
Oriental  languages  Huently. 


MR.    PESTONJEE    B.    JOKHEE. 

Mr.  PestonjeeBomanjkkJokhee  is  managing 
partner  in  Foochow  for  Messrs.  Mchta  &  Co., 
opium,  yarn,  and  camphor  merchants,  and 
commission  agents.  He  was  born  in  Surat, 
and  came  to  China  quite  early  in  life. 

m 

MR.    H.    TIENSINFOO. 

Mr.  H.  Tieksinfoo  was  born  in  Foochow 
in  1870,  and  educated  at  the  Anglo-Chinese 
College.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  started  in 
business  as  a  timber,  rice,  and  tea  merchant. 
In  addition  to  carrying  on  this  business,  he 
has  charge  of  the  Foochow  branch  of  the 
Standard  Oil  Company,  whose  interests  in 
the  district  are  being  rapidly  developed.  Mr. 
Tiensinfoo  holds  the  Chinese  Order  of  the 
Fifth  Rank. 


ME.    CHOET    CHEN    PONG. 

Mr.  Choey  Chen  Pong,  who  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  famous  Choey  Wo  Long  Fairy 
Boat  brand  of  tea,  which  has  a  large  sale  in 
England,  was  born  in  Canton  in  1855  and 
educated  in  Hongkong.  On  leaving  school 
he  went  to  Foochow  and  entered  the  tea 
trade.  Besides  the  tea  business  he  has  lately 
taken  an  interest  in  camphor. 


ME.    H.    MANNCHOW. 

Mr.  H.  Mannchow  was  born  in  Canton 
and  educated  at  Hongkong,  where  he  subse- 
quently joined  the  Great  Northern  Telegraph 
Company.  After  a  few  years'  service  he 
came  to  Foochow  and  obtained  employment 
with  the  Eastern  Extension  Telegrapli  Com- 
pany. He  relinquished  his  connection  with 
this  Company  in  order  to  become  chief 
Chinese  assistant  to  Messrs.  Gibb,  Livingston 
&  Co.  in  Foochow,  but  he  now  combines 
with  his  other  duties  the  positions  of  super- 
intendent of  and  electrician  to  the  Fokien 
Telephone  Company,.  Ltd.  This  Company, 
which  is  under  Chinese  administration,  has 
only  recently  been  formed,  but  it  has  already 
one  hundred  and  fifty  subscribers. 


MESSES.    PAUL    PETTICK    &    CO. 

The  oldest  and  largest  store-keepers  at 
Foochow  are  Messrs.  Paul  I^ettick  &  Co. 
Established  since  1888  they  enjoy  an 
excellent  reputation  amongst  both  the  Euro- 
pean and  native  population.  Of  recent  years 
they  have  disposed  of  their  retail  business 
to  the  Foochow  Trading  Company,  and 
have  concerned  themselves  solely  with  the 
wholesale  import  and  export  tr,ide.  They 
import  goods  from  England,  America, 
France,  and  Germany,  and  export  native 
produce,  such  as  camphor,  feathers,  lac- 
quered    wares,     bamboos,     curios,   &c.     The 


VIEWS   IN    AND    AROUND    FOOCHOW, 


840     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


manager  speaks  N-arious  dialects,  and  the  firm 
are  constantly  adding  to  their  agencies.  They 
are  property  owners,  house-boat  owners,  &c., 
and  are  always  in  a  positfon  to  provide 
tourists  and  travellers  with  guides,  boats,  and 
other  similar  requisites. 


M.  W.   GSEIG   ft   00. 

This  firm  are  the  successors  of  the  well- 
known  firm  of  Russell  &  Co.,  who  failed  in 
1891.  Mr.  M.  \V.  Greig  was  the  manager 
of  the  Foochow  branch  of  that  firm  at  that 
date  and  only  retired  from  business  on 
December  31,  1907,  after  more  than  forty 
years  of  strenuous  life  in  Foochow.  The 
present  partners  are  Messrs.  Konald  Greig 
and  Geo.  L.  Greig,  brother  and  eldest  son 
respectively  of  M.  W.  Greig.  They  carry 
on  the  business  of  tea  merchants,  camphor 
exporters,  and  oil  importers.     They  are  agents, 


also,  for  the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company 
and  allied  companies  ;  the  Anglo-Saxon  Petro- 
leum Company,  Ltd.  ;  the  Shire  Line  of 
steamers  ;  the  Royal  Insurance  Company. 
Ltd.,  of  Liverpool ;  and  the  well-known 
Yangtsze  Insurance  Association,  which  was 
organised  by  Russell  &  Co.  Mr.  Ronald 
Greig,  who  is  in  charge  of  the  business,  was 
born  in  Hants  in  1854.  He  came  to  China 
in  1876,  and  was  with  Deacon  &  Co.,  of 
Canton,  for  eleven  years.  Afterwards  he  left 
for  Canada,  but  in  1896  returned  to  take  up 
his  present  responsibilities. 

SIEHSSEN    &    KEOHN. 

This  firm,  known  formerly  as  .Siemssen  & 
Co.,  have  a  variety  of  interests  under  their 
control.  They  export  large  quantities  of  tea 
and  carry  on  a  general  agency  business, 
representing,  among  other   important   under- 


takings, the  Norddeutscher  Lloyd  and  the 
Hamburg- Amerika  lines.  A  saw-mill  and 
feather-cleaning  works  are  operated  by  them. 
The  head  of  the  firm,  Mr.  G.  Siemssen,  is 
Consul  for  Germany  and  Vice-Consul  for 
Sweden. 

DODWELL    k    CO.,    LTD. 

This  firm,  originally  Adamson,  Bell  &  Co., 
was  taken  over  in  1891  by  Dodwell,  Carlill 
&  Co.,  and  it  is  only  since  1901  that  the 
business  has  been  conducted  under  its  present 
name.  The  Company  are  the  largest  tea 
exporters  in  Foochow,  and  are  now  inter- 
esting themselves  in  camphor.  They  are 
agents  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  Petroleum  Com- 
pany, Ltd.  ;  the  Asiatic  Petroleum  Company, 
Ltd.  ;  the  Messageries  Maritimts  ;  and  the 
principal  shipping  lines  to  America,  and  a 
number  of  other  important  undertakings. 


CHINESE   WEIGHTS,  MEASURES,  AND    MONEY. 


I  liang  (tael) 

1 6  liang  (tael)  make  i  kin  (catty) 
100  kin  (catty)  make  i  tan  (piculj 
1 20  kin  (catty)   make  i  shik  (stone) 


Veights. 

i'333  oz.  avoir,  or    3778    grammes. 

1333  lbs.  avoir,  or  604' 53    grammes. 
I33'333  lbs.  avoir,  or    60453  kilogrammes. 
160000  lbs.  avoir,  or    72544  kilogrammes. 


Four  ounces  equal  three  taels  ;  one  pound 
equals  three-quarters  of  a  catty,  or  twelve 
taels  ;  one  hundredweight  equals  84  catties ; 
and  one  ton  equals  16  piculs  80  catties. 


Measures  of  Capacity. 

I  koh  (gill)      =      0103  litre. 

10  koh      make  1  sheng  (pint)     =      1-031  litre. 
10  sheng  make  i  tou  (peck)         =    1031    litre. 


Land  Measure. 


I  chih        = 

5  chih  make  1  pu      = 

24  pu     make  1  fun     = 

60  pu     make  i  kioh  = 

4  kioh  make  i  mow  = 

100  mow  make  i  king  = 


I3'126  inches. 
30'323  square  feet. 
80-862  square  yards. 
202156  square  yards. 
26*73    square  poles. 
167      acres. 


The  mow,  which  is  the  unit  of  measurement, 
is  almost  exactly  one-sixth  of  an  acre. 

Weights  and  measures  in  China  vary  in 
every  province  and  almost  every  district,  and 
differ  in  the  same  districts  for  different  kinds 
of  goods. 


Measures  of  Length. 

I  fun           ^=  14  in.  English. 

10  fun    make  1  tsun  (inch)       =  141  in.  English. 

10  tsun  make  i  chih  (footi      =  I4'i    in.  English. 

10  chih  make  i  chang  (pole)  =  11  ft.    9  in.  English, 

The  length  of  the  chang  was  fixed  by  the  Treaty  of  Tientsin  at  141  in. 

5  chih  make  i  pu  (pace)  ...  =  about  5  ft.  English. 

360  pu      make  i  li  =  about  one-third  English  mile. 

10  li       make  i  tang-sun  (league)  =  about  3j  English  miles. 

250  li       make  i  tu  (degree). 


Money. 

I  li  (cash)  =     032  of  a  penny. 

10  li  make  1  fen  (candareen)  =     32    of  a  penny. 

10  fen       make  I  ch'ien  (mace)      =  32      pence. 
10  ch'ien  make  i  liang  (tael)  =  2s.  8d. 


The  above  are  weights  of  silver.  They  are 
not  represented  by  any  coin,  except  the  copper 
cash,  which  is  supposed  to  be  the  equivalent 
in  value  of  a  li  of  silver,  but  the  value  of  which 
differs  greatly  in  different  districts  and  at 
different  times.     They  have   no   uniform   in- 


trinsic value,  being  made  of  varying  size  and 
composition.  Silver  is  used  uncoined  in 
ingots,  usually  of  fifty  taels,  more  or  less,  in 
weight,  called  sycee  or  "  shoes,"  on  account  of 
their  shape.  The  tael  may  be  taken  as  worth 
one  and  a  third  silver  dollar. 


CONCLUDING    NOTE. 


rX  conclusion  we  must  make 
acknowledgment  of  the  valu- 
able assistance  with  which  we 
have  been  favoured  in  the 
task  of  compiling  the  present 
volume.  Our  thanks  are  due 
to  His  Excellencv  the  Gover- 
nor of  Hongkong.  Sir  F.  D.  Lugafd,  K.C.M.G., 
C.B.,  D.S.O..  for  the  kindly  interest  which  he 
evinced  in  our  enterprise,  and  to  the  Colonial 
Secretarv-,  the  Hon.  Mr.  F.  H.  May,  C.M.G., 
for  the  official  encouragement  and  support 
which  he  extended  to  our  labours.  Without 
exception,  the  heads  of  the  Government  de- 
partments of  Hongkong  showed  themselves 
warmly  in  accord  with  the  objects  of  our 
work  and  placed  us  under  a  great  obligation 
by  contributing  signed  articles  on  the  follow- 
ing subjects  : — Public  Works  (the  Hon.  Mr. 
W.  Chatham,  C.M.G.),  Harbour  and  Shipping 
(the  Hon.  Commander  Basil  Taylor,  R.N.), 
Finance  (the  Hon.  Mr.  A.  M.  Thompson|, 
Health  and  Hospitals  (the  Hon.  Dr.  Atkinson), 
Police  (Capt.  Lvons).  Education  (the  Rev.  Dr. 
Bateson  Wright),  Flora  (Mr.  S.  T.  Dunn, 
B.A.).  and  Meteorology  (Mr.  F.  G.  Figg).  The 
officers  of  the  Municipal  Councils  of  Shanghai 
treated  our  representatives  with  every  cour- 
tesy, and  in  this  connection  mention  must  be 
made  of  Mr.  W.  E.  Leveson  (Secretary),  Dr. 
A.  Stanley  (Medical  Officer),  Mr.  C.  Mayne 
(Engineer  and  Surveyor),  Mr.  K.  J.  McEuen 
(Deputy-Superintendent  of  Police),  Mr.  G. 
Lanning  (Historian).  Mr.  G.  M.  Billings,  B.A. 
(fleadmaster  of  the  Public  School),  and  Mr.  D. 
Macgregor  (Superintendent  of  Parks  and  Open 
Spaces)  of  the  International  Settlement ;   and 


of  Mr.  G.  Dantin  (Acting-Secretary)  and  Mr. 
J.  J.  Chollott  (Engineer  and  Surveyor)  of  the 
French  Concession.  Statistical  and  other 
information  relating  to  trade  and  shipping  at 
the  various  Treaty  ports  was  readily  furnished 
at  the  expense  of  no  little  time  and  trouble 
by  the  officers  of  the  Chinese  Imperial 
Maritime  Customs,  notably  by  Mr.  H.  E. 
Hobson,  the  Commissioner  at  Shanghai  ;  Mr. 
J.  L.  Chalmers,  head  of  the  Statistical  Depart- 
ment ;  and  Capt.  W.  A,  Carlson,  harbour- 
master, Shanghai  ;  while  the  article  on  the 
Lappa  Customs  was  written  by  Mr.  A.  H. 
Wilzer,  the  Commissioner.  The  representa- 
tives of  the  Press  everywhere  exhibited  a 
spirit  of  camaraderie  and  goodwill  which  we 
thoroughly  appreciate,  and,  although  in  such 
circumstances  it  is  difficult  to  individualise, 
we  may,  perhaps  be  permitted  to  make 
especial  reference  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Donald 
(editor)  and  Mr.  J.  W.  Bains  (sports  editor) 
of  the  China  Mail,  Hongkong ;  Mr.  H. 
Montague  Bell  (editor)  and  Mr.  W.  R.  Parkin 
(sports  editor)  of  the  North  Cliina  Daily  News, 
Shanghai  ;  and  Mr.  J.  Covven  (editor)  of  the 
China  Times,  Tientsin,  who  cheerfully  placed 
their  pens  at  our  service.  In  addition  to 
those  whose  names  have  been  inentioned  the 
following  gentlemen  have  furnished  articles 
to  which  the  present  volume  owes  in  no 
small  degree  any  merit  which  it  may  possess 
as  a  work  of  reference,  namely  : — the  Arch- 
deacon of  Hongkong  (the  Anglican  Church 
in  China),  the  Rev.  J.  Steele,  B.A.  (P>ee  Church 
Missions),  the  Rev.  Father  J.  de  Moidrey, 
S.J.  (Catholic  Missions),  the  Rev.  W.  Pearse 
(Chinese  Religion),  Mr.  S.  W.  Tso  (Ceremonies 


and  Customs  of  the  Chinese),  Mr.  James 
Wong,  B.A.  (Chinese  Characters),  Mr.  H.  T. 
Wade  (Tea),  Mr.  J.  Kerfoot  (Cotton),  Mr.  A.  H. 
Collinson,  M.I.C.E.  (Railways),  Mr.  Reg.  Bate, 
F.R.G.S.  (Newchwang,  and  Railways  and  Mines 
in  Manchuria)  ;  Mr.  J.  C.  Kershaw,  F.E.S., 
F.Z.S.,  and  Staff-Surgeon  Kenneth  Jones,  R.N, 
(Fauna  of  Hongkong),  Major  Chapman  (Volun- 
teers of  Hongkong),  Mr.  C.  D.  Wilkinson 
(Laws  of  Hongkong),  Mr.  A.  Shelton  Hooper 
(Sanitary  Board  of  Hongkong),  Mr.  C.  A.  V. 
Bowra  (Amoy).  Mr.  N.  da  Silva  (Macao),  Mr. 
H.  L.  Beer  (Weihaiwei),  and  the  Rev.  Father 
Froc,  S.J.  (Meteorology  of  Shanghai).  Nor 
can  we  forget  our  indebtedness  to  those  who 
have  assisted  us  with  material  for  articles. 
Prominent  amongst  these  are  the  Hon.  Sir 
Paul  Chater,  C.M.G.,  the  Hon.  Dr.  Ho  Kai, 
C.M.G.,  the  Hon.  Mr.  E.  A.  Hewett,  Com- 
modore Stokes,  R.N.,  Major  Ross,  the  Rev. 
F.  T.  Johnson,  the  Rev.  C.  H.  Hickling,  Mr. 
R.  Shewan,  Mr.  Arathoon  Seth,  Mr.  C.  Mc.  J. 
Messer,  Mr.  A.  Bryer,  and  Mr.  Denman  Fuller 
(of  Hongkong)  ;  Mr.  F.  S.  A.  Bourne  (Assistant 
Judge  of  the  British  Supreme  Court  for  China 
and  Korea)  ;  Mr.  E.  D.  H.  Eraser,  C.M.G. 
(British  Consul-General  at  Hankow)  ;  the 
Rev.  R.  G.  Winning,  Major  Brodie  Clark, 
Captain  A.  J.  Stewart,  Dr.  Fergusson,  Mr. 
Joh.  de  Rijke,  Mr.  G.  S.  V.  Bidwell,  Mr.  E. 
Gilchrist,  and  Mr.  D.  Baretta  (of  Shanghai). 
Chief  among  the  many  works  of  reference 
which  we  have  consulted  have  been  Mr. 
H.  B.  Morse's  "Trade  and  Administration  of 
the  Chinese  Empire,"  Dr.  Eitel's  "  Europe  in 
China,"  and  Mr.  J.  Norton  Kyshe's  "  History 
of  the  Laws  of  Hongkong." 


LLOYD'S    GREATER    BRITAIN    PUBLISHING    CO.,    LTD., 


London, 

October,  igoS. 


General  Manager. 


=T1^ 


INDEX. 


A.    Butler   Cement    Tile  Works, 

586,  593 
Adams,  Will,  and  Japan,  17 
Afshar,  Mr.  M.  M.  B.,  652,  654 
Ah  Ying  &  Co.,  231 
Ahmet,  Mr.  S.,  247 
Alcock,  Sir  Rutherford,  67,  86 
Algar,  Mr.  A.  E.,  622,  632,  637 
Alvarez,  L.  M.,  &  Co.,  222 
Alvarez,  Mr.  L.  M..  219 
Amboyna,  massacre  of,  18 
Amherst's,  Lord,  mission  to  China, 

42 
Amoy,  813  ;  Anglo-Chinese  Col- 
lege at,  816,  824  ;  Central  Dis- 
pensary at,  828;  Dock  Company, 
823,  826 ;  Engineering  Com- 
pany, .825  ;  English  factory 
established  at,  24  ;  e.xpedition 
against,5i;  Hope  &Wilhelmina 
Hospital  at,  824,  826 ;  Hotel, 
828  ;  Kulangsu,  Settlement  at, 
815  ;  opened  to  foreign  trade, 
55 ;  police  at,  822  ;  Talmage 
Memorial  at,  813  ;  troubles  at, 
63  ;  Tung  Wen  institute  at,  826 
Ancient   Faiths  of   the    Chinese, 

337 

Anderson's,  Aeneas,  account  of 
Lord  Macartney's  mission,  39 

Andrews,  Mr.  W.  S.,  678 

Anglo-Chinese  Cotton  Manufac- 
turing Company,  574,  580 

Anson,  Commodore,  navigates  the 
lirst  British  warships  sent  to 
China,  32 

Anson's  Bay,  Canton  River,  Brit- 
ish anchorage  at,  40 

Anton,  Mr.  C.  E.,  603,  673 

Anz,  Mr,  O.  H.,  768 

Aquarius  Company,  586,  592 

Archibald,  Mr.  J.,  719 

Argent,  Mr.  W.  A.,  739 

Arlt,  Mr.  H.,  620 

Armstrong,  Captain  W.,  106 

Arnhold,  Karberg  &  Co.,  707,  709, 
743,  744,  788,  789 

Arrow,  lorcha,  capture  of,  69 

Arts  and  Crafts  Furnishing  Com- 
pany, 648,  653 

Asano,  Lieutenant  T.,  417 

Astor  Bar,  the,  688 

Astor  House  Hotel,  685,  686 

Astor  House  Hotel,  Hankow,  702 

Astor  House  Hotel,  Tientsin,  733, 

734 
Ataka  &  Co.,  232 


Atkinson  &  Dallas,  628,  629,  631, 

633 
Atkinson,  Hon.  Dr.  J.  M.,  104,  107, 

262 
Atkinson,  Mr.  G.  B.,  622 
Atkinson,  the  late  B.,  622 


Babcock  &  Wilcox,  600 

Badelev,  Hon.  Mr.  F.  J.,  108 

Bahr,  Mr.  A.  W.,  618 

Bailey,  Mr.  W.  S.,  219 

Bailey,  W.  S.,  &  Co.,  242 

Bain,  Mr.  G.  M.,  345 

Bains,  Mr.  J.  W.,  345.  35° 

Baker,  Mr.  H.,  838 

Balfour,  Captain,  63 

Bandinel  &  Co.,  764 

Bank  of  Taiwan,  120 

Bannister,  Ven.  Archdeacon,  326 

Banque    de    L'Indo-Chine,     116, 

702,  790,  792 
Bantam,  captured  by  the  Dutch, 

24 
Barkley.  Mr.  J.  G.,  673 
Barrett,  Captain  E.  J.  M.,  504 
Barretto  &  Co.,  218 
Barretto,  Mr.  F.  D.,  174,  219 
Bassett,  Mr.  A.,  405 
Batavia,  English  factors  at,  18 
Bate,  Mr.  R.,  667,  682,  763 
Bathurst,  Captain  H.,  822 
Batouieff,   Mr.    M.  D.,   739,   752, 

753 
Bay,  Mr.  B.,  687 
Bean,  Mr.  M.  C,  407 
Becker  &  Baedeker,  604,  606 
Beckwith,  Lieutenant  C.  W.,  267 
Beesley,  Mr.  P.  M.,  622 
Bell,  Mr.  H.  T.  Montague,  357 
Bennett,  Mr.  Charles,  520 
Bennett,  Mr.  C.  K.,  502 
Bent,  Mr.  H.,  785 
Benzeman,  Mr.  C.  M.,  719 
Beretta,  Mr.  D.,  603 
Berkeley,  Sir  Henry  S.,  112,  172 
Berthoz,  M.  Victor,' 408 
Bidvvell,  Mr.  G.  S.  V.,  431 
Bielfeld,  Mr.  L.,  739 
Bielfeld  &  Sun,  751 
Bilger  &  Gallusser,  745,  747 
Binder,  Mr.  E.,  710 
Black  &  Christie,  712,  714 
Blackhead  &  Co.,  218,  246 
Blake's,  Sir  Henry,  administration 

of  Hongkong,  94 


Boa  Vista  Hotel,  Macao,  809 

Bodemeyer  &  Co,,  654 

Bogue  Forts,  attack  on  in  1 841 ,  50 ; 
attack  on  in  1856,  70  ;  fire  on 
British  ships,  41,  45  ;  seized  by 
the  British  in  1847,  64 

Bong  Lai  Ching,  Mr.,  534 

Bonham's,  Sir  George,  mission  to 
Nanking,  67 

Bornemann,  Mr.  F.,  718 

Botelho,  Mr.  A.  A.  H.,  174,  219 

Bottcher,  Schmidt  &  Co.,  747 

Bouchard,  Mr.  E.,  716,  717 

Bowen's,  Sir  G.,  administration 
of  Hongkong,  93 

Bowley,  Mr.  F.  B.  L.,  in,  112 

Bowra,  Mr.  C.  A.  V.,  821 

Bowring's,  Sir  John,  adminis- 
tration of  Hongkong,  68,  80 

Boxer  rebellion,  95 

Boyes,  Mr.  G.  M.,  618 

Bracco  &  Co.,  652,  657 

Brackenbury,  Mr.  A.  J.,  106 

Bradley  &  Co.,  216,  836 

Brady,  Mr.  H.  F.,  768 

Braga,  Mr.  J.  P„  345,  352 

Brand,  Mr.  W.,  603 

Brandt  &  Co.,  718 

Brandt,  Mr.  A.,  710 

Bray,  Mr.  A.  G.,  622 

Breijner,  Mr.  A.  W.,  345,  352 

Bredon,  Sir  Robert,  285 

Bremer,  Sir  Gordon,  commands 
expedition  against  China,  48 

Brewin,  Hon.  Mr.  A.  W.,  104,  108 

Brighten,  Malcolm  &  Co.,  640 

Brighten,  Mr.  E.  R.,  620 

British  American  Tobacco  Com- 
pany, 795 

British  and  Chinese  Corporation, 
682 

Broadwood,  Major-General,  104. 
106 

Browett,  Mr.  H.,  518 

Browne,  Mr.  Frank,  265,  267 

Bruce,  Mr.  Frederick,  appointed 
British  Envoy,  74,  88 

Brunner,  Mond  &  Co.,  624,  626, 

739 
Brutton,  Mr.  G.  K.  H.,  112,  173 
Buchheister  &  Co.,  746 
Buck,  Hon.  Lieutenant  R.,  415 
Build,  The,  364 
Burgevine   operates  against   the 

Taepings,  88 
Burkill,  A.  R.,  &  Sons,  622,  625 
BurkiU,  Mr.  A.  W.,  405,  504 


Burns,  Lieutenant  W.  S.,  417,  458 

Burtenshaw,  Mr.  A.  R.,  710,722 

Bush  Bros.,  764,  765 

Bush,  Mr.  A.,  762 

Butler  Cement  Tile  Works,  586 

Butler,  Mr.  P.  E.  O.,  821 

Butterfield  &  Swire,  211,  466,  790 


Caldbeck,  Macgregor  &  Co.,  214, 

592,  646 
Camoens,   the    Portuguese    Poet, 

17 
Canadian   Pacific  Railway  Com- 
pany, 202 
Cangue,  the,  318 
Canning,  Lieutenant  L.  E.,  416 
Canton-Hankow  Railway,  681 
Canton,  782  ;  ancient  view  of,  20  ; 
attack  on  by  the  British  in  1856, 
69  ;  attack  on  by  the  British  in 
1858,  73  ;  British  Consulate  at, 
787  ;  British  merchants  at  peti- 
tion Parliament,  45  ;  Christian 
College,  781;  declared  a  Treaty 
port,  55  ;  English  factory  estab- 
lished    at,     29 ;      Englishmen 
murdered    near,   65  ;     Fatshan 
Railway,  787;  first  English  mer- 
chants reach,  20  ;  F"rench  Con- 
sulate at,  788  ;   French  factory 
established     at,    29 ;     German 
Consulate  at,  788  ;  opium  des- 
troyed at,  47  ;    regular  English 
trade  at,  31  ;   Shameen  Settle- 
ment at,  784;  select  committee 
formed  at,  34  ;  temple  of  Honan 
at,  44 
Canton-Samshui  Railway,  680 
Carion,  Lieutenant  B.  M.,  417 
Carlowitz   &   Co.,  612,  613,  722, 

744,  812 
Carlowitz,  Mr.  R.  von,  614,  794 
Carlsen,  Lieutenant  G.  G.,  417 
Carlson,  Captain  W.  A.,  478,  480 
Carneiro,    Lieutenant  E.  Dos  S., 

417 
Castro,  Mr.   F.    X.   d'AImada   e, 

112,  173 
Catchpoole,    Allen,   president    of 

the  China  Council,  29 
Cavvasjee,  Pallanjee  &  Co.,  228 
Central  Stores,  Ltd.,  687 
Century  Stone  Company,  586,  595 
Ceremonies  and  Customs  of  the 
Chinese,  307 


844  TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Chai   Lai    Fong,   Mr.,   527,   548. 

549.  55' 
Chambers.  Mr.  K.  E..  785 
Chan  Ah  Ying,  Mr.,  224 
Chan  .\  Tong,  Mr.,  22S 
Chan  A  Tong,  Mr.  J.,  228 
Chan  A  Tong,  Mr.  P.,  228 
Chang  Ling  Kwai,  Mr.,  527 
Chang,  Mr.  K.  T..  534,  536.  567 
Chang  Su  Ho  Garden,  690,  691 
Chang  Yu  &  Co.,  770,  771 
Chang  Yue  Chee,  Mr.,  534,  570, 

571 
Chao  Chow  and  Swatow  Kailwav, 

680 
Chao-chow-(u,  830 
Chan  Shu  Ming,  Mr.,  224 
Chan  Sin  Ki,  Mr.,  176,  224 
Chan  Yut  Ngam,  Mr.,  224 
Chan  Wan  Chi,  Mr.,  244 
Chang,  Mr.  K.  T.,  534,  536 
Chapman,    Major    A.,   114,    274, 

277 
Charrey  &  Conversy,  744 
Chartered   Bank   of   In^a,   Aus- 
tralia, and  China,  114,  118,  441, 
702 
Chater,  Hon.  Sir  C.  Paul,  104,  107 
Chatham,    Hon.    Mr.   \Vm.,    104, 

107,  129 
Chee  &  Co.,  232 
Chee,  Mr.  T.,  224 
Chefoo,     767 ;     Belgian     Consul 
at,    768  ;     British     Consul     at, 
768  ;  Club,  769  ;  Commissioner 
of     Customs    at,     768 ;     Nor- 
wegian Consul  at,  768  ;  Russian 
Consul  at,  768 
Chen  Tsz  Yuen,  Mr.,  554,  556 
Cheong   Chi   Pio,  Mr.,  527,  529, 

531 

Cheong  Yuk  Nam,  H.E.,  680,  833 

Chew  Chuk  San,  Mr.,  548 

Chew  D  Musse,  the  late  Mr.,  219 

Chew,  Mr.  C.  S.,  527 

China,  ancient  faiths  of,  337  ; 
ancient  map  of,  16 ;  Catholic 
Church  in,  321  ;  ceremonies 
and  customs  of,  307  ;  Crilic, 
365  ;  currency  of,  288  ;  early 
European  trade  with,  12  ; 
East  India  Company  estab- 
lishes a  Council  for,  29 ; 
Ecclesiastical,  221  ;  flora  of, 
304 ;  foreign  trade  of,  278  ; 
foreign  population  of,  281  ; 
Gazette,  360  ;  Lord  Amherst's 
mission  to,  42  ;  Lord  Macart- 
ney's mission  to,  36 ;  popula- 
tion of,  281  ;  Press,  the,  343  ; 
Protestant  missions  in,  332  ; 
railways  of,  666  ;  Review,  367  ; 
silk  industry  of,  290 ;  tea  in- 
dustry of,  294  ;  Times,  365 

China  and  Japan  Telephone  Com- 
pany, 134 

China  and  Java  Export  Company, 

7«3,  714 
China    and    Manila    Steamship 

Company,    207,    208 
China  Baptist  Publication  Society, 

796 
China-Borneo  Company,  246 
China  Express  Company,  220 
China  Import  and  Export  Lumber 

Company,  578,  585,   587,   705, 

742,  810 
China  and  Java  Export  Company, 

610,  616 
China  Light  and  Power  Company, 

157,  791.  792 

China  Mail,  344 

China  Merchants  Steam  Naviga- 
tion Company,  462,  796 


China  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Com- 

pjiny,  221,  448,45" 
China  Navigation  Company,  472 
China  Sugar  Refining  Company, 

235 

Chinese  characters,  319 

Chinese  Engineering  and  Min- 
ing Company,  736,  738 

Chinese  Imperial  Maritime  Cus- 
toms, 85,  282 

Chinese  Imperial  Post  Office,  491 

Chinese  Mail,  353 

Chinese  Merchants  Company 
formed,  91 

Chinese  Telegraph  Company,  134 

Chinese  weights,  measures,  and 
money,  841 

Ching  Yue,  Mr.,  544,  545 

Chinhai  occupied  by  Sir  Hugh 
Gough,  52 

Chino-Japanese  war,  94 

Chinkiang  attacked  by  Sir  Hugh 
Gough,  54 

Chinkiang  tunnel,  676 

Choa  Leep  Chee,  Mr.,  176,  179 

Choey  Chen  Pong,  Mr.,  836,  838 

Choy  Fong,  Mr.,  246 

Chu  Hun  Tsai,  Mr.,  527,  568 

Chu  Pao  San,  Mr.,  527,  530 

Chu  Sok  Pin,  Mr.,  566,  569 

Chu  Yu  Chee,  Mr.,  566 

Chun  Bing  Him,  Mr.,  527,  556 

Chun  Koo  Leong,  Mr.,  527,  548, 

555 
Chun  Kwan  Yeh,  Mr.,  527,  552 
Chun  Lai  To,  Mr.,  796 
Chun  Ming  Hung,  Mr.,  527,  552 
Chun  Nea  Ching,  Mr.,  564 
Chun  Yik  Chee,  Mr.,  527,  558 
Chusan,   English    Settlement    at, 

30 ;     occupied    by     a     British 

force,  49,  76 
Clark,  Dr.  Francis,  265,  267 
Clark  &  Co.,  775,  777 
Clark,  Mr.  J.  D.,  358 
Clarke,  Major  Brodie  A.,  415,  517 
Clear,  Mr.  A.  C,  673 
Clerici,  Mr.  A.,  603 
Cochin    China,    English    factory 

established  at,  27 
Cock,  Robert,  factor  in  Japan,  17 
Co-hong,  formed  at  Canton,  31 
Collingwood,  Mr.  Geo.,  364 
Collins  &  Co.,  636 
Collinson,  Mr.  A.  H.,  673 
Collyer,  Captain  G.  F.,  415 
Consular  appointments,  first,  63 
Cordes,  Mr.  H.,  759 
Cornabe,  Eckford  &  Co.,  769 
Cornwallis,     H.M.S.,    Treaty     of 

Nanking  signed  on,  55 
Cotton,  302 
Cowen,  Mr.  J.,  365 
Coxion  To,  Dr.,  180 
Craddock,  Mr.  A.  K.,  603 
Craig,  Mr.  H.  J.,  515 
Cross,  Mr.  A.  W.,  521 
Cruz,  Basto  &  Co.,  222 
Cubitt,  Captain  L.  J.,  417 
Culty  Si.  Co.,  750 
Currency  of  China,  288 
Currimbhoy  Ebrahim,  Sir,  224 
Curtis  Bros.,  769 
Curtis,  Mr.  F.  J.,  769 


Dallas  &  Co.,  638 
Dallas,  Mr.  A.,  622 
d'Almeida,  Mr.  F.  J.,  522,  618 
Danby,  the  late  Mr,  219 
da  Silva,  Mr.  P.  N.,  798,  808 
Davenport,  Dr.,  785 
David,  Mr.  A.  J.,  223 


David,  Sir  Sassoon  J.,  223 
David,  S.  J.  &  Co.,  223 
Davies  &  Thomas,  630,  635 
Davies,  Mr.  P.  V.,  603 
Davis,  Lieutenant  R.  W.,  416 
Davis's.  Sir  J.  F.,  administration 

of  Hongkong,  64 
Davis,  Mr,  W.  A.,  735 
Deacon  &  Co.,  795 
Deekes,  Mr.  S.  J.,  8^6 
Dees,  Mr.  F.  W.,  676 
De  Hees,  Mr.  R.,  699 
De  Moraes,  Mr,  J.  A.  da  C,  785, 

788 
de  Rijke,  Mr.  J.,  482 
Denham  &  Rose,  628,  630 
Denham,  Mr.  J.  E.,  622 
Denniston  &  Sullivan,  650,  654 
Dent.  Mr.  Vyvyan,  478,  518 
Der  Ostasiatische  IJoytl,  361 
Des  Voeux's,  Sir  W.  G.,  adminis- 
tration of  Hongkong,  94 
Deutsch-Asiatische     Bank,     443, 

702,  704,  732,  759,  761 
Dick,  Lieutenant  D,  C,  417 
Dickeson,  Jones  &  Co.,  622,  627, 

658,  660 
Diederichsen,  Jebsen  &  Co.,  638, 

640,  744 
Diesing  &  Co.,  781 
Diss  Bros.,  223 

Dodwell  &  Co.,  218,  608,  705,  840 
Doire,  Mr.  A.,  719 
Donald,  Mr.  W.  H.,  343,  345 
Douglas  Lapraik  Steamship  Com- 
pany, 207 
Dowager       Empress       assumes 

supreme  power,  95 
Dowdall,  Mr.  W.  M.,  408,  414, 622 
Drummond,  Mr.  W.  V.,  406,  516 
Dunn,  Mr.  1.  J.,  719 
Dunn,  Mr.  S.  T.,  135,  137,  267 
Dunstan,  Mr.  E.  J.,  673 
Dutch  and  English  rivalry,  18,  21 
Dutch  Embassy  to  China,  14 
Du  Thuy,  Mr.  M,  B.,  408 
Dyer,  Captain  W.  J.  N.,  414 


East  India  Company,  attempts  to 
open  up  trade  with  China,  15  ; 
obtain  a  new  charter,  27  ;  sends 
a  special  mission  to  China,  33  ; 
sends  its  first  ship  direct  to 
China,  27 

Eastern  Extension  Telegraph 
Company,    134,  497 

Eastern  Sketch,  the,  364 

Ebbeke  &  Co.,  636 

Ecclesiastical,  321 

Eckardt,  Mr.  T.,  408 

Elepoo,  Peace  Commissioner,  55 

Elgin,  Earl  of,  appointed  special 
envoy  to  China,  70 

Elliot,  Captain,  appointed  British 
superintendent,  47  ;  occupies 
Hongkong,  48 

Ellis  Kadoorie  Chinese  Schools 
Society,  127 

Erskine,  Mr.  H.,  795 

Evans  &  Co.,  659,  691 

Ever  Victorious  Army,  88 

Ewo  Cotton  Spinning  and  Weav- 
ing Company,  573,  575,  576 

Ewo  Hong  on  the  Bund,  the,  604 

Ewo  Steam  Silk  Filature,  573 

Ewo  Timber  Depot,  574,  582 


Farrow,  Mr.  C.  J.,  822 

Fatshan,   attack   on    Englishmen 

at,  64 
Fatshan  Railway,  787 
Faust  &  Co.,  746 


Faust,  Mr,  J.,  739 

Fearon,  Lieutenant  R.  I.,  417 

Fernandez,  Count  de  S.,  807 

Figg,  Mr.  F.  G.,  267,  509 

Fink,  Mr.  C,  361 

Five,  Mr.  G.  E.,  739,  752 

Fleet,  Mr.  A.,  603 

Fleming,  Lieutenant  W.  N.,  417 

Fletcher,  Mr.  A.  G.  M.,  267 

Flint,  Mr.,  supercargo  imprisoned, 

Fokien  Drug  Company,  827 

Fong,  Mr.  S.  D.,  527 

Foochow,  837  ;  opened  to  foreign 

trade,  55  ;   troubles  at,  63 
Fook  On  Insurance  and  Godown 

Company,  230 
Forbs,  Mr.  A.,  219 
Foreign  Ministers  first  received  in 

audience    by  the    Emperor   at 

Peking,  90 
Formosa,  ancient  map  of,  18 
Frazar  &  Co.,  634 
Frewin,  Capt.  H.,  835 
Froc,  Rev.  Father,  512 
Frost,  Mr.  J.,  620 
Fuhrmeister  &  Co.,  719 
Fukano,  Mr.  S.,  620 
Fung  Wa  Chun,  267 
Fiitterer,  Mr.  W.,  618,  656,  657 


Gaillard,  Mr.  J.,  408 

Gallon  &  Co.,  836 

Gande  &  Co.,  J.  W.,  646,  649 

Gardiner,  Mr.  A.  F.,  821 

Gaskin,  Lieutenant  R.  H.,  418 

Ghisi,  Mr.  E.,  408 

Gibb,  Livingston  &  Co.,  216,  604, 
607 

Gilchrist,  Mr.  E.,  491 

Giller,  Mr.  Harry  A.,  356 

Glass,  Mr.  D.,  603 

Goertz,  Mr.  G.,  739 

Goldring,  Mr.  P.  W.,  112,  173 

Gomes,  Dr.  A.  S.,  174,  219 

Gompertz,  Mr.  H.  H.  J.,  iii,  112 

Gordon,  General,  commands  the 
Ever  Victorious  Army,  88 

Gordon,  Lieutenant  J.  D.  D.,  417 

Goto,  Baron  S.,  668 

Gough,  Sir  Hugh,  assumes  com- 
mand Chinese  expeditionary 
force,  50 

Gracey,  Dr.  S.  L.,  838 

Graham,  Mr.  James  W.,  198,  219 

Grant,  Mackenzie,  Mr.  J.,  458 

Grant,  Sir  J.  Hope,  commands 
British  expeditionary  force,  in 
i860,  76 

Great  Northern  Telegraph  Com- 
pany, 134,  496 

Greaves,  Mr.  |.  R.,  719 

Green  Mr.  C.  H.,  590 

Green  Island  Cement  Company's 
Works,  237 

Greig  &  Co.,  840 

Gresson,  Mr.  W.  J.,  no 

Grey,  Mr.  W.  J.,  673 

Gribble,  Mr.  Henry,  appointed 
Consul  at  Amoy,  63 

Gro,  Mr.  W.  L.,  408 

Gros,  Baion,  French  Envoy  to 
China,  73 

Grove,  Mr.  F.,  673 

Groves,  Mr.  G.  R.,  522 

Guedes,  Mr.  A.  P  de  M..  807 

Gulowsen,  Mr.  O.  K.  R.,  768 

Guy,  Mr.  James,  198,  219 


Hachloff,  Mr.  W.  W„  719 
Hale,  Mr.  B.  A.,  345,  351 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.   845 


Hall  &  Holtz,  646,  651 
Hall,  Mr.  E.,  781 
Halse,  Mr.  S.  J.,  622 
Hamburg-Amerika  Liiiie,  202,  466 
Hankow,    692  ;     brick    and    tile 
works,  710,  714  ;   British  Con- 
sulate at,  698  ;  Bund  in  winter, 
694;  business  men,  710;  club, 
696  ;  Daily  News,  366  ;  foreign 
municipal  police,  696  ;  Foreign 
Settlement     at,     693  ;     French 
Municipal  Council,  699  ;  Phar- 
macie  Centrale,  721,  722  ;  Race 
Club,  700,  701  ;   Russian  Club, 
700  ;    Russian  Consul  at,   699  ; 
Russian     Settlement    at,    695  ; 
Wagons  Lits   Hotel  Terminus, 
704,    706  ;      Waterworks    and 
Electric  Light  Company,  708 

Hankow  to  Peking  Railways, 
677 

Han  San  inscriptions,  831 

Hanson,  Mr.  J.  C,  407 

Hanwell,  Surgeon-Lieutenant  G., 
420 

Hanyang  Iron  and  Steel  Works, 
704,  708 

Hardoon,  Mr.  S.  A.,  620 

Harris,  Mr.  A.  H.,  834 

Harris,  Mr.  T.  H.,  466 

Harston,  Mr.  J.  S.,  H2,  173 

Hart,  Sir  Robert,  89,  283 

Hastings,  Mr.  G.  A.,  112,  172 

Hastings,  Mr.  John,  172 

Hausser,  Mr.  P.  F.,  834 

Haworth,  R.,  &  Co.,  634,  643 

Hayashi,  Viscount,  758 

Hayley-Bell,  Lieutenant  F.,  417 

Hayter,  Mr.  H.  W.  G.,  364 

Hazeland,  Mr.  E.  M.,  173,  219 

Hazeland,  Mr.  F.  A.,  in,  112 

Hewett,  Hon.  Mr.  E.  A.,  104,  108 

Hickie,  Mr.  A.,  219 

Hickling,  Mr.  N.  W.,  603 

Hienfung,  Emperor,  last  days  of, 
88 

Hillebrandt  &  Co.,  642,  644 

Hillier,  Mr.  E.  G.,  759,  760 

Hinckley,  Mr.  F.  E,,  405 

Ming  Loong  Ginger  Factory,  248 

Hirano,  Mr.  Y.,  622,  634 

His  Excellency  Yen  Fuh,  534 

Ho  Fook,  Mr.,  178 

Ho  Kai,  Hon.  Dr.,  104,  109 

Ho  Kom  Tung,  Mr.,  174,  175 

Ho  Nai  Hop,  Dr.,  180 

Ho  Tung,  Mr.,  176,  177 

Hoare,  Right  Rev.  J.  C,  drowned 
at  Hongkong,  94 

Hobson,  Mr.  H.  E.,  456,  478 

Hodgson,  Mr.  P.  M.,  H2 

Hoerter,  Mr.  M.,  523 

Hogg,  Mr.  A.  v.,  785 

Hogg,  Mr.  E.  Jenner,  516.  518 

Hoko,  Tsun,  Dr.,  180 

Holliday,  Wise  &  Co.,  608,  609 

Homicide,  Chinese  law  of,  40 

Hongkew  Recreation  Ground,  506 

Hongkong  :  Aberdeeen  from  the 
Peak,  view  of,   154  ;   agitation 

;  against  Sir  J.  Pope-Hennessy's 
administration,  84  ;  banking, 
116  ;  cession  of,  50  ;  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  159  ;  Chinese 
Club,  172  ;  constitution  and 
law,  99  ;  City  Hall,  161  ;  Club 
Lusitano,  172  ;  clubs,  169  ; 
College  of  Medicine,  264  ;  court 
of  justice  established  at,  60, 
101  ;  created  a  Crown  Colony, 
60  ;  currency,  114  ;  Daily 
Press,  350  ;  description  of,  145  ; 
Des  Voeux  Road,  view  of,  153  ; 
education     at,     121  ;    electric 


tramways,  164  ;  Ellis  Kadoorie 
Chinese  School  Society,  126  ; 
Executive  Council,  105  ;  fauna, 
138  ;  finance,  1 13  ;  first  Anglican 
Cathedral  at,  327  ;  first  occupa- 
tion of,  48,  56  ;  flora,  135  ; 
Gazelle,  344  ;  German  Club  at, 
171  ;    Government    House    at, 

160  ;  harbour  and  Kowloon, 
view  of,  150 ;  harbour,  ships 
carrying  Lord  Amherst's  mis- 
sion anchor  in,  43  ;  health  and 
hospitals,  262  ;  industries,  235  ; 
information  for  tourists,  683  ; 
inspectorate  of  schools,  122  ; 
journalism  at,  80 ;  Legislative 
Council,  100.  105  ;  Lloyd's 
Greater  Britain  Company's 
othces,  viewof,  155  ;  Ly-ee-mun, 
Chinese  residences  at,  155  ; 
meteorology,  509  ;  Mr.  R. 
Montgomery  Martin's  indict- 
ment of,  58  ;  Mountain   Lodge, 

161  ;  Municipal  Government, 
100  ;  navy,  army,  and  volun- 
teers, 272  ;  new  Government 
Oflices.  162  ;  new  Law  Courts, 
164;  Nippon  Club,  172  ;  Peak 
Club,  169  :  Peak  tramways, 
166  ;  Peak,  views  of,  147,  152  ; 
Phcenix  Club,  171  ;  police, 
prisons,  and  fire  brigade,  266  ; 
posts,  cables,  and  telephones, 
133  ;  Press  group,  345  ;  Press, 
the,  343  ;  public  gardens,  130, 
13I1  1.35  ;  public  works,  129; 
Queen's  College  at,  123  ;  Queen 
Victoria  statue  at,  148  ;  race- 
course, 251  ;  revenue  and  ex- 
penditure, 113;  Roman  Catholic 
Cathedral  at,  324  ;  St,  Andrew's 
Church,  Kowloon,  330  ;  St. 
George's  Club,  171  ;  St.  Joseph's 
English  College,  124,  126  ; 
St.  Paul's  College,  127  ;  Sani- 
tary Board,  157  ;  Select  Com- 
mittee of  1847  reports  on,  58  ; 
Sir  W.  G.  des  Voeux's  descrip- 
tion of,  94  ;  social  life,  341  ; 
sport,  250  ;  statue  of  Sir 
Thomas  Jackson  at,  148  ; 
Telegraph,  351  ;  treaty  of  Nan- 
king ratified  at,  55  ;  'Tung  Wah 
Hospital,  175,  177,  263  ;  typhoon 
of  September  18,  1904,  94,  510  ; 
unhealthiness  of,  59  ;  Union 
Church,  336  ;  unofficial  mem- 
bers first  nominated  to  the 
Legislative  Council,  80  ; 
Victoria,  city  of,  built,  56  ; 
Victoria,  city  of,  map  of,  146  ; 
Victoria,  city  of,  view  of,  150  ; 
Victoria  Recreation  Clubhou>e, 
251  ;  Volunteer  Corps,  274  ; 
Wardley  Street,  view  of,  154  ; 
Wyndham  Street,  view  of,  153  ; 
Yacht  Club  House,  255. 

Hongkong  and  China  Gas  Com- 
pany, 167 

Hongkong  and  Kowloon  Wharf 
and  Godown  Company,  189, 
198 

Hongkong  and  Shanghai  Bank, 
115,  118,  439,  700,  721,  731, 
732.  759.  760,  821 

Hongkong  Cotton  Spinning, 
Weaving,  and  Dyeing  Com- 
pany, 236 

Hongkong  Electric  Company,  168 

Hongkong  Electric  Traction 
Company,   165 

Hongkong  Ice  Company,  240 

Hongkong  Pipe,  Brick  and  Tile 
Company,  238 


Hongkong   Rope    Manufacturing 

Company,  238 
Hoo  Erh  Mai,  Mr.,  527,  556      • 
Hooper,    Mr.    A.    Shelton,     157, 

173,  267 
Hope,  Sir  James,  87 
Hopkins,  Dunn  &  Co.,  474 
Hotel  de  la  Paix,  Tientsin,  736 
Hotel  des  Colonies,  688,  689 
Hotung  Baugesellschaft,  749,  751 
Howard,  Mr.  W.  E.,  719 
Howarth,  Erskine,  Ltd.,  594,  599 
Hue  Cheng  Yong,  Mr.  532 
Hung  Chong  &  Co.,  662,  664 
Hung  Kwong  To  (the  late),  Mr., 

224 
Hunter,  Dr.  Wm,,  265 
Hunter,  Mr,  H,  E.  R,,  442 


Ichang,  698 

Ilbert  &  Co.,  608 

Imperial  Bank  of  China,  444 

Imperial  Brewing  Company,  249 

Imperial  Hotel,  Tientsin,  735,  736 

Imperial  Post  Office,  490 

Imperial  Railways  of  North  China, 

670 
Indo- China     Steam     Navigation 

Company,    205,   207,   474,   481 
Information  for  tourists,  683 
Inglis,  Mr,  W.  F.,  603 
Innocent,  Captain  J.  W.,  417 
Inshallah  Dairy  Farm,  656,  659 
I  on  Marine  and  Fire  Insurance 

Cotnpany,  231 
Interlopers,  East  India  Company's 

troubles  with,  27 
Irving,  Mr.  E.  A.,  128 
Isaacs,  Mr.  M.  J.,  838 
Ilo,  Mr.  Y.,  620 


Jacks,  Mr.  Phillip,  267 

Jaffer,  Mr.  M,,  652 

Jameson,  Lieutenant  G.  M  ,  417 

Jangstun    Steam     Brick    Works, 

Tientsin,  740 
Japan  Cotton  Trading  Companv, 

574>  720 
Japan,  early  English  trade  with, 

17 
Jaques  &  Co.,  741,  742 
Jardine,  Matheson  &  Co.,  205,  210, 

236,  240,  459,  477,  481,  602,  604, 

605,  703,  709,  727 
Java-China-Japan  Line,  209 
Jezierski,  Count,  739 
Jin  Chong  Silk  Filature  Company, 

573,  574 
Johnson,  Mr.  Y.,  234 
Johnston,  Mr.  James,  520,  523 
Johnston,  Mr.  L.  A.  M.,  134 
Johnstone,  Mr.  J.,  603 
Jokhee,  Mr.  Pestonjee  B.,  838 
Jones,  Mr.  P.  N.  H.,  132,  267 
Jones,  Staff-Surgeon  K.  H.,  141 
Jordan,  Dr.  G.  P.,  265,  267 
Jordan,  Sir  J.  N.,  757 
Jorge  &  Co,,  222 
Jorge,  Mr.  F.,  219 
Junk  Bay  Flour  Mills,  240 


Kearton,  Captain  W.,  363 
Kelly  &  Walsh,  224 
Kennedy's,  Sir  A.  E.,  administra- 
tion of  Hongkong,  84 
Kerfoot,  Mr.  James,  302,  603 
Kershaw,  Mr.  J,  C,  138 
Keswick,  Hon.  Mr.  H.,  104,  110 
Keying,  Commissioner,  65,  74 
Kiaking,     Emperor,     and     Lord 
Amherst's  mission,  44 


Kiangsu    Chemical   Works,   578, 

591 
Kiaochau  occupied  by  Germany, 

95 
Kienlung,  Emperor,  accession  of, 

32  ;  receives  Lord  Macartney, 

38 
Kierulff  &  Co.,  761 
Kin  Gen  Sang,  Mr.,  527,  544,  546 
King  Chun  San,  Mr.,  534 
King  Kai  Tong,  Mr.  663 
King,  Mr.  H.  F.,  781 
Kingman,  Mr.  H.  B.,  528,  568 
Kingsmill,  Mr.  G.,  422 
Kinipple,  Inspector  W.,  508 
Kirchner  &  Boger,  654 
Kleemann,  Mr,  O.,  739,  752 
Kleeschulte,  Mr.  W.,  737,  748 
Kloeckner,  Mr.  H.,  739 
Klose  &  Co.,  642 
Ko  Desong,  Mr.,  532,  570 
Koiize,  Lieutenant  S.,  417 
Kobato,  Mr.  K.,  620 
Koch  &  Co.,  747,  748 
Kochien  Transportation  and  Tow 

Boat  Company,  479 
Koch,  Lieutenant  C.,  417 
Koh  Fai  Seek,  Mr.,  229 
Koh  Kai  Shun,  Mr.,  229 
Koh  Mah  Wah,  Mr.,  229 
Koh  Wan  Kuin,  Mr.,  229 
Koh  Yiell  Qieu,  M: .,  229 
Kolkmeyer,  Mr.  F.,  719 
Koo  King  Cha,  Mr.,  527 
Kotow,    Lord    Amherst   declines 
to,   43  ;    Lord    Macartney   de- 
clines to,  38 
Kow  Kee  &  Co,,  578,  583 
Kowloon-Canton  Railway,  681 
Kowloon  Hotel,  684 
Kowloon  Peninsula  occupied,  56, 

81.95 
Kristy,  Mr.  C,  768 
Kruse  &  Co.,  220 
Kuhn  &  Co.,  648,  652 
Kulangsu  Settlement,  815 
Kuling,  scenery  near,  697 
Kum  Hon  Shun,  Mr.,  554 
Kung,      Prince,     receives      first 

British  Minister  at  Peking,  88 
Kwan,  Admiral,  killed,  50 
Kwan  Chiping,  Mr.,  534,  564 
Kwangsu,   Emperor,  superseded, 

95 
Kwan  Sum  Yin,  Dr.,  180 
Kvveiliang,  Commissioner,  73,  77 
Kwoh  Chu  Ching,  Mr.,  754 
Kwong  Hee  Ying,  Mr.,  229,  230 
Kwong  Hip  Lung  &  Co..  244 
Kwong  river  steamers,  209 


Laferriere,  M.  G.,  408 
Lalcaca,  Surgeon-Major  C,  415 
Lambton,  Vice-Admiral  Sir  Hed- 

worth,  273 
Lammert,  Mr.  F.,  219 
Lammert,  Mr.  George  P.,  222 
Lammert,  George  &  Co.,  221 
Lammert,  Mr.  H.  A.,  222 
Lan  Chu  Pak,  Mr.,  174 
Lan  Fat,  Mr,,  247 
Landale,  Mr.  David,  405,407,520, 

603 
Lander,  Right  Rev.  G.  H.,  331 
Lane,  Crawford  &  Co.,  213,  214, 

646,  650 
Laou  Kung  Mow  Cotton  Spinning 

and    Weaving    Company,  573, 

577 
Lappa  Customs,  the,  805 
Lavers,  Lieutenant  P.  F.,  414 
Law,  Mr.  W.  M.,  620 
Layng,  Mr.  H.,  835 


846   TWENTIETH  CENTUKY  IMPKESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Leang  Shing  Hem,  Mr.,  550,  557 
L'Echo  lie  Chine.  361 
Lee  Pah  Pao.  Mr.,  532.  570 
Lee  Sih  Guan.  Mr.,  534,  566 
Lee  Tung  Hwee.  Professor,  528, 

Lee  Yung  Su.  Mr..  527 
Legations  at  Peking  besieged,  96 
Leilo,  Dr.  A.  P.,  807 
Leung  Hiu  Cho,  Mr.,  248 
Levien.  Mr.  R.  B..  620 
Lew,  Mr.  S.  A..  620 
Li  Hung  Chang,  88,  89,  91,  95 
Liaotung  Peninsula,  95 
Liddell.  Mr.  P.  W.  O.,  719 
Lini  La  Sang.  Mr..  680.  836 
Liin  Nee  Kar.  .Mr..  822,  824.  836 
Liin  Pang  Ket.  Mr..  836 
Lin,     Commissioner,     oppresses 
British   Merchants  at   Canton, 

47 

U  Tsoi  Chee,  Mr..  768,  769 

Little,  Mr.  E.  S.,  518,  620 

Little.  Mr.  W.,  406 

Liu  Sin  Sang,  Mr.,  720,  723 

Liu  Zav  Chin,  Mr..  558,  560 

Lit\inoff  &  Co..  716,  717 

Llovd.  Mr.  G.  T.,  345,  353 

Lloyds'  Greater  Britain  Publish- 
ing Company.  155.  366 

Lo  Cheung  Shiu.  Mr..  178 

Lo  Hon  Chun,  Mr..  527.  547 

Lo  King  Kee.  Mr.,  527,  548 

Loch,  Mr.  (afterwards  Lord), 
captured  by   Chinese,   77 

Lockhart,  Mr." J.  H.  S.,  774 

Locksmith  &  Co.,  640 

Lohlien,  Mr.  H.,  739 

London,  first  English  ship  to 
visit   China,   19 

Looker,  Mr.  H.  W.,  112.  173 

Loon  Tai  Tea  Hong,  662 

Lothar  Marcks  &  Busch,  710,  712 

Low  Che  Chung,  Mr.,  527 

Lowe,  Mr.  A.  D.,  406 

Lowe.  Mr.  A.  R.,  219 

Lucassen,  Mr.  F.  H.,  828 

Lugard,  Sir  F".  D.,  104 

Lugard's.  Sir  F.  D.,  administra- 
tion of  Hongkong,  105 

Lunghwa  Tannery  Company,  578 

Lyons,  Captain  F."  VV.,  267,  271 


Macartney,  Lord,  conducts  mis- 
sion to  China,  36 

Macao,  798 ;  Bishop  of,  800 ; 
British  merchants  take  refuge 
at,  48 ;  general  view,  797  ; 
Governor  of,  murdered,  66 ; 
hotels,  809 ;  Municipal  Hall, 
802  ;  occupied  by  British 
troops,  41  ;  occupied  by  the 
Portuguese,  14;  St.  Paul's 
ruins  at,  798 

Macdonald  &  Co.,  242 

Macdonald,  Mr.  J.,  739,  752 

Macdonnell's.  Sir  R.  G.,  adminis- 
tration of  Hongkong,  82 

Macgowan,  Rev.  J.,  814 

Mackay,  Mr.  E.  A.,  603 

Mackenzie  &  Co.,  750 

Macleod,  Mr.  R,  N.,  406 

Madier,  Mr.  H.,  408 

Mahomedan  Rebellion  in  Yunnan, 
90 

Major  Bros.,  591 

Malcolm,  Mr.  W.  R.,  620 

Manchuria,  mmes  and  minerals 
in,  682 

Manchurian  Railways,  667 

Man  Ixxjng  Ginger  Factory,  248 

Mannchow,  -Mr.  H..  836, 838 

Mansel,  Dr.  E.  L.,  835 


Mansfield,  Mr.  J.  J..  422 

Mansfield.  Mr.  R.  \V.,  785 

Margery,  Mr.  R.  A.,  murder  of,  90 

Marques,  Dr.  L.  P.,  808 

Marshall,  Mr.  V.,  364 

Marshall.  Surgeon-Captain  R.  J., 
420 

Marston,  Mr.  L.,  785 

Martin's,  Mr.  R.  Montgomery,  in- 
dictment of  Hongkong,  58 

Marzoli,  Mr.  E.,  740,  742 

Masavoshi  Kato,  Mr.,  470 

Master,  Mr.  G.  C.  C,  112,  172 

Mathews,  Mr.  M.  C,  422 

May,  Hon.  Mr.  F.  H..  104,  106 

Mayer,  Mr.  O.  E.,  739 

Mayer,  Mr.  V.,  521 

Mcbougall,  Mr.  H.,  821 

McLeod,  Mr.  A.,  521 

Medhurst,  Mr.  G.  H.,  219 

Mee,  Cheung  &  Co.,  234 

Melchers  &  Co.,  209,  615, 617, 618, 
709,  711,  731.  742 

Melchers,  Mr.  K.  F.,  739 

Melnikoff,  Mr.  D.  M.,  710,  716 

Mendes,  Mr.  M.  da  S.,  809 

Messageries  Cantonaises,  207 

Messer,  Mr.  C.  McJ.,  267 

Meuser,  Mr.  O.,  406 

Meyer  &  Co.,  710,  752 

Michael,  Mr.  J.  R.,  173,  219 

Michelau,  Mr.  Carl,  620 

Middleton,  Mr.  H.  E.,  673,  676 

Middleton,  Mr.  VV.  B.  O.,  620 

Miller.  Mr.  R.,  442 

Minanu,  Mr.  S.,  224 

Mirow,  Mr.  E.,  719 

Mirza  Mohamed  Bowker  Afshar 
&  Co.,  654 

Mitchell,  Mr.  C.B.,  821,  822 

Milsu  Bishi  Company,  233,  662, 
719 

Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha,  232,  620, 
621,  623,  717,  719,  750,  751 

Mittag,  Mr.  Max,  654,  655,  656 

Miu  Nai  York,  Mr.,  796 

Molchanoff,    Pechatnoff     &    Co., 

712.  713 
Miyasaki  &  Co.,  234 
Molkerei  Oberhof,  Ltd.,  740 
Mody,  Mr.  H.  N.,  127,  128 
Moidrey,  Father,  J.  de,  321 
Molony,  Right  Rev.  H.  J.,  332 
Monetier,  Mr.  A.,  362 
Moorhead  &  Halse,  634 
Moorhead,  Mr.  R.  B.,  622 
Morland,  Dr.  C.  H.  D.,  835 
Morrison,  Dr.,  758 
Mosberg,  Lieutenant  J.,  414 
Moule,  Bishop,  332 
MuUer,  Mr.  ¥.,  719 
Munthe,  Col.  J.  W.  N.,  751,  752 
Murphine,  Mr.  A.  R.,  620 
Murray,  Mr.  G.  T.,  834 
Musso,  V.  P.,  &  Co.,  222 
M.  Zeen,  Mr.,  534 


Nagayasu,  Mr.  H.,  719 

Nanking,  778  ;  attacked  by  Sir 
Hugh  Gough,  53  ;  British  Con- 
sul, 781  ;  Porcelain  Tower,  54  ; 
Taeping  occupation  of,  67  ; 
tombs  at,  780 ;  Viceroy  and 
Officials,  779 

Napier,  Lord,  appointed  British 
Superintendent  in  China,  45  ; 
dies  at  Macao,  46 

Nathan,  Mr.  M.  J.,  687 

Native  City  Waterworks,  Tientsin, 
740 

Naval  Club,  the,  688,  690 

Neave,  Mr.  Thomas,  198,  219 


Nederlandsch-lndische  Handels- 
bank,  119,  120 

Neill,  Mr.  J.  O.,  739,  752 

Neish,  Mr.  R.  D.,  358 

Nemazee  &  Co.,  654 

Nestle's  Milk  Company,  660 

Netherlands  Trading  Society,  118, 
119 

Neumann,  Mr.  R.,  618,  655 

New  Amoy  Dock  Company,  826 

Newchwang,  763 

New  Engine  and  Iron  Works, 
Hankow,  714,  715 

New  Engineering  and  Shipbuild- 
ing Works,  Ltd.,  590,  597 

Ningpo,  772  ;  cotton  plantation 
at,  63  ;  occupied  by  the  British, 
52  ;  opened  to  foreign  trade, 
55  ;  Portuguese  expelled  from, 

14 
Nippon        Nenkwa       Kabushiki 

Kaisha,    719 
Nippon  Yusen  Kaisha,  203,  470, 

475 
Nisshin  Risen   Kaisha,  474,  483, 

720 
No  Sau  Sang,  Mr.,  224 
Nolasco,  Captain  J..  417 
Nordchinesische     Handelsgesell- 

schaft,  747 
Norddeutscher   Lloyd   Company, 

201 
Noronha  &  Co.,  354 
North    Cliiiia    Daily    Neivs    and 

Herald,  355 
Nutter  &  Co.,  640 
Nutter,  Mr.  P.,  620 


O'Brien,  Mr.  H.  N.,  405 
Okura  &  Co.,  720 
Olivier  &  Co.,  602,  718 
Olof,  Wijk  &  Co.,  594,  601 
Opium  destroyed  at  Canton,  47 
Opium  traffic,  early  stages  of,  46 ; 
disputes  at  Canton  concerning, 

47 
Osaka  Shosen  Kaisha,  205 
Osborne,  Hon.  Mr.  Edward,  104, 

no 
Osborne,  Mr.  J.  H.,  458 
O'Shea,  Henry  D.,  360 
O'Shea,  Jno.,  359 
Ostroverkhow,    Mr.   A.   N.,    699, 

719 
Oswald,  Mr.  J.  C,  838 
Otto  Kong  Sing,  Mr.,  178 
Owen,  Mr.  O.  E.,  684 


Pabaney,  E.,  226 

Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company, 

203 
Palace  Hotel,  687 
Panoff,  Mr.  T.  K.,  719 
Parker,   Sir  William,  commands 

naval  squadron,  52 
Parkes,    Sir    Harry    S.,    63,    67, 

71.77 

Parkin,  Mr.  W.  R,,  498 

Pasedag  &  Co.,  828 

Patrick,  Surgeon-Lieutenant  H.  C, 
420 

Pearce,  Rev.  T.  W.,  337 

Peking,  755  ;  ancient  views  of, 
43  ;  and  Ticnlsin  Times,  367  ; 
British  Legation  at,  757  ;  British 
Minister  at,  757  ;  occupied  by 
allied  British  and  French 
forces,  79  ;  occupied  by  Great 
Powers  in  1900,  96  ;  Forbidden 
City  at,  755  ;  Hall  of  Classics 
at,  758  ;  Hankow  Railway,  678  ; 
Japanese     Minister     at,     758  ; 


permanent  diplomatic  repre- 
sentation at,  74  ;  shrines,  339  : 
station,  677  ;  summer  palace 
at,  756 

Peninsular  and  Oriental  Steam- 
ship Navigation  Company,  199, 
200 

Pereira,  Mr.  F.  X.,  808 

Pernotle,  Mr.  J.,  710 

Pestonjee  B.  Jokhee,  Mr.,  838 

Petrie,  Mr.  T..  345,  353 

Pettick  &  Co.,  838 

Petit,  P.  B.  &  Co.,  662 

Philips,  Mr.  H.  R.,  113,  267 

Pierce,  Mr.  W.  H.,  590 

Piggott,  Sir  F.  T.,  in,  112 

Pilclier,  Captain  H.  W.,  417 

Plait,  Mr.  W.  A.  C,  406 

Playfair,  Mr.  G.  M.  H.,  838 

Pollock,  Hon.  Mr.  H.  E..  104,  109 

Pon  Kuck  Hien,  Mr.,  568 

Pope-Hennessy's,  Sir  J.,  adminis- 
tration of  Hongkong,  84 

Pope,  Mr.  A.  W.  V.,  673,  674 

Porcelain  Tower,  Nanking,  54 

Portland  Flouring  Mills  Com- 
pany, 230 

Posts,  Cables  and  Telephones, 
133,  490 

Pottinger,  Sir  Henry,  appointed 
Plenipotentiary,  51 

Powell,  William,  Ltd.,  220 

Pozzoni,  Right  Rev.  Dominico,  326 

Prentice,  Mr.  J.,  407,  458 

Prince,  Mr.  E.,  504 

Pulo  Condore,  English  factory 
established  at,  31 

Purnell  &  Paget,  793,  794 


Quan  Jee  On,  Mr.,  230 

Quan  Jew,  Mr.,  230 

Qu,an  Kai,  Mr.,  230 

Quan  Kai,  Mr.,  794 

yuan  Sam,  Mr.,  230 

Queen's  College,  Hongkong,  123 


Radoniski,  Mr.  R.  C,  492 

Railton,  Mr.  H.  E.,  620 

Railway  at  Woosung  built,  91 

Railways  in  China,  95,  666 

Rankin,  Mr.  H.  F.,  826 

Ransom,  Captain  S.  A.,  417 

Rassadin,  Mr.  A.  N.,  719 

Raven,  Lieutenant  F.  J.,  417 

Rees-Davies,  Hon.  Mr.  W.,  104, 107 

Reiss  &  Co.,  H.,  644,  645 

Remedios,  Mr.  L.  A.  L.,  808 

Rempei  Kondo,  Mr.,  470 

Rennie,  Dr.  T.,  838 

Rizaeff  Freres  6^4 

Rizaeff.  Mr.  H.  M.  B.,  652,  654 

Robinson's,  Sir  Hercules,  admini- 
stration of  Hongkong,  81 

Robinson's  Sir  William,  admini- 
stration of  Hongkong,  94 

Roman  Catholic  Cathedral,  Hong- 
kong, 324 

Rose  &  Co.,  719 

Rose,  Mr.  A.,  710 

Rose,  Mr.  R.,  622 

Rossler,  Dr.  W.,  785,  788 

Ross-Reid,  T.,  366 

Rozario  &  Co.,  223 

Russo-Cliinese  Bank,  732,  734, 
760,  761 

Russo-Japanese  War,  96 

Rutherford,  Lieutenant  C.  H.,  417 


St.  Andrew's  Church,  Kowloon, 

330 
St.  George's  Hotel,  690 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OF  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC.     847 


St.    Joseph's     English     College, 

'  Hongkong.  J24,  126 

St.  Paul's  College.  Hongkong.  127 

Saker,  Lieut.  K.  M.,  417 

Saltoun,  Lord.   53 

Sandei',  Wieler  &  Co..  634,  641 

Saris.  Captain,  heads  trading  e.x- 

pedition  to  Japan,  17 
Sassoon,  D.  &  Co.,  224,  610 
Sassoon,  E.  D.  &  Co..  224,  227,  610 
Sassoon,  E.  D.,  227 
Sassoon,  Mr.  Jacob,  227,  612 
Sassoon.  Sir  Edward,  225 
Siiliiriiay  Review,  363 
Schellhoss,  Captain  H.,  417 
Schlichting,  Mr.  H..  719,  722 
Schuldt.  Mr.  A.  E.,  739 
Schultz  &  Co..  632,  634,  747 
Schulze,  Mr.  E.,  739 
Schwarz,  Gaunier  &  Co..  714 
Schweiger    Import    and    Export 

Company,  714.  715 
Scotson.  Mr.  J.,  504.  524 
Scott,  Mr.  Gray,  219 
Scott,  Harding  &  Co.,  626 
Scott,  Mr.  W.,  622.  632,  639 
Sea.  Mr.  W.  V.,  528 
Seilz,  Mr.  Carl,  522 
Seth,  Mr.  Aratlioon,  III,  112 
Seymour,  Admiral  Sir  M,.  con- 
ducts an  expedition  in  the 
Canton  River.  69 
Shanghai,  American  Post  Office 
at.  493  ;  American  Settlement 
formed  at.  62  ;  Anglican  Cathe- 
dral at.  373  ;  architects  and 
civil  engineers.  622  ;  assessed 
value  of  in  1872.  93  ;  attacked 
by  Sir  Hugh  Cough's  force,  53  ; 
banks.  440  ;  bird's-eye  view  of. 
370  ;  British  Consulate  at,  375  ; 
British  Post  Office  at,  492  ; 
Bubbling  Well  Road.  379 ; 
central  police  and  fire  station 
at.  411  ;  Chambers  of  Com- 
merce at,  386  ;  Chinese  Poly- 
technic Institution  established 
at.  92  ;  clubs,  387  ;  Customs 
House,  460 ;  Custom  House 
organisation  formed  at,  85  ; 
description  of,  368  ;  Drag  Hunt. 
500  ;  early  description  of,  85  ; 
early  history  of,  60  ;  education. 
484  ;  Ellis  Kadoorie  School. 
488  ;  finance  and  banking.  438  ; 
fire  brigade.  429  ;  foreign  com- 
mercial community  at.  602  ; 
Freemasonry  at.  386  ;  French 
concession  at.  407  ;  French  Con- 
sulate at.  372  ;  French  Munici- 
pal Council  offices  at,  372  ; 
French  Post  Office  at,  494  ; 
French  Settlement  formed  at, 
62  ;  Garden  Bridge,  375  ; 
German  Post  Office  at,  493  ; 
German  trade  at  in  1881.  93  ; 
harbour.  478  ;  health,  hospitals, 
434  ;  Holy  Trinity  Cathedral  at, 
337  ;  Hongkew  market  at,  376  ; 
litis  memorial  at,  373;  Imperial 
Post  Office  at,  490  ;  industries, 
573  ;  information  for  tourists. 
683  ;  Japanese  Post  Office  at, 
494  ;  library,  386  ;  Li  Hung 
Chang  memorial  at,  381  ; 
Margery  monument  at,  373  ; 
Mercury,  357  ;  meteorologv, 
512  ;  Municipal  Councils,  86, 
<;3.  405  ;  observatory.  Siccawei. 
383  ;  opened  to  foreign  trade, 
55  ;  Oriental  commercial  com- 
munity at.  662  ;  Paper  Hunt 
Club  meet,  498  ;  pilotage  ser- 
vice.   480 ;    police.    377,    409  ; 


police  sports,  507  ;  post,  cables, 
and  telegraphs,  490  ;  Press,  the, 
354  ;  public  school,  485  ;  public 
works,  432  ;  Race  Club.  501  ; 
racecourse,  378  ;  recreation 
ground,  383  ;  Royal  Asiatic 
Society  at.  385  ;  Russian  Post 
Office  at,  493  ;  St.  Francis 
Xavier's  School,  489  ;  St, 
Joseph's  Church,  326  ;  shipping, 
commerce,  and  customs,  452  ; 
social  life,  516  ;  sport,  498  ; 
streets,  374,  384  ;  Taeping 
rebels  near,  67,  87  ;  Telephone 
Exchange  supervisors  at,  496  ; 
Thomas  Hanbury  School  and 
Children's  Home  at, 489  ;  Times. 
358  ;  Town  Hall,  376  ;  Union 
Church  at,  336  ;  volunteer 
corps  formed  at.  67  ;  volun- 
teers. 413  ;  winter  view  of,  371  ; 
Woosung  Railway  built,  91. 

Shanghai  and  Hongkew  Wharf 
Company,  Ltd.,  459 

Shanghai  City,  408 

Shanghai  City.  Taeping  occupa- 
tion of,  67 

Shanghai  district,  old  Chinese 
maps  of,  61 

Shanghai  Dock  and  Engineering 
Company,  Ltd.,  453.  456 

Shanghai  Electric  and  Asbestos 
Company,  654 

Shanghai  Land  and  Investment 
Company,  Ltd.,  444 

Shanghai  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany, Ltd.,  448,  827 

Shanghai  Machine  Company, 
644,  647,  712,  716 

Shanghai  Mutual  Telephone  Com- 
pany. Ltd..  494 

Shanghai-Nanking  Railway,  670 

Shanghai-Nanking  Railway  offi- 
cials, 673 

Shanghai  Tobacco  Trade  Guild, 
661,  662 

Shanstrom,  Mr.  E.,  618 

Shantung,  railways  in,  95 

Shao  Gin  Tow,  Mr.,  572 

Shapoo,  attack  on,  53 

Shekury,  Mr.  G.  J..  687 

Shellim,  Mr.  E.,  225 

Sheng  Kung  Pao,  His  Excellency, 
525.  .S26 

Shen  'Tun-Ho,  His  Excellency, 
526 

Shewan,  Mr.  R.  G.,  173,  219 

Shewan,  Tomes  &  Co.,  213,  237, 

239.  619,  790,  792 
Sho,  General  C.  A.,  781 
Shorrock,  Mrs.,  363 
Sia  Tsze  Nan,  Mr..  534.  568 
Siberian  Railway.  95,  667 
Siccawei  Observatory,  383 
Siemens     Schuckertwerke,     584, 

709,  811 
Siemssen  &  Co.,   216,   612,   614. 

701,  732,  795,  810,  811 
Siemssen  &  Krohn,  840 
Sietas  &  Co.,  769 
Silk  trade,  62,  93,  290 
Sinclair,  Mr.  M.  R.,  673 
Sing.  Mr.  A.,  664,  665 
Sing  Ting  Hoang,  Mr.,  532 
Sill  Wan  Pao.  the,  362 
Skottowe,       Captain,       conducts 

special  mission  to  China,  33 
Skottowe,  Mr.  E.  B.,  407,  442 
Slade,  Mr.  M.  W.,  174 
Smart,  Mr.  J.  D..  673 
Smith  &  Co.,  769 
Smith,  Mr.  L.  J.  P.,  603 
Soares  &  Co.,  221 
Social  Shaiigliai,  363 


Somerville,  Mr.  R..  620 
Sommer.  Mr.  F,.  739 
Song  Ching.  Mr.  '/..,  532,  568 
Soochow^  Arsenal  established.  89 
Soo  Pao  Sun,  Mr.,  536,  538 
South  China  Moniiriii  I'ost.  352 
South    Manchuria   Railway,   669, 

671 
Sperry  F'lonr  Company,  215 
Spooner,  Mr.  S.,  603 
Standard   Life    Assurance    Com- 
pany, 448 
Standard    Oil   Company  of    New 

York,  213,  827 
Stanley,  Dr.  A..  434 
Staunton,  Sir  George,  42 
Steam  power  in  China,  594,  600 
Stedman,  Dr..  267 
Steele.  Rev.  J..  332 
Stephens,  Mr.  M.  J.  D.,  172 
Stewart,  Captain  A.  J.,  416 
Stewart.  Captain  G.  E.,  418 
Stockton  Milling  Company,  216 
Stockwell,  Mr.  C.  F.  St.  C..  838 
Stokes,  Commodore  R.  H.  S..  273 
Stokes,  Mr.  A.  P..  406 
Studd,  Mr.  A.  W.,  422 
Suez  Canal,  effect  of  opening  of 

on  Hongkong  trade,  83 
Suichow,  Mr.  T.,  534 
Summer      Palace.     Peking,     de- 
stroyed, 79 
Sun  Chun  Ying,  Mr.,  752 
Sun  Ting  Huan.  Mr..  566 
Sun  Wei  Chin,  Mr..  720 
Suzuki,  Mr.  S.  K..  442 
Suzuki  &  Co.,  664 
Swatow.  829  :  railway,  833 
Sze  Tsay  Kor,  Mr.,  534.  562 
Sze  Zing  Tsah.  Mr.,  558 


Tachibana,  Mr.  S..  719 
Taeping  Rebellion.  67,  87 
Takahashi,  Mr.  K.,  719 
Tait  &  Co..  827 
Takao  Tsun-.\do.  Mr..  710 
Taku  Forts,  captured  in  1858.  73  ; 
captured  in  igoo, 96  ;  unsuccess- 
ful attack  on,  75 
Talati,  Mr.  M.  P.,  224.  226 
Talati.  Mr.  P.  F..  224 
Tang  Kee  Shan.  Mr..  720.  723 
Tangku.  engagement  at.  76 
Tan,  Mr.  A..  229 
Tan.  the  late  Mr.  A..  224 
Tao  Mai  Sen.  Mr..  534,  562 
Taoukwang,  Emperor,  death  of, 

66 
Taoukwang's,  Emperor,  hatred  of 

foreigners.  53 
Taoutai  Wan  Bing  Chung,  780 
Taoutai  Wen  Hao,  134 
Tata,  Sons  &  Co.,  228,  638 
Taylor,  Captain  P.  H.  M.,  106 
Taylor.  Hon.  Commander  B.  R.  H.. 

104 
Taylor.  Mr.  J.  D..  710 
Tea.  early  mention  of,  27 
Tea.  history  of.  294 
Tea,  trade  at  Shanghai,  62 
Teesdale,  Mr.  J.  H.,  406,  518 
Telge  &  Schroeter,  640,  642,  748, 

749 
Thomas.  Captain  H.  R.  H..  417 
Thorn,    Mr,     Robert,     appointed 

Consul  at  Ningpo,  63 
Thompson,  Sergt,-Major  W.  W.. 

422 
Thomson,   Hon.  Mr.  A.  M..  104, 

107,  113 
Thomson,  Mr.  O.  D.,  112.  173 
Thyen,  Mr.  J.,  719 
Tiensinfoo,  Mr.  H.,  836.  838 


Tientsin.  724  ;  Astor  House  Hotel 
at,  733  ;   British   and   German 
Bund  at,  725  ;  clubs,  730 ;  fire 
alarm    bell    at,    726  ;    French 
Christians    murdered    at,    90  ; 
German    Municipal   Offices  at. 
729  ;    Gordon    Hall    at,    724  ; 
Municipal  Administration,  729  : 
Native  City  Waterworks   740  ; 
occupied  by  Allied  Forces   in 
1*^58.  73  ;  occupied  by  the  great 
European  Powers  in  1900,  96  ; 
power  station,  730  ;  Press,  365  ; 
racecourse,  726 ;  Russian    Mu- 
nicipal   Offices  at,  729  ;    statue 
of  Roland  at,  726  ;  Treaty  con- 
cluded at,   74 ;   wool   cleaning 
factory,  750. 
Tientsin-Yangtsze  Railway.  672 
Tinghai,  Chusan,  captured,  49 
Toeg,  Mr.  R.  E.,  501,  519 
Tong  Chong  Leong,  Mr.  554,  559 
Tong  Lai  Chuen,  Mr.,  178,  180 
Tong,  Mr.  S.  K.,  533,  535,  537 
Tong,  Mr.  Y.  C.  530,  532 
Tong  Shin  Yue,  Mr.,  534 
Tong  Shou  Kiang,  Mr.,  527,  533, 

536 
Tonkin,    English    factory    estab- 
lished at,  22 
Tooler.  Mr.  H.  P.,  267 
Tourists,  information  for,  683 
Toyo  Kisen  Kaisha,  204,  206 
Treaty  of  Nanking  concluded,  55 
Treaty  of  Peking  concluded,  79 
Ti  iads  raise  the  standard  of  re- 
bellion, 66 
Trcjst  &  Co.,  746,  747 
Trueman,  Major  T.  E.,  415 
Tsang  King,  Mr..  224 
Tsang  Suichow.  Mr,,  570 
Tsiang,  Mr.  T.  K.,  532,  781 
Tseung  Sz  Kai,  Mr.,  178 
Tsingpu,  outrage  at,  66 
Tsingtau,  810 
Tso,  Mr.  S.  W.,  178,  307 
Tso  Seen  Wan,  Mr.,  318 
Tsung  li  Yamen  created.  88 
Tuan  F'ang.  His  Excellency,  778 
Tungche,  Emperor,  89 
Tungchow,  battle  of,  77 
Tung  Tai  Tseung  Kee  &  Co.,  244, 

247 
Tuxford,  Mr.  Ivan,  673,  678 
Tweedie,  Mr.  K.  D.,  673 
Tywan,    Formosa,    18  ;    English 
factory  established  at,  22 


Union,  the,  364 

University  at   Hongkong,  a   pro- 
posed, 128 
Unwin,  Mr.  F^.  S.,  768 


Victorian  Government  Commer- 
cial Agency,  644 

Volkart  Bros.,  628 

Von  During,  Wibel  &  Co.,  642, 
742 

Vulcan  Ironworks,  Limited,  590 


Wade,  Mr.  H.  T.,  294,  520 
Wade,  Sir  Thomas,  63,  91 
Wagons    Lits     Hotel    Terminus, 

704,  706 
Wai  Luk  Chune,  Mr.,  554,  563 
Wakeman,  Mr.  G.  H.,  iii,  112 
Walker,  Rev.  A.  J.,  332,  415 
Wallace,  Mr.  W.  H.,"82i 
Walte  &  Co.,  747 
Walte,  Mr.  A.,  739 
Wan  Chung  Kai.  Mr.,  233 


848     TWENTIETH  CENTURY  IMPRESSIONS  OP  HONGKONG,  SHANGHAI,  ETC. 


Wang  Hing,  Mr..  J.^o 
Wanton  Mo,  Dr.,  178 
Ward  commands  forces  operating 

against  ttie  Tacpings,  8fi 
Ward,  Mr.  Thomas  (Tain  Wal.  532 
Watson.  .\.  S.  &  Co.,  220 
Watson,   Licut.-Colonel    W.    M., 

4>5 

Weliley  &  Scott,  645 

Weddell,  Captain,  conducts  trad- 
ing exjiedition  to  China,  19 

Weeks  &  Co.,  648,  655,  "14.  7>8 

Weihaiwei,  773  ;  harbour,  776  ; 
island,  776  ;  occupied  hy  Great 
Britain.  9S  ;  school.  777 

Weiss,  Mr.  A.  K..  211) 

Wei  Ynk,  Hon.  Mr..  104,   109 

Wendt  &  Co.,  220 

Wen  Hao,  Taoulai,  134 

Westphal,  King  &  Ramsay.  716 

Whampoa.  anchorage  at,  29  ; 
tragic  incident  at,  39 

Whangpoo  Conservancy,  480  ; 
river,  view  of.  36*; 

Whang  Tatfoo.  Mr.,  720 

Wheen.  Lieut.  A.  F,  418 

White.  Mr.  Frank  W.,  524,  620 

White,  Mr.  H.  P.,  173 

Who's    who    in    the    Far    East, 

354 
Wicking,  Mr.  H.,  219 
Wilflev,  Hon.  L.  R.,  405 
Wilkinson.  Mr.  C.  U.,  112,  172 


Wilks  &  Jack,  242 
Wilzer.  Mr.  A.  H.,  805,  8o<) 
Wingrove,  Captain  G.  R.,  417 
Winning,  Rev.  R.  G.,  3^2 
Winslow,  Mr.  H.  P..  678 
Wise,  Hon.  Mr.  A.  G  ,  111,  112 
Wodehouse,  Mr.  P.  P.  ]..  27 1 
Wolfe,  Mr.  E.  D.  C,  267 
Wolseley's,  Lord,  narrative  of  the 

occupation  of  Peking.  79 
Wong  Fuk  Ching,  Mr..  534,  564 
Wong  Hai  Fan,  Mr.,  720 
Wong  Hien  Chang,  Mr.,  526,  556 
Wong.  1.  Ding,  Mr..  527,  334,  536 
Wong,  Mr.  James  B.,  319 
Wong  family,  550 
Wong  Kam  Fuk,  Mr.,  178 
Wong  Kwei  Chck,  Mr.,  550 
Wong  Lu  Chee.  Mr.,  ^50 
Wong,  Mr.  Y.  C.  550" " 
Wong  Ping  San.  Rev.,  534,  572 
Wong  Pin  Wa.  Mr..  244 
Wong  Say  Che,  Mr.,  532,  570 
Wong  Sneii  Hing,  Mr.,  550 
Wong  Su  Ping,  Mr.,  550 
Wong  S/.e  Ching,  Mr.,  534 
Woo  Chau  Chin,  Mr..  527,  552. 

554-  .=;6i 
Woo  Kee  May,  Mr.,  526,  =;40,  541 
Woo  Shu,  H.E.,  832,"834  ' 
Woo  Ting  Seng.  Mr.,  543,  544 
Woo  Ton  Yin,  Mr.,  527 
Woods,  Mr.  A.,  620 


Woosung,  attacked  by  the  Hritish. 
Wright,  Rev.  G.  H.  Bateson,  121, 

126 

Wright,  T.,  345.  351 
Wu  Jim  Pah,  Mr.,  754 
Wu  Sieh  Chen  Sing  Colton  Mill, 
.';74.  581.  5«4 


Yan  On  Marine  and  Fire  Insur- 
ance Company,  231 

Yang  Hai  Tsar,  Mr.,  568,  570 

Yang  Shin  Tsze,  Mr.,  544 

Yang  Sin  Che,  Mr.  532 

Yangtsze  Insurance  Association. 
Ltd.,   450 

Yangtsze-Kiang  at  Chinkiang, 
694 

Yangtsze-Kiang,  British  expedi- 
tion  up   the,  53 

Yangtsze-Kiang,  ligliting  the 
mouth   of   tlie,   369 

Yao  Pak  Hsuen,  Mr.,  363 

Yasukawa,  Mr.  Y.,  739 

Yeh  Ching  Chong,  the  late  Mr., 
560,  565 

Yeh,  Viceroy,  at  Canton,  68  ;  cap- 
ture of,  71 

Yen  Ching  Suh,  Mr.,  572 

Yen-Full,    His    Excellencv,    525, 

5.34 
Yen  Shu  Fong,  Mr,,  544 


Yen  Tze  King,  Mr,.  540,  544 
Yen  Chong  Suh,  Mr.,  5^2 
Yih    Ming   Tsah.  Mn^  326, 

540,  542 
Yih  Zung  Tsah,  Mr.,  527 
Yin  Sih  Chang,  Mr.,  532,  570 
Yokohama     Specie     Hank.     117, 

III),  444,   700.  702,  732,  734 
You  San  Ting,  Mr.,  532,  570 
Young,  Mr.  S.  C,  534,  570 
Yu  Ko  Ming,  Mr.,  532,  562 
Yu  Ping  Ur,  Mr.,  534,  564 
Yu   Yah   Ching,  Vlr., "  526,    537, 

.S3« 
Yue,  Mr.  T.  S.,  527,  558 
Yuen  Fat  Hong,  The,  229,  233 
Yuen  Hun  Kec,  Mr.,  526,  541 
Yuen  Ying  Kong,  Mr..  541 
Yung  Che  Ping,  Mr.,  532 
Yung  Hin  Pong,  Mr.. "178 
Yung  Soy  Hsung,  Mr.,  534,  568 


Zea  Koo  Ching,  Mr.,  534 

Zea  Sih  Vang,  Mr.  Y.  K.,  526,  560 

Zea  Zoon  Bing,  Mr.,  534 

Zee  Way  Zung,  548,  553 

Zeen,  Mr.  M.,  5-54,  572 

Ziah,  Mr.  L.  H.,  526 

Zih  Li  Kung,  Mr.,  526,  539,  540 

Zi,  Sergeant  Julien  T.  A.,  548 

Z.  Song  Ching,  Mr.,  532 


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University  of  Toronto  Robarts 
Checkout  Receipt 

01/03/04 
04;45  pm 

ItemiTwentieth  century  impressions  of 
Hong-kong,  Shanghai,  and  other  Treaty 
Ports  of  China.  Their  history,  people, 
commerce,  industries,  and  resournfts-  pHit,,;^ 


"1 

DS      Wright,  Arnold  1! 

592        Twentieth  century  impres- 
W7      sions  of  history,  people, 

commerce,  industries  and 

resources 


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